[Loudoun Lantern – Published 10/18/2010]
New 'Piranha' Grabs Audiences
By: Christina Talhame
STERLING, Va -- At one point in the always-surprising play, Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha, the main character, a young boy named Chris, follows his mothers demands to avoid profanity with the clever exclamation “Flock yes I’d like to hear!” And that’s just one of the colorful twists to the play, which runs through October 24 at Northern Virginia Community College’s Loudoun campus.
Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha is about a 15 year old boy named Chris Penrose who creates a church to prove to his mother, Una, that he’s not just a child and can handle himself. When Una’s uptight mother, Marilyn, drops by for a surprise visit, Chris’ Sabbath ceremony has to be put on hold. Chris must try to keep his rebellious personality tamed while trying to prove his independence to his mother, who is also trying to prove to her own mother that she is no longer a child.
However, the play, which is being produced only for the second time since its premier at playwright Ed Falco’s school, Virginia Tech, is much more a character study than plot driven. “Tough as they come dude! Have you ever seen me sweat?” asks Patty after telling Chris about an instance with her mother hitting her across the face when she was younger. More than just the story of a young man trying to prove himself, each character has a chance to tell their own story. Each character also has a major transformation throughout the play. What each character learns about themselves and the people they’re surrounded by are things that most people experience at a point in their life.
The cast comprised of four actors. Wayne Jacques, who plays the main character, Chris, a rebellious 15 year old who Jacques channels perfectly with his spiked hair and tattoos. Marianne Meyers who portrays Chris’ mother Una. Meyers not only looks like she could really be Jacques real-life mother but the two form a real mother/son connection throughout the play as do the characters themselves. Mary Jo Levesque who plays Una’s mother Marilyn is a woman of wisdom and knowledge, just like Marylin in the play. And Allegra Joffe who plays Chris’ girlfriend, Patty, shows a real connection to her character and her emotional breakdowns. All four of these actors fit their roles quite well in just about every aspect; looks, experience, knowledge, connection, and strength.
“You can’t depend on a relationship to keep yourself secure” explained Joffe when asked about something her character learns throughout the play.
Taking Flight Theatre Company, which produced the play, had the opportunity to be the first company to produce this play besides the home theatre of the playwright Ed Falco. Falco is a professor at Virginia Tech where he wrote the play and produced it. This production has the amazing opportunity of having Ed Falco, himself, attend for a talk back on its October 22nd showing.
Falco does a terrific job of having each character grow, but just enough to leave the audience with a little “What next?” thought in their mind. This play definitely leaves viewers with the thinking factor. Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha allows the audience to think about their own lives and walk away at the end of the night wondering what their next step is going to be. As far as the strength these characters hold and their abilities to face their fears and realities, Joffe explained it by saying “It makes [them] seem strong.”
To purchase tickets, visit http://tftheatre.org/current-season/sabbath-night-in-the-church-of-the-piranha/
[Loudoun Lantern – Published 11/11/2010]
Teen Rebel to Playwright, Falco Talks Back to 'Piranha' Audience
By: Christina Talhame
Most teenage rebellions take the form of sneaking a bottle from the family liquor cabinet or scaling the side of the house to sneak out late at night. But for playwright Ed Falco, he shows his youthful indiscretion in his writings.
“I was a rebellious teenager,” Falco said, describing the inspiration to his play Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha as he sat on a prop chair on the stage, calm and collected.
The play was produced by Taking Flight Theatre (TFT) and just closed at the Waddell Theater of NOVA’s Loudoun campus after running through the month of October. On October 22nd, Taking Flight Theatre hosted Falco for a talk back discussion after its performance of Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha.
Falco is the original playwright of the play that has been shown throughout the month of October at the NVCC Loudoun campus. He is a professor at Virginia Tech University where he teaches English and Literature and is the director of the MFA program. Falco has a number of published pieces including books, short stories, and plays. He has won many awards for his work, two recent ones being the 2008 NEA Fellowship in fiction, and 2009 Virginia Commission for the Arts Fellowship in playwriting.
Sabbath Night in the Church of the Piranha a play comprised of four characters who are all trying to prove to one another and themselves that they are adults in their own rights. The story centers on a 15 year old boy named Chris, who tries to show he’s not just a rebellious teenager. There is also his mother, Una, who is trying to be a good mother to her son and show her own mother, Marylin, that she is not a child. And Chris’ girlfriend Patty who wants people to know she’s not what people think.
