Philosophy Under the Night Sky

The East Coast is puzzling. How can the sky rain so suddenly and the heavy showers stop so rapidly? Why does channel 95.5 play Katy Perry's "California Girls" on the radio every time we board into a blue van with Hussein or another mentor? And why are the bugs so aggressive? Their bites swell! Fairfax is certainly different from San Jose, but I like it here. There are intelligent students who can speak 3-5 different languages, spend the night talking about philosophy, music and culture and people who I am so glad to have met. When we were sitting outside the dorms having a deep discussion, I was quite amazed about the variety of theoretical questions my companions asked. For example:

• "You are trapped on a island, and can bring only three things. What would you bring?"
  
• "If you were any other living being, what would you be?"
  
• "If God gave you an extra eye and you had to accept it somewhere on your body, where would it be?"
  
• "If you could go back in history, would you kill anyone? And who would it be?"
  
• "What drink would you be?"
  

The talk was entirely unscripted, and there was a funny moment when Thanos answered, "Would you take the chance to be another gender in another life?". I also was amazed with Rohan's answer for the "extra eye" question; my father talked about the same philosopher he mentioned. It is the small moments like these that remind me that BFSIA is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. I feel like a different person here. I am re-learning how to relax and be a fun person again, instead of an always serious person. I finally feel young again!

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Image Source: ---
With much love, Kathy P.

Fireworks, Baseball Game and a Great Meal

When I heard of the name Four Points, I had no clue it would be so beautiful. Seriously, the phrase reminds me of the movie "Gangs of New York" where Leonardo DiCaprio plays a young Irish immigrant who falls into the wrong crowd and ends up fighting a native gang in America. The film's setting was an urban neighborhood called Five Points, the place where a Chinatown sits in New York now. Instead, we arrived to a house turned office building with a large backyard suited for Frisbee and soccer. People were cooking delicious food inside the kitchen, while half of us bathed in the sun.

Dinner turned out very well, and I tried biryani for the first time. I think I'm in love with that rice dish; it's perfect. After we ate, it was time to head to Potomac Stadium to watch the Nationals junior team play baseball. Unfortunately, the weather added to my discomfort. Abdullah was my umbrella for a bit, but I left the game after a few innings. Looking back, I heard it was a great game, but it was too hot sitting in the bleachers. Some of the participants went out to play soccer instead. Mahri and Farangis joined in this time, so it was a fun game. I literally ran into a tiny accident, and perhaps overreacted afterward, but everything should be fine.The fireworks show was amazing,--if only I filmed it!

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Image Source: I took it!
With much love, Kathy P.