Happy Turkey Day!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.  ~Cicero


So, it's been awhile since I have updated. My apologies. I've been adjusting to a far less-demanding schedule. But I'm back now to my regularly scheduled postings. 


Thanksgiving combines several of my favorite things: good food and good company. So does Christmas but that is so commercialized today. It's always nice to go home over the Thanksgiving weekend and see people you haven't seen for several months. But more importantly, thanksgiving is about appreciation. 


It's easy to overlook Thanksgiving as just another stupid American holiday but this is probably the one holiday whose purpose I fully support. I truly people that people, especially Americans, don't take enough time out of their lives to appreciate everything they have. Don't get me wrong, times are hard for a lot of people right now, however, I think that is all the more reason to think about the good things you have in life. By reminding yourself of the good things, it makes the bad things seem more bearable. 


More than that though, giving thanks shows the people close to you that you acknowledge all that they have done for you. We do things for each other all the time, little and small, and we don't always remember to say thanks. 


I think it is especially important for Americans to give thanks because we are are lucky in so many ways. For all of America's faults, we still have a high standard of living, many of our schools are the best in the world, and compared to many areas we live in a mostly peaceful society devoid of violent conflict. 


Here are some of things I'm thankful for, in no particular order:
1. I am happy to be surrounded by my family and friends, and for everyone's good health.
2. I am thankful that I have gotten my law school applications out of the way already. 
3. I am excited to watch Ohio State beat Michigan for the what, seventh time now? 
4. I am thankful to have a roof over my head and for the employment that I still have.
5. Finally, I am thankful for the experience and opportunities I have had in the past year and those that will come in the next.


So this holiday, take a few minutes between bites of turkey, before you line up for Black Friday, and after you've finished watching the big game to really sit and think about everything you have to be thankful for. 

Columbus International Festival

Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit. - Jawaharlal Nehru

I love going to festivals. Irish Festivals, Renaissance Festivals, Popcorn Festivals. Though not always true to their original cultural origins, I think they are often a great way to experience something different, but close to home. This past weekend in Columbus was the International Festival. According to the festival's website approximately 75 different cultures are represented.

Scandinavian Salmon Chowder

First, some things I didn't like. My main complaint is that the festival is not very large. The room the stands were held in is quite large and there were many left-over open spaces that could have been filled with additional booths. With an admission price of $7 for adults and $5 for students I expected more content. Similarly, the food choices consisted mainly of Chinese and Indian fare. It would have been interesting to see a wider variety of cultural cuisine. Finally, I feel like much of the food and products for sale were not completely genuine or authentic. Good booths presented a more educational look at the presented culture but some booths were merely trying to hawk fake cultural replicas and cheap jewelry. 

The Dessert Dancers preforming during the festival.

All that being said the International Festival isn't all bad. There is also a stage that has constant entertainment groups preforming. I really enjoyed watching these preformances while we ate. Furthermore, this is cultural diplomacy at its finest, helping diverse cultural groups learn to connect. Sure, not everything you see is authentic, but the displays still offer a glimpse into the said culture. For example, a booth selling Asian artifacts consisted of mostly imitation jade statues. Though not genuine, it still the cultural importance of jade in Asian communities. Ultimately, I think the purpose of the International Festival is to ignite curiosity of different places and cultures. 

A delicious apple turnover the Juergen's Bakery and Restaurant booth.

Overall, I think the Columbus International Festival is best suited for children or adults who have not traveled abroad before. My honest opinion is that if you have been outside of the United States before, you will be disappointed by the festival. Paying $7 just probably isn't worth it for you. Kids, however, can get a 'passport' and collect stamps at different country exhibits. I saw a broad range of kids at the festival, both younger children through teens who all seemed to be having an enjoyable time. 

Columbus: The Biggest Small Town in America

"Life's a voyage that's homeward bound." - Herman Melville

I've been slammed with election/campaign stuff this week so I thought I would share some things about Columbus! Having lived here for about 4 1/2 years now I can share some of thoughts about the city. Columbus is a nice city. It's not the biggest (actually it's the 16th largest in the US) but it has some cool stuff worth seeing. Below are some highlights of the area.


Most Recognizable Landmark
Definitely Ohio Stadium, or as the locals call it, the Horseshoe. The Ohio State Buckeye Football team has been playing games here since 1922. With a capacity to hold 102,329 (and a record attendance of 106,033) it is the sixth largest non-racing stadium in the world. It's obviously best to visit during football games, but I would recommend going there regardless. Not only is it full of history, but the architecture is also pretty impressive. Plus, Buckeye football is basically the culture and religion of Columbus.

