The Hoya Guide: March 23, 2012

the guide friday, march 23, 2012

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

world class

english language program teaches more than proficiency GPB Spring Fashion For a Cause

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‘Ma Rainey’ Takes On Tough Issues

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A First Look at The Hunger Games

this issue 3 lifestyle 5 10 food&drink 12 art&culture entertainment 13 hilltop

red square roundup // hide & seek

steve cortes // center stage

rasika // bodega

ma rainey’s black bottom // photo essay

the hunger games // the shins

nextissue

8

ENGLISH 150: THE STUDENTS OF EFL

Thousands of new students arrive on the Hilltop every year, taking the first of many steps toward their goals and aspirations. However, a group of these students, 150 to be exact, come to Georgetown for a more specific reason: to learn English. As a part of the English as a Foreign Language program, students from over 30 countries make the trek to Washington, D.C., leaving behind their families, their culture and their language, or at least they try. But like the rest of the undergraduate body, these EFL students have big dreams of their own, and learning English is only the first step.

COVER PHOTO BY CHRIS BIEN

soundbite

DUPONT UNDERGROUND LIFESTYLE

In next week’s the guide, learn about The Dupont Underground, the secret section of Dupont Circle and former home to the trolley system. Read about the efforts to turn it into the city’s newest arts district.

the guide

Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Steven Piccione, Guide Editor

Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Managing Editor

Corrections and 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.

Chris Bien, Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief

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. © 2012. 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.

Victoria Edel, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Mairead Reilly, Contributing Guide Editor Leonel De Velez, Deputy Photo Editor Sari Frankel, Deputy Photo Editor Christie Shely, 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

Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

grandma goes to turkey MeaganKelly

“Once I step outside the gates of my university, English is scattered and not always guaranteed. Other than the so-very-common ‘You look like Angelina Jolie!’ of course.”

omglol :) :( :| :D

Rainbow Connection — The Muppets have finally received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Did Hollywood not realize how hard it is to be green?

Guido Problems — The Situation has reportedly checked into rehab. We wonder if he’s being treated for hair gel addiction.

Magical Mistakes — Jamie Waylett, Crabbe in the Harry Potter films, was given a two-year jail sentence for rioting. We always knew Slytherins were evil.



Detective Clinton — Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is trying to solve the question of Amelia Earhart’s death. Our inner 10-year-olds are very excited to finally know.

saywhat?

“

I rotate my clothes so everything is equally worn. … Sometimes that means … orange shorts and red shoes. … My wife is like, ‘Really?’

- Will Ferrell, on his fashion sense

hilltop

redsquareroundup ladies’ night in

mar23

gpb movie

Village C Alumni Lounge 9 p.m.

ICC Auditorium 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.

Looking for a nice way to kick back and relax with your girls this weekend? Look no further than What’s After Dark’s Ladies’ Night In. Featuring professional nail art, sushi making, T-shirt decorating and free beauty samples from Sephora, there’s plenty to keep a girl occupied.

From the mind of Jason Segel, this newest incarnation of the Muppet legacy follows our favorite gang of puppets as they fight to save their theatrical home from a greedy oil tycoon. Also starring Amy Adams and Chris Cooper, The Muppets is a classic reminder of our childhoods that everyone can enjoy.

Whats AFter Dark

mar24

mar23

georgetown improv

rottentomatoes.com

nowrouz: iranian new year

Bulldog Alley 9 p.m. $4 for students

mar24

Copley Formal Lounge 7 p.m.

Come celebrate the Persian New Year with the Iranian Cultural Society. Enjoy traditional song and dance, as well as delicious food catered by Kabob Bazaar. Spend your weekend helping to ring in the year 1392 with Iranian style!

Don’t miss this month’s March Madnessthemed improv extravaganza. Even after the disappointing results in this year’s tournament, the event promises to put you in a better mood with the hilarious work of these funny Hoyas.

CourtesyIMPROV ASSOCIATION

Courtesy iranian cultural society

hide&seek campusspotlight | CLUB FILIPINO

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?

C

lub Filipino is a cultural club on campus that was founded in 1988. We are an incredibly diverse group of individuals with over half of our members coming from nonFilipino backgrounds. The two things our members all have in common, however, is their appreciation of Philippine culture and their desire to have fun.

Club Filipino prides itself on being a family. Our members hang out, study and go on spontaneous adventures together. Come to any of our events and you’re guaranteed to have an enjoyable experience.

We hold a number of events each year in both the fall and spring semesters. In the fall, our largest events include Barrio Fiesta and Secret Spamta (a take on the traditional gift exchange, but with a delicious twist). In the spring we hold Bayanihan, spam study break,

movie nights, a field day competition and a senior barbecue.

If you had to pick only one event to attend, make sure you go to Bayanihan, our annual cultural showcase featuring an all-you-can eat Filipino dinner and performances of traditional Filipino dances. One of the most popular and well-known dances that will be performed is “Tinikling.” This thrilling dance, meant to imitate the movements of the tikling bird, features dancers stepping over and between clapping bamboo sticks.

This year marks our 11th annual Bayanihan, which is sure to be one of our best. With more than 40 dancers, several delicious dishes and a captivating storyline, Bayanihan Labing-isa (“eleven” in Tagalog) will be a vibrant event that’s perfect for students, faculty and families alike! A few of the dishes

being served this year include lechon, a fire-roasted pork dish, beef kaldareta, a Filipino take on beef stew and pansit bihon, a delicious noodle dish. Several vegetarian options will also be available.

The event will take place on Saturday, March 24, in Fisher Colloquium located in the Hariri Building. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are on sale in Red Square the entire week leading up to the event.

Rates are $12 with a GOCard, $15 for alumni and $17 without a GOCard. We hope to see you there!

To be added to our mailing list, simply email guclubfilipino@ gmail.com. We’re on Facebook too! Search for our group, GUclubfilipino, to stay up to date with Club Filipino events.

Christian Fagel Club Filipino Board Member

fin

Courtesy club filipino

FESTIVE FUN Club Filipino brings the culture of the Philippines photos leonel de velez/thehoya to the hilltop with events throughoutall the year.

3.23.12 | the guide | 3

lifestyle Financial Gain by Going Against the Grain alum shares investment insights

charlie long Special to The Hoya

I

n the dead of night of May 2, 2011, two Blackhawk helicopters touched down outside a dilapidated house in the small city of Abbottabad, Pakistan.

Upon landing, the team of Navy SEALs aboard moved quickly to execute their mission. In just under 40 minutes, the SEALs had completed their objective and vanished into the darkness.

Hours later, President Barack Obama addressed the nation, sharing the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.

Families sat awestruck in front of their televisions, District-area students rushed to Pennsylvania Avenue to cheer, and collectively, the nation breathed a sigh of relief.

Steven Cortes, an analyst for CNBC’s “Fast Money,” graduated from Georgetown in 1994 and was one of the many surprised by the mission. Yet, as he sat at his home in Chicago that summer night, Cortes didn’t remain in awe for long. He reacted swiftly and bought up United States currency.

Most of Cortes’ financial colleagues and acquaintances quickly branded his investment as risky. The dollar’s Euro exchange rate hovered at a paltry .673, not far off historic lows precipitated by the 2008 financial crisis, and recent economic data had done little to assuage investors’ fears over the weakness of the nation and of its currency.

Cortes was defying mass opinion; he was going against the herd.

This was not the first time Cortes had invested against prevailing Wall Street sentiments, and it would certainly not be his last.

Ten months later, Cortes still holds the dollar, which has risen to an exchange rate of roughly 0.76 against the Euro. He took a risky chance and in less than a year, his investment had grown by nearly 15%.

