Category: Uncategorized

November 15, 2019 La Bohème, Uncategorized Post a Comment

café au lait

At Hamilton, I became used to spending a good 70 percent of my time at Cafe Opus 1. In many instances, I wouldn’t even order a drink, nor have anything to eat from the cafe. What I ended up loving so much about the space was its soft lighting, the students’ playlists which vary depending on who is covering which shift, its comfy couches,  view of the Kirkland Glen that I especially appreciate during those extra rainy days, and proximity to Babbitt, my then-residence hall. Of course, I love their iced chai latte, chai cookies, and pesto tortellini (among other things.) But, there is so much more to a cafe or restaurant than what they serve, and it’s the right ambiance, in addition to delicious food and drinks, that keeps me coming back to a certain place. 

I have always found it essential to find places outside of my home that I can escape to to find the kind of atmosphere that is fitting for the different tasks that make up my college routine, such as working on my creative writing, doing homework, editing photographs, working on my personal reading, and hanging out and revising with friends.  Thankfully, Opus was able to fulfill this necessity of mine. It has become my favorite hang out and study spot on campus, and I am confident that, after graduation, I will be leaving Hamilton associating a few of my best memories to the lounge. Upon my arrival to Paris, naturally, I had to explore a bit and try different things out before finding the right spots, but ultimately, I was able to end up with a  few places I haven’t been able to keep myself from coming back to every once in a while. 

Binici

Located at: 18 Rue Chapon

Which arrondissement: 3rd

WiFi? Yes

Personal favorite: their matcha chocolate latte (over ice or hot), and matcha cake

I discovered Binici at the very beginning of my time here. My friend Nadiya created a list of coffee shops prior to her arrival to Paris with the intention of trying them out during the semester. One day, after class, I joined her and another friend there to do some homework and  fell in love with it. The place is rather small, but not cluttered. The decorations are bright and pastel colored; they compliment the simple white walls and different plants, giving the cafe a modern yet cozy feel. 

I come to Binici whenever I want to get some work done before my dance classes at the Marais Dance Center, located about 10 minutes away by foot. There is a bar by the window (great for people watching) and a bigger table towards the center of the space to do work when you have company. The place does close pretty early (7pm) so if you are looking for a late night study spot this might not be the best option; however, definitely hit up Binici if you are looking for the salon de the experience as they have the cutest little cakes to go with a nice cup of tea. 

Centre Culturel Pouya

Located at: 48 bis Quai de Jemmapes

Which arrondissement: 10th

WiFi? Yes

Personal favorites:  their rose petal and quince tea, platter of assorted pastries, and eggplant with salad

Pouya is Paris’ Iranian cultural center located about five minutes away from the Republique metro and RER station. They host different events, and offer yoga and middle eastern dance classes, but it is their tea room/restaurant that I am familiar with. There is such a ridiculously large variety of teas, many of them containing ingredients originally from different parts of Asia and Africa that are hard to find at a regular grocery store, and that, if you do not have a personal link to the culture, you might not typically have the chance of trying. 

There is also the option of ordering actual traditional Iranian dishes at any time of the day, or something to snack on like a cheese platter, so if you choose to hang out at Pouya for most of the day you’ll be good to go if and when  you eventually get a little hungry. 

Some of the things I love the most about the space are its beautiful decorations that transport one to a place far from the hectic, urban reality of Paris, the possibility of just sitting on the floor, its genuine feeling of community, and its dreamy, low-key lighting. 

La REcyclerie

Located at: 83 Boulevard Ornano

Which arrondissement: 18th

WiFi? Yes

Personal favorite: their hot chocolate, a glass of their organic red wine, and for tapas, smoked salmon toast with a side of salad