The play holds issues that matter to him and that he cares about. Falco writes with his own exploration in mind, and that’s what this play carries. Most people, at a point in their life realize that they are not the person that they are believed to be but yet they themselves don’t know who they are. Falco believes that the play shows a lot of what teenagers, and even some adults go through, finding ones self. This play has only been performed on stage one other time. Sabbath Night was first put on stage in 2001 at Virginia Tech University.
During the talk back, Falco explained that he took part the first time the play was put on stage. Nine years later and hundreds of miles away, “It’s always a really different experience when you have nothing to do with the production” Falco said. Falco had always wanted to try playwriting before he wrote Sabbath Night. He knew nothing about theatrically and performance.
“The thing I love about theater is it’s so much of a collaborative act” Falco explained about his experience. “Learning something new keeps things interesting”.
[Loudoun Lantern – Published 12/13/2010]
Life Caught in the Social Net
By: Kristin Swineford & Christina Talhame
“You may have three thousand friends on Facebook, but if you lose your dog, you’re sitting at home alone,” said Dr. Georgina Stratton, a Psychology Professor here at Northern Virginia Community College's Loudoun Campus.
Stratton’s comment seems to reflect what many feel about the social networking trend that has become a primary way for humans to interact with each other in the past decade. A quick glance in the NOVA Loudon library on a Tuesday evening demonstrates where the priorities are focused: social networking.
It’s no surprise that 11 out of 18 students are on Facebook or some other social medium. Websites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Digg are the most popular forms of social networking today, and they are transforming mainstream communication while also altering the roles of message development and receipt of those messages. Headlines are sensationalizing issues like cyber-bullying and it’s relation to suicide which in the bigger picture, seems to be an overshadowing of many other issues surrounding social networking. With over 500 million active members, Facebook and other sites are producing noticeable side effects on individual’s written and verbal communication skills, not to mention their mental state of being.
Cognitive Effects
Experts suggest that social networking has a psychological influence that may be changing the way an individual thinks and that members of these sites may feel the effects of 24/7 connection to a universe that only exists in their living room, or bedroom or office.
According to Dr. Stratton, communicating behind a computer screen de-individualizes a person and causes them to often respond with aggression to others and even lie more frequently. As the primary use for social networking is to seek human contact and replace real-time conversations, this does not ultimately fulfill one’s needs. She adds that the internet itself is what causes these problems, not just social networking. The loss of real connections, face-to-face, causes people to be less empathetic in real life and have less emotional regulation. This is especially true in young people, often the heaviest users of social networking sites, because the brain isn’t fully developed.
“I definitely feel more comfortable being honest about an issue when I’m talking about it on Facebook,” said Rachel Kerr, a 21 year old NOVA Alexandria student. “I can be a harsher me!”
Defiance of moderation when it comes to social networking may also affect how others perceive the individual, according to a study done by the Pew Research Center. One’s written skills, such as their ability or inability to spell or use proper grammar, may reflect poorly on them to potential mates or employers. This is one psychological effect that is beyond the control of the social networker, but still affects that individual on a personal level. In other words, a person's communication style on social networks could affect others’ view of them.
Transformation of the Written Word
Some believe that because primary communication, for many, is completed through social mediums, where users transmit messages in smaller bites to one another in seconds, that heavy user are almost forgetting how to compose longer and more meaningful works.
“It’s definitely hard to remember that I’m not writing a status update, I’m writing a paper for my history class,” said Mike Pitt, a History student at NOVA Loudoun. “Someday short-hand writing will come back, I hope.”
Additionally, writers are forced to make an impact with fewer words. For example, a Twitter message must consist of no more than 140 concise characters of text to meet the requirements of a message that will be communicated to hundreds, often thousands, of readers.
Facebook is no different. “Status updates” are where most of our messages are communicated in bites to mass groups of people. These messages are often then repeated or “shared” with subgroups or additional audiences on a different social medium platform, thus impacting a larger audience.
The same is true for text messages which allow short messages to be sent then instantaneously shared with a larger audience.
