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Carnival was really fun this year. I spent a lot of time with a ton of different people, and the booths this year were pretty great. It was also a record-breaking year for buggy, as SDC and Pika both broke the speed record set by Spirit 20 years ago several times. Soundbytes alums also came back, and while I didn't get to hang out with them as much as I would have liked, it was good to see them.
Also, I attended Holi for the first time, which was incredibly fun. I was nearly unrecognizable by the end, and so was everyone else. Now to just get the color off me.... (which will probably take a while).
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Winter melts into spring
Winter is officially over. It has been for a while I guess, but the weather has been so gorgeous lately I just needed to punctuate it with a reminder that it is truly the height of spring here in Pittsburgh. And lest we forget, Carnival starts tomorrow; officially Thursday, but no one minds celebrating early. Unfortunately, only one of my classes is canceled for the rest of the week. Heinz doesn't observe our little holiday, but I will anyway. I'm still an undergraduate in name!
To reminisce a bit, I'd like to recall my previous three Carnivals. (I honestly can't believe I've been here four years).
Year 1: I ended up getting sick, so right after seeing The Shins concert, and feeling very under the weather, I slept through the rest of Carnival on Niquil. It was also my first Carnival concert with Soundbytes, where we had pictures taken of the group I will probably have with me forever. I <3 those amazing people.
Year 2: The first time I got drunk. I was a late-bloomer, but I eventually learned to enjoy alcohol. ^_-
Year 3: This year was a doozy. I dove whole-heartedly into the festivities unlike previous years and enjoyed myself immensely. I participated in booth for the first time (Fringe Trap won third place!!) and also got to see buggy for the first time. The best Carnival yet, and there are certainly some unforgettable memories. Even if I forget, I'll still have the pictures....
Year 4: Starts tomorrow! We'll see how it measures up. I don't expect to get nearly so drunk or participate half as much (if you've seen buggy once, there's really no need to see it again), but I think I'll still have fun.
Also, last Saturday was Soundbytes first annual No Instruments Aloud Invitational Concert (we're still trying to come up with a name for it, defaulting on calling it NIA which is a definite misnomer). We spent the majority of the semester collaborating with members of The Originals to put together a huge concert, inviting groups we've performed with or know from other colleges. In total, we had six who performed: Soundbytes, The Originals, and Counterpoint from Carnegie Mellon, Cornell's Key Elements, Penn State's Savoir Faire, and the University of Pittsburgh's Sounds of Pleasure. It was unbelievably packed; we sold out McConomy, which I hadn't expected, especially given the fact that there were at least three other large events going on that evening. We usually don't charge for concerts, which made it all the more incredible that we got the crowd we did.
One of my favorite parts about the concert was the film. We decided to theme the concert and film skits about a cappella life, in the vein of The Real World and The Office. It was called Real World Pittsburgh: True Confessions of an A Cappella Group. They ended up being absolutely hilarious, and probably made the concert. If you'd like to see it, look up Soundbytes on facebook; it's listed as "No Instruments Aloud 2008 video". I have a pretty large part in it. :)
The groups we invited turned out to be great people. I spent most of the time with members of Key Elements, who rock. Hopefully we can invite people back next year, and expand the concert to make it a yearly, well-attended event.
In other news, my plans are underway for going to Australia. I still can't believe I'm going, but I'm so incredibly excited!!! I'm going to schedule my classes next week, and this weekend during my down time I'm going to begin the visa process. I also need to nail down a place to live and a summer internship, but I'm hoping I can smooth those out pretty quickly.
To reminisce a bit, I'd like to recall my previous three Carnivals. (I honestly can't believe I've been here four years).
Year 1: I ended up getting sick, so right after seeing The Shins concert, and feeling very under the weather, I slept through the rest of Carnival on Niquil. It was also my first Carnival concert with Soundbytes, where we had pictures taken of the group I will probably have with me forever. I <3 those amazing people.
Year 2: The first time I got drunk. I was a late-bloomer, but I eventually learned to enjoy alcohol. ^_-
Year 3: This year was a doozy. I dove whole-heartedly into the festivities unlike previous years and enjoyed myself immensely. I participated in booth for the first time (Fringe Trap won third place!!) and also got to see buggy for the first time. The best Carnival yet, and there are certainly some unforgettable memories. Even if I forget, I'll still have the pictures....
