GW's Weekend Scene

I've spent this weekend at home in New Jersey, and it gave me time to think about how different my weekend here has been to those at GW. In honor of those differences, I give you a blog about the partying culture at GW.


A few things before I get into it. 1) GW is NOT a dry campus. Sorry mom and dad, but little Johnny will probably be exposed to alcohol at some point during his first year at college (GW or elsewhere). Obviously underage drinking is strictly prohibited and discouraged by the University BUT that does not mean it does not happen on our campus. It is up the individual should they partake in any kind of activity regarding underaged drinking (or drug use). 2) Many of the things I'm going to talk about involve drinking but you could easily participate in any of these things sober. 3) The object of going out/drinking is to have fun, so if drinking doesn't appeal to you, don't do it and have fun anyway! 

Okay, now that that's out of the way, on the good stuff. What is the deal, really, with the party scene at GW? Well, like many other things, GW is pretty different from other schools. I know, I know, GW is different blah blah blah--you get it. But seriously, GW is a city school. There are no massive Greek mansions with sprawling lawns and 24/7 parties. There are fraternity houses that hold pretty typical college frat parties; they just happen to be in brink townhouses in the middle of downtown DC. The frat parties are usually advertised by giant banners hanging on the house displaying the date, time, and theme. It's pretty much what you would imagine a college frat party to be, so I won't give you any more detail on that front. 

So what else? Greek life is not the end all be all of the party scene at GW. It's really just the beginning actually. There are myriad bars and clubs to choose from, ranging from the 18+ techno dance clubs to the 21+ chill out bars in DuPont Circle. For those under 21, a pretty big staple to nightlife in DC is Hawk and Dove. Located a few metro stops away near Capitol Hill, "the Hawk" as my friends and I refer to it, has a downstairs bar and upstairs dance floor that is always packed. The Exchange is also very popular, very close to campus and the White House. Lots of fraternities, when having a special party or event night, will rent out The Exchange or Hawk and Dove. 

Once you turn 21, you'll surely visit one bar in particular, McFadden's. It's sort of the GW student coming of age-- that unattainable bar that one simply cannot enter until legal. Newly 21 year-old students make the pilgrimage to McFadden's to enjoy one of their legendary Happy Hours (cheap drinks for certain hours of the night). Even my friends from American University and George Mason have made the trek McFadden's after becoming legal. Another great place to go when over 21 is Adams Morgan. Past DuPont Circle, Adams is a bit of a walk or a short cab/metro ride away. There are literally streets lined with bars--mostly filled with college students and young professionals. There is always something to do in Adams Morgan on the weekends, and even if you aren't 21, there are hookah bars and cute cafes up there as well. There are so many places in the city to go, whether 21 or 18, to enjoy a night out of the town.  

But all that going to clubs and bars can get expensive. So if you're looking for a cheaper or just different kind of night, stay in. If you're over 21, you can bring alcohol into your room and party with your friends as long as you aren't bothering your neighbors. Whether you end up at a club/bar, frat party, or a friend's place, most people like to end the night with some nourishment. 

And by nourishment I mean some form of junk food. While Domino's and Papa John's pizza are the old stand bys for delivery pizza, there is so much more out there. First of all, there's Manouch. No student can call themselves a GW student if they haven't been to Manouch. The man, the institution, Menuch sells the best hotdogs and pretzels on the corner of Eye and 21st Streets late at night. While the long line can be daunting at times, it's always worth it! If you happen to be in the Adams Morgan area (or not), you can treat yourself to the cheesey goodness of Jumbo Slice before calling it a night. When I say jumbo, I mean jumbo. Their idea of a "slice" of pizza is really about a quarter of a pie, and with about 5 or 6 different places offering these large slices, it's a quick late night snack. There's also a few 24 hour places, like the McDonald's on M Street or the CVS, also on M Street. Crepe Away and Pita Pit also do late night business, open till about 3 or 4 am on weekends. But if you find yourself at home, and not wanting pizza delivery do I have the answer for you: DC Sancks! Just hit up www.dcsnacks.com and choose from a crazy amount of foods, ranging from vegan cookies, frozen meals, PitaPit sandwiches, to Ben and Jerry's ice cream--all for delivery!  

Well, I hope this has been helpful in uncovering the party scene at GW. There are so may options--whether involving drinking or not. All you have to do is look!

--Abby

Farmer's Market!

If you didn't notice in the fall,  there's a great farmer's market right behind the Foggy Bottom metro station that is open during weekday and have a variety of goods ranging from flowers to pastries. One of my favorite purchases at the market was Apple Butter, essentially apple sauce mixed with butter and a few spices. It's great for sandwiches, alongside other fruits as a snack, and even for cooking! Though it's not fall anymore, Paula Deen (haha love her) has a great  Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie recipe that you can save for next year!

Aside from farmer's markets that are located across the city, Trader Joe's, an all-natural food store has a variety of organic and healthy products you can purchase and cook. If you go further up Wisconsin avenue by bus, you'll also find a Whole Foods, another one can also be found by Logan Circle near Dupont Circle.

Speaking of all these great food places makes wish I had my own kitchen, sadly my London hall accommodation doesn't provide anything of the like, not even a refrigerator or a microwave and am forced to eat the hall food. I can't wait to come back to GW's South Hall and cook up a storm!

Serena

GBPound 9 Month Low to the Dollar

I'm slightly bitter that the GBP has fallen to its nine month low to the dollar this week, price at 1.52 to one dollar. When I initially moved to the UK I had wired the majority of my money at 1.68... a significant difference in rate compared to now. Many factors account for the fall, including the speculation of Greece defaulting on its loans, weakening Euro, poor recovery plans and growth, UK budget deficient, threat of inflation, and  prospect of a hung Parliament come June elections.

For sophomores who are considering study abroad in Europe next year, now is the best period to exchange money. For those who desire to vacation in Europe, this summer is also the ideal time to plan a Euro-trip, especially an extensive trip to Greece as everything will be a lot more affordable.

