Chinese food, friends, and Golden Globes

Last night, a small group of friends and I got some Chinese food from Chan's Peking (a Vassar favorite) and gathered in our living room to watch the Golden Globes. A dorky night, admittedly, but it gave us a chance to catch up after a long Winter Break before the beginning of second semester classes on Wednesday.

As seniors, most Vassar students no longer live in the standard Vassar dormitories. Instead, they move into Senior Housing. Senior Housing is still on Vassar's campus, and only a short 5-minute walk from Main Building, the College Center, and the academic buildings. But located toward the peripheries of the campus, these housing areas allow students to feel more independence in their living situations. Students can choose three or four of their closest friends to live with, and then choose from one of three residential areas -- the Terrace Apartments (where I live), the Town Houses, or the South Commons. Each house has its own kitchen, bathroom, and common areas, and students have their own private, fully furnished room. During senior year, many students leave the traditional meal plan, which they enjoyed for their first three Vassar years, and do their own cooking in their houses. Of course you can always add money to your VCASH account on your VCARD and eat in the Retreat or ACDC if you don't have time to cook.

Senior Housing is an interesting shift from more traditional dormitory life -- a nice step between living in the 'real world' and living in a college dorm. One of the great things about it is the informality of getting together with friends. In dorms, you sometimes have to make a strong effort to see people out of their rooms. But in apartment-style housing, you're virtually guaranteed to run into friends at some point during the day, break into a conversation, and have an impromptu Chinese food and Golden Globes party. (Naturally I spent the entire Golden Globes cheering for the Vassar alumni celebrities in the audience, such as renowned director Noah Baumbach '91 and unbelievable actress Meryl Streep '71).

Anyway, at the very least, Senior Housing gives you a mini support group of close friends who are also going through the trials and tribulations of writing senior theses...