Day 91: Flow

What went well? 

1. Made a lot of progress on my mindfulness/positive psychology paper. Built my conceptual model, analysed what social-emotional skills different positive psychology lessons cultivate, and wrote another 900 words. It's coming along! But I'll get back to it next Thursday and really immerse myself in my Buddhism paper over the next week. Hopefully, a first draft of the Buddhism paper will be done by next Wednesday, and a first draft of the mindfulness paper done by next Sunday. This is doable.
2. Went to a free dinner held by the Penn Vegan Society. It was amazing. The chefs (from Penn's catering company) were talking about what they prepared, and I was so impressed by their thoughtfulness. It was a really wonderful experience, and I really enjoyed the conversations I had over dinner too.
3. Singing practice went well today.

What did I learn? 

• How to make a really easy vegan snack - literally blending raisins & walnuts together, then making balls/bars.
• Ramsburg & Youmans (2013) found that "Meditation Training Improves Student Knowledge Retention during Lectures".

Day 45: Awesome + ermahgahhd

What went well? 

1. Had the best day ever today hanging out with a friend. We bought rush tickets to see Porgy & Bess, and had great conversations over Starbucks, lunch & walking back to campus. Also, singing Glee on the way back. So awesome :) And the weather was great!!!!! 12 degrees feels WARM.





Part of the "Gayborhood". This is actually a thing!



An organ in Macy's department store. A super cool building.

2. Went to the Opera Scenes information session. It looks like a great opportunity, and I'm really excited for it. Basically, they're trying to put together a show comprised of a series of short scenes from operas. And it'll only be about an hour a week. Casting call is next week.

What did I learn? 

• The importance of practice for any skills. I've offered to help out the founder of the Calm Clarity project with any research-related skills, which has now turned into the need for me to actually remember and use the statistical skills I learned in Research Methods for Human Inquiry last year, which are somewhat rusty now. It's a great opportunity to practice, actually. Also, it feels really cool to be able to say, yeah I can actually do that! And be able to actually apply the skills I learned. And I'm learning a lot - for example, I think we might need to use a mixed-design ANOVA, which I currently don't know how to do, so this is an opportunity to figure that out. This is definitely a stretch task for me though, hence the ermahgahhd - but this must be an example of deliberate practice in psychology! Good.
• To look up the plot of shows before seeing them. I was sooo confused while watching Porgy and Bess because the text wasn't always clear, so didn't follow the plot that well. It was still good though!

Day 29: FOMO

What went well?

• Had a peaceful start to the day, reading a chapter of Thich Nhat Hanh's Being Peace for my Intro Buddhism class. The compassion that emanated from the text was powerful.
• Had lunch with my friend from my Sociology of Mental Illness & Intro Buddhism classes. She generously swiped me into the 1920 Commons dining hall, so it was really nice to get a variety of food, with excellent vegan options.
• Had my first lab meeting with my fellow research assistants. It was really nice to meet them and share ideas about where we think positive psychology should go and what's going on in the field. Also, the post-doc I'm working with brought chocolate & mint cake, and it was vegan, so that was a treat.
• Finished writing my research proposal for my Intro Buddhism paper.

What did I learn? 

• Another insightful quote from a friend at Philo. This was in relation to a prospective member who said something publicly that warranted a bit of concern, to say the least...just dead silence. It was really sad and I felt compassion. And my friend said, "You can't save them, you can only love them."
• A new term: Neuroaesthetics. The intersection between neuroscience & aesthetics - why people appreciate art. A prospective member of Philo gave her 6 minute presentation on this topic, and it was really excellent.
• When time constraints exist, you make the most of your experience. People are always surprised by how "in the know" I am about what's going on on campus, or how things work around here. But I have to be! I'm only here for a semester and want to make the most of it. Massive FOMO (fear of missing out), yet of course MO is inevitable with all the stuff that's happening here. I literally get 5-10 emails a day notifying me of new events, sometimes of multiple events. It can get a bit overwhelming. But be a yes person! It's generally valuable to expose yourself to spontaneity. To give you an idea of the number of events around, here's a peek at my email inbox:

• 
  
• And here's an email I got from the Penn Abroad activities coordinator:

Dear Exchange Students,

Good morning!

As you may be aware, this weekend will be a snowy one. If you haven’t built a snow man, this might be the time to do so! Make sure to be creative and take pictures!

Last night I almost lost my phone, but fortunately with the help of many people, including officers at the Penn Police Station, I got it back. Have you gotten the help that you need from others while you are Penn? I hope so! If not, let us know- Penn Abroad if here for you.

