By Haley Sablay ‘23, Taigu Fellow

In Taigu, one of my favorite places to relax is a man-made, medium-sized pond near the International Affairs Office and fellows’ houses called 思想湖 (Lake of Thought). No matter the weather, it’s a spot I peruse at least three times a week. I’ve been caught by students and friends admiring the pond’s fountain, crocheting at nearby benches, journaling under the magnolia trees, and testing my luck while tiptoeing on the layer of ice that develops during Taigu’s freezing winters. Every school semester, I can expect to find children with small nets hoping to catch fish while parents eagerly take videos.

By Haley Sablay ‘23, Taigu Fellow

“What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?” read the Powerpoint slide at 11 am during a Masters class last spring semester. We were learning about giving and receiving advice, and this simple question seemed too big a feat not only for my groggy students but also for myself despite having a practiced answer the night before (I’m a planner, what can I say?). At the time, the best advice I could muster to most of my classes was “you only live once” and then proceeded to explain the term YOLO. Looking back, I wish I had given a different answer (even though my students found the term hilarious).