Christian The Lion: An Extraordinary Tale of Family Love

About a couple of weeks ago during the evening, I was watching this fascinating story on the news about a lion named Christian and his masters. I was immediately hooked on the story because it involved animals as well as the love and attachment between a naturally wild animal and humans.
You may have heard of the show called Kimba The White Lion. When it was first aired in America, it was praised for its storyline of love, life and compassion. The story was also praised because of the positive connection the lion had with humans. The original show aired in 1966 and was remade in 1993. It is quite extraordinary that filling the gap between humans and animals is not just a fictional tale, for it can and already has happened in real life.
Christian was separated from his parents at a young age and put up for sale is Harrods, a London department store in 1969. Christian's parents lived in a zoo, the father came from the Rotterdam zoo and the mother from Jerusalem, and they lived at the Ilfracombe Zoo.
Two men named Anthony Bourke and John Rendall adopted him from Harrods after immediately falling in love with him. They bought him when he was only a few weeks old and soon after named him Christian. The two men immediately bonded with Christian and gave him the best life that they could. "Christian was a very intelligent and remarkable lion," the men raved. "And gentle to everyone!"
As Christian grew, he needed to have a larger area to roam and live, much larger than the type of facility that Tony and John could provide. They made the decision to release him safely into the wilds of Africa. He was ultimately reintroduced to the wild by conservationist George Adamson.
One year later in 1972, his former owners decided to go find Christian in the wild and were wondering if Christian would still remember them. Amazingly enough, he did, and he ran up to them and gently arched up and wrapped his shoulders around their arms. The other lions in the pride were also gentle and friendly. In 1974, Christian had cubs of his own! :]
This story brings me tears of joy everytime I go back on the internet and read the story. I highly reccomend it and viewing the video of the reunion filmed in the 1970's:
*Also, be sure to check out the film: "Christian the Lion" AND the book "A Lion Called Christian." Your hearts will be surely touched as did mine!

Review of the Palm Restaurant

Not too long ago, my boyfriend took me on a date to a very exquisite restaurant called the Palm. It was highly recommended to us by a family friend, so we decided to try it. It was imperative that we make a reservation early that day and event then when we called up there was only two time slots available: 5:00PM and 9:30PM. Neither of us like to eat late so of course we chose 5:00. The place was quite crowded, and thankfully we did not have to wait for our table long! The host was very prompt and formal with serving us; he sat us in a fairly large both on the opposite side of the restaurant near the courtyard.
The waiter offered some of the best service I have ever had. He was very cordial and always asked in a timely matter how the food was and served our drinks and food just at the right time. The food was amazing! My salmon was done just right and my boyfriend Kris ordered a steak with a baked potato on the side. He was also very satisfied with his food. We just had to order dessert at this point! Even though the portions were very large and satisfying, we decided to take what we could not finish home and save room for the dessert. We both had tea and split what's called a Molten Chocolate Cake. Absolutely by far the best!
I suggest you check out the Palm at some point! I especially recommend it for a special occasion, such as a birthday or an anniversary. The Palm is located throughout the U.S. in major cities and internationally. Some cities include: two locations in NYC, Long Island, San Juan, Mexico City, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Las Vegas and Philadelphia.
The restaurant was founded in 1926 and is a popular hot spot for celebrities! I recommend joining the 837 club, where you can earn points for free food and prizes every time you dine there!

Hidden Treasures of New York City

As a Manhattanville student, I would assume that you have visited New York City at least once and are pretty familiar with its most popular destinations: The Empire State Building, Time Square, Broadway, Central Park, The Statue of Liberty, etc. Here are some "hidden treasures" of NYC that I love to recommend:

1. Pellegrino's Restaurant in Little Italy has some of the best Italian food I have ever tried. Even though it is a bit pricey, you are getting ever value for your dollar.

2. The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a spectacular place to visit all year round. I would highly recommend the Cherry Trees (especially in mid-April), the bonsai trees, and Rose Garden. It is a very tranquil place to walk around or take a loved one for a quaint romantic time together. Also, before noon on Saturday is free!

3. The United Nations is an amazing place to visit because there is always something going on, whether it be an exhibit as you walk in or a special visitor, you are guaranteed to be in awe! Be sure to take a tour and visit the Delegate's Dining room. Be sure to make your reservations in advance to enjoy a wonderfully prepared prix-fixe buffet. Also, the United Nations is just a short walk from Grand Central Station! It is located on 45th Street and 1st Ave.

