LC 14

Not really sure what this blog’s supposed to be about, so I’ll just write about the registration workshop. Honestly, I have heared everything that woman has said about FIVE times already, but regardless, I wouldn’t mind hearing it another ten times because its so easy to forget what your requirements are or what you should take when dealing wth the stress of getting into ANY class! I’m not happy about such late registration because I wanted to be in the same class as everyone, but I doubt those classes will be open. Whatever, not much I can do about it now except try to make a schedule I’m okay with. I’ve made like 4 mock schedules already but I’m not happy with them. I’ll just have to keep working at it.

I’m happy freshman seminar is almost over because staying that late on Weds is brutal. But I’m definitely going to miss Analucia 🙂 Thanks for everything, you’ve been a really big part of helping me adjust to Baruch, and I appreciate it so much.

First off, I have a great dislike for museums, so I wasn’t really all that thrilled to be there.  I was also kind of hungry, cold and tired, but anyway, I guess the museum was okay.  I thought it was kind of interesting how every floor had different sort of “themes.” Also, the swirly stairs were cool. That was irrelevant. Though, honestly, I did not understand what the basis of the museum, like the main theme. The Buddhism part was tiring for me, because during the summer, I had spent a lot of time at Buddhist temples, so it was really nothing new to me.  There was also a lot of other religious pieces there, which I did not care for much, but I’m not hating on the religion. It was just not my type of art.

I have to admit, I’m not really a fan of museums…I have been to the Museum of Natural History a couple of times due to past trips, it’s always so quiet and all. But, the Rubin of Museum of Art actually surprised me. First, I expected no music when I went two days ago. There was a small duet of violins on the first floor of the museum! I loved violins even though I can’t play one~ Second, museums are usually very bland in color, like whites and greys and light colors. Once again, this museum proved me wrong. I guess you could say I’m impressed by the Rubin Museum ^^

The one piece of art that really captured my attention was a ice sculpture piece by Atta Kim. It was part of  “The Monologue of Ice Series.” Unfortunately I was unable to take a picture of it, but it was so pretty~ There were so many shades of blue and whites, and even a few reds. The message that Atta Kim was trying to make with this melting ice sculpture was that material form never lasts forever, but the thoughts and essence would remain. Ice “disappears” and creates water vapor and liquid water, which is the essence of life. Atta Kim, with this picture, gives a challenge to immortality. Is immortality really something a person should desire?

There was also a little sculpture involving two deers and a wheel. It is called the “Wheel of Dharma and Deer.” Apparently, it is the symbol of the Buddha’s teachings. After Buddha achieved enlightenment, he began to teach his first lessons, which are collectively called the Wheel of Dharma. The deer represent the Buddha’s peaceful presence that made the animals come and listen to his first teaching.

Finally, this museum really made me think about AP World History…I had it during sophmore year in high school. The terms that were present on the descriptions of many pieces of art made me remember some of the history there. Shiva, Bodhisattva, and Vishnu were just a few of those that I saw. It was very nice to see that those history notes that I took had an impact on what I saw that day. I didn’t think I would see so much art on Hinduism here!

Although I am an atheist, I am very impressed at how elaborate and intricate the details are to many religions. Religions have played a very important role in many lives over the years; the people have honored their gods with so much respect! It kind of makes me wonder what has happened to today’s religion… I mean, why are there so many people trying to convert others to join their religious beliefs? Isn’t your faith in your god(s) good enough?

Oh, I managed to get a little picture of the “Wheel of Dharma and Deer” here:

I went to the rubin museum yesterday. I did not know that the art would all be based on the ancient himalayas. I didn’t know that it was also a comparison of two cultures.  At first I was not really impressed. I thought it was rather repetitve even though each floor had a different theme. Some of the art I didn’t understand or agree with in terms of religion. However, I’m not going to knock someone else’s culture. It wasn’t really my taste in art but I appreciated the concepts alltogether. I think it’s good that Baruch really pushes this type of stuff because you get to understand other cultures and you become a well-rounded individual. And that’s what I would like to be.

Lets me start off with this…I’m not a big fan of museums? I find them boring and I don’t understand the artwork. But going with our classmates wasn’t that bad. The ruben museum wasn’t that bad actually. We went after freshman seminar and once I got there I got really tired (or maybe I’m just lazy?). But I still wanted to look around. To tell you the truth the first thing I wanted to do was to go to the cafe because I smelled Indian food and I was hungry but I knew we had to walk around since the museum closes at 7pm. We decided to start from the top floor(6th floor) and work our way down. I had many different favorite parts. One of my favorite was the 5th floor (I think?) where it was about christianity and buddhism. Generally I get interested in things that are in my life so as a christian I particularly liked this floor. Another thing that interested me was the Time Square portrait. I liked how it showed a picture of time square empty but there were many sparks. The description said it took many shots of time square. On the same floor, another thing that interested me wasn’t a portrait or a painting. But it was a display of grains? There were many plates of grain on the floor and then one plate had yellow golden dust on it (I don’t remember what it was). But yup…It was fun overall in general. I liked the giftshop and there were many cute things there.

