Cheese is good!

[carmen]

1. Name: Carmen

2. Age: 23

3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
At the moment, I'm going to say Australia. I studied abroad in Sydney when I was an undergraduate, and I had an amazing time there, and made some wonderful friends. The attitude there was a lot more laid back then what I've experienced here in Texas. Also, I felt like the people I met were more geniune, and I felt really comfortable - like I belonged.

4. What would your Room of Requirement look like?
It'd be large, and have bookcases full of books. There'd be comfy chairs and couches, as well as a bed with a supercomfortable mattress and pillow, and high threadcount sheets. I love to eat, so there'd be one of those replicators from Star Trek which I'd use for sushi, bacon cheeseburgers, pesto, hot chocolate, and whatever else I was craving at the moment. And since a girl can't read ALL the time (though I'd like to try) there'd be a computer with an internet connection.

5. Who is your least favorite Harry Potter character?
Hagrid, quite easily. He's irritating, and I'm not quite sure what qualifies him to be a teacher - he's a little obsessed with animals - dangerous ones at that, and he can't teach.  He's just frustrating.  I feel kind of bad for him, and a little bit guilty for disliking him so much, but his lack of common sense just really, really, bugs me.

6. Is the glass half empty or half full?
That depends. If you're pouring something into it, it's half-full, and if you're drinking from it, it's half-empty. And if it has chocolate milk, it's completely empty.  Becuase I drank it all.

But what I'm trying to say is that it depends. If I'm feeling good, it's half-full, and if I'm feel crappy, it's half-empty. I don't think I have one overriding, feeling - it really is affected by what had been going on before I looked at the glass.

7. Give us a quotation (Can be from a famous person, a song, or even a poem-whatever you want) you feel represents your life or personality.
"Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans" - John Lenon.  I'm such a huge planner, and I make backup plans for everything as well.  For example, the job that I'm in right now, I want to stay in for at least 2 years.  So I have a plan of what I want to do in two years (get another graduate degree, but from Australia), and how that's going to help my career, and who I need to keep in touch with in order to get that done as far as applying to grad school, and a list of schools that have the programs that I'm interested in doing, and so many details of how I'm going to make it work.  But things don't always work that way, and sometimes I need to remember to step back, relax, and let life happen.

8. In your life, who comes first: family or friends?
My family. I've got a wonderful family, and I know that they'll be there for me regardless. There's almost nothing that I'd do that would change the fact that they love me and support me. Even if it's because they're stuck with me and can't really get rid of me, I know that I'll be able to count on them, no matter what. My parents have been a large source of strength for me over the past few years, and my sister, though we can be oil and water sometimes, is a totally wonderful person as well.

9. What is your favorite childhood memory?
My father is from Lebanon, but it's difficult to get over to that part of the world not only in practical ways, but also for safety reasons.  However, the summer before the 8th grade, we went to visit, which is one of my favorite memories.  I had a chance to meet all these (second) cousins that I'd never met before, as well as great-uncles and -aunts and tons of other people that I didn't even really know existed beforehand.  My mother's from Puerto Rico, and it's a lot easier to visit there and be connected to that culture when you live in the United States, so the trip got me a little more connected with that part of my culture.

10. What would you say is your biggest flaw?
I'd say it's my lack of followthrough. I have all these plans, but I'm really bad at actually making them happen. I make lots of lists, but hardly ever follow them and utilize them.  I think it stems fromt he fact that I'm a perfectionist - even though I make the plans, I won't be able to make them happen the way i want them to, so I don't bother trying at all.  It's only if I really really want something or if others are counting on me that I'll make sure the followthrough happens.

11. If you had been at Hogwarts during Harry’s fifth year, do you think that you would have joined the D.A.?
I totally would have wanted to join, but I would have hesitated, because I wouldn't want to get in trouble.  I probably would have joined about halfway through the year, after it had been going on for a while and no one had gotten into trouble.  And I probably would have talked to my parents about it, to get their opinion, before making a final decision.

12. Describe how