2013 NU Cooperative Education Awards

With a high budget and certain prestige to uphold, every fine detail of this event had to be shining in order to execute the ceremony in true classy northeastern fashion. This annual event is an opportunity for the department to celebrate the highlighted efforts of certain students and join with their family to praise their successes. I solely focused on assisting Christine with the event throughout the planning and preparation as well as being there to ensure the proceedings flowed without blip on the day. My eyes have really been opened to the event planning industry and the knack of choosing vendors who are appropriate for the specific atmosphere that you want to create for your guests.

My Boss - Ketty Rosenfeld - and I at the event.

The silk, coral colored table cloths were shimmering under the spotlit ballroom ceiling. Fine china was laid out amongst the cuisine laden tables. Salmon and mushroom pates, stuffed sandwiches for all tastes, cookies and brownies plus bitter lemonade and sweet bubbling fruit punch. Cheeses and grapes, crackers and cheese... It was simply a Devine lunch fit for the royals. Once checked in and seated guests were able to soak up the elegant ambiance while listening to live piano music. The ceremony was presented and all awardees received their engraved picture frames as their proud relatives watched and clapped with ultimate pride.

These types of occasions are crucial to highlight the tremendous efforts that young professionals display while working for established businesses all around the globe on their Co-ops.

Bagel Time

Mornings. They can differ for me but generally I am an early riser. I do however rely on something to stimulate my taste buds and knock me into motivation for the day ahead. I love breakfasts, it is always part of my morning routine and it definitely steals my vote for winner meal.

Breakfast is a notoriously difficult banquet to serve with a flourish. Some like the sweet flavors of pastries and pancakes, others prefer the protein enriched meaty option and then there are those who are partial to lots of fresh fruit and a bowl of maple porridge. 

BagleTime is a darling little cafe in Worcester that has perfected the knack of serving breakfast by flawlessly baking up endless freshly prepared noshes. I opted for the Cinnamon raisin bagel with walnut and maple cream cheese spread.

 

CGP Boston Regional

 CGP launched as a Boston-based college golf program that quickly grew into a community with hundreds of course partners and thousands of members. The company expanded nationwide and is a leading brand for non-varsity college golfers. CGP makes golf a reality for any college student who wants to stay in the game while at school by organizing competitions and offering cheaper green fees at a variety of different courses. 

After the long winter that has battered the east-coast, I was eager to get back out on the course and play some golf  while in the States so decided to join the other students for the first CGP Boston Regional of the year. It was held at Putterham Meadows Golf Course and played in 2 man scramble format. I was partnered with a lovely chap - Justin. Despite our game being a little rusty and me leaving a couple of shots short due to lack of practice, we actually finished with a decent score. It was revitalizing to be out in the fresh air on a warm day!

Finals week at NU

It's crunch time for northeastern students! Finals week can be a tough one with stress levels high, brains busting with revision and the campus littered with kids who are all tuned into their Apple Macs in a zombie like fashion. With tuition fees soaring through the roof these days and the caliber of students at Northeastern being as high as it is, the pressure that these youngsters are under is definitely not healthy so the university try their best to ease the tensions with a series of events.

One of my favorites out of these programs was the introduction of puppies on campus. An organization was asked to bring their therapy dogs into the university so that the students could play with the canines and get a sense of release from the studying commitments for a couple of hours. The sun was shining brightly on the lawn and there was a great sense of freedom on the lawns with the hounds soaking up attention from all the dog lovers.

Philadelphia, PA

Saturday

Made it. With literally seconds to spare. After a potentially killer sprint from the T to the bus terminal, we were half expecting applause and cheering from our fellow passengers as we mounted the Bolt bus. Instead, we had to scramble on board, hearts thudding in a flustered frenzy and claim the only 3 seats that were left unoccupied.

