The Fourth Edition | The Hoya’s Blog

Last weekend, I attended my first concert since the beginning of the pandemic. I went to see Goth Babe, an indie/alternative/folk artist. If you don’t know who he is, good…that’s the whole point of this post. My ticket was a whopping $20 ($25 if you want to include tax, but whatever.) The line took about 20 minutes to get through from the moment we got out of the Uber. I got a long-sleeved t-shirt for only $35. And, listen to this, it was general admission. So even though we may have arrived only 15 minutes before the show started, we still managed to squeeze our way through to the center of the crowd.

My middle school, One Direction-loving self would be quaking in her shoes if she knew that not all concerts meant spending your entire birthday and Christmas savings on a nosebleed seat. I was a true, die-hard fan, one would say Directioner, who spent hours memorizing each song, decorating her walls with posters and reaching out to them on Twitter. That naive girl thought that maybe one day, Liam Payne or Harry Styles would see her fan account and fall madly in love with the 13-year-old girl obsessing over their every move. Shown below is a picture of me during my prime time:

Now imagine if that Directioner had the same experience that I too had last weekend. The experience consisted of the same anticipation, excitement, screaming, and dancing, but at a fraction of the cost. I honestly can’t believe I even shared the name of the artist, because selfishly enough, I do not want more people to find out about who he is. The small venue, the exceptional space for dancing, and the pride I hold when people ask “who is that?” keeps me from wanting to share my little secret.

I’m sure most of you can relate. Imagine seeing Tyler, the Creator, Billie Eilish, or Miley Cyrus in a venue with only about 400 people for a price of only $20. Who wouldn’t want this? So, kindly, please do not look him up, please do not play his music, please do not go to his concert. 

Okay, now all jokes aside, I think everyone should experience the same thing I did last Saturday night. A moment I had been waiting for for the past two years. Here’s a short video of my experience going to see G*** B*** live in concert. Enjoy…but not too much :).

Header Image: Another Planet Entertainment

Spring break was some much-needed time off. Midterms rocked me, and my favorite Lau 2 cubicle was consistently occupied the week leading up to spring break. Whether you stayed on campus, went home, or went to Punta Cana, the past week definitely felt different from the midterm-filled one right before. 

Some people might have never left the Georgetown bubble over break. I bet everyone who stayed on campus had more of a break from Georgetown than those who went to Punta Cana with the rest of the school. Whether you took time off from Georgetown or not, it’s time to get back at it: finish the semester strong, or whatever. 

Tip #1: Overfill Your GCal

We all know and love our GCals. I live by the rule that if it’s not on my GCal, it doesn’t exist. And if it’s not in stop-sign red, it’s clearly not important. 

Are you from Georgetown even if you don’t use your GCal? (Get it? Like the TikTok audio in the heavy NY accent? “Are you from New York even? Do you have a big black puffer jacket even??” No? Just me?? Ok…) 

What’s the point of having a calendar if you don’t flex on everyone behind you in class as you flip tabs and you are just SO busy with everything on your GCal??? I always feel like people judge me if they can see my GCal. Either they think I have too much on my calendar or I don’t have enough. Nah, it’s definitely only the latter. Or they judge what’s on my calendar. Like my most important events on February 1, 2022 being Harry Styles’ birthday and my half birthday in stop-sign red and every other Georgetown student has a meeting for their Hillternship. Annnndddd that leads us to our next tip. 

Tip #2: Apply for Your Summer Internships 

I mean let’s BeReal, you probably should’ve done this months ago if you sincerely care about your future. 

On a completely different note, I just applied for an internship last night. 

I made my parents stay on the phone the whole time and walk me through it because I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t want to mess it up. But this isn’t about me, I’m a mess and I am just here to give advice. Like your friend who has never been in a relationship but gives the best relationship advice? Yeah, that’s me. 

