As friends travel the world doing good deeds, I will spend two years in Princeton, NJ. Culture shock is an understatement. This is the land of excess. I quote an administrator in my department--there is no free lunch in life, but there are lots in Princeton! Literally, my department just throws food at us.
Only pictures will tell the story of Hogwarts:
This is my dorm, where the Graduate College throws free happy hours on Thursdays and Fridays to keep the phD kids sane and social. I am cinderella or quaisimodo--depending on how you look at the situation. I live in a small tower. I must climb a small winding staircase to my room and I'm told I live next to the organ. On Sundays, students play the bells in a nearby tower. Why? I'm not quite sure. But listening to Lauryn Hill while the bells are playing is a bit surreal.
Sadly, I am subjected to the life of an undergrad at Hogwarts. Welcome to the dining hall:
Robertson Hall:
This is my home away from home. Our "math camp" classes are here (don't get me started on this). This is the most unique building on campus--it's lost among the campus attempt at Cambridge.
While the physical surroundings reek of elitism and beauty, the student body in my program is amazing. I am inspired by their stories and commitment to service and the public sector. I also found people to practice my Japanese and Portuguese.
