In my basement sits an artifact of a bygone era:  the shortwave radio that accompanied me to China in the early 80s.  Whether I was listening to Voice of America, the BBC, or even Armed Forces Radio (broadcasting from Saipan), it was my lifeline, connecting me to news and music from the rest of the world.  When I returned to the U.S., I frequently listened to Chinese broadcasts via shortwave to keep up my language skills.

A few years later, the shortwave remained useful for my husband, Paul, and me, when my brother-in-law played in a band that could sometimes be heard on the BBC’s John Peel Show.  (Check out the band, BOB, on Youtube — great song and a video with all the production value an 80s indy band could muster.)

Of course, it’s hard to imagine that a shortwave radio serves as a lifeline for anyone these days.  Whether you want to connect yourself to somewhere you’ve been, or somewhere you’re going, there are endless options for you!

Applying to Fletcher and want to learn more about the Boston area?  Check out The Boston Globe, WBUR, the Somerville Journal, or even the “sports hub.”  Want to know more about the University?  Read the Tufts Daily or listen to University radio station WMFO.  Chances are you don’t have the time to explore all these sources, but there’s no shortage of information out there to help you make an informed choice on where you’ll pursue graduate study.  All without listening to a shortwave radio.

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For those not interested in my brand of in-town summer tourism, I want blog readers to know that art museums aren’t the sum total of Boston activities.

As an example:  this past fall, The New York Times ran a travel story about Boston as a great place for science lovers.  All the places mentioned are just a hop, skip and a jump from the Tufts campus (which, I might add, has it’s own art gallery).

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Saturday was a beautiful day, so Paul and I headed downtown to catch the Shepard Fairey exhibit before it leaves the Institute of Contemporary Art this month.  The ICA is set along the Boston waterfront and the views can rival the art.

We’ve been in the area long enough to remember when the Boston Harbor was kind of, well, yuck.  It looks great now, and Saturday’s weather drew out the sailboats.  A nice afternoon to walk along the water.

Once in a while, it’s good to experience our home city as visitors would.

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If I were ever unsure of what to do on a weekend day, there’s a website that I know will provide an unconventional selection: Johnny’s List of Weird Boston Events.  In truth, not every listed event is “weird,” which makes the list even more useful, particularly since Johnny includes many free-of-charge options.

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I decided to keep myself busy this weekend, and there was plenty out there to choose from.  I was off on Friday, so I’ll start my recounting on Thursday.

After Thursday’s Admissions Office retreat, I threw together a quick dinner before Paul (my husband) and I took Kayla (my 15-year-old daughter) to see the visiting tour of Rent.  Paul and I had seen it way back in the day, but it was fun to go with Kayla.  All the more so because the show was sold out, with (it appeared) most seats occupied by local or out-of-towner “Rentheads.”  We shared a row with a group of friends from Italy, and they sang along with most of the songs.

Friday was a mix of get-togethers with friends, and chores — not worth describing in detail.

On Saturday, I started the day with a bike ride along the Charles River, starting in Cambridge and winding through Boston and Watertown.  At 2:00, Paul and I went to the Museum of Fine Arts.  I had wanted to see the Greene and Greene exhibition, but we also really enjoyed “Seeing Songs.”

After an early dinner back at home, we set off with Kayla to see our newest local sports team, the Boston Breakers.  This is the second go-round for a women’s professional soccer league, and the Breakers have found a loyal following both times.  A fun place to watch sports, and great to see the amazing Kristine Lilly in action.

A bit more of a leisurely pace on Sunday.  Paul and I left our sleeping teenagers and headed to Revere Beach, for an early morning of reading the newspaper over a cup of coffee in front of the sea.  We’re fans of Revere, which is an urban oasis, accessible by T (subway).  I enjoy both the early morning atmosphere, with families and walkers speaking a dozen different languages, and the afternoon scene, characterized by Brazilians playing soccer on the sand.

Boston’s compact size makes it perfect for pursuing multiple activities in a weekend.  I don’t always choose to dash from place to place, but I enjoy the knowledge that, if that’s what I want to do, I’ll have lots of options.

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Continuing with the advice offered up by Fletcher students, answers to the next question turned out to be a mix of strictly practical and more philosophical tips.  The question:

Describe your experiences with course registration, shopping day, etc., particularly given that registration takes place after students are on campus.  Did you buy your textbooks on campus or online?

(First, a note.  “Shopping Day” takes place one day before classes actually begin.  Professors offer mini sessions (with several running concurrently) so that students can knowledgeably select the classes that best meet their schedule and intellectual needs.  Students don’t submit registration materials until after Shopping Day.)

