Welcome to the Holy Land

I arrived in Israel just over one week ago, and not much has changed since I left in 2008. I spent twelve miserable hours on an El Al flight from JFK sitting next to a Russian couple who, even by the most liberal mindset, was crazy. The woman apparently took one too many sleeping pills that had an adverse affect on her. She was a mess. Not the hot kind. Popping out of her already too small top and too tight low rider jeans, she spent the majority of the flight winning and finding new ways to use the side of the plane next to her window seat to prop her legs up.

After finally landing, de-planing, getting my luggage, and going through customs, I forewent my usual train and bus trek and instead opted for a cab. Thirty minutes later I was throwing my bags on the floor of my fourth floor walkup apartment. Despite being drained of all life and going through serious caffeine withdrawal, I made my way to the supermarket and pharmacy to pick up some necessities before unpacking and unwinding.

I am finally adjusted to the time zone and more-or-less settled in. I am still sans coffee pot, but at least I finally having a working cell phone and a mountain bike with an awesome bell and basket!

Tomorrow will be spent at the Foreign Office in Jerusalem and touring around the Old City, and Tuesday begins another fun week of classes and studying. Two-hundred pages of reading per class, with six classes in one semester, makes for an interesting amount of sleep and downtime...

The Packing Challenge of 2010!

I'm leaving in just over one week for Israel, and there are a million things to do before my plane taxis down the runway. A lot of planning goes into moving abroad for a year... It seems easy, throw a ton of clothes and stuff into a bag, and you're off. Wrong!

Since beginning college in Fall 2005, I have moved into fourteen different dorms/apartments. Fourteen. From my first freshman dorm to moving into Israeli dorms in Summer 2006 and again in January 2007 and again in September 2007, I have had enough time and trials to perfect the art of "moving."

I'm an expert at everything in the moving process from preparation to execution. But, moving to another country is not as simple as moving to another state. There is no such thing as Bed Bath and Beyond in Israel. And there definitely is no Target, Sephora or Victoria Secret...

I get two pieces of luggage at fifty pounds each to pack a significant portion of my life. From clothing and accessories to essential toiletries and products not sold in Israel, I need to cram it all into two bags that weigh a cumulative of one-hundred pounds or less.

And college is supposedly challenging...

Tomorrow is my last day of work, and I have been laboring away at my "to-do list" for weeks. But, as always, everything depends on the final crunch time. I am spending next weekend between Boston and Bar Habor for a friend's wedding, and the day after I return I catch a red-eye to Tel Aviv.

Maybe I should think about a third piece of luggage.

Cape Cod 2010

BU Students and Their Coffee

A 1999 study researching caffeine consumption in the United States found that the average male coffee drinker consumes 3.1 cups of coffee per day and the average female coffee drinker consumes 1.9 cups of coffee per day. In March 2010, I surveyed 110 Boston University students about their coffee habits. Sixty-two of the one-hundred and ten people surveyed began drinking coffee in college. Among those who started drinking coffee in college is Katrina DeRosa, a Boston University sophomore.

“Caffeine!” Katrina DeRosa, a Boston University sophomore, exclaimed as she reached for her mocha frappuccino.

Katrina is studying for finals and caffeine, found in sodas and coffee-drinks, are her attentive study aids. “I was never a big coffee drinker in high school,” Katrina said, “Between

classes, interning and sorority stuff, I get so tired.” Katrina, like many college students rely on caffeinated beverages to give them an extra boost when they have trouble mustering the energy to tackle one of many college challenges. Late night study sessions and early morning classes are only two components of college students’ hectic schedules.

Finals are one of the most stressful parts of a college semester, especially spring semester. The sun is shinning down, and people have traded in hooded-sweatshirts and jeans for

shorts and tank tops. Yet many college students find themselves in the artificially brightened and not-so-pleasant library.

Until recently, Boston University did not allowed students to bring drinks into the library. Yes. That means students were without caffeine while studying.

“I’m not gunna lie,” Katrina smiled, “I definitely put my jacket over my coffee cup and walked into the library.” In a more serious tone she added, “Seriously, how can they [Boston University] expect us to study without coffee?”

Students dissatisfaction and aggravation with the “no drinks” rule were finally addressed by Boston University administration. In conjunction with the newly formed Office of Sustainability, Boston University is now al

lowing students to bring “spill proof” cups into its libraries.

Students are ecstatic! Boston University’s Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council and Student Union are partnering to jumpstart the university’s new policy, by distributing free coffee to students in Mugar Library during finals week. Students can fill up their coffee cups on the first floor of Mugar beginning at 5PM on April 30th. Coffee will be available from 5PM to 2AM every day until May 5th.

“It’s brilliant,” Katrina DeRosa remarked. “Someone in the administration finally realized that college students need

caffeine to study!”

With four Starbucks, three Dunkin Donuts, and several privately owned coffee shops on its campus, it is unsurprising that students are constantly refiling their coffee mugs.

However, do college students use coffee as a crutch? "Absolutely," DeRosa said. "But, don't forget about soda and energy drinks..."

Coffee Flash Graphic

Coffee (There is sound!)

Note: You need Adobe Flash to view this piece.

LEAP

This is a piece I produced about Boston University's LEAP program.

Fire in Boston Apartment Building

BOSTON - A fire broke out in a seventh-floor unit of Beacon Towers, a 10-story apartment building located at 483 Beacon Street.

Rescue personnel evacuated residents of Beacon Towers and surrounding buildings beginning 1:45PM Wednesday, April 7th.

At least ten fire trucks and 180 firefighters were on scene for the 9-alarm fire.The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Three victims were brought to Massachusetts General Hospital, and a fourth victim was brought to Tufts New England Medical Center. Two of the four victims are firefighters.

Built in 1899, Beacon Towers has 69 units and 174 residents, but no sprinklers. Officials estimate the fire caused about $3.5 million in damage.

Officials gave the "all-clear" at 7:45PM. Mayor Tom Menino said residents could enter the building to retrieve personal belongings, but residents were not permitted to remain in the building overnight.

Fire Breaks out in Boston Apartment Building

BOSTON - A fire broke out in a seventh-floor unit of Beacon Towers, a 10-story apartment building located at 483 Beacon Street. Rescue personnel evacuated residents of Beacon Towers and surrounding buildings starting at 1:45PM. At least ten fire trucks and 180 firefighters were on scene for the 9-alarm fire.The cause of the fire is still unknown.

Three victims were brought to Massachusetts General Hospital, and a fourth victim was brought to Tufts New England Medical Center. Two of the four victims are firefighters.
Built in 1899, Beacon Towers has 69 units and 174 residents, but no sprinklers. Officials estimate the fire caused about $3.5 million in damage.

Officials gave the "all-clear" at 7:45PM. Mayor Tom Menino said residents could enter the building to retrieve personal belongings, but residents were not permitted to remain in the building overnight.

Boston Baseball

I'm just a Yankees fan living in a Boston Red Sox World...
This is a Man On The Street (MOS) I produced about baseball.

Profile of Toscanini's Ice Cream

This is a profile I produced about Toscanini's Ice Cream Shop in Cambridge, Massachusetts.