We all agree that Cornell is extremely stressing with work load and the difficulty of class. Yet, we will also agree on the fact that Cornell is very diverse and this diversity makes its beauty. Unfortunately when talking about diversity in Cornell, I am not talking about the population even though there are students from various countries. I am mostly talking about the environment. Cornell have so much diverse spaces, various building with different stories, and also the waterfalls. In addition of all, we have the diversity of species found in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Even though it is located very far from the campus, this place is worth the trip. They have various type of birds with beautiful plumage. I am not a bird person so I can only comment on how beautiful the plumage is. If when you visit you have the chance on entering one of the room at the back, you should look for the one with dead reptiles. You will see a diverse range of snakes with different size and colors. Don’t worry they are all dead. In addition, they even have skeletons I believe. I did not see as much as I would like to so I will plan to go there again by the end of next year as well as to the museum.
Author Archives: Eurika Nzouatcham
Never get enough of it—-Cornell is truly beautiful
The first time I came in this campus, I was strike by its beauty. Plus, the sun was still out. The buildings were ancient but original. The tour next to Uris library was like a Harry Potter’s movie. In sum I felt in love with the campus. Obviously, I did not yet know what was waiting for me after. One of my plans was to visit the gorges because I heard so much about. I could not for a long time due to the weather and obviously it was colder and not safe there. Then the weather got better, and we had the opportunity to finally visit those gorges.
They are huge and extremely beautiful especially when you stay very close and some of the water falls on you. The gorges are not only located in one place but they are interconnected. I like the one next to Schwartz. There is a place next to the falls where you can sit and takes pictures even though some water can still falls on you. The gorges are great for morning workout or relaxation. The sound of the falls is loud but peaceful, at least for me. I think Rose house should plan another visit to the gorges so that everyone can relax and discuss while visiting. Personally, I will sign up again for it.
What we have to go through for a better life.
The movie Bread and Roses is a very interesting movie that recreates the reality of immigrants. Although the entire movie presents important information, I was mostly stroke by the beginning of the movie. Immigrants are working hard to support their family and also to allow their relatives to leave their countries. They deal with traders for the transport. They fight to come to a country with the dream of a better life in a country I am sure they know a lot about. At least me I did not.
Given they come as illegal, they cannot have proper work. Instead, they work for someone who has control over them because of their status. In the movie, there was a women who cries saying that she needs the job after she was fired for a stupid reason. She cries because she has a family that depends on her. Others need those jobs in order to finance their education for a real future. Indeed the difficult transportation and the crappy jobs are just few in the list of all the obstacles that immigrants have to go through. They also have to grow to the expensive education system, if allowed, without any financial support. All these because of a better life for them and their progeny. Sincerely, I GIVE MY RESPECT to all immigrants or family of immigrants!
The power of women.
“Hidden figures” is an incredible movie because not only does it say the story of the first ship sent in space, but it also talks about the women behind this invention. The message I got from this movie is that women are very important in this world, and it is about time that we give them the respect they deserve. If those women were not there, space exploration will not be what it is today. They were the bones of NASA. They did not give up instead they demand to be heard by men.
Another important message is the strength behind collaboration. Even though they had the intelligence and perseverance, they became stronger when they allied their force for a common goal. It was so powerful to see how they progressively changed people opinion and beliefs toward them.
However it is sad to see that despite all these years women still do not get what they deserve. They are still underrepresented in powerful positions. Women are underpaid and disrespected. The government still does not consider women’s issues as real issues. We still have a long way to go because all those injustice are worse for black women.
Hidden figure is a great movie, yet how many of those do we need in order to make society understand the reality about women?
Feedback on the “Rose Family”
At the beginning of this semester, I found that the program lacked interesting events such as talks we had on the previous semesters. After the talk with Dr. Hill last Wednesday, I realized that I had forgotten that these events require funds, and the house might not have enough money. However, they find interesting way to balance the situation. I applaud their new initiatives with the high table, the movie nights and the predictability in the schedule. Meanwhile, a student mentioned that it may be better if there was a rotation between events so that students can attend diverse events due to their schedule. I think it is very good idea.
Another comment I can make to the Rose house compared to its sisters, it is that I feel like Rose is too formal most of the time. It is good to be serious and elegant sometimes, but I also think that maybe we should plan more fun stuffs or events to do like play times between residency, comedy movie, or others. We already have a lot of formality in class. Usually at home we should relax away from books.