“I believe the lines between spoken and written English are becoming blurred, possibly because more ‘conversations’ are taking place via text message and Facebook rather than in person or by phone,” said Professor Katherine Nutt who teaches Introduction to Journalism at NOVA’s Annandale campus.
The New Oxford American Dictionary, third edition, recently added a multitude of new words to accommodate internet lingo and a new type of web language that has developed as a result of more and more people turning to social media as a platform for communication. A few of the words included are: Defriend, Hashtag, LMAO, Social Media, Social Networking, TTYL, Unfriend, Poke, and Tweet. Most social networkers could easily recognize and define these words without access to a dictionary.
“Even though [these] conversations are in writing, the tighter rules of written English are giving way to the looser rules of spoken English,” said Nutt. “This might explain why students have so much trouble with spelling, grammar and punctuation.”
An Up-Side
While it’s true that constant access to the outside world from the comfort of a computer screen can keep many home-bound and less likely to engage in activities outside the home, for some, this is a natural way of life and something out of their control. Dr. Rebecca Hayes, Assistant Professor of History at the NOVA Manassas campus and organizer of a Facebook Seminar last month explains that retirees and older generations are just now being exposed to social networks as a way of staying in touch and feeling less isolated from the world, though many are home-bound.
“The seminar was about democratizing the information and bringing power and change,” said Dr. Hayes. “When we showed them how to search for contacts and people they knew, they were shocked at how many people they found.”
She recalled that several of the attendees had not used an instant messaging device and were amazed at how quickly they could transmit a message to a loved one in real-time. Along with helping families stay connected with each other, some in the field of Academia are reporting that student-teacher communication has improved in the past decade as result of this rising trend. Dr. Hayes has been teaching since 2000 and she says she doesn’t blame social media for the decrease in communication skills that other instructors might observe.
“The biggest shift I’ve observed is that it went from students not utilizing office hours to communicate, but rather send questions in an email; how they don’t even email, they text or ask to send a Facebook message,” Hayes said. “I think it’s good that we do have these platforms so students can feel more comfortable to communicate with their professors.”
From a historical perspective, Hayes pointed out that even though we’ve replaced face-to-face contact with other means, people still long for the personalization that face-to-face interaction provides, specifically when they are learning something.
“Students always opt for the lecture or the physical, in-class assignment over the online work,” Hayes pointed out. “To look at someone in the eye and see their interest in the classroom cannot be replaced.”
[Loudoun Lantern – Published 01/24/2011]
Local Gyms, Trainers offer Trends and Tips for Getting Fit in 2011
By: Aimee Eddington & Christina Talhame
As a New Year begins many start listing their New Year’s Resolutions. Two of the top resolutions tend to be living a healthier lifestyle and weight loss. However, in the economy that America is struggling with today many find it difficult to achieve their goals.
One local certified personal trainer, Joseph Helein, said he believes that reaching a healthier lifestyle or losing weight is easier than people think. The most important way to start a healthy lifestyle is to watch what you eat. It has always been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that is because breakfast is where people get most of their daily energy from. Secondly, getting the recommended eight to ten hours of sleep also aids in better health.
Learning to control your portions, especially when dining out, is particularly important, Helein said. “Portions here in America can easily feed three people versus other countries like Europe where the whole meal is about the size of someone’s hand” Helein explained. while sharing a few tips for eating out. He suggests asking the waiter not to bring bread, check for healthy/low-cal options, and swapping side items.
Helein also reminded that one of the most important steps for the figure-conscious is quite easy on the wallet. “Water is free! That’s one of the most important things!” he said.
Indeed, with America still being in a recession, cost is a concern for many who find it difficult to pay for a gym membership. Helein assures that there are ways to have an effective workout without a gym. The biggest at home weight loss routine consists of resistance training and cardio. There are a wide variety of things around the house that can be used to help in an exercise routine such as chairs and couches. Also, running and walking outside and using the stairs takes a large part in the cardio part of weight loss.