More information about currency woes: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8538792.stm

Serena

London->Paris; DC->NYC Weekend Breaks

This past weekend I made my second weekend trip to Paris and had an amazing time as always (blog post to follow). There are two ways to travel to Paris from London. The first and easiest method is to take Eurostar, the European version of Amtrak, from St. Pancras International to Gare du Nord. Aside from checking in 30 minutes before boarding and going through a relatively short security screening, the entire trip takes two and a half hours. Gare du Nord is also situated in the middle of Paris and connects to various making it quite accessible when staying with friends. The second method is to fly from a number of London airports (Luton, Standsted, Gatwick) to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. Both airports are at least an hour and a half ride, Paris being shorter, from the city and so there is a lot of hassle navigating unfamiliar routes. The best way would definitely be to use Eurostar, though the cost end up being about the same, ultimately the time and hassle saved leads to a better weekend in Paris.

There are 3 methods of travel from DC to NYC: air, train, bus. I'm sure everyone is aware of how to fly in and out of BWI and Ronald Reagan and so I won't elaborate. The train station is located in Union Station (Red Line) and is nearly a 20 min metro ride from Foggy Bottom (Orange Line). Similar to the above, the trip takes about two and a half hours and tickets can be purchased online or at the station; it takes you into Grand Central terminal, and tickets roundtrip are around $150-200. My choice of transportation is the DC to NYC four hour bus ride that costs $30 roundtrip. Though four hours is a long time to sit on a bus, many of them provide free wifi or play somewhat entertaining movies during the trip, I often take a nap =). These buses aren't sketchy as some may believe. Pick up locations in DC vary from Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle, and Chinatown to Grand Central, Chinatown, etc. Buses run at various times of the day and are surprisingly reliable.

Serena

SPRING FEVER (and study spots!)

Arrrrrright friends. Here’s the dealio: I’ve got Spring Fever! The weather’s gotten nice lately and I just wanna go out and walk in the park and play outdoors and do Spring-y things! (Yes, I know it’s still Winter, but 50 degree days is not bad at all, particularly considering the snowy war zone we were living just a few weeks ago!) And Spring’s like a month away!


But here’s the problem: I can’t really take advantage of the lovely weather of late, cause midterms are right around the corner! And by that, I mean now. Total buzz kill. So I thought I’d make this blog about alternative places to study (emphasizing the great outdoors). What makes it even better is that in doing this, I’m also responding to Ekiria and Kim who addressed study places in their recent blogs. Killing two spiders with one shoe, as I like to say! (Yep, you heard correctly. Cause I don’t kill birds.)
Keep in mind that my suggestions are based on my own studying needs, and I know that everyone requires different conditions to really get work done. Me, I’m not a library study person, really. I kind of need background noise. But I can’t listen to music, or I’ll find myself singing along in my head rather than getting anything done. I also work better in public—I think it has something to do with the pressure. Like, with all these people around, I can’t not study, they’d totally judge me! That may be irrational, but I just do whatever works!


1) The National Mall – how can you say no to that? I mean, really? It’s not a far walk, just bring a towel or blanket for the grass and voila! Also makes for a great picnic spot. Now, I realize that a lot of these outdoor places don’t have WiFi so you couldn’t do online work but that may be helpful as it would ensure that you don’t somehow end up on Facebook within 15 minutes.  This happens to me on the regular.


2) The Monuments – I’ve been known to just sprawl out on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial or the WW2 Memorial with a few books and get some reading done. This may not work for everyone, since there’s tourists everywhere and you’re likely to get bothered to take a photo or two, but I’ve always been very productive there.


3) The Courtyard inside the National Portrait Gallery – A really nice, quaint little area in the heart of the museum. It has tables and chairs that you could pile with all your work, and it’s not busy enough to be terribly distracting. Plus, in the meantime you can check out the sculptures and paintings throughout the museum.


4) Corner Bakery – Ok, now I’m going a bit commercial. But I’m a huge fan of Corner Bakery. The nearest location to campus is on 18th and Penn, I believe. And it’s so tasty. Allow me to recommend the Chicken Pomodori Panini or the Club Panini. They’re quite good. They have indoor and outdoor seating and free WiFi, so it’s really ideal. And yummy goodies. Win-Win-Win. Everyone wins.