Also, the Managing Stress and Finding Balance session is coming up on Wednesday, February 26^th, at 6-7pm. Food will be provided! For more info or RSVP, click here (or email back if you on not active on facebook).  

Happening at Penn

The Bearded Ladies

Marlene & the Machine: A German Expressionist Cabaret

Friday, February 7 @ 7:30 PM

Saturday, February 8 @ 7:30 PM

@ Annenberg Center- Harold Prince Theatre

A “wildly entertaining” (Philadelphia Inquirer) experimental group bent on inciting a cabaret revolution, The Bearded Ladies tackle the politics of popular culture, sex, gender and artistic invention with wit and sparkle, as well as over-the-top costumes, drag, pitch-perfect songs and virtuosic prop construction. Marlene & The Machine combines the music of Marlene Dietrich and Lotte Lenya with the visual language of German Expressionism to create a shadowy world that blurs the lines between human, music and machine.

One-Acts 2014

February 6th, 7th, and 8th, 2014 7:30 pm

@ Houston Hall Class of '49 Auditorium

The Theatre Arts Council presents the 2012 One Acts: There Shall Be No Bottom (a bad play for worse actors) by Mark O'Donnell, Love and How to Cure It by Thornton Wilder, Central Park West by Woody Allen, and Monologue: "A Prayer" by Paul Simms.

Tickets: $10 with Penn Card, $12 without. A portion of proceeds will go to The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf

World Culture Afternoon

Annual Celebration of African Cultures

Saturday, February 8, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

@ Penn Museum

Shake Your Sekere! African music, belly dancing in the Tunisian tradition, storytelling, arts, artifacts, games, crafts, and cuisine all come together for the Penn Museum's annual Celebration of African Cultures. Now in its 25th year, the festive event features an array of renowned local artists including the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, storyteller Momma Sandi and the percussionists of the Women's Sekere Ensemble. Visitors can also explore art and artifacts from across the African Diaspora in Penn Museum's current special exhibition Black Bodies in Propaganda: The Art of the War Poster, the Imagine Africa gallery project, the African Gallery and the ancient Egypt Galleries. Free with Museum admission.

For performance schedule, check the web.

Second Sunday Family Workshop
Hieroglyphic Valentines

Sunday, February 9, 1:00 - 4:00 pm

@ Penn Museum

Valentine's Day is just around the corner. In this drop-in workshop, show your love to your mummy, daddy, sibling, or friend by creating a valentine written in Egyptian hieroglyphs. Free with Museum admission. For more information, visit the website, or call 215.898.4016.

Afternoon Performance

Relâche in Residence

Sunday, February 9, 3:00 pm

@ Penn Museum

Relâche, Philadelphia's internationally-renowned new music ensemble, continues its new three-concert series, "New Sounds and Cinema," featuring both commissioned music and live accompaniment to old silent films, at the Penn Museum. The series is part of the University of Pennsylvania's Year of Sound.

The ensemble will perform the title tracks from its new CD, "Comix Trips," commissioned from composer Paul Lansky. Loaded with quirky charm, humor, and virtuosity, with touching moments as well, Lansky's music makes the eight players in Relâche sound truly orchestral. February 9 also marks the release of the group's new CD which will be for sale at the concert.

RelacheCOMIXgraphicRelâche's silent film offering will be Buster Keaton's blockbuster comedy, "The General." The title is actually the name of a steam engine which Keaton engineers as no steam train has ever been engineered before or since. The film's two chase scenes are spectacular. Relâche cranks up its live accompaniment for the film live with music drawn from its repertoire, including selections by Philip Glass, Guy Klusevcek, Raymond Scott, Eric Satie, Fred Ho, and Tyler Capp, plus Relâche's own versions of period tunes like Ashokan Farewell and Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Relâche concert tickets are just $10 for Penn students with PennCard, in advance or at the door, while supplies last. The audience is cordially invited to an informal reception following the performance to meet the musicians of Relâche. For more information, visit the website, or call 215.898.2680.

Pre-Columbian Society Lecture

Pre-Columbian Engineering in U.S. Film

Sunday, February 8, 1:30 pm
@ Penn Museum

Prof. Richard C. Shupp, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, Lafayette College, and a group of Lafayette College students have researched the images of Pre-Columbian engineering as it has been portrayed in American film. The anticipated Maya apocalypse in 2012 spawned a number of Hollywood films that suggested a broad spectrum of possible outcomes. Some films were intensely sentimental, and others were stunningly gruesome. The group illustrates their talk with video clips from the films they have identified and analyzed, and share their observations and conclusions. Held in Anthropology Rm. 345. Free admission. Visit website for more information.

