Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned From Gaming

June 15th, 2011

If you don't stand in fire in game, why would you do it in real life?

After all the years of schooling, careful parenting, and going to (and dozing off in) church, it turns out that all of my life lessons ended up coming from video games. Aside from the usual “don’t stand in fire” and “turtles are jerks,” there have been more than a few jarring epiphanies leading to advice that helped me immensely in academics, work, and social life. Feeling skeptical?

1. If I want something done and done right, I have to do it myself.

I learned this while raiding in World of Warcraft (read: playing with 10-25 people at the same time to solve intricate battles). Sure, I had to trust my team and work as a cohesive group from week to week, but when it came to killing a rogue monster or fearing it away, I learned not to wait for someone else to do it while the leader yelled that we were going to die.

This advice has worked for me in real life, too. At a job, all of the employees work together toward a common goal, whether it’s customer service, meeting a deadline, or building something. But if it’s a choice between focusing on my job and letting something important in the office not get done, and taking a few minutes out of my time to ensure the continued smooth operation of the workplace, I tend to choose to take initiative for the good of the team as long as I’m not neglecting my own duties.

2. If I don’t work towards fulfilling dreams and life goals, I will eventually go crazy.

The original The Sims games were great, but when The Sims 2 introduced the aspirations system, it became a work of microcosmic genius. Fulfilling minor wants like kissing a significant other or gaining skills improved one’s mood, which in turn gave the extra boost required to do jobs well. What really spoke to me was the “Lifetime Want,” a life goal that, once achieved, would put a character in a perpetual good mood state for the rest of its virtual life.

And when a Sim went through day after day not fulfilling any of its desires, the poor thing would actually get depressed, sob randomly, and eventually have to see a shrink. It’s like the Sim is me! I could spend the rest of my life getting by with achieving minor wants, or I could set a (realistic) life goal and work towards a more lasting happiness. Oh the choices in the life a Sim… er… human.

Another thing I learned from The Sims was that ordering Chinese takeout and pizza is expensive and fattening, but that was a little less poignant. Be like a Sim and cook with your own groceries, and use the Campus Clipper coupon for Associated Supermarkets at the end of my post.

3. Some things are more important at certain times than other things.

Despite the confusing wording, this was a pretty harsh lesson for me. I used to sit at my computer playing games for so many hours a week, it was like a full-time job. Honestly, I still play a lot; it’s the hobby that I enjoy. But during the last couple years at my first university, video games were trumping every priority I previously had, including class, homework, and hanging out with the friends I used to see every week. It wasn’t until I dropped out of school and had to get a full-time job to support myself that I finally cut down on my gaming, because I didn’t have the money for it.

Above everything, the big lesson here was to manage my time. Now, I’m back in school, working part-time, and still playing video games a good deal, because I know that at certain points in the week/semester, assignments and exams will have priority, and at other times when I have a little room to slack off, I can hang out in my virtual world without guilt.

These “life lessons” may seem silly if one has already learned them from other, more traditional sources like parents and social interaction, but they are essentially the same, no matter what the source. It is a skill for people to be able to glean information from a variety of experiences and use it to grow. Whether someone is a gamer freak or a mountain climber, the world is waiting to be studied and learned from.

-Avia Dell’Oste.

Cross-posted to my blog RP Your Life!

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View From the Top

June 15th, 2011

I’ve spent a great deal of my life in NYC. My parents work together in the city and I would spend my summers traveling in with them to answer phones and play secretary for their company. After work everyday, my mother and I would go on adventures through the city and do all sorts of things. I’ve walked every street in Manhattan, seen Broadway shows, cheered at parades and walked through the museums. But what haven’t I done? Ventured into the Empire State Building, the very symbol of New York! When I realized that it was one of the few important places I haven’t visited in NYC, I decided to take action and buy tickets for my boyfriend and I to go.

Online tickets range from about $22.00 to $55.00 dollars for adults (ages 13-61) depending two factors. Firstly, there are two floors, the 86th and 102nd floor. You can see just the 86th floor for about $22.00 a person or bump up the price to $37.00 and see both floors. The second factor is the choice of waiting in line or buying express pass tickets that include both floors and allows you to cut the expected long lines for $55.00. Being a paranoid individual, and fearful that long lines would ruin the experience, I opt for the $55.00 tickets and decided to make them my Valentine’s Day present for my boyfriend.