Hope y’all liked my advice and little rant about the weather! I haven’t gotten an email in a while, so I suggest that YOU be the one to change that! ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu


 ~~~Shireen

London Royal Opera House

So the other day I went with the GW England Center to see Cosi fan tutte by Mozart at the Royal Opera House in London. This was not the first time I've attended such an event with GW and have actually seen a number of plays and musicals through the center. This was also not the first time I've been in the Royal Opera House as I attended the Critics Circle Dance Awards last month. Cosi fan tuttue is an opera about two young couples caught in love and feign double-dealings to prove their fidelity. Unfortunately, I was nearly late for the theatre as I was getting out of class. It is recommended that viewers arrive half an hour early, but I didn't get in until 5 till...thank goodness I made it since latecomers are barred from entrance, what a pity!

  

Secretly taking a picture inside the House

DC has a ton of great theatre places all around town. The Kennedy Center is practically our next door neighbor and so going there to see performances is super easy. Additionally there is the Shakespeare Theatre, Wholly Mammoth Theatre, Ford Theatre, National Theatre, Arena Stage, and many many more. The majority of these places are located downtown and are easily Metro accessible. I love the performing arts and would encourage everyone to see a few shows when they're on campus!

Serena

ME!!!

I was recently musing about blogger duties with fellow admissions blogger Ekiria when we realized, I NEVER INTRODUCED MYSELF TO YOU GUYS!  We kinda just jumped into this and didn’t even think to tell a bit about ourselves!  I believe she’s already taken care of it on her blog, so I’ve decided it’s my time to finally share a bit about myself.  If it becomes tedious after a while, I’m sorry!  I tend to rant as you may know, particularly when I’m talking about myself…

So my name is Shireen, and I’m a Middle Eastern Studies major from New City, NY.  New City is about a half hour or so from NYC, so I do NOT live upstate.  That’s a key distinction.  My father is originally from Iran, and my mother is Italian-American, from Long Island.  Interesting mix, no?  I identify equally with both sides, and I am very proud of my odd mix of ethnicities. 

As a result, I’m very interested in history, international affairs, and languages.  I absolutely love learning languages.  My goal would be to learn every language ever spoken, but I’m pretty sure that’s impossible—though it won’t stop me from trying!  As of now, I’ve learned French, Italian, and Persian (Farsi).  Notice that I said I learned them, I don’t speak them.  I’m pretty close to fluency in French and Italian, but I’ve got a long way to go in Farsi.  Once I tackle those, I hope to master Arabic and Spanish, and maybe Russian one day if I’m really ambitious.  But for now I’ll stick to my first three.

I’m also really into art.  Or the arts, rather.  I love drawing and painting(ish… I’m better at drawing).  My favorite media are chalk, oil pastel, and graphite.  I like colored pencil too but I have a short fuse with them.  I also really like to write, as you may be able to tell, and I read when I get a chance.  My favorite author, as I’ve previously mentioned, is Toni Morrison.  I absolutely love her.  Also, when I get a chance, I love to horseback ride and play soccer.  But I rarely get a chance anymore :(

Hmmm what else is there?  I like traveling—but then again, who doesn’t?  Though I’d take a tourist-y history-y museum-y extravaganza over a tropical beach vacation ANY DAY.  I’m way into that cultural junk. 

OH!  My favorite color is purple.  When I was young I used to pick purple flowers and just carry them around.  (Yeah, I was a weird kid.  So much has changed!)  And my favorite color combination is purple & gold.  Not many people have a favorite color combination, eh?  Well I do.  It’s just so pretty and regal, ya know? 

That seems to be it.  If anything dire comes up, I’ll update you guys.  Thanks for listening, though!  And as always, email me with anything and everything!  ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu.

<3 Shireen

Good Night and Good Luck

Last week was so, so, so busy and I didn't think life could get any more hectic, but this week is proving to be just as busy--and it's only Monday. You know what they say: Life is what happens while you're busy making plans. While I had many different events last week, I wanted to share a couple of particular interest.

On Wednesday, after work I had interviews for the STAR Selection Committee. STAR stands for Student Admissions Representative and we are the tour guides for the University. So if you haven't come to visit us already,  you'll surely meet a STAR who will be giving you a tour or an information session (I give the Friday afternoon Information Sessions, so if you come at that time you'll hear me!). STAR is a great way to get involved on campus and to make friends, so if you're interested you can email them at gwstar@gwu.edu.

After giving three interviews, I had to attend a screening of the film Good Night and Good Luck for my Film, Media and Politics class. Not only did we watch this fantastic movie with our professor and members of another journalism class, but we had two very special guests with us: Marvin Kalb (right), Former CBS News Chief Diplomatic Correspondent, and Robert Vitarelli (left), Former CBS Director. We also were lucky enough to screen the film in the School of Media and Public Affairs's Jack Morton Auditorium, which made the film all the more powerful. After the movie, we had a Q&A session with Mr. Kalb and Mr. Vitarelli, which was so insightful and really eye opening. They shared stories about Edward R. Murrow, the legandary journalist who famously broadcasted live on the radio during the bombing of London during World War II and who brought down Senator Joseph McCarthy's 'red scare' in 1954. Kalb, the last correspondent hired by Murrow himself, gave us some very interesting stories about the legendary anchorman, telling us that he was so nervous when he broadcast on the radio, he would sit there with his shirt open and by the end of the broadcast, he would be drenched in sweat! Of course, when he began doing live television, he would pat himself down during the commercial breaks. Murrow was also rarely seen without a cigarette in hand, smoke constantly in the background of his newscast, something we would never see today. Kalb has a special relationship with our School of Media and Public Affairs; GW's Global Media Institute, along with the Harvard University and the National Press Club, sponsor The Kalb Report. Kalb conducts a sit-down interview with a media personality, from the 60 Minutes news team to Ken Burns, and GW students get FREE ticktes to the events, which are held at the National Press Club. I've seen Kaite Couric and Bob Costas and will go see Rupert Murdoch later in the semester. The screening from this past week was much more intimate than the Kalb Report but just as entertaining and unique to GW!

