Weird-ness

I'm weird. Like, incredibly weird. And I'm starting to have the feeling that everyone else is too.

I had this sleep-deprived, delusional conversation with a friend the other day, you know, the ones that  only happen when you can't remember what you ate earlier that day because you've been up for far too long thinking far too many thoughts, and you're not quite sure if you're speaking out loud or in your head. So I confided in her something weird that I did. And she laughed, agreed that it was bizarre, but then told me some weird things she's done.

Okay, so I realize I'm being vague and making it sound like something sketchy is going down, so maybe I should more properly define "weird" in this context. I don't mean weird as in creepy or slightly psychotic behavior, or any abnormal habit. More so in the sense of doing something strange and that doesn't really make any sense to others, or to yourself. For example, the weird deed I am referring to specifically in this example, is when I was walking down the rather long hallway in my building to my room, and I really just wanted to be in my room already, so I sprinted the rest of the way. It was completely unnecessary since  I wasn't in a rush or anything, I just logistically thought it through in my brain that it didn't make any sense for me not to run to my room. I was capable of running, and no one was in the hallway, so boom, I did it. Kind of bizarre, right?

It's easy to see weirdness in yourself, because you're with yourself all the time, and inside your head, and observing everything you do, think and say. So it's practically impossible to believe that there is nothing weird about you. So sometimes I do really weird things, and I recognize that what I'm doing is beyond bizarre, but that doesn't stop me from doing it.

And everyone does weird things. Sometimes you catch people doing weird things, which can be highly entertaining, but who's to know if what you deem to be weird is weird to them, or if that's just what they do typically. My friend responded to my "weird" story with her own, and it's kind of interesting to think about this out of body decision making moments we have on occasion.  I don't have any solution or analysis for why we do these things, but its just a inconsequential thing I like to think about from time to time, and know that everyone, no matter how cool, calm and collected that might seem, does irrational, slightly bizarre, and just straight up weird things.

Michaela Bethune

Why Ghana?

Michaela Bethune

Ever since this summer when I made the decision of where I plan to study abroad, I've been repeatedly asked the question, why Ghana? And although at this point I immediately launch into my rehearsed spiel describing logistically how the program makes sense with what I want to study and how I want to go somewhere I never will go again, internally I know that there is something more to my decision than just this monologue I've repeated approximately 48 times. 

I have never been a decisive person. Any insignificant choice I am forced to make always proves to be a struggle for me, and is followed by continuous over-analysis on whether or not I made the correct decision. Then I consider if the alternative would have been better, and regret my choice, although I know there is no way to know which experience would have been more beneficial. This indecisiveness drives me, and presumably all those around me who have to listen to my constant streams of consciousness, absolutely crazy, but I haven't been able to outgrow this annoying characteristic.

Except for now. Although at times I get nervous and scared when I realize I will be in a completely foreign environment, camping out in tents for four months behind strangers' huts, and conducting independent research on a topic I still haven't determined, this fear and insecurity has never led me to regret my decision to study abroad next semester in Ghana. If anything, it is this uncertainty and cluelessness of what I'm getting myself into that drives my desire to go and my excitement. The feeling in my gut when I suddenly have moments of clarity that I am actually going to be living in Africa, rolling up solo, and my heart skips a beat...it's those moments that make me realize there was no other option. It makes perfect sense to me why I should be studying abroad there, that I need to have this feeling of straight up, unadulterated life, where I'm not getting wrapped up in things that don't actually matter to me, where I'm not oddly competitive about things I'm not even sure that I care about, where I'm not trying to play a game I don't even know how I got involved in. I need to be where I can be living exactly in the moment, if only due to the fact that I don't have another choice, since I have no idea what is going to happen next, and I am beyond excited to not have everything planned out, and just live. I need to be in a new environment where I'm constantly challenged to adapt and learn quickly in order to get by, because its instances like those where I'm forced out of a monotonous, semi-sleepwalking routine, and realize that I am, in fact, living.

And if this explanation doesn't make sense to anyone else, I can give them my rehearsed spiel, because at this point, all that matters is that it makes sense to me.

"Study" Abroad

By Samantha DiFeliciantonio

It is hard to say that my favorite thing about college was studying abroad. Since it did not take place at GW and I was living in a different country, it seems like choosing study abroad is a cop out.

I do love everything about GW. From the city atmosphere, to the internship opportunities, to the proximity we are to the government and historical things, GW is an awesome place. Because of this, I do not want to discredit my academic life here when comparing it to my study abroad experience.

But, my semester in Florence last semester was the best time of my college career and even my life. I got to experience things I never thought I would, and I was able to survive and travel on my own in eight different countries.

Looking back, it seems like a dream that I was able to travel through Europe while “studying” and “taking classes” in a foreign country. The things I learned from staying in a host family and using foreign public transportation were nothing I could learn from an institution. They were experience-based and life lessons.

I recommend to any college student the chance to study abroad. This is because it was the time I most grew as a person and became a citizen of the world. It made me appreciate life in the US and all the opportunities I have everyday. Studying abroad allowed me to love GW more because I missed my routine, but also it allowed me to open up and live outside the Foggy Bottom constraints.