My application wasn’t for the Hill, but if you want to be taken seriously at Georgetown, you need to work on the Hill. You could also consider Deloitte or Goldman Sachs. That’s it. It’s the only way to really take advantage of your Georgetown education. 

Sincerely, a humanities student who has no interest in government or finance. 

Tip #3: Post Those Spring Break Photos, Baby!

I mean, how else would all 2,000 of your closest friends know that you went to Punta Cana if you don’t post it on your Instagram? Also, I actually want to see your pictures, so I can live vicariously through them. It’s only fair. Tag me, bestie!

Naturally, you would want to post at a good time because if you post during spring break when everyone is still doing their own thing, no one will see it. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience. But don’t worry about me! I don’t need validation from social media! Really, I’m fine. 

As I said before, I am that friend who has never been in a relationship. It might not make sense, but I will give you the best advice. You just need to trust me. Trust my words only, not my actions. I know that’s the opposite of what you’ve been told your entire life, but maybe everyone else has just been wrong and I’m finally setting the record straight. 

If I try and fail, why would you want to repeat my actions?? So I’m telling you, post after spring break, and your post will do so much better. Or you can be a wimp like me and just turn off the like count. 

Seriously though, I’m simply here to lead by words, not by example. Please, please do not follow my example. The world does not need two of me. I promise.

Tip #4: Keep the Party Going!!!

Boys and girls… ladies and gentlemen… It’s St. Paddy’s day weekend! What better way to push off your responsibilities and continue the spring break vibe than to party all weekend? I Truly™ don’t know. 

Of course, I will be getting all of my work done prior to the weekend because I am a studious girl who values her education (the rest of this article may lack sincerity, but if my parents are reading this, I promise I’m going to class and doing ALL of my homework XOXO).

Anyone who has ever said that Georgetown doesn’t know how to party clearly has never been to a Georgetown party. What better way to get back into the Georgetown bubble than to party with all of your favorite future politicians?!

I would now like to address all the schools that are on spring break right now who celebrated this venerated holiday last weekend. Personally, I believe that diminishes the integrity of the holiday and tarnishes its reputation. 

I will firmly say that I do not approve of the early celebration of St. Paddy’s Day. To do my very best to correct these wrongs, I will be partying extra hard. I hope to see all of you little leprechauns there! 

Tip #5: Ease Into It 

I am writing this from my favorite Lau 2 cubicle after a long day of Tuesday classes. There truly is not a better way to ease back into classes than to sit in your favorite study spot and procrastinate like your life depends on it. It’s the best feeling in the world. 

One of my professors today decided it would be best to ease back into class, and I was so grateful until I realized I don’t think we have the same definition of easing back into class. 

We watched a documentary on whaling in the 19th century. While I appreciate the effort, I’m not sure how applicable the deep knowledge I now have about whaling in the 1800s is to the rest of my life. 

Some of my friends have professors who canceled class; meanwhile, I have a professor who has us watch whale documentaries. Sounds about right. If anyone wants to learn more about whale hunting (I advise against it, it’s pretty gruesome), I am available to impart my knowledge. I sure have a lot of it now. 

This example was pretty niche (unless other professors also showed whale documentaries), but what I’m trying to say is take it slow, and maybe go watch an obscure documentary because that will definitely slow your day down. It might even put you to sleep. 

Final Thoughts

I have made it abundantly clear, but I would like to reiterate: follow these tips closely. If you know me in real life, first of all, no you don’t. 

Second of all, do NOT follow my example. Ninety-nine percent of the time I feel like my life is test driving a car and it doesn’t really matter what happens to it because it’s not yours. While this life is in fact mine, I really am just a test driver who is seeing what happens. 

Treat these tips like your own personal Bible, or Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide for Georgetown Students. They are basically the same thing. 

Lastly, if you went to Punta Cana and made it this far into this post, I would like to say that I didn’t mean to offend anyone, I mean no disrespect / it’s my right to be hellish / I still get jealous. If you can’t tell, I am currently listening to “Jealous” by Nick Jonas. 

