Thanksgiving

Man, I love this holiday. Family and food, what could be better?

Five things I am particularly thankful for this time around:

• To have a group of people who I sometimes can't stand living with but can't imagine living without. <3 HKKLZ
• The relationships I've grown through Sinfonia and MelUDees. These have been life changing in come instances. I love all y'all.
• My sister. Because she's just...awesome.
• The opportunities I've been afforded since high school to travel and explore. Italy, Aotearoa, Australia, Fiji & Ireland were all incredible and such different experiences which all built and strengthened relationships with some of you.
• Being able to embrace life with no hesitations and no regrets. If you haven't tried this yet, you probably should.

Thanks to each of you reading and everyone in my life. I've been shaped by you.

- Liam

I just prefer coffee...

The Tea Party fascinates me. And I have some important questions for you:

1. What is it about President Obama that prompted your "battle against the establishment"? Bush didn't mess up enough? Clinton? Why Obama?

2. If you're against the establishment, why are you promoting candidates to run under the Republican name? Are the Republicans not part of the establishment? If the majority of people are in favor of your politics, why not run under the Tea Party as a separate party?

3. How is your movement different from any other "caught in the moment" movement? If people chose Obama because they were just caught up in the hysteria, how is your party different?

Just wondering.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

I'm really horrible at this whole blogging thing.

But now that my preperation for Teach for America is virtually over, I will hopefully have some more time to spend here.

I've discovered something interesting about the month of October. It happens in both politics and in baseball. Now I know what you're thinking: what could baseball and politics possibly have in common? Well here it is: people who didn't care in the past 11 months all of a sudden start caring. I don't think half the people sporting Phillies jerseys or Yankees caps really cared about these teams even a month ago. And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's a huge silent following to both of these teams that really only awakens when something good is happening. The problem is (and here's where the big link to politics is) is that people talk as if the completely understand what's going on. If you haven't been following the teams for the season, don't start sprouting knowledge now. And stop quoting ESPN without giving them some sort of credit.

And as for you new politics buffs, please stop giving your opinion. Do not comment on the health care bill or Obama's tax plan or simply any other political issue if you don't have the facts. Yes I'm sure you got your information from a legitimate source. Fox News or CNN, however are far too biased to have given you the real information. And those ridiculous emails people are sending you about Obama hiring illegal immigrants to work at the White House or the government sending foreign aid to sweatshops in North Korea? They're probably fake. I'd bet they're fake. So stop sending them to everyone you know and quoting them in your facebook statuses. Get your facts straight, and then let's debate some politics.

It's my bandwagon, so stop jumping on it.

- Liam

Busy busy busy.....

What is it college students that lets us run on so little sleep?

I feel like everyone I know has a full course load, participates in at least 5 activities outside of class, holds leadership roles in these activities and still manages to have a social life. How is it that we are excited by high stress, no sleep and the feeling that we're never going to get anything done? And we don't stop ourselves. We just keep adding more and more to our schedules because, hey, that's not that much extra work. But when we do that ten times, we're now bogged down in our own choices.

Another conundrum: when a friend asks me to take ballroom dance classes with her, which will add 1-2 hours a week to my already crazy schedule, I'm all for it. But when we're asked to form 2 hour study groups for our classes, this seems like a hassle. Is it because the dancing is social? Or because I don't want to conform to the rigidity of an academic setting? Psych majors, please analyze and get back to me.

And with that, I've got to leave. If you don't understand my busy schedule, read this blog entry again.

- Liam

During my travels to New Zealand, I wanted nothing more than to experience all that was culturally different than America. Learning some of the Maori language, developing a taste for a flat white and enjoying some of NZ's extreme sports were some things I simply had to do before I left the country. However, my choices seem tame compared to those of Marika.

Marika the newest addition to the 2010 UDMB Altos. Marika is from Germany and will be studying at Delaware for the 2010-2011 academic year. She landed in Philadelphia on Sunday and on Monday morning decided to take a walk to the music building to find out about ensembles. She heard the MB practicing and asked about joining "the band practicing now." Next thing I know, I'm driving this German exchange student up to the dining hall explaining how the band rehearses and performs during the season. Here's someone who has never even seen a Marching Band perform and she wants to be in one? Does she know what she's getting herself into!?

