To Be A Carolina Tarheel, or Remain a Miami Hurricane

There really is no easy way to say this. Back in the beginning of the semester, I applied to a few schools for transfer, once again, I know. I applied to some of the most competitive universities in the nation, we'll probably the world, and surprisingly have been accepted to one of my top choices. Yielding only about a 32% transfer acceptance rate, the University of North Carolina chose me as one of the lucky 950 of 3000 transfer students for the Fall 2009 transfer class. I'm still awaiting a decision from another top university, but for some reason, I have a gut feeling that I will end up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina for the remainder of my college experience. Now, this is no easy decision for me to make, and definitely not one I'll make overnight. There is a lot I have to consider, such as the all the positives and negatives of my present conditions and the positives and negatives of UNC. Before this semester, I would've been ready to pack my bags immediately and leave, but this semester has acted as a turning point in my overall experience at the University of Miami. Within the past three semesters, I've met an immense amount of the student body, and have became close with many of these individuals. One of the major reasons for this sudden twist in the road was with the colonization of the Alpha Epsilon Pi, Lambda Deuteron colony at the University of Miami. Within just a little over a month, I've met over thirty Jewish males, and have become very close with all of these individuals, almost feels as if we've been brothers for longer. Part of me wants me to stay and see what we will grow into, knowing we've already grown so close in such a short time. However, another part of me has been deprived for the past three semesters. Now most of you know that I went to Maryland for one semester, and then decided to throw off the North Face and crush the Turtle. In all honesty, although I do not like to regret anything I do in life, I probably should've stayed at Maryland and learned to love the crime-infested scene of College Park and the blistering weather. However it is in my human character to do things on impulse, so at the last minute of Fall semester, I decided to throw an application into the UMiami Spring 2009 applicant pool, and without a surprise, was offered a spot in the School of Communication. Without careful deliberation, I acted on a whim, and accepted that spot, and three weeks later, I arrived at the University of Miami, as a means of doing anything to get out of the cold and dangers of Maryland. However, thinking about it now, I was so much happier there, with the exception of this semester. Arriving at Miami, I was happy, until I found myself isolated and frustrated with social conditions. I put myself out there and tried everything, but the student body of Miami was just so self-centered and not willing to allow another potential individual to share their memories with. But, now I am socially happy, to a degree, still I feel as if I'm missing an element that was present on the ground of College Park, MD. I miss so much that I had first semester of college. One of the things I mainly miss the college atmosphere. The town that is catered to the striving college students, with streets filled with cheap eateries, bars/ clubs, and windows filled with Terrapin apparel for sale. Another aspect I miss, probably the most, is the GREEK scene. I've just entered that territory, and I miss the whole Fraternity Row and all that, that large public schools have to offer. Those were two essential elements that I wanted out of my college experience. There is so much to consider in this decision. It will be a tough decision, but I know in the end, that there is such a thing as fate, and fate will work it all out and direct me in the right direction. I believe everything happens for a reason, so if I was accepted, then there must be something awaiting me in North Carolina, but I'm unsure as if I want to take that chance, and leave my future in the hands of destiny.

Oh Whoa, We're Halfway There!

So I've survived one of the hardest weeks of Spring semester thus far. After two midterms, two quizzes, and one take home quiz later, and two A's later (other grades are not posted) but God knows there nothing below 95s, it is time for me to finally kick off my Air Force Ones and rape the single size bed that lives on the right side of Mahoney 609. But I've realized since the start of college that high grades mean diddly in life. I'm re-evaluating my life once again and figuring out where I'm headed in life, it's a very frustrating process that I've been through two-times already. I can't decide on what to do when you're given an opportunity of a life-time. Do you just hold onto what you already have, or take a gamble and wager everything that you've acquired. I'm a risk taker, but I've already set myself up for deadly collisions on more than once occasion and I do not want to fall off the cliff for once and all. I consider every decision I make in life a multi-million dollar one, weighing my opportunity costs and cost of capital influenced in each of them, just the inner-Jew in me. College has been one big roller coaster ride for me, as life has been.  I'm almost 21 years old, nearly 6 months and 2 weeks away, and I've already been thru it all, and the fact that I have 50+ years left to live, kind of scares me, as I do not what else can happen to me, be good or bad. TGIF! Time to finally relax and enjoy some Kosher'ness with my Jews. 

