stanford-quarterly-reflection-04.md (4301B)
1 +++ 2 title = "Stanford Quarterly Reflection (Y1Q4)" 3 date = 2024-12-25 4 [extra] 5 type = "post" 6 +++ 7 8 I continue to set new records in how long-overdue something can be. 9 Nevertheless, I refuse to let this summery meditation slip away. 10 11 <!-- more --> 12 13 I have written already at length about my [internship]. This can, for 14 the most part, take the place of the usual section on academics. Too 15 much time has passed for me to recall any other projects I pursued that 16 might be grouped in with my work to some alternative "productivity" 17 category. I met with [Adam Nash]? But that wasn't really work. It's hard 18 to say. 19 20 I lived in two apartments. The first was in the Marina: it had a little 21 backyard that was wonderful to sit in, and heated floors in the bathroom 22 that made walking around in the early mornings significantly more 23 pleasant. The second was in Cow Hollow: it was masterfully decorated, 24 had the most excellent kitchen I've ever lived with, and was situated 25 literally one block from Union Street. I think I've come to witness, 26 within my lifetime, the fall of Union Street and the rise of Chestnut, 27 and now the rebirth of Union as Chestnut grows stale. Which is to say 28 that though both were lovely, the latter apartment was a far more lively 29 neighborhood. 30 31 Living somewhere, for the first time, on my own and with a kitchen, I 32 was able to participate in perhaps my favorite tradition: Shabbat. I 33 hosted about seven in all, dashing out of work early on Fridays to the 34 grocery store and then to the stove to throw together the week's menu by 35 the time the guests would arrive. I had high-minded and silly 36 [inspirations] in mind while throwing them, and they largely lived up to 37 those expectations. I placed an inordinate amount of weight on and thus 38 care toward crafting cover images and descriptions for each [Partiful] 39 invitation. And I was honored that people came! To have had you eat of 40 my food and drink of my drink and be together in one place, laughing 41 late into the evening, was the greatest reward and made me quite happy. 42 I am also particularly fond of one story, in which Zach arrived an hour 43 late—he drove up from Stanford—and came through the door to hear, 44 "You're just in time! We're bringing out the food now. Come sit!" I was 45 not always the most punctual. 46 47 I also got away ever so briefly to New York, Oregon, and Mexico. I spent 48 the first running around seeing everyone who was available—which meant 49 quite a few people, given that Stanford basically splits in two between 50 San Francisco and New York for the summer. In Oregon I lived in lakes 51 and rivers, which was great because it might be impossible to have a bad 52 time in the water. In Mexico, I had costras de queso for the first time, 53 which was a life-changing experience I can highly recommend. The ant 54 larvae at La Gruta were a life-changing experience I am less 55 enthusiastic about. 56 57 Of course, people were the most influential in making my summer 58 wonderful. My whole family came to every Shabbat, baking the challot and 59 creating amusing Partiful personas. Daniel and Emily were on the couch 60 of my apartment waiting for me when I came back from my first day of 61 real work ever. Daniel also hosted me in New York—the city where we 62 first became friends—which was extraordinarily kind. Davita, Hasan, and 63 Zach were the most consistent Shabbat attendees and thus gave shape to 64 the most influential institution of those months. Odin crashed on my 65 couch for ten days during the one period in which I was working remote 66 and proceeded to induce The Most Fun and get me on creatine. Kelly and 67 Joven I will thank for foolishly jumping on a plane with me time and 68 time again, and Longhair for hosting us (and calmly weathering 69 anaphylaxis). Trun for our meal at Lavash. Vivek and Nate for tolerating 70 my god-awful tennis. Sophia for her rooftop DJ set, and Jordan and her 71 mother for a great Effy's brunch. Guy the locksmith for his 72 locksmithing, though he will never ever read this post. 73 74 Now I will immediately begin writing the next reflection, so that I can 75 hopefully have it done before I return from winter break. If I'm lucky. 76 77 Great revelry awaits! 78 79 [internship]: @/work/envelope/index.md 80 [Adam Nash]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Nash_(executive) 81 [inspirations]: @/reading/great-gatsby.md 82 [Partiful]: https://partiful.com