“What SEAL Team Six did was remind the investing world that the reserve currency does in fact default to the world’s strongest military, and the United States pulled off an exercise that night which no other country on earth could even fathom,” explained Cortes to a Georgetown audience on Feb. 28. “Going secretly into a sovereign country that far from home, hitting a target, removing it and doing all of it successfully.”

Upon leaving the Hilltop in 1994, where he was a defensive lineman on the football

4 | the guide | 3.23.12

leonel de velez/the hoya

A RISKY VENTURE Steve Cortes, a CNBC contributor and recent author, spoke to a Georgetown audience about his strategies for financial and investment success. team, a Baker Scholar and a candidate for the Rhodes scholarship, Cortes entered the world of investing.

For four years, Cortes worked for Prudential selling government bonds before branching off on his own to found Veracruz LLC in 1998. Today, he provides investment strategy for individual inves-

tors, contributes regularly to CNBC’s “Fast Money” and, most recently, he writes. This past December, Cortes published his first book — Against the Herd: 6 Contrarian Investment Strategies You Should Follow.

After years in the financial sector, Cortes began to see an alarming pattern. He explained, “The mainstream media, the

financial press and Wall Street were often wrong in their thinking and leading investors down a dangerous path.” He believes this cohesion of opinion pushed investors to a dangerous herd mentality that was responsible for devastating financial bubbles, seen most recently in the U.S. housing and technology sectors.

lifestyle “As human beings, we are evolutionarily wired to seek safety in numbers,” he said. “And while that made a lot of sense while we were in some jungle or some forest trying to escape from predators, that psyche, that ingrained predilection is a serious problem when it comes to investing.”

Cortes soon developed into a selfdescribed contrarian investor. Often at odds with the majority of financial pundits, his calculated skepticism over conventional wisdom has led Cortes to financial success, giving him experience that he now hopes to share.

Cortes visited Georgetown to lecture on his contrarian investment strategies discussed in his book Against the Herd.

While he presents six contrarian challenges, Cortes’ focuses on what he perceives as a financial bubble in emerging markets.

Most analysts see emerging markets such as China as a prime area for growth in the coming decades. China has a strong government, ranks second in number of global billionaires, and boasts a massive population which provides inexpensive labor.

population necessary for continued demographic growth is nearly nonexistent.

Though China certainly does provide inexpensive labor, Cortes believes it lacks a more important component of growth: innovation. He argued, “There is no interest to protect property because they’re not creating any to protect. It is a culture of conformity not creativity.”

While Cortes’ arguments against Chinese supremacy were quite powerful themselves, one graduate student in the audience, who emigrated from China in the 1980s with his wife and children, boosted them even further.

The student praised — Steve Cortes Cortes for his understanding of China’s stevecortes.com in a recent poll of China’s wealthiest reality and hoped that the author’s citizens, 60% revealed plans to leave in book and lecture would be a wake-up A WORTHY INVESTMENT Cortes’ book call for American policymakers and discusses investing in emerging markets. the near future.

Cortes argued that China’s authori- investors.

The truth about contrarian advice is ions. He expects that his book will altarian government, once instrumental in economic success, has already start- that it is often only considered once it low his contrarian opinions to reach the right audience and create skeptied to inhibit growth. Inefficiencies in is too late.

Cortes hopes that these mistakes will cism. From here though, it’s up to the central planning are no more evident than in demographics. Because of Chi- not be repeated with China and other American consumer to run with the na’s one child policy, a young female potentially destructive popular opin- herd or not.

To Cortes, China’s “power” is a slowly crumbling facade. He believes investors are wrong in viewing China as a growing economic superpower and instead urges them to invest in a United States that is only beginning its reign of economic dominance.

While China is a wealthy country, as a whole it is an incredibly poor country akin even to parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Per capita, American income is over 10 times greater than Chinese and

“As human beings, we are evolutionarily wired to seek safety in numbers. And while that made a lot of sense while we were in some jungle or some forest trying to escape from predators, that ... is a serious problem when it comes to investing.”

What’s your Lauinger level?

Lau 4:

Lau 5:

You like to think you’re a “serious student,” but you only go to the library with the hope of seeing the cute girl who sits near you in Econ.

You poke your head out of your cubicle every 10 minutes to see if you know anyone, then return to your perpetual Netflix study break.

You can’t work without direct access to sunlight. You claim to hate the library, “but it’s the only place I can get work done.” You spend most of your study sessions staring wistfully outside.

Lau 3:

You’re the type of person who does all their reading for the class no one cares about and who writes a paper several weeks before it’s due. Please stop making the rest of us look bad and enjoy Healy Lawn from the other side of the window.

Lau 2:

For you, doing homework means buying overpriced chai, chatting with your friends and complaining about how much work you have to do. None of that work will be completed until you go home.

Lau 1:

You tend toward Lau binges — you’ll spend 10 hours there one Sunday and then won’t come back for two weeks. It’s because of people like you that Red Bull has stayed in business.

Victoria Edel Hoya Staff Writer

Lower Level:

leonel de velez/the hoya

You think you’re a hipster because you study underground. Go home and get some sleep.

3.23.12 | the guide | 5

lifestyle

centerstage JACLYN PROCTOR Hoya Staff Writer

From Preppy Plaid to Kate Spade: Designing a Blog and a Business Carly Heitlinger has more than just prep pumping through her veins. Known for her online personality “The College Prepster,” the MSB senior displays enthusiastic energy and passion for every endeavor she pursues and isn’t afraid of a risk. What started as a blog to escape the stress of college has branched into “Prep Talk,” “a weekly online newsletter, and “Sweet Lemon Magazine,” an online magazine. With graduation on the horizon, Carly took the time to talk about her inspiration behind The College Prepster brand and the girl who lies behind it all.

How did you become interested in preppy fashion and lifestyle?

I lived in Massachusetts, then moved to Florida and live in a very coastal place. Everyone wears Lilly Pulitzer and Jack Rogers, and we go to the country club. I wasn’t really into fashion as a child — I just wanted to wear stuff you could play in —, but when we moved to Florida, I saw Lilly Pulitzer for the first time and saw this [classic] Florida look.

I went to a very preppy high school and stuck with the style. I realized it was kind of like a cult: a very small, tightknit group of people who like the same stuff. You can instantly relate to someone when you see that they are wearing

all photos TIFFANY LACHHONNA for The Hoya

PERFECT PREP Heitlinger’s style was inspired by her Florida hometown.

a specific type of brand like Vineyard Vines or Lilly Pulitzer.

What inspired you to start Prep Talk and Sweet Lemon Magazine?

The minute something becomes routine, I get really bored and want to add something new. At first it was a challenge to sit down and write three or four blog posts a week, but I was doing it for myself mostly. I started blogging every single day, which was a huge challenge because it meant I had to write 7 posts a week. Eventually, even that became routine, and I knew that I needed to add something to my repertoire because I was getting bored with what I was doing. I came up with the newsletter name and went from there.

After six months, I decided that there was something else that I needed to be doing, which is when I came up with the idea of the magazine. It is something that has been more difficult than the blog or the newsletter. We are now in March and it finally has begun to feel more natural. I feel better and ready to start something new, I just don’t know what it is yet.

What challenges do you face with The College Prepster brand?

I work a lot. I give up a lot to do everything, but I gain so much, which makes it completely worth it. I love doing it; I love what I’ve built. Another challenge is dealing with negativity. Having people say things about you online hurts your feelings. The more it happens, the less it bothers me. I learned that I can’t be everything to everyone. Another challenge is sharing my life. I have to balance what to share with how much to share. I keep personal things to myself like my relationships with close friends because they didn’t sign up to be on the blog.

What are some common misconceptions people have of you based solely on your online presence?

