Wish You Were Here

Maryland Film Festival

One of my favorite things about going to school in Baltimore is the interesting, quirky, creative arts scene that surrounds me here. As a humanities student (really, as a humanities person), it makes me feel even more creative myself when I hear of films being produced, exhibits opening, and shows playing all over town to showcase the talents of young, independent artists. As one of these artists said during a panel discussion at our own Hopkins Film Fest, Baltimore is a perfect transitional city for growing artists. It might not be where you hit it big, but the rent is cheap, the people are cool, and you have the chance to really push your creative boundaries in all directions.

This past weekend, I got to participate in one of my favorite annual arts events in the city: Maryland Film Festival. You’ve heard of film festivals before (Sundance, Cannes, Berlinale, Tribeca, SXSW) and Maryland fits that same structure. They get tons of submissions from independent filmmakers around the world and choose a bunch of feature-length films, shorts, and documentaries to fill up a weekend schedule. The screenings are centered around Station North/Mt. Vernon, mid-Baltimore neighborhoods that are home to the major screening spaces: Charles Theater, the MICA Brown Center, and The Windup Space. There’s a kick-off party and a closing night party, which this year included special guest Harry Belafonte. There is also a whole “tent village” set up across the street from the Charles Theater the entire time where they have the Filmmakers’ Lounge, panel discussions going almost continuously, food donated by restaurants around Baltimore (Golden West and Zeke’s Coffee were the best this year), merchandise for sale, and of course ticket sales.

My job as a volunteer this year was to be a tech checker, which in essence means I met the filmmaker, helped do run-throughs of each film before the screening to make sure there weren’t any problems, and monitored sound/picture quality throughout the screening to make sure there were no issues. I also helped during Q&A sessions at certain venues, which was a lot of fun. As a result of being a volunteer, I saw a lot of the films during the festival, including Terri, The Dish and the Spoon, Convento, Hilvarenbeek (co-produced by Hopkins faculty member Jimmy Joe Roche), Bad Fever, The Learning, a recording of Danny Boyle’s stage version of Frankenstein, and a couple series of themed shorts. I was disappointed to miss The Color Wheel, Weekend, A Useful Life, and We Were Here, but there are only so many screenings you can make it to in one weekend! As a volunteer, I also got vouchers for each shift I worked, which could be redeemed for free screening tickets or $5 worth of merchandise.

A still from The Dish and The Spoon, my favorite film at MFF.

Even though I worked a lot of hours each of the three days and also had obligations on campus to come home to, it was hard to feel tired with the perks and the experience I gained during the weekend. As part of my job, I got to meet some amazing Baltimore residents, which was probably the best perk of all. I met a young couple who actually live right here in Charles Village (and who, during our entire shift, were trying to help me network by dropping loud hints that I needed a job…in FILM…you’re graduating soon, aren’t you Lauren?). Part of my job was to work with the filmmakers, so I felt privileged to converse with them and their casts about everything under the sun. After the screening of The Learning, which is about Filipino teachers being recruited to become teachers in American cities (this one, Baltimore) in order to achieve better lives for their families, I even had the pleasure to meet a lot of the inspiring people on whom the film was based. And I worked with a lot of older cinephiles, which I definitely would never have had the chance to do otherwise. I had conversations about my favorite actors and films with the randomest of people and even saw some familiar faces (including a few friends and some of my professors at Hopkins) along the way.

A still from A Useful Life, a Spanish film about a man who has to figure life out after his beloved movie theater is forced to close.

All in all, it was a creative and stimulating and thrilling weekend. I woke up each day so excited to take the shuttle down to the festival and get to work. And it never sucks to be on the other side of things: by volunteering, you’re in charge of something, you can answer questions for people, and you feel like you’re really part of a greater effort. Maryland Film Festival was another reason why I know I’m in the right field: there’s never a dull moment, the people are buzzing with creativity and artistic drive…and I can’t help but want to be along for the ride.

My Collegiate Playlist

As we near closer and closer to the dreaded May 26th (that’s graduation day, folks), I can’t help but reminisce with friends – and within my own self – about my four years here at Hopkins. It’s funny, but sometimes all it takes is a few notes of a familiar song to take me right back to the basement of Pike freshman year, sitting in Nolans eating dinner sophomore year, riding the bus junior year or talking to a certain someone senior year. Though it doesn’t feel as if I ever could, I worry I’ll forget all of these memories – some fun, some sad, some scandalous, and some too rich for words. These people, these places…they’re a part of me. Like I said a couple posts back, if I had gone anywhere else, I would be someone else. And the fact that I am 100% comfortable with where I am, who I am, and what I’ve done with my life so far is such a luxury.