My music was on shuffle, but maybe it’s fate because I am a smidge jealous. Maybe one day I will find my true Georgetown calling by going on the spring break trip and posting on social media with captions that make sense to nobody except the people who were there. 

No matter where you go n spring break, just know that the Hilltop will always welcome you home IF AND ONLY IF you follow these tips. Otherwise, you’re going to be more of a social pariah than if you didn’t go on the crazy spring break trip to a tropical country like the rest of the school. 

Header Image: Architectural Digest

It’s been a long winter; I’m trudging through campus, freezing and dreading every time I have to walk to the fourth floor of the Edmund A. Walsh Building. Mentally, however, I’m in Turks and Caicos, partying it up with a robotic cone named Lana. That’s right; if you’re like me, you’ve been watching the new season of “Too Hot to Handle” (THTH), and all I can think about is, “What if I got to cast the show with all my favorite celebrities?” Thus, I give you my fan cast of “Too Hot to Handle: Celebrity Edition.”

Disclaimer: I do not care if they are in a relationship. This is for my own personal entertainment.

Justin Bieber

Starting off with a great one and my personal middle school crush. He may have a wife, but if there’s anything that screams THTH, it’s bringing on a Canadian cast member and pretending they’re exotic. Plus, Justin went through a big playboy phase, and maybe we’d get to see this side of him on the show. He can talk about his past mistakes and form real connections by talking about his troubles with his previous relationship.

Khloe Kardashian

I don’t know about you, but I think Khloe deserves some THTH. After that clown of an ex-boyfriend clowned around again, Khloe is ready to let loose and break some hearts. “Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami Pt. 2” anyone?? (except Kourtney isn’t there, and it’s in Turks and Caicos). She can dish about True, traumas and tea with her new beau while Lana reminds everyone that there’s no funny business allowed. Bible. 

Jacob Elordi

Will America’s TV villain win us over with his genuine personality? Everyone knows that Elordi, Aussie heartthrob, plays notorious asshole Nate Jacobs on Euphoria, but can he push himself to play his biggest role yet, his true self? Only time, and Lana, will tell.

Demi Lovato

Demi is the chaotic, nonbinary representation we, and Lana, need. Demi is known for not only their talent, but also their quirkiness. Will they cross the line and break some rules? Or will they scare potential partners off with ghost stories and alien abductions? Maybe “Met Him Last Night” has two meanings…

Dominic Fike

Am I simultaneously watching “Euphoria?” Obviously. But I do think Dominic would add some flare to this season, and he’d be a much better musician than Patrick. After breaking into singing as well as acting, Fike has earned a name for himself among Generation Z as an artist on the rise. Even better, how many times have we heard girls gawking at the guys with tattoos?? He and Justin may have to duke it out for this title, but the more drama the better. 

Bella Thorne

Bella is our wildcard. She can “Shake It Up” on the season as a new player added on episode 4, breaking hearts and relationships alike. The OnlyFans record breaker knows no limits when it comes to getting what she wants, ranging from a New York Times bestselling book to a music career. Bella is more than just a talented woman, she’s also known for her whirlwind romances. Maybe she’ll even get engaged on the show as a THTH first? 

Timothée Chalamet

Every season needs the awkward boy who ends up coupled with no one, and I’m sorry to say that I think that’s going to be Timmy. Not only does he remind me of Peter from season 2, but all I think about when I think about him is the video where he says if he were to be a movie genre, he would be “Sports Star! Swish!” Sure the teens of TikTok may fawn over him, but Timmy is definitely getting sent home on episode 7 for failing to create a deeper connection.

Tana Mongeau

It’s not just the fact that Tana and Bella are exes that would make good TV, it’s that Tana knows how to market herself. Marrying Jake Paul in Vegas, getting her exes to tattoo her name all over them and launching her own drink line all help establish her wild, eccentric brand. She would be a sex-positive, fun-loving addition to the cast and could even be the reason Timmy comes out of his shell on the show. Wilder things have happened on THTH.

