The Summer of Buzz- Part IV

So, that's pretty much been my summer. Since returning, my friend Derek has turned 21. This week, Shaji, our mutual friend, will be turning. In my spare time, I've been working on my thesis on Personal Branding. As of today, I've spent roughly 110 hours on the thing and am looking forward to completing it by november. Hopefully, that will be doable. In a week, my friend James and I will make our annual pilgrimage to Polimeni's, a wonderful restaurant in Canadaigua, right on the water's edge. Each year, we would visit Sonenburg Gardens for the Halloween and Christmas events there. Though the victorian mansion had closed and undergone rough times, we continued our tradition of visiting that quaint town.

On a final note about the summer, my experience abroad has led me to take an inventory of all the places I've been and all the places I have wonderful friends. Certainly, the song about making new friends but keeping the old, one is silver and the other is gold, rings true. I love my friends I've known since high school in the sincerest possible way, and now, I'm lucky enough to have some unforgettable memories to share with individuals from Canada and China. The map you see above outlines four colors. The darkest red is the US, obviously my base of operation and having the majority of my friends. The bright red outlines countries I've both visited and have friends in (Canada being the close second to the US). The pinkish ones are places I've visited, but have no friends in. The gray areas are countries I have friends in, but have never visited.

Why all these personal notes in a professional blog? Simple... Any employer looks for an individual who can balance work and play... balanced individuals are good workers and happier people. That, and RIT is out for the summer amid the recently completed renovation of the (newly named) E. Philip Saunders College of Business. While the study abroad technically was academically-oriented and professional in nature, let's face it...the true emphasis lies in the experiences that will become memories for a lifetime. I have since volunteered to become a peer mentor for those considering studying abroad... just to give them that little extra nudge to plunge in.

Summer of Buzz- Part III

Though there is so much to remember about this summer, the highlight had to be the month I spent studying in the UK at Herstmonceux Castle, pictured left, and the subsequent week spent visiting Ireland and France. The International Study Centre at Herstmonceux (pronounced Herstmonsoo) was created when Dr. Alfred Bader, a man made very wealthy of the buying and selling of rare artworks (the man owns several VanGoughs), purchased the castle and donated it to Queens University, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Why is RIT affiliated with Queen's and the ISC, thus having its banner proudly hung in the cafeteria? Dr. Bader's son is an RIT alum...

For those of you adept at Google Earth, Check this out:

Halley Road, Herstmonceux, Whealden, East Sussex, BN27, UK

Looking at the image that comes up, know that the complex basically covers one end of Halley Road to the other. Starting at the right, the main entrance comes off Wartling road. Observatory domes of varying size can be seen on Bradley Road, the location of the complex's science centre. The road to the south of it leads to a giant observatory dome that always looked so imposing on its distant hillside. It's the circular object at the southern tip of the road.

Continuing left, the Castle itself is the brown area in the corner of Halley Road and the next road going North, or "up," with the loop at the end. The dark area at the bottom and right of the brown spot is the water of the moat. Finally, the small road at the left, or western side of the complex is the home to the dorm, Bader Hall, at its end. For perspective, the walk to the castle from Bader takes about five minutes. Along this road is an actively used observatory, which nightly beams a concentrated ray of green light into the sky and tracks satellites for readjustment. Very cool to watch. From Bader Hall at the southern tip of this road, one can look out to the "lower right" and see the channel. Zoom out, for a moment, until you see the water, and realize just how far that is (about three or four kilometers)

There is simply too much to discuss about it to cover in a single blog entry, but if you have access to facebook, you can look at the multiple albums I created during my time abroad.

Herstmonceux Castle Website:
http://www.herstmonceux-castle.com/

International Study Centre Website:
http://www.queensu.ca/isc/

Summer of Buzz- Part II

A great deal happened in the two weeks between graduation and leaving for my study abroad in England. With three things to celebrate, it was time for a party. Thus, we threw the "Happy 21st/Happy Graduation/Good Luck in Europe, Chris Party" here at the house, with plenty of friends, family, and neighbors in attendance. From there, we all made a trip over to my friend Melinda's house. It was a great time.

A few days later, I actually turned 21. My friend James, now living in Rochester's center of culture and college life, Park Avenue, had me and some friends over to his apartment to celebrate on the night of my turning. At left is a picture of Spot Coffee, one of the more popular hangouts of East Avenue. From James' apartment, we walked down to the bars and clubs on the corner of East Avenue and Alexander street. I certainly did celebrate... I recall, on the way back to James' apartment, dancing around on the front lawn of the Rochester Museum and Science center proclaiming "I love science!" repeatedly. James was kind enough to capture this spectacle on his cellular phone.

The final memory I have from this interim period is of going canoeing on Irondequoit Bay with my friend, Dustin, just a day before leaving for the UK. An interesting part about studying abroad is that it makes you appreciate your home all the more both before and after leaving. Thus, I went on an "explore Irondequoit" kick.

The Summer of Buzz- Part I

It has been a very long time since I've taken a moment to update this blog, but with very good reason. This summer has been filled with non-stop activity. To begin, I went through graduation ceremonies in late May. It was a wonderful day, memorable for so many reasons. What I think I remember most was the presence of my family and friends, and all the wonderful noise they made upon hearing my name announced first among the International Business majors. My friends from High School, Pete, Dustin, and Melinda came to show their support, as did my mother, who has probably shaped me as a person more than anyone else. What I never would have believed would happen, however, were my grandparents making it out for the day. My grandfather is over 90 years old, and (pictured far right) is in very good shape.

Mom had taken Lauren (my sister) and I out to dinner the previous night, following convocation. The latter ceremony, commencement, was the one in which members of the College of Business walked the stage individually. Following this, my friends and I went to a graduation party of one of my classmates in Genessee Valley Park and celebrated over dinner. Something about the memory of cruising into the sunset in my friend's yellow mustang on that day, listening to "Swamped" by the group Lacuna Coil, will be forever engraved into my memory.