Another uniquely GW event occurred early Friday morning. As Kim mentioned, the GW community is gearing up for Student Association elections. Friday morning at 7 a.m. is when candidates are allowed to begin putting up posters around campus. Because these elections are so intense, students get up early and line up in front of Kogan Plaza, ready to run to the best locations at exactly 7 a.m., posters in hand. My good friend Xochitl Sanchez is running for SA President, so a bunch of my friends and I all got up at 5:30 a.m. to meet with Xochitl and her team over breakfast before heading to Kogan. The free breakfast of bagels, juice, coffee, fruit, and cereal made waking up at 5:30 a bit more bearable. We were divided up into pairs, one person to run ahead to reserve space and one person to follow holding the posters. This is serious stuff, though; there are rules to how you can poster and these students are not messing around. No one can put a poster in a place you have already claimed as your space--i.e. no one can put a poster over your hand. Every person participating must have the full name of the candidate that they support written on a piece of tape placed on their back so that if anyone violates the rules, the candidate will suffer the consequences. The number of posters allowed in the Marvin Center is also limited to 30 per candidate but this did not stop people from practically trampling each other at the starting line (see photo above). Tape was a hot commodity, and even though people I knew asked me for some, I wouldn't share unless it was for a Xochtil poster (I'm a very loyal supporter, what can I say?). I had always wanted to participate in this GW tradition and I'm happy to say that I have, and for a candidate I actually know and respect. Although I felt like a zombie the rest of the day, I couldn't help be proud of the beautifully taped Xochitl Sanchez posters donning the brick walls of the Academic Center. Check out http://xforchange.com/ for more info about Xochitl, your future SA president!

That's all for now,

--Abby

Concerts!

A great deal of musicians and bands come through London. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get tickets for JayZ or Lady Gaga when they were their due to their popularity in the UK. Though last week I had the chance to see Vampire Weekend at the O2 Brixton Academy Hall. They released their new album, Contra a month ago and the show was sold out for both nights. My friend who saw them perform at Smith a year ago said they were a bit awkward, but I thought they were pretty engaging and funny. They even made Jersey Shore references (Fist Pump, The Situation, etc), which clearly no one comprehended, but I was glad they did a little USA shoutout =)

In relation to DC/GW there are tons of concerts that happen throughout the year. For example, GW has Fall Fest that kicks in the school year with several student organizations fairs/carnival themed outdoor events/and concerts, we've had Sean Kingston,OK Go, Fabulous, Notorious BIG and a bunch of other artists perform. Aside from GW hosting events, DC has a number of music venues and clubs, such as the Black Cat, 9:30 Club, and Fur with a variety of artists that range from the like of Cat Power to DJ Tiesto.

Serena

Response to Ekiria

While watching the Olympics, the best this ever created, I was reading the other blogs on the site and noticed that Ekiria wanted us other bloggers to list study spaces on campus beside Gelman and Starbucks.

I have found that I like to study in my room.  While it often becomes distracting, I am comfortable, I have food, and can take a break without having to trek between places.

Other than my room, I think Eckles library on the Mt. Vernon campus is a great place to study.  There are always desks open, except in snow storms, and the bus ride is often soothing and relaxing.  The Hatchet recently did an article about how students are using Eckles more than ever.

Another great place to study is the Marvin Center.  This year the university has added more couches on all of the floors with tables and plenty of outlets for studying by yourself or with a group.  The Marvin Center is the main student building on campus holding all of the student organizations and J Street, our dining hall.  Many event are held in the building so being able to study, then go to an event or meeting, and then go back to studying is a great luxury.  The Marvin Center is now open until 2 AM too, so you can get plenty of studying in when you need to.

There are plenty of other places on campus to study like, Ivory Tower food court, the Fishbowl, and the Academic Center.

Even if you don't have a laptop, there at 24 hour computer labs all over campus so you can connect to the internet and print out readings or work on presentations.

Academics are the reason you go to college.  And while it may seem like all of us bloggers are occupied doing other things, we must focus on our education.

Remember, you can email me with any questions!

Kim

Let the Race Begin

Today was the start of the epic election season!  Student Association, Program Board, and Class Council will all have their elections next Wednesday and Thursday.

The Student Association elections tend to get the most media coverage because this decides who is the student representative to the Board of Trustees, President Knapp, and other administrators.  Students also elect their school representative to the SA Senate that passes legislation regarding gender-neutral housing, Library initiatives, and other student concerns.

This year I am running for Columbian College Undergraduate Senator.  It is the first time I have been a candidate in the election and I was not the only one to have the idea to run.  Right now, there are 20 students running for the 6 CCAS seats.  We will see how successful I can be by the end of next week.

We have two presidential candidates, Jason Lifton and Xochitl Sanchez.  We also have 4 students running for the position of Executive Vice President.  This student runs the senate meetings and often accompanies the President to meetings with administrators.  The students running for this position are Logan Dobson, John Binetti , Rob Maxim, and Josh Goldstein.

Here is what my poster looks like...

I will be sure to keep everyone updated on the election!

Kim

"It's not like you're in High School anymore."

As I was walking to class the other day, I overheard the above telling remark. Two freshmen were on their way from the building where I was headed.
#1: "Why are you in such a rush, man?"
#2: "Because I don't want to be late for class again."
#1: "Dude, it's a lecture. Nobody's gonna notice or mark you late. It's not like you're in High School anymore."

This is an example, I'm afraid, of wishful thinking. (I happened to be one of the lucky freshmen who learned early on to get to class on time, but I've seen many upperclassmen who still haven't.) In high school, the dangers of coming late to class are fairly obvious, and while they might be severe--especially for repeat offenders--you can plan for them. This isn't the case if you're late to class in college, though. Here are the various classes of "threats" you might face with chronic lateness, even if you're in a large lecture:

1. The TA sees you: Believe me, often the discussion/ recitation/ laboratory sections that are attached to most large introductory courses are small enough that the TA remembers your face. Most are nice, some not so much; I've heard stories about (possibly well-meaning) passive-aggressive questioning along the lines of "Where were you in class today?" or "Have you been sick?" This happened to my friend who ran into her TA at dinner on a day she skipped a discussion.

2. The Professor calls you out: I have seen a couple of full-time faculty members who will stop their lecture, wave and greet anyone who enters late in a disruptive fashion (cellphone in hand, iPod blaring etc.). This is mostly for psychological effect, and I really see it as an overreaction on the part of faculty, but I can't imagine it's a pleasant experience to be on the receiving end.

3. The Professor notices but says nothing: This probably means the faculty member in question either doesn't care or has sworn revenge. The good part: they'll probably forget to follow up. The bad part: if you ever need something, like a paper re-graded or a letter of recommendation, they might remember. I guess this is like karma.

4. You miss the material: sometimes this will happen, and often it can come back to bite you. How do you ask without making obvious the fact you didn't show? So much easier to wait to get that double-frappe-creamachino-latte-suplex liquid at Starbucks until after class.