Has your sexy peg-legged pirate boyfriend succumbed to the mysterious and deadly illness known as scorbutus? It happens to the best of us, and you’re not alone. You’re human and it’s normal to grieve; let yourself feel all the emotions that wash over you.

Perhaps to honor the loss of your hot pirate boyfriend, you should make sure no one else suffers the same fate as him. The first thing you’re going to want to do is examine your diet over the past three or four months. Have you eaten anything other than salted pork and beer? Nothing wrong with that combo, but you might want to diversify your diet. I know you must be out to sea doing your pirate-y things and causing a ruckus, but it might be worth the risk to land at a port and buy some fresh produce. Ideally, you’d be able to find a local farmer’s market with organic, fresh produce, but maybe your pillaging hasn’t been as successful recently (I don’t blame you, just look at the economy … ). If that’s out of your price range, almost any canned vegetables or fruit could save your life. You see, potatoes, strawberries, and citrus all have a little thing inside them called Vitamin C, and you need that to survive. How do I know this? No, I am not a witch, but I have studied introductory biology and know what ascorbic acid is.

Once you’ve stocked up your pirate ship with some fresh fruits and veggies, it may be time to consider a proper burial for your boyfriend. He was a mighty fine pirate, the fiercest sailor of the seven seas, and he deserves a great funeral. How do you bury your dead? Oh, you just chuck them overboard? Don’t you think he deserves something a little more grand? I hear that viking funerals are very fashionable these days. I mean, pirates and vikings aren’t really that different, I don’t think it’s appropriation.

I know you’ve been down with the passing of your hot, rugged boyfriend, who always knew how to rock those billowy white shirts. He really did look great in that pointy pirate hat with his muscular chest exposed. But, he would want you to enjoy the rest of your pirating days: pillaging, sailing, staring dramatically out at the horizon, the whole shebang. So, pick up your head, your pointy pirate hat is dropping. Go out there, cause some mayhem, and avenge your boyfriend!! Arrrrg.

Love is in the air, y’all, and it looks like American can’t get enough of the Hill’s hottest new power couple. With Valentine’s Day still fresh in our minds, these two just love being the center of everything: attention, the political spectrum, and most every Democratic lawmaker’s mind. 

While this pairing may seem natural in an increasingly radical, Socialist Democratic party, the two would have been at each other’s throats a mere decade ago— and not in a sexy way. You see, this is a classic enemies-to-political-lovers story, one that will shape the future for years to come.

One side of this inflation-wary coin is Joseph Manchin the Third, who shares a name with Joseph R. Biden, his party leader and president. However, their similarities end there. 

Joe “I don’t know anybody that doesn’t own a gun” Manchin is a proud conservative Democrat from West Virginia who once famously shot President Obama’s climate bill in a campaign ad. He’s a steadfast lover of all things coal, pollution, and is the bane of r/antiwork’s existence. But there’s nothing Manchin loves more than another rabble-rousing Democrat with which he shares the collective hate of the Democratic party. Her name? Krysten Lea Sinema.

Krysten “bisexual yas queen girlboss” Sinema is a Senator from sunny Arizona. More specifically, she’s the senior senator from Arizona, which is honestly such a dated term, because it’s so wrong to comment on a woman’s age. 

Senator Sinema, whose voting record in 2019 was more conservative than Mitch McConnel’s, took a more unique road to becoming a conservative Democrat than Manchin. As a graduate of Brigham Young University, she quickly disavowed her Mormon religion,became an early supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and was an outspoken pacifist during the War on Terror. Thankfully, Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema did not know each other at the time, which was probably for the best because Mr. Manchin might have mistaken her for Satan herself.

However, after almost two decades of public service, these unlikely political allies have drawn closer and closer together — so close, in fact, that news outlets have given them a cute couple’s nickname: Manchinema. Forget Bennifer and Brangelina. Manchinema is America’s hot new power couple. 