Yet, for those who can afford the fees, gyms are a great option, particularly for people who need a kick in the … err … pants to get going. It’s the busiest time of the year for most gyms. If running on a treadmill or a spinning class doesn’t sound like the right fit, there are three fitness trends to watch for this year:
Boot camps
Social support is important to most everyone. With exercise like boot camps, people have the opportunity to socialize and just have friends to motivate them to work out. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, or ACSM, boot camps will regain popularity this year again because it’s about getting back to the basics of exercise. Boot camps usually consist of cardio, strength, and interval training. With this type of exercise, weight loss is easier. Most local gyms offer boot camps as well as programs that are only for this type of workout. DC Adventure Boot Camp is a program designed for women only and offers 3-5 day boot camps for up to four weeks. And for men and women, Custom Fitness Concepts, also offers boot camp programs as well as personal training. Both programs are in D.C. as well as surrounding areas.
Zumba
Zumba, a dance fitness program that originated in Colombia is getting more and more women to the gym. The exercise consists of dance movements to Latin influenced music. Erin Steverson, a student at NOVA, takes Zumba classes at the LA Fitness in Sterling.
“I love Zumba! It’s so much fun and a great workout, without feeling like a workout. I feel like I am able to have a harder workout in the least amount of time, compared with a treadmill that is boring,” says Steverson.
Zumba seems to be so popular because of not feeling like a typical aerobics class. Instead, it’s about dancing to fun music and even meeting new people. “It’s a great way to socialize and have fun as a group,” says Steverson.
Zumba is definitely a popular workout to look for at most gyms but get there early because Steverson warns that some classes are so packed, it’s hard to fit everyone in one room.
Kettle bells
Kettle bells are starting to become more and more popular, and this year is no excuse. They can be used in place of dumbbells. They challenge the core when used, which means a nice lean abdomen. Working out with a kettlebell will help to build strength and flexibility. The weight of kettle bells can also be changed with certain types like the brand sold under The Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels. Basic swing movements with a kettle bell actually represent real life activities like shoveling. These movements really stand out because it engages every part of the body. Most gyms offer kettle bells in their weight room and some even have kettle bell classes to learn how to use them properly. Jillian Michaels also offers a DVD with kettle bell exercises only. These three trends are nothing new, but their popularity is up this year. Each one guarantees a great work out and instant endorphins. They are available all over Northern Virginia. Taking the stairs won’t cut it all by itself, so incorporate one of these trends into the New Year.
[Loudoun Lantern – Published 04/14/2011]
Life is a Balancing Act for NOVA's Working Students
By: Christina Talhame
Jasir Gaffar’s alarm goes off at 4:30 a.m., the time of when he starts his mornings. But unlike many 19-year olds, he is quick to get out of bed and get moving.
“Of course I’m still tired at that time but if I don’t get up the first time, I won’t get up at all” Gaffar explains. 5:30 a.m. hits and it is time to walk out the door and get to work before work starts at 6:00 a.m. Gaffar explains how his days pan out while he checks his iPhone to see if anyone has texted or called him to let him know they won’t be coming to work or will be late.
Jasir Gaffar works as a Shift Lead Student Ambassador at Dulles Airport. His job is one strictly for students where he holds an authoritative position amongst the 125 students that work as Student Ambassadors. For 36 hours a week, Gaffar is responsible for watching over all scheduled students to make sure they are on point as the airport is flooded with passengers.
Many may think that dealing with large amounts of people may cause a customer service employee to hate their job, Gaffar feels the opposite. “I love this job. Everyday is different, new flights, new people, new challenges," he said.
While earning money is always a good thing, however Gaffar feels that in hindsight his education is more important than his current job. Gaffar spends about eight or so hours a week studying outside of the hours he’s in his five classes and in addition to his 36 hours of work. Gaffar is currently in his fourth semester at Northern Virginia Community College where he studies IT full time and holds a 3.3 GPA. “My parents chose my major for me.” Gaffar explained, although he admits “I have no freaking idea what to do with my degree once I graduate.”
Luckily, he has a couple more years to figure that out. Gaffar plans on transferring to George Mason University for the Spring 2012 semester. Most students look forward to relaxing at the end of a long day of school, but that’s not the case for Gaffar, or the many others like him. The truth of 2011 is that more and more students are choosing to work as well as go to school. And rather than only working part-time, many students are trying to juggle close to full time hours in addition to their schooling.
As Gaffar walks around making sure everyone is in his or her sports he states “I can get by without having to work but I’m really working for my future”. Gaffar, like many other working students, believe that working at a younger age can teach discipline for when it’s time to go out into the real world.
