Brownie Explorers

Time Management. I think that's the important thing one has to deal with when on weekends. You know you have to do work, but at the same time, you want to socialize. Fortunately, I came to balance the two.

Most of the day, I spent time studying and catching up on the reading with Irene and several of our new friends. I got most of the reading done, so that's a big relief. 

Study groups, as I've observed, can go either way: you can manage to get your work done because everyone prioritizes homework above all else, or you find yourself slacking off because your friends can't stop talking about famous chefs. Luckily, I was with people who preferred the former. Not that there's anything wrong with the latter, but it's easier to concentrate when you're not talking about how good the cakes on Cake Boss look.

After hours of hard work and munching on cookies, we decided to head to the WaterFire event. I've never seen it before and everyone told me how great it was. I hear that thousands and thousands of people come out to join in on the celebration. 

There are so many things to do out here: concerts, shopping, socializing, dancing, singing and the list goes on and on. The WaterFire was a beautiful performance: serene and mystic, although the heat wasn't making the hot, humid weather any better. There were lots of vendors that sold food and souvenirs. There was a Dunkin' Donuts vendor as always. People here love donuts.

The river for Waterfire 

One of the many bridges that cross the river. 

The people who light the fire. 

Reach! 

One of the fire cauldrons up close

Cheese! 

Although it's great to step out of the campus to explore Providence, it has its drawbacks. It's quite easy to get lost if you don't memorize at least a couple of street names in Providence. They have interesting names such as Benevolent, Hope, Prospect, and Friendship Street. Talk about optimistic neighborhoods. Taking the bus was easy; finding our way back, however, was not. In the end, we walked back to the campus, a disgruntled decision we all made. Walking up College Hill is not exactly enjoyable. 

Group Shot...can you say diverse? 

By the water... 

Summer@Brown was hosting a dance in Keeney Quad, a housing on campus. Theme: Wedding Crashers. It was fun, I have to say. It was one of the few things we are able to attend since the Leadership Institute requires us to attend evening activities and weekend ones as well. 

Dance, dance.

That is the only con to being in a leadership class; you sacrifice free time for learning. It's not bad or anything, but participating in these other activities and workshops would benefit us by allowing us to branch out and experience new things. However, this type of program surpasses the other activities in terms of life-long skills and effective community change. 

Today, so far, is going well. Irene and I are in the John D. Rockefeller Library (fondly known as the "Rock"), studying and gathering resources to prepare ourselves for the monologue we are to present this week. I chose Sonia Sotomayor, a woman who inspires to never let prejudices and ethnic background stop me from accomplishing my dreams. Of course, there are many others who do the same, but Sotomayor is extraordinary beyond my words. 

Time to explore the library.