While it may sound like a liver disease, their rock-solid (or, I guess, coal-solid) relationship is only reinforced by their shared affinity of corporate donations, Republicans and anti-progressive anger. Instead of leaving room for Jesus, they leave room for the filibuster. 

So with this Valentine’s Day in mind, while you’re sitting alone in your cold, dark room, just remember that you still have a chance at finding your other half. If Manchinema can find each other, so can you.

Last semester, in the depths of midterms, I was introduced to the singular greatest piece of art I’ve ever seen: Attack On Titan (AOT). 

Before you start wondering if binging AOT during midterm season was a wise choice, having a TV show to watch with a friend genuinely helped during the trials and tribulations of midterm season! Study breaks are amazing and wonderful and should always be encouraged. 

Anyways, back to the greatness that is AOT. Quick summary for those of you who don’t know: Attack On Titan is a Japanese anime based on a manga by the same name (which I have not read so pls pls pls do not spoil it thanks). 

The basic storyline is what is left of humanity lives within three walls protecting them from “titans,” large human-like creatures who eat people. The reason they do eat people is unknown. One day, these walls crumble, and the story picks up from there.

The final season is premiering now, and with the first five episodes already out, here are my favorite theories for what may happen, again, without having any knowledge of what happens in the manga. 

If you are interested in watching the show, I’d highly recommend you stop reading here, as the rest of this article will contain spoilers for the entire show up through Season 4 Part 2 Episode 20.

Theory 1: Eren is possessed

Okay, admittedly, my evidence for this is in constant flux, and maybe it’s me refusing to believe the kid we see in Season 1 ends up being like THAT in Season 4. But just hear me out. There’s a lot of religious symbolism in the show, which, in my opinion, hasn’t been explored enough yet. 

The religious symbols  coupled with calling the Eldians in Paradis devils leads me to believe Ymir (or some other entity) is actually possessing Eren. We know Ymir is the “founder,” and is a godlike figure in their world, but we are never told explicitly that she is a good deity, leaving the door open for possession to occur. 

Theory 2: Falco inherits the Attack Titan

My only real piece of evidence for this is that at the start of Season 4 Part 1, he has some sort of flashback to swinging around (presumably in ODM gear). The way his flashback is presented is very similar to how Eren receives his very first vision way back at the start of the show, before he ever became a titan. After last week’s episode, we not only know that holders of a titan retain the memories of all the previous holders of that titan, but also the Attack titan can also see into the future. 

The way seeing into the future works is a bit complicated, but in short, the previous holder of the Attack titan was Eren’s father, Grisha, who would see into the future via Eren, who sent select memories back to his father from the future. The current holder of the Attack titan picks and chooses which memories the previous holder can see. If Falco receives the Attack titan after Eren, in theory, he could manipulate Eren’s decisions by selectively choosing what Eren does and does not see from the future. However, Falco received the Jaw titan, so I’m not really sure how plausible this theory is anymore, but it’s AOT, and crazier things have happened.  

Theory 3: There are no more titans

This slightly contradicts theory 2, but I genuinely don’t see this show ending with titans still existing. Somehow, especially given the events of episodes 19 and 20, I think Eren will convince Ymir to end the titan lineage. In doing so, maybe all the survivors retain the memories of past events, so they do not forget their history. 

One of the major revelations of the show was that everyone living on Paradis Island had had their mind wiped, meaning they had no recollection of the past and outside world. If Eren is either able to convince Ymir to end the titans and allow everyone to learn about their history or is able to use the Founding titan’s ability without being royal, then that would lead to titans no longer being a part of their world.

Theory 4: Armin is the sole survivor

When I say that Armin is the sole survivor, I mean the sole survivor of the core group. My major piece of evidence for this theory is that Armin has been narrating a majority of the show, especially in the introduction and previews. It would make sense that this show is his way of retelling the events that took place, either through a book or some other form of storytelling. 

