Tuesday/Wednesday – Day 211/212
March 5, 2013
Things are revving up to a dangerous level here. Too many projects due, too little time. Physics this morning was difficult as I was low on sleep but the majority of the day was spent on project work. Networking was becoming quite an issue. Rehearsal was a welcome break from work, and as previously stated, I’m really enjoying it. Tonight I also grabbed coffee with a non-Penn friend who takes dancing lessons off campus and had a wonderful time. The music selection committee for PGC met and I suggest a few of my favourite choral, barbershop and more modern pieces for consideration. hopefully at least Bogoroditse Devo will make it through.
Wednesday was nuts. I skipped all my classes to code through the day straight. Networking still wasn’t coming along at nearly the necessary pace. The group had been quite problematic and unfortunately we weren’t coming together as a whole fast enough by any measure. Some members contributed far more while others close to nothing. A complete disaster. Thus the day from 11AM to 5AM the following morning was spent desperately trying to salvage what marks we could. Pretty exhausted and barely finished with the minimum for the project, we submitted late and I, exhausted, walked home and fell asleep almost immediately for the brief few hours I would get.
Monday – Day 210
March 1, 2013
Monday was as per usual. Very intense with few breaks. Physics recitation in the morning, which went excellently for once, I really understood the problem set! Next up was a meeting with my CIS551 (Security Team), unfortunately, Swaraj, the Indian guy who was meant to arrive, never showed, having slept through his alarm. Amalia, sitting across from me, was just as unimpressed as I was. Next up was a meeting with a student of mine, who was having some troubles in the course, luckily enough, it was largely due to a run of bad luck and one or two silly mistakes on the assignments. Very easily repairable.
Networking and Security were the same as always, nothing particularly fascinating from either. Following that I had a little time before my recitation to prepare and today’s activity was decided on as a brief introductory play and then more group activities. I also received feedback from my students today, and while they appreciated the effort and energy I put in, a few also had useful constructive criticisms that I will hopefully take well into account.
I was a bit too late to rehearsal today, which was unfortunate, as since the Spring Show, I’ve really been enjoying them again! A quick break in between for dinner, then choral society. Unfortunately Steph was no longer able to make it due to group meetings for her management class, but fortunately we decided to keep our Monday night chat tradition alive. Thea, a friend from Perth, thankfully was still there and I enjoy our chats when walking back.
Purim! – Shabbat/Sunday – Day 207/208
February 27, 2013
Shabbat itself was nothing special, however, after sundown the festival of Purim began. First up was reading of the megillah scroll detailing the story of the Jews’ victory over the evil Haman during the reign of King Ahasuerus.
I had to listen on with the CJC (Conservative Jewish Community) as I was time pressured by a Glee Club Gig immediately after (that I ended up missing anyway).
Purim is the usual Jewish festival story. Someone tried to kill us, the didn’t, let’s eat. However on Purim the feasting is taken a step further by applying significant amounts of alcohol, dancing and fancy dress to the mix. My costume was a minion from despicable me (see comparison below), but thanks to the gig, I had not sufficient time to change into a pair of overalls and so, as per usual for me, stood out a little.
Purim Minions
Despicable Me Minions
College students, as could be expected, take this idea rather to heart and, as a result Penn Hillel organized a whole series of parties and events. One of which I attended (the Hillel Golf Night). We traipsed around local off campus residences, collecting shots of various liqueurs, ingredients for the baking of Hamentaschen and socializing with the many people taking part. Robbie Glynn, a good friend from computer science, and a Jew at heart, joined in the celebrations too.
Following that, back to my room for yup, you guessed it, a coding marathon till the late hours of the morning.
Sunday was not particularly notable, I crammed in my Physics work and a lot of stuff for my students and my recitation. However, one fun thing in the afternoon was a Purim seuda/mishte (feast) arranged by the lovely Arianna Schanzer and Ben Bolnick. There was a little too much Chinese food, but it was supplemented by plenty of cheer and good company. I also prepared and delivered a few mishloach manot (Purim food present-baskets) to a few of my closest friends at Penn before settling in to finish up everything I needed to.