Economic crisis, Ramadan, and kicks

The Economic Crisis:  Every macroeconomics class, my prof. explains the latest on the economic crisis - the biggest crisis since the Great Depression.  It's quite interesting and great to be able to understand what's going on from a professional.  For macro, we are required to either volunteer in a soup kitchen for two days, interview a small business owner, or go to a legislative hearing.  I, never having done the latter, decided to search out one related to macro to go to.  

So, I tried to go to see the Full House Finance Committee hearing about the economic crisis, but unfortunately didn't get in because everyone else wanted to be there, too.  Bummer.  But it was cool to go to the Rayburn Office House Building and have Representatives and aides and lobbyists rushing around.  I also got to see Bernanke, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Paulson, the Secretary of the US Dept. of Treasury walk by into the hearing.  I did get into the overflow room, but unfortunately found the speeches a bit above my understanding and the chairs were so comfy... so decided I had better get out before I started falling asleep amid all the suited people who were actually intensely paying attention.  

It was a bit of a bummer, not getting in, but I thought I might as well explore the rest of the building while I was there so I decided to visit my Rep.'s office.  Funny though, as soon as I found the place, I open Rep. Earl Blummenhauer's door to find a teacher that worked at my middle school and high school sitting on his couch!  We were equally surprised to see each other!  As it turns out, he is one of the NEA representatives and so four times a year gets flown out to DC to do a bit of lobbying.  We took a picture together and he said he'd try to get it in the Grantonian, so we'll see.  (^_^)

Ramadan: For my Contemporary Arab World class, my group is doing a presentation on Ramadan so for my part I decided to fast for a day and take a video journal to document my experience.  After the first day, I liked it so much that I decided to try a second day.  So here is the link to the video, I only have edited the first "entry" or so.  Apologies that the last entry is so hard to hear.  I basically said that as the day wore on it got easier and easier to not eat (I wasn't hungry) so that by the time I could eat, I felt I could go a little longer without.  I also said that although today (last Friday) was more difficult than my first day, I really enjoyed the experience and would like to do it again next year and hopefully participate more than just two days.  

And kicks...: Today was my last day of self defense class, and the day of the big test: the simulation.  Two police officers covered from head to toe in thick red padding were the "aggressors" and "attacked" the "victim," me, wearing a padding helmet with a metal grill, and elbow, knee and hand pads.  We, the "victims" had to get away from them using the techniques we learned.  It was scary, but really satisfying to know that I could defend myself.  I really liked to use kicks, and at one point, somehow managed to kick and punch the guy at the same time!  It was funny.  Afterwards, we got to see the video of each of us to see how well we had done.  It was really good and rewarding.  I definitely feel more confidant about myself, but will continue to use all caution to avoid a real situation like that.  

That's my life in a nutshell, currently.  This week isn't so busy, but next week I have a paper due Monday, a midterm Wednesday, and a paper due Thursday, so should be hectic.  I just gotta try to prepare so that my life won't be as sleep deprived as it could be that week.  =)  

Oh!  And good news!  I finished my application for studying abroad in Chile next semester, so all I need to do is send it in!  Yay!  Let's just hope I get it!  I want to go SOOOOO badly!

'Till later!  

~ Kaia 

Sophomore Year!!!

Picture # 1

     Picture # 2

<--- Picture # 3

Biology Hike (Picture #1): This is me on the annual Biology Department Hike that I went on with Professor Tudge (my UC bio prof. from last year) and his family, the UC Bio kids from this year, my friend Andrew (we were neighbors last year), and some other Biology students and professors. We hiked around a national park not too far into Virginia.  It's a special area as some of the plant and wildlife there don't live anywhere else.  It was very beautiful and fun, if not a little difficult.  (^_^)

The die-hard bed lofters (Picture #2): From right to left: me, Aiko (my room mate), Ko (a friend of Aiko and me, he is from the same university as Aiko, in Japan), and Khileen down in front (my good friend and fellow DC adventurer, and also a UC bio classmate from last year). This picture was taken at 1 am when we'd finally finished lofting my bed.  We started at 3 pm but it took several tries and re-do's (this year's bed is smaller than last year's) to get it done.  

Letts 414! (Picture # 3) This is our room (mostly my side of it).  We have a nice view of some trees, part of the library, some professors' offices and the wellness center.  We also have lots of food, cooking supplies (Aiko likes to cook, occasionally), and tons of Japanese stuff and food (Aiko has a big collection of Japanese food).  We like it!  

