Letter from Boston
After Hours
By MASAKO YAMADA
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授業の後で
授業はもちろん、ミーティング、グループ研究、行事…と、大学にいる時間のほとんどを物理学のクラスメートたちと過ごしている雅子さん。そこで、自由時間は、なるべくいろいろな人と知り会うよう努めています。学生がそれぞれのアパートで開くホームパーティーは、つきあいを広げるにはいい機会です。
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Most of the new physics students this year are all taking the same three
courses. We also share many hours in meetings, study groups, and
casual departmental functions, so it's obvious that the same 25 or so
people are spending a lot of time together. And it's sad but true that I don't
see much of anybody else.
In spite of BU's size and incredibly varied student body, I rarely
leave the science-oriented areas of campus, and I hardly ever talk to
people outside of my own class. BU is known for having a large Japanese
community (in the hundreds), but I speak less Japanese here than I did at
Wellesley. In fact, during all the time I've spend here so far, I've only spoken
Japanese once.
Even though I complain about my lack of social interaction, my
classmates and I do often socialize during our free time. I don't think I've
spent one weekend yet without getting together with my friends from the
department to do something purely for fun.
For example, I once spent a fine post-exam evening drinking beer and
talking about life with a couple of my classmates at a nearby park. My friends
and I also recently spent a stormy Sunday morning drinking coffee and
chit-chatting, and we have enjoyed many quick meals at the local pizza
parlor. Even though our classes are time-consuming, there still seems
to be no lack of opportunity for us to have fun together.
By the end of our first month of school, students were starting to throw
private "house parties" in their apartments. I've gone to quite a lot of them
already. These parties are among the few opportunities I have to meet people
outside my department. That's because many of my classmates' roommates
are not affiliated with the physics department.
Most of the people at these parties turn out to be international students,
though. Since about 80 percent of physics department students are
internationals, it's not too surprising that many of their friends also
come from other countries.
It's interesting that house parties have a very different feel depending
on who initially plans them. This is true even though many of the same
people show up each time.
At Alexei's party the central activity was dancing. Then Andjelka threw a
party in which the main course was the main course, in other words the
delicious Yugoslavian dinner that she prepared herself. And this weekend
Matt is having a party which will probably feature a keg of beer as its
guest of honor.
Each party is different because the individuals' personalities shine
through. Just because we're all physics students doesn't mean we all
have boring, cookie-cutter personalities! Our differences help keep us
from getting tired of each other even while spending so much time
together.
Still, I have to admit that I particularly enjoyed the party I went to
yesterday, because the group was so different from the typical bunch of
people I've been socializing with lately. My Wellesley friend, Amy, had her
22nd birthday party, and most of her guests were Wellesley students from
the Class of 1996 who still live in the Boston area. This party was
(according to plan) a cocktail/potluck/karaoke party, but more than
anything, it was an opportunity for us to reminisce.
I never even met many of Amy's party guests while I was at Wellesley, so it
was as ironic as it was comfortable for us to get together in this kind of
setting. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, and I've even started to make
plans to throw a party of my own. It should be a party for my current
classmates, my fellow Wellesley alumnae, and my roommates all to come
together.
Shukan ST: Nov. 15, 1996
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