This place might be the coolest I have found in Paris, but I still have much more to discover so I hope I am not making too big of a statement. The building is an old train station that has been renovated and given a second life as a cafe, lounge, restaurant, bar and event venue. It is quite literally the social space of the moment. As its name suggests, everything about it attempts to reflect the environmentally conscious values its owners and organizers try to promote via a number of monthly community events (check out their website for a full schedule: calendar.) Most of their furniture was obtained at second-hand and vintage shops, the decoration is minimalist, and there is a strong initiative to reduce waste that is reflected in their choice of plates, cutlery, containers and overall general practices. Additionally, la REcyclerie has its own mini farm and garden that the staff resort to for the creation of many of their drinks and dishes, as well as a compost area. They also have a small library section that one can sit by and borrow books from, a conference room, the larger dining area, and a patio where one can have a drink, maybe a smoke, and enjoy the weather if it does happen to be a nice day out. On some nights there is a live DJ playing house, techno, or R&B tunes, transforming the space into one more suitable for a night out with friends; however, during the week, before dinner time, the area is quiet enough for one to be productive and get some work done. 

La Grande Mosquee de Paris

Located at: 2bis Place du Puits de l’Ermite

Which arrondissement: 5th

WiFi? No

Personal favorite: their traditional sweet tea, the crepe aux legumes and any  of the different baklavas they offer

Paris’ Grande Mosquee is located a few blocks away from Paris 3, the Sorbonne-Nouvelle University that many HiF students take classes at. The mosque has a restaurant as well as an outside cafe where you can order tea and pastries, among other things to snack on. The terrace is really more appropriate for Paris’ sunnier days, and rather than coming for a full-on study session, one would probably enjoy getting some reading done here. Personally, when studying alone, I actually find it easier to focus on my work when there is some white noise, and this place is perfect in regards to that matter. The architecture is set up in a way that facilitates the entry of a generous amount of beautiful natural lighting, when the weather allows it of course, and the traditional blue mosaics contrasted with the white walls are simply stunning. What is also really charming about this study spot is that you always have the option of checking out the hammam steam room and turning your study session into a spa day!

November 6, 2019 Ich bin ein Dresdener, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Saxony and Such

I have now spent about a month and a half in Germany, and I believe I can safely say that, so far, it has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. My delay in starting to write this blog has partially been due to how much I have been experiencing here and my immersion into the culture. Over my next few posts I will attempt to recap what I have done so far, because so far it has been quite a good amount!

Our first week here was dedicated to orientation in the city of Dresden as well as a few administrative details, but it also happened to coincide with the Dresden Stadtfest, basically a celebration of the city of Dresden, the capital of the province of Saxony. Not at all a bad way to kick off the semester with a city-wide fair complete with carnival rides, food stands (from which I purchased the first of many Bratwursts), free philharmonic and 80’s music concerts, not to mention virtually the entire 500,000 plus population of Dresden. Splendid views of the city and a very pleasant atmosphere definitely helped to calm my nerves in this completely new environment. A finale of fireworks along the Elbe river completed the first week, and the almost perfectly timed downpour of rain immediately after the show did little to dampen our spirits.

The second week was also dedicated to a few administrative duties, but we also began our intensive German course, meeting three days a week for between three and four hours. While certainly a very enjoyable class, a summer of little to no exposure to the language left many of my language skills unfortunately wanting. However, a few days of consistent speaking definitely helps scrub away the rust. Fortunately we still had time to keep exploring the city itself, which has a rich history and many stunning buildings. 

For example, we visited the Zwinger, an old fortress that was part of the wall surrounding Dresden, which turned into a palace for the Dresden court and which now holds an art collection (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister) as well as the Dresden porcelain collection (Porzellansammlung). A group of us also took the liberty to visit the Großer Garten, a large park with a beautiful dominating the center, and where we enjoyed a nice picnic under a gentle German summer sun. 

At the end of the second week we journeyed to Meißen, a smaller town in Saxony but which nonetheless boasts the oldest castle in Germany (Albrechtsburg) and a vast beautiful collection of porcelain, as it was in Meißen that alchemists in Europe finally found the formula to create the coveted material, which until then was only imported from east of Europe. I must say, I was excited for the castle but not for the porcelain collection, as my only experience with porcelain at that my point in my life was with toilets or fancy dinnerware. However, after viewing the collection, I was blown away by both the process of producing porcelain as well as the intricate and ornate designs that had been crafted over the years almost entirely by hand. 

