intermediate program summer site : conversations : first session



	asher from massachusetts (7/16) Originally form New Zealand, Asher is a rising 8th grade day student in the midst of his first session at the Intermediate Program. This summer, Asher is really enjoying getting to know the process of darkroom photography. So you’re taking “Shutterbug” the darkroom photography class, how do you like it? It’s amazing. I’ve always loved taking pictures. Have you used a darkroom before? Never. I’ve taken many pictures with my mom’s camera and always had a fascination with it . . . that’s the one I was using. I was amazed. Individually adjusting it for every picture . . . looking at every detail. Do you like film or do you find it frustrating compared to digital? I actually don’t [find it frustrating]. I find it really interesting, because you end up taking more notice of the subject you’re shooting. Say I’m shooting that tree over there. If I take a picture with a digital camera, I take it and maybe I process it on the computer, maybe notice the detail later. If you take it with film you notice all the little notches in the bark and the, I think that’s lichen, on the tree and how that changes the color and the texture of it all. What’s something else new that you’ve tried at Explo? I’ve tried so much new stuff that I don’t really keep track of it . . . I don’t know. What were you expecting when you came to Explo? I had very little of an idea of what to expect coming to Explo. I have many friends who come here. I actually discovered there are six kids from my school here, who I didn’t expect to be here at all. I didn’t know really what it would be like, and its really fun trying all sorts of new activities. What’s your favorite? My second period mini-course is Graffiti Art. I have a cousin who’s really good at it. I’m from New Zealand and he’s still in New Zealand. He’s big into that, and so I’ve always been interested in that. I’ve seen stuff he’s done and its really cool, so that kind of drew me to that. What other mini-course are you taking? I’m also taking kayaking, which isn’t so much a new thing for me . . . but I've done mostly sea kayaking before this. What do you think of the food? Much better than the food at my own school’s cafeteria. Explo gives you at lot of choices. There are four dining halls . . . Four! That’s a lot. And you know, there’s ice cream [Gestures to a cone of vanilla] . . . I’m limiting myself to one a day. It’s actually really good food. I hear other people complaining about it and I think . . . I’ve tasted really bad school food, this good. What advice would you give to someone coming to Explo? Try new stuff. I’m sure many people have said this before, but try new stuff. There’s always something fun going on. For example, one day . . . well, most days there is swimming, and I love that ‘cuz its really nice cooling off. Wellesley has a great pool. But like, I tried Calvinball. I’ve never actually had the chance to play Calvinball before. Calvinball is the legendary game that Calvin and Hobbes play in many of their cartoons, and the only rule is you can’t repeat the same rule twice. There’s always something fun going on. What’s been your favorite main event? Staff-imporv night was really good. It was lots of fun . . . Explo Idol with lip synching . . . I laughed so hard I started wheezing . . . I have a little bit of asthma. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed that hard before. It was hilarious. I could not stop. Have you found it easy to meet people here? Oh yeah. Everywhere you go you now, standing next to someone in lunch line . . . There’s just so many nice people here. There are people who can be a bit grumpy early in the morning . . . but there are a lot of really funny and awesome people . . . such a high concentration of what you don’t always see elsewhere. If Explo had a mascot what would it be? Oh no, I’m not getting into this. All around Explo, probably for the voting class . . . They’ve started this thing: voting for Explo's Mascot. It's between "Pablo the Polar Bear" and "Oscar the Owl". I want to put up signs like "Tired of all Pablo and Oscar’s shenanigans? Vote for 'Tare the Tarantula' or 'Willy the Weasel'" or something like that . . . or "Barry the Bacteria! He’ll infect you! He’ll infect you with Explo Spirit!" I made that up just now, for the record. more conversations > first session \| second session