After watching our rehearsal for 2 hours, she was hooked. Now she's fitting in perfectly within the alto section. She's got great marching technique for a rookie and has a fantastic attitude. She tried desperately to get out of International Orientation but in the end wasn't able to do so. Her dedication is amazing and her spirit is fantastic. I am so happy to be helping her be part of an incredibly unique American experience.

Prost,

- Liam

Stories of Stupidity

To keep me amused over the summer, I'll be listing some stories from work that make me want to issue licenses to go out to eat. Whether it's complete ignorance of culinary terms, drink names or just plain English, it's these kinds of people Here's a few from my first couple weeks back.

• From a woman who ordered a Long Island Iced Tea: "This drink is really strong. How much alcohol is in this?!" Seriously lady? If you don't know what's in the drink, ask. Or don't order it. Just because it's called "Iced Tea" doesn't mean it's going to come out tasting like McDonald's Sweet Tea. (Disclaimer: McDonald's Sweet Tea is amazing and this post is in no way meant to discredit it's deliciousness.)
• From a woman ordering the Fiery Shrimp Linguini, made with chili oil: "This dish is really spicy. I don't think I can handle it" Seriously? SERIOUSLY? Thank you for wasting food. If only you had opened your eyes and read what was in the dish. If you can't read, either ask what something means, or stop complaining.
• From a woman who ordered a mojito: "Um, there's lettuce in my drink." No, ma'am, that's mint. A crucial ingredient in any mojito. The only positive of this customer is that once we explained that it was mint, she felt really embarrassed and laughed at herself. Thank god.
• Finally, thank you to the people who have come in faking gluten allergies. Some people actually have a condition that doesn't allow them to eat gluten. Please don't mock their disease by forcing the kitchen to go through hoops for your entrée only for me to catch you eating some of your date's fried calamari. You don't have to lie in order for us to give you that salad without the noodles. All you have to do is ask.

There's the first couple people who have been denied Dining Licenses.

More as soon as the stupid arrives...

- Liam

What to do...

Yesterday I had my playing exam for Symphonic Band. I wasn't expecting much to happen, since I was fairly confident on all of my music. After playing a lyrical section of John Philip Sousa's People Who Live in Glass Houses, Sarv (director of the UDMB and Symphonic Band), asked me what I'm planning on doing with my life. After telling her I just wasn't sure, we had a great conversation about the frustrations of the bureaucracy of education in the United States. My primary plan of action has been to combat these issues post-graduation. But this interaction with Sarv brings me back to a constant question I have: "Why do I want to do this?" People hate change. They love the sound of it (2008 United States Presidential Election), but they shudder when it actually happens (2010 Health Care Reform Bill). Most of the people in this country are apathetic when it comes to Education. They either think the system works or they have accepted that it doesn't. How can I possibly change this mindset when people just don't care enough? Fixing the educational system doesn't result in an immediate economic payoff. Fixing the educational system doesn't immediately make our borders more secure. Fixing the educational system doesn't immediately improve our lives. And no one is patient enough to wait for these positive changes to occur. So what am I doing? Why am I planning on jumping into a pool that has no easy exit? I love a challenge, but this just sounds like a problem where I'll never be satisfied with the solution.

So I'm scrapping that. I'll sing for money in the NYC Subways until Food Network lets me have a show. Or until I win the lottery...

Making a Difference

So this is about a week later than I wanted it to be, but here it is anyway.

Two weeks ago, I walked just a few blocks off campus to Newark Manor, one of the retirement homes in the area to sing for some of the retirees there with some of the brothers of Phi Mu Alpha. I cannot express how amazing it is to serenade these people. Upon singing For He's a Jolly Good Fellow, one of the men was dancing around in his wheelchair with the biggest smile on his face. He was in his late 80s and not doing too well health-wise but our song lifted his spirits, at least for that day. The joy that our simple act of singing could bring these people was incredible. The smiles on their faces was enough to keep me going through the rest of the day.

Luckily for me, I was able to touch even more lives with music that weekend. On Sunday, the UD Symphonic Band performed with the Academy of Lifelong Learning Band. This band's average age is somewhere around 80. Some members have been playing their instrument since the 1940s, some for only about 2 years. They played their set for us, then we played our set for them and then we played two pieces together. Was it perfect sounding? No. Did it have the most complex parts? No. Was it still an incredible experience? YES. The A.L.L. Band members were mixed in with us and we shared the experience together as one unit.

Final Point: Music is incredible. And you're never too young to appreciate it, or even make some yourself. Music rocks, and so do seniors... :)