Except it, I love my Rose building especially Lyon hall. I love this ancestral buildings that are extremely gorgeous, but I am very curious to find the secret elevator and room that is inside the Lyon Hall. It actually can be a fun treasure-discovery game in which we learn about the buildings and the Rose House history.
Any plans for the summer or Next year?
Urban semester is a great program organized in Cornell. It is designed for students with various majors: pre med, business, law, etc. ;but given I am a pre med I will mostly focus on that. I met with the responsible of the program last week, Sam Beck. He is a very funny and chill person. He informed us about the program.
Basically, students will live in a university owned building, and they will spend all their time in the medical school. They will follow physicians and attend interesting procedures such as surgery. In addition, they have some classes which look more like discussion classes. The program count as a 15 courses credits.
I really like this program because it has a different teaching method. It allows students to truly learn about medschool and the life of medical students. Indeed students will be assimilated to others students and will interact with a lot of professional. They will have the chance to find mentors, but most of all they will live in the exciting city of NYC.
So if you have not yet find a plan for your future in Cornell, check this program out. I will definitely do so.
What’s life?
Last week, I attend a workshop led by Nicholas Carbonaro. Basically we had papers and color pencil in our disposition, and we were suppose to on the paper what we were thinking, feeling or seeing. It was a sort of relaxing practice. I had to confess it; I had no idea whatsoever about what I was supposed to do or what I was doing. I first start drawing and writing whatever came in my head, then without even realizing my paper turn into a plan for all the task I had to do for school. I just realize that in a 1h period, I only put my mind away from school just for 10 -15 minutes.
We spend so much time walking back and forth between home and school that we do not even have the occasion to relax. When was the last time you got a time for yourself? When was the last time you had the occasion to sit and enjoy the nice weather? Is it that life?
Interesting Meeting
Last Wednesday, I had the honor to meet the artist Nicholas Carbonaro during the house dinner. We had an enjoyable conversation with some Grf and his friends. We talked about everything but not only art- related. I even learned that he is also a hair dresser here in Ithaca.
Before I get into the details about our conversation, I talk a bit about this concept of high table. It is very interesting. It gives students the opportunities to talk with grf and professors around a relaxing and nice dinner. I truly enjoyed it. Everyone was so comfortable. It is true that last semester we could still have the opportunity to discuss at the table with grfs but I do not think that it was as easy as with the high table. I will really recommend students to sign up for this high table spots. In addition, they also give credit for the rose scholars.
Regarding my conversation with Nicholas, we discussed on his work and his inspiration. I confessed that one of the painting was based on all the surgery he got throughout his life. I do not recall exactly the amount of surgery procedures, but I remember that he had several. At the end, we finished by discussing and criticizing movies. As I said, interesting meeting.
Dear X people
February 8th, 2017.It was the first day I learn about him, James Baldwin. First I was skeptical to go at this event, but I ended up going because I had to. Personally, I do not regret my choice. I actually felt in love with him, and I wanted to read more of his works. This documentary was very powerful I like the fact that the mixed the past and the present and wrapped everything with his voice throughout the movie. It was a powerful documentary, but I was mostly impressed with what he said at least some of them. I do not agree with everything, but I was glad that he shared some of my beliefs. For this reason, I felt the need to share more of my thought here, but first I would like to warn any sensitive person not to read the rest of this post. If you do not feel like you will read with an open mind, I would advise you already not to read the next line because I do not guarantee you that it will not challenge your beliefs. It took me a while to write this draft because I do not want to seem judgy at all. This is my opinion feel free to add a comment. If somehow it upsets you, I am sorry but I recall that I advised you not to read if you were sensitive.
I am a black woman born and raised in an African country; however, I was not aware of my skin color until I landed to America. That is when I learned that it was a thing to “be black”. I knew the story of the slave in America. I knew what the black community in America was enduring every days, but I guess at some point I thought it was getting better. I have never gotten electrocuted by a cop because I am black. Neither then I got beaten for my skin color. I already faced racism however, but my point is that my point of view of this situation might be different than someone who were born and raised here. Nevertheless it does not change the facts that I am black, that I am now living in the US, and that it destroys me to see this situation it still exists. In my opinion, the fault is shared between the opponents. They are all stuck in the past, and as long as they refuse to let it goes this situation will perpetuate from generations to generations. It is exhausting,