Year 4: Starts tomorrow! We'll see how it measures up. I don't expect to get nearly so drunk or participate half as much (if you've seen buggy once, there's really no need to see it again), but I think I'll still have fun.
Also, last Saturday was Soundbytes first annual No Instruments Aloud Invitational Concert (we're still trying to come up with a name for it, defaulting on calling it NIA which is a definite misnomer). We spent the majority of the semester collaborating with members of The Originals to put together a huge concert, inviting groups we've performed with or know from other colleges. In total, we had six who performed: Soundbytes, The Originals, and Counterpoint from Carnegie Mellon, Cornell's Key Elements, Penn State's Savoir Faire, and the University of Pittsburgh's Sounds of Pleasure. It was unbelievably packed; we sold out McConomy, which I hadn't expected, especially given the fact that there were at least three other large events going on that evening. We usually don't charge for concerts, which made it all the more incredible that we got the crowd we did.
One of my favorite parts about the concert was the film. We decided to theme the concert and film skits about a cappella life, in the vein of The Real World and The Office. It was called Real World Pittsburgh: True Confessions of an A Cappella Group. They ended up being absolutely hilarious, and probably made the concert. If you'd like to see it, look up Soundbytes on facebook; it's listed as "No Instruments Aloud 2008 video". I have a pretty large part in it. :)
The groups we invited turned out to be great people. I spent most of the time with members of Key Elements, who rock. Hopefully we can invite people back next year, and expand the concert to make it a yearly, well-attended event.
In other news, my plans are underway for going to Australia. I still can't believe I'm going, but I'm so incredibly excited!!! I'm going to schedule my classes next week, and this weekend during my down time I'm going to begin the visa process. I also need to nail down a place to live and a summer internship, but I'm hoping I can smooth those out pretty quickly.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Fate Intervenes
I've never been a big believer in destiny. Maybe it's because I love thinking that I have some control over my life, or that I just don't believe in any higher power pulling the strings of our lives (or both). I also have thought it was an easy way to mask reality and find meaning in mere coincidence. However, some great things have been happening to me lately, that while I certainly don't ascribe them to fate or my innate destiny for greatness, they have certainly improved my life in ways I hadn't expected.
Mostly, this concerns one area: Australia. It is pretty common knowledge that I have been wanting to go on an exchange there next year. However, I recently have settled on plans that make this nearly certain (99%). Not only will I be studying in Adelaide for a semester, but I will also be working there from June-August before classes begin. The exchange is heavily supported by my school, to the point where they are actually giving me some funding! I have never thought it could work out so well or so easily, and I will be living there for longer than I anticipated, which is amazing. So from June to December, consider me an expatriate!!
It has been a dream of mine since I can remember to study abroad, and my commitments in Pittsburgh over the last four years made it impossible. This opportunity gives me an incredible end to an incredible college experience, and I think it's really lucky.
Everything works out for the best sometimes, I guess. I was sad that I didn't get the job in Portland, but this is so much better! And the rest of the semester is looking to be jam-packed with fun things to do. It's going to be a race to the finish, but I'm looking forward to [almost] every minute of it.
Also, I thought I'd share my senior yearbook photo. I'd gotten a bunch taken in February, and in looking over the proofs, this one was our favorite. There are a couple more I also liked, but we'll see if they make the final cut.
Mostly, this concerns one area: Australia. It is pretty common knowledge that I have been wanting to go on an exchange there next year. However, I recently have settled on plans that make this nearly certain (99%). Not only will I be studying in Adelaide for a semester, but I will also be working there from June-August before classes begin. The exchange is heavily supported by my school, to the point where they are actually giving me some funding! I have never thought it could work out so well or so easily, and I will be living there for longer than I anticipated, which is amazing. So from June to December, consider me an expatriate!!
It has been a dream of mine since I can remember to study abroad, and my commitments in Pittsburgh over the last four years made it impossible. This opportunity gives me an incredible end to an incredible college experience, and I think it's really lucky.
Everything works out for the best sometimes, I guess. I was sad that I didn't get the job in Portland, but this is so much better! And the rest of the semester is looking to be jam-packed with fun things to do. It's going to be a race to the finish, but I'm looking forward to [almost] every minute of it.
Also, I thought I'd share my senior yearbook photo. I'd gotten a bunch taken in February, and in looking over the proofs, this one was our favorite. There are a couple more I also liked, but we'll see if they make the final cut.
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