My first two weeks in Germany were ones of nerves but also of first-time experiences and a pleasant introduction into the culture that I am now calling home (for a couple more months). Germany overall is clean and progressive – many people ride bikes and many cities enjoy a majority of green space making up their layouts, Dresden included. Germans can be reserved in public, but once introduced they are a very friendly and interesting people. 

February 20, 2018 Creativity and Blackness in Indonesia, Uncategorized Post a Comment

One Cremation in Bali: A Christian’s Oberservation

A family

Not immediate nor distant


A village


A commemoration

Couple offerings

Couple couples

Couple kids

Couples animals

The strongest men

And music

All for a microcosm

 

A cremation

A celebration of one body

One soul

White covering

Many stakes

A prayer


A pause

A light

A fire


A tank under the body

Some silence, some conversation continued


A mourning family member(s)

A need to preserve culture

Don’t cry


Don’t cry

The soul separates and should not return

 

Ashes

 

…

 

On Monday, February 5, 2018, I observed a cremation ceremony for a local man who had passed away from a motor accident. To respect the ceremony, I wore a seron, then met the long line of people who reside in the village and joined the ceremony. In the middle of the line was the body of the dead man, wrapped in all white, on a pillar that was higher than the people walking. The pillar was on wheels and driven/carried by the strongest men in the village. There was a picture of him on the back of what the men were wheeling. His wife was close by the body, along with his immediate family. There were men following right behind the body playing beautiful music. They then spread out around the field we walked to, and in the middle was the area set up for the body to be burned. There was a large gas tank-like item, and small pillar for the body to lay. The men pushed and wheeled the larger that the body was on twice around where the body would be burned, then removed a rooster (offering) from near the body. Money and offerings were thrown and around the area where the body was. The body was then carried by the men to where it would be burned, and released the rooster. Before the body was burned, people sat around the body to pray. Not everyone went close to the body to pray. After the prayer, the fire was ignited and the body began to burn. Only one man continued to poke at the body, using a long stick to ensure it properly burned. As the body burned, most people did not cry, but the man’s wife was in tears.

During the ceremony I was amazed at how many people came and celebrated the life of one person. There is not a large percentage of people in America, to my knowledge, that want their body cremated. I believe that this difference from America comes from the importance of keeping the soul separate from the body. The soul is forever, and the body is temporary. In America, it is really just close relatives and friends that would attend one person’s funeral. In Bali, the entire village celebrates that life. I hope my life is celebrated, but I do not believe I would like to be cremated.

February 8, 2018 Creativity and Blackness in Indonesia, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Hopes and Fears: A Black Student in Indonesia

Hello! My name is Ricardo Millien and I’m currently a Junior at Hamilton College studying in Indonesia for the semester! I’m Haitian, but an American citizen, and throughout this entire experience abroad I will attempt to expand my mind in a new place, with new people, and learning a new language— all while observing how my blackness is reflected, received, and how I internalize it in comparison to the United States. I would like to begin this blog, “Creativity and Blackness in Indonesia,” with a rant:

I have a lot of writing and reading to do. I’m not thrilled to do it, but I’m here now so they will get done. I did the first preorientation assignment last night. I still need to do the book report by Friday. I feel antisocial. I don’t feel like really talking about trivial things. I will do well. I will learn Bahasa Indonesia. I will do what I have to do. These are just some thoughts, but here is how I felt on the way here to Bali, Indonesia, and how I have felt these past three days:

Although not great, fear is still present.
The fear of being different to the point that I’m deemed a peasant.
Fear of poison protruding from the ground
A snake, or shakes causing me to drown
In fear.
Fear of losing what I value.
Or my passport or what have you
Have you ever walked through a vicinity
Feeling victimized as very problematic people
Shoot bullets through their eyes?
Shit I hope I don’t contract anything from anything that bites me, including flies.
Multiple hours I fly not only to get to Bali, but to leave it.
Fear that a plane may crash
Or that I may be attacked by demons.
That American fear.
No showers just a bucket.
Fear that I’ll lose my heritage even more after already immigrating to the U.S. from Haiti
Fear that someone may hate me
How white people do.
Fear that this experience won’t humble me,
Or if it does that it will make me a coon.
Was not born with a silver spoon
But still fear that there may be days where the luxuries in the US won’t be present, shoot,
That’s also a possibility.
But I hope that God maximizes the probability that I will be blessed throughout this opportunity
And with people I’ve never met I may build community.
And may I work to build 1/100th Bahasa Indonesia fluency.

