New Years at Siloso Beach in Singapore

I left my current home in Hanoi to party it up with a crowd of 08’ers here in Singapore. It was pretty great to reunite with old friends in a totally new locale - certainly made the global Princeton family feel even more tight knit.

Kurt Kuehne (’08) and I began with dinner at the foodstall hawker center in the center of town. Kebabs and meat soup, OJ and Tiger beer, and followed with fried dough and a mango-milk-ice creation were our last meal of the year.

From there, we made our way towards Sentosa, one of Singapore’s nightlife spots. It's actually a party island, though like much of Singapore, it's got the same super clean and overly planned feeling that Disney World does, which makes it less convincing as a wild, hedonistic party. 

Speaking of perfect - the air was rolling in off the ocean, cool and not polluted, something I appreciate coming from Hanoi. We walked with flocks of other people in beach attire down towards the booming music at the Siloso Beach Party, with fireworks going off around us. It took us a while to navigate the system of redeeming our one free drink – critical to we PiAers of little budget in a country with an alcohol tax as high as Singapore’s – and then went over to meet Jay Serpe, Caroline Loevner, Colin Emerson (all ’08) and Nathan Edgerton (’07) in the hookah tent.

We relaxed and chatted, as the PiA-Singapore teachers all caught up with each other on their adventures traveling during their school holidays – trips back home to California and crazy tales of traveling in Myanmar – until just about quarter to midnight.

Realizing we only had a few more minutes of 2008, we joined the crowd of Singaporeans (ethnically Malaysian, Chinese, Indian etc etc), foreign expats, and visitors of all ages on the beach near the stage. As the DJ reminded us how many minutes of 2008 remained (15 minutes! ... 10 minutes!), I thought how in 2008 I'd managed to graduate from college, move to Asia, and was now celebrating the start of 2009 with a sand-and-foam-covered international mélange of people.

It made me wonder what 2009 will bring for me, and for all of us in the class of 2008, especially given the whirlwind turns of events in the US the past few months. 

Fortunately, we hit 10 seconds, then 5, then 3…2…1! and all the big questions about the future were forgotten. For the next hours, it was all about the party (and the giant trampoline). 

HAPPY NEW YEARS! For those in New York (my original, original home town), enjoy the last hours of 2008 - we're already in recovery mode here, and the ball is just about to drop in Times Square. I hope the champagne is flowing.

Alanna Gregory is directing and co-producing Thailand's first-ever official production of "The Vagina Monologues" in Bangkok. Amelia Salyers '08 and Caroline James '05 are both featured actresses in the cast. In case you happen to be passing through Bangkok in the near future, the show will run on

• February 27, 2009 at 8 p.m.
• February 28, 2009 at 8 p.m.
• March 1, 2009 at 8 p.m.

The show is raising money to build a safe house for women and girls about an hour and a half outside of Bangkok. The project will be administered through the Emergency Home and Relief Fund for Women and Children in Distress.

If you want to learn more about the V-day campaign, you can go to http://www.vdaybkk.blogspot.com/ or to their website http://events.vday.org/2009/Community/Bangkok_(TVM). You can donate directly to the campaign on the blog or website. Alanna and her team will also be selling t-shirts an merchandise that people can order off their blog.

GO VAGINAS!

Even though this post may be a bit outdated, I just wanted to follow up on Regina’s reflection on the presidential election last week.

As many of you have read and seen by now, the election night was absolutely nuts. The craze spread not only around this country, but around the world as well. I wanted to share with you couple of experiences and thoughts after witnessing this.

My mom wept after the election and through Obama’s speech. They were not tears of disappointment, but rather tears of joy and hope. His sincerity, vision, seriousness, and a sense of understanding were overpowering. This was my mother’s first election as a citizen of the United States. I believe she embodies the statement that “anything is possible in America” through her own experiences. After all, she decided to move to the United States with only two suitcases while not knowing an ounce of English or having deep understanding of the local culture and customs. All in search of a better life.

That statement—anything is possible in America, or even “the land of opportunity”—has never rang more true than on Tuesday night November 4th when the unprecedented happened. A black man with a Muslim name became the President of the most powerful and wealthiest country in the world. She couldn’t be happier for him and his family as they faced their own struggles and she hers. She cast her first vote, in Florida of all places, and the result strengthened her hope not only in the infinite possibilities, but this country as well.

