Feasting at Yale's interdisciplinary buffet

Yale is an intellectual Eden. I chose to come here for college, law school, and now SOM because of this ever-present buzz: the university feels like an interdisciplinary Petri dish, a hive of thought and activity and inspiration. I’ll dedicate my first blog post to a snapshot of this week, which is a fair illustration of my typical week here. Highlights of the week include: -In my Indonesian language class, we had a guest visit from Alfonsa Horeng, a master textile weaver from Flores Island, Indonesia. Alfonsa brought her bamboo loom, dressed us in Ikat sarongs, and taught us a dance from Flores. Check out Alfonsa’s blog and this article about the weaving cooperative she set up in her home village. -On the opposite end of the technology spectrum, I passed the 3-D printing course at Yale’s Center for Engineering Innovation and Design, and I can now use Yale’s MakerBot 3-D printer free of charge—and also take advantage of the CEID’s electronics lab, metal shop, and wood shop to design and build projects. -I had tea yesterday with Yuanhua Wen, one of Yale’s 2012 World Fellows. When I get the chance, I love asking Chinese professionals about their childhoods and the changes they’ve witnessed. Yuanhua told me about growing up in rural Hunan with no electricity. From 2003 to 2006 he was one of the key architects of China’s financial sector reforms, and more recently, he was the financier behind Tianjin’s Hai He river clean-up and urban redevelopment project. -Finally, last night I helped celebrate Prof. Lea Brilmayer’s annual Halloween bash. I’m a J.D./M.B.A. candidate, and Prof. Lea Brilmayer taught my 1L Contracts course. She also happens to be legal advisor to the government of Eritrea, an eminent scholar of international law, an incredible teacher, and an unrepentant bon vivant. Her parties are legendary, and last night did not disappoint.