The night of Valentine’s Day came and after dinner in a small Mediterranean restaurant in lower Manhattan (if you’re in the mood for Mediterranean, a closer option to the Empire State building for you could be Ole Kebab), I forced my boyfriend in a cab and told the driver “33rd and 5th please!” it was already 11:45 PM but since the Empire State Building’s Observatories closes at 2:00 AM (last elevator ride up is at 1:15 AM but you can stay till 2:00) we had plenty of time. When we got there the building was quiet and only had a few wanderers around. The man behind the front desk told us to take the escalator up the stairs and follow the signs. We went up and followed a maze of hallways! It was a long walk where it seemed lines would have formed. We got the front of the line immediately (express passes are definitely not necessary for late night visits!) and after walking through a metal detector, made it to the first elevator. Up to the 86th floor we went! When we got there, it was unbelievable. From up there you can see EVERYTHING. Even Brooklyn! All the lights reminded me of when you’re on a plane overlooking a city at night and everyone is fighting to look out the plane’s windows to see the city. It was magical and because it was Valentine’s Day, it was very romantic. There were only couples around us—which I’m sure isn’t normally the case. We ventured outside and because it was mid-February the wind was furious. As we turned the corners the wind would come from a different direction and we would scream and laugh and huddle together to fight against it as a unit. Then we went to the 102nd floor where it was amazing but there was no outside to go to so it wasn’t the same as looking out from the 86th floor. So as a struggling student without money to throw around, go experience the empire state building; just learn from my mistakes. Make sure to go at night when the tourist crowds have dispersed so you won’t need an express pass and if you’re really tight on money seeing just the 86th floor for a special occasion is worth the $20.00 on its own.

Jackie Aqel

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Avoiding Conflict at a Group Meal

June 15th, 2011

Nothing is more obnoxious at dinner than getting attacked for your food choices.

No matter how proud you are about your healthy eating choices, there are always a few people with whom, even if they claim to be understanding and open-minded, you would just rather not get into a heated debate. Usually, they are the type to easily start said heated debates without realizing they raised their voices, and before you know it, you wish you hadn’t even brought up the topic of climate change/political efficacy/favorite color at all.

Though you may not be able to avoid every potential “friendly intellectual discussion” they want to have, there are a few ways to at least circumvent frustrating situations while eating out with friends. First, when collectively deciding where to go for dinner, it’s best not to throw out suggestions that are obviously specialty restaurants. Even if the name gives no hint, once the group arrives there and sees that the menu has absolutely no meat on it, your friends could feel tricked. Since you would like others to accommodate your food choices, try to think of their preferences too. If you are trying to avoid gluten, suggest a restaurant that you know has gluten-free options. If you are a vegan, throw out names of places that you know will have food you can eat but also has meat and vegetarian dishes.

Of course, after going through all of the motions of democracy, you might end up at a restaurant you have never been to and didn’t have time to research their menu. If there’s one thing that might set off your opinionated friends into an unsolicited rant, it’s watching you take fifteen minutes to order because you’re asking your server for comprehensive lists of ingredients. But you’ve been to restaurants before, and the menus for certain ethnic cuisines are practically the same citywide. Once you’ve researched one restaurant and found which dishes are safe, you can assume to a degree for other places with similar styles. A little research into pasta types will let you know which kinds have eggs, and looking up traditional recipes for Japanese foods will let you know where soy can be hiding. This can cut down on the number of questions to ask the server and avoid placing a focus on you. Great places to try for big groups are Indian restaurants with their diverse meat and vegetarian options and choices of rice or bread. Use a Campus Clipper coupon to get 15% off on a weekend when you bring 4 people or more at Cuisine of India!

Even if your friends are aware of your dietary choices, they may forget in their attempts to be generous and offer you a bite of their order. Rather than going into the reasons why you can’t share their meal, a simple “No thanks. I’m good.” will suffice. To avoid further insistence, either immediately return to your previous conversation and/or return their action by offering them some of your food. Keep the dialogue going so that it doesn’t linger too long on the table and its trappings.

