Beliefs, preferences, ways of doing the things that define not only an individual, but, sometimes, too, a group of people. Behaviours, thus, can define some particular trends, like cultural festivities in any given country, be them to celebrate a National Day, local food, religious beliefs and different kinds of alcohol —for alcohol is usually an important part of any kind of celebration and, thus, should too be celebrated— among others. And regarding the CEU student community, this can be recognized in some customary practices that can be regularly seen on campus.
Therefore, the following informal article aims to recognize some of those random practices that CEU students do, the spots they frequent, the why and the symbols they may carry —whether they know it or they don’t care at all.
The Not-So-Japanese Garden
 |
Maybe trying to carry the Japanese minimalist spiritual experience in its design, the smokers preferred spot located at the second floor can be described, besides the above given statement, in many ways, except for being Japanese. Some loud conversations happen there, some other secret ones too, but especially some small talk —the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, be it rolled or from a package— is the regular atmosphere happening there.
No sakura tree and its cherry blossom say ‘present’, nor the standard, hard, itchy Japanese grass. No katanas or kimonos decorate the place, either. Speaking with a Japanese friend while smoking a cigarette there some days ago he told me: “I’m the only thing that’s Japanese in this place. It should be my garden.” A girl smoking right next to him started laughing, for smokers know it’s theirs.
The Sleeping Basement
To nap in times of stress and hurry should be considered an art. Between exams, lectures, readings and assignments, finding the —much needed— calm to take a well deserved rest can be hard. Freaking hard. Nevertheless, like when one looks for the light at the end of the tunnel, lost in a long corridor, passing a cafeteria, a procrastination paradise awaits for the exhausted ones —and the lazy ones, too.
Several couches and cushions, almost like beds, are there most probably to give some sort of comfortable reading position for students. But taking a nap is always much better. Rested inspiration is mandatory for correct reading, we could say. Just watch it with your sleeping pictures taken by the envious ones who couldn’t get a cushion.
The Cultural Festival
 |
A yearly celebration, it’s that moment at the start of the year when the different people from all over the world that conform CEU Community try to improvise with all their heart a little stand —with food, alcohol, games, geography lessons, national dresses, etc.— to show the basis of their identity. Not-so-culturally-committed assistants get to learn, to drink, to laugh, to drink, to eat, to drink, to dance and to drink —among others— for free, in an ambiance of true joy and fraternity. The never-so-many drinks then open the doors for the afterwards partying craziness, where cultures stop being apart and tend to, graciously and physically, mix (for whatever that means).
Traditions, yes, form a spirit of union, of common identity and belonging. So, what do you think are other traditions in the making that will define CEU students in the years to come?
Thor Morante B.
MESPOM, Peru.
Photo1: aaronabroad.net
Photo 2: Natalia Mileszyk
0 comments:
Post a Comment