the guide friday, january 20, 2012
the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop
oh, the places you’ll go! Children of Uganda’s Tour of Light
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Restaurant Compilation: DC’s Best Italian
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Salute the Troops: Shirts for Sale
this issue 3 4 lifestyle 10 food&drink art&culture 12 14 entertainment hilltop
red square roundup // hide & seek
children of uganda // andrew wojtanik
italian in the district // culinary quips
let freedom ring // photo essay
face the music // bombay bicycle club
nextissue
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STUDENTS RETURN HOME WITH STORIES TO TELL
For generations, Georgetown stuAmman, Jordan dents have chosen to leave the comfort of the Hilltop in the middle of their college careers in search of an unforgettable experience abroad. Spending a semester away from home has woven itself deeply into the culture of being a Georgetown student, and, although students have a choice of destination, many do not know what COURTESY WILL MUMFORD to expect when they finally make the leap into a foreign culture. Many U.S. college students travel abroad, but few can say that they have mourned the death of the Czech Republic’s beloved Vaclav Havel in Prague, walked the China-North Korea border during a time of crisis or discussed changes to traditional culture with local elders in Botswana. COVER PHOTO BY REMY SAMUELS
soundbite
FEATURE: JOHN MULANEY LIFESTYLE Check out next week’s issue, in which SNL writer and Georgetown alum John Mulaney (COL ’04) discusses his new one-hour standup special on Comedy Central.
the guide Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanna Fonzi, Managing Editor Chris Bien, Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief Victoria Edel, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Christie Shely, Deputy Photo Editor Michelle Cassidy, Deputy Photo Editor Zoe Bertrand, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Emory Wellman, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Emily Perkins, Deputy Copy Editor
Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Steven Piccione, Guide Editor Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Upasana Kaku at (202) 687-3415 or email executive@ thehoya.com. General Information THE GUIDE is published each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: THE HOYA Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of THE HOYA and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University. Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of THE HOYA. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors. THE HOYA does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 2010. THE HOYA, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of THE HOYA Board of Editors. All rights reserved. THE GUIDE is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each. Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-8350 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741
grandma goes to turkey
But that was 2003, and Italian pop stars are nicer now and have better facial recognition skills.
MeaganKelly
omglol ;) :) :( :0
Depp on the Prowl Again — Johnny Depp has separated from his longtime girlfriend Vanessa Paradis. Girls across the country get ready. Crazy Courtney — Courtney Stodden was caught going for a healthy jog in a casual pair of lucite heels. Talk about shin splints. Paris Is Burning — Paris Hilton has announced that she is releasing a second album after the wild “success” of her first.
Dietary Dilemma — Paula Deen revealed that she has been recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Now only one stick of butter per show.
saywhat?
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“The Globes are to the Oscars what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton. A bit louder, a bit trashier, a bit drunker and more easily bought. Allegedly.” — Ricky Gervais at Sunday’s Golden Globes
hilltop
RED SQUARE ROUNDUP jan21
thinkFASTgameshow
georgetownimprov
jan21
Saturday, Jan. 21 at 11 p.m. Alumni Lounge
Saturday, Jan. 21 at 9 p.m. Bulldog Alley
Want the chance to win some cash with your pop culture knowledge? Sign up in a team of four for What’s After Dark’s trivia gameshow and you could win the $200 prize.
Join the Georgetown Improv Association for a night of comedy as performers showcase their talent and quick wit. Everything is unscripted and unrehearsed, so the show is guaranteed to be one-of-a-kind.
courtesy ThinkFast
jan19-28
night of theatre
Courtesy Georgetown Improv Association
robin decker’s into sunlight
Thursday to Saturday, Jan. 19-21 at 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22 at 4 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, January 25-28 at 8 p.m. $12 General Admission/$10 Student Devine Studio Theater Enjoy four student-directed one act plays in this annual Nomadic Theater event. The short plays, which include “Waiting for Philip Glass” by Wendy Wasserstein and “Liars Club” and “Coax,” both by Neil LaBrute, examine the idea that all human interactions involve performance.
Friday, Jan. 20 at 8 p.m. Gonda Theatre $18 General Admission/$10 Student Inspired by Pulitzer Prize winner and journalist David Maraniss’ book They Marched Into Sunlight, acclaimed choreographer Robin Becker’s new show makes its D.C. premiere at Georgetown’s Gonda Theatre. Set in 1967, the show explores the dimensions of war and the pursuit of peace. Courtesy Nomadic Theater
hide&seek We at the guide are excited to present to our readers a brand new segment called “Hide & Seek.” Every week, we will showcase a close-up photograph of a certain part of campus, and it’s up to you to discover where the detail in that photo can be found (see the example below). The next week, we will print the full picture, revealing the sought location (see right), as well as a new snapshot for you to identify.
jan20
Courtesy intosunlight.org
The two photos on the left are an example of what will appear in Hide & Seek, but for next week: Where on campus is the photo on the right?
findme
all photos leonel de velez/thehoya
1.20.12 | the guide | 3
lifestyle
Keeley williams Special to The Hoya
From Darkness to Light: Children of Uganda sing into d.c. hearts
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hristine Nankinga is a child of Uganda. Like any child, Christine beams with all the hope and wonder of tomorrow. But as a child of Uganda, Christine deals with the consequences of an epidemic that has also affected the lives of 3.5 million children in Uganda. Christine is one of many young performers that will grace the stage of the Davis Performing Arts Center as part of the Children of Uganda’s Tour of Light. Children of Uganda is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in the United States and in Uganda, that was founded in 1995. The organization sponsors severely disadvantaged children and, in conjunction with local charities, forms partnerships with Ugandan boarding schools, providing affected Ugandan children with an education and the hope for a promising future. The AIDS epidemic in Uganda, as well as in other parts of Africa, has left a vulnerable generation of children
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“Most of the children have rarely been outside of the village they are from. ... Only three [of the 20 performers] have been on the [Children of Uganda] tour before. ...” — Pat Davies and teenagers in its wake. HIV infects approximately 20,000 babies annually through mother-to-child transmission, and an estimated 3.5 million children are orphaned by AIDS. A Ugandan child also faces the threat of being one of the 25,000 children abducted by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebel group, one of the 1.4 million people forced to flee their homes due to conflict or one of the many children who lose their lives to malaria. Yet, even with the threats they face in their everyday lives, these chil-
dren sing, dance and live. The organization began as a simple labor of love. Known as Uganda’s Mother Theresa, Sister Rose Muyinza was the driving force that led to the development of the Children of Uganda organization. Sister Rose recognized the resilience and the capability of the Ugandan youth in a country devastated by civil war. In the midst of that violence, in 1971, she committed her life to supporting at-risk children and teens by providing them with food, shelter and