Januarian Erika Tabacniks provides comprehensive advice, as she did in Tuesday’s Advice post.  She writes:  “Shopping day is important, fun, and tiring.  Look over the schedule and know exactly where you are going.  Student evaluations of the courses are available online and in the library.  They are very helpful when deciding what classes to take.  You can see the students’ opinions, as well as how many students were in the class.

“Pick up the class syllabi.  They’re important for the following reasons:  They let you know how much reading a class requires; they give you a sense of the professor; and they tell you whether you will have to write a paper or take an exam, the due dates, and the weights given to assignments.  Try to balance your classes so that you don’t have an overload of work all at once.”

Fellow Januarian MALD student Filipa Azevedo Jorge, also has only one course registration period under her belt:  “I chose the courses I wanted to take before the semester began.  During shopping period, however, I changed the courses based on the professors and my interests.  I found shopping period a little overwhelming but helpful.”

Harvey Beasley, now entering his second year as a MALD student, also reflects on that typical student problem — it can be hard to do too much planning before you’re actually on campus:  “I had picked out the classes I thought I was going to take in my first two semesters before getting to campus.  That entire plan went straight out the window on shopping day.  Courses had been added that I just couldn’t miss.  Some classes weren’t offered that I thought would be, and the personality of some professors just changed my mind about some classes (in both positive and negative ways).  Then there is the input from fellow classmates and second years….My advice is to take a look at the course offerings before you come to campus, but don’t spend too much time mapping out your time at Fletcher.  Shopping day can change everything.”

PhD student Tom McCarthy takes a practical look at the second part of the question:  “You can buy used textbooks online or even online through the campus store once you get here (they have them boxed up for your pick-up).  Many classes have all the readings online and downloadable in PDF format, which supplements the books you buy.  If you know which classes you will take, get the books early to hit the ground running.  If you do not, then wait until after shopping day.  Many classes have the first readings (even if they are books) online, so that you can attend the initial session without having to buy the text.”

Harvey Beasley agrees:  “I bought almost all of my textbooks online.  Options for used books online are often so much cheaper than buying them on campus.  If you know that you absolutely will be taking a certain class, see if you can get used textbooks from another Fletcher student.  There is always a mad sale of books at the end of each semester and it’s good to take advantage of it.”

And Erika adds an additional option for finding course books, the library:  “Instead of buying the books, a good option is to read them in the library.  Most books from your classes are “on-reserve”; this means that you ask for them at the library counter and you have to give them back after two hours (or check them out again).  Good news:  If you check it out late at night you can keep the book until the next morning.  (Don’t be late, or you will pay $1.00 for each hour.)  Everyone in the library is very nice and will be glad to answer any questions you may have.”

The practical and the philosophical.  Might be a way of capturing the Fletcher experience!  There’s still more advice to come.  Tune in again next week!

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We are having CRAZY good weather.  The weekend was fantastic.  The campus is all abloom.  It’s a beautiful spring week.

Which makes it a good time to answer the question:  How terrible is the weather in the Medford/Somerville metro area?

Let me start with the bad news.  We have a long winter.  It can be consistently cold in January and February, and chilly from December to March, meaning that snow sometimes (but not always!) hangs around for that entire time.  And our spring comes late.  Sometimes it doesn’t seem to come at all — we just jump from winter to summer.

But really, when comparing Boston to other cities on the East Coast, that’s about the limit of the bad news.  This is hardly the far north, and the nearby ocean helps regulate the temperature, keeping us a little warmer in winter and cooler in summer.  The temperatures may differ by a few degrees, but when it’s cold in Boston, it’s cold in New York, and probably cold in D.C., too.  Not enough of a difference to choose a grad school by.  I know I’m not alone in preferring the best of our winters — cold but bright — to the damp and dreary winters in many other locations.  And we have fabulous weather in late spring and in the fall.

So, incoming students and prospective applicants, fear not the weather!  Bring a warm coat and gloves, and you’ll be fine!  It’s always warm here at Fletcher.

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First-year MALD student Han Kim is one of those great Fletcher guys.  Very involved in the community (Student Council, Admissions interviewer, etc.) and always eager to help.  This week, he offered to contact all of the incoming students from his home country of Korea, despite the fact that (1)He had just finished  hosting two newly-admitted students here for the Open House, and (2)He has told me that he’s swamped with course work, and (3)He’s preparing to run in the Boston Marathon on Monday!

I asked him to describe his preparation for the Marathon, and his participation in the President’s Marathon Challenge. The PMC fields a team of 200 Tufts students, staff, faculty, alumni, parents, and friends from around the country, who train for the Marathon while raising funds to support nutrition, medical, and fitness programs.  Here’s Han’s story:

Just a few days till the Boston Marathon.  April 20, 2009 is the day I test my physical and mental endurance.  I am looking forward to it.

