I don't think I can summarize the past 4 weeks or so in one entry but it doesn't matter because the time wasn't spent at Swat anyway....just kidding. :) Summer is winding down and I've got to admit that I'm really excited about going back to Swat for SOPHOMORE YEAR (oh no...) but I'm going to keep this summer and its adventures in the back of my mind, of course!

A couple quick updates? (mmhmm, check out the snazzy bullets!)

• My internship is almost over (aw) but I've still got a couple days left! If I never get around to writing more about it, I'll just say that it was a terrific learning experience. I learned a lot about how a civil rights advocacy organization works but of course, working has also opened up a new bubble of questions. Besides that, I had an amazing boss who drove me to/from work everyday (yes, she really is amazing), keeps me on my toes about life and everything relating to life, and most importantly, shared with me her passion for good food.

• I hung out with some Swatties..shared a great late-night parking lot gathering with Swatties..facebooked with Swatties..emailed Swatties..oh yea, and missed them terribly..
• I've re-discovered my love for "supervising" people while they cook. I can't fry eggs but I sure can watch my sister roll up some Vietnamese spring rolls or my cousin work her ice-cream machine. 
• I haven't gone to all the museums and noteworthy places in LA like I promised myself but I did a fair amount of exploring this summer including the Getty, Hollywood (way too many times), Santa Monica, fro-yo places (Cefiore is my favorite and Yogurberry = gross), the LA Public Library for their ALOUD LA program, and Downtown.
  
• As much as I know watching bad TV kills my brain cells, I'm addicted! Infomercials, MTV shows, back episodes of middle-school dramas, etc..

2 weeks and counting back to Swarthmore!

p.s. Did everyone see whose roommate is on the front page of the Swat website? Yup, that's right, Neena Cherayil '11, Admissions tour guide, is featured in an article about her experience working in admissions this summer. Check it out!

I'm a little more than three weeks into summer and psst..I miss Swarthmore! surprise, surprise. Neena is hanging out in ML helping with Trash 2 Treasure and having a great time, and I'm stuck here in Los Angeles...no, I'm just kidding. Los Angeles is great and summer has been pretty eventful (I suppose). I've started my internship with OCA, an organization that works with the Asian Pacific American community, decided not to take the CC class, and also started volunteering with the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles. I've also gone beach camping with some friends, slept on the beach, coasted down the Pacific Coast Highway at speeds too high to be legal I'm sure, walked around L.A. and eaten way too much good food. I could list all the wonderful food I've eaten besides my mother's cooking but I would probably bore every single one of you...do feel free to e-mail me if you would like my list. ;)

I guess this brings me to my question of what I miss about Swat, Philly, etc. People always said that college isn't just about the academics but the experiences and life lessons you share with other people, and I think it's just starting to sink in. Call me crazy but I do sort of miss my seminars (they were amazing) but more than that, I miss the people...hanging out in Parrish Parlors (check out the Facebook group), sitting in Sharples for hours, and even standing outside for an hour in the drizzling rain while a friend tried to convince us that Cornell was the best library to study in. I also miss walking into Mertz at 5 am and telling Neena to wake up....and I also miss her waking me up at 11 am on Sundays to make it to Sharples by 11:15 am. I miss IMing people when we're sitting next to each other and I miss that gross-looking chocolate pudding that I eat a couple times a week. I miss hanging out on Parrish Beach, munching on food, and talking about things. So, yes, please come to Swarthmore so you can also meet amazing people, have amazing conversations....and eat that delicious chocolate pudding. yum.

I recently read an article about blogging (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/magazine/25internet-t.html) and I asked myself why I blogged. I mean, why exactly would I want you, my dear reader, to know every last detail of my life? so that we can have a one-way virtual friendship? I guess the most practical reason for blogging is that Swarthmore wanted to feature some blogs to give an idea of what Swat life is like. I definitely like the idea of blogging since I found that when I applied for college, reading blogs about students' lives helped me gain insight into what life was like for those particular students. And plus, blogging rocks because the first online blogger is a Swat alum! Anyway, so beyond that, I guess I've been "blogging" since I was in 7th grade or so. I saw my sister write in her livejournal and so I was always curious. When I was a kid, blogging was a social activity where close friends would share their thoughts in public. Why would we do that if we saw each other 5 days a week and talked on the phone for 7? Please don't ask me...As I grew older, my online blog became a private journal and sadly replaced my written journal. I used it to vent and whine about the day or simply talked about something good that happened to me. And for this blog? I've always thought that sharing experiences and ideas over blogs is a great thing, and I love talking to prospective students. I guess I'm actually not sure why I blog now but I like writing in here and hearing from you guys. Until I find a reason not to write, I suppose I'll keep writing...

I'm obviously missing Swarthmore and specifically modern dance class a lot since I'm watching workout/dance videos on youtube right now...
I really want to take a dance class this summer but between an internship and a CC class, I'm not sure I can do it...Plus I would love to take full advantage of all the LA museums, events, lectures, etc. this summer! I told myself that I would do that last summer but that didn't really happen.

Anyway, summer has finally arrived. It is my THIRD full day being back at home since arriving at LAX last Saturday night. The last two weeks at Swat was just insane and crazy. Rather, the last four days were pretty much sleepless. ...but...they're over now! finals are over! Freshman year is over! :( That's cause for sadness seeing that we won't have another pass/fail semester or never again can we use the excuse "'scuse me for doing that, I'm just a freshman..." It's been a great year. It definitely took me a couple months during first semester to get the hang of things but second semester was fabulous. I'm not sure what else to write about it because I have so many thoughts but while I've been home for 72 hours, I can already tell that things are different. I ran through my town yesterday and my mind seemed to have done a somersault in perspective. whoo hoo..I'm growing? becoming more mature? more serious (haha)?

I'm not sure how much I'll be writing in here this summer but I am going back to Swat in less than 3 months (oh dear..) to be a student resource person for the Tri-College Multicultural Institute. (Summer is so short. ah) So for all of you incoming 2012ers, apply for it! You'll get info about it in the mail soon. It's a wonderful program and I think that it is a very valuable experience.

Feel free to email me klam1@swarthmore.edu since I'll be around for most of the summer. Take care..go to the beach..enjoy homecooked food..relax!