When all else fails and someone decides s/he really wants to talk about why you don’t eat dairy in an opinionated and gregarious manner, let him/her go through the spiel. Chances are s/he just wants to voice opinions about it, and whether or not you respond matters less than getting the rant out of his/her system. Even if you aren’t in the mood to debate, other people might want to jump into the discussion, which will take the pressure off of you to be the sole interlocutor. If you are in a group setting, the rest of your party most likely wants the same thing you do: to hang out with friends while eating good food and having lively conversation with more laughs than speeches. If you’ve picked the right friends, they won’t let one person gang up on you or bring everyone else down.

-Avia Dell’Oste.

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How to Manage Your Time For… Gaming?

June 15th, 2011

Can I go to class now, please?

PC gamers and console junkies alike can attest to not only the increasingly social nature of video games, but also the greater acceptance of gaming as a group activity since the first Xbox came with internet capability. While party games like Mario Kart were always popular and took advantage of the fact that people hanging out together required entertainment, classic and modern MMOs (massively multiplayer online games) like World of Warcraft and console games like Halo and Call of Duty call on people from all over the country and all walks of life to organize and play together. For college students, this means fitting gaming into a schedule, just like class or work, and keeping up with the demands of other players who might not be as busy, which can be difficult and frustrating. After all, no one wants to be left behind by his/her friends, even ones that are strictly online.

If you are getting into online gaming or have been gaming for years and are having trouble keeping up now that you’re in college, here are some tips to keep your head afloat in both work and play. Just like schoolwork, online game obligations can take up a lot of time, so it should be managed and incorporated into realistic schedules that don’t overlap with each other. For example, each semester, I look at my class schedule and syllabi and note which nights (or mornings, if you do your best work early in the day) that I know I will have something school-related to do, like weekly response papers that are due every Thursday and Calculus homework due every other Tuesday. Since it’s important to do assignments well and on time, Mondays and Wednesdays would be my days that I need a few hours just for studying.

Then I look at my gaming schedule. It might be weird to hear about someone having appointments for gaming, but when other players depend on you, it’s important to be on time for them like you’re on time for class (hopefully). If my clan/guild/group likes to play together from 9pm-12am on Wednesdays and Saturdays, I should make sure that whatever assignments I have to do on Wednesday gets done before 9. Many guilds on World of Warcraft raid in the middle of the week, so Sundays are great for doing all of the major assignments you know you won’t have time for on Tuesdays. Games that require load times or other periodic breaks are good for doing required reading though the frequent interruptions are less ideal for math or science problems or anything that requires an extended thought process.

When you’re having trouble managing your time because you procrastinate over deciding whether to play or write a paper, you may have to reassess your self-control. If doing work ahead of time isn’t a possibility because you don’t have the discipline, it might be a good idea to switch clans to one that plays only on the weekends, be involved with a smaller number of games, or play the games more casually, i.e. single-player instead of in a group. Despite wanting to prove to ourselves that we have the ability to do everything by sheer will power, it isn’t always realistic. Admitting one’s flaws and rearranging our schedules to account for procrastination is better than making idealistic plans and not getting the work done at all.

No matter how well you manage your time, finals week is always a difficult strain on your already packed schedule. But not everyone in your clan or guild is unemployed or a housewife, and it has always been my experience that when I take time off for finals, plenty of other players are doing the same, even guild leaders. Explain to them which days you will be missing and why. If it’s the kind of guild that requires 100% attendance, it isn’t a good fit for a student anyway since no matter how important your clan is, it’s not worth failing your classes for. Find a comfortable balance between your school and social gaming obligations, but always makes sure it tips a little to the school side.

And with all that time sitting at your computer or console, make sure to eat! Check out this awesome coupon for Whole Foods Market that lets you get all the ingredients for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for some sweet gaming fuel at a discount.

-Avia Dell’Oste.

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Clicking for Change

June 15th, 2011

Is it possible to make change with the mere click of a mouse? Social media has forever changed the image of the socially conscious individual. The political uprisings this past spring in the Middle East and North Africa prove this to be true. If it were not for sites like Facebook and Twitter these revolutions would not have had the global awareness and impact that they did. The ability to connect through these tools has become an essential agent to making a difference in the world.