People assume that I put every single bit of myself out there, and it is really easy to attack someone when you think you know them, but it is only a sliver of my life. People make misconceptions that I am super materialistic. I like clothes, but this is just one aspect of my life.

Meeting companies and new people,

BUSINESS BLOGGER Carly Heitlinger (MSB ‘12) blogs as The College Prepster, sharing her style and lifestyle tips with her avid followers. forging relationships with them, being able to write creatively and everything like that is where my passion is. I am really passionate about learning and developing myself and finding out what interests me.

What opportunities has The College Prepster created for you?

I have met so many people across the country, and building that network is so important to me. It’s incredible that I can connect with these unbelievably passionate people. I have been able to connect with brands and I’ve really learned how different aspects of various

industries work. I’m seeing it through my own perspective since I’m learning to do what they do in school. It has also allowed me to share my passions, interests, advice and story with so many different people. It’s nice to know people are reading and connecting with the story I share.

Do you ever catch people checking your websites in class or in public?

It’s funny because people will pretend to not know about “The College Prepster,” but in class I will see people open new tabs on their browsers and see “The College Prepster” listed in their top sites.

lifestyle

Willing to Buy Food for Turkish Lessons grandma goes to turkey

M

MeaganKelly

y command of foreign languages has never been ... how would you say? ... strong.

After roughly seven to eight years of studying Spanish, I still get flustered right after the “Estoy bien. ¿Cómo estás?” part. I’ve always blamed this slow comprehension of the language on the fact that studying it in the suburbs of Connecticut doesn’t quite classify as “cultural immersion.” I’ve been told time after time that the only way really to learn a language is by actually going to the country. I am, of course, usually told this either in the middle of my fourth hour of studying for a Spanish exam or following the exam as a means of comfort.

But when I came to Istanbul I was extremely determined to pick up Turkish. And so now I’m here in Istanbul and anxiously awaiting the morning I wake up and my roommate tells me I was speaking Turkish in my sleep (and hoping that whatever I said was about

foreign policy ... because, seriously, how cool would that be?). Until then, however, I have to stick with going out in groups no larger than five because six through 10 are tricky numbers, I have trouble speaking with verbs (“Pen blue!”), and I frequently wow the man at the place I buy breakfast with my natural ability to say the word for “cheese.”

Once I step outside the gates of my university, English is scattered and not always guaranteed. Other than the so very common, “You look like Angelina Jolie!” of course. (Honestly, I’m convinced Turkish men have never seen a picture of her.) So, frequent and full immersion into the heart of Istanbul is vital to my Turkish learning experience. My mere survival in this city rides on my comprehension of simple sentences. This “I AM AMERICAN HEAR ME ROAR” stamp I apparently have on my forehead, however, has recently become an obstacle in my attempts at practicing Turkish.

You know how oftentimes prior to studying abroad there are seminars and discussions about how to “blend in and not stand out as an American”?

Well, don’t go to them. Ever. I can assure you, without a doubt, that no

matter what clothes you wear, how quietly you speak or how well you can say “thank you” in the country’s native language, they will always know you are American. Always. Maybe it’s my rounded face and blue eyes, or maybe it’s because I ask for ketchup with everything, but they have me pegged.

Every now and then I come across a waiter or residents of a new neighborhood and think, “Yes! Here’s my shining opportunity to practice Turkish with someone who must not know English.” I’ll walk into any Turkish dürüm shop, pastry store or waterside cafe and offer my most sincere “Merhaba” and, without fail, the pleasant man at the door will respond with a fantastic, “Hello.” There are, of course, the other pleasant reactions such as: “Merhaba. Bir çay lütfen.” (waiter giggles) “So, you’d like a tea?”

But just when I’m ready to give up, three o’clock in the morning rolls around and there stands “The Wet Burger Man.” Now if I were to explain to you now what a wet burger is, you simply would not understand. If you were to bar hop for several hours and get a serious case of the late night snackies, then nothing would be clear-

Student Style Puts Twist on Service

T

iara Kawser (MSB ’15), like many Hoyas, is passionate about both fashion and social justice. She’s combined these two loves by serving as the chair of Georgetown Program Board’s seventh annual Spring Fashion Show. The event this Saturday will display some of Georgetown’s hottest fashions, with all proceeds benefiting Roslin Orphanage.

Roslin was founded in West Timor, Indonesia by Budi Soehardi in 2002. The orphanage’s goal is to provide its 70 child residents with as much education as they need so that they can eventually return to their families and improve their hometowns.

“I personally was very touched by this story because I saw it on one of the CNN ‘Heroes Tributes,’” Kawser said. When GPB started planning the fashion show right after winter break, Kawser contacted Soehardi to tell him they wanted the show’s proceeds to benefit Roslin. “He was thrilled by the thought that we would want to put on a show for him,” Kawser said.

All the money that the fashion show brings in will be given directly to Roslin Orphanage. Sydney Davis (COL ‘15), the fashion show’s supervisor, said, “Every dollar and penny we make off of this show is going to

the orphanage. … We’ve actually already raised about $1,400.”

Davis and Kawser hope to raise that total even more after Saturday’s show. “Altogether, we hope to raise around $2,000 minimum so that we have a sufficient amount to contribute because they’re going to actually build a new kindergarten for the orphanage,” Kawser said.

After choosing which cause they wanted to fundraise for, the fashion show’s committee had to choose a theme for the show.

“Our theme is ‘Into the Wild,’ so we’re playing a lot with these tribal looks, an exotic kind of feel. That’s why we have the face paint going on,” Kawser said.

The clothes for the show, which are mainly loaned from stores in Georgetown, like Ann Taylor Loft and Jack Wills, will be modeled by 30 Georgetown students — 15 men and 15 women. The show will also feature Caedo, the brand of Nate Hochstetler (COL ‘12 ), and the premiere of its spring collection.

“The fashion show is kind of their debut,” Kawser said.

However, the models and clothes won’t be the only student talent seen in this Saturday’s show. Kawser said, “We also have a

er to you. But I digress. The Wet Burger Man stands there proud and smiling at the top of Taksim Square every Friday and Saturday night serving these mystery wet burgers to rowdy Turks and the four American girls who have embarrassingly become regulars. He (for a reason I’m sure he has tried to explain to us once) wants nothing more than to “shoot the Turkish breeze,” exchanging simple pleasantries with us smiling all the while. The same pleasantries, I’m sure, he would exchange with a six-month-old who just learned his first word. I have quickly learned (other than the fact that a mini-burger dipped in tomato sauce is one of the most incredible foods ever) that this man will be the key to my Turkish success.

Some have told me the best way to learn Turkish is to find myself a Turkish boyfriend. I say ... become a weekend regular at a low-grade, fast food shop and become friends with the elderly man behind the counter, and you’re on your way to fluency.

Meagan Kelly is a junior in the College and is a former photo editor for The Hoya.

GRANDMA GOES TO TURKEY appears every other Friday in the guide.

JOANIE GREVE Special to The Hoya

georgetown program board

FASHION FOR A CAUSE Annual Fashion Show benefits orphanage. great group of different student performers. We have Tate Tucker, Groove Theory, Bindaas … and the World Percussion Ensemble,” Kawser said.

The show’s MC is Georgetown student, Julian De La Paz (SFS’ 15). The show will be introduced by Miss D.C., Monique Thompkins, who will also present this year’s cause, Roslin Orphanage, which is still the most

important part of the show to Kawser and Davis.

“We’re really trying to raise awareness about this orphanage and the goal that they’re trying to achieve,” Davis said. “[The people at Roslin] are just so grateful for what we’re doing, but, at the same time, we’re so grateful for them because it gives us something to work for.”