This idea goes along with theory 3. If Eren or Ymir can rid the world of titans, then I think Armin would no longer be locked into the whole 13 years left to live clause that comes with inheriting a titanl, meaning he could live a long enough life to spread their story. 

Please keep in mind that these are all my 3 a.m. theories and probably won’t happen, but either way I am so excited to see how this show will end. 

Header Image: The Independent

If there’s one thing my friends know about me, it’s that I love to cook. It’s my all-time comfort and stress-relieving activity. Whenever I’m feeling down — or just bored, I’ll be in the kitchen…or on TikTok, or on TikTok in the kitchen. It’s also my favorite thing to do when I want to procrastinate. If there’s a paper due in the next couple of days, I’ll pregame with some blueberry, lemon poppyseed and chocolate chip muffins. It’s all part of the process. I like to justify my procrastination by telling myself that to nourish my mind, I need to nourish my body. In hindsight, I think that adage holds true. I can’t think on an empty stomach, and I don’t think others can either. It’s important to recognize the needs of your body. If it’s telling you to cook a five-course meal the night before an exam, go ahead and do it!

No kidding, I’ve done that before. It’s currently less than a week before the start of finals and I still keep making dinner plans with people. But like I said, I’m nourishing my friends’ bodies so that their minds can find nourishment as well. There aren’t any losses here (except maybe my bank account). Anyway, here are some occasions when I’ve asked some people to come over for dinner.

The First Supper

This was my first dinner party. I invited some friends over to grub on some pasta inspired by TikTok and Gigi Hadid, as well as eggplant parmesan, caprese salad and an upside-down peach cake. Fun fact: I bought the long serving dish and the large glass baking dish from the thrift store a couple of days prior for this dinner. I’m proud to say it turned out well, and I’m still using both today.

VSAxDinner 

I hosted this dinner for some friends from Georgetown University’s Vietnamese Student Association (VSA). I was extremely excited to have them over because I hold VSA and the people in it close to my heart. That night, I made Japanese curry with carrots and potatoes, tonkatsu, white rice, scallion pancakes, miso soup, banana bread and muffins. As you can see, the white serving dish has now become part of my dinner party mise-en-scene.

Taco Wednesday

This dinner was a particularly fun one to make. When cooking, I love to incorporate as many colors as possible and this “Taco Wednesday” dinner hit the spot. I served flour tortillas with shrimp, chicken and veggie fajitas, corn salsa, and a cilantro-lime cream sauce. It was delicious and gave me an excuse to bust out the cast iron.

Charcuterie Galore

I hosted this dinner for my internship cohort with the office of Rep. Karen Bass. We’re all pretty much in the same age group and started working within the same couple of days. I made two charcuterie boards (one with meat and one without), a kale persimmon salad, another caprese salad and pizza (not pictured, but you can see the toppings). I always enjoy making pizza dough because it’s fun to see how tall the dough rises overnight.

Friendsgivings

These next two dinners were friendsgivings I hosted during Thanksgiving break. It was refreshing to see all my old friends and be able to share my newfound skills with them. In the first picture, the star of the show was the turkey my sister made. She cooks the turkey in pieces, allowing for full flavor impact in each bite. In the second picture, the highlights were the upside-down orange cake, mini apple tarte tatins, and elephant cookies for dessert. Fun fact: I burned my upper lip pretty badly taste testing the caramel and ended up having to throw it out because it turned out burnt. I’m still suffering from that battle wound today. Sigh.

Sometimes I look at other people singing, dancing, drawing and painting and get a little disappointed because I can’t do any of it (trust me, I’ve tried). But, as of recently, I’ve begun to realize that my artistic ability comes with making food, conducting dinner parties and creating a welcoming environment for my guests. It takes a bit of work but it makes me elated to see other people happy to eat and enjoy each other’s company. It makes everything worth it in the end. So if you’re ever in need of a nice meal, company and some body and mind nourishment, come over for dinner!