He credits his good time management skills and work ethics to his good standings at work and in his social life. Gaffar takes pride in the fact that he has not missed one day of work and has only been late four times in a one-year span, the last time being in May. And as far as a social life, Gaffar still has time to see his friends and travel. “I really like traveling. I love being able to experience new places” he gushes as tells about his recent weekend trip to Chicago and New York. “I’ve been to 25 different airports with 10 being outside the States” he brags as he continued to check on students.
While Jasir Gaffar is only one student who is manages school, work, and play there are many more and the numbers continue to rise. Even though some can get by without the work, many desperately need it. As this students workday comes to an end he reminds us that being a working student doesn’t need to be a burden on his life or anyone else’s. Even though the country is still in a recession many try to take a positive outlook on life. Learning to manage all the different aspect of ones life may be a difficult thing to get used to, but with the right attitude and persistence it can be a stepping stone that someone can overcome.
[Loudoun Lantern – Published 04/14/2011]
NOVA Student Juggles Work, School and Family Proudly
By: Christina Talhame
At 6 a.m. on a busy Monday morning 21-year-old Naville Mejia rushes into work to get her day started. The blonde Latina rushes to her designated spot at the airport where she lets out a sigh of relief that she’s just one more step closer to going home in the afternoon.
As many individuals can’t wait to go home after a long day at work, or even within minutes of stepping foot into work, Mejia has other reasons on why she gets so excited to finish her workday: her son.
“My day is crazy. I wake up at 5 a.m. go to work from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., which during that time my mom drops off my son at day care. Then I pick up Jayden after work and get home around 4 p.m., then I do homework and chores,” explains Mejia, with an air of frantic busyness filling every last word that came out of her mouth. But as soon as she finishes explaining the busy part of the day she continues with a more relaxed tone in her voice, “When I’m done with that I get to spend time with Jayden before putting him to sleep around 9 p.m. After my son is asleep I get a little time to myself to relax or go out with my friends.”
While most college students need to learn how to juggle school, work, and social lives there are more young parents appearing around colleges everywhere that also need to learn how to juggle parenthood. Naville Mejia is just one young parent who has to go through the struggles and joys of being a mother while working towards a college degree.
Mejia was pregnant all throughout her senior year of high school giving her no choice but to grow up quick. She explained that her high school wanted to put her in an alternative school however she rejected.
“I didn’t want to be the stereotype. They thought because I was Spanish and pregnant that I was going to fail, but I said no.” Mejia tells her story with frustration, but finishes with her head held high “So I finished high school right where I started: I finished on time with an advanced diploma, I was even enrolled in an AP class.”
Mejia works full time at Dulles Airport as a Student Ambassador. She assists lost passengers throughout the, always, busy airport. She explains all this while standing at her assigned spot in the airport and keeping an eye out for anyone who may need the help.
“I pay for everything I have; car, insurance, phone, gym, bills, food, medication, everything for my son, everything. Well, except rent, I’m lucky enough to still live with my mom, but I try to help her out as much as possible," she adds, with a note of pride in her voice. And in addition to working full-time and being a mother, she’s also a full time student.
“I never got to see my son when I took all in-person classes, so this semester I take three online classes and one in-person. It’s easier that way,” she explained about how she’s able to still manage a full time student course load. “I want to be a nurse. I think I’d be good at it. I’m smart, quick and calm in stressful situations, and I have that motherly instinct,” she explains about her future goals. “And it’s pretty convenient that I know Spanish since it’s spoken so much around this area.”
Coincidentally, while she boasts about her bi-lingual ability, she must stop to assist a Spanish speaking passenger, who looks relieved to have her assistance navigating the crush of passengers. “See, I’m lucky my mom taught me Spanish. I’ll definitely be teaching my son, too."
And while many would think that the timing of her unexpected pregnancy was bad, Mejia thinks otherwise. For her, the timing couldn’t have been better. The pregnancy taught her to grow up and be responsible. “I’m not jealous of other people who don’t have a kid and can go out and party whenever, they’re jealous of me. I’m a grown up while a lot of them still act like kids,” she explains.
