A blast from the past

Below is an article from the DU Clarion online. I've copied and pasted it here for your convenience as you have to register to see the articles online. Enjoy!

World View

DU students invited to explore the world

ROXY DODD

Issue date: 1/31/02 Section: News

Media Credit: Stephanie Homsy/Clarion Students Jonathan Lin, Shoko Yokota, Rui Korotaki, Michiko Sato, Melissa Thornhill and Dacia Dyer pose in traditional Japanese kimonos at the International House. The International Student Scholar Services and the International House and Study Abroad grou

Students traded in their shoes for kimonos this week, as they learned about and participated in an event highlighting Japanese culture at the International House.

International Student and Scholar Services, the International House and Study Abroad are sponsoring a month long series called "Eyes on the World," a program that spends one week focusing on a different culture around the world.

"The main target audience is American students at DU who want to go abroad, and we want to get people interested in countries that people don't typically study in," said graduate student Annique Petit, program coordinator for ISSS.

This series is "using international students as mentors to educate the American students about their cultures because they are the experts," said International Student Advisor Lisa Bares.

Last night a representative from the Japanese Consulate and a representatives from the Japan-America society and the Colorado International Trade Office to discuss opportunities for Americans to work and study in Japan.

The series began Monday with Japanese calligraphy, chopsticks and kimonos as students received an overview of Japanese culture.

Putting on a kimono is "kind of like clothing origami," said junior Dacia Dyer, referring to the many folds and tucks that are necessary in the otherwise one-size-fits-all clothing.

Tuesday, international Japanese students presented skits that showed possible culture shocks that Americans would encounter in Japan, such as the differences in physical contact.

Tomorrow is the last day that the series will focus on Japan; traditional food and music will be available at the International House.

Students who have already participated in the month-long cultural workshop have found it to be rewarding.

"I thought it was a good experience to promote interactions between local students and international students," said graduate student Lucia Ishikawa.

Next week "Eyes on the World" will concentrate on South American culture with events that include a tango presentation followed by tango lessons and a Peruvian cooking lesson.

The series will end the last week in January with focus on East Africa.

Anyone interested in culture or studying abroad is encouraged to attend the meetings from 7-9 p.m. at the International House, 2200 S. Josephine Street. Students can also contact the I-House at 303.871.4912.

Midwest - Here I come!

In about June I bought tickets to fly out to Bloomington, Indiana - well to fly to Indianapolis actually, but the final destination was Bloomington. Why?! You ask. (I know you ask this as that is the response I got from everyone I told I was going.) Well, I reply, to visit a dear friend of mine who is trapped in a 20-year long PhD program. Ok, maybe not a 20-year program but she'll definitely be out there for the majority of a decade!

Anyways, Brooke and I met many years ago now when we were both young and spry college juniors studying abroad in St. Petersburg. Since then we try to visit each other on average about once a year, taking turns who will travel out to the other. This time was my turn as she had just come for a fabulous visit to England over New Years. I had originally bought tickets that would allow me to visit her and miss a minimal amount of time off of work, as I had foolishly assumed I'd still be working at STA throughout the summer and into September. Silly me. As it happened I only had a weekend with Brooke and the University of Indiana. But that was more than enough for us girls!!

Arriving super late a few Friday nights back, damn delayed plane!, we returned to her lovely little apartment and talked for a while. Managing to get up fairly early considering our late night we first hit the biggest farmer's market in the country, where we bought some cheese and a beeswax candle. Then we went to a fabulous Thai restaurant and had some delicious lunch! After that fulfilling meal we had to take a break and a little nap. Hehe.. naps are fun.

After the repose we were ready and rearing to go to a local winery and do a bit of tasting. It was my first time to do such a high-fallooting thing and it was fun! We tried a few very interesting and delicious wines and I brought two home with me. After the winery we rested a bit before we had to go to her professor's house for an Anthro department get together BBQ. Never have I seen more wieners. No, seriously, the prof had about a dozen different kinds of hot dogs and other meats. We schmoozed with her colleagues for a time and were treated to a fire-eating show - no kidding!! Anthro kids are crazy. :)

Sunday started out pretty chilled after a late night of socializing and midnight movie watching. We slept in until about noon on Sunday and then just hung around the house, more movie watching until we finally had to go to Brooke's birthday bash at a wine bar. (Notice the theme of the weekend?) I got to meet and speak with her closest friends and enjoy a tapas style meal. Eventually we cleared out of there, walked around the town of Bloomington for a bit where I discovered they have a little bit of England in their famous and popular Nick's English Hut pub.

And of course right across from Nick's was the STA Travel branch in Bloomington. A little twinge of sadness ran through as I remembered my days as a 'Travel Advisor' with longing. But that was soon dissolved in some local brews at Nick's. Yet the night was not over yet! We then went to a friend's house and had some champagne, and then on to another friend's house for a little party which lasted until about 2 in the morning for us (keeping in mind that we needed to leave at 4am for the airport.) At this point it was useless to sleep so we went back to her place and putzed around until the time to leave. I had it easy as I could sleep on the plane home and for the rest of the day as well if I wanted, since I had neither work nor school. Poor Brooke on the other hand had an early morning Russian class, work and a faculty meeting to push through with no sleep. Oh well, that's what friends are for I guess.

All in all, it was a wonderful welcome break from well... nothing. It was also, as always, a great pleasure to see Brooke and talk about life or just veg and watch movies.

'Till death do us... what?!

Eventually all my friends came and went leaving me alone again in my little rented room in Boulder. Jobless, friendless, hopeless - ok, ok.. it wasn't that bad. But I was jobless and my friends did go back to their lives elsewhere, I however was ironically still working for STA for a few weeks. After initially a week off, they called me back in to help move all the equipment, supplies, and randoms bits from the branch on the Hill (now closed) to my former workplace in the UMC (University Memorial Center - student union like place). I graciously gave them my assistance, for a small fee of course, helped set up the computers and got things running.

The timing of the closure and move was bad in that not only had my former boss been on a month-long vacation but also my friend and former co-worker Betsy was also away for a few weeks. Luckily that turned out to my advantage as I was able to work through the last few weeks of July, gaining much needed extra cash. At last everyone who was still employed returned and I was turned out again. But at least I could celebrate in style at my friend's wedding!!

I didn't see the actual ceremony but heard it was good - still waiting on photographic evidence of that but for now you and I will have to contend ourselves with the party pics!

Chelsea doing her bit as the maid of honor

The happy couple, Melissa and Andy dancing the night away...



...as all Melissa's girlfriends watch them...

Then comes the father-daughter dance...awwwww...

Now the real party starts!! Go David, Go David!

Looking at Jilly putting on all the moves! And then there's Scott too...

The whole gang gets in on the fun!