As a freshman in college you can at first feel very small (I know I did) and so very far away from what’s going on in the rest of the world, yet social media has filled this gap permanently. It is important to note that the most effective way of making a difference is by getting out there but for college students it’s easier said then done to just drop everything. This is why it’s important to educate oneself with world events documented via Facebook pages and tweets because it’s a step closer to being a worldly individual, also, in today’s world we are all so much more capable to be just that. Social media is in a way amateur journalism because the crises experienced around the world are related directly by the most legitimate source: the people who experience such events.
During the uprisings of Spring 2011 I realized this was the first time in my nineteen years I was conscious of revolution and also saw what it looked like. To be honest, revolution for most of my life equated to what I read in American history textbooks and The Beatles White Album. A perfect example of how interconnected the world is today is reflected in my own experience this past spring. I followed the protests in Iran via facebook pages like 25 Bahman, which aims to bring to light the plight of the Iranian people under the illegitimate rule of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The fact that an average NYC college student like me could experience this on what is meant to be a social networking site shows how social awareness has changed immensely. On this particular Facebook page videos uploaded by Iranian protesters documenting police brutality and updates of progress as well as setbacks. The majority of global outreach by way of social media involved the youth of such troubled nations like Egypt, Yemen, Iran, and Bahrain. College students essentially ran this youth revolution; social media was such an effective tool, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen were forced to resign from their Presidential posts. Internet can serve as a catalyst for change and that’s why it’s such an immense threat to foreign dictators. An example of this is China’s censorship of Google. President Obama and Hilary Clinton have both addressed that Internet usage should be encouraged globally and it’s an attack on individual rights to disallow Internet connection to the masses of a nation. The fact that not everyone is allowed  internet access makes it only more valuable and something to be greatly appreciated.

The revolution brought to you by Facebook.

If foreign college students can oust Presidents by mass text (Honduras ex-President Manuel Zelaya), organize protests on facebook, and update the entire world better than CNN can by way of tweets, than NYC students are just as capable of making change for causes relevant to their lives. In high school I created a facebook event promoting a local protest of a hate crime that took place in my own Queens neighborhood. Facebook made it exceptionally easier for me to reach a great number of people to bring about awareness for LGBT acceptance. My first experience with activism was rooted in facebook messaging and its endpoint for me was handing out anti-hate fliers at a televised protest, which you can do too if you stop by the Advanced Copy Center. The first step to being socially conscious is to make yourself aware, so I suggest following foreign facebook pages, twitter accounts, and blogs to keep yourself up to date with world events. This is a good addition to reading both national and foreign news publications. There are also several websites out there informative about how you can help and where, even if it’s just by clicking a mouse. For example, www.change.org is a website that allows people to electronically sign petitions for free as an aid for social change. These petitions are for just about every cause imaginable, like the public support for Saudi women to drive. All it takes is just one click for a better world! Social media and the internet have infiltrated the realm of civic duty and that’s a good thing considering you’re reading this on the internet this very moment.

Anjelica LaFurno

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Students Can Afford to Watch Broadway Shows, Too

June 14th, 2011

We all know that Broadway shows can be very expensive. But that does not mean that the pleasure of witnessing some of the world’s finest theatrical works has to be out of reach for average students. In an effort to encourage the younger audience to attend the shows, the theater companies offer a variety of discounts.

For instance, anyone between the ages of 18 and 35 can simply call HIPTIX at 212-719-1300 and join for free. Members can buy tickets to the Roundabout theatre productions for only $22, including fees. Each member may only purchase two tickets at a time and the person you are buying the ticket for will also have to be between the ages of 18 and 35. The shows include The Importance of Being Earnest, which is a really good deal as the regular tickets for the play start at $102. You can also buy tickets for Anything Goes amongst other Roundabout productions through HIPTIX. Membership may also get you invitations to after parties where you can mingle with fellow theater lovers.

Schooltix also offers discounts to various shows, including Phantom of the Opera! The cheapest ticket with this discount for Broadway’s longest running show is $26, and even though these tickets are for the rear mezzanine, it beats having to get standing room only tickets, which is the only type of rush tickets for Phantom. The discounts vary from show to show and may also depend on the seats. Other Broadway discounts include shows such as Catch Me If You Can, Chicago, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, and Mamma Mia!

You can also sign up with Playbill, free of charge, and receive 10%-50% discounts on Broadway, off-Broadway, Opera, Restaurants and Hotels.

