Today was a nice day.
Got up late-ish... but had been pretty productive yesterday - so no problem.
Mooched about till I was picked up by Sophia (a classmate) to go the ISSA Fiesta.
It was a get together of IS people - was supposed to be current students and alumni, as well as staff and faculty - well, only the students turned up (and that was actually considered a good turnout) but it was still good fun. Mexican food and getting to know some more people. I might have found a companion to go play Ultimate with... woo!
After happy hour and some food at La Fiesta, a bunch of us went downtown for the Downtown Getdown which is a bunch of vendors and blocked off streets with live music, beer and food.
It was a fine evening and I hitched a ride with one of my fellow students and three of us went downtown and ran into two more. It was quite relaxed... didn't really do much except talk and hang out and take in the atmosphere but it was quite good.
These Getdowns occur every Friday before a home (American) football game - so perhaps we can make it a regular thing... going there... gives me an excuse to get out and hang out... it's pretty good conversation and I'm being asked to get educated in american ways - especially the beer... hehe... we'll see how that goes!
I did notice a few interesting things there though.
While it was mainly an event connected with football, you had entire families or young cousins/siblings out and about. Beer was being served but no one was being obnoxious. Perhaps the only slight frustration was being let out at the lack of parking (which is a problem in Tallahassee regardless) in the form of elevator humour. That was pretty interesting.
The entire crowd actually reminded me of wandering on Laxmi Road during Ganpati, especially on the last day (not as crowded here though) - vendors, people, activity, buzz - good times.
One of my friends bought some kettle corn - this is pop corn that pop uncovered... becomes rounder for some reason... the guy who was popping the corn was actually break dancing while doing it! We were standing behind him, watching and my companions had a bet going as to what he was dancing to. One guy said Justin Timberlake, another lady said Michael Jackson. She was right! And he just went and got her a free bag of popcorn... we wandered about for a bit... my friends got a few more beers and we went back to our "spot" behind the corn guy and the lady (she's the wife of a classmate) actually got him some water, since she noticed that it was quite hot where he was working and she didn't see him drinking anything.
Somehow, this sort of spontaneity, humanity is not really something I've noticed back home. Something to be remembered, inculcated, emulated perhaps...
Needed to share that.
Some random pics follow:
Got up late-ish... but had been pretty productive yesterday - so no problem.
Mooched about till I was picked up by Sophia (a classmate) to go the ISSA Fiesta.
It was a get together of IS people - was supposed to be current students and alumni, as well as staff and faculty - well, only the students turned up (and that was actually considered a good turnout) but it was still good fun. Mexican food and getting to know some more people. I might have found a companion to go play Ultimate with... woo!
After happy hour and some food at La Fiesta, a bunch of us went downtown for the Downtown Getdown which is a bunch of vendors and blocked off streets with live music, beer and food.
It was a fine evening and I hitched a ride with one of my fellow students and three of us went downtown and ran into two more. It was quite relaxed... didn't really do much except talk and hang out and take in the atmosphere but it was quite good.
These Getdowns occur every Friday before a home (American) football game - so perhaps we can make it a regular thing... going there... gives me an excuse to get out and hang out... it's pretty good conversation and I'm being asked to get educated in american ways - especially the beer... hehe... we'll see how that goes!
I did notice a few interesting things there though.
While it was mainly an event connected with football, you had entire families or young cousins/siblings out and about. Beer was being served but no one was being obnoxious. Perhaps the only slight frustration was being let out at the lack of parking (which is a problem in Tallahassee regardless) in the form of elevator humour. That was pretty interesting.
The entire crowd actually reminded me of wandering on Laxmi Road during Ganpati, especially on the last day (not as crowded here though) - vendors, people, activity, buzz - good times.
One of my friends bought some kettle corn - this is pop corn that pop uncovered... becomes rounder for some reason... the guy who was popping the corn was actually break dancing while doing it! We were standing behind him, watching and my companions had a bet going as to what he was dancing to. One guy said Justin Timberlake, another lady said Michael Jackson. She was right! And he just went and got her a free bag of popcorn... we wandered about for a bit... my friends got a few more beers and we went back to our "spot" behind the corn guy and the lady (she's the wife of a classmate) actually got him some water, since she noticed that it was quite hot where he was working and she didn't see him drinking anything.
Somehow, this sort of spontaneity, humanity is not really something I've noticed back home. Something to be remembered, inculcated, emulated perhaps...
Needed to share that.
Some random pics follow:
If only I could airbrush those people out... I think this has come out pretty nicely.
Why, why, why do people drive these kinds of things?
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