Drink my beer and smoke my weed, but my good friends is all I need, pass out at 3, wake up at 10...Spring Break '09

So it is with much sadness and disappointment that Spring Break '09 is coming to an end. On Thursday afternoon, after a wholesome lunch at the country club, I began the ending of a solid Spring Break '09. After a three-hour drive, with an unexpected hour delay due to a shooting between a carjacker and Florida sheriff on I95, I arrived in Winter Park, Florida. Now all I can say about Winter Park, FL is WHOA! It is like an Italian-style Palm Beach, Florida, filled with the most upscale restaurants and shops. And to top it off, one of the most expensive colleges in the United States. Rollins College is unlike any university, sitting on Lake Virginia, it is a model of an Italian village with it's villa structures that are called dormitories. After entering the dining hall at Rollins, I grew even more jealous. Have you ever been to dining hall that has a real Japanese sushi bar with a REAL Japanese sushi maker?! These students are spoiled to the brim! From the lavishing food to the nicest dormitories I've ever seen in my life, featuring the sickest floor lounges with the latest technology, like 50" plasma televisions. For the tuition I pay at University of Miami, I am a bit disappointed that the "Tars" get so much more for their very similar tuition. After being seduced by the campus, food, and everything else at Rollins College, I was ready to see if the students are able to keep up with the tolerance level of a Miami Hurricane. On Thursday night, we pre-gamed in one of the dormitories, though after killing half a handle of Smirnoff Vodka mixed with both Monster energy drinks and Sprite, I was still able to walk in a straight line. After warming up, it was time to roll out to one of Orlando's classy night clubs. Club Lime Light is where it was at! After a very interesting cab ride with our Asian cab driver, we were ready to get our noodles wet. The club was very nice, like any club, the liquor was flowing, the girls were giving it up on the dance floor, and it was a normal Thursday night for the party-animal college student. Still with an attempt to get his buddy from Miami messed up, my buddy failed, ha. After a few Vodka-sprites, I was ready to make some babies on the dance floor with the Whorelando dance squad, also known as the hoochies of Rollins. By the time we knew it, 2 o'clock ran around and the club was closing. So like every one else, we played the grab-a-cab game. Arrived back to Rollins, me still only buzzed, but my friends were absolutely belligerent? So what does a drunk do next? Yep, order food. Now Rollins has this deal with Dominos so my bro ordered up a feast of cheap Italian food and by 4AM it was all in our stomachs and we were passed out. 11AM rolls around, that means it's only hours away till I lose my Blizzard Beach virginity to Summit Plummet. After my bro arrives at class, it is time to go...nice teachers who don't wanna be in class on Friday just like the students, so DISMISSAL. Time to drive down to UCF now! Arrive at UCF, wait for Mike, and roll out to Blizzard Beach. Did you ever see snow in Florida? We'll I have, though it was fake haha. After 40.00 plus tax later, it was time to take the ski-lift up to Summit Plummet. Damn the line is so long and these bees are getting ready to attack us. After a 45 minute line, I finally lost my Summit Plummet V-CARD! Ahhhhhhhh, it felt so good, but not as good as... LOL. By the time we knew it, it was 4PM, and ready to dip. Time to rest up and get ready for another shit show of a night. Arrived back at UCF, hopped a ride over to Knight Lights a.ka. TD's. Free drinks till 1130PM and my bro who runs the bar hooked it up all night long. Still, no one could manage to get me drunk. After like 5 Blue-Long Islands, 4 Vodka-Sprites, 5 shots of god knows what, but it was good, I could still walk on my own two feet and hold an intelligent conversation about dem ladies and we'll everyone knows my obsession with school, so there was little mention of my future... but no one knows what I'm talking bout' so we'll keep it that way. One of my bros decided to stay behind and try n get his noodle wet with some UCF hoochies, but instead ended up in a brawl with a 6'2 black guy. Never a dull moment with my buddies, they always make it an adventure. So me being a true friend, drove back to TDs to pick his ass up. Went back to my bros apt. and we'll everyone but me inhaled the fumes of freedom and I just sat there talking it up with the AEPI and DUs of UCF. Wow, it's almost 4AM, and I'm completely sober. Time to drive back to Rollins and pass out and wake up at 10 again haha. Woke up at 11AM lol and headed back to UCF to grab lunch with my buds at FIVE GUYS, so damn good, like food orgasms, haha. Then picked up some alchy for my bud and after saying my goodbyes and goodlucks, time to return to Rollins. Time to go JEwshopping at the Premium Outlets of Orlando. FAILED, no success finding my Giorgio Armani suit and Italian-designer loafers, time to go on eBay haha. Time to grab a bite and leave for Boring Raton and then back to the place in Miami they call college, I call it a prison, haha. After Cheesecake Factory and saying my goodbye to my good bro, time to take the 2.5 hour drive back to Boca. And here I am! Sometimes I wonder what I would be like if I went to UCF and did this every weekend with my friends,  would I still be that 4.0 genius or only manage to get a 3.5? There lifestyle seems so much more college-like and I'm not sure, but I kind of miss that from Maryland. Boarding the TerpShuttle and heading over to Fraternity Row, ending my night passing in E8 lounge. Oh well, sometimes you've got to gamble a little to gain a lot, so I don't know what I will be wagering in the near future. We'll unfortunately Spring Break '09 is over and I must return to reality, which does not seem anything that I experience at UCF or at Maryland. 