3.23.12 | the guide | 7

tower of babel

tawər əv bæbəl tour de babel japanese torre di babele вавилонская башня arabic torre de babel

greek turmbau zu babel korean STEVEN PICCIONE

Hoya Staff Writer

STUDYING ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE TO TAKE ON THE WORLD

F

or students like Maha Assubaiai, leaving behind culture, family and language to learn English was a difficult but neccesary step in her plan to become a member of the small but rapidly growing group of professional women in Saudi Arabia.

Assubaiai, who joined Georgetown’s English as a Foreign Language Program in August, came to the university to become fluent in English. After completing the EFL program, she plans to eventually earn her master’s degree in counseling at an American university due to the educational prestige of the United States. She then hopes to teach at a Saudi university or start her own business.

“The people in my country need [professional counselors] a lot. It’s a very conservative culture and they’re facing a lot of things. ... It’s causing a lot of problems.

They need someone to help them, especially nowadays,” Assubaiai says.

Although Assubaiai has unique aspirations to make a difference in her country as a professional woman, her story is not unlike the goals and dreams of many other EFL students.

In order to be accepted to Georgetown University as an undergraduate, international students must demonstrate a fluent or near-fluent proficiency on Test of English as a Foreign Language, by achieving a near-perfect score. But through its EFL program, the university’s doors are also open to students who do not meet this criterion. With the ultimate goal of attending an American university after bringing their language skills up to par, about 150 students from more than 30 countries currently take English classes at Georgetown through the program.

For 80 to 90 percent of them, according to Sigrun Biesenbach-Lucas, an instructor for the Center for Language Education and Development and head of the College Application Workshop, learning English is one of the necessary steps they must take in order to earn an American master’s or doctorate degree — and with it the power to make huge changes in their countries.

“English is the first-rank language.

Books, inventions, everything. All of them in English. How may I know about anything? A newspaper? It’s in English. Even medicine. If I want to take a medicine, I have to read it in English,” says Fahad Alghamdi, an EFL student who eventually hopes to become a heart surgeon.

SAME PLACE, DIFFERENT REASONS Alghamdi and his roommmate, Manaf Shata, both hail from Saudi Arabia, which boasts the highest number of students in

the EFL Program.

Through a Saudi program supported by King Abdullah, top students in the country are given a full scholarship to travel to the United States for higher education. “[The scholarship] is only for the people that get the highest score in high school, undergraduate or graduate school. If you get the scholarship, who doesn’t want to go?” Shata says. “[The Saudi government] gives you a salary per month, which is how you take care of yourself, pay for your food, your homestay. They give you 100 percent insurance, the tickets to go back home and come back to the U.S. and the tuition and fees for college and tests.”

Aminta Elena Perez De La Guardia also chose to move to Washington, D.C., from Panama to advance her education.

“I chose Georgetown, because in Panama it’s the most known program and they say it’s really good, so they recommended it to me,” she says.

Ryota Emman, 39, a political news reporter for a Japanese newspaper, The Asahi Shimbun, was sent to Georgetown for a different reason. The Asahi Shimbaum sent Emman to the United States to study English and politics, and he hopes to someday work as a correspondent for the Washington or New York bureau of his newspaper.

CULTURE SHOCK It wasn’t easy for Pierre Rogy to adapt to American culture upon his Hilltop arrival in August.

“It was very, very hard to adapt to American culture. In France, we are more free than here,” he says.

Last year, Rogy’s family moved from a suburb of Paris to Bethesda, Md., because of his father’s work for World Bank. Although Rogy took English classes at his high school in France, he decided to enroll in Georgetown’s EFL Program in order to reach proficiency before applying to college in the U.S. or Canada.

Biesenbach-Lucas recalls her own experiences with adapting to American culture. Biesenbach-Lucas moved to the United States from Germany in order to attend University of California-Santa Barbara, and she said the first line of defense for most students placed in an entirely new culture and language is to find those who share their background and language.

“It’s a normal mechanism. You just feel more comfortable talking to people, particularly as you go through cultural adaptation, you talk to people who go through the same process the same way as you.”

EFL students have made huge life changes in order to learn English, and many of them want to break out of their familiar setting and assimilate into Georgetown and American culture. But doing so can be very difficult.

“I feel isolated from the Georgetown body. Because, when I see a lot of Georgetown students, really, inside my heart I want to talk with them,” Alghamdi explains.

Shata adds, “If we don’t [get] involved in the undergraduate community, we may not talk to them, and they might not talk to us. Even if we met them in this building. But we never talk.”

Most of Alghamdi and Shata’s weekends involve cooking traditional Saudi

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

CHRISTIE SHELY/THE HOYA

BEYOND BORDERS From left to right. Rogy, Alghamdi, Shata and Assubaiai and other EFL students grow together while studying English. pecially challenging. Unlike the majority of EFL students, he is underage and unable to go out to clubs or bars.

Emman, too, found the transition jarring.

“I think Americans are very talkative compared to the Japanese. We Japanese think being too talkative is not good, but in the United States you should be talkative,” he says.

At 39, Emman is older than the majority of EFL students, and there are four other Japanese students in the program.

Unlike the Saudi government, the Japanese government does not pay for English programs, nor does it encourage its students to study abroad in the United States.

According to Emman, young students in Japan no longer want to go abroad.

“Twenty years ago, many young stu-

“English is the first-rank language. Books, inventions, everything. All of them in English. How may I know about anything? A newspaper? It’s in English. Even medicine. If I want to take a medicine, I have to read it in English.”

— Fahad Alghamdi food and watching television rather than going out. The academic demands of their classes make it difficult for them to socialize with Americans, but that is exactly what many EFL students want to do.

“My dream is to meet American friends, not only for speaking, but I want to know about the culture of Americans. I want to hang out with Americans,” Shata says. “I want to change [my social life]. I want to go to parties and to see how they like to [live]. I love American culture.”

For Alghamdi and Shata, culture shock has been a positive experience.

“I came here with an idea [about American culture] from the movies, because the movies reflect a bad idea about America.

People die in the street, and nobody cares.

But when I came here? No,” Shata says. “It was like the legend was not true. … I was shocked when I saw the different picture.”

For 17-year-old Rogy, though, adapting to the American social scene has been es-

CHRISTIE SHELY/THE HOYA

dents wanted to go abroad and study in the United States, but the culture is changing and they are more conservative today,” Emman says.

Although Japanese students must study English in order to attend a good university, according to Emman, they don’t need to leave the country.

Emman added that Japan’s growing conservatism creates an incentive for women who do study abroad to not return home.

“Some girls who come to the United States don’t want to go back to Japan, because in the U.S. they can express themselves. But [also] concerning jobs, there’s still some disadvantage to women even now. ... It’s not too easy get a very good job for women in Japan.”

WORLD-CLASS ENGLISH The EFL program divides its 150 students into six levels. With 20 hours of class each week, additional college work-

shops and individual counseling sessions, the life of an EFL student is ruled by constant immersion in the English language.

If a student’s goal is to apply to an American university, it often takes him or her at least two years to reach sufficient proficiency in English before a conversation about the college application process can begin.

Biesenbach-Lucas works with many EFL students as they apply to college.

“There’s a lot of misconception. The process is long. It’s selective. Your scores and your GPA matter,” she says. “Many of them say, ‘I’ve already applied to school X. All they’re waiting for is my essay, test scores and recommendations.’ Well, they really haven’t applied.”

The concept of a personal statement or even a resume is vastly different in other countries.

“They need someone to help them realize that this takes time and you need to plan when to complete the various steps in the college application process,” Biesenbach-Lucas says.

Although the the program allows EFL students to practice their proficiency in English for 20 hours per week, Biesenbach-Lucas says it’s important for students to keep up their practice outside of class hours.