Bushra Tawhid

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A Beginners Guide to Willyburg!

June 14th, 2011

My Grandma always said to me growing up, “There’s nowhere better than Brooklyn!” Even then, and still now, there was no possible way I could have disagreed with her. She saw the beauty in her hometown of Williamsburg, Brooklyn before gentrification was normatively associated with the area. In other words, Williamsburg was effortlessly cool before being branded so by the Hipster invasion. Some complain that the influx of Hipsters and the influence of their subculture will decimate an already existing culture. There is certainly some truth to that belief commonly held amongst natives, yet I’d like to celebrate and focus attention on the treasures of this area both new and long established. After all, if it were not for the newcomers there would never have been the much deserved attention and interest in Williamsburg. Here are five things to do and see in the urban paradise of Williamsburg, Brooklyn:

1. Eat Something Sweet

-Fortunato Brothers
289 Manhattan Avenue (between Ainslie & Devoe St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Fortunato Brothers is the ideal Italian pastry shop in the heart of a once predominantly Italian-American neighborhood. Here you can indulge and enjoy traditional Italian pastries like cannoli, sfogliatelle, and pastiche. Not only are their pastries great, but also Fortunato’s is well known for their homemade gelato flavors. I highly suggest sitting down with a friend for the café experience, order one of their heavenly hot drinks (cappuccino, espresso), and listen in on the Italian jabber of the older, dapper regulars.

Forget Neverland! Just take a trip to Greenpoint, Brooklyn and enjoy a scrumptious donut!

-Peter Pan Donut & Pastry Shop
727 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

A celebrated Polish bakery that is so well know even Tina Fey of 30 Rock has raved over how amazing their donuts really are. Popular donut choices are the red velvet, coconut crème, jelly, and my own personal favorite, the classic white crème. They also serve coffee for a mere buck and the place has a cool, retro atmosphere as well. So I say sit on a swivel seat, have a cup of coffee, and enjoy a yummy donut! If you can’t make it to Brooklyn for the day, I suggest stopping by Just Sweet Desert House in Manhattan to get your sweet fix!

2. Enjoy the Great Outdoors

McCarren Park is a nice retreat from urban nuisances.

-McCarren Park
780 Lorimer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

McCarren Park is the place to be if you’re looking to spend the day outside, soak up some rays, and take part in athletics. The 35-acre park consists of a baseball field, soccer field, running track, and handball courts as well as bocce courts. On Saturdays the park becomes a farmer’s market filled to the brim with fresh produce and homemade baked goodies. This year the park will be the home base for the Northside Festival, which will ooze live music from artists such as: Wavves, Guided By Voices, and Beirut!

3. Check Out Cool Sounds

There are three premier record stores in Williamsburg and they are:

-Sound Fix
44 Berry Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

The most organized of the three Sound Fix is an oasis for those obsessed with music. They have an extensive collection of both used and new albums from alternative artists that are both classic and contemporary. Also listening stations are available to customers so that they can preview albums.

-Academy Records
96 N. 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Academy Records is vinyl heaven in a nutshell. The vinyl collection at this particular record store eclipses both Earwax Records and Sound Fix. You can also find used CD’s at their cheapest here! It is a sort of “school” for the true record enthusiast!

-Earwax Records
218 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Although the most expensive, Earwax has the most variety of the three. They have a great selection of different artists and genres, which is a guarantee that you will walk out with just what you wanted. This place is bound to remove the wax from your ears and fill it with cool sounds for sure!

4. Dance with the Giglio! (July 6- July 17, 2011)

-Feast of Our Lady of Mount Caramel
275 N. 8th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

An annual festival held by Our Lady Of Mount Caramel Church for over 100 years now is a guaranteed fun time with friends. You can eat traditional festival food (zeppole, sausage and peppers) and dance with the Giglio. The Giglio is a large statue carried by a large number of men while a band plays music and people dance. It is a tribute to an Italian saint Paolino di Nola and the feast is one of three Giglio feasts conducted nationwide. It’s not to be missed!