Chopping the JewFro for Children's Oncology Research, this is only the beginning of Spring Break '09

Three years in the clear, knock on wood. I made a vow to shave my head every year on St. Patrick's Day until a cure for children's cancer is found, because I do not have the intelligence nor the stomach to be a pediatric oncologist like my saviour, Doctor Gowda. Besides going bald, Spring Break has been pretty solid. I went on a cruise and soared like a bird over Paradise Island, Bahamas. Besides Spring Break, life on a holistic level, has been pretty solid. I'm contemplating over the decisions that I have to make in the Spring because life is like one big poker game, sometimes you got to wager a lot but the reward may be worth the risk. I've made some bad decisions on my life, or so I thought. You just got to have faith in others and remain confident, no matter how hard life gets. If you strongly believe in faith and remain confident and give everything time, then all works out. Getting cancer in the junior year of high school was a huge detriment for my social maturing, but I've made up for all the thrills I missed junior year, and realize that I was not missing out on that much. Like they say in the Bahamas and Caribbean, same shit same island. Same goes in college, same shit same party. All parties are the same. The alcohol is flowing, the students are acted like horny dogs, humping and grinding on the dance floor, and in the back room, your friend is probably getting lucky with one of the easy ones that's slept with more than half of the fraternity. There's more to life than tits and ass in a masculine tone. It's not about being the big man on campus, it's about being happy with yourself and being cocky with yourself not others. These next few days should be the happy ending to Spring Break, lmao. I love Umiami but for some reason, it just does not live up to the party reputation that it's rumored about being. UCF or the University of Cristal Fellas, knows how to entertain their clients. We'll I got to get some work done. Check back on Sunday for an updated blog about the remainder of Spring Break.