“You really need to have a total immersion process to really get your brain to only think in English, and that’s when you can make progress,” Biesenbach-Lucas says.

But it’s easy for students to revert to their native language outside of the classroom. Alghamdi and Shata, for example, have a large network of fellow Saudi students in the program and are tempted to speak Arabic while socializing with them.

“It’s easier to hang out with the Saudis.

It’s a positive and negative,” Shata says.

MORE THAN A LANGUAGE Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving.

Although King Abdullah declared last year that women will have permission to vote and participate in the 2015 elections, women still comprise only 21 percent of the Saudi workforce.

But according to Assubaiai, the Saudi

government does promote the education of both genders.

“Some people have the typical stereotype about Saudi Arabia, especially about women, that they don’t have rights or they can’t [study abroad] alone. I think this is wrong,” she says. “As you can see, a lot of Saudi girls are here studying. ...

[Saudi women] don’t have to have their dad or their brother here with [them] to study abroad. … Of course my father has to know I’m here, but he doesn’t have to be here with me.”

Still, barriers can remain back for female EFL students like Assubaiai. Biesenbach-Lucas says, for example, that while women can study undergraduate law in Saudi Arabia, they can’t get a doctorate in law there.

“As women are granted more rights, there are more and more situations in which women need lawyers, female lawyers. These women [that study here] really are on the forefront of law in their country,” she says.

According to Biesenbach-Lucas, some EFL students go on to enroll at Georgetown as undergraduates, but many end up at other universities. De La Guardia plans to study industrial engineering at Pennsylvania State University this coming fall, and Rogy has accepted an offer to attend McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Although the focus of the EFL program is to teach students English, BiesenbachLucas said the program also fosters new communities of ambitious individuals who can look past cultural and lingual differences.

“Our classrooms are microcosms. People start out very differently and may have preconceived notions about this cultural group and that cultural group, but by the end, in most classes that I’ve had, they really gel,” she says.

Biesenbach-Lucas said this is the most rewarding part of being involved in the program.

“This is what I love about the job. ... In a good class, by the end of the semester, the students are totally gelled. They literally cry when we have our end-of-semester ceremony.”

food&drink

Adventurous Meals Pack a Flavorful Punch KATE MCCLELLAN Special to The Hoya

 RASIKA

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2434 18th St. NW cuisine: Indian price: $$$$

eaning “flavors” in Sanskrit, the restaurant Rasika has no trouble living up to its name.

A modern twist on traditional Indian food combined with a trendy yet inviting atmosphere will be sure to wow all.

Owned and operated by restaurant tycoon Ashok Bajaj, owner of other D.C. eatery institutions including The Bombay Club, The Oval Room and Ardeo + Bardeo, Rasika has followed in the footsteps of its predecessors since it opened in 2005. Due to Rasika’s excellence, not only has Bajaj been considered for the illustrious James Beard award but also have the restaurant’s chefs.

While getting reservations can feel like an uphill battle — I had to make mine months ahead of time — by the time your meal comes, it will have been worth the wait. As an avid lover of Indian food, traditional dishes and themes throughout the menu comforted me, while, at the same time, I was enticed by its unique and modern twists.

Going along with online recommendations, we started with the palak chaat, flash-fried baby spinach paired with a light yogurt sauce and date

chutney. This dish was amazing — one of the best balances between sweet and savory that I have ever tasted. Even if you’re not the biggest fan of spinach, or dates aren’t your thing, I promise you’ll love this.

Such an amazing appetizer to start off with was a difficult act to follow; however, the tenderly cooked chicken makhani with a rich tomato-based sauce came close. Balanced nicely with a side of light and fluffy naan, this dish was a treat. Although presented beautifully, be warned: The richness of the dish, as well as others, could be overwhelming to some.

If you find yourself intimidated by the long list of unknown dishes with unfamiliar ingredients — as I did — do not worry. An extremely helpful and friendly staff will be happy to offer explanations of the whole menu, if that’s what you need. Rasika also boasts an extensive list of options for vegetarians.

Half the experience of going to Rasika is the atmosphere. Dimmed lights, warm earth tones, silk panels and hanging glass curtains create a modern and friendly atmosphere, appropriate

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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT Rasika serves up award-winning Indian food with a twist. for intimate dinnerdates and boisterous celebrations. Be aware though — it can get quite noisy at peak hours.

While I cannot sing Rasika’s praises enough, as a poor college student myself, I am obligated to tell you that while Rasika should definitely be on your toeat list, its deliciousness comes with a price. Rasika should be considered more of a special occasion location, especially as it offers a nice getaway from the Georgetown neighborhood.

From the outside, Rasika looks like any other restaurant in the culinaryfilled Penn Quarter, but venture inside and you’ll understand why it is a cut above the rest.

palak chaat

crispy spinach with a sweet yogurt sauce and date chutney

chicken makhani

broiled chicken with a thick, tomato-based sauce flavored with authentic spices

chocolate samosa

traditional Indian treat filled with delicious sweet chocolate instead of a savory filling

a weekly review of the blogosphere’s best recipes

SKILLET LASAGNA

S’mores Brownies

Tracey’s Culinary Adventures traceysculinaryadventures.blogspot.com

Joan’s Food Wanderings joansfoodwanderings.blogspot.com

If you’re craving the traditional lasagna dish but don’t want to spend all day in the kitchen like your Italian grandma, try this easy recipe. It compromises on cook time and effort, but definitely not on taste. Made in a skillet, you’ll end up with a deconstructed lasagna with just as much cheesy goodness as the classic.

S’mores are undeniably delicious and easy to make, but usually it’s a struggle to keep the melting, marshamallow-y goodness from falling out. This recipe combines all the ingredients of the messy, campfire classic by placing what’s usually between two graham crackers on top of a moist, fudgy brownie.

10 | the guide | 3.23.12

dishes you have to try:

food&drink

Spanish Restaurant Raises the Tapas Bar

Easy Bake Without the Oven culinary quips

SHEENA KARKAL Special to The Hoya

J

ust a 15-minute walk from campus, Bodega offers a sensory transportation to the lively streets of Madrid.

The trendy, bar-like atmosphere makes Bodega perfect for getting together with friends for either a hearty lunch or a festive dinner. Tapas-style dining also makes it easy to share many dishes (trust me, you’ll have a hard time picking just one), and service is speedy so you won’t be waiting for long.

The lounge setting is enhanced by fun, Spanish music that is just loud enough to make your conversations private, but quiet enough that you won’t have to shout to be heard. Also, the more private back room has a cozier romantic feel if you’re looking for a place to take that special someone. The music and low lighting is complemented by the striking red and black upholstery, eclectic wooden furniture and animal print accents. Altogether, the ambience is actually quite welcoming, especially considering that Bodega has two dining rooms, with room for large groups, and an outdoor patio.

The menu is also appropriate for lunch, although the atmosphere can seem too dark on a sunny day. Bodega offers a lunch special for $10.95, a steal considering that it includes a soup or salad and two tapas.

Another good option for lunch or dinner is tapas for the table. I went for lunch with a friend, and we ordered gambas al ajillo (shrimp in garlic-infused olive oil), pan con jamon (tomato bread with Serrano ham) and croquetas de pollo (chicken croquettes).

The gambas came simmering in an aromatic bed of spices and garlic-infused olive oil, and the shrimp was undoubtedly fresh. The simple, mouthwatering dish is understandably a favorite of the restaurant’s loyal customers. The pan con jamon

 BODEGA 3116 M Street NW cuisine: Tapas price: $$$$ included perfectly seasoned and not-toosalty jamon serrano and, for just an extra buck, creamy Manchego cheese. The meat was generously piled onto pieces of freshly baked bread with tomato puree spread.

