steve's blog

berlin zoo

Study abroad students offer some advice for those going abroad next semester—Berlin, Paris, Buenos Aires, London, Madrid.

The Violet

UPON the mead a violet stood,
Retiring, and of modest mood,

In truth, a violet fair.
Then came a youthful shepherdess,
And roam'd with sprightly joyousness,
And blithely woo'd

With carols sweet the air

"Ah!" thought the violet, "had I been
For but the smallest moment e'en

Nature's most beauteous flower,
'Till gather'd by my love, and press'd,
When weary, 'gainst her gentle breast,
For e'en, for e'en

One quarter of an hour!"

Alas! alas! the maid drew nigh,
The violet failed to meet her eye,

She crush'd the violet sweet.
It sank and died, yet murmur'd not:
"And if I die, oh, happy lot,
For her I die,

And at her very feet!"

The New York Times reviews a bunch of new travel books, including the 2009 edition The Best American Travel Writing.

Xialou Gou talks about the novel. Here's another video with her discussing the book, and a Radio Interview.  And here's a review of her new book,  Once Upon a Time Proletarian, and a review of her new movie, "She, a Chinese."

Host-dad Nicola, geology professor at the University of Pisa.

A great professor at NYU-Berlin, the illustrious Dr. Jander.

The chori vendor and the yanquis.

When a baguette is not just a loaf of bread.

Doing the front & back regions with mom in Paris.