Hello, lovers! We here at 4E hope you’ve gone on your first couple dates with your Marriage Pact match (or successfully ghosted them…). To supplement this season of Autumn Girl love, we’ve created a quiz for you all to see who your BLOG Marriage Match could be. Take the quiz and share your results!

When I applied to transfer to Georgetown University last winter, I would have never imagined that my first semester would have been at the Capitol Applied Learning Labs (CALL). And while I was definitely excited to leave my former institution, I was absolutely stoked to have the chance to live in downtown Washington, D.C., and experience everything our nation’s capital has to offer.

During my initial introduction to the CALL, a huge emphasis was placed on the CALL’s design as an experiential learning semester. We’re now on week 11 of the fall semester, and I can confidently say that this semester has been full of new experiences, personal growth and learning. For starters (and a little bit of context), CALL students live in fully-furnished apartments in NoMa, a neighborhood in downtown D.C. named for its location north of Massachusetts Avenue (I know, creative). We are a 15-minute walk from the Law Center and Union Station and a short metro ride away from just about anything else we could want to see or do! 

Instead of writing a clunky and long article about how much I enjoy living in the heart of D.C., I’m going to go over some opportunities and obstacles (because pros and cons just don’t cut it) from my time in the CALL in case you ever consider signing up for an unforgettable semester. :)

OPPORTUNITIES:

1. Create your own experience! The CALL is designed to be an experiential semester of learning, and that can take form in so many different ways. Most students have an internship (that they get to choose!) as part of their program or a studio-based class. I’m in one of the studio-based classes, “Consulting for Social Impact,” where we are completing consulting projects with three different social impact organizations local to D.C.! I also have the time for a part-time internship, and have extended my summer internship at Life Pieces To Masterpieces (a phenomenal organization). Of course, I could have chosen to keep my schedule open, or worked to find a completely different internship, but that’s the beauty of the CALL — you truly can make it anything you want! The possibilities are endless, and the central location broadens the horizon for even more opportunities. Even better is that it does not cost any more than a normal semester on the Hilltop!

2. The community is absolutely amazing. Take it best from a transfer who up and left the only place and people they had known for the past two years. My biggest concern when transferring was just being able to escape rural Virginia, followed by getting a similar aid package, and then worrying about whether or not I would fit in. The CALL is a small group of students (approximately 30 this semester), which allows for a lot of bonding opportunities — even if most of us have busy schedules with our internships. Every Friday the CALL buys us lunch, giving us an hour of fellowship, food and fun in the student lounge. 

3. Location, Location, Location! I’ve said it before, and I have to say it again. We are in the heart of the District! Not only is it easy for us to go to the monuments at midnight, but there are so many places to explore and things to do. Walking a couple blocks in any direction will land you in an entirely different neighborhood that is just as unique as the next. My favorite part about where we are has to be the daily view of the Capitol. The CALL campus is only a couple blocks away from the Capitol, and that closeness never gets old. While Georgetown has its historical charm, the broader district has so much more to offer.

4. Train to be the next Gordon Ramsay! Part of the experience of the CALL is getting to experience life as a young professional. Our meal plans are given to us in the form of debit dollars and grocery store gift cards so that we can go shopping (at the grocery store conveniently on the corner of our block) and cook for ourselves. The possibilities are endless with this one, and if cooking is something you really enjoy, the open kitchen and high-end appliances make it all the more enjoyable. Another obvious bonus is that you can brush up on your food handling skills, so that you won’t have to worry about giving food poisoning to yourself or your roommates.

I’m a big fan of baking, and bake just about every Thursday for our community lunches on Fridays. I stopped baking when I left home my first year, but I have quickly found my groove again. If buying random ingredients from the store and turning them into something delicious was a hobby, I would be its most ardent hobbyist. 