education. She took in orphaned and homeless children and, by collaborating with the Daughters of Charity organization, Sister Rose was eventually able to found several orphanages in Uganda. A group of Ugandan children under Sister Rose’s leadership travelled to the United States for the first time in 1993 to compete in the Wolf Trap Children’s Festival. Taking first place in their American debut, the children went on to perform around the country. The stirring performances of Sister Rose’s children and Sister Rose’s passion led to the founding of Children of Uganda. Jan Smart, the current vice chair on the Children of Uganda Board of Directors, helps to carry on the legacy of Sister Rose, who passed away in 2009. “When a child loses one parent in Uganda, they are considered a ‘single orphan.’ In contrast to the Western understanding of orphaned, in which a child loses both parents, a child in Uganda is consid-
lifestyle ered a “double orphan” when [he or she has lost] both parents,” explained Smart. “We take children from very disadvantaged homes at the request of a family in need. We put the children into school, often times supporting the child through primary, secondary and even up to the university level of education.” Geofrey Nakalanga, the lead performer of the Children of Uganda touring group, is one of 34 children in his family and is the first to attend school. Nakalanga, who once raised goats to pay for his school fees, currently attends the Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda to study music, dance and drama. Of the schools supported by Children of Uganda, two of the main schools are the Sabina Primary Boarding School and Phillip’s House. The Sabina School, which is located in the southwest part of Uganda in the Rakai district, offers elementary education to orphans and local children. The second school, Phillip’s House, is part of a program in the Mukono district of Uganda that offers health services, physiotherapy and education to young adults with physical and mental disabilities. The Tour of Light provides the opportunity for these young people, ages 10 to 22, to hold a candle to the issues that affect their homes, in addition to arranging opportunities for a cultural exchange. “Most of the children have rarely been outside of the village they are from. Many have never been on a plane before or been on an es-
Q & A
calator, or seen tall buildings,” said Pat Davies, a member of the Children of Uganda Alumni Advisory Committee. “Only three [of the 20 performers] have been on the [Children of Uganda] tour before. That is why we are having a special matinee performance for schools in the D.C. area.” Selected as some of the best dancers and singers from their respective Ugandan schools, the performers trained intensely over a period of several weeks and were then narrowed down from a pool of 35 to the top 20 performers. Stopping in eight different cities over the course of eight weeks, the Tour of Light is touted both as a moving performance and a cultural experience. Audiences will learn of the amaggunju, which was first danced for the very young Baganda king who had to be entertained to keep from crying, or the bwola court dance of the Northern Ugandan Acholi people, which is conducted in a circle as a symbol for a fence that shielded the king’s palace. Each performance is different, showcasing the multifaceted culture of the region. The Children of Uganda’s Tour of Light will come to the Davis Performing Arts Center on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. All proceeds from the performance will go directly to supporting the children and schools that the Children of Uganda organization works with. Tickets may be purchased on the Georgetown University’s Performing Arts Department website at performingarts.georgetown.edu.
ALL PHOTOS Courtesy Children Of Uganda Foundation
CHILDREN OF HOPE A Ugandan child prepares himself for a dance.
If you could only take three things abroad with you, what would they be? “I would take my Kindle, an empty set of luggage to bring back souvenirs and a camera.”
“I would take my laptop, a soccer ball and a photo album of my family and friends.”
Cassandra Saenz (SFS ’12)
Jad Tabbara (COL ’15)
“I would bring a Leatherman, a Moleskine and a pair of sunglasses.” Fraser Simpson (SFS ’14)
“I would take a camera, a novel about wherever I’m going and some homemade trail mix.” Caroline Fisher (SFS ’14)
1.20.12 | the guide | 5
lifestyle
center stage Whiz Kid: Geography Genius Publishes Book, Aces Maps of the Modern World In 2004, Andrew Wojtanik (SFS ’12) won the National Geographic Bee, a world geography contest for U.S. students in elementary and middle school. His victory led him to a book deal, and he published a version of his study guide as Afghanistan to Zimbabwe: Country Facts That Helped Me Win the National Geographic Bee. A second printing of the book, National Geographic Bee Ultimate Fact Book: Countries A to Z, will be released on Feb. 14. Wojtanik went on to win the National Geographic World Championship as captain of the threeperson U.S. team. The geography whiz sat down with the guide to look back on his experience at the Bee. How did you first become involved in the National Geographic Bee? I got involved in sixth grade [through] my middle school in Kansas. That year,
TAISA GOODNATURE Special to The Hoya
I was a young little kid with braces and glasses and enjoyed looking at maps while other people played video games, and I’m not ashamed of that at all. I was lucky enough to win my class bee — you go through the class and then the school — and I had won the school, and then you take a written test, and based on that written test you go to the state contest. I actually finished eighth in the state that year. Then I participated again in seventh grade, at a new middle school now, and made it to the national contest, representing Kansas. And then in eighth grade I won the national contest, and their national contest is here in D.C., so it was my first exposure to this great city. How would you describe the process of publishing your book? It was pretty relaxed, in the sense
that they’d come to me, not me going to them, unlike lots of other publications. It’s not like sending in manuscripts and hoping that it gets published. While I was at the National Geographic Bee, I noted that I had created this massive study guide. It was about 400 pages, [on] every country, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, listing all the facts that I thought would be relevant. After I won, they said, “Hey, do you want to publish this book?” and I said “Sure, sounds great!” So I actually kind of scrapped everything that I had done and rewrote it in a form that was more amenable to other students [who] were interested in the geography bee. But it was difficult because I probably spent 30 or 40 hours a week outside of school — weekends, everything — just writing it again for about two months or so. Then, after that, it was cool because I got to go to a bunch of book signings, and it was a fun little superstardom for a little bit. Did this experience help lead you to the SFS or shape your interest in international affairs? It certainly did. I grew up in Kansas, where people think the State Department represents, like, U.S. states, not the world. There’s not a whole lot of understanding of why you would want to study international affairs. So when I came here it was a big leap of faith, and I, fortunately, love it. And it helps to know where these places are, to know what their background is, to know what their natural resource base is. … Their historical consciousness is what influences today’s current events. In that way, it is sort of the unique schtick that I have that other students might not.
Erica Wong For the hoya
GEOGRAPHIC GREATNESS Andrew Wojtanik, former National Geographic Bee winner, passes on his love for atlases to all Hoyas.
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Did your experience at the Bee help you with “Map of the Modern World”? It did; I actually [tested] out of “Map of the Modern World” on the first time. I served as a TA as a sophomore. So that was fun. I think I influenced a few people [and made] it sound a little bit interesting. And I hope that geography does form a basis for our knowledge and conception of the world, because it really is completely intertwined with the politics, the economics [and] the culture.