Here is a picture of Jesus performing a miracle. I thought it was interesting so I took a picture hehehehhe 😀

honestly, i did not read the book, but i have paid attention during the discussions that we had about the book. Charles Li is an admiral man. It is hard to believe that he has gone through so much in his life compared to someone like me. Through his book, one can see the transition of time when the world use to be surrounded by the clouds of war. Overall, the workshop wasnt that much appealing, but it was worth seeing Charles Li in person.

this may be a little late, but better than never. the workshop wasnt that much exciting because my economic teacher back in high school already taught most of it. However, one point that she mentioned in high school is that, to not follow the standard way of resume writing, but to make it stand out in its unique way, but not being fancy with design or colors. the workshop helped in clarifying the right way to approach the hiring managers in our resume. overall, the workshop was a great review and helpful in preparing my next resume.

The other day we had a workshop from an advisement officer who explained the whole process to us. It was helpful and I was grateful for it. I hope I get the classes I want and good professors. My registration is so late but it’s all good. Anyway, the next semester is approaching and that means no more frosh… too bad.

Let me be the first to say, it’s not that bad…The museum is actually great, my boyfriend and I went today and we loved it.

I admired a lot of the work- like one of the floors had pieces of religious art, both Christian and Buddhist, and it showed some connections between them. That was Abraham’s favorite part. The intricate detailing of the tapestries, the paintings, the sculptures, etc. was unbelievable.  

My favorite part, however, was the more contemporary art on the 4th floor (definitely check it out). One artist ( I think his name was Atta Kim) carved an ice sculpture of Buddha meditating. He used ice to reflect man’s desire for immortality, and how its so “unattainable.” The artist took several pictures of the ice sculpture as it melted into water and vapor, as it presented existance through non-existance. I don’t explain the idea very well, but it was veryy abstract, and it got me thinking about my own existance, and how non-permanent it is. It kind of got me thinking about how to make the msot of my existance too, like to live each day as if its my last.

Another work by Atta Kim was a group of pictures of Times Square. The artist took about 10,000 pictures of the city and superimposed each picture onto the other. When looking at the picture, you see buildings and you see the sky, but when you look at the traffic or when you look at the people, they are all a blur. The artist did this to show how quickly things change, how nothing is ever permanent, even in an area as well-established as times Square.

At first I was a bit uncomfortable thinking about the theme these two works illustrated. It bothered me that everyone in the pictures became a blur, and how Buddha was melting, almost as if to say that no one has any effect on the world around them. But as I analyzed them more, my perception of these two works changed and I gained a different understanding of the concept the artist was trying to protray.

The common theme between these two works of art really struck me as a deep concept that I don’t fully understand, but its one that I can relate to.  The portrait of Times Square made me see the instability in one’s life, and how you cannot escape it. The ice sculpture personified man’s hunger for immortality and the impossibility to obtain it. Things are constantly fluctuating and changing, and one that dwells on the past will just get left behind. What I took from these portraits is that you need to look ahead and keep going and make the most out of everything.

I learned that I don’t know much about other cultures; all of the religious artwork was new and foreign to me, but I found it very interesting. I like opening up to new ideas and new cultures, that part excited me a lot. But I was most affected by the artwork I wrote about. Overall, I think I got a better understanding of Atta Kim’s perspective of life, and I will take that with me.

HERE’S LIVING PROOF!

The career workshop was okay nothing to exciting , everything there that was shown is common knowledge, hopefully some of the louder kids that day may benefit from that even though they probably weren’t paying attention. What i did like is that they told us of the career center and the job opportunities that are offered through our school. I definitely will take advantage of the starr career search program if there an opportunity to get ahead in life don’t see why not take it. In the future tho i believe they should include something other than the basics, remember we are in Baruch if we don’t know simple stuff like that we shouldn’t have been accepted, i recommend a more advanced info seminar perhaps listing what types of companies are interested in what types of students based on majors ,gpas, and classes taken , something we don’t know that will spark interest. Maybe even like a tree branching out the different possibilities Baruch has to offer. anyways stefan out.