I guess in summary that it would be easier if the attendance/ lateness policies for every class were simple and spelled out like in high school. In many cases, this happens; but remember that faculty members are people, and some of them may interpret chronic lateness as a personal insult or a sign of arrogance which they might feel obliged to chastise. Because of the personal interactions underlying the "three lates means one absence means a  grade penalty" system, being chronically late can have consequences which are bad and made worse by their unpredictability.

Catching Up...

... Seems to be the theme in all of my classes (and my life) this week. Having last week off because of the snow really threw a wrench in all of my professors' schedules, and even in my own. That being said, I am happy that the snowpocalpse happened while I was still here, cause it was a lot of fun. Except for the part where I was in line at the grocery store on the Thursday before the snow started for TWO HOURS, because everyone was freaking out.

Pic from Claire's blackberry of crazyyyyyyy long lines at store.

If we weren't hosting a Super Bowl party, I definitely would've left after the first 30 minutes. At least we had a great party, lots of friends came over and everyone brought something, we had quite a spread of chili, shepard's pie, fried chicken, and beer cheese dip (made by yours truly). And the halftime show by The Who was awesome!

Heather making Shepard's Pie!

And the best part of the party? At the very end, when everyone's blackberries went off with the email from GW saying that classes were cancelled for Monday! :)

Everyone starting to arrive, 2 of my awesome roomies on right!

Though by Thursday, I actually wanted to go to classes and work (never thought I would say that!), it was a memorable experience, especially walking around the city and down the middle of the street with no traffic... definitely a once in a blue moon kind of opportunity!

Maura and I hiding from Claire.

Claire and I may or may not have thrown Maura into a snow bank....

Standing ABOVE pillars that usually come up to my hips!

Standing on the frozen Reflecting Pool between the Lincoln and WW2 Memorials...

we "skated" down the entire thing!

~Vickie

Museums and Cupcakes!

So to address Erikka's challenge, one of my favorite places is the School of Business Building. It has tons of group study space on the third and fourth floors and a huge study lounge on the first floor. Reservations are needed for the study spaces, but often time you can see who reserved it for the time slot and leave when they arrive. Another study space on campus that's often overlooked are the dorm common rooms. Though far from glamorous and located in the basement of most buildings, people rarely go down there to do anything and so it's quite secluded. I don't venture off campus very much because I'm able to study in my room for the most part...hopefully this sparks some light bulbs for people!

So yesterday I had the chance to visit the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington, London. It's a quirky museum full of a variety of art and exhibitions from all eras. It is impossible to go through the museum in an entire day because towards the end everything looses its autonomy and begins looking very similar. My favorite aspect was the fashion exhibit and had a few classic pieces from Chanel, Givenchy, McQueen, etc

A piano dress:

 

On the topic of museums, I'm sure everyone is aware of the array of museums in DC; my favorite by far is the Newseum. It opened just a few years ago and is an interactive museum of news and journalism. They have a great photojournalism exhibit and made a few of my friends and I teary-eyed due to its power in conveying the circumstances at that time. They also have a fun exhibit where you can act and film yourself as a newscaster. The rooftop view is absolutely amazing and a lot of  political fundraisers and social galas take place at night. 

After I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum, I decided to get cupcakes at the famous Hummingbird Bakery. Of course I got the signature Red Velvet and a Vanilla Cupcake with Chocolate frosting.

 

 My favorite cupcake store in DC is Georgetown Cupcakes. They're located in the center of Georgetown, across from Dean and Delucas.They're currently filming a new TLC reality show, "Working Sisters" and so I encourage everyone to wear their soon-to-be George Washington Gear and to go buy a cupcake...gotta make those cameos (perhaps I'm just a sucker for celebrity and reality TV). If you don't want to spend money buying a cupcake, everyday around 3pm they give out a free cupcake...take advantage of that while you can!  

Serena

Sports

If anyone is curious about study space on campus, check out my post from December 7th (during the peak of finals last semester). Some other key places to study are the Marvin Center, Duques Hall, and Academic Center. For off campus ideas, I like the other Starbucks locations around Foggy Bottom and beyond. There's also a good place called Burbon Coffee on L Street that is really good--two of my good friends rave about their coffee and they have free wireless internet! I'm sure some other bloggers have some great ideas about great places to study on and off campus.

And now to the subject of my post today: sports.

GW may not have a football team, but we are definitely an active student body. Our Division 1 sports, from squash to basketball, attract fans and bring school spirit to campus. The home basketball games are so much fun to go to, and as a member of the Colonial Army--GW's student fan group--you get to sit in the special student section, as well as some added perks like a t-shirt and backpack. You can't get a bigger sense of GW pride than standing in a sea of buff and blue cheering the basketball team to victory.

Beyond our D1 sports, we offer a variety of club sports, ranging from lacrosse to basketball to ice hockey. I play on the women's club soccer team and some of my best friends are the girls on the team. Not only is it a great way to make friends, but it's also a great way to make lasting connections. The captain of the team my freshman year got a job after graduation at a DC think-tank where I later interned, thanks to staying in touch with her. We also get to travel a fair amount during our fall and spring seasons, so it's a great way to visit other college campuses. We've gone as far as Richmond and are possibly visiting Boston later this spring. We usually play area teams like Georgetown, University of Maryland, and American University, but we've also played Navy, Yale, and Penn State. While our team is competitive and we have tryouts, the commitment is not too rigorous that it takes over all your time. We usually have 1 to 2 practices a week and games one day on the weekend in the fall, and less frequently in the spring. Some club teams are more competitive, like crew, and some are less so. For more information about club sports, check out this link: http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwellness/clubsports/availableclubsportscopy/.

Intramural sports are also very popular at GW. We have basketball, soccer, arena football, volleyball, flag football, dodgeball, and even floor hockey. If you would like to see a full list, you can visit the Lerner Health and Wellness Center website at http://gwired.gwu.edu/gwellness/intramuralsports. You can play co-rec, which are co-ed teams, or in the women's or men's leagues. This spring GW is having its own World Cup where teams represent countries and get t-shirts.

Most of these sports are played at Lerner Health and Wellness (the gym on Foggy Bottom), but if you aren't interested in competitive sports, you can work out at "HelWel" as we call the gym for short. The gym, which has no membership fee for students, has a floor of cardio, with tons of tredmills, elliptical machines, and bikes. There is also a free weight room, as well as weight machines on the first floor. We have nice locker rooms, and you can rent a lock or any other equipment you need downstairs. We also have racquetball courts, squash courts, and two floors of basketball courts. There is walking track, as well as additional cardio machines on the upper floors.  When you're done with your workout, you can head to Campus Fresh to pick up some healthy eats. Smoothies, wraps, burritos, and frozen yogurt make up the menu and you can use your GWorld card, of course.