Some things you didn’t know about Andrew Wojtanik: Most Georgetown students refer to me as “Wojo” rather than Andrew. My favorite hobbies, despite growing up in Kansas, are hiking and backpacking in the mountains. I am a die-hard Georgetown Hoyas and Buffalo Bills fan (it’s a sad life). Although I grew up in Kansas, I have never seen “The Wizard of Oz.” I am a co-founder of the Georgetown Appreciation of Puns Society.
lifestyle
Byzantium Bound and Boyfriendless grandma goes to turkey
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MeaganKelly
tudying abroad: a quintessential part of the college experience. It can be characterized by frolicking around Italy and accidentally getting mistaken for an Italian pop star. This initial confusion, of course, leads to a hot and steamy romantic fling with another Italian pop star who tragically turns out evil and tries to sabotage your performance at the Coliseum. But it all turns out beautifully because you end up realizing you’re in love with your nerdy best friend. But that was 2003, and Italian pop stars are nicer now and have better facialrecognition skills. Plus, I’m not going to Italy. I’m going to Turkey. But if you know any Turkish pop stars I resemble who have a sexy, evil boyfriend I can steal, please contact guide@thehoya.com. All maniacal, boyfriend-stealing plots
aside, studying abroad remains a typical part of Georgetown, although it is not quite like what Lizzie McGuire experienced on that high school field trip anymore (if you can believe that). For six whole months — or a whole year if you’re particularly adventurous — you are transposed into a totally different, or just slightly different (I’m lookin’ at you, England), culture and country in an effort to broaden your intellectual horizons. What results, of course, is a series of incredibly cool Facebook albums that make all of your less-cultured and lessadventurous friends back home shake with jealousy. I can’t wait. I am going, as I mentioned, to Istanbul, Turkey. I do not speak Turkish, nor can I even really sound it out with all the squiggles and dots and everything. I have never been to Turkey, and I don’t really know all that much about it, to be completely honest. (But I got a few books titled “Istanbul” for Christmas, so I’ll get there.) So how did I choose Turkey, you ask? Well, let’s get real. These are tough times. Regimes are rising and falling. This one
semester abroad may be the only opportunity I have to live anywhere in the world, to experience a country in which I may never have a chance to return. Being Irish, awkward and not that fond of tropical destinations, I feel like I will have more opportunities in my life to go to countries like England, Ireland or Scotland than the historically rich and quasiMiddle Eastern country of Turkey. So how does one prepare for such a life-changing adventure? Well, there are the logistics: the passport, student visa and shots (you know, for all the scary foreign diseases). My family has loved tactfully avoiding these chores until roughly a week before my intended departure date. We love the rush of not knowing until the absolute last minute whether I’ll be legally allowed to leave the country. We live on the edge. Or just in a constant state of disorganization. Either way, my mother is a professional. Once the panic and last-minute rush sets in, it’s also time to become mentally prepared. This I have not done yet, nor do I intend to do it until about
hour eight of my 10-hour flight. Again, I’m all about that last-minute business. This mental preparation, however, is important. I’ve expressed this grief to my friends: I hated the first two weeks of college. The pumped-up and forcibly spirited events of NSO just felt like summer camp to me. I hated summer camp. (This may have something to do with the fact that the only summer camp I went to was a Girl Scout camp and I have never been a Girl Scout. But that’s neither here nor there.) Due to my fear of awkward icebreakers, I am terrified about the first few weeks of this experience. Mostly because icebreakers are 1000 times harder when there’s that whole language barrier thing. So there are two things I need to remember: Boisterous hand gestures translate in every language, and the louder I shout, the easier it is for people to understand me. Meagan Kelly is a junior in the College and former Photo Editor for The Hoya. She can be reached at kelly@thehoya.com. GRANDMA GOES TO TURKEY appears every other Friday in the guide.
Hoyas Salute US Soldiers With Patriotic Sales Project gratitude expands to the hilltop
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f you count yourself among the many students who walk along the bottom level of Village A apartments on Prospect Street throughout the day, you’ve probably noticed one apartment’s unorthodox choice of decorations. Instead of movie posters and beer cans, apartment H104’s windows are filled with shirts, hats and signs encouraging all who pass to stop by and buy some gear. This is not, however, just an entrepreneurial endeavor on campus. Ian Gaston (COL ’13), the man behind the display, has set up shop at Georgetown as a distributor and representative for the organization Salute the Brave. Salute the Brave, started at the University of Southern California by student Ryan Morris, has a simple premise: sell clothing to give clothing. While this strategy has been used by many other brands, notably TOMS Shoes and the One Laptop per Child Initiative, to gain increased market presence, Salute the Brave has its own unique and patriotic twist. For every hat sold, Salute the Brave, through a partnership with Project Gratitude, will send one to American troops stationed overseas
as part of a morale-boosting care package. Gaston found himself inspired by Morris’s mission to give back and soon became a campus representative, along with fellow Georgetown student Chris Bisanzo (COL ’12). Salute the Brave sells more than just hats. The organization’s website has a wide variety of products available, including shirts, tanks and sweatshirts, and features special merchandise customized for a few states and regions. Gaston says, “In addition, as we expand the organizations representative base, we have been offering to specialize logos for teams or any other organization, group or club that purchases a minimum of 25 items.” As representatives of the organization, Gaston and Bisanzo serve mainly as salesmen, placing their orders for supplies from the company’s website and collecting a modest commission for the products they sell. According to Gaston, “The money is not the issue, but rather the thought of how those U.S. Armed Forces individuals will feel upon receiving these gifts and how great it must feel to know that there are people out there that are so very
NICOLE JARVIS Special to The Hoya
Chris grivas for the hoya
SALUTE THE TROOPS For each hat sold by Support the Brave, another is sent overseas in a care package for American troops. grateful for the work they risk their lives doing daily.” The future is looking bright for Salute the Brave at Georgetown. With a growing presence on campus and a soon-to-be-announced promotional event at Epicurean.
Gaston and Bisanzo are confident in their expectations of continued strong sales. Purchases from Support the Brave can be made via phone (419) 787-1054, through email (ing4@georgetown.edu) or in person at Village A H104.
1.20.12 | the guide | 7
blogging abroad HOME
T
ABOUT
GALLERY
raveling abroad entails much more than leaving your family, campus and culture behind. It’s about forming new relationships, learning about new cultures and experiencing things most can only read about.
Diamond in the Rough Posted by ERIC MOORING from GABORONE, BOTSWANA
A Killer Semester in Scotland
COMPILED BY STEVEN PICCIONE
Czech-ing Into Prague Posted by MARYA PULASKI from PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
Worlds Collide in East Asia Posted by STACY TABER from BEIJING, CHINA
A Hostel Situation in China
On the Sunday of my last weekend in Prague, my Czech roommate Pavla accompanied me and several other Americans to Wenceslas Square where hundreds of people were gathered to pay tribute to Vaclav Havel, who had died that morning at the age of 75. The “poet-president,” who began his political career as a dissident playwright during the Soviet occupation, went on to lead Czechoslovakia and then the new Czech Republic as its president. Havel’s seemingly lofty belief that artists and writers are capable of changing the world for the better manifested itself in his political activity throughout his lifetime. Exactly a week before Havel died, I had the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak. He honored “his old friend” Havel during the talk, pointing to him as a champion of human rights. Given the tumult and instability of the last century in Czech history, Czech people seem rightly more skeptical of praising anyone in a position of leadership or power, including Havel. Yet, in the days following his death, the impromptu memorials and tributes to Havel proved the Czechs’ deep gratitude for the man. At the memorials Sunday night, a light flurry descended upon the statue of St. Wenceslas, shrouded in black cloth. Every flat surface on its base was covered in candles. A dozen or so people lifted up a massive Czech flag over the crowd and led a procession into nearby Old Town Square. The masses of candles and tributes continued to grow over the next week, along with posters bearing the words ‘Pravda a Laska,’ or ‘Truth and Love,’ referencing a famous motto of Havel: “Truth and love must prevail over lies and hatred.” In light of the pettiness and lack of transparency of today’s many career politicians in the United States, I hope Havel’s legacy will be well-remembered.