Ohio Stadium after the 2010 Spring Game 

Best Place to Eat
Okay, so this not strictly speaking in Columbus, but Der Dutchman Restaurant and Bakery is delicious. They serve Amish dishes and have a buffet that is a great deal if you're really hungry. Even though there are a lot of great restaurants in the city of Columbus but I suggest Der Dutchman because it's not  a widespread chain restaurant (although there are three other locations in Ohio) and it's not too expensive. The restaurant is only about 30 minutes from downtown Columbus. I love to pick something up from the bakery to take home!


Best Place to Shop
Columbus has two really great shopping malls, but overall I would recommend stopping by Easton Town Center. It's full of fashionable name brand stores like Coach and Burberry but also Macy's and mall staples like American Eagle and the Gap. It has a movie theater and other entertainment venues as well. Whether or want to window-shop or actually buy stuff, you'll find something interesting here. Even though it's mostly an outdoor mall, my favorite time to go is for Christmas Shopping. If you hate crowds though, it's probably best to skip Easton during Holiday season weekends. 

A fountain in the middle of Easton Town Center

Most Worthwhile Museum
COSI or the Center of Science and Industry is aimed at children but is great for people of all ages. The museum is full of hands-on exhibits to teach you science. It also has awesome visiting exhibits like one on the Titanic and another with Star Wars memorabilia. There's also an IMAX movie screen there that shows movies throughout the day. As a bonus, the museum is located downtown on the Scioto River so you get a great view of the downtown skyline.


Most Exciting Special Events
Buckeye Football - it's kind of a big deal around here. No matter what time of year you'll see OSU fans, but if it's a Saturday in the fall, expect to be inundated with scarlet and gray. Everywhere near the campus is completely crowded with students and tail-gaters. Even if you don't have tickets to the game there are more than enough things going on around the area to enjoy. Yes, crowded doesn't even begin to describe it, however, you get a special feeling of camaraderie spending the day with 100,000 + Buckeye fans. You might think you've experienced college football, but pretty much every other school (perhaps with the exception of Big Ten rivals Michigan and Penn State) pales in comparison. 

The Best Damn Band in the Land preforming before an OSU football game

Crowds around campus during a football game

Best Places for History Buffs
Columbus is the state capital for Ohio, and as such, is where the Statehouse is located. If you are interested in history, or architecture for that matter, the Ohio Statehouse should definitely be a stop. It's only a few blocks from COSI and the distance is easily walkable. The Statehouse gives tours of the building which include all kinds of trivia bits.


Best Place for a Concert
If you are looking for an intimate and exciting setting for a rock concert, than head over to the Newport Music Hall on High Street across the street from Ohio State. The hall is promoted as America's longest continually operating rock club though I have no idea if this is true. They have some fairly well-known rock, especially alternative rock bands. The Newport isn't very big and it's guaranteed that you will be packed tightly in between other concert-goers. However, the concerts here are great because the smaller size lets everyone feel close to the action. It might not look that impressive from the outside, but just wait until you get inside. 

Fratellis concert at the Newport Music Hall, summer 2007

Best Thing to do on a Warm Day - Columbus Zoo
Not only does the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium have a national reputation, but it's also undergone major renovations in the last couple years. Most recently they've added an arctic exhibit that's pretty cool. It's a great place to visit on a sunny day. Your first visit to the Columbus Zoo could probably last a good part of the day. Zoombezi Bay, a water park right next door, is an easy attraction to pair up with the zoo for a whole day adventure. I think you can even buy discounted tickets for admission to both. On side note, the Columbus Zoo decorates the grounds with thousands of Christmas lights from approximately Thanksgiving time to New Year's which are worth a trip on a chilly winter night. 

A polar bear at one of the zoo's newest exhibits

Wild Lights at the Columbus Zoo

My Favorite Place - The Oval
People watching, frisbee playing, protester ignoring, free food eating - all this and more can be done on The Ohio State University's Oval which is located near the middle of campus in front of the main library. When I was a student at OSU I loved to eat my lunch here in between classes or take a quick cat nap in the warm sunshine. No matter what time of year though, there is usually something going on at the Oval. 

A beautiful day on the Oval