There is also a multipurpose room where students can take aerobics classes, like zumba, hot cardio dance, or yoga. These classes are free at the beginning of the semesters and then you can buy a semester long pass or pay per class to continue taking them. If you are looking for a more intense work out, you can go to extreme training classes for free that are offered three times a week. If you want to work out one on one, you can pay to have a personal trainer. You can also even take exercise activity classes for credit. These one credit courses range from Japanese sword fighting to racquetball to pilates. You get a grade for these classes that counts towards your GPA but the grade does not count towards your credit requirements for graduation. I'm taking squash and weight training this semester and loving it.

Whatever your preference, you can find a way to work out, stay fit, and have fun with sports at GW!

--Abby

Finding a Study Space/Valentine's Day

   At GW, finding a good study space is about being creative. My least favorite thing to do is study in Gelman Library, and many times (especially during finals) there isn't any space. A few hours underneath the Library's track-lighting literally drives me insane...Gelman and I have a temperamental relationship. So I want to challenge my fellow bloggers to start a running list of good study spaces on or off campus that aren't Gelman Library or the Starbucks attached to Gelman Library. Yesterday I was really responsible and I woke up early and went to Barnes and Noble in Georgetown to do some work before my Valentine's Day festivities started. There's a coffee shop inside, the space is huge, and it's generally pretty quiet. An added benefit is the fact that they're open until 11pm every night. Sometimes it's nice to get out of your room (you're welcome to wear something besides sweatpants) and study somewhere else.

   Even though the picture above doesn't make it seem like it, I actually had a great Valentine's Day. I celebrated Valentine's Day on Saturday, so a lot of pressure was taken off and I was free to hang out with friends for our "Single Ladies" Sunday. We went to The Front Page, a restaurant/grill near Dupont Circle. The food was fantastic as usual, and they had a lot of specials in honor of the day, including an Anti-Boyfriend cocktail. I also found out that on Thursdays during happy hour they charge $1 for three tacos so I'll definitely be back. Later we went to Porter's,  a sports bar, and watched the Rutgers/Georgetown game on the big screen. Everyone at Porter's seemed to be in good spirits (probably because Georgetown lost) even though they weren't out having romantic dates.

   Now that the snow is melting, it's time to get back to work. I have an application for a summer abroad program due today and lots of reading to catch up on. I didn't take the picture above, but i'd be lying if I told you the streets here don't look something like this. 

'Til next time

Ekiria

UK Universities and Reading Week

One of the academic differences between UK and American universities is the concept of reading week. At GW and most other American schools, students are typically given a week prior to finals to study or to make up classes. During this time almost everyone is furiously at work and the Gelman library is constantly backed...I know of individuals who'd practically move out of their entire dorm and live in a Gelman study room--it's THAT intense. Many UK universities also have a reading week that allows students to catch up on work and to study; however, it's not placed at the end of the term, rather it occurs in the middle. I do enjoy having a week in the middle of term to study as it helps pace the work better than cramming everything in the end. Now one would wonder if a study period actually occurs before finals. Well, it certainty does! Students actually have a 5 week preparation study period before exams, which is clearly needed. Though many people may study at this time, others who've paced and studied throughout the term may decide to leisurely travel throughout Europe. Unfortunately, I was not motivated to study throughout the term and am forced to study the entire time, except for one week where I'll be traveling to Egypt with a group of friends.

A typical picture of LSE library. Though the spiral stairwell is aesthetically appealing, it is quite functionality  inefficient.

Credit: snb03277 Flicker

Serena

"BOYCOTT DISASTROUS GWU SNOW MAKE-UP SCHEDULE": Or, how I learned to stop worrying and love the Finals

 Yeah, yeah. The snow was fun. Here's the rub:

Ok. I am upset. Here's what I wrote on the facebook group that's protesting this:

"As I see it, this is just another reflection of a lack of understanding of day-to-day student concerns on the part of the administration. Any attempt to alter the schedule in the run-up to final exams should be predicated on student needs; surely the administration doesn't expect faculty to adjust the test to fit the m...uch-reduced final review time. If they care about academic "quality control", they have every incentive to backtrack on this irresponsible decision. For now I'll reserve judgment on the SA's role/ lack thereof in this mess, but if they wanted to show meaningful leadership or initiative, now would be the time."

Now, to be fair, we've had problems with the Administration and the Student Association here for a long time. Most colleges do and these issues are complex. In the future, maybe I'll share my thoughts on the  underlying problems of the relationship between the student body, the SA and the administration... but for now, I'll focus on the response to the schedule changes and what it indicates about our student body.

Anyone who's looked into GW has probably heard that we're "politically active". This probably conjures up images of either angry, borderline-irrational protest marching or, diplomatically speaking, indiscrete congressional interns waving their ID cards all over the place. It's certainly true that you can see this kind of student all over the place in our neighborhood (check out the front of the White House and any one of the many Starbucks, respectively). 

But what the response to the snow schedule changes shows us is something deeper than that-- it's what I see as a much more deep and meaningful type of political activity, the kind that republican democracy depends on in all of its citizens. This is something better described as political awareness, an understanding of how one's own life is affected by broader issues (and vice versa) and of how changes to the situation can be brought about. Political activity tends to pull us apart as a country into our own little parochial concerns; political awareness brings us all together. It does so by helping us, as Americans and as people, understand the interconnectedness of the actions we take with the  future of others. Right now, the GW student body is showing political awareness-- I've seen a couple of modest, workable, constructive ideas already on the Facebook group page, and I'm sure there will be more by the time this post goes out.

If the GW Administration goes through with this, there are two options: Either the faculty adjusts the finals to compensate, or the student body on average (all other things being equal) does poorly. Both of these are undesirable outcomes-- I don't want my school to relax its academic standards, but I don't want its students to be academically penalized for events outside of their control. 

