Gigs, Gras, and Midterm Season

As Spring Break comes to a close, I’ve been thinking about what an intense (yet immensely satisfying) month February turned out to be.  Between Charter Day, Mardi Gras, Chinese New Year AND midterms, it was definitely one of my busiest months here at W&M.

 

 

For Charter Day (that’s on February 8th!), the Student Assembly asked my jazz combo to perform during a special dinner in the Sadler Center.  Since I don’t have a meal plan this year, it was great to re-experience the dining halls (i.e. an endless soul food buffet, a sick salad bar, and ICE CREAM!)  Mainly, though, it was great to see my peers’ looks of befuddlement change to excitement as they realized their dinner would come with a serenade!

 

 

The next week, Mardi Gras was by far the most pressing thing on my (non-academic) schedule.   In the past, I never really thought twice about Mardi Gras.  I didn’t grow up with it, I didn’t understand it—it just wasn’t on my radar.  However, I’ve recently had the pleasure of befriending a native of New Orleans, Naomi.  Between her excitement about the holiday and the bits of New Orleans’ history I’ve picked up in my Southern Cultures class, I was determined to make an effort to learn more about Mardi Gras this year.  Thus ensued a day of purple, green, and gold beads, dancing on the Sunken Garden, and (dreaming about) king cake.  Success?  I think yes.

 

 

With February also came the Chinese New Year!  This year, W&M’s Chinese Student Organization (CSO) put on a spectacular event in PBK Hall, complete with calligraphy, dumpling making, video presentations, and a catered dinner.  The event also offered the opportunity for students to mingle with Chinese exchange and international students; I was thrilled to learn more about how the holiday is celebrated in China.

 

 

The latter half of February brought with it a whirlwind of exams, papers, presentations, and obligations—in other words, it was finally midterm season (cue dramatic “dun dun dunnnnnn”).  My new home became Swem.  In fact, I was spending so much time in Swem that by the end of the month, I had established “study spots” around the library: the little nook near the Children’s Book section with the round, sunny window overlooking Andrews Hall and the courtyard, the strangely-placed desktop on the second floor that only a couple other people like to use because it’s vastly inconvenient, and another super-secret spot I will only divulge post graduation.  (But seriously, let me know if you’re curious and I’d love to share.)  I developed weird eating habits that week, too.  Lunch?  Who needs it—I’ll take a triple Americano and this bag of Cheez-its, please!

But as most things, midterm season came and went.  Looking forward, I’ve only got half a semester left at this lovely institution, and I plan on making the most of it!