I enjoyed this night as well in the streets of Seattle. It certainly was a special one. I could attempt to describe the feeling of what it was like out there, but I am afraid I would do it no justice. Hence, I found this excerpt from a local blogger who was out there as well. I think his prose captures the feeling and scene better than I could.

“It was absolute unbridled celebration. Not for any reason other than people just needed to be together to celebrate. I tried to liken it to anything else I've ever experienced. Mardi Gras came to mind, but that's a planned event. New Years Eve is comparable, but not really. This wasn't people having a party. This was people thanking each other, thanking life, thanking the world. This was people suddenly realizing that they did something. Something big and lasting and great. That they decided enough was enough, and they did something about it. It was urgent celebration. The kind that we had been waiting for. The kind that couldn't wait any longer.

It was everything we wanted to happen and never imagined was actually possible. Imagining a city of people gathering just to gather, celebrating because the occasion called for it, cheering and hugging and laughing because everything had gone right...it was unbelievable in the truest sense of the word.

Yes, it'll take me a long time to digest this. President Barack Obama from Kansas, Hawaii, Indonesia, Kenya. President Barack Obama from community organizing in Chicago. It's okay to believe in something. It's not ridiculous to hope and have faith in the power of the human spirit, the definitive, life-altering power of community. It is what works.”

I am attaching few photos from the night. They were mainly posted by either locals who were there. One of pictures was in the Seattle Times the following morning. The beach photo was printed in the LA Times.

Reflections on the Election - How We Experienced History

November 4th, 2008 is a day that I will never forget. It marks both the culmination and the start of a new democratic movement in the U.S. Young voters and minority voters showed up to the polls yesterday in record-breaking numbers. People felt involved in the election, devoted to the promise that we, together, will change America for the better.

As the results rolled in from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., our classmates were glued to their T.V. or computer screens across the country and world, or perhaps celebrating at a Boston bar, in Times Square or even at Grant Park in Chicago. How did you experience election night? Write a post so we can see the election through your eyes.

November 5 PAW Column

Dozens of ’08ers flocked back to campus for Homecoming weekend to throw back some spiced rum and hot apple cider at our joint ’08/’07 tailgate and cheer on our football squad. Check out photos from that weekend our class blog!

But tailgating isn’t the only event that’s brought us back together. NICOLE VELASCO organized New York City’s first ’08 bar night on September 26 so that recent graduates could reunite in their new 'big city' digs. Below the decadent chandeliers of Butterfield 8, Princetonians gathered for an open bar and a chance to reminisce.

MARTIN JANCIK hosted an event in Seattle earlier that month that gathered about 10 classmates at the Twist Restaurant & Lounge. Among those present were SAM GROSSBERG, ROBERT BRUESEWITZ, YANG DAI, HAROLD PRATT AND PAUL KOMPFNER, as well as some people from ’07 and ’06. While not scheduling happy hours, MARTIN works for Public Financial Management, a financial advisory firm that provides debt management and other financial services to clients in the public arena, such as governments and public authorities.

CAROLINE ENGLISH has been running a lot. She ran 26 miles in the NYC Marathon on Nov. 2 and raised over $1,500 for the charity A Running Start. This foundation aims to use the power of sports to improve the lives of young East Africans, an area of the world which holds particular significance for her because of her study of Swahili at Princeton and her two visits there.

MAX STALLER, LEO UNGAR, and DANNY LIEBER (l. to r.) are living together in Cambridge. DANNY and MAX have both started a PhD program in Systems Biology at Harvard, and LEO is pursuing a Masters at the Divinity School in Academic Religion.

COURTNY HOPEN is working with United for Peace, a New Orleans nonprofit that has organized anti-violence demonstrations by uniting local families, musicians, poets and artists. COURTNY has been collaborating with the project Portraits for Peace, in which volunteer artists paint portraits of murder victims for their families and loved ones. She also plans to help organize an art exhibit of the portraits to raise money for the organization. (check out her blog at http://stormsaintstreetcars.blogspot.com/)

Homecoming 2008 Blowout, our Tailgate Topped the Game

You guys showed up, and I doubt you regretted it. It may have been raining, and it may have been very bizarre to be back on campus after so many weeks of the so-called real world, but it was good times.