4. Zabar's is one of the best grocery stores I have been to. I find myself in their for hours shopping for delicious food! They sometimes hold cooking seminars! Zabar's originated in the 1930's and is currently located on the Upper West Side.

5. The Earth Room is located in SoHo and is certainly one of NYC's most unusual attractions. it is a massive interior sculpture that was introduced to the public in the late 1970's. It is 250 cubic yards and weighs 280,000 lbs.!

6. The Neue Galerie contains the Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky collection of Austrian and German fine decorative arts as well the gift shop. Also, check out Café Sabarsky!

Future Career Plans

Lately, I have been contemplated my ideas for future career plans. People tell me that I should not have to think so hard about what I want to do as far as a career, however I feel it is important to start looking sooner than later and have a good idea of what you want to do. Otherwise, you may not be well prepared for the job market and get lost in the shuffle of recent graduates and employment seeker.

Ever since I started representing Manhattanville College as a non-governmental organization to the United Nations, I have become fascinated with how the United Nations works as far as aiding with peaceful relations between countries as well as the building's internal diversity among it workers and the interesting meetings I have attended. I have attended secure meetings that cover tops such as UNICEF's World Aid and Immunization Report, Arms Trade, the Economic Crisis, The Slave Trade, and Women's Rights. I would like to work as a journalist or professional writer for the United Nations reporting on events and writing the programs for the meetings. Also, because I am interested in traveling, I have a strong interest doing freelance writing while traveling around the world and submitting my articles to magazines and newspapers.

I also have a strong interest to go into the professional writing field as an editor or as a professional writer for marketing labels and companies for advertising purposes.

Finally, I would also like to be able to teach American Literature and Creative Writing at the university level as a part time professor. I am interested in obtaining my master's degree in English and possible furthering my education farther to the doctorate level.

I understand that this is a lot to juggle, but this is what interests me. I enjoy being very busy and working with strict due dates while also having the opportunity to write as a leisure. As you can tell, writing is a large part of my life and look forward to making it my career!

My Summer Plans

I am so relieved that classes are almost over and that vacation is just around the corner. Even though this has been my most challenging semester thus far, the time has sped by. As far as my summer plans, I am the type of person that enjoys planning ahead, sometimes even months and months in advance, although a few happy surprises along the way couldn't hurt. For the month of May, I plan to spend some time at home in CT and Long Island with my family and friends. I love going back to Connecticut and visiting because it is so relaxing and even though I have not seen most of my friends there for many months, when we see each other it is as if no time has past. Of course I will miss my friends here at college. It is tentative or not that I will be visiting my grandparents in Florida during the third week of May. I love visiting them and their two kitties, Simba and Panther. I have known Simba since I was little and have known Panther for almost two years (he's the baby and just so playful). However, my grandparents will be coming up to Long Island and Connecticut to visit the family a week from today! I am so excited!

For the lat week of May and the first week of June, I will be spending time out in the Hamptons with my boyfriend Kris. We plan on visiting his family and friends, sailing, BBQs, flying, swimming, hanging out at the beach and much more! If I land an internship at a television station, I will be living with Kris for a month or so in PA. After that, I would love to travel to NYC to visit a friend that will be leaving for Japan, Albany, Vermont, and maybe Maine.

Another important event I plan to attend is the Artists and Writer's Softball Game held annually every August in East Hampton, NY. I hope that for this year I will be able to play on the writer's side.

I also wish a pleasant and awesome summer to everyone else! Also, Happy Graduation (for those who are graduating). :]

Ridiculous Summer Housing Cost

Originally for the month of May, I was planning to work at the college admissions office as a tour guide and admissions assistant. However, this plan did not work out so well. I am still in shock over this. Last year, I remember that if you had a job at the admissions office, you were able to live on campus for free during the month of May, and for every other week on campus in June, July and August, it cost a mere fifty dollars. Even if it cost fifty dollars for the month of May it wouldn't have been bad because I would have made approximately $120-150 each week. I was amazed to hear from residence life that the weekly fee to live on campus for the month of May is $500! I could not believe this! This is as much as living in a franchise hotel during the week! How could anyone afford this, and what is the point in having a job when all the money you make and more is going to your housing! That is absurd! I feel very badly for the international students that are not able to afford a flight home and were planning to live on campus for the summer. "What am I supposed to do now? A flight home costs almost $1,000 one way! I have to now figure out what I am going to do and fast!" Some individuals are rushing to find off campus apartments which may cost them about $400 a month and up and that is still expensive. I wish I had known sooner about the abrupt increase in the housing cost, that way I would have looked for a job at home, even though those jobs are scarce. I am now looking for jobs practically anywhere. It is tough, but I am optimistic about the outcome!

