I'm sure everyone at some point has experienced those moments where you call or text practically everyone in your phone contacts list for lunch but everyone seems to already have eaten. Okay, well maybe it's just me, but today was one of those days. It was kind of nice though to have lunch by myself. As I indulged in my last veggie chicken wrap of my freshman year, I couldn't help being overwhelmed with nostalgia. The past year has gone by so fast, and I can't believe my freshman year is over! So much food was eaten, argued over, and fantasized about. From making massive sundaes with friends on Sundae Sunday, to having my traditional veggie chicken wraps with my best friend, food seems to always be a part of the memories I share with people.
As I reflected on the past year by myself at lunch, I realized how critical it is to have alone time in your daily routine. Sherry Turkle, another theorist I learned about in English class, discusses in her book Alone Together, the importance of having "quiet time" by removing oneself from the presence of others. I got a firsthand experience of this theory Turkle talks about with great importance. How can one find out what truly makes one happy, or what one wants to do or improve on in the future? How can one truly discover who he or she is whe they are busy focusing on other things or people all the time? This and much more is accomplished by removing yourself from society and giving yourself the necessary alone time for reflection.
So as I ate my delicious lunch, I thought of all of the people I met this year,for better or for worse, all of the things I've done, or haven't done, and what I want to do new or continue with in the future, and most importantly, reflected on the person I am becoming, and if I should change anything to become a better individual. Take the time out of your busy schedule to sit down and reflect on life!
A blog about how a vegetarian fares in a typical college Dining Hall
Friday, May 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Friends and Food
So the other day I decided to go to D-hall with my roommate who I don't normally eat with. I had no one else to eat with though, and she had just arrived at D-hall from her dance class. I had a lot of work and was considering just skipping dinner, but I'm glad I didn't since my favorite veggies were being served; the grilled, seasoned asparagus that is served at the Diner, OMG it's DELICIOUS.
Aside from the good meal I had for dinner, I also got to meet someone new. My roommate had brought along a dance friend of her's who is a sophomore. While talking to her I found out that we are similar personality wise and that we have similar interests. For example, we both love ducks and they are our favorite animal. Okay, maybe we're more like obsessed with ducks, and it was so neat to meet someone else who loves ducks just as much as I do. Usually when I tell people about how much I love ducks they think I'm a loon (intended duck pun) but now I have someone who understands my love! Also, I discovered that she is a newly declared Geosciences major; the same major as me! The department is pretty small, so I'm surprised I had never seen her before.
This experience at D-hall brings me to one of the topics I learned about in my english class: Social capital. Social capital is basically defined as how many connections you have, that you can benefit from. The more people you know, the more likely you will have a connection to something that you might benefit from in the future. D-hall is an amazing place that fosters social capital. You could go into D-hall, run into a friend who invites you to sit with his or her friends at a table, and walk away having a bunch of new friends. Whether these friends may or may not help you in the end is unknown, but you have just increased your social capital by finding a friend at D-hall. In my case, I really lucked out and my social capital increased a lot, since I now know a sophomore in the Geosciences track. I can look to her to help me with future classes I will take that she has taken, and maybe even take classes or do research with her!
In the end, I walked out of D-hall with a delicious meal in my belly and a new friend here at Skidmore :3
Aside from the good meal I had for dinner, I also got to meet someone new. My roommate had brought along a dance friend of her's who is a sophomore. While talking to her I found out that we are similar personality wise and that we have similar interests. For example, we both love ducks and they are our favorite animal. Okay, maybe we're more like obsessed with ducks, and it was so neat to meet someone else who loves ducks just as much as I do. Usually when I tell people about how much I love ducks they think I'm a loon (intended duck pun) but now I have someone who understands my love! Also, I discovered that she is a newly declared Geosciences major; the same major as me! The department is pretty small, so I'm surprised I had never seen her before.
This experience at D-hall brings me to one of the topics I learned about in my english class: Social capital. Social capital is basically defined as how many connections you have, that you can benefit from. The more people you know, the more likely you will have a connection to something that you might benefit from in the future. D-hall is an amazing place that fosters social capital. You could go into D-hall, run into a friend who invites you to sit with his or her friends at a table, and walk away having a bunch of new friends. Whether these friends may or may not help you in the end is unknown, but you have just increased your social capital by finding a friend at D-hall. In my case, I really lucked out and my social capital increased a lot, since I now know a sophomore in the Geosciences track. I can look to her to help me with future classes I will take that she has taken, and maybe even take classes or do research with her!
In the end, I walked out of D-hall with a delicious meal in my belly and a new friend here at Skidmore :3
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