Every year since 2012, Harvard eschews its Puritan roots and shines a spotlight on a topic often deemed taboo in higher education: sex. Between Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, the campus organization Sex Education by Harvard College Students puts on its annual Sex Week. The week offers informational seminars on topics such as sexually transmitted […]
One of my closest friends recently experienced a Harvard student’s worst nightmare: a mid-semester concussion. What shocked me more than her text sharing the news was how it happened: a walking accident. My dear friend was speed-walking to class when she collided with another student, leaving her encounter with a new head injury. While this […]
On a warm September morning, the steps of Widener were crowded with students smiling for photos with friends. Their signs read “FDOC,” commemorating the First Day of Classes. Beyond the unusual pre-10:30 a.m. cheer, one thing stood out: their outfits. Every year, students don their finest polos and sundresses for the first week to impress […]
The coffee shop where I’m writing this isn’t as charming as my favorite cafés in Paris, like Café Vavin or Candle Kids Coffee, but it’s a holdover from my abroad days. When deciding where to work today, I debated between a West Village coffee shop and the Harvard Club of New York. As my roommate […]
One of the saddest parts of studying abroad during junior spring is saying goodbye to all the graduating seniors in December instead of May. I found it hard to properly bid adieu to all the wonderful people who shaped my first three years at Harvard—especially those at the Indy. So, to make up for it, […]
The other day, sipping on a macchiato while struggling to finish my art history final paper in a café near the Sorbonne, I overheard two abroad Americans chatting. They were discussing their excitement to return to the States—eager to see friends and family, ready to be home. As I listened to them rationalize why they […]
Last week, I reunited with my family’s former host daughter, Lola, in Kraków, Poland. Unlike my usual weekend getaways, this trip was a full-fledged week of living with Lola’s family, allowing me to be more of a visitor than a tourist. I participated in all kinds of Polish Easter traditions and experienced Kraków with someone […]
Every day, I walk seven minutes down Rue Orfila to the Gambetta Metro Station to take Line 3 toward Levallois. The transit part of my commute stays the same, but my short walk often changes. I vary which side of the street I take and when I cross, picking without rhyme or reason. Lately, however, […]
When I first saw the theme for this issue, I wasn’t sure what I could contribute. Weed is illegal in France, and without a trip to Amsterdam under my belt, I have no funny stories or observations to share. I briefly considered writing about Europe’s smoking culture, but there are only so many ways to […]
There’s always something to do in the kitchen—something to chop, something to peel, something to stir. Last weekend, after tiring myself of reading, painting, and walking around my host family’s country home, I wandered into the kitchen, where my host dad’s sister was preparing dinner and the next day’s lunch. Eager for a task, I […]