The croquetas de pollo were fried potatoand-chicken-filled morsels that were on the blander side but tasty nonetheless.

We were stuffed and satisfied by the end of the meal and ended up paying $20 each with tip. The tapas dishes average around $9, so most meals will likely come to $20$30. If you’re going in a larger group, don’t forget to try the delectable paella. The slowcooked rice and meat dishes are famously delicious and quite large, but on the more expensive side (an average of around $40). I would highly recommend committing to the traditional manner of sharing tapas.

In a large group, instead of small clusters of private conversations, you’ll end up getting involved — even if it’s just to compete for the last croqueta. It’s also the perfect way to sample the variations of a new cuisine with a smaller group of friends, and sharing with a date makes a romantic evening even more intimate. All things considered, Bodega offers an authentic culinary experience with a lively atmosphere that will make any meal special.

T

ElizabethSabol-Jones

his week’s quip is mainly aimed at dorm-dwellers but will also appeal to readers who either lack a stove or heavily rely on the microwave for meals.

We have experienced the hassle of packing up our belongings and moving from home back to Georgetown. By the time we’ve packed, we’re already laden with clothes, bedding and books, so why would we want to add a couple of boxes of pots and pans? Unless you really enjoy cooking, you would not have an incentive to bring kitchen supplies when you

have delivery, Leo’s and the restaurants of M Street at your disposal.

As a result, students’ kitchens are sometimes barren wastelands of Easy Mac boxes, random leftovers and communal forks. Luckily, modern technology gave college students the microwave.

There are an array of quick, frozen and often unhealthy snacks. Although these quick-fix meals serve their purpose, often something fresh just tastes best.

The meals and desserts you can make without using the stove would surprise you. So if you’re not fully prepared to step into the world of stovetop cooking, this is a window into the realm of “microwave magic.”

Elizabeth Sabol-Jones is a junior in the College. CULINARY QUIPS appears every other Friday in the guide.

microwave magic scrambled eggs

1.

2.

In a small bowl, beat together 2 eggs and 2 tablespoons milk with salt and pepper to taste until blended.

Cook eggs on full power for one to one-and-a-half minutes, stirring once or twice, until they are almost set. Stir. If necessary, cover with plastic wrap and let stand for about 1 minute until eggs are thickened and no visible liquid egg remains.

instant chocolate cake

1.

2.

In a large mug, whisk together 1/4 cup flour, 5 tablespoons sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, 1 egg, 3 tablespoons milk, 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, a pinch of salt and a dash of vanilla extract until smooth.

Microwave until puffed, about 2 minutes.

the best oatmeal

1.

Take a 1/2 cup instant or regular oats (regular take a bit longer in the microwave) and place in bowl.

2.

3.

Add a dash of vanilla and teaspoon of cinnamon and begin microwaving on high for 1 minute.

Remove the oatmeal and add your extras, like fresh or dried fruit, maple syrup, honey, brown sugar, peanut butter, et cetera and microwave for 1 minute more.

steamed veggies

ELIZABETH CHEUNG FOR THE HOYA

1.

2.

3.

4.

Take your favorite veggie — maybe spinach, carrots or green beans, et cetera — and wash and peel it, if necessary. Place in a microwave-safe bowl.

Add salt, pepper and a little bit of water and/or olive oil to coat veggies.

Place bowl in microwave with a plate on top that completely covers the bowl.

Microwave on high for about 3-5 minutes, stirring as needed until desired texture is reached.

TAPAS TIME The chefs at Bodega create a wide variety of tapas and Spanish delicacies to satisfy any palate.

3.23.12 | the guide | 11

art&culture

Jazz Singer Rises to the Top

denver burton Special to The Hoya

G

eorgetown’s Black Theatre Ensemble’s production of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” which runs from March 21 to 24 at 8 p.m. in the Devine Studio Theatre is filled with humor, heartbreak, drama and wonderful vocal performances.

This cast of 10 young actors and actresses is directed by Princess Fuller (SFS ’13) and produced by Rachel Carrig (COL ’13). The cast includes Special Procjects Coordinator Candace Mosely, Shavonnia Corbin-Johnson (SFS ’14), Kim Maima (SFS ’15), Tanisha Humphrey (SFS ’12), Jarvis Matthews (COL ’12), Joshua Street (COL ’15), Harrison Meek (COL ’12) Will Redmond (COL ’15), Jackson Sinnenberg (COL ’15) and Ben Mazzara (COL ’15).

Set in 1920s Chicago, this play depicts the struggles and racism that African Americans faced at the time when Ma Rainey was claiming her spot as the mother of jazz. Though her moment of glory is fading, she uses her position of power to make trivial yet insistent demands that leave the audience cracking up. This play provides a new, raw glimpse into the culture and society of the time by focusing on the personal struggles of each band member. It also looks at the upfront issue of black members of the band feeling used and unappreciated by white music producers.

Although on the surface it looks like nothing more than a business deal, as the play unfolds, the core issues of differing social status and personal image take the stage.

“Within this play, Wilson celebrates America’s black man for all that he is: his tenacity, his pride, his wisdom, his moments of vulnerability, his humor and wit, his knowledge, his desire to accomplish the unachievable, his moments of despair, his unrelenting love for justice and, most importantly, his broken spirit that dares to triumph over the odds set against him,” says Fuller. “The essential music component of ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ is not only another tool used to tell history, but also [is] a character within itself.” The witty, light-hearted banter of the band members while waiting for Ma Rainey’s arrival gives glimpses and anecdotes of the personal struggles of each member due to the racism of the time.

While this play is incredibly raw and emotional due to the serious background of the cultural setting, there is humor and excellent singing to be heard throughout. Slow Drag, Levee and Ma Rainey, played respectively by Mathews, Street and Corbin-Johnson, showed off their outstanding vocals as they sang their jazz in the recording studio.

The music alone is enough to keep the audience entertained.

The play is set in a recording studio, where Ma Rainey along with her band are

12 | the guide | 3.23.12

Refocusing With a Roman Holiday more from maz CourtneyMastrangelo

hansky santos /the hoya

HUMOR AND HEARTACHE Talented cast tackles heavy issues with a light heart. scheduled to record four songs. It sounds simple enough, but the underlying tensions between some of the band members, along with the private ambitions of the musician, Levee, fill this story with anticipation and emotional drama. Along with the problems within the band, the hostility between the white producers and black musicians unfolds as emotions escalate, ending in the psychological breakdown and irrational actions of certain members of the band.

Corbin-Johnson is wonderful in her portrayal of uptight diva Ma Rainey as she makes demands left and right and forces the people around her to wait on her hand and foot, an attitude she developed intentionally to spite the white man’s view of superiority over her. Though she has her name in the title, Ma Rainey is a secondary character to Levee, played by Street, the angry suppressed character whose resentment builds throughout the play.

His phenomenal acting truly keeps the audience on its toes as his unpredictable behavior takes over his reason. Toledo and Cutler, the more intellectual members of the group, are played by Mosely and Humphrey, respectively. Despite the gender swap, their portrayal of these musicians was incredible as they conquered religion and acceptance with their cultural situation. Toledo’s interesting observations on the lot of the black man gave an interesting contrast to Levee’s bitter animosity toward the white people.

All in all, “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is a delightfully entertaining play, confronting powerful issues while still maintaining some much-needed levity. If nothing else, this play is worth seeing for the phenomenal performances put forth by the strong cast. “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” will be performed in the Devine Studio Theatre Wednesday, Mar. 21 through Saturday, Mar. 24 at 8 p.m. and again on Sunday, Mar. 25 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for general admission.