I started running marathons because I wanted to keep fit and, also, to bond with my father, who was also a runner.  Running a marathon gives you a feeling of freedom and, oddly, flight.  I can still remember my first bite at a half marathon. It was a snowy day and my result was not fabulous, but it felt good.  My muscles were aching, but I could not get rid of my smile — I had completed it.

My first full marathon was even more fulfilling.  At the start, I was not in a good condition, because I had been drinking with my buddies and I overslept. As I started to run, it was painful, but I soon felt better.  With all the cheering and my body recovering, my energy started to build, so much so that I had to work just to control my pace.  I struggled after the half line, getting cramps in my legs and my neck.  The other runners helped me — they gave me a Korean version of Bengay, and told me not to raise my legs so high.  With their help, I completed the challenge.  I finished with a time of 4:18 — O.K. for a first try.  Considering that I still had a slight hangover and had slept only four hours, I was happy with my result.

This experience really changed my view of the marathon and of people.  Many think of marathon running as a lonely sport.  I found out it was not.  Pacing with other runners, helping and encouraging others, even physically supporting them, it is a sport of cooperation.  I saw runners stop to help others apply medicine, share their nutrition snacks, and push people from the back to get up a steep hill.  Yes, they were keeping their own running time in mind, but they still chose to offer help. It was an inspiring sight for me.

Another reason why I like running marathons is that you get to RUN through a city with no traffic.  How awesome is that!!

At Fletcher, I have been practicing with the Tufts PMC team and also on my own.  I heard about the President’s Marathon Challenge during Orientation from President Bacow.  I thought, “Hmmm.  I am in Boston.  I should do it!  When will I ever get another chance?”  I signed up, practiced with the team, raised my required donation, practiced some more, and befriended many other teammates.  I’m finally going to run with them in a few days. The team members are great and Coach Don Megerle is awesome! This year we have 10 Fletcher students running, including me.  I am sure they are all well prepared, and we are enthusiastic to run for Tufts and, of course, our beloved Fletcher.

I am personally pretty confident at this time, but still the burden of the Boston Marathon (known to be one of the most challenging of all international marathons) is still with me.  My time on my last long run of 20 miles was 3:20, so I am targeting 4 hours for Monday, but we will have to see.  I am a bit sad that Fletcher is having classes that day, because I will be missing classes and because my friends will not be able to come and cheer.  Nonetheless, I have waited for this day anxiously and I hope to do my best.

I hope you will decide to come to Fletcher and run with the team and me.  It will be an amazing experience — I promise you that.

Take care, and wherever you go to graduate school, be active and experience life!  You only have one chance (unless, depending on your religion, you may have more).  Make it worth it!!!

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Fletcher has LOTS of visitors coming through this spring.  Admitted applicants, those on the wait list, and even those who haven’t started the application process are turning up at the School.  We certainly don’t want our guests to go hungry, so I’ve asked my admissions pals to add to their 2008 picks and provide even more ideas for where you can have a good lunch or dinner while you’re in the area.

Long-term blog readers are already aware that Admissions staff members share an interest in cooking, exploration of different cuisines, and, well, eating.  So the one blog contribution request that I can count on to generate discussion in the office is when I ask for restaurant recommendations.  And here goes:

Kristen writes:  One of my favorite local restaurants is less a restaurant and more of a destination. Porter Exchange is a collection of (mostly) Japanese restaurants and food stalls in a lovely art deco building from the 1920’s that originally was Sears & Roebuck store. It now houses a motley collection of commercial and educational establishments, including Lesley University and a gym. If you’re having a hard time imagining this place, you’re not alone. The first time I stumbled upon it, I felt like I had fallen into an alternate universe. But now I know, it’s just once of those quirky places that a city like Boston fosters. AND, it’s the best place for fast, inexpensive, delicious Japanese (and more) food in the area. Ramen, sushi, mochi, udon noodles … it’s all there, along with divine Japanese-inspired cream puffs.

Coincidentally, Roxana covers the “and more” to which Kristen refers with her choice, which is located in the same building.  She says: Tavern in the Square is a great restaurant and bar located in Porter Square. Its menu ranges from distinctively good all-American comfort food like burgers, wings and country chicken pot pie, to a few surprises like sirloin au poivre, walnut-encrusted salmon, and white truffle mac & cheese that add flare for the “foodie” in your group. I like Tavern in the Square not only for the food but also because it’s easy to get to, great for watching sporting events like the World Cup, Red Sox games, or the Super Bowl, and it has an energetic atmosphere.  There’s also a Tavern in the Square located in Central Square if you’d like to venture a little further away from campus. Highly recommended to relax after exam week.