So, to try to let you into my memory as much as you possibly can, I’ve put together some playlists. Each one reminds me of a different era of school at Hopkins, from freshman up until this very year. I highly recommend making playlists of your favorite songs each semester – I actually have a “Fall,” “Spring,” and “Summer” playlist for each year since 2007, and it can be such a time machine to let one play. For better or for worse, these songs will always remind me of the people, the places, the emotions…they’re memories in themselves. And with college flying by so fast, you’ll want as many of those as possible.

Freshman Year

Me, my freshman year roomie Kathleen, and Megan in Fall 2007; me and Naomi at The Greene Turtle in Spring 2008

Sophomore Year

Josh and me at a party during our sophomore fall; breaking crabs at Obrycki's with Naomi and Olivia in the spring.

Junior Year

Being silly at the beginning of my junior fall; me and Mike before Sig Ep Spring Formal 2010.

Senior Year

A montage of my senior fall!

And now it’s senior spring. As I went through this entry, I found it harder and harder to choose photos to accurately sum up my fall and spring semesters. So many more things are happening and so many more people are becoming part of my life that I can’t possibly choose one photo to represent all of that. The fact that my college experience is only getting better with time makes me even more sad that it’s ending so soon – but, with these memories in my albums, iTunes, and mind, I can’t help but be excited about what the next four years will bring too.

misfortunes of may

I am officially a semi-shallow person: I lost my phone on Friday night – my new, precious, baby Droid Eris – and for a solid day, I sat here legitimately missing it.  Though I feel better now, talk about being overly dependent on material things…beautiful, functional, shiny little things.

It might not sound like a big deal, to be phoneless.  I have dozens of friends who lose their phones left-and-right, then just head to the Verizon store the next day and buy another one.  Easy peasy.  But I have never lost anything electronic before.  I’m super careful because I know there won’t be replacements – this phone was expensive and I got it for free after rebates and discounts, and that is the only way I would’ve been able to afford it.  That means there’s not going to be another new one.  I was able to get a pre-owned phone that will be in Baltimore soon, but after a pleasant month and a half together, I’m sad to say we had to part…and that some rando in Baltimore is probably going to be using my beautiful phone for his own socialization in a few days. Makes me sick to think about.

First thing my friends did after finding out I lost my phone? Call it. Second thing? Take a photo.

Anyway, enough of the pity party.  Now to address this actual “no phone” issue…it’s weird, but if you push aside the fact that I basically left $500 in the back of a taxi cab, physically not having a phone is actually kind of pleasant.  I have to make all of my plans with friends through Facebook message, chat, or actually in person {gasp!}.  Things have to be planned down to the very specifics – I am going to meet you here at this time and these people will be there and these plans will NOT change.  I rely on my friends to call shuttle vans, contact other friends, and check the time for me.  It’s so easy not to constantly be available, 24/7.

It was also refreshing to wake up and not check my phone the past couple mornings.  That’s normally the first thing I do before I even get out of bed.  But honestly, when have I ever received a text that was that important?  Before, not having my phone {leaving it in the apartment when I went to class or keeping it at a friend’s place before I went to a frat party – for safety’s sake} would make me feel so cut off from the real world.  But this time, I feel more a part of the real world than I ever have.  I can completely focus on what’s at hand.  When I lost it on Friday, we were going to Sonar for a dance party.  I didn’t have a phone I could keep checking for my texts, emails, missed calls, or even the time – I just danced and had fun.  On Saturday, even though I missed out on going to Preakness and a trip to Ocean City, NJ because I’m phoneless, I met up with my friends to picnic in the Tulip Garden and watched Preakness {mint juleps included as a shout-out to the Kentucky Derby} on television.  For the past two nights, I went out and helped friends celebrate some of the last nights we’ll all be here together.  And I haven’t once been bogged down by technology or constantly checking to see how late it is.  I can’t know any of that – I’m able to BE with my friends, 100%.  That’s the way it should be.

{In other news, I am DONE my final exams, papers, projects, and other assignments.  Stay tuned for my next post about my exciting summer plans!}

la di da.

So, I’m lying here at 1:11AM thinking three things.

1) I don’t care if it’s tacky or if people will look at me like I’m nuts, but I want a sequin beanie like Carrie Bradshaw’s.  And a life like Carrie Bradshaw’s, minus all of the romantic drama … which I guess doesn’t leave a whole lot else except a job in the publishing world and a fabulous wardrobe.  And that would be fine by me.  {I can’t find a picture of the hat, so a fantastically fashionable substitute will have to do.}

2) I should probably do some sort of work.  Maybe read more of To The Lighthouse, or plan one of my 3 final papers due sometime soon.  Or maybe write my final screenplay for the second time, since I tragically lost my first 8 pages when my computer decided it was tired and needed to shut down. {I gave up and resent the project now, even though I love my story.}

2.5) Is it “So, I’m lying here” or “So, I’m laying here” ????  As a Writing Seminars major {newly, English minor – much less stress}, I feel like this may be something I should know.