Timmy Boardman and PJ (two of class’ new reunions chairs) showed up early to pick up our kegs and the ingredients for our special spiced apple cider. We all owe them thanks for the fuzzy feeling we had during the tailgate and game.

A chartered party bus carrying about 35 New Yorkers arrived at 11 a.m. Their party had already started, so they were sad to see that the tailgate was not quite at their level yet. They ordered the driver to keep tooling around town to give them some more pre-game time. Meanwhile, Boardman was unloading the Varsity Liquors van and prepping the cider.

Other New Yorkers, tired from a late Friday night, were just beginning to board trains at Penn Station to make the long journey South to their alma mater.

It's safe to say that our class tent was the largest and most exciting throughout the morning. We had so many members of 08, 07 and even some from 06 and 05 that there was barely enough space to stay dry under the tent. People at the edges received a harsh reality check when gusts of wind sent water careening over the edge of the tent and onto dry sweaters, especially onto those who were trying to pour some spice into their cider. Chad, Melissa,Dorie and Emily (l. to r.) were able to avoid most of the water as they stood outside the tent.

Many of us made our way over to the stadium at half-time. Things were looking good, as Princeton was up 14-0 despite the fowl weather. We didn’t even mind that we had to pay for our tickets for the first time in years. But then the game took a turn for the worse. Our boys carried the ball almost 90 yards but couldn’t score. Then Harvard began to catch up and overtake us, ending at 24-20.

“I feel like I’m saying the same thing after every game,” Jordan Culbreath ’10 said after the game to a Prince reporter. “We come out in the second half, and we blow it.”
These words may be true, but Jordan shouldn’t worry too much. We, the alums, were just there to re-live our own glory days. Everyone was too distracted by the beer and the rain to pay too close attention to the game. Members of classes stretching back to the 1950s were just happy to have another excuse to don their orange hats and Pton ties and talk about the days when Princeton football was a national powerhouse.

PHOTO ROUND-UP

Jorge, Teddy, Kane and Colin beam in front of the Varsity truck.

Jana and Kristen stand in front of the make-shift stage. Did anybody know who that band was?

Martin, Matt, Teddy and Colin.

Andrew (07), Erica and Jess try to stay dry.

Oct. 8 PAW Column

Fall is here, but members of our class are still basking over some of the highlights from the summer. On the sports front, Diana Matheson helped guide the Canadian national soccer team to a quarter-final finish in its first Olympic Games since 1984. Though the team lost to the U.S. 1-2 in over-time, it won 2-1 against Argentina, tied China 1-1 and lost to Sweden 1-2.

Sonja Novak is playing ice hockey for the Czech National Team in Prague for the next two years. She is also going to film school at FAMU international. Lizzie Keady trained with the U.S. National Women's hockey team in Lake Placid, NY this summer. From September 2008 to April 2009, she will play hockey with the U.S. select team in Blaine, MN as the 2010 Winter Olympics quickly approach.

Leanne Bellar, Kate Collier, Liz Bergold, Karen Aherne, Courtney Regan, Sarah Elrod, and Katy Andersen gathered at Broadwater Farm in PA for a track/crew team reunion in early August. The girls picked apples in the orchard, made bellinis, and caught up on their lives after post-graduation trips and moves to new apartments. Katy will be traveling to Italy this fall to study artisan cheese production for 9 months.

Connor Cobean also drove halfway across the country, but for a different cause. He left home in Maine for South Dakota to work as Deputy Finance Director for Senator Tim Johnson's re-election campaign. His work has included sealing and stamping envelopes and planning fundraising events in preparation for the 2008 election cycle.

Poh Lin has proven that the thesis is a gift that just keeps giving. He was awarded 1st place in the Interuniversity Consortium for Social and Political Research for a short version of his thesis on vegetarianism.

Regional Liaisons

Hey everyone,

Here is an updated list of the 2008 regional liaisons. If you are interested in getting involved, or just miss Princeton and want to hang out with other 08s in your region, reach out to these people! Contact me if you would like to represent your region at sarah.breslow@gmail.com.