Walking Forward, Not Backwards Anymore

So it's been a while since I wrote a blog. Life has been picking up, but it's not a constant marathon yet. At times I find myself overwhelmed with too much to do, while at others, I find myself bored. Fraternity life is gooooooood! It feels great wearing my letters on a weekly basis and representing the Jewish men of tomorrow. It's almost Spring Break and I'm beyond excited for it! I'm going to the Bahamas and then continue ShitFest '09 in OTOWN with some UCF and Rollins craziness. I'm still in the process of figuring out my future and where I'm headed, but right now I'm living in the present and enjoying the moments. I'm not sure where I'll be in a couple months, but I believe everything happens for a reason so I'll wait and see and then make my mind up. I'm becoming more spiritual and in touch with my Jewish roots and maybe spending some time in Eretz Israel. I'm also working on maybe interning at one of my dad's new firms in New York City or at a firm in Atlanta, GA. I'm just living the American dream and stabbing my fork in that pie and taking one bite at a time. Right now, I'm very busy planning St. Baldrick's Day 2009 "The Bald and The Beautiful" at UMiami. I'm never putting my sword down till I kill that malignant bastard, cancer. Until my next post, adios

Letting My True Colors Show

So after months and months of speculation, Alpha Epsilon Pi, the predominant Jewish fraternity is making its' return to the University of Miami. I've always wanted to join a fraternity and Alpha Epsilon Pi had always been my first choice, had plans of rushing in Spring 2008 at Maryland, had I not done things on impulse, I'd most likely be brother of the University of Maryland Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter and still pursuing my studies at the Smith School of Business. My father was a brother of AEPi at the University of Tennessee but then transferred to Boston University and did not go thru the Greek route during that transition. I've always been enriched in my religious roots, it was a little hard for me growing up in a reform household because I was the only one of three Jewish children who wanted to have a full three-hour Passover seder, but I was lucky to get my older brother, Evan, and my dad to allow me to say the Four Questions as I was the youngest child. Ever since I became a student at Miami, observing Shabbat on a weekly schedule has become a lifestyle. This past summer I had the opportunity to make the journey over to Eretz Israel and it was truly one of the most educational and inspirational trips that I've taken in my whole entire 20 years of living. Seeing the mountains that Hashem himself created with my own eyes was like eating ice cream for the first time. Visiting the Kotel and placing prayer scrolls in the crevices did not seem real. The trip was all dream to me, but the concept of living life is a dream in my own eyes. There's just a warmth and feeling of genuity with the Jewish religion that allows me to create such strong bonds with my fathers and sons. I'm hoping AEPi develops into a strong family of brothers, brothers who could live their lifes through the good and bad and still remain blood thick in the end. May we bleed blue and yellow forever and ever, until the last drops of our spiritual fluids enlight the world.

The Remedies of Life

Finally! After five days of poisoning myself with Azithromycin, a ill-tasting, pink solution, amongst other normal medications (Benadryl, Tylenol, Robitussin, cough drops, etc.), I am beginning to feel like the million-dollar man again. Not just physically either, I'm feeling spiritually refined. These next two months are so jammed pack that I will no longer have time to ponder about the queries of life. With the colonization of Alpha Epsilon Pi on Friday, Sportfests on Saturday and Sunday, Jewish convention in New Jersey next week, Miami Heat-Philly 76'ers game... and then by the time I know it, it will be Spring Break, and I'll be rebelling against the legalities of society, participating in underage drinking games and jerking myself around the floor, a little activity known as "dancing". My weekends are transforming from days of boredom and depression into ones filled with excitement and meaning. Although, I'm not satisfied that my weekends are not mirroring my memories of College Park, I've been taking care of that and we shall see how everything maps out in these next couple of months. Now, I'm kind of behind in some classes so I'll have to spend these next couple of days at the library, feeding my brain with loads and loads of crap about the government, accounting principles, and god knows what else. As long as I can pull off another legit index for this semester and maintain my stellar cumulative average, we'll be good! Also, I'm busy planning St. Baldrick's Day. Yep!, I think I may've finally knocked some sense into the student body at Miami, but I'm still looking for guinea pigs to shave their heads, so if you're not an insecure Miami jock, then get at me and shave my head for a good cause. Who knows, you may even save a life in the process. On top of all this Miami business, I still have to finish my essays for certain applications, DON'T ASK because I'm not saying a word what they are for, but you may find out in the near future. I'm going to poison myself once more with that pink crap.