Reconcilable Differences
Posted by RACHEL MUNSIE from HONG KONG, CHINA
Tags: havel, st. wenceslas, town square, pravada a laska
Posted by WILL MUMFORD from AMMAN, JORDAN
Posted by MEGAN WINTER from GLASGOW, UK When I first arrived in Glasgow, I wasn’t sure what to expect. The only thing I knew was that it was both the murder capital of Europe and the friendliest city in the UK. I was puzzled as to how these two things could be possible, but over time I realized that, like any other large city, Glasgow has its good and its bad. What sets Glasgow apart from everywhere else is its strong Scottish traditions, culture and sheer patriotism. While abroad, I traveled to many other cities both in Europe and in the UK, but Glasgow was always different. Every day is a celebration of the Scots’ past, present and future, and the Glaswegians take great pride in keeping longstanding customs alive. Glasgow is a place where it’s not strange to find men wearing kilts, for people to drink pints at breakfast or to dance the night away at Ceilidhs. It is a city built on grit with a shady past but that looks ahead to a bright future. Not many Georgetown students visit Glasgow — in fact this semester it was only me — but I feel lucky to have been able to become acquainted with its beautiful architecture, charming citizens and Scottish traditions. As I boarded the plane to come home, I was sad to leave Glasgow but knew that I would undoubtedly return one day.
Tags: scottish, glaswegians, ceilidhs, architecture
During the National Holiday, an annual weeklong vacation period, I was traveling with my Chinese friends to the border of China and North Korea and found myself standing on the Great Wall overlooking North Korea. The difference between the two countries was startling on paper, but it wasn’t until I had a chance to compare the two visually that I truly got a sense of how far China has come in the past 50 years. Numerous buildings dotted the hilly Chinese landscape. North Korea, in contrast, was vast and flat; desolate fields extended for miles until interrupted by mountains and rivers. After the Great Wall, we travelled to the Memorial of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. My Chinese friends thought it was amusing to take an American there. Unfortunately, the museum was closed, so we walked away and met a woman who had raised a flock of white pigeons. The pigeons flew onto my arms and pecked my hands expectantly for food. Next to the birds was an outdoor exhibit of Chinese planes and tanks used in the war. For a few dollars you could clamber up into a tank and snap a new Facebook profile picture. The day ended with a visit to the Broken Bridge. Bombed by Americans, the bridge was never repaired on the North Korean side. We walked out from the Chinese side, the sunlight slowly fading into dusk. Without daylight, North Korea was a black abyss — the only light came from a sole lamp in a window of a building. On the China side, tall multicolored buildings flashed their lights exuberantly into the night. The cab back to the hotel blasted David Guetta’s “Sexy Chick.” My head spun as I processed the day’s events: I had glimpsed several worlds coexisting on one planet.
Tags: national holiday, great wall, north korea, david guetta
Blessed with relatively good governance and diamond wealth, Botswana is one of the better-off countries in sub-Saharan Africa. I studied there last semester and along the way attained some sense of what development, globalization and Westernization mean. The three concepts are different in theory, but in practice I found them all to be tightly linked. I won’t attempt to distinguish among them here, but this process of change is often about surprises and contrasts. Let me share a few examples. One family I met in a village outside the capital city lacked indoor plumbing but had a large stereo system. Another family I visited lived on a notably unimproved road but had a large flat screen TV. Then, I attended a festival sponsored by an ethnic group committed to preserving its cultural identity. Villagers sat sipping their Cokes as they watched traditional dancing and singing. When traveling by bus along a remote, dark road in northwest Botswana, the clearest signs of each dark village were the shining red lights of a cell phone tower. I particularly recall one older woman who talked about how she liked the schools and clinics that had arrived during her lifetime but was disappointed to see her descendants losing aspects of their heritage. In a sense, she wanted to have it both ways — to maintain parts of a traditional way of life while also partaking in the things that improve quality of life in the eyes of so many both in Botswana and the United States. Is that aspiration just quixotic nonsense? I honestly don’t know. As one lecturer in Botswana pointed out, cultures always have been and always will be changing. But I also believe that it’s possible to drink a Coke and then join a dance that has been going on for generations.
I am so grateful to have travelled to Hong Kong for the most incredible and life-changing semester of my college experience. I attended the Chinese University of Hong Kong, which has a breathtaking and sprawling campus in the New Territories and a student population of 20,000. There were more than 500 international exchange students in my program — I was one of two Georgetown students there — and I now have close friends in many different countries. I am a finance and international business major, with a minor in Mandarin Chinese, so this school had the perfect selection of courses for me to take while I was there. Many people do not understand the amazing quality of life a person can have there. It is a highly concentrated urban city on either side of Victoria Harbor, but travel half an hour away from the center and you will find beautiful beaches and scenic hiking trails. The city has some of the best restaurants, nightlife spots and tourist attractions I have encountered in my travels. Hong Kong’s location also made it easy to travel around Southeast Asia. I travelled on a moped through bustling Hanoi in Vietnam, slept on a boat and kayaked through the floating villages in Ha Long Bay. I went on the world’s tallest bungee jump in Macau, petted tigers and rode elephants in Bangkok. I celebrated the Full Moon in Koh Phangan, went hiking in Western Mainland China, saw the world’s largest Buddha statue on Lantau Island and even explored the world’s longest underground river. I was able to experience these different cultures in what I consider the best way — travelling between cheap hostels and meeting new people everywhere I went. The entire semester was a unique experience, and I am at a loss for words that could do justice to it.
I came to Ecuador in August unsure of what I was getting myself into. At first, I didn’t like living in Quito. It’s smoggy, confusing and at times dangerous. It seemed to me that, while I was trying to get to know Quito, Quito wanted nothing to do with me. The low point in my relationship with the capital city was when I was robbed during my second week there. I was upset, angry and really didn’t like Quito I then realized that something like that could have happened anywhere — in Seattle, New York or even Washington, D.C. There was no reason for me to dislike an entire city because of one incident. So I got up, brushed myself off and decided to make an effort to get to know Quito and Ecuador before I made any sweeping judgments. I learned to love the old Centro Histórico, the vibrancy of downtown, the roaming vendors selling candies, cigarettes and gum and the roar of the crowd at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa. I learned to savor the morning sun over Mount Pinchincha, the afternoon rains that cleanse the city of its smell and smog and the midnight fog that covers Quito in an opaque cotton blanket. Little by little, the city began to feel like home. These past six months have challenged my understanding of the region, of my own country and of myself. My biggest fear was that I would come to South America — a region I only knew through books — and dislike it. But I instead discovered a land that, without question, I love, for better or for worse. From what (very little still) I have seen, I can say that this place is special, unlike anywhere else in the world, and it is beckoning me to return soon.