5. Experience Live Music

-Music Hall of Williamsburg
66 N. 6th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211

The Music Hall of Williamsburg is one of the many Bowery Presents venues in New York City. A young crowd flocks here primarily on the weekends to listen to live music, and the 21+ group has the added perk of a swanky bar on the lower level. I’ve personally seen live acts such as Wavves, Sonic Youth, and Best Coast. Every performance I’ve attended here has been a satisfying musical experience. If you’d like to get your mosh on (depends on the band) or just listen to some pretty darn cool music, here are some upcoming shows:

  • The Low Anthem, Wednesday 6/15
  • Flying Lotus, Wednesday 6/22
  • Peter Bjorn and John, Thursday 9/15

Anjelica LaFurno

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The Whole Jersey Shore

June 14th, 2011

http://blog.silive.com/latest_news/2008/12/large_JERSEY%20SHORE.jpg

While most young New Yorkers have heard of Seaside Heights from the wildly famous show The Jersey Shore, many of them don’t know what the whole shore really consists of.  The beach towns of New Jersey stretch all the way from Sandyhook NJ to Capemay NJ with boardwalks and music and nightlife that, in ways, out-do Seaside by a long shot. Not to bad mouth Seaside Heights—my family for years has been traveling from Westchester to Seaside since I was a baby; it’s just that in recent years I’ve traveled up and down the coast and found new treasures that need to be shared and should be explored by all.

From Penn Station on 7th avenue at 33rd street, there is a train line (New Jersey Transit Line) that runs down the shore of NJ. For the fee of $14.00 New Yorkers can take the train down to all types of Beach towns and cities! Depending on what type of vacation you’re looking for (orientated towards family fun, romantic couple time, or fun with friends) there are a range of spots to suit your needs.

Long Branch, the first (and probably one of the nicest!) real beach town you’ll reach while riding the train is known for its clean beach, romantic restaurants and family fun events. Long Branch is the perfect town to take a family or couples vacation too. They have nights where everyone is allowed to go and make bonfires and spend the night under the stars. The beach has a long history of being one of the nicer beaches in New Jersey and is full of surfers (When I asked my surfer friend to describe it all he said was, “it’s got greeaaattt waves”) and restaurants of all different types. It is a great town to walk around, window shop and end your day at a restaurant. It’s a casual, calm sort of town that you would want to visit at least once in your life.

You can take a stop next at Asbury Park, NJ—where the legend Bruce Springsteen began his musical career—and take part in the thriving music scene.  Around every corner there is a coffee shop playing live music. Asbury park is known for its underground clubs all the way to their large music halls. With Festivals planned throughout the summer, any music buff would be crazy to skip over this city!

But if music isn’t a great interest of yours in the summer time heat, travel just two more train stops and hit up Belmar for the beach and nightlife. Belmar is like the northern Seaside Heights—the main difference being that most New Yorkers inhabit Seaside during the summer while native Jerseyians tend to flock to Belmar instead.  Just like Seaside Heights there are bars and pubs and restaurants all along the boardwalk and during the day the Beach there is clean and full of young people.  Belmar is an ideal spot for a vacation with friends. Belmar is best during the day; you can get the ultimate beach day in New Jersey if you head to Belmar! Like most beaches in New York and New Jersey, there is a fee of $7 for a daily beach badge. To save money though, I suggest bringing your own drinks and food with you to the beach so you don’t have to leave the beach and miss out on the sun! The town of Belmar isn’t loved only for the beach but also for hosting the New Jersey Seafood Festival in late May which brings in a crowd! People from all over the Tri-state area come to try all different types of seafood for a surprisingly cheap price. The Festival alone is worth the trip down, you don’t want to miss out on all that good food!

However, if you still plan on going to Seaside Heights (the desire to catch a glimpse of Vinny fist pumping and Snookie eating some pickles is too hard to resist, I understand) I strongly suggest taking a car.  Without one, the trains take you only as far down as the town of Bay head. It takes about 2 and a half hours and is still a good 15 minutes cab ride away from Seaside. It’s a challenge, but if you’re planning on spending the week there, renting a house with a group of friends, it may be well worth the trip! In Seaside Heights there’s a beach (10 dollar daily badges!), a carnival where you can go on big rides and eat delicious carnival food, bars that on Friday nights are 18 to enter, 21 to drink, and even a water park! But because there is so much to do, money quickly goes, so if you’re going for longer than a weekend, I highly recommend going to a local supermarket and making your own food to save some cash for going out.