Fun in Art Class

Dan Stelly

I’ve always liked art, but I’ve never taken a real art class in high school or college. My mom has always bugged me to take a fine arts class so that I’d be able to compare a Matisse to a Cezanne at a fancy party and sound “educated.” I don’t really think knowing the subtleties of some paintings of flowers translates to how cultural or smart you are, and memorizing hundreds of watercolors was the last thing I wanted to do here at GW.

Yet this semester, I took a real art class, and it’s blown my mind. Granted, it’s not painting or sculpture or anything traditional; the title of the class is new media and we primarily work with digital platforms like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Still, our discussions about art have changed how I perceive cultural items and self-expression. Our professor was pretty upfront about the course, telling us that new media is weird and that we weren’t going to like everything we saw nor think it deserved to be called art. He also told us a very poignant line that’s stuck with me: if something seems like it was made just for you, then it’s art. It’s that simple, he said.

Since then, I’ve been grappling with our final projects. New media is great in the sense that you can make just about anything and call it new media. Our group chose to stick with Photoshop and re-design modern products for different time periods, using that time period’s style elements.

Here’s a laptop I re-designed for the Victorian/Industrial Revolution era:

And here’s a train I re-designed for the same time period:

It’s fun commentary about how today’s products and devices all follow a modern style: sleek, minimalist, metallic, etc. I really enjoyed turning that style on its head and using totally different aesthetics to re-think these products.

Overall, I’d recommend an art class to everyone here if you have the time or credit hours left. Or just take one at some point down the road; it’s a really rewarding experience. It’s also nice that I can use these digital art skills for journalistic purposes too!    

Ivory Security

Liz Henriksson

This past week a series of break-ins occurred in the Ivory Tower residence hall. In this incident two women were able to get into the building and walk into a series of unlocked doors and steal many valuables from these rooms. Even after these break-ins GWU police only seldomly monitored the lobby to make sure only GWU students were able to get into the building. I would have thought this incident would have alerted GWU to the problem that one of the largest dorms on campus was easily able to be broken into. I know I have personally followed individuals in through the doors to get into Ivory at one point in time for all my four years of college, however it can cause dangerous problems for the individuals living in that building. While students should lock their doors to their rooms, I do think there should be some responsibility by the university and by UPD to monitor who is going in and out of the buildings. UPD has began to instill a policy where on weekends students are required to show their Gworlds or sign any guests in, however while I do not think this is necessary during the weekdays and during the day time, I do think UPD should be at the front to keep a eye on things. Thurston, a similar sized dorm to Ivory, has UPD at the front desk at all times and requires students to swipe in or sign in their guests. While this may seem excessive and students should take care of their belongings and their rooms, it is just that extra bit of effort by GWU and even just the presence of UPD at the front desk that could help prevent future incidents.

Inauguration and Inaugural Ball: #onlyatgw

I've heard a lot of people talking about how Inaugural Ball is coming up and 'it'll be great and all, but it won't be anything like 2008' and I'm already sick of it and we're still a month out from Inauguration 2013.

My response is usually, 'well it'll be great because I wasn't here last time to experience it so it'll definitely be awesome.'  I honestly don't understand how GW students can be so jaded about things like this that really do happen #onlyatgw.  I mean, how many college kids can say that they're able to walk down the street and take part in any Presidential Inauguration, but especially the one that marks the start of President Obama's second term?  No matter your political persuasion, that's pretty awesome and pretty unique.

With the Inauguration coming up and the Inaugural Ball, that means it'll be my last semester of undergrad at GW.  This year has already been really awesome and marked by plenty of #onlyatgw moments, so it'll be great to start out my last semester in such an incredible way.

Not only will a President I helped to elect start his second term in office, but I will be able to dress up and go to a ball at the Omni Shoreham Hotel which has a really cool history of its own, with guests such as the Beatles and hosting FDR's inaugural ball (he was present) and President Clinton's as well.

This is an epic city, for lack of a better adjective and Something surely Happens Here.  I hope that everyone opens their eyes and realizes what this school and this city have to offer, because they will not disappoint.

Winter Break Top Ten List

Jennie Krems

Winter break is fast approaching so I figured it would be nice to make a list of what I am most looking forward to (and not so much) about break.  I will be going home to Boston so I can definitely expect some chilly temperatures.  This will be my Winter Break Top Ten List.

10. Living with my parents for a month
9. Gaining holiday weight from all the egg nog and desserts
8. Not having anything to do
7. Snow and probably lots of it!
6. Going to my favorite eateries in the area, especially Anna's Taqueria!
5. Seeing my friends from high school and the ones from GW who live nearby
4. Seeing a lot of movies and going shopping
3. Going ice skating and doing other wintry activities
2. Catching up on much needed sleep
1. Presents and holiday parties! 

That's it.  I probably missed a few, but I'm no David Letterman.  I hope everyone has a fun break!