3) THIS TIME IN A MONTH I WILL BE A JUNIOR OMG.

It just hit me today that the semester really is almost over.  We have two weeks of classes left, followed by final exam period {although I don’t have any exams – just those final projects and an exciting trip to Fort McHenry with the Aquarium}, and then summer is here.  It’s really hard to believe that two years here are over and that I only have two years left.  It makes me sad — it’s not like I would stay here forever if I could, but I’m quickly realizing that 4 happy years are not going to feel like enough.

It’s hard to even imagine nearing the end of this particular semester, especially since this weekend has been one of the lowest-stress weekends yet.  On Friday after my internship, I met up with Josh to have dinner at Tapas Teatro and see The Class and Sunshine Cleaning at The Charles.  Then we came back to campus and stopped by for a bit at Hopkins’ Relay for Life and a birthday party afterwards.  Saturday was Homecoming, so we had a big breakfast with my Alpha Phi family, then went to our APhi barbecue where I got to introduce my parents and uncle to my sisters — biological family and Greek one! :) — then had the pleasure of watching Hopkins beat Navy in lacrosse by a LOT of goals.  That night, Josh and I went to see Adventureland downtown with Josh’s roommate Nathaniel and his girlfriend Tara {double-date, how cute – and that’s Margarita Levieva in the photo, who’s in the movie}.  And today, I played video games {believe it or not, I’m a fan}, went to the brand new 7-Eleven that opened up this month down the street, and watched a lot of TV.

Notice what I didn’t mention in there one bit — work.  I didn’t touch a book or computer until late evening tonight, and even then I admittedly didn’t get a whole lot done.  It’s Spring Syndrome and I’ve come down with it hard this year.  But, in my defense, Hopkins in the spring is something special.  The weather gets warm and breezy, the trees are in bloom, there are people hanging out all around campus, and suddenly nothing seems quite important enough to steal you away from all of those things.  Not even studying.

And I guess I should be a little bit more alarmed than I am.  Like I said, I have three papers, a screenplay, a fiction story, and a couple of books to read.  I still don’t know where I’m living next semester, or if I’ll have an internship to keep me busy this summer.  The only thing I have nailed down at all is my classes for next semester — and I doubt they’ll stay exactly the same.

But it’s spring, and I don’t really feel like I need to worry about that now.  For now I’m going to get back to watching Sex and the City The Movie and head off to bed.  Sooner or later, I think the “end of the semester” workload will set in and I’ll realize that I need to get down to business, at least for a couple days … but, for now, I am more than happy staying blissfully relaxed and as far away from my books as I can get.

’cause i’m getting restless, just get me on the train

Worst travel experience ever.

Date: October 10, 2008
Time: ALL AFTERNOON OMG
Place: Penn Station, Baltimore.  So much Penn Station.

So, yes, getting to and from campus is very, very easy.  It’s convenient, fast, pleasant — most of the time.  We tell you just how great it is here and here.  But not yesterday.  Definitely not yesterday.

I bought an Amtrak ticket last week from Baltimore to Philly for the train that was scheduled to leave at 2:47pm.  I skipped two of my classes because I was so beat on Friday: instead, I ate lunch with Josh and watched television.  I started to pack my clothes at 1:30pm.  I always get nervous about not being able to find a cab, so I walked downstairs with my two heavy bags {I’m an overpacker} at 2, put my cable bill payment in the mailbox, and headed outside.  I, of course, hailed a cab immediately — 10 minutes and $9 later, I had arrived, which meant 40 minutes of waiting.  It’s sort of a lot for someone as impatient as I am, but I had a Nylon magazine and an iPod to keep me busy.  It’d be ok.  No problem.

So I printed my ticket from the ticket machine, got settled on a bench, and pulled out my magazine.  And then I looked up at the board that tracks the trains and their statuses, and that lets you know when they’ve finally arrived.  And that’s when my day went downhill — my train was an hour behind.  Yuck.  But no big deal, because I had a Vogue magazine and lots of homework to do, too.  So I bought some snacks to make me feel better and got to passing the time.

But then I heard the whirring of the status board again as it updated — one hour and 30 minutes late.  And then, again, 15 minutes later — arrived?!  But again, about 30 seconds later — they had made a mistake, and it was the train AFTER mine that I had arrived.

After a while, I had started to see people I knew.  I was sitting with Rachel {who was also going to Philly on our delayed train} when the board let us know it was now an hour and 45 minutes late.  I was sitting with Ingrid and Rachel when Christian Siriano walked right by us {redeeming part of the wait, honestly}.  He was so fabulous, with his crazy black hair and gorgeous glasses and sparkly silver duffel bag, that I actually forgot how long we had been waiting.  But I was sitting with Ingrid, Pooja, and Rachel when Pooja and Ingrid’s trains — scheduled a half hour and 45 minutes after ours, respectively — were boarding.  That brought me back and made me realize that this situation was definitely not fun.