Far From Vietnam & The New Wave By Itself

Wed, February 12, 7pm – 10pm

@ International House Philadelphia,

If you're into films, you have to check out this double feature. First, the International House Philadelphia will be showing Far From Vietnam, a collaboration by many famous filmmakers in 1967. Next will be The New Wave By Itself, a movie displaying the French New Wave movement in action. It's just $7 for students to see both of these films. Check out the website for complete information.

Young Friends Valentine Event: Blurred Lines - The Secret Side of the Collections

Thu, February 13, 6pm – 8pm

@ Penn Museum, South Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States (map)

Think ancient art was always formal and serious? Think again! See a secret side of different artifacts at the Penn Museum that's too racy to show on an everyday basis. This year, Penn Museum will explore artifacts depicting racy and sexually explicit material in the Museum's permanent collection. Cash bar to follow.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, this exclusive event is only $5 with Penn Card. Check out the website for complete details on the event. For additional information, call 215.898.5093 or email membership@pennmuseum.org.

Penn Bookstore Series

CHRISTINE WADE- "SEVEN LOCKS"

SAT FEB 08, 01:00pm-02:00pm

@ Penn Bookstore 2^nd floor, Study & Events Room

Debut novelist Christine Wade will be in store to discuss "Seven Locks"- a work of historical fiction set in the Pre-Revolutionary War Catskill Mountains. Read more about the it here: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/seven-locks-christine-wade/1109156398?ean=9781451674705

AUTHOR EVENT WITH BROOKE ERIN DUFFY

MON FEB 10, 06:00pm-07:00pm

@ Penn Bookstore 2^nd floor, Study & Events Room

Penn alum Brooke Erin Duffy will be in-store to discuss her latest book-"Remake and Remodel: Women's Magazines in the Digital Age"- a unique glimpse at how executives and content creators are remaking their roles, their audiences, and their products at this critical historic juncture

Under A Rest

Penn Glee Club Student Performance

Thursday, February 13 @ 8 PM

Friday, February 14 @ 7:30 PM

Saturday, February 15 @ 1 PM

Saturday, February 15 @ 8 PM

@ Annenberg Center- Zellerbach Theatre

Under A Rest presents a neo-fascist state, wherein all music has been outlawed. Anyone who sings is sent straight to Pennsylvania General Corrections and the warden of this facility wants to have all traces of music abolished from the face of the earth. On the very day the President of the World is scheduled to arrive, the prison admits four new inmates: four Penn students who had just founded a rogue a cappella group in their basement. The fate of the world and the people's happiness rest in the hands of the inmates at P.G.C., but the warden leads an oppressive regime that will be hard to overcome. Come find out what happens in Under A Rest!

Check out the Library’s WIC workshops here.

Sign up for the Outdoor Adventure trips here.

Penn also offers self-defense classes for free for female students. Check the details in the attached PDF!

Fun in Philly

Shaping Shakespeare: Hands-On Tour

Fri, February 7, 3pm – 4pm

@ Rosenbach Museum & Library, Delancey Place (map)

Learn about the beginnings of Shakespeare and how his work was created and changed with this tour. You'll get the chance to see rare, behind-the-scenes items and hear expert opinions on them. This tour is only $5 and advance registration is recommended! Check out the website for complete details on the event.

The Pigeon Presents: The Philadelphia Poetry Slam

Fri, February 7, 7:30pm – 10:00pm

@ PhilaMOCA, North 12th Street (map)

First, there will be a poetry workshop featuring Pages Matam, an award winning slam poet from Cameroon. At 8:30 people can sign up for the slam, and the slam itself starts at 9! Tickets are $10. Check out the website for complete details on the event.

I remember the poetry slam my friend took me to when I was in Columbus, Ohio, and it was quite an experience!

Transplanted Souls: Another Try at Eternal Rest

Sat, February 8, 1pm – 3pm

@ Laurel Hill Cemetery, Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA, United States (map)

As Philadelphia grows and changes, sometimes history can get lost. Check out Laurel Hill Cemetery's walking tour and learn about how places that were once reserved for the dead are now being built upon. For $12, you can learn about the relocation of those seeking eternal rest and the reasons behind it. Visit thewebsite for complete event details.