Many of us find ourselves guilty of either subconsciously stripping all shared humanity from people of a different nationality or, just as erroneously, tactlessly ignoring cultural subtleties, thereby failing to realize that people are people no matter where you go. I, too, harbored such a misconception while studying abroad in Jordan last fall, and I could not be happier to have been proven wrong by someone unexpected. On the last day of my Arab literature class, I stayed behind due to an overwhelming desire to ask my teacher Sajida, a conservative Muslim woman who had just received her doctorate in Islamic law, about her views on homosexuality. Once my friends had left the room, I approached Sajida and explained how I had spent much of my semester researching the origins of contemporary Arab and Islamic attitudes towards homosexuality. Then, timidly, I asked, “Well, what is your opinion of it?” Sajida paused for a moment before saying, “My personal opinion or the legal one?” Naturally, I wanted both. She continued, “Personally, I don’t agree with homosexuality as an act. I believe that it is an aberration, a violation of natural law.” I nodded in understanding, expecting her to stop there, but Sajida smiled and continued, “But, God is the only judge and of course love as a feeling is legal,” Shocked, I just gave her a strange look, at which point she laughed and explained, “I mean, habibi, we can’t help who we fall in love with, can we?” And with that, Sajida left the room, leaving the hope for a more LGBTQ-friendly Jordan lingering in her wake.
Tags: botswana, globalization, heritage, quality of life
Tags: mandarin chinese, nightlife, full moon, lantau island
Tags: quito, stadio olimpico atahualpa, mount pinchincha
Tags: amman, islamic law, judge, lgbtq
The Good, the Bad, the Quito Posted by ALEX HONJIYO from QUITO, ECUADOR
food&drink
courtney mastrangelo Special to The Hoya
Mangiamo:The Tastes of Italy in the District
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n the spirit of D.C. Restaurant Week, let’s do as the Italians do: mangiamo! That is what my typical New Jersey Italian family does. My kitchen is overflowing with fresh bread from Marra’s, pizza from Tony’s, mozzarella from Lisa’s, and the list goes on. I’d like to say I know my Italian food pretty well. You can only imagine the culture shock I experienced in D.C. when there was no local Italian deli or family-owned hole-in-the-wall pizzeria. Since then, I’ve been on the search for the best Italian food in D.C.
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izza is my favorite food and I have to say Tuscany doesn’t cut it. Il Canale takes the crown for the best pizza in D.C. The pizzas come bubbling out of the brick oven in the center of the restaurant. I usually play it safe when it comes to pizza, but let your guard down and indulge in the creative options available. Cooked to perfection with imported bufala mozzarella, ricotta, prosciutto, eggplant, cherry tomatoes and basil, it’s no wonder why Il Canale is my favorite. Their talent doesn’t just end with pizza; their pasta bolognese tastes like it just came out of nonna’s kitchen. The service is outstanding. The waiters I’ve met there are from Italy, so they love to share anecdotes about their families and life back home. They bring life to the already artsy, laidback atmosphere; it’s the perfect place for a Friday night feast.
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afe Milano is a family favorite. Start off with a pizza to share for the table. You can taste the fresh mozzarella on the thin-crusted wonder. For dinner, I recommend the ravioli filled with butternut squash and amaretto in a creamy Parmesan sauce. This unique dish literally melts in your mouth. Make sure you save some room for the best tiramisu in D.C. The atmosphere is fancier than Il Canale, but it still provides a relaxing environment.
KYLE YOUNG for the hoya
IL CANALE This hole in the wall makes some of the best pizza in D.C.
T sARI fRANKEL/the hoya
CAFE MILANO This Georgetown staple is known for attracting celebrities and politicians.
his summer, my family and I chanced upon a restaurant called Acqua al Due in Florence. We fell in love. It was the best meal I’ve ever had. When I found out they had a sister restaurant with the same name in D.C., I almost fainted. Located down in Eastern Market, this restaurant is well worth the trip. Warning: the entrees are expensive, but with a big group you can order a handful of dishes to share. Begin the with the pasta sampler, which includes five types of pasta to share with the table. The servers bring them out one at a time, so you are able to savor and enjoy each bite. The chef typically picks which pastas you will eat, but don’t be afraid to ask your server if you can customize your order. As if you weren’t already in heaven by this point, share the steak sampler with a friend. You are offered three different types of steak: balsamic glazed, classic and the restaurant’s specialty, blueberry glazed. The blueberry glazed steak isn’t as sweet as it sounds. The chef carefully prepares it so you get a fruity hint that isn’t overwhelming. To cleanse your palate, order the dessert sampler and taste the rich homemade desserts over your authentic cappuccino. Acqua al Due takes the crown as the best Italian dining experience in D.C.
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CONNIE YANG for the hoya
I RICCHI The intimate Italian eatery serves up authentic Tuscan cuisine.
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f you want to feel like you’ve just stepped off the Tuscan streets, venture down to I Ricchi. The menu provides you with authentic Tuscan options. My favorite dish is the panzotti fiorentini, homemade pasta stuffed with veal and spinach in tomato sauce. The flavor of the pasta is rich but nicely balanced with the light sauce. For dessert, order a coffee and biscotti. From the moment you are served to the classic Tuscan salt-free bread to your last sip of coffee, you’ll enjoy a real Tuscan dining experience.
ACQUAAL2DC.COM
ACQUA AL DUE This restaurant has all the charm and taste of its Italian sister, but watch your wallet.
food&drink
Tasty Tapas Spice It Up Cocoa for College Cooking
BRADEN MCDONALD Hoya Staff Writer
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hile Georgetown epicureans enjoy a reliable purveyor of Mediterranean cuisine in nearby Neyla, life is to short to miss an occasional venture to Dupont Circle’s Ezme, a Turkish tapas and wine bar, where the personal service and lively — yet intimate — atmosphere highlight the conviviality of tapas dining. After walking through Ezme’s nondescript entryway, the first thing anyone is bound to notice is the cascading array of wine bottles adorning the walls. With three times the acreage of vineyards of South Africa, Turkey has some considerable liquid ruby to share with the world of wine-lovers, and Ezme is proud to display it. Once inside, our hostess made an immediate impression — perhaps the defining impression of the evening. In addition to recommending a rich Pinot Noir, the ideal complement to the array of savory Mediterranean meats on the menu, she advised us about the best dishes for sharing and did not shy away from telling us what we shouldn’t order. Considering the menu is overwhelmingly extensive, this touch was a great help. She even insisted that all of us enjoy our dishes as sharing plates, discouraging us from ordering independently. The first of the dishes, muhammara, a roasted red pepper spread with walnut, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic, arrived promptly and foreshadowed the perfect balance of spice — noticeable and persistent, but not overpowering — that would make most Ezme dishes so enjoyable. The babaganoush, a classic Mediterranean eggplant spread, was satisfying but unspectacular. Fights broke out over the last drops of muhammara while much of the babaganoush was left to an unknown fate. Similarly, the biftek, a strip steak topped with sauteed onions and mushrooms, was
culinary quips
EZME 2016 P St. NW Washington, D.C. cuisine: Turkish price: $$$$ served simply as an underwhelming pile of beef. We secretly wished the hostess had steered us away from this one. The karides kebap, a skewer of seasoned, grilled shrimp served with a cocktail sauce, was a delicious sample delicacy of the Mediterranean Sea, while the sis kebab, a skewer of grilled and seasoned lamb served with yogurt sauce, won universal acclaim at our table. The culinary pinnacle of the meal, however, was the kofte, a selection of grilled beef and lamb meatballs seasoned with parsley and onions. It seemed that the kitchen had put extra care into seasoning this particular dish to make up for the blandness of the biftek. Ezme offers a variety of tasting menus that, while removing the conviviality of the tapas experience, are of excellent value. The generous five-course chef’s tasting menu, which features such Mediterranean favorites as kofte, muhammara and doner kebaps, runs at $45, while the four-course tasting menu costs $35. Ezme is also vegetarian- and vegan-friendly: Its menu explicitly identifies options that satisfy vegan needs, and a vegetarian tasting menu is offered for $35. All tasting menus come with optional wine pairings for an additional $15-$20.