Luckily, people realize this; they know it, and even if the administration won't back down, I have confidence that as a student body we won't just accept it, study as hard as usual in a compressed amount of time and do poorly on finals. Based on what I've seen, the student body is going to put extra effort into squeezing out every dime we've put into our education here by working to meet the standards of this school.

So despite the fact that the GW Administration has pursued a really clumsy policy by removing our reading days, I guess the take-away from this whole thing is that we have something fundamentally good going on here. If only the "adults" would contribute to the solution a little more, it would shine through all the time on campus.

Snow Update

Hello out there!

It's been awhile and I apologize for not blogging about all the crazy weather, but everyone seems to be covering it quite nicely! The pics and videos are really great and capture the insanity that was this past week very well. Having an entire week off from school (essentially) as a second semester senior could not have been better planned! It seemed weird that I had more time but got less accomplished but that's okay with me. It will be back to the grind on Tuesday, but for now, I want to enjoy my weekend!

Let me first say that last weekend will be hard to beat. It began snowing on Friday, and a bunch of my friends and I went to Chinatown for dinner at a restaurant called Matchbox. They are famous for delicious thin crust brick oven pizza, and let me tell you it was fantastic! We went all out with dessert and wine too! After our meal, we went to see Dear John (see picture right). I'll spare you my detailed review of the film, but I must say  it was pretty terrible. Afterward, a few of our friends slept over our apartment. We woke up and made a big breakfast and, of course, played in the snow! We walked through campus and down to the National Mall to check out the city. It was still snowing when we left the Mall around 5 to head back to campus. Our friends came over later and we all hung out until the wee hours of the morning, and of course, people slept in our apartment again. We made another huge breakfast--pancakes, fruit salad, eggs, hash browns, juice-- and watched a movie before heading over to a friend's Superbowl party. The game was so exciting, and the right team won so we were all so happy! (check out Saints quarterback Drew Brees with his wife and cute baby son below) There was a ton of food and fun at the party and we all left in high spirits, especially because classes were canceled for the next day. Once we got hit with the next snow storm on Tuesday night into Wednesday, we knew we weren't having classes until at least Thursday. We all slept in and relaxed until the epic snowball fight on Wednesday night! Last night, my friend and I went to the Kennedy Center to see the National Symphony Orchestra Pops concert where they played selections from the Nutcracker, winter carols and film scores by John Williams--tickets were only $15! Today classes were resumed but I don't have Friday classes so it was like another day off for me.


Tonight, of course, as Matt has been telling us, are the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. My friends and I will be watching, and since it's my friends birthday we'll celebrate with her later tonight. Tomorrow I will actually have to get some work done, but I'm also going to go shopping to Pentagon City, which is the closest mall to GW. It's right on the Metro so it's really easy to get to and it's technically in Virginia which means you don't have to pay DC sales tax! On Saturday night my friend is having a mock-Olympic games in his apartment, complete with medals and all. My friends and I are representing Norway, so we're going to dress up in furry hats, boots and flannel to show our national pride. For Valentine's Day, we are going to head to the Rock 'n Roll Hotel's party over in the H Street neighborhood in Northeast DC. We have off on Monday so hopefully I'll be able to get some work done and relax before going back to the real world on Tuesday. This has been such a memorable week, and while it will be nice to get back into the swing of things, I will miss having so much time to spend with my friends and enjoying the city!

Have a good weekend everyone!

--Abby

Snow Day Part 4

I realize I missed Snow Day Part 3, but be sure I figured since this is snow day #4, it needed to correspond.

Tuesday was a wonderful day filled with sledding and fun!  Despite the metro suspending its above ground service, my friends and I made the trek up to American University where we met some more friends to go sledding on one of the best hills in the District.  While we are college students, and we have no money, we were able to made due with what we had.  Our friends had rounded up some traffic cones and cardboard boxes to use as sleds and let me tell you, the cones worked great!

Yesterday was another epic snow day!  GW students challenged Georgetown to a snowball fight on neutral ground.  We hiked all the way to 26th and O, only about 6 blocks off of campus for the battle.  It was wonderful to see hundreds of GW students come together to fend off Georgetown.  President Knapp and his wife even made an appearance and announced at the end of the fight that school would be cancelled yet again.

It only took about 20 minutes of fighting GW was able to push Georgetown as far back as they could go to declare VICTORY!

We think there will be classes tomorrow... :( but only one day of classes the week before a 3-day weekend is nothing to complain about.

Be sure to check out the other stories of this week posted by other bloggers!

I hope everyone is staying safe and warm where ever you are.

Don't forget to email me if you have any questions.

PS: If there are classes tomorrow, the Admissions office will be open to answer any logistical questions you may have so you can check to see if the university is open at Campus Advisory. And the Admissions phone number is 202-994-6040.

Kim

Poll: is it SNOWverkill?

What do YOU think?  And yeah, I just had to be punny...

As GWU is approaching the fourth day of cancelled classes, which may soon become a full week, I've got to wonder: is it too much, already?  I know many of you consider the previous statement akin to blasphemy, but really, now, you've gotta admit it's getting purdy ridiculous!

On top of that, everyone's going absolutely stir crazy!  I know I am!  I've resorted to re-watching every single episode of Fringe while my friends watch it for their 1st time and try to catch up.  I'm trying to see if I can spot any clues that I hadn't before, and it's working!  God, I love that show.  However while the experience is riveting, it is also an absolute 100% waste of time.  Don't get me wrong, I've gotten a great deal of work done in my week off, but a lot of dillydallying has also been accomplished.

Mostly, I'm just trying to keep up with the classes that should have happened this week, and reading up so my work doesn't pile up when we go back to school next week.  Also, I'm trying to plan the Summer and next year.  And junior year?  Am I studying abroad next Spring or sometime junior year?  Ughhh I dunno what I wanna dooooo!!!  Maybe I'll write a post explaining my qualms about study abroad and all the ideas running through my head.  I really need to sort out my thoughts.  Yeah, that's a good idea!  Ok, expect that one shortly!

In the meantime, email me to quell the boredom of hanging around indoors all day every day!  ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3  Shireen

Third Day's the Charm

So earlier today, our Class Council (and they are great folks, I'm sure) sent out an email titled "Snow Day 2010" Part Deux".
Well, I guess this makes tomorrow Snow Day 2010: The Final Chapter (?). We are, even as I speak, being hit with yet another snowstorm, this one expected to bring ten inches (on top of the twenty we got the other day) to the DC Metro Area.