As Mejia’s workday comes to an end she begins to rush back to her locker to grab her keys to go on her way “I am so lucky to have my mom, she helps me so much with Jayden. And my best friend Brittney is always there for us whenever we need her.” Mejia stated while looking over at her friend Brittney who is also her co-worker.
With a smile, Brittney Ferreira explained, “I help her because she’s a great mom and she deserves a break at times.”
The two girls have built an everlasting friendship over the past seven years that they’ve known each other. Both girls explained that true friends are what they need during important and impactful events in their lives.
“Sometimes I don’t even need a reason to watch for him. Tomorrow I’m going to pick him up from day care just because I want to. I love that little boy!” Brittney gushed, adding that she is also godmother to Mejia's son.
Meija said she doesn't think everyone could handle the non-stop schedule of being a full time student, employee, and mother, but she said the juggling act is a continual source of pride for her.
“When I got pregnant, it may not have been the right time for everyone, but it was the right time for me. I love my son, he’s my world and I love my life. I’m happy right where I am!” she exclaimed.
Then, moving quickly as always, she swiped her badge at the time clock and rushed out the door. Job one might have been over, but it was just time for job two -- mommy -- to begin.
[Loudoun Lantern – Published TBA]
Zesty Zumba Adds Flavor to Loudoun
By: Christina Talhame
“Ditch the workout, join the party!” is the official slogan of the world wide Latin-based, program sensation Zumba. Zumba aims to be an effective and fun way to exercise without dreading a trip to the gym. Second year student Natalie Bello agrees. Bello’s drive for a fun and better way to have students’ workout and integrate different races and cultures is what lead her to start the Zumba club at NOVA’s Loudoun campus.
Bello became a Student Ambassador for NOVA last spring where she assists in organizing events throughout the semester with the head of activities Tiffney Lang. At a Student Ambassador meeting last year at the Alexandria campus Bello heard that their campus has a Salsa club.
“When I was told they have a Salsa club I wondered why we didn’t have anything like that at Loudoun,” Bello explained on what first sparked her interest in beginning a club.
“The main purpose of the club is to get healthy and fit but I also wanted to create a club to integrate people.” Bello said as she twirled her hair with excitement. “I take Zumba at the YMCA gym and I see people of different backgrounds and they integrate really well together.”
With her idea for a club in mind Bello took the initiative to go through with her plan to start a club. With the assistance of Tiffney Lang she was able to begin the process. Bello had to first set up an interest group before becoming an official club. To do so she fill out forms and have at least three people willing to be members. In addition to forms and a few members, Bello had to find a professor to be the advisor of the club, she found PE teacher Sandi Nicholson.
Within a few weeks of beginning Bello had set up an interest meeting and began the Zumba classes in the Waddell Theater of the Loudoun campus. In hopes of becoming an actual club the interest group needed a good outcome of interested students.
Bello also has the assistance of her friend Maria Guevara in teaching the class. Both young ladies have been doing Zumba for quite a bit of time. Bello working towards being a certified Zumba instructor, but in the mean time club participants must sign a waiver.
On average, about 15 people come to the Monday afternoon Zumba class. “Some people can’t make it every week but some new faces like to show up every once in a while,” Bello explained. “It’s good that the class isn’t always crowded because there’s just enough space on stage to hold the amount of people who show up.”
Luckily, with the booming popularity of Zumba all over the country, Bello hopes that the club will expand next semester. For it to become an official club a formal petition must be submitted with a constitution with articles and laws. Also, there must be at least 15 members willing to join.
As it stands the Zumba club meets once a week on Monday afternoons at 2 pm in the Waddell Theater. Bello hopes to expand the classes to three times a week and to different times to make the club more open for students with busy schedules.
“I hope to have more people join next semester. Zumba isn’t a regular workout, you forget you’re working out and you have fun while you’re getting fit,” Bello proclaims. Bello also explained that one hour of Zumba can help you burn 400-800 calories. “I even go when I’m tired. I still go and I leave feeling energized, I can focus on homework and I feel fit. It’s a great lifestyle!” she exclaimed.
Bello’s Zumba club is only one of the few clubs that have begun in the past fall and spring semesters here at NOVA. Bello affirms that it is not difficult to start a club. She also advises that anyone with ideas for clubs should go forth and start them. NOVA offers a wide array of different clubs that gives new or old students a great opportunity to meet new people.