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ElizabethSabol-Jones
cared to try a new recipe? Not quite sure how to make a cake without a boxed mix? Unsure of what to do when you get halfway through a recipe and realize that you’re missing two key ingredients? All of us have done something similar before, and we might as well admit to our minimistakes now. If you want any hope of getting comfortable with cooking and baking, you should consider throwing caution to the wind — or maybe some salt over your shoulder — and accept your previous kitchen mishaps so you can learn to use them to your advantage. After testing and developing recipes for Nightly Noms over the past two years and cooking in a college environment where my mom’s kitchen is not at my disposal, I’ve experienced plenty of miniature disasters. From not being able to melt chocolate without its seizing up to realizing that you need an 8x8 baking pan when you only have a 12x6 , you are bound to face both large and small cooking conundrums. Each small mishap that I have encountered since my college cooking days commenced, however, has forced me to become resourceful with what I have on hand. I’m not here to tell you how to bake; I’m here to give you some basic knowledge, random tips and fun recipes that will hopefully make you more comfortable in the kitchen and give you the ability to cook properly in a college environment with an improvisational flare. If you’re looking to impress your friends, have something delicious and
a bit healthy to snack on, and if you don’t want to spend a small fortune at Godiva, chocolate-covered fruit is a tasty option. The cool freshness of the fruit mixes with the smooth, rich chocolate to create a delicious substitute to plain fruit salad or a gigantic slice of chocolate cake. Still, chocolate-covered anything is easier said than done. While some may have luck with melting chocolate in the microwave, if you try melting large amounts of chocolate or become careless, you will soon open your microwave door to find that your chocolate has a grainy consistency, which means it has seized up. Basically, there are two preferred ways to melt chocolate. If you’re new to working with the substance, the microwave or a small pot with a bit of butter is your best option. If you’re using the microwave, make sure to start melting in 20-second intervals and then gradually microwave less as you see the chocolate melting. You really only need to melt until about 80 percent of the chips or chunks of chocolate are melted, since at that point the heat from the already-melted chocolate will take care of the rest. If you’re using your stovetop, make sure you keep the heat on low when you first place your pot on the stove. Disclaimer: If there’s one thing you need to know about melting chocolate, it’s that water and too much heat are your enemies. Remember, cooking and baking are as much about exact measurements and gaining control of kitchen chaos as being creative and taking risks. So push yourself to try something new! Elizabeth Sabol-Jones is a junior in the College. She can be reached at saboljones@thehoya.com. CULINARY QUIPS appears every other Friday in the guide.
how to:melt chocolate
CONNIE YANG/THE HOYA
TURKISH DELIGHT Though Ezme looks small on the outside, it packs a big enough bite for you and your friends.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Use either two pots, or a bowl and a pot, and place the smaller on top of the other. Fill the bottom pot with enough water to maintain a steady boil, but be cautious that the boiling water does not touch the bowl above it. Turn on the flame to low/medium, and add part of your chocolate and a bit of butter. The butter helps temper the chocolate while it melts; however, in most cases, butter is not necessary, so you can decide whether to add it. Keep stirring to help distribute heat evenly and continue adding chocolate as the melting process continues. Stir mixture on and off until chocolate melts, remove from heat and either begin dipping fruit or combining with another mixture or batter.
1.20.12 | the guide | 11
art&culture Resolutions: A New List for a New Year more from maz CourtneyMastrangelo Courtesy MLKPhotos for Georgetown
LET FREEDOM SING The 10th annual “Let Freedom Ring” concert celebrated the life of this larger-than-life figure.
Concert Pays Tribute to King Bisi Orisamolu Special to The Hoya
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here was an abrupt end to the chatter in the grand foyer of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts Monday night when 20 journalists rushed into the room and simultaneously pointed their cameras at an empty balcony. A few silent moments of anticipation passed before the theater erupted with applause to welcome President Barack Obama and the first lady as they gracefully entered the building. This was the scene at the 10th annual “Let Freedom Ring” concert, held in the Kennedy Center every Martin Luther King Jr. Day to celebrate his life and his immense influence. The event also serves to honor one person who is the recipient of the Coach John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award, an award that recognizes a person who continues to carry out the mission of King and who embodies his ideals. Though the Obamas briefly captured the attention of the crowd, at the first note sung by the Let Freedom Ring Celebration Choir, the theater quickly fell silent. The choir sang a hymn as about 20 people marched down the aisles holding picket signs with phrases such as “I’m a Freedom Rider” and “We shall overcome.” The crowd was visibly moved as the song ended and the performers solemnly held up the black power symbol. The number, directed by Rev. Nolan Williams Jr. and featuring Georgetown student soloists Alex Pelle (COL ’13) and Annise Pickens (NHS ’15) was called “Buses Are A-Coming.” Williams revealed that the number was inspired by the story of the Freedom Riders, a group of civil rights activists who attempted to ride buses into the segregated south. The students were attacked and then placed in a maximum security prison by the governor of Mississippi. The song was written by the students while in-
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carcerated and sung to taunt the guards. After the choir sang a jazz-inspired version of “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee” featuring soloist Nova Nelson, The Coach John Thompson,Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award was presented to Clarence B. Jones. Jones was an advisor, attorney and speech writer for King. Following a long standing ovation, 81-year-old Jones approached the microphone and immediately launched into a story of running home to his mother when he was 10 years old and had just been chased and verbally harassed by a group of white boys. His mother responded by telling him sternly, “God made you. You are beautiful.” Jones then compared this revelation and reevaluation of self-image he had at age 10 with the day that Barack Obama won the presidential election in November of 2008. On that day his mind went to all his friends who were not alive to witness that moment and who had sacrificed their lives to make it possible. He ended with some personal words that King had shared with him and accepted the award on behalf of all his friends who were “wintertime soldiers” and stood strong during the hardest of times. After Jones, 10-time Grammy Award Winner Bobby McFerrin took the stage. Sitting in a chair under a single spotlight, McFerrin wowed the crowd by using just his chest and his feet as instruments. He barely spoke any intelligible words but his unique rendition of the Beatles’ “Blackbird” as well as his ability to involve the audience quickly had everyone on their feet and singing. Once McFerrin and the choir had taken their final bows, Obama, with Michelle by his side, waved goodbye to the crowd and exited the theater to boisterous chants of “Four more years.”