Northeast:

Boston--Jana Holt (jana.holt@gmail.com); Linsay Jenkins (linsheshoo@gmail.com)

Boston/Providence--Christine Kansky (christine.kansky@gmail.com)

New York--Brian de la Rosa (brian.santana@gmail.com); Jocelyn Hanamirian (jocelyn.hanamirian@gmail.com); Nicole Velasco (nicole.velasco@gmail.com); Katie Lawrence (katie.b.lawrence@gmail.com); Elaine Yan-Yu Wong (elaine.yy.wong@gmail.com)

Philadelphia--Lauren Bierman (lbierman@princeton.edu)

Princeton/NJ--Megan McNall (megan.mcnall@gmail.com)

Washington D.C.--Leland Hull (leland.hull@gmail.com)

Lower South:

Miami--Francine Saunders (fsaunder@gmail.com)

Midwest:

Ann Arbor--Jim Meza (jamesmeza@gmail.com)

St. Louis--Rochelle Murray (ramurray3@gmail.com)

Cleveland--Aparna Swaminathan (aparna.swaminathan@gmail.com)

Chicago--Claire Henderson (chenders08@gmail.com)

West Coast:

Seattle--Martin Jancik (jancik.martin@gmail.com)

Los Angeles/Southern California--Maryam Khan (maryamwkhan@gmail.com); Fay Bi (fbi@princeton.edu)

San Francisco--CK Ying (ceekay.ying@gmail.com)

Abroad:

France/Italy/Continental Europe--Katy Anderson (katheryndanderson@gmail.com)

England (London)--Andrew Ward (apward08@googlemail.com)

Shanghai--Peter Varela (pvarela@princeton.edu)

September 24 PAW Column

September is here once again, but one thing is missing. We no longer have frosh week to force us to spend seven days catching up with friends. Our class has already spread out around the world, and we’re doing our best to keep in touch.

Ashley Geyer, Aaron Spolin, Geoff Nelson, Susan Shao, and Ramoncito David boarded a plane the day after graduation to travel across Europe – from London to Vienna.

Alex Peters, Katy Lankester, and Sam Grossberg (photo l.-r.) summited Mt. Princeton outside Buena Vista, CO in July. Though their packs were already heavy, they carried their '08 banner up for a celebratory photo on top of the 14,197 ft. peak.

Dozens of students have begun positions in the “Princeton in” Asia, Latin America and Africa programs. Ted Conbeer is working for a rock climbing adventure company in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Karen Bailey is teaching English in Nan, Thailand. Adam Flynn, who is teaching English in Cambodia, says he “may in fact be the largest person in the country.” You can read more about their firsthand experiences through their blogs, which are linked at Princeton2008.blogspot.com.

Various classmates have already headed back to the classroom. Gabriel Ivey began medical school at Howard University College of Medicine. He says the one downside is no free printing.

Fun, Crazy Regional Events

TODAY, September 18, in Seattle

When: Party starts at 7pm
Where: Twist Restaurant & Lounge

http://www.yelp.com/biz/twist-restaurant-and-lounge-seattle

Email Martin Jancik, jancik.martin@gmail.com, your Seattle Regional Liason for more info

Friday, September 26, in NYC

When: From 8:00pm to the midnight hour
Where: Butterfield8, 5 East 38th Street.
Open Bar from 9PM - 10PM
(beer, wine, and well drinks. *No shots*)
Say "Princeton" at the door.
You will receive your wristband at 9PM from the front bartender.

Email Nicole Velasco, nicole.velasco@gmail.com, for more info. or call her 808-375-9655

Classmates face uncertainty in NYC

The Daily Princetonian published a pretty comprehensive article this morning about the financial catastrophe at Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynchand how it is affecting Princetonians. Check out the article at the link below.

If you are living in NYC or working in the financial sector right now, what´s you take on what´s going on?

Alums face hazy future after Lehman Brothers collapse

A Shadow over the Olympics

The Olympic Games began today with an incredible lights show in Beijing and a parade of thousands of athletes from around the world. But one former Olympian, and Princetonian, has been denied access into the country. Joey Cheek '11, who won the gold and silver medals for speedskating in the 2006 Winter Olympics, was blocked from entering China just 24 hours before he was about to leave this week. He also happens to be the co-founder of Team Darfur, which is a coalition of athletes around the world who are campaigning for the end of genocide in Darfur. Joey seems to be a special case when it comes to promoting what you believe in. After winning his gold and silver medals two years ago, he donated his $40,000 in prize money to a nonprofit committed to ending the Darfur genocide, and then went on to raise a million for the cause. His latest campaign has been to push China to sign an Olympic Truce that would last for the 55 days of the Olympics and allow humanitarian workers more access in Darfur because of greater safety. This type of truce dates back to the Greek Games. China has rejected the idea.

