The Multidimensional Mall

Within the confinements of a shopping mall, there is nothing that I am disinterested in. It is fascinating to observe how the art of shopping has evolved and how shopping varies with different cultures and people.

I love shopping with my mom, especially. Even though I'm seventeen, she still has the best taste in everything: clothes, gifts for friends, family, etc. My mom knows I love going to the mall. Seldom will she preclude me from tagging along on a shopping extravaganza with her. It is implicit that I always want to go, so she never even has to ask. My mom certainly never has to exhort me or convince me to come with her.

Another great part about the mall, is one can never know what to expect. One time, when my brother and I were at the Garden State Plaza, Tom Felton (the actor who plays Draco Malfoy) was making an appearance at Hot Topic! Despite what my father says, Tom Felton does not merely have a cameo in the Harry Potter movies; he's one of my favorite characters! The line to get in was enormous, and went far past both stores that are adjoined with it. When we finally got there and met him, it just gave me another reason as to why the mall is my favorite place.

Notre Nina

After seeing my cousin Nina last night, it makes me remember my halcyon childhood. Remembering the summer days at the lake house makes me wish those simpler times would come once again; in those days when our biggest problem was arguing over who got the pink colored aqua shoes.

All my childhood, I wanted to be Nina. She was certainly the older sister, who I wanted to emulate. Being three years younger than her, I was always the minion to her queen, and she made sure I knew that. Nevertheless, I continued to admire her. We were constantly scheming against our older brothers, since they were the pariahs to our two-person clique. Her eve reccentric personality made every moment with her different than the last.

But as times change, everything becomes even more different than before. Nina goes to school at Notre Dame, which makes it difficult to see her often. Although we still talk all the time, I always cherish the days that she comes back to New Jersey to visit.

Longing for London

As I meticulously complete my homework on a Thursday night, I long to return to those summer days. It can be difficult to conform to the rigid rules of school after feeling so free and omnipotent with my every decision over the summer months. Being in school for seven hours each day can surely impede one's ability to feel free and relaxed, like in the summer.

Looking back at my summer, I think my favorite part was traveling to London and Paris with my family. In London, I was able to see the legendary platform nine and three-quarters, where Harry Potter begins his adventure to Hogwarts! Needless to say, this was the highlight of my trip. I also enjoyed seeing Buckingham Palace, home to the eminent Queen Elizabeth. It was truly luxurious with its endless rooms and vast corridors, winding as if inside a labyrinth. The most beautiful sight, however, was certainly Notre Dame. Its architecture assimilated that of the Roman cathedrals. The trip was absolutely amazing; each sight was more extraordinary than the last.