Visit Sag Harbor

Sag Harbor is an historical town located on the eastern end of Long Island in an area called the Hamptons. My grandparents used to live there for almost thirty years and I grew up in East Hampton, a town not too far away. In my opinion, Sag Harbor is one of the most eclectic and friendly small towns I have ever been to. Anything you are looking for, whether it be a great place to go sailing and surfing to enjoying a night on the town, you can find it there! Living there is very private and peaceful, whether you want to live in the town, or on the outskirts in a quaint neighborhood or down a quiet single lane road.
The town of Sag Harbor is full of rich history. In the eighteenth century, the town used to be an international port. During the Revolutionary War, some of the battles were fought in Sag Harbor. One of the famous battles is known as Meigs Raid. American patriots attacked and killed six British soldiers and captured 90 of them. The town was unsuccessfully attacked by British soldiers during the War of 1812. The whaling industry is prominent within the town's history. The industry was at its peak in the 1840's. The town of Sag Harbor is even mentioned in the novel Moby Dick.
Today, the town has diverse population of yearly visitors and an overall friendly population. Their are whaling museums, and historical museums that are fun to check out. Also, the library is a unique place to visit because it is one of the oldest buildings in the town. There you can find a number of original texts, journals, and books from the eighteenth and nineteenth century that tell stories and historical accounts of the town. The oldest building in the town is the Umbrella house. It housed British troops during the Revolutionary War and was hit by a cannon fire during the War of 1812. The building was restored soon after the war ended. There is also the Whalers Church Museum on Union Street. It is also known as the First Presbyterian Church.
The houses in town are so beautiful. Most of them have been deemed historical homes. It is always relaxing to walk by them; most are located right after the other.
As far as entertainment and shopping go, Sag Harbor's got it! There are great shops on the wharf and at the center of town. But beware of tourist traps. Though there are some shops such as the Wharf Shop, Island Surf and Kites of the Harbor that have cute gifts for mostly children as well as adults, there are some shops that have over the top prices! Those shops are mostly located right of RT-114 along the wharf. As far as restaurants, the town has everything from Thai and Japanese to Spanish, Italian and French. My personal recommendations are Il Cappuccino and La Superica. Another great restaurant is called Capelletti's, just a ten minute drive near Long Beach not too far from the Town of Sag Harbor.
If you would like to stay in Sag Harbor, the hotels are excellent and convenient. Both the Barons Cove Inn and the Sag Harbor Inn are within a short walking distance to the center of town! For the cheapest rates, stay during the weekdays or during off season!
I also suggest to take walks along the beaches such as Haven's Beach and Long Beach. Though there is an enormous seasonal fee if you are from out of town, what you can do is park away from the beach and walk. With Haven's Beach, for example, it is an easy walk from the Sag Harbor hotels!
Lastly, Sag Harbor is a beautiful town to visit during Christmas. The town is lit up with lights and there are colored lights on all the pine trees outside the shops. A small tree is also set in the center of the pond in town every year (one of the many simple traditions of the Harbor).

Clothing Shopping in the Hamptons

This summer, or in fact any weekend, a place I would love to suggest to travel to is the Hamptons. This small area on the eastern end of Long Island is little known. If you are familiar with the Hamptons, you may have heard that it is a getaway area for celebrities. This is true, many celebrities do live out their and on some days, you can spot quite a number of them, whether it be on a street corner, in the post office, or in a club.You may have heard that many of the shops are very expensive to shop in. This is true, however there are many shops that have great, unique items for a very affordable price. There are some stores, like LF in Southampton and East Hampton that have excellent sales at the end of the summer and fall season. The clothes can range anywhere from 60-80% off the original price!
There is also a shop called Scoop in East Hampton. This store also has locations in NYC and in Nassau County. This store has trendy pieces from top designers for men, women, and children. They have an excellent selection of blue jeans from brands such as Citizens of Humanity and 7 for all Mankind. I would suggest checking their website, because many of their sales are sporadic throughout the year. The final store is a cute boutique called Back from Bali. The store is located in a town called Sag Harbor, about ten minutes from East Hampton. They offer a wide selection of affordable shirts, pants skirts. They also children's novelty toys, soaps and other bath products, shoes, incents, body oils, and other similar items. The soaps are all created locally and smell terrific. The scents include lemon, orange, and nectarine! This store also sells penny candy! Other popular shops in the Hamptons include: Ralph Lauren, Rugby, Calypso, and J Crew.
If you are interested in purchasing "Hamptons" apparel, there are various shops you can visit, depending on which town you would like the label to be. For example, if you want a t-shirt that says "Sag Harbor" on it you can visit the variety store or a shop called Kites of the Harbor. There are also various shops in East Hampton and Southampton on Main Street that sell such apparel.

