Answering questions at Boston College O’Neill Library
I know Valentine’s Day can seem like it’s only for those in romantic relationships, but there’s plenty to do with friends or flying solo. Did you know BC students get free admission to a number of museums in the Boston-area? bit.ly/BCMuseums If you’d rather hang out with Olympians (or at least enthusiasts), this list of Winter Olympics-themed spots and events in Boston looks like it might be fun: bit.ly/BostonOlympics. Whatever you end up doing, you’ve always got an admirer in me!
I love all the love you students give a wall! Happy Valentine’s Day to you, too Check out the Education Resource Center (in Campion) in the TT900 .V34 range for all kinds of Valentine’s Day craft ideas….
Chinese New Year officially begins in two days on Feb 16th. But I’ll celebrate with you now anyway- Happy Early Chinese New Year!!
![How do I tell my meat loving girlfriend that I'm vegan? [reply] Don't be a vegan.](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw021318-1.jpg)
If being a vegan is an important part of your identity, you must tell her. If you can’t tell her about an important part of your identity, that’s a problem, and it has to do with trust, not with veganism. If it’s not really all that important to you, then telling her shouldn’t be a problem. Right? (But wait… don’t you ever eat together? why wouldn’t she already know? Have you actively been hiding it?) As to the reply, “Don’t be a vegan”: Hm. Well. I’m a post-it-arian, so far be it from me to criticize or attempt to manage someone else’s dietary practices.
Finding an internship or job can be very stressful. It is not unlike applying to colleges. The key is to know what you really want, have one or more backup plans, and stay calm. Luckily, the BC Career Center has experts in helping you find a job or internship. If you haven’t already spoken with them, do so right away (they’re great people!) They also have a website with helpful info on the job/internship process- bit.ly/BC-career
If you mean room selection, it’s an unfortunate truth that many students will not be able to get their choice of housing. Often students do find they are quite happy in their not-first-choice housing, according to my sources in Res Life. If you have more specific issues with housing, I suggest their FAQ (www.bc.edu/offices/reslife/faq.html) or giving them a call: 2-3060.
![[Chinese & Korean awaiting translation] Please show me.](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-6.jpg)
It’s so gratifying (and helpful!) that other visitors to the wall have obliged me by writing Korean on my behalf. And I love the irony: what the visitor wrote in Korean was “I don’t know how to do it.” And also a friendly “Hello, How are you?” 네, 안녕하세요. 반갑습니다. 글 남겨주셔서 감사합니다.
? Thank you! ? Alas, I’m unable to enjoy a slice of cake…but perhaps you could have some on my behalf?
It might be worthwhile inquiring at the church (was it St. Ignatius?) what they do when people who seem to be sick and unable to care for themselves come to the church. Some churches provide some care (such as food or temporary shelter), and many can refer people to social services (such as the ones listed by Boston Public Library: guides.bpl.org/guide4help). Policing is also mixed on its relationship to social services: some departments have tried closer links with social services, but many haven’t. It’s a widespread problem (bit.ly/police-social-work) owing to changing policing priorities as crime falls and substance abuse and poverty and homelessness rise. I’d like to think that officer meant BCPD wasn’t equipped to solve that kind of problem, not that they shouldn’t be expected to be humane.
![Why is [redacted] (2021er MCAS) so nice!!!!! [phrase in Chinese]](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-7.jpg)
There’s just no explaining some people, whose nice-ness (niceousity?) is so radiant that you just have to stand back and appreciate it, and hope you can absorb some yourself. I recommend giving your friend a shout-out in person. (Sorry I had the name redacted: I follow a privacy policy so strict that it makes my assistants think I’m a little obsessive.) “And old”? Is that an in-joke in Beijing or something? I don’t get it.
![[Chinese, awaiting translation]](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/aw02122018-8.jpg)
I have many, many assistants in BC Libraries and beyond. If two heads are better than one, then dozens of heads are even better, and dozens of librarians… it’s kind of like having the entire published history of humanity at my beck and call. Librarians are amazing that way.
Well, yes. Students are no more immune to questionable behavior than anyone else. The real questions are “Should a student do anything immoral?” (probably not) and “How can students resist the temptation to do something immoral?” (probably many ways to do that)
Many humans seem to have trouble with this. The Wall thinks of it this way: If you tell her in a respectful way that gives her a chance to have an honest reaction, the worst case scenario is she’s not interested and things are a little awkward for a while. The best case scenario, that you tell her and she’s interested, is vastly better than the worst case is bad.
If you are a native speaker of English, I think the hardest thing for starters would be that you can’t even hazard a guess (unlike, say German or Latin), because of the alphabet. There are some sounds that just don’t exist in English. But for a contrarian view, here’s a page from the University of Warwick (UK): bit.ly/ArabicEZ. And please don’t hesitate to seek help from the CFLC (bit.ly/BC-connors) or your professor.
I spoke with a real person in the transportation office (I’m not sure they have a wall), and she said “Students can only park in the mod lot at that time if they are a grad student with an SGS-2 permit. If not, they are welcome to use the Commonwealth or Beacon Garages, but they will have to pay.” I hope that helps, and I hope you are coming back to visit me!
I have been asked several times about how one finds true love and when one can be sure they have found their life partner. The answers are never simple. So, perhaps Giammario is also still trying to figure this out.
Absolutely. And spread it extra thick!
Fun fact: the song has never left the UK charts since 2004. This recent article from Vox gives a summary of the song’s recent popularity—along with some excellent memes: bit.ly/MrBrightsideBC
Either one would be a terrible idea! I’m not going to issue a comparative statement on them, but here are links to safety data sheets on ether (bit.ly/etherSDS) and acetone (bit.ly/acetoneSDS), which can let you form your own conclusion. Let’s all wear appropriate lab protection and keep the chemicals in the beakers, flasks and pipettes, OK?
![How do I convince [redacted] to marry me](http://library.bc.edu/answerwall/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/020818-2.jpg)
I wish you luck. I also wish you patience & respect. Your beloved will make their own decision in their own time. I hope for your sake it’s you. I hope for their sake that whatever they decide, it’s right for them.