Sticking to the same geographic theme, Peter suggests:  In Porter Square (one stop from Davis Sq. on the T), directly across Mass Ave. from the T station, you’ll find two of my favorite Cambridge hangouts: Toad & Christopher’s.  Sparsely decorated with only a few ceramic toads behind the bar and a small, purple neon “toad” sign marking the entrance, Toad is a small pub, with a tiny stage, offering live music seven nights a week.  While the music tends toward roots and Americana (a friend likes to joke that the descriptions of most of the bands invariably use the adjective “swampy”), there are occasional forays into funk, jazz, and rock — and there is never a cover charge.  The bands are mostly local, with some smaller, touring bands passing through, and the occasional unannounced visit from a well-known musician (Eddie Vedder dropped in to play a few songs once).  Right next door, and owned by the same people, Christopher’s is a local pub/restaurant that’s been around for over 25 years.  With tasty and somewhat unique pub fare, a great selection of beer on tap, and a cozy atmosphere with a fireplace and local artwork decorating the walls, it’s a great place for brunch, or to grab a drink and a bite before heading next door to catch a band.

Kate declined to be limited to a single restaurant, and gives us a regional burrito round-up: Since moving to Boston five years ago, burritos have become a staple in my diet, and there are many casual dining spots around the Somerville/Medford/Cambridge area where I can pick one up.   It seems whenever I am craving something filling, fast, and inexpensive, I end up in one of these places. I am not alone in having burritos as my go-to food, as many Bostonians will be able to recommend their favorite burrito place.  One Boston burrito fan has taken his fascination with burritos to the extreme and writes a blog about his experiences at local restaurants. While I have not eaten as many burritos as that guy, I have eaten at all the places near Tufts.  If you are looking for something beyond a traditional burrito, I would recommend Boloco.  Boloco is close to campus on Boston Ave, and it offers a variety of options.  As a vegetarian, I love that I can add tofu to my wraps. My favorite burrito spot is Anna’s Taqueria which is a local chain throughout Boston.  I frequent the Davis Square location and enjoy the way they manage to mix their ingredients together so that in every bite I get a little cheese, rice, beans, guacamole, and sour cream — yum!  If you are a loyal Chipotle fan you will be happy to know that there is one in Davis Square.  While a Chipotle burrito satisfies my cravings when I am out of town, in Boston you’ll always find me at one of the local joints instead.

Personally, I had a number of local restaurants in mind, but I’ve decided to go in a different direction with my own pick:  Mugar Café.  Admittedly, it’s not the ultimate Boston-area destination, but it’s super-local (i.e. within our building), cheerful, and filled with Fletcher students.  An added bonus is the lovely staff.  Just the other day, students were emailing out the news that it was the birthday of Giovanna, one of the Café’s long-time staff members, who greets everyone in a melodious blend of English and Italian.  In their notes, the students called on their peers to “Give a little lovin’ to the one who makes you feel like the FAVORITE grandchild every day!” Another noted “the warmth of this adorable Italian mamma.  I am sure that she will be moved to be wished ‘auguri’ by all of us.”  So I recommend that you join Fletcher students and their favorite adopted grandmother for lunch at the Café.  You can always head to Porter or on a burrito search for dinner.

That’s this year’s round-up!  Whether you venture to Davis or Porter Square, or just stay within the welcoming walls of The Fletcher School, we hope our recommendations will keep you from wondering where to pick up a good meal during your visit!

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As the second-to-last person in the Boston area to hear this (Kate told me, and I told my husband, Paul, which makes him the last — but he was in Chicago yesterday, which gives him an excuse.  Well, whatever…), I want to ensure that you, blog reader, are in the know:  U2 will be playing tonight at nearby Davis Square’s Somerville Theater.  No stadium pyrotechnics needed (or desirable) in the 900-seat venue.

I hope Bono and co. will take advantage of their visit to explore the Museum of Bad Art, conveniently located within the theater.  During our first visit to MOBA, my daughter, Kayla, and I laughed until tears trickled down our faces.  It wasn’t mean-spirited laughter at the “art,” but rather mirthful appreciation for the well-crafted explanatory descriptions next to each piece.  Ordinarily, you need a movie ticket to enter MOBA, but I suspect allowances would be made for the band.

This is my second post within the day, and neither had to do with the task that the staff is tackling so assiduously in the back office.  Rest assured — we’re making progress.  Roxana just printed the first batch of letters, which she and Kate are proofreading.

Rock on!

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