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s we ring in the new year, we drag a long list of resolutions with us: to leave Lau before DOPS checks your GOCard, to go to Yates everyday, to get straight A’s, to finish your homework before 9 on a Thursday night, and the list goes on. But let’s break free from the daily grind this new year. Drop those books and appreciate the little things D.C. has to offer. We’re only Georgetown students once, so let’s make it count. The 2012 Hoya Bucket List If you’re going through Christmas withdrawal, the Sculpture Garden is the place to be. Strung Christmas lights, festive music, hot chocolate and most importantly, ice skating! It’s a little winter wonderland right in the middle of D.C. Looking to melt away those holiday pounds? Sign up for the SunTrust Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon on March 17. The training will whip you into shape in no time. You can make it as relaxed or intense as you’d like with Hal Higdon’s free training plan online. Remember: Spring Break is just a week before, so you’ll have a rockin’ bod to flaunt on the beach. Show some school spirit and get over to Verizon Center to see our Hoyas play Big East rivals UConn, Villanova and Notre Dame. If you’re looking for your 15 minutes of fame, get there early and grab front row seats. Don’t forget to call your mom and tell her to TiVo your big moment. When the weather starts to warm up, go have a picnic at the new Waterfront Park. The ingredients for the perfect picnic: warm weather, good friends and Wisey’s.
Take a Capital Bikeshare bike and ride to the National Mall to admire the Cherry Blossoms. Let out your inner artist and snap some beautiful shots of D.C. at its finest. Go kayaking on the Potomac. The views of Georgetown from the water are amazing. You can even wave to your friends dining in O’Donovan’s on the Potomac from your boat. Love fresh produce and crafty things? Go to the Eastern Market. You’ll be able to browse through old records and vintage postcards while munching on fresh, locally-grown fruit. Be bold. Send that handwritten love letter you’ve had in your desk drawer. Strike up a conversation with that cutie at Yates. Ask your crush out on a date … yes, a date, Georgetown boys. Our budgets are tight with the amount of money we spend on caffeine and the people at the Kennedy Center feel our pain. Head over to enjoy one of the daily free performances at the magnificent building. Need to de-stress? Take a deep breath and head over to hot yoga at Down Dog Yoga. Student rates are $12 a session. With either a Tuscany slice or Canon Rebel in hand, go admire our capital’s monuments at night. Every Hoya knows the best day of the year comes in the spring. Make sure you wake up early on Georgetown Day because you want to make it well worth the wait … even if the waking moments become foggy memories. Regardless of whether or not the Mayans are right, we should live everyday like it’s our last. Even if we don’t accomplish any of these things, our most important resolution should be to grasp every opportunity that comes our way. Have fun and stay classy, Georgetown. Courtney Mastrangelo is a sophomore in the College. She can be reached at mastrangelo@thehoya. com. More from Maz appears every
photoessay
art&culture by emilie ziegler
Going Against the Grain of the Grind Trapped in the mundane routine that characterizes our lives, we eternally wait for “real life” to begin. Email, after meeting, after meeting, after all-nighter, we become rooted in a bleak hopelessness that no amount of mediocre coffee can conceivably cure. Somewhere between the carpal tunnel and the blood-shot eyes, we lose our capacity to stop for a minute and soak in our surroundings. We forget that “real life” is happening. Now. Our journey has already started, it never asked for consent. Photography has been an essential part of my journey, one that turns its focus not to the blinding daily cobweb, rather, to the intricacies that compose it. These pictures are a tangible representation of what is in my opinion, the best escape into “real life.” I seek to capture my journey, the journeys of those around me, by immortalizing moments. By sharing my work, I only hope that you can forget the future and live in the present.
would you like to be featured in the next photoessay? email guide@thehoya.com
“these pictures are a tangible representation of what is, in my opinion, the best escape into ‘real life.’”
1.20.12 | the guide | 13
entertainment My New Ears Resolution Next on the docket is “Die Young” by Happy Trendy. I never gravitate toward electro music … you know, the kind where you’re instantly aware no instruments were harmed KinneChapin in the making of the song. I think I tend to associate (unfairly) all synthor every living being on the driven sound with the house music planet, January is a month of European clubs. But “Die Young” of hastily-formed and just-as- is a refreshingly mellow track, the hastily-waylaid resolutions — and kind you could play if you were havGeorgetown students are no excep- ing trouble drifting off to sleep. The tion. Why else would Yates be more sound, while electro, is incredibly crowded during the month of Janu- cool — it sounds like an old recordary than the other 11 months of the ing of someone playing a lullaby on year? Not surprisingly for those who the xylophone. The song is capped know me, my New Year’s resolutions off with a couple of monotonous never have anything to do with go- male voices that seem to recite lyrics ing to Yates. Instead, my goals for the rather than sing them, lending the coming year are pretty much the song a depressingly ethereal sound. same as they have been for the past It works. My last find for this week is pret11 months: read (not just for class), stop biting my nails (fat chance, I’m ty conventional, but no less of a stretch from my breaking that usual listening. one as I type this) I can’t usually and force myself By next year my brain will endure male/ to drink water be a veritable Oxford Eng- female duets … (don’t look at I tend to think me like that … lish Dictionary of sound. their lyrics rely I don’t like the Or not. on cliches, and way it tastes). the whole thing But with this reminds me of that MTV series column in mind, where Sheryl Crow and Kid Rock I’m adding a belated resolution to the list: Find three new were forced to pretend they had artists every week whose sound is a things in common. But I can’t help bit different from that of my usual liking “Little Talks” by Of Monsters jams. I’m always on the hunt for and Men — ok, so the lyrics are still a new music, but I tend to screen for little cliched, but the singers’ voices artists that sound similar to those I are so soft, light and well matched already love. So I’m putting a stop to that I hardly care. Plus, the entire my lazy listening. I know that I may song is euphoric. It’s driven by not like everything I find, but at horns and tambourines and sounds least I will be expanding my musi- like an upbeat Edward Sharpe and cal horizons. By next year my brain the Magnetic Zeros track. This one’s will be a veritable Oxford English definitely my favorite track of the week, and not just because I can Dictionary of sound. Or not. First on my list of new discoveries pretend to have multiple personaliis Demon Fuzz’s “Hymn to Mother ties when I sing along. So there you have it, the beginEarth.” I know that saying this strips me of my already low street cred, but ning of a new year and a new muI’m not always a fan of music that sic resolution. Who knows whether stresses instrumentals over words. Its I will make it past February, but I instrumentals — which give jazz-like think that finding three new artists solos to everything from the trumpet a week is a reasonable goal for myto the triangle — are by far the best self. I mean, what else do I have to thing about it. They steer the song do … homework? Pshaw. from experimental to familiarly upbeat to mellow and then back to exper- Kinne Chapin is a senior in the Colimental again. How can you not like a lege. She can be reached at chapsong that makes use of the bongos for in@thehoya.com. FACE THE MUSIC 30 seconds toward the end, giving the appears every other Friday in the guide. conclusion a primal feel?
