Hit by Cupids Arrow (2/14/12 through 2/17/12)

Valentine’s day lasted nearly a whole week.  On the Friday that opened Winter Carnival, Meili and I attended a card-making activity in Collis.  We both enjoyed the chance to exercise our creativity and youthfulness, although our cards were much more elaborate and cleaner than any elementary student could have made.  I assembled a cute booklet for Pranam in which I would later paste photos, multilingual sayings, and a manga-style comic I drew up on Seashore.  For Meili, I found a large piece of forest-patterned cardstock, which inspired the idea to paste on an image of Legolas expressing some sentiment in Elvish.

On Valentine’s Day, at 7:20 in the morning, I hurried to McCulloch 2 to meet Pranam before Japanese drill.  Of course, there is great significance in his choice of a meeting spot.  Although I was running late, I actually arrived before him, and I could see Pranam through the study room’s big window, across into his Morton dorm room.  He suddenly disappeared, and before I could say “hit by Cupid’s arrow” he was behind me with a box of Lindor truffles and a really cute puppy holding a heart.  He is so wonderful.  I named my puppy Kokoro, after the Japanese word for heart!  Now Pete, the bear wearing a Dartmouth hoodie (or Pranam’s alter ego), has a companion. J

Meili and I are two birds of a feather.  We exchanged the exact same gift — Godiva chocolate-covered almonds.  She wrapped hers much better though, with a pretty tissue-paper flower attached.  I’m pretty sure I finished my almonds much faster, but they were so tasty that I couldn’t resist!

Later that night, we enjoyed a double date at FoCo.  Well, it really wasn’t a date at all — one, because it was FoCo, and two because the two guys who came along were both Meili’s suitors.  Usually FoCo is the most monotonous dining hall, but that night, they had a special surprise for us: a chocolate fondue fountain.  I made sure I saved a cup of strawberries and fondue for Pranam, since he was in a meeting.  The fruit and chocolate was definitely the main course.  Then I ate my vegetables.  FoCo also served pastries at the dessert bar, including fruit tarts and chocolate mousse cups.  Steve was entertaining since he couldn’t tell if the mousse cup was edible or not (it was).

I could have stayed at FoCo all night devouring sweets, but I had to run to the Hop to meet Cynthia, Evelyn, and Teresa for J-Shop.  That is, making jewelry while snacking on… more chocolate!  This was especially entertaining with Ian there.  He’s a junior on the demanding engineering track, and this term he’s actually on the Hanover FSP, which means he’s living off-campus but working at Dartmouth.  Why is this significant?  He’s my adoptive trip leader (Pranam, Cynthia, Erica, Conor, etc. were on the Farm Living trip last fall under his guidance) and the object of all our affectionate stalking and creepy behavior.  Fortunately, Cynthia got the chance to really impress him with her awesome wire-bending skills.  She made the most intricate rings, while I just made treble.  No seriously, I made a ring with matching earrings of that cute, squiggly G-clef symbol.  Totally deserved a laugh and a half.

On Friday, I finally went on my first dinner date.  I was so afraid that I wouldn’t be able to go, since I almost went home that weekend after being sick.  Good thing my stomach flu lasted only 24 hours!  If it hadn’t been five months (to the day) since I had met Pranam, I would have been so nervous about creating conversation and being scrutinized from across the table.  But actually, I think we were prepared well; he even matched his tie to my dress.  He brought me to the Ledyard Canoe Club, a nicely furnished restaurant with the tastiest dishes.  Together, we ordered some cod, risotto, calamari salad, and coconut sorbet.  We really enjoyed ourselves, and I will never forget this night.  It was seriously more romantic than any movie set, with the dim lighting and the small, intimate table by the window, the quaint town of Hanover, and the beautiful night outside.

I need to return the favor, and I guess I can start with Hairspray tickets!