14th Annual Print Love-In

Sun, February 9, 1pm – 3pm

@ Fleisher Art Memorial, Catharine Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States (map)

Celebrate Valentine's Day in a creative way! At this years Love-In, you can learn about the process of printmaking and create your own Valentine's Day cards. The session from 1 pm - 3 pm is $10 and all ages, while the later session at 5 pm - 7 pm is $20 and 21+, since wine will be served. Check out the websitefor complete details on the event.

Science on Tap

Mon, February 10, 6pm – 7pm

@ National Mechanics Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant, South 3rd Street, Philadelphia (map)

Are you a science geek? Join the Academy of Natural Sciences as they meet at National Mechanics to hang out with the experts and talk about science. This month features a presentation on emerging technology in paleontology followed by discussion. This event is free to attend! Check out the website for complete details on the event.

Jazz is: Now! Featuring Jon Batiste

Tue, February 11, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

@ Kimmel Center, South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States (map)

Do you like jazz? This event is for you! Part of the Free at the Kimmel series, Jon Batiste brings an exciting and interactive event where the audience members get to join in on the fun by singing, dancing, and even playing some music. The event is free, but tickets are required. Check out the website for complete details on the event.

Night Skies in the Observatory

Thu, February 13, 6pm – 9pm

@ The Franklin Institute, North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA, United States (map)

Come out to the Franklin Institute for a night with the stars -- literally! Visit the Joel N Bloom Observatory where you can view stars and planets from five different telescopes. Tickets are just $5 and also include a planetarium show! Check out the website for complete details on the event.

Day 21: Best conversation ever

What went well?

1. Found out some details of what I'll be helping with for positive psychology research. One project is to do with coding qualitative data from Malaysian participants as to what happiness/wellbeing means to them, to see how valid the PERMA measure is across cultures (i.e. building from the ground up rather than just imposing a theory onto a culture), and the other is to help actually design the methodology for testing a new positive psychology intervention! And there'll be more as the semester comes along.
2. Had the best conversation ever this semester at the Philomathean Society event this evening with just a few people. Topics included:
• US politics...& drones
• Human rights
• Language & thought (psychology)
• Values in education
• Just omg. These people are so deep and thoughtful...
3. Found the multi-purpose room at the gym. I had been wondering where the medicine balls and normal straight pull-up bars were. FYI, 2nd floor, past the basketball court. There's also a couple of punching bags behind this picture.
•  
  
4. Made a healthy dinner.



Broccoli-spinach-chickpea-sweet-potato power bowl, inspired by Thrive.

• 
  

What did I learn?

• Issues in the US are more serious than I imagined (e.g. drones, poverty, healthcare)
• There exists something called the "Rainbow Family" which is basically a hippy organisation that I probably resonate with quite a bit :P
• Bilingual children get a lot of cognitive advantages, including self-regulation. To be cited...

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

Day 19: Neurolaw is fascinating but singing is better

What went well? 

1. Found out that I can take singing lessons for credit after all. Melbourne uni has approved it as a breadth subject, as well as my Ancient Voices ensemble performance subject, so together they'll count for 1 credit unit. Looking forward to having the opportunity to continue developing my voice, especially since I'm singing in an early music choir this semester. Not that choral singing is bad per se, but when it's not balanced out with lessons at the same time, the voice does find it difficult to switch back to solo mode. So, I'll be dropping Neurolaw (but continuing to audit it because it's actually really interesting, but I'd rather not have to actually do the work with all the other classes & research I'm doing :P).
2. Finally went to my first Neurolaw seminar (it was cancelled last week due to snow day). Was amused when the professor told us that this was meant to be our "fun elective" by design, and basically that we don't have to do the readings. So tbh, the workload wouldn't have been that onerous - just a 30 minute presentation and a 10-page paper.
3. My new singing teacher was able to fit me into her schedule (and even shifted around another student to do so).
4. Went to a Speak-EZ meeting. We practiced impromptu 1-minute "toasts" or "roasts" on a random topic we drew from a box. I think it's going to be a great forum for developing my public speaking/thinking on the spot skills.

What did I learn? 