November 4, 2017 Traveling Beyond Comfort, Uncategorized Post a Comment

Introduction

Dairys Quintero
Class of 2019
Major: Asian Studies Japan Studies Track
One Year Study Abroad at International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan

It has been a little over a month since I left the comforts of my home on August 27th, 2017, and wandered into another country very different from my own culture. Although it has only been a short period of time, I have experienced an abundant amount of unfamiliar things. I came to this University all by myself, and let me tell you, it definitely has not been easy. It literally feels as if you are starting life all over again. You have to make new friends, you have to put yourself out there, and you definitely cannot be locked in your room for fear of rejection. So my first advice to anyone deciding to travel abroad is: if you can’t take the stress of starting all over again, bring a friend abroad with you.

TIPS AND TRICKS TO STUDYING ABROAD IN JAPAN

  1. Book your flight the moment you have been accepted. Plane tickets are not cheap at all.
  2. You need to make a budget. This is a big necessity for you will realize that transportation in Japan will be costly, especially if you want to travel.
  3. You will want to invest in a bike if you want to save transportation money.
  4. Overall…………. Budget.
  5. Here is a youtube link to my Channel explaining 12 Things to Know Before Coming to Japan:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1leU-Hr6sGM&t=69s
  6. Have fun, explore, and take challenges!

THE PROGRAM

I have come to International Christian University through the Middlebury College Program. The program has set courses you must take, as well as community service outings and weekend expeditions. So far we have gone to Yokoze in the Saitama Province and on October 27th we will be going to Tottori in the South of Japan. These expeditions will be further explained in a powerpoint with pictures.

THE UNIVERSITY

International Christian University is honestly breathtaking at first until you realize the number of bugs and spiders there are. Other than the bugs and spiders everything else is beautiful. There are a few dormitories to live in and if you decide to live on campus you will receive a booklet about 3 months before arriving telling you about the dormitories.  The booklet also includes a questionnaire in order to indicate where you want to be placed. Although there are options to live off campus in university-sponsored discounted apartments, I do recommend living on campus, if you are okay with following a lot of rules. There is a cafeteria where you pay for meals, although most people tend to cook their own meals since each dorm is equipped with a kitchen. There are various buildings on campus, and most classes tend to be in the University Hall. Most people on campus have a bike which you need to register with the university. As for course options, there are a lot. Many classes are taught in English, and that is because almost everyone in the university has taken English classes or is fluent in English. Even though it is an international school, international students make up about 25% of the university only. Also, since the university is not exactly in the city of Tokyo but rather in a suburb known as Mitaka, you will not be seeing as many foreigners as you’d expect.

DORMITORY LIFE: OAK HOUSE

So my dormitory is named Oak House. On the first floor live only men, second and third floor are all women, and no-one can get into the other floor unless they live there, so no intermingling except in the outside lounges. When you enter the building you have to immediately take off your shoes and put them in the shoe box provided to you. To enter the building you have to swipe in, to exit the building you have to swipe out.  If you don’t swipe, you won’t be let back in by the automatic system. The building has a bed and leasing program for your bed sheets and covers that most people are required to have. Now I live on the second floor with a roommate. The rooms are pretty big and decent for two people. As for rules, each floor has unique rules, but building rules are mostly the same. One of the rules that really tends to bother me is the no guest rule.

This rule impedes you from bringing friends to your room or even your building and makes socializing really hard, especially if you have friends who live in other dorms and can’t seem to connect with anyone on the same floor as you. On each floor, there is a shared kitchen with pots, plates, utensils and many other shared materials for the floor. Each pod ( 6 double rooms) has their own bathroom and showers. There is a total of three pods on each floor. Other than the no guest rule, nothing else about y dormitory bothers me. So if you want guests to come to your room make sure to say that in the dorm questionnaire.

 

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