Finally, at 6:10 — over three hours after we were supposed to leave; after four hours of waiting — we got to Philly.  I could’ve driven to Westmont from Baltimore and back again in that time!  Besides the fierce, fabulous Project Runway encounter, the afternoon was hell.  I was never so glad to come to Philly … and so, SO happy to finally be home {and eating a real chicken cheesesteak, yum} an hour later.

So that was my ordeal.  Yes, we tell you that it’s a breeze to get home.  We say that it’s a little expensive, but worth it because it couldn’t be easier.  And really, I didn’t have anywhere I HAD to be so it wasn’t a huge deal.  But this time?  It really sucked.  It was long, and not what I planned, and it made me tired.  I’m blogging about this because it’s sort of a little snapshot of the focus of my next blog entry, which I’ve been writing for a while now .. it’s life.  Similarly, Hopkins is amazing overall.  I love my time there, I love the people, I love the learning, I love it all.  But once in a while, you hit a bump and things aren’t so much fun.  It happens, and it’s lousy, and it feels like it takes forever to pass.  But it does and, like coming home, it’s always worth waiting for.

happiness is ..

For the sake of keeping the randomness going for one more week, I’ve been keeping a list of little things that happen in life that make me happy.  They’re things that keep me going when school gets really stressful, or when it feels like my next trip home is really far away, or when I’m feeling sick or tired or annoyed or whatever.  They’re things that really don’t mean anything in the large scope of things .. but they matter to me.

1)  When my favorite songs come up on my iTunes party shuffle.

2)  The reaction everyone has when I tell them I’ve met JK Rowling .. because, honestly, it is pretty cool.  It’s easily one of the neatest things I’ll ever be able to say I’ve done in life.
3)  The color purple.  The actual color, not the movie.
4)  My authentic Louisianaian Mardi Gras beads that hang off the corner of one of the pictures on my wall {in particular, the ones with the crawfish, oyster, crab, and shrimp boot charms on them}.
5)  Making anyone laugh.

6)  Staying up late doing nothing productive but playing Scrabulous and learning how to make Country Fried Steak from Paula Deen {key: no amount of buttahh is too much buttahh}.

7)  Waking up in the middle of the night and realizing I still have more than three hours left to sleep.
8)  Bathing suits, especially my newest additions to my collection.  It’s an obsession.
9)  New hair cuts, especially when my hair still smells like the salon where I got it cut.
10)  Getting my hair shampooed at that salon.
11)  Driving into Baltimore down Charles Street and realizing that I’m really, actually going to Johns Hopkins University.  I live it every day, and even still it feels surreal sometimes.
12)  Seeing tour groups of prospective students and their parents all around campus.  When I walk by, something about these groups sort of makes me want to randomly burst out a, “Yayyyyy, Johns Hopkins!!”  But I don’t,
because I kind of have a feeling that wouldn’t sell the school all that well.
13)  Jeff Probst.
14)  Restaurants around campus like Bert’s now being SMOKE FREE.  You don’t realize how good of a law that is until you go somewhere that doesn’t have it {like Baltimore for my first semester}.

15)  Freshly painted fingernails, especially if the paint job is a good one.
16)  Pearls.  It’s as simple as that .. I just have a thing for them, I guess.
17)  Going to graduate student Writing Seminars readings at the Den and realizing that they are all about sex, alcohol, and general social awkwardness .. and then realizing that no, this isn’t what creative writing is all about.
18)  Being able to read an article in the newspaper that I wrote.
19)  Seeing a movie for the first time .. but only if it’s a good one.
20)  Knowing that, even if it’s hard and even if I question it sometimes, I’m
doing exactly what I want to be doing with my life right now.
21)  Babies, and knowing that they really do learn something new every single day.
22)  McDonalds chicken nuggets.  I know they’re a heart attack in a cute little box, but they’re fantastic.
23)  Hugs.  And being told, “I love you.”
24)  Good television, and the fact that all of my favorite shows are going to be coming back on the air soon!  I’ve missed Dirty Sexy Money, Boston Legal, Grey’s, and How I Met Your Mother so bad!
25)  Crossing the bridge from Delaware into New Jersey.  There’s no happiness quite like coming home.

Speaking of, I have THREE days left until I head to New Jersey for spring
break!  I don’t really have any grand plans — I imagine there will be lots of sleeping, lots of eating real homecooked food, lots of playing board games, and lots of watching movies — but I’m looking forward to it all the same.  It will be amazing to have almost two whole weeks without any classes, and that same amount of time with very little homework to worry about.  I can’t wait to kick back, relax, and spend some quality time at home.