MSA E-Newsletter: E-Newsletter NO.02

Cover people -- Girija R. Chavan

Q: Tell us about your home town.
I will tell you about my hometown in India. It is named Satara-State Maharashtra, India. It is located in the west central part of India surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is not a big city, but it is a scenic city, and is a tourist attraction. The weather is moderate and pleasant.

Q: What countries you have ever been?
I travelled to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. I like Jimtin Island Malay, they have the longest ropeway in the world which was fun to ride. I like the Singapore zoo. The night safari was exciting since we could see all the animals being active. Petronas Twin Towers was a marvelous site and an engineering masterpiece.

Q: Tell us about your first impression of America?
My first experience of American was not really good. I joined the school late, and was unable to find an apartment to live in and I did not have any friends. I finally found an apartment to live in, but there were a lot of bed bugs there, and I got so many bites from those bugs, I suffered a lot. That was terrible for me. I had to get treated for the bug bites from the campus health center. I finally managed to get out of the apartment even though the manager of the apartment did not allow me to break the leasing contract. Now life has settled and I have a new apartment that is much nicer, plus a car to drive with good friends as well.

Q: What will you do after graduation?
I will go back to India to visit my family and friends. I hope to find a job in United States, because I will eventually start my own business selling Indian handicraft and home decorating items in the states.

Q: Why do you want to have your own business?
I want to be independent. I am planning to open a handicraft business, and want to help the artists who make the handmade products in India. A couple of groups I know have their small household productions, but they do not have a good market for which to sell. Setting up the business will not only profit me but will also give back to those who deserve to have some value for their handmade products.

Making an Indian dessert
-- Girija said she learned it from her dear mother.

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OCU is a Multicultural Society

OCU is a multicultural society; we have students from all parts of the world and being a part of this society has helped me learn more about different traditions and cultures. What I find most special about being in Multicultural Students Association (MSA) is that along with learning from others, I also get to share a bit of my life and where I come from through such organizations as the MSA. This is what MSA is all about.

In the MSA, we come together from different nationalities to becoming one people. We do this through sharing, as well as by learning from one another. Being a part of MSA has helped me to realize that despite the fact that we are all from different countries, we all share similar beliefs and passions. I've also met some of my very good friends through being an active member of MSA. I feel at home being a part of the MSA family. This is why I want to let all of the International Students who feel homesick to know that you are not alone and there is a home away from home and you can find it here in the Multicultural Students Association at OCU.

Yvonne Safo-Kwakye
MSA External Vice President

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Kay's Spring Break Trip

It was obviously true that I personally had been so excited about going to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon during the spring break with some of my church friends. The Grand Canyon, the spot that I had been eager to step on with my feet since I was a little boy, was selected as one of the most favorite tourist spots. So when I heard about going there from one of my friends, there was no doubt that I would be up for it. Although it took more than eighteen hours from Oklahoma City to Las Vegas by car, I was not that tired. That was because I had been very excited to see the grand landscape with my two eyes. We arrived that afternoon to the main strip in Las Vegas after we had driven directly all the way from Oklahoma. We watched many different kinds of shows which were very fantastic and exciting, and had a lot of fun walking and looking around the main street for three days. Well, one of funniest experiences I had was that I enjoyed playing the slot machines to make big money. Unfortunately, I lost the money I invested gambling at the casino. That was the first time I had enjoyed gambling, but I think it was fun and a good experience for me though.

We had spent a wonderful three days in Las Vegas and had left there to go to the Grand Canyon. When we arrived at the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas, it was about sunset. We decided to see the beautiful sunset of the Grand Canyon and so we took a shuttle bus there and went up to the best spot for viewing, called "Hoppie Point." The sunset in the Grand Canyon, in a nut shell, seemed like the creation of heaven and earth to me. I could not forget the fantastic scene I saw. That was the perfect moment when the dream of that little boy had come true. I could not keep myself from dropping my head before the greatness of nature.

One thing that I deeply realized through viewing the magnificent Grand Canyon was that God is really great and almighty! This is what I had realized the most through this trip.

Kay IM
MSA Secretary

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Author: DRINKING ALONE WITH THE MOON
Author: Li Bai

From a pot of wine among the flowers
花間一壺酒
I drank alone. There was no one with me --
獨酌無相親
Till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon
舉杯邀明月
To bring me my shadow and make us three.
對影成三人
Alas, the moon was unable to drink
月既不解飲
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;
影徒隨我身
But still for a while I had these friends
暫伴月將影
To cheer me through the end of spring....
行樂須及春
I sang. The moon encouraged me.
我歌月徘徊
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.
我舞影零亂
As long as I knew, we were boon companions.
醒時同交歡
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.
醉後各分散
...Shall goodwill ever be secure?
永結無情遊
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.
相期邈雲漢

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MSA Executive Members

Everyone is welcome to write articles in our newsletter. Please send your article to ocumsa@gmail.com