face the music
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Jolie’s Directorial Debut Proves Mediocre ALLIE DOUGHTY Special to The Hoya
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s so many movies are, In the Land forced and unnatural — it’s not extremeof Blood and Honey is loosely ly likely that Danijel, now a captain at based on the classic plot of “Ro- Ajla’s camp, would need a recap of his meo and Juliet,” except that this film own country’s history. is certainly even more twisted than the Without giving too much away, one original story. Set against the backdrop thing that Jolie does have going for her is of the Bosnian War, the drama earnestly an ability to throw unexpected twists and presents the regional conflict from mul- character reactions into the mix. Without tiple horrific perspectives. The novice a doubt, Marjanovic and Kostic’s acting filmmaker’s execution is bold, relentless performances also strengthen the film as and occasionally even glamorous, os- a whole, even amidst the ambiguous intentensibly to make a statement. What else tions of their characters. At times, it is unwould you expect clear why Danijel, from the writing and seemingly more directorial debut of compassionate than humanitarian activhis platoon, offers ist Angelina Jolie? Ajla protection. In The movie, which turn, whether Ajla exists in both English IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND truly loves Danijel and Bosnian versions, or is simply embracHONEY begins in 1992, shorting a more secure did you know?: This film marks both ly before the Bosnian lifestyle is open to the writing and directorial debut of Serbs’ policy of ethnic interpretation. Hollywood A-lister, Angelina Jollie. cleansing went into If you’re looking effect. On the eve of for a light-hearted a lovely date between rom-com, In the Muslim artist Ajla Land of Blood and (Zana Marjanovic) and Bosnian policeman Honey shouldn’t be your pick for a weekend Danijel (Goran Kostic) that includes danc- trip to the movies. If you do choose to see ing and flirtatious whispers at a nightclub it, make sure that you’ll be able to stomach in Sarajevo, a bomb inconveniently deto- the violence and morbid tactics portrayed. nates in the club, launching the dismal The film’s take-home message isn’t for the mood that accompanies the brutal events weak of heart: War brings out the worst in continuing throughout the remainder of everyone. the film. A few months after this incident, Ajla lines up alongside other Muslims and is among several women chosen by Serbian soldiers to board a bus to a concentration camp. The men are taken off to be shot. Almost every atrocity imaginable is covered in this harsh depiction of Bosnia’s state of terror. Particular attention is paid to the disturbing cruelties against women, who are raped by egotistical soldiers and used as shields to protect the Serbians against the bullets of their own Muslim people. Ajla’s sister, Lejla (Vanessa Glodjo), is featured in one of the most heartbreaking scenes of the film. It will make even the most stubborn curmudgeon weep. That being said, the dialogue is somewhat weak. While the screenplay faces the obvious challenge of providing the ROTTENTOMATOES.COM audience with some details of the region’s background leading up to the ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR Jolie’s film gruesome war, Jolie’s methods seem depicts the brutalities of the Bosnian War.
Brit Rockers Pedal to Success
entertainment
ABBY REUTZEL Special to The Hoya
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ith the release of its third studio album, Bombay Bicycle Club has proven itself as a band that warrants some attention. The album is full of mellow vocals, interesting lyrics and electric guitar-backed hooks. Although it has made the rounds across the globe, the re-
COURTESY UNIVERSAL REPUBLIC
Until this album it was quite hard to cord touched down in the United States on give Bombay Bicycle Club any sort of laTuesday, Jan. 17. Each album this group of Londoners has bel or identity, mostly due to the members’ youth and released thus far has the fact that their steadily and confirst two albums, sistently improved while likable, were upon its predecessor, nothing special. It and A Different Kind seemed as though of Fix is no excepthis group had yet tion. This album deA DIFFERENT KIND OF FIX to find its niche livers a splendid arand sound. Thanks ray of musical talent artist: Bombay Bicycle Club to time and to the stretched across 12 influence of a very tracks. It is chock full song to download: “Lights Out, prolific producer of little surprises and Words Gone” (Ben H. Allen, who has a great texture song to skip: “Fracture” has worked with thanks to repetative the likes of Deerchoruses and unexhunter and Animal pected background vocals, some of which are given by Lucy Collective), however, the band has finally Rose. Lucy’s soft voice blends beautifully found its sound and has gone above and with front man Jack Steadman’s, and she is beyond what was expected of it thanks able to add an extra eeriness to each song in to this discovery. The sound of the album is similar to which she is featured.
newreleases “I Won’t Give Up” Jason Mraz // Untitled
Jason Mraz is back with this melodic ode to love that conquers all. This song relies on the strength of Mraz’s tenor and the poetry of his lyrics, which soar to a finish that will leave you with tears in your eyes.
ATLANTIC RECORDS
what they’ve done in the past, but it is more mature and developed. The electric guitar is a huge driving force on the album, along with the catchy drum beats supplied by Suren De Saram. Every once in a while listeners are also treated to head bopping-ly catchy pop hooks and wonderfully uplifting melodies, like on “Shuffle,” the album’s lead single, and “Leave It.” The record also supplies slower and more thoughtful tracks, like “Beggars.” While overall the album is a cohesive piece of indie/alternative British rock, there are places in which it loses its footing and the music has a tendency to fade into the background. The album is indeed interesting, however, complete with multiple layers that seem to peel away after each listen. Not only has the band released the best album of its career so far, but it has also found its unique and exciting voice in a genre filled with monotonous and boring music.
VICTORIA EDEL Hoya Staff Writer
“Tattoo”
Van Halen // A Different Kind of Truth
“If This Was a Movie”
Taylor Swift // Speak Now (Deluxe)
Van Halen’s first song with David Lee Roth in 15 years, “Tattoo,” sounds that old. While the guitars are still rocking, there’s something dated about this ballad. The song belongs to classic rock stations and won’t win the band new fans.
INTERSCOPE RECORDS
Taylor Swift is slowly maturing as she moves away from her high school drama. She still clings to her simple guitar riffs in a song that’s not wildly different from the many before it, but attacks in the chorus’s climax: “If this was a movie you’d be here by now.”
BIG MACHINE
1.20.12 | the guide | 15
best bets
friday Join host Shelly Bell and an audience of the D.C. area’s budding poets and poetry lovers in Old Town Alexandria this weekend for a poetry slam. For $10, local artists can present their work and compete in a poetry slam for three cash prizes of $25, $50 and $100. Where: Athenaeum, 201 Prince St., Alexandria, Va. When: Friday, 7 p.m. Info: (703) 548-0035 Price: Free Metro: King Street (Blue and Yellow lines)
ALEX SANCHEZ Hoya Staff Writer
vietnam
saturday Break out of the Georgetown bubble and treat yourself to a restaurant tour of one of D.C.’s most historic neighborhoods, Adams Morgan. This event will take its attendees to various restaurants around the area and offer special samples to taste at each stop along the way. Where: 18th Street and Columbia Road NW When: Saturday, 2 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Info: (202) 633-3030 Price: $76, $57 for members Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/Adams Morgan (Red line)
-adrian bautista
thursday Gertrude Stein was an avid collector and promoter of visual arts whose life will be chronicled in an exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery titled “Five Stories.” This exhibit will utilize photographs, art, film and memorabilia to share an in-depth portrait of Stein and her work. Where: National Portrait Gallery, 8th and F Streets NW When: Sunday, 11:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Info: (202) 265-7839 Price: Free Metro: Gallery Place / Chinatown (Red, Green and Yellow lines)