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ost of my friends had a holiday in the sun over spring break, but I got to travel to Rome with my class called “Americans in Italy.” We spent the beginning of the semester exploring the influence of the popular Grand Tour of the 19th and 20th centuries on American art and literature. On March 3, it was our turn to experience the grand tour of Rome.

To be honest, I was skeptical of how much I was going to get out of this trip because I have been to Rome a few times before and have gone to all of the monuments. But this trip was more than I expected; it was absolutely incredible.

I was really nervous about leaving for my trip solely because I didn’t really know my classmates at all. however, after less than an hour at Dulles, waiting for our flight to la città eterna, we became great friends and discovered a shared love of the arts.

Once our plane landed in Rome, we were off and running. Our professor, Anna Celenza of the department of performing arts, began us with one of her famous “Celenza death marches.”

We definitely walked off all the gelato, cappuccino and pizza we consumed.

Throughout the week, we had many unique opportunities. The middle of March is the ideal time to tour Rome.

There weren’t too many crowds and the weather was perfect.

On Monday night, we all decided to discover Rome on our own. We decided to take a midnight stroll to the Trevi Fountain. We heard the water rushing and turned the corner, only to find ourselves alone, face to face with the Baroque masterpiece. We were in awe. When will we ever be the only ones at the Trevi Fountain again?

The chances are very slim that this experience will repeat itself.

On Wednesday, we came within 20 feet of the pope as he drove by in his popemobile. Here’s a short glimpse of the other amazing things we did: walked inside an aqueduct (yes, there was a bit of water); looked at St. John Lateran through a replica of Galileo’s telescope from the same spot where he tested his original one; went to S. Francesca Romana, open only once a year to visitors, and caught a glimpse of the most well-preserved Renaissance frescoes; visited the Capuchin crypt decorated with bones of past monks; had a picnic at the Circus Maxentius; went to an art opening at the Spanish Academy of Rome; and watched the Scharoun Ensemble of Berlin perform at the Villa Aurelia with well-respected guests, including the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See and the president of the American Academy in Rome, Adele ChatfieldTaylor.

We stayed on the Janiculum Hill, a part of Rome I had never even heard of … and I thought I knew everything.

On top of the Janiculum Hill is the American Academy, where professor Celenza’s husband is the director. I knew next to nothing about this incredible institution until I walked through its gates. It was founded in 1894 and is a place where those interested in classics, humanities and the arts go to pursue their independent studies.

We had the grand opportunity of eating many meals, freshly prepared with ingredients from the grounds, with the fellows. I immediately felt the sense of passion that the fellows had for their studies. It has inspired me to pursue my passions in life. These fellows taught me that the most rewarding thing in life is to do what you love. My classmates and I all vowed to make it a life goal to someday end up as fellows at the Academy, so one day, you’ll see or read our works that we all created while studying in the city that cultivated our friendships and stole our hearts.

Courtney Mastrangelo is a sophomore in the College. More from Maz appears every other Friday in the guide.

photoessay

art&culture by sari frankel

Beauty in the Eye of the Photographer I’ve grown up around cameras. My uncle is a professional photographer and bought me my first film camera for my ninth birthday. Since then I’ve documented nearly every moment of my life, no matter how ordinary.

I consider myself a photographer, but I do not see myself as an artist. I’ve always struggled to grasp the concept of photography as an art form. Some people stage artistic photos to create a desired effect, thereby ridding the photo of its spontaneity and emotion. Other people take photos of their lives. Family vacations to Disney World are something to be documented and cherished, but hardly constitute art.

This year working for The Hoya I’ve had to take photos of nearly everything. From speakers to sports, protests to parades, I’ve been there with my camera in tow. My job is to capture the present the way it is, untainted and unbiased.

I’m not here to make art, just to take pictures.

That’s not to say the most ordinary things are devoid of beauty. Life has a funny way of slipping past without you noticing. A man selling birdseed on a busy city square, a halfmelted sheet of ice on a snowy backyard deck or chocolatecovered strawberries being sold at the market. There are many things I never meant to capture, never even noticed until looking through my photos hours later.

I’m not completely sure what qualifies as art and what doesn’t. But I do value beauty. And perhaps the most beautiful thing of all is the serendipitous realization of beauty in the most unlikely places.

would you like to be featured in the next photoessay? email guide@thehoya.com

3.23.12 | the guide | 13

entertainment Revisiting Old Favorites For Brand New Playlists irreverent group that played the songs “Shut Up and Let Me Go” and “That’s Not My Name” at parties in 2009. I may never understand why I like The Ting Tings — their music KinneChapin is essentially chanting — but they’re back, and it’s catchy. “Soul Killing,” y musical education was one of their most recent tracks off a haphazard thing — I Sounds From Nowheresville, has a learned a third of what I big and bouncy chorus propelled know from my dad and his love of by clapping and a surprisingly The Kinks, a third from my broth- jazzy piano beat. Katie White’s voice er and his refusal to be ashamed sounds even more like M.I.A.’s than of having Miley Cyrus, Phish and it did in 2008. Plus, what’s not to Tupac on the same iPod and the love about a song that incorporates remaining third from “The O.C.” the squeak of mattress springs into Though I’d like to think I’ve come a its melody? Nothing? That’s what I long way from downloading Music thought.

From The O.C. Mix 4, it’s always fun The last artist to come back and to revisit the artists that first got me awe me anew this year is Andrew excited about music. There’s nothing Bird. Ever since listening to Andrew that makes me happier than when a Bird & the Mysterious Production band I loved in of Eggs somehigh school retime around leases an album my freshman I may never understand that puts them year of high why I likeThe Ting-Tings at the top of my school, this — their music is essentialplaylists once singer became more. the original ly chanting — but they’re This whole artiman with the back, and it’s catchy. cle was prompted guitar for me, by the fact that someone whose the first band music I turned I fell in love with ento whenever I was feeling slightly tirely on my own, The bittersweet and needed a comfortShins, is back with their first album ing melody. Bird’s new album will since 2007. If you are anything like probably serve the same role for me and Wincing the Night Away me in the year to come. “Lusitawas the soundtrack to your high nia,” my favorite song off this year’s school experience, download Port Break It Yourself, is more stripped of Morrow immediately. Though down than much of Bird’s older the songs are all new, listen to music, despite its impressive use “Simple Song” and the sound — of cymbals. The song is leisurely quirky guitar, danceable rhythm, driven forward by buttery-smooth soaring chorus and James Mercer’s lyrics and the occasional whistle. I clear and distinct voice — will trans- was instantly sold. port you back in time. To The Shins’ So there you have it, three new credit, the song isn’t completely songs by your favorite artists of “2007.” The music has taken on a yore. Or, at least, my favorite artists subtly more electronic feel, perhaps of yore. Go download all this new due to the more synth-based sound music right now! And if you didn’t of Broken Bells, Mercer’s side proj- like them in your yesteryear, so ect with Danger Mouse. much the better — that only means But The Shins aren’t the only you have even more new music to band to come back with a ven- discover! geance in the first months of 2012.