Like most of my posts thus far, this one is going to be multi-stage thing--sorry if this is too much math, I promise the next one will be more textual. Or something.

*Disclaimer: I am usually a decent person who doesn't mock the grieving process.*

Stages of Dealing with Snowpocalypse:
1. Denial: "No way, man. No way are they gonna cancel class in D.C. for the third straight day. I mean, if they do, then midterms will have to be pushed back."
2. Anger: "Why the %#$* couldn't this have happened at finals in December?!?"
3. Bargaining: "OK, if start this paper now and get at least three pages done, they'll cancel school again tomorrow."
4. Acceptance: "Screw it. Let's go bowling at the Hippodrome."

I've actually tried to do all of these stages consciously today-- my friends are at various points along the road. Of course, in all seriousness the idea of getting on work is a good one and thankfully this break has made it possible for myself and most people I've talked to. Still, for most or all of us here at GW, this might be the last time in our lives we get a genuine Snow Day... so nobody should waste it.

Snow Day part 2

So I have pictures to show everyone!  I figure since pictures are worth a thousand words, I don't have to do much explaining.

School has been cancelled for the past 2 days and we are preparing for another snow storm today into tomorrow so who knows when we will have classes again.

This is the view from my window from Saturday morning, about 6 hours before the snow stopped.

The bust of George is covered, and the snow is not done yet.

I wanted to make my own snowstorm. 

Kogan Plaza covered in snow.

23rd Street.  One of the only vehicles running was the Vern Express.

I am getting ready to go sledding now, so i will be sure to post pictures hopefully tonight.

Kim

Allow Me to Reintroduce Myself

   I just realized (from going through my blogs) that I got ahead of myself and forgot to introduce myself to all of you! My name is Ekiria Magala, and I'm a fourth-year student (SENIOR!) at GW. I'm from Los Angeles, California and I miss the sun, especially with this "Snowmaggedon" business that's been going around. I'm an English Major with a Creative Writing and a Music minor. I changed my major 6 times before deciding on this particular major, so I'm living proof that you can experiment a little in choosing a concentration. Some people come into college knowing what they want, some come in thinking they know what they want, and other people have to be open about finding what they want. I can guarantee you will fall into each of these categories at some point in your college career if you are asking the right questions.

    I write short stories (hence the minor) but I'm still finding my footing in creative writing in terms of perspective. My parents are Ugandan immigrants. I spent all of last summer abroad in Africa (South Africa then Uganda) visiting family, interning, and working on a training program called TEACH which I will write and post pictures about later. Traveling to Uganda was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I'm very competitive, even more competitive than I'm usually willing to admit. I'm 5'2", funny, and prone to unintelligible outbursts whenever something really good happens.

  I live in City Hall with a random roommate who also happens to be a former nun (seriously). I play the Tuba. I'm an alto for the GW Troubadours, the University's oldest (and awesomest) coed a capella group. We're like a big happy family, but you get to audition all the new members and you sing together. My title in Troubadours is "Master of Fun," and I fully intend to live up to the title. I sing all the time, but I can stop for a little if you just ask nicely. I was President of City Hall's RAC last year. I'm learning how to write a grant this semester and how to develop a corporate sponsorship for an NGO. I write for the Arts and Life sections of the GW Hatchet, which has been really rewarding because I've gotten some publishing experience and learned a lot about the way I write. I also write for College Magazine. I can't study in the library because I get distracted when it's too quiet.


    My favorite color is green, I've never broken a bone, and I watch a lot of food network. I wasn't always sure I wanted to go to GW, but I began to see it's appeal after I got to meet Jimmy Carter (not that I'm particularly attached to him) after he came to speak in Lisner Auditorium. I speak Spanish and a little Luganda (even though I understand all of it). I worked for Tower Records for one day. I have to constantly remind myself why I'm doing something in order to keep myself motivated. I always feel the need to clarify myself with sidenotes (kind of like this one). Here are some more stats:

Favorite Movies: "Being John Malkovich," "Brown Sugar"

Favorite Book: "The Skin I'm In" -Sharon G. Flake

Favorite TV Shows: Grey's Anatomy (in the good ol' days), No Reservations, Private Practice, John Stewart, Gossip Girl, Flight of the Conchords

Favorite Quote: "People are always less mysterious than they think they are."

Favorite Music: R&B/Soul/Jazz

Favorite Musicians: Bob Dylan, Chrisette Michelle, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton
Favorite Songs: "Do You Feel Me"- Anthony Hamilton, "Natural Woman"- Aretha Franklin

Favorite Sport: Football (but Basketball is a close second)

Now that you know a little about me, I hope you'll be able to better understand where I'm coming from.

'Til Next Time

Ekiria

As always, your questions/comments are welcome:
magalae@gmail.com

It has happened!

I never thought I would see the day when GW had to cancel class for a SNOW DAY!!!  After 20 inches of snow, epic snowball fights, and trees falling down all over, the University has decided to close Monday, February 8, 2010!!!

Again, I am still having problems with my camera, but I will post pictures from this weekend as soon as possible.

In the mean time, check out the pictures posted by the other bloggers, we have all had a great time in this storm I'm sure.

You can also email me!!

If you are in the DC/Viriginia area, please be safe on the roads.  The roads are slick and icy and we don't want any accidents.

Hopefully I will post tomorrow!

Kim

Snowmageddon~~Snowpocalypse~~SnOMG 2010

Yep, that's the situation in DC right now.  SO. MUCH. SNOW.

It started Friday evening, and it just kept going and going like the Energizer bunny until we had almost 2 feet on our hands!  And of course, I had a friend from NYC coming down to DC this weekend because she had an interview on Monday--needless to say that's not happening.  Everything's still gonna be closed tomorrow!  It's awful.  But on the other hand, that means I don't have work or class!  Best Monday ever!  It's really a trade-off.

Also, with copious amounts of snow comes childhood fun and games!  I'm sure you've all heard about and seen the Dupont Circle Snowball Fight, but in case you didn't, here's a clip!

So while the snow was crazy and I had to brave the blizzard to pick my friend up from her bus and it was wet and cold and the streets are COMPLETELY iced over and I nearly face-planted a million times, it's still pretty fun.  And QUITE a story to tell!  

So here are some of my friend's pictures of the Winter Wonderland that is DC right now.  I didn't take any because it's rather difficult to fumble with a camera when you're wearing glittens!

Kogan Plaza

                                                       Photo courtesy Dahlia Hassan

20th & G Streets - just to show how completely covered the roads are!

                                                Photo courtesy Alex Markoff

The Lincoln Memorial

                                                         Photo courtesy Alex Markoff

On top of that, word on the street is we're getting another 5 or so inches on Tuesday!  What a world!

Go Saints!  Also, email me!  ShireenS@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~ Shireen