But hey, if worst comes to worst and you’re low on cash, don’t have the spare time, and can’t make it down to the shore at all, you can always go to Future Tan Salon and Spa and get a mystic spray tan and look the part of someone that spent the weekend in the warm Jersey sun even when you didn’t!

Jackie Aqel

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Going the Distance

June 14th, 2011

People didn’t start leaving me until I went to college. All my life people stayed close by. My older siblings all stayed within a twenty-mile radius for college and when it came for my friends and I to apply to college, we didn’t dare look beyond the tri-state area.

When I first got to college I was ecstatic to find out that my new friends and newly acquired boyfriend all lived within an hour of our school. My family would come and visit on a weekly basis and many of my friends were just a subway stop away for me; everything was going great. That is, until sophomore year. Mallori, my best friend since I was 8 years old, decided to study abroad. She wanted to go to Ireland for an entire semester to be exposed to another culture.

“But what about your family, Mal?” I asked.

Really, what I was trying to say was “what about me?!” I personally didn’t have what it took to live in another country, let alone live outside New York, (I have what they call, “fear of leaving the island”) and to see her go was hard. That semester, instead of going down into the city to meet and go out at night, we had Skype and calling cards on hand for emergency girl talks.

When she came back, I thought I was in the clear. I had the summer going into junior year with everyone home to keep me company. But that summer as my boyfriend and I became closer, he let me in on a little secret; he had decided to study abroad in Brazil for spring semester. At first it was okay, we had a few months left together and when he left, we would make it work… I hoped. I mean, a friendship could easily survive separation, but a relationship? Even on the day his plane took off, I wasn’t sure we’d make it. And as the days went on, it only became harder and harder. I suddenly realized I had to act like a taken girl but I was always alone. I had the commitment, but none of the perks of a relationship. No handholding, no kisses, no napping together—no nothing. That semester I hardly went out. My mindset was to just get to class, get all my homework done and get to bed at a decent hour. My two roommates, who were both in relationships, would try to include me and keep me occupied, but it always ended up making me feel sourer. They were constantly pushing me to go out with them at night but it was a rare occasion when I actually did. I hated the end of the night too much. My roommates would all go to their boyfriends’ apartments and I would do a lonely walk back to our dorm room.  There were many nights I would be alone and cry in my bed listening to the commotion of students laughing and flirting and having the kind of night I had to wait four more months for.

But it got better.

One day it dawned on me that I was the one causing my own unhappiness and maybe this separation could be viewed as a good thing instead of a bad one. And with that revelation, everything changed. A whole new part of my life emerged. I began socializing and making friends with people I normally wouldn’t have time for, I met with teachers and excelled in class, I worked on my writing and made time for new hobbies and even got this internship at the Campus Clipper! I was happy and felt content with myself. I realized that there was no reason to fear leaving or being left behind. New York is an amazing city—no doubt about that—but if an opportunity came where I would have to leave, it would be okay to go. College pulls people physically apart from each other; but that doesn’t mean you have to become estranged from one another! Even if you aren’t a quick drive from each other, you are still just a call or an email away. When you really care and love people, a little distance is healthy and can make you value them more than you have before. Now that my boyfriend is home, our relationship is stronger then ever.  Our time with each other is precious but we make sure to make time for ourselves and other parts of our lives. It’s important to remember that if you’re far away from home or someone you’re close with leaves for a college that’s far away, remember that yes, the distance is hard, but they can always come and visit! You’re in New York City! They can come stay at the Blue Moon Hotel that’s right between Little Italy and SOHO and spend your days running around the city together (you couldn’t ask for a better excuse to do all the touristy stuff).  It’s important to feel grounded not by where you are but by what you do, and to remember that life always gets better if you give yourself the chance to grow.

Jackie Aqel

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Spotlight: Satay Junction

April 26th, 2011

Inspired by flavors of the street food of Jakarta, “Satay Junction” is the only authentic Indonesian restaurant in the city, as other ones don’t feature street food. Therefore, if you’re in the mood to have something completely different for lunch or dinner, here is a great place for you to do so. The food has a distinctive unusual taste for an average New Yorker, but it’s fresh and palatizing, so it’s definitely worth trying.