First impressions of PHILLY on arrival: 

• The city of brotherly love <3

• Blossoming white and pink trees everywhere

• Clean, bold buildings

• Artistic ambiance with sculptures and Murals dotted about the streets

• Cosmopolitan city with lots of space

• Gridded

• Striking historic connections

• Quiet, as if everyone was hiding from us, apart from the odd suited office worker

Staying with Tay and Lisa who live in the outskirts of the city - Molly's connection - they are planning to move to turkey within a few months so we were lucky to catch them in the States. The train dropped us in Elwyn and Tay was there to pick us up with jolly open arms. Their neighborhood was fenced and resembled a scene from The Stepford Wives movie. Neat lawns, perfectly pruned flower beds, white picket fences and two story houses which welcomed us before we even stepped through the front door. Lisa was in the middle of cooking a wholesome dinner for everyone and was busying about the kitchen when we arrived. This was just the beginning of the overwhelming hospitality in their cosy home. We were completely spoiled as guests with irresistible meals, deep conversations, movie nights, the best tour guides, a family environment, and all the other cherished extras that good friends bring.

Sunday

Early rise. Blow up bed was still inflated despite the pasta, chicken, GIGANTIC strawberries and white wine indulgence the night before. After getting scrubbed-up and refreshed for the site seeing day ahead, we all grasped a toasty cup of tea to flush down some maple pancakes and crisped sausages that were served for breakfast. Hopped on the train into town, maps on laps to plan our route around the renowned spots of Philly. Tay was our personal photographer all day, catching glimpses of our fun in the sun at every given opportunity.

Love sculpture - JFK Plaza

Rocky Statue

Museum of Modern Art

 

Philly sky line from top of the famous 'Rocky steps'

Murals

City Hall

Independence National Historical Park is known as the birthplace of our nation and includes the Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. 

 

Lunchtime had to be a Philadelphia Cheese Stake. The bread sub filled with shredded beef, American cheese and fried onions wasn't exactly something I'd usual reach for but when smeared with ketchup and freshly served, it hit the spot.

A table was reserved for dinner at Maggiano's, a decadent Italian restaurant in the center of the city. The polished brown tables and chaired were complimented by the European red and white checkered tablecloths. Our booth was lit by a glistening chandelier and the waiters were all suited and shined for a night of fine dining.

Monday

The breakfasts over the weekend have been like no other. Omelette, cheese, turkey, tea, fruit and bagels cluttered our plates. Charlie the cat was pouncing behind the sliding glass doors in a playful manner as he watched the squirrels and birds nibble on the nuts that were flung onto the outdoor decking. It was time to say our goodbyes to this fabulous pair and wish them all the best for their future endeavors on our side of the Atlantic. Cannot thank Tay and Lisa enough for having us to stay in their elegant home.

Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a mosaic visionary art environment, gallery, and community arts center that preserves, interprets, and provides access to Isaiah Zagar's unique mosaic art environment and his public murals. This was a vivid end to our Philadelphia experience, Mum would have definitely been inspired by the creative clutter of glass, bicycle wheels, bottles, plates, tea cups and many other objects that were set in concrete.

SURPRISE send off for Roman

Given an address and successfully navigated our way to Andy's apartment. We were Greeted by a bounding husky dog and a fluff ball of a cat, couldn't help but admire the apartment, kitted out with widescreen projector wall, photos from worldly travels and props from all sorts of adventures to foreign places.

All nestled in the kitchen, ready to spring up and shout a SURPRISE at the 'frenchie' that we have all grown attached to over the last few months. Roman is a chilled out, proudly French, sweeping haired, Northeastern student, with a wickedly fine knack of pouring a Devine glass of wine. Alfred and Roman have been roomies for the year and in typical American school format, this means sharing a rather tiny room and living in very close proximity. Although they have been seen to bicker, their brotherly love is adorable and Alfred insisted on organizing him a send off to remember. We baked cakes, BBQ'd in Andy's kitchen and toasted to Romans future plans in Europe. "Bueno". Can't wait to hear about his co-op job working for NATO in Rome, Italy.

Baba

Winner of worcester's best chef between 2007-2012

 From the outside Baba sushi place looked like a Wendy house, completely out of place amongst the sparse Worcester streets but inside it was candle lit and plush. Matt and I were seated and handed the menu which was scrolls and scrolls of sushi options. Being indecisive as usual, I had to ask the waiter for his recommendation on something for me. Me being sweet toothed he suggested the Godzilla rolls. I didn't know what to expect but oh my they were mighty fine. It was a combination of seaweed, rice, banana, mango, eel, Tuna and a couple of other ingredients. 

I'm drooling for more! 5STAR.