To read more about this in the Boston Globe see an article at http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/olympics/articles/2008/08/06/the_other_cheek/

To see a video clip of Joey speedskating, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nh7C4vtza4

NYC Happy Time

Dearest homies,

If you're in NY, check out my blog. I post daily about fun things I'm going to do or wish I had time to do in NY. There's always something going on and I'd love for you to come with. :)

Nico's NYC Happy Time

See you there,
Nicole

Graduation Photos

The University posted tons of professional photos from Baccalaureate, Class Day and Commencement. Check them out here: http://www.princeton.edu/pr/gradpics/2008/index.html

Regional Liaisons Contacts

Here's the list of contact Regional Liaisons Officers (RLOs) : please email them for input in the events that you want to see happen in your area and to help on possible planning committees.

Northeast
Boston: Jana Holt (jana.holt@gmail.com); Linsay Jenkins (linsheshoo@gmail.com)

Boston/Providence: Christine Kansky (christine.kansky@gmail.com)

New York: Brian de la Rosa (brian.santana@gmail.com); Jocelyn Hanamirian (jhanamir@princeton.edu); Katie Lawrence (katie.b.lawrence@gmail.com); Nicole Velasco (nicole.velasco@gmail.com); Elaine Yan-Yu Wong (elaine.yy.wong@gmail.com)


Philadelphia: Lauren Bierman (lbierman@princeton.edu)


Princeton/NJ: Megan McNall (megan.mcnall@gmail.com)

Lower South
Miami: Francine Saunders (fsaunder@gmail.com)

Midwest
Ann Arbor: Jim Meza ( jamesmeza@gmail.com)
St. Louis: Rochelle Murray (ramurray3@gmail.com)
Cleveland: Aparna Swaminathan (aparna.swaminathan@gmail.com)

Chicago: Claire Henderson (chenders08@gmail.com)

Pacific
Seattle: Martin Jancik (jancik.martin@gmail.com)


California

Los Angeles/Southern California: Maryam Khan (maryamwkhan@gmail.com)


Abroad:

France/Italy/Continental Europe: Katy Andersen (kathryndandersen@gmail.com)
England (London): Andrew Ward (apward08@googlemail.com)
Shanghai: Peter Varela (pvarela@princeton.edu)


Feel free to contact us if you're lacking in RLO representation - you could be the next one!

thanks,
Alana

Class Video and Photo

Hi everyone,

  Here are the links...

Class photo : www.panfoto.com/photos/colleges/category.cfm?Category=16

contact person - Adam Lewis, 718.788.9595

Class video : for P-rade, Class Day, and Commencement www.princeton.edu/agencies/video.htm

contact info  609.258.4906

have a good holiday weekend,

Alana

Alumni site - TigerNet

Hi everyone, 

Check out alumni.princeton.edu to join area list-servs with Princeton alums (ex. princeton-boston, etc) or find out about the Princeton alumni events.

Update your info, emails, # etc to make sure you're in the loop for events, email-forwarding etc for reunions.

Keep in touch by commenting or posting (email reginablairlee@gmail.com to become a blogger)

continue enjoying summer!

Alana

Blog for the Class

Happy summer!

I hope this message finds each member of the Class of 2008 in a relaxing and fun place. I know of various people who are traveling the world (and starting to work) through a "Princeton in" Asia, Latin America or Africa fellowship. Some are getting adjusted to a first full-time job, and others are just bumming around at home.

The internet has given us the opportunity to stay in touch regarding our future plans, and more importantly, our everyday thoughts and opinions. This blog, "Princeton's Great 2008" will allow members of our class to discuss anything and everything: from regional and national alumni events, to Princeton sports and academic decisions, to funny sites and articles you read online or opinions you have regarding the 2008 presidential election. This is meant to be a fun and thought provoking forum for all of us.

If you'd like to become a blogger, e-mail me at Reginablairlee@gmail.com and I will sign you up. Otherwise, feel free to comment on other posts and link.

~Regina, class secretary