• Melbourne Uni will approve practically anything as a breadth subject on exchange, and it's AWESOME!!! So much freedom to choose. Thanks, UniMelb!
• The embedded lesson is: JUST ASK. It never hurts to ask. The reason why I took so long to act upon this whole music lessons for credit thing (and the deadline was the next day) was because I was sure they wouldn't approve it so I didn't ask. But then I did, and they approved it. Anyway, the worst they can do is say no! So when in doubt, ask.
• The Neurolaw professor is amazingly accomplished, she has both an MD and JD because she couldn't decide what she wanted to be! (and now she's working at the intersection anyway, as a psychiatrist, as well as lecturing in criminology and doing stuff in neurolaw) Super impressive/scary.
• There's a reason the acronym for high intensity interval training is HIIT. It hits you!! Did my first class today at the gym and boy was it painful. I was dying of tiredness before (after a 3-hour long seminar) and dying even more of tiredness after but am now cheerful :) Well, no pain, no gain, and at least it was short and sweet (30 mins)!
• The people at Speak-EZ are really friendly, and it's a really welcoming environment.
• Apparently, I used really effective gestures during my 45 second vendetta against cornflakes (& corn in general). Here's the thing: I had no idea I was even gesturing!! Lesson: Sometimes you really have no idea what you're doing when you're doing public speaking. More mindfulness :)
• As David Cain suggests, I've never regretted a workout. So I should stop arguing with myself "I'm tired, I could go tomorrow..." and just GO. No negotiation. Period.

Here's a random photo inside the Fisher Fine Arts library from a couple of weeks ago. I don't think I shared it, so here it is!

Day 17: Egypt Tour at the Penn Museum

What went well? 

1. Visited the Penn Museum. I was extremely impressed by the size and quality of the collections, and am grateful that I can go back whenever I want because entry is free for all PennCard holders (students, staff, faculty)! Enjoyed the guided tour through the Ancient Egypt exhibits. Here are some scenes from the museum:









In the China gallery. 



The second-largest crystal ball in the world. It's just so perfect...

2. Found out that Icebreaker Merino upholds really high animal welfare standards (thanks to An Ran for bringing this to my attention!!). I feel a lot better now about having bought their merino thermal leggings which I've been wearing every day since I got here. Good thermals are definitely a necessity here, and I'm glad that they can be obtained through relatively ethical means.
3. Finish reading The Loss of Sadness (Horwitz & Wakefield 2007) for my Sociology of Mental Illness. I can honestly say that this book, much like Anatomy of an Epidemic, has been a game-changer for my views about how we should conceptualise, diagnose, educate, and treat depression. It was surprising, disturbing and utterly compelling. I'll probably write a book review about it for my other blog, but have a look at these Amazon Reviews. I highly recommend it for mental health practitioners, physicians, policymakers, researchers, and laypeople alike, because we all have a stake in this issue.

What did I learn? 

• The Penn Museum is just awesome. It's huge - I think you could definitely spend a couple of days there - and incredibly well-resourced. Fans of the ancient world and archaeology in general should definitely check it out.
• Bits and pieces about Ancient Egypt.
• It took 70 days to mummify a body.
• The Egyptians were very literal about things. For example, they decorated the floor of the throne room with the faces of their enemies, so that whenever they walked across, they'd literally be stepping on their enemies.
• They liked symmetry in their architecture, because it gave them a sense of order/security.
• It is easy to fill your schedule up with events! There are so many opportunities to be engaged here. Next week, as well as class, choir & gym, I'm going to a student-led morning meditation, auditing a lecture, going to two psychology talks, going to a public speaking meeting, a philosophy club (Sermo Humanita) meeting, two Philo events, and an exchange student event. Look:

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Oh, and just as an aside, since my friend Andy wanted to know more about the dorms, here's some preliminary thoughts about Stouffer, one of the many College Houses here. So far, my impressions have been that it's quiet and a great place to study, though a little bit unsocial. It doesn't have quite the same feel of community as my college back in Melbourne, probably because it's 3x the size and I'm new. However, I have also met some really nice people here (like that GA I mentioned a few posts earlier, and the guy who helped me open that can!). What I like best about Stouffer though, is that it offers a lot in terms of events and activities. There is something on nearly every day, whether it be home-made cookies at the Faculty Master's apartment, movie night, more food at another Fellow's place, free yoga starting next week, outings, Fellow's night (informal dinner and conversation with a Professor)...Like anything in life, you get out what you put in. Here's what Stoufferians have to say about Stouffer, when asked to describe Stouffer in three words:

And here's a photo of the Section E lounge, where I spend most of my time because it's generally very quiet and perfect for studying:

Day 15: First Philomathean Society Meeting

What went well? 

1. Had some pretty deep & meaningful conversations with people at the Philo meeting. Also enjoyed the novelty of the experience as a whole.
2. Got a really nice lunch from the Magic Carpet food truck
3. The check-out guy at Fresh Grocer let me through even though I didn't see the sign that said 10 items or less :P
4. The pull-top came off my can, and my can opener failed, but a guy at my dorm helped me to stab a hole into the can with a knife.