Do you remember The Ting Tings? Kinne Chapin is a senior in the ColOf course you do … they are the lege. FACE THE MUSIC appears every slightly obnoxious and maximally other Friday in the guide.

face the music

M

14 | the guide | 3.23.12

Hungry For More: Novel Start to Killer Series KATHERINE FOLEY Hoya Staff Writer

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ou would have to live under a rock the dashing good looks of the entire male to overlook the recent popular- cast. What really made this movie into such ity of The Hunger Games, the hot a moving film are the additional visual and young adult series written by Suzanne auditory effects. I rarely credit film editors for Collins. The books take place in Panem, the perfecting a movie, but Director of Photografuturistic version of North America, which phy Tom Stern, under the leadership of direccomprises 12 distinct districts all controlled tor Gary Ross, really outdid himself. The quick by the Capitol. Ever since the districts rebelled movements of the camera give the audience against their tyrannical rulers and lost almost the sense that they are trying to decipher a century ago, each district has been forced the many mysteries of Panem and the Areto send two tributes picked via a lottery sys- na in real time with Katniss. The jerky style tem, one male and one female, to compete took some getting used to at first, but I easin a fight to the death known as the Hunger ily learned to see through Katniss’ eyes. AddiGames. Our story follows the brave Katniss Ever- tionally, the subtle choices to either muffle or deen, a tribute from District 12 who volunteers articulate specific sounds — hushed dialogue or the overpowering to compete in place of volume of forest life her younger sister. in the Arena — gave For a science-fiction you a feeling of what film, there weren’t a matters with eerie whole lot of fantastical special effects; accuracy. the world is, after all, The only disapTHE HUNGER GAMES designed to look like pointment is also a futuristic version a spoiler: Although starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Liam of our own. The cast Jennifer Lawrence Hemsworth and Woody Harrelson features rising actors fully convinced me of still working to make her moments of tertheir names big: Jenror before entering nifer Lawrence (also the arena, Katniss’ Mystique in X-Men: First Class) plays 16-year- relationship with Peeta never developed the old Katniss. And while ladies may swoon at way it did with Katniss as a constant narrator the appearance of Miley Cyrus’ current beau throughout the books. I expected to see some Liam Hemsworth as Gale Hawthorne, the reference of internal conflict in Katniss as she true gems are the array of actors who took on begins to fall in love with Peeta, but Lawrence less prominent roles. Woody Harrelson as the didn’t quite deliver. Perhaps, though, this parabrasive, alcoholic mentor Haymitch Aberna- ticular plotline is just too complicated for the thy and Lenny Kravitz as Katniss’ stylist and big screen. personal ally, Cinna, were pure gold. I found I’ve never left a movie feeling as though I their characters to be far more critical of Kat- really experienced the same emotional and niss in the movie than in the book. And cos- physical trauma as the protagonist; it certume designer Judianna Makovsky definitely tainly wasn’t an uplifting feeling, but it was deserves a shout-out for creating a dynamic a powerful one. I’d bet that this film will have juxtaposition of simple costumes for poor at least one Academy nominee. district dwellers and a wardrobe for the Capitol that looks like it came straight from the Haus of Gaga. In their element, the players on screen looked as if they had never been more comfortable in their exaggerated apparel.

The plotline alone of the series could make it a blockbuster without any special visual or sound effects; there’s definitely no need for a 3-D version of it to give viewers an even more powerful experience. But what struck ROTTENTOMATOES.COM me most about this movie was not the sad moments in these characters’ lives, nor the GAME TIME The Hunger Games is based elaborate Gaga-esque costumes, nor even on Suzanne Collins’ best-sellling trilogy.

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entertainment

Rocky Seas and Melodies to Port of Morrow JASMINE WEE Special to The Hoya

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ith D.C. weather finally settling into warmer temperatures, it could mean only one thing: The Sweetlife Food and Music Festival. Before The Shins hit the festival’s stage on April 28, fans will get a chance to listen to the band’s new songs with the release of its first album since 2007.

COLUMBIA RECORDS

With Port of Morrow, The Shins have pointingly, things generally go downhill developed a new sound that is rooted in from here, as the songs all start to sound their indie alt-rock heritage, but features very similar. Not to say that the songs aren’t much more electronic instrumentation good, but for most of the album, the band’s new sound comes and sounds overall off as formulaic and much more polcontrived. ished and radioAmidst some friendly. lush synths, familThe album’s first iar-sounding melotrack, “The Rifle’s dies, tons of reverb Spiral,” starts it off and a rock-pop with a pulsing — PORT OF MORROW sound that merges nay, groovy — bass artist: The Shins nearly all the songs line and throbbing song to download: “No Way Down” into a sea of indisdrums. This is foltinguishable sound, lowed by “Simple song to skip: “For a Fool” there are still shinSong,” the first sining moments. gle, which features The standout front man James track, “No Way Mercer’s vocals that lend a light and dreamy feel to an otherwise Down,” has a melody that will become anthemic song. This is the perfect summer stuck in your head and retains the sound concert song or, alternatively, something that made The Shins’ music great in the first you will hear in Urban Outfitters. Disap- place. The song is simultaneously bubbly,

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newreleases “The Wave”

KEELEY WILLIAMS Hoya Staff Writer

“Primadonna”

“Do It Like You”

Miike Snow // Happy to You

Marina and the Diamonds // Electra Heart

Diggy feat. Jeremih // Unexpected Arrival

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 With its latest single, Miike Snow has made up for the stigma associated with Swedish music. “The Wave” makes use of crooning vocals, provided by lead singer Andrew Wyatt, that lend the song a mellow tone.

REPUBLIC

driven by propelling and relentless drumming, and chill, making this track perfect for any road trip playlist. The title track is also a great song, not necessarily because of the music itself, but because of Mercer’s fantastic vocals; sounding uncharacteristically sexy and dangerous, he croons in his signature falsetto. Mercer’s lyrics are still cryptic, but who cares when the front man’s voice can sound that smooth?

Also, it baffles me that “Pariah King” is on the B-Side of Port of Morrow when it obviously packs much more of a punch than much of the mediocre filler on the A-Side.

It starts mellow and slowly crescendos into a powerful anthem that is usually the territory of bands such as Muse and Foo Fighters.

All in all, Port of Morrow still sounds like The Shins, albeit with a more poppy spin.

Hardcore fans may be disappointed, but the tradeoff is probably a much larger and diversified audience that The Shins are ultimately aiming for with this release.

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“Do It Like You” is a song to play while reminiscing about days when hormones caused your biggest problems. This fledgling rapper’s lyrics are still rudimentary at best, but are more than enough for a light, entertaining song.

ATLANTIC

“Primadonna” is the first single from this Welsh singer-songwriter’s upcoming album, Electra Heart. The track is fun and silly, featuring Marina Diamandis’ vocals over a techno-inspired beat. It’s just what you need to ease out of midterm mode.

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3.23.12 | the guide | 15

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friday The National Portrait Gallery will honor the centennial of Ronald Reagan’s birthday Friday with a one -room exhibit called “One Life: Ronald Reagan.” The exhibit chronicles his early life in Illinois through his acting career and into his political life, working its way up to his presidency.

“One Life” will be on display daily until May 28.

Where: National Portrait Gallery When: 11:30 a.m – 7:00 p.m.

Info: npg.si.edu/ Price: Free Metro: Gallery Place - Chinatown (Red, Green and Yellow lines)

jASMINE WEE Special to The Hoya

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saturday Crowned “Africa’s Premier Diva” by Time Magazine, Angelique Kidjo is a renowned Beninese singer with an unmistakable voice. She brings her unique music — a hodgepodge of African, South-American and Western-influenced tunes — to The George Washington University for one night only. This is not a show to be missed.

Where: The George Washington University, Lisner Auditorium When: 8 p.m.

Info: lisner.org Price: $25 - $45 Metro: Foggy Bottom (Orange and Blue lines)

- connie yang

sunday A year after Japan’s March 2011 earthquake and tsnuami disaster, “2:46 and Thereafter” is a collaborative exhibition by DANDANS, a Tokyo-based arts collective in which 18 artists reflect upon the event and its consequences. The exhibition’s title refers to the time of day in which the earthquake struck.

Where: Edison Place Gallery, 701 9th St. NW When: 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Info: transformerdc.org Price: Free Metro: Gallery Place-Chinatown (Red, Green and Yellow lines)