Study Abroad- Ireland and England

For the past month, I have been searching for study abroad programs that match my interest. Instead of studying during a semester, I decided instead that I would like to travel to either England or Ireland during one summer and study literature, film or writing. There is a website called Academic Programs International or API that offers many programs around the world for undergraduate study. Many students and professors have recommend that I study abroad. Studying abroad enhances ones' open-mindedness and it helps you to better prepare for the future. "The ability to communicate in another language and adjust to living in a new culture are skills that are well-received by potential employers." The cities I am focusing on possibly studying in are London, Leeds, Cork, Galway, and Limerick. I real like the program that API offers because I am able to study abroad for as little as four weeks and earn up to six credits. I am looking to earn at least six credits so I am able to graduate early. Another important reason why I like the program through API is because they offer a wide range of scholarships in amounts ranging from $250-$1,000 per student. I am very fond of the program in England because I will be studying with both British and International students in both Leeds and London. I really am interested in meeting new people from around the globe and learning about them and where they come from. I am very "culturally curious." In Ireland, the program is excellent because I will be studying and living with Irish and foreign students. Another important aspect of the study abroad program is it easy to travel around Europe by traveling on high speed trains and taking short flights to surrounding countries such as France and Sweden.

Apply Online! For more information on the study abroad program call: 1-800-844-4124

Caribbean Island: Antigua and Barbuda

A particular island I recommend visiting is the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, located just an hour southeast of Puerto Rico by plane. Most flights have a connection in Puerto Rico. However there are many airlines and airports throughout the United States and the world that offer direct flights. I would consider Antigua to be among one of the hidden treasures of the world, simply because the island is simply so peaceful, every single beach on the island is public, and the people are extremely friendly and laid back. Once you arrive in Antigua at the VC Bird Airport, you know that it is "island time." I have had the exciting opportunity to visit the island twice so far. Antigua was actually the first country I visited outside of the United States! I would first recommend the island because it has some of the top most beautiful and clean beaches in the world, including Half Moon Bay! Other reasons to visit the island include: dining at fine European restaurants such as Italian, English and French cuisines, unlimited water sports, Sting Ray and other animal observations, casinos, clubs, canopy tours, watching cricket (the nation's main sport), hiking, sailing and visiting well known land marks such as Devil's Bridge, Nelson's Dockyard, Harmony Hall, Shirley Heights, and the sugar cane houses. There are luxurious hotels located both on the Caribbean and Atlantic side of the island. There is also the option of staying in a private home at an affordable price! It is especially neat to see the animals on the island, such as monkeys, parrots, mongoose, goats, horses, and donkeys!
The island gained independence from Great Britain on November 1, 1981 and its' currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. U.S. dollars are accepted, therefore it is not necessary to figure an exchange rate.
Antigua looks forward to seeing you soon!

End of Semester & Italian Language

I am astonished as to how fast this semester has progressed! Sometimes when I try to remember past events, I sometimes cannot tell whether they occured in the Fall of 2008 or this Spring! I would mostly assume that it was because this is by far the busiest semester for me as a college student. With taking 19 credits, writing for three newspapers, applying for internships, being student coordinator of a Duchesne program, as well as being a part of the Manhattanville Music Program as a violinist, it can be very mind-boggling. I cannot say which course is the most difficult, but I will say I put a great deal of effort into most of my classes. The least stressful classes this semester are Italian and American Literature. I have found learning Italian to be very helpful for me. For one, it has helped me to brush up on my Spanish as well as help to give me the opportunity to speak to my grandfather in his native language. When I attempted to speak with my grandpa in person in Italian during my spring break, he explained that I was speaking "as if it were from a textbook (or very formal). He said he understood most of what I was saying, however he is more familiar with the Italian dialect. He taught me that the "language" and "dialect" are very different from one another. It is parallel to "slang English" and "written English." To help me, he taught me some Italian dialect!
I look forward to a smooth finish of my spring semester and am looking forward to a my first internship opportunity this summer.