What did I learn?

• The lifetime prevalence of mental illness in the US is close of 50%. i.e. almost half of people in the US will experience some kind of DMS diagnosis in their lifetime. This finding has led to criticisms of the validity of the DMS's diagnostic criteria.
• So, I can't apply to be a member of the Philomathean Society after all, since I'm only here for a semester. At least I can still attend most of their events though :)
• And the Philos are actually a thriving organisation. There were about 35 attendees at their meeting tonight, on a Friday night.
• The Philo meeting was a bit bizarre. That is the only word I can describe it with. Bizarre. It was simultaneously ceremonial and chaotic, intellectual and flamboyant. They are all very friendly, interesting and engaged people though.

The Philo library. Was in here for their weekly tea with a professor event.

The Philo meeting room. A bit like a courtroom? 

Ordaining people.

The lecture on "Violence is the Answer" happened at about 11pm, presented by a Senior at Penn. People were still engaged at that point! I was impressed.

Grocery shop. This stuff totalled about $48. Probably a bit expensive, but that's the price you pay for whole foods (aka real food) + convenience.

I know this looks highly unappetising, but it actually tasted pretty good :P Quinoa, beans, capsicum, mushroom, onion, garlic, cumin.

Day 10: I found my dream club...

This morning, I did some reading and also admired the architecture around the Quad:

In the afternoon, I went to the Student Activities fair, where all the student clubs were advertising their clubs and getting sign-ups. There were SO MANY CLUBS. They took up 3 floors of Houston Hall.

Just a snapshot of the action.

I was so pleased to discover the Philomathean Society, which I am definitely keen to join. It's basically the dream club for students who are actually intellectually engaged, love learning, believe that learning should take place outside the classroom, and enjoy talking about things that actually matter.

It's also pretty exclusive (elitist?), with a strict admissions process (but anyone can attend most of their events). You have to complete three steps:

1. A 4-6 minute oral presentation on a topic of my choice.
2. An informal, one-hour round-table-style interview with members of the Society.
3. Submit a work of creative/critical value. No constraints on form, it just needs to fit through the door.

Here's their brochure:

I think I'll present on mindfulness or positive education, but I'm still deciding on what to submit. I've narrowed it down to:

1. My blog post, Reflections on Meditation Boot Camp
2. A sociology essay reconceptualising the idea of "Adulthood"
3. A sociology essay discussing structural challenges for young people's mental health
4. My Sunset Haiku from first-year psychology

So I have a question for anyone who's reading this - which one of these do you think is most interesting/creative/critical?

What went well? 

1. Discovering the Philo society and getting really excited about the prospect of joining.
2. A bunch of exchange students randomly congregated at the activities fair so we just chilled together for ages.
3. Still appreciating the total silence of the Fisher Fine Arts Library.

What did I learn? 

• Man, I am so out of shape for yoga. I just went to my first class in two months (it was a free trial class at the gym) and it was surprisingly intense.
• Probably not much from my speed-reading efforts (using fingers to pace, moving eyes down page as fast as possible) of my Intro Buddhism textbook. The instructor's assigned 125 pages of reading just for next week, and I sped-read about 100 pages in two hours, but I think my comprehension would be about 20% if I'm generous. But hey, since I'm doing the research option, that's all the time I can afford to spend on the reading, since I need to spend extra time on research.
• From a mindfulness reading, This is your brain on mindfulness (Baime 2011): There are two distinct neural networks that contribute to our experience of a self; one that contributes to a descriptive narrative, consisting of thoughts about what is happening and what we are; the other underlying a more direct experience of sensation and emotion in the present moment. These two areas are linked, such that activity in the "present-moment" awareness region activates the storytelling region, which explains why beginner meditators constantly and reflexively shift to thinking just as they've experienced a fleeting moment of mindfulness. This shift is literally built into the nervous system. The good news is, mindfulness practice enhances the ability to disconnect these two regions to reduce the likelihood that a mindful experience will automatically be followed by a self-centred monologue. Even the habitual patterns that are deeply built into the body can be changed with practice. The changes that happen at a neural level with mindfulness practice are significant and fantastic.
• Thoughts after speed-reading sections of my Intro Buddhism textbook: I've realised that it's probably a mistake to want to say, "Buddhists do X", or "Don't Buddhists do Y....?", or "Buddhists believe Z". I now realise that there is so much internal diversity within different Buddhist schools, and they all vary so much in what they believe and what they practice.