Besides the pictures... Overall, I am really enjoying this year.  I love my room mate!  Her name is Aiko Ohta, she is a sophemore, and is from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto.  I met her last year when she asked me if I knew where the hot water was at the café, and we've been friends ever since.  Last semester she helped me with my Japanese and I helped her with her English and this year we are enjoying being room mates!  She's only here as part of a special program with her university and AU, where you study two years here at AU and two at her university and get one degree from each school.  I could do it, too, but I've already studied in Japan.  So this means that this is her last year at AU, and as we're both hoping to study abroad next semester, this will be our only chance to room together.  =(  She's hoping to go to Belgium and I'm hoping to end up in Chile for the semester.  We're both still filling out the application forms for it.  

Also, I like all of my classes this year!  Yahoo!  Here is my schedule:

Mon:

9:55 am - 11:10 am   Macroeconomics: I was taking another class but it was SO boring that when Andrew told me about this one, I switched and bought the new books within the hour.  It's MUCH better and more interesting than my previous class, but has a ton of reading and more work to do.  So I guess it's better as it challenges me more and I will learn more from it.

2:10 pm - 3:25 pm   Great Books that Shaped the Western World: I really like this class.  We already read the Iliad and are almost finished with the Odyssey.  Next we'll be reading Oedipus the King, and a bunch of other classics including Macbeth and Much Ado About Nothing.

4 pm - 6 pm   Workstudy at CDC (Child Development Center): the daycare on campus for the 

2 - 5 yr. olds of the staff, professors, students (but we don't have any), and community members.  I did this last year, and think it is the best job on campus!  Now three of my past professors' kids go there. =)

Tues:

8:30 am - 9:45 am   Greatness in Music: taught be a blind professor who is really funny and a great teacher.  We listen to music, learn about the elements of music (texture, etc) and a brief race through music history, and basically study how and why some music is great.  It's very interesting and fun!  I've learned a ton already:  Beethoven and his 9th symphony (specifically the fourth movement) are awesome!

11 am  - 1 pm   Work at CDC

3:35 pm - 4:50 pm    Contemporary Arab World: a very interesting class.  We are learning about every aspect of the Arab World as possible.  Our professor is from Israel and we also have a student from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and one from Algeria, so we have a lot of good resources just within the classroom. Unfortunately, the professor is a bit disorganized, which makes things a bit difficult, and we have a ton of reading.  But despite that, I still am learning a lot.

Wed: 

8:30 am - 11:10 am    Cross-Cultural Communications: this is probably one of my favorite classes!  The professor is from Denmark, I think, and is really interesting and funny.  We are looking at how different cultures interact with each other and how things like time and body language can be thought of differently in different countries.  There is a ton of reading for this class, too, which is a bummer because it's all so interesting, I want to read it all!  I think everyone should take this class because what we learn is also helpful for Americans, what with there being so many different nationalities here.  

Also, in this class, we are required to complete a group project where we study some conflict around the world between two nations or groups and analyze it.  One group will work with a group of students at a University in Oman to do a special group project through video conferences and such.  The professor assigned groups and I am in the Oman group!  I am really excited because I've heard that we will be going to the State Department for the video conferencing!  I'll let you know more details when I find out more.  

11:30 am  - 1:30 pm     Work at CDC

8:10 pm - 10:40 pm   Gospel Choir: I'm in it again this year, but this year I am the official Librarian for Gospel Choir and type up the lyrics for each song so that I can send them out to everyone.  I also get out the music at practice and help coordinate events and such with the other E-Board (Executive Board) members for Gospel Choir.  And this year, Aiko's in it, too!  We both love it!

Thurs:

Same schedule as Monday

Fri:

Same schedule as Tuesday

So there you have it!  My schedule and all the details.  I am also volunteering with DC today... DC tomorrow, a group of AU students and George Washington University students who provide service learning opportunities for high school kids at a school in Anacostia (one of the poorer areas of DC).  We do this by chaperoning them on community service projects and providing a time for reflection and leadership/lifeskills learning once a week.  So I'll be doing that when I have time.

Also, I am a committee member on the Eagle Endowment Fund which is a student-run foundation that gives out grants to student organizations or groups that are trying to make a difference in their communities.  We specifically look to help groups become sustainable.  I help to look over grant applications and choose who to give the grants out to.  It's kinda cool and a good learning experience.

So yeah, that's my life in a nut shell right now.  Oh, and Aiko and I are taking Rape Aggression Defense Classes that are provided for women on our campus for free.  This morning was our first class and we learned how to be a safer person, in general, but also how to block, parry, and punch in case of an attack.  It's pretty fun and really cool.  Today was the first class, then we have tomorrow, and next weekend Saturday and Sunday.  It's about four hours long each day.  It's fun though!

And also, last Sunday my friend Khileen, Aiko and I went to see Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" at the Shakespeare Theater on 9th and G street.  It was really great!  All the actors were men!  If you want to see for yourself, go to http://www.shakespearedc.org to see the picture of Juliet.  Look for the adam's apple!  

Well, hope you all have a great weekend!  

~ Kaia