My dorm, Burton-Conner, has a great view of the both domes from just outside the front entrance. This was highly convenient this morning because when I walked out of my dorm to head to Physics I noticed something strange.
What are those pokey things on the small dome? I hastened my way towards physics and while passing the student center I realized what they were.
Birthday candles! Last night hackers snuck onto the small dome and installed giant birthday candles. Happy Birthday J. Arthur Random! Kudos hackers, well done.
Now, for the advice. The summer before I came to MIT I spent working full time and trying to get ready for life on the east coast. This meant learning about weather, types of stores that would be there, and what I needed to take to my dorm. I was discussing this with Sara '11, MA born and raised, and quickly began to realize that Boston has a bunch of random little quirks about it that nobody but a resident would ever know. That's cool, Boston people are unique and have special traditions, but it's not so fun for the tourist and the non-native because all it takes is mispronouncing Worcester once and you're instantly red-flagged. Anywho, Sara was explaining some stuff to me and she mentioned a couple of songs. I believe her words were:
"If you're going to live in Boston you need to listen to Tessie and I'm Shipping Up to Boston. A lot."
I'd never heard of these two songs, so I downloaded them and proceeded to listen to them. A lot. I'm glad I did, because it's one of the few Bostonian things that actually feel like I know about over a lot of my classmates. Granted, by now we've all listened to Dropkick Murphys (the band that plays the two songs) but at the beginning of the year I felt special.
So, prefrosh, or anybody who ever plans on coming to Boston, here's my advice. Listen to the Dropkick Murphys's "Tessie" and "I'm Shipping up to Boston." A lot. I've included some YouTube videos in case you're too lazy to go download these songs.
I'm Shipping Up To Boston
Tessie
Actually, the other day I was heading off to class and as I was leaving the dorm I realized that I was being very Boston. Dressed for cold, I was listening to Tessie on my iPod
and drinking a World Series edition of a coke.
That's all, have a nice day.
[Post updated to include information about the hack, thanks for tips in the comments]
Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)
Snively, you've always got some good advice, thanks for that. As a question, how'd working full time after your senior year work out? Did you find any extra money you (hopefully) earned useful; or, at least, worth the time involved in working? Do you work while at MIT as well? (I haven't heard anything along those lines)
I'm planning on working as well, but I'm debating just how much.
Posted by: AwayfromHome on February 29, 2008
Posted by: 0 on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Paul on February 29, 2008
I worked 2 jobs actually, all summer. I had my full time job M-F from 9-6 and then I worked at a carousel every Sunday from 10-6. I'm incredibly glad I did, not only did it make the summer fly by (which you'll be begging for when you know that MIT is coming) but it also set me up with a couple thousand dollars for college. It's REALLY nice to have spending money here, it makes Saturday trips for dinner, random online purchases, and other expenditures easier to swallow.
As for working here, I technically have two jobs (but one of them doesn't really count). I have a UROP in the Media Lab where I work 8 hours a week and I'm a blogger. I blog from wherever I happen to be so that's really nice. There are all sorts of things you can do for money on campus, and most people take advantage of them some how. Nearly everybody is being paid to do something, it's just not a typical job like you may think.
Posted by: Snively on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Morgan '12? on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Khaled Saad on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Justin on February 29, 2008
Posted by: OmarA on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Sondy '07 G on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Ozok on February 29, 2008
</rant>
(Sorry, I'm having a rough day, the snark is on "high")
Posted by: Laura on February 29, 2008
Posted by: J. Arthur Random on February 29, 2008
and what with the world series this year and all, turns out it was pretty good advice =)
Posted by: Sara '11 on February 29, 2008
Posted by: Becca on February 29, 2008
...although I do have to think twice whenever I read it - I sound it out first then switch over. I don't know what's worse though - having strange English like that, or living where everything is named after native american words - Ronkonkoma, Patchogue, Nissequogue, etc.
Should I acquire the Boston accent or keep a unique Long Island (or Lawn Gisland) accent?
Posted by: Davorama on February 29, 2008
How about for a future blog entry, you could interview a bunch of students, including seasoned seniors, and write about some of the more lenient classes that won't necessarily break a student's sweat? Say, a course that won't have you studying at 4:30 in the morning? It's kind of daunting to always hear about the difficulty of MIT and the ever-present risk of failing classes, esp. since people know that already. It's MIT, obviously.
Just an idea.
Posted by: Anonymous Contributor on March 1, 2008
Posted by: Me on March 1, 2008
Posted by: V on March 1, 2008
Posted by: Grace '11 on March 1, 2008
Posted by: E. Rosser on March 1, 2008
Posted by: leonard korir on March 4, 2008
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