If you are unfamiliar with Indonesian food, you may think of it as of Thai food, but made with different spices. Indonesians use a lot of lemon grass, candle nut, peanuts and coconut milk. The food comes out spicy (if desired) and sweet at the same time. Sweetness is especially pungent in desserts and drinks.

By the way, the drinks can be your desserts as well, as they taste like candy. For instance, Es Teller, which reminds you of a milkshake (but not blended) with soft coconut taste created by coconut milk and pieces of young coconut floating inside along with seaweed jelly and sweet jack fruit you can chew on. This drink is great as a last chord of your lunch or dinner or its sweet beginning you can indulge yourself in while you are waiting for your meal.

the variety of Satays you choose from

Speaking of meals, when one thinks of Indonesian food, first thing on his/her mind is probably, a Satay, small appetizing pieces of meat marinated and cooked on a stick with various seasonings. No wonder that this item is the most popular in “Satay Junction,” as the restaurant was originally created as a place where customers can savor famous Indonesian Satays.

Since there are a lot of Muslims among Indonesians, it is not guaranteed that you will find a pork Satay on the streets of the capital, although Jakarta is pretty diverse, and everything is possible. However, vegetable and tofu Satays are the invention of chef Raj Dodani especially for his vegetarians and vegan New York City customers. You can also find shrimp and lamb Satays in “Satay Junction,” so whatever meat (or non-meat) you prefer, you will find it here cooked to perfection and served with delicious homemade peanut sauce that you will keep wiping and licking from you plate untill the last drop of it disappears in your mouth.

Two great side dishes for Satays are Nasi Goreng (fried rice) or Mee Goreng (pan seared fried noodles). These sides may be served as an addition to your meal, with vegetables or tofu pieces, or as a separate dish, with any choice of meat you desire.

Besides Satays, there are other flavorful dishes on the menu. Try Gado Gado, steamed vegetables served as a cold salad with medium-spicy peanut sauce. The first thing that gets at your taste buds once you try Gado Gado is the freshness of the peanut sauce. It is amazing and a bit spicy. The vegetables are cold and juicy, and the flavors of the dish are not too strong.

A great snack when it’s hot outside, Gado Gado is one of those dishes that you can buy from a Jakarta woman who walks the streets of the city with a basket of vegetables and makes her fresh peanut sauce right in front of you. The refreshing taste of the dish is a light start for the meal, and it’s great if you are a vegetarian or even vegan. You may ask to have tofu in it if you want to get protein in addition to a full serving of veggies.

And yes, if you are a student, here is a lunch and dinner special for you: $9.99 for a side of fried rice or noodles with any 2 skewers and a soda – great student discount for tasty authentic meal, something that is worth trying, at least, once.

However, if these Indonesian street delicacies don’t sound too enticing to you, and you crave a burger instead, “Satay Junction” has it for you here as well. Ask for the specialty burger with a homemade patty marinated with Indonesian spices on a bun with peanut sauce. There is a side of Gado Gado that comes with it, all for $10 only. It’s a great lunch special for students who are watching their students savings when it comes to food. It’s a filling, yummy and inexpensive meal you can take a break for in between your classes.

In addition to regular menu, there are specials changing from day to day and curries from various regions of Indonesia. There are also catering services and prix fixe menus. For instance, Pijsttaffel from chef Dodani (which is translated as “rice table”) is a set meal for only $35. You choose the main entry and get an omelette, corn fritters, seasonal greens and yellow rice with it. This “rice table” serves two people, and it’s a great deal for the large amount of food offered. You can also ask for a prix fixe menu for your private party. You pay one set price, and the food keeps coming out from the kitchen until you beg them to stop. The closed events usually take place later in the evening, after 9.30, or can be arranged earlier if it’s a weekday. Catering for office lunches and student parties are cool as well.

simple & tasteful

As the restaurant is quite small, you will not host a large party in it, no more than 15-20 people. “Satay Junction” is a great place for a meal, neat and tiny, almost like a cozy home for flavorful Indonesian food. The design of the place is unpretentious. The tables are mostly for two people, and there are beautiful pictures on the walls that bring about ethnic spirit of Indonesian art. Aside from that, there are no more decorations, which leaves the impression that the restaurant is simple and tasteful.

Ekaterina Lalo

Visit my blog at http://nycvalues.blogspot.com.

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