OBSTACLES:

1. The commute to the Hilltop. You may be wondering, “How do I get to the Hilltop?” The answer? Public transportation! While the GUTS bus from the law center only runs roughly every hour and a half, there are other ways to utilize GUTS in combination with the Metro to get to campus! First, CALL gives us each a MetroCard and will reload it constantly. Yes, that means unlimited sightseeing, adventures, and explorations. And while the fight to bring the UPass Program to the Hilltop continues, the CALL is ahead of the game on this one. You can take the Metro (the Red Line NoMa stop is a block away from our current apartments) to either Dupont Circle or Rosslyn and then take the GUTS bus from there to the Hilltop. Those buses run every ten minutes, which is a lot more convenient than the law center GUTS bus.

It is still a little tricky and can be slightly time consuming (especially with the Metro delays that they have going on right now), which is why I’ve listed it as a potential obstacle. I grew up in a small town in West Virginia with no public transportation whatsoever, so you can imagine my continual fascination with the ability to get anywhere in D.C. using the Metro. I enjoy using public transportation, but if it’s something you despise, it would definitely be an obstacle during your time at the CALL.

2. Guy Fieri won’t hire you to work at his kitchen. The task of cooking for yourself may be daunting, and, with the buttload of opportunities and possibilities that ensue from a create-your-own experience program, potentially even overwhelming. While this is listed as a potential obstacle (understandably so), it is one that I think can easily be overcome. As long as your knife handling skills don’t put you at risk, a little practice can go a long way. Make it a low-stress environment and in no time you’ll be ready to answer the CALL (see what I did there) as Guy Fieri’s next executive chef. After all, the point of an experiential learning semester is to learn from new experiences, right? :)

Take this list of opportunities and obstacles as you will. I’m a huge fan of learning and growing from unique experiences, which may slightly sway how I feel about the CALL program. The CALL provides the perfect opportunity to reflect on your passions while giving you the tools to create an experience that is enriching and meaningful to you. College is a time to try new things, meet new people, and learn more about yourself along the way. Being able to create your own experience for a semester tailored to your personal interests is a great way to do that, and it will undoubtedly make your collegiate story even more unique than the next.

Header Image: Global Georgetown

There’s something cool about being a “blogger.” It’s casual, intimate, quick. But our posts here at the 4E don’t always give you a glimpse into the person behind the screen. I’m here to change that. I bring to you the inaugural edition of “School and the City,” a column in which I tell you everything about all things Georgetown.

Now if inspiration had struck me a couple months earlier, maybe you’d be hearing about the highs and lows of moving in, joining clubs and making friends. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Instead, it’s post-Halloweekend on top of the dreaded second wave of midterms, and I can’t help thinking, “How is such a festive time so stressful?” I was supposed to be going out from Thursday to Sunday, each night sporting a different — but equally quirky and sexy — costume at a different “no questions asked” bar in Adams Morgan. This was in no way, shape or form bound to happen. I have to work my part-time job every day this weekend, study for two midterms on Monday and continue applying for clubs. 

That’s the thing about Georgetown. You don’t go to a selective school and expect it to be unicorns and rainbows all the time. Ask anyone, and I promise they’ll tell you that. Still, it sure would be great if it were easier sometimes. No one talks about how demoralizing it can be on the Hilltop. The competition doesn’t end, and neither does the work. Lately, I feel myself being pulled in every direction and forced to sacrifice my social life for the work-heavy lifestyle that almost every student here is forced to adopt, which is definitely very far from the whole “college is a movie” thing I’ve heard so much about. 

I went away that weekend (in between work of course). This was my fourth time going away from campus in the 11 or so weeks we’ve been here. Honestly, it’s such a breath of fresh air. Regardless of everything I do like about this school, sometimes it’s nice to go to a frat party where no one asks you about internships, classes, or what school you’re in. Plus, it’s a reminder that you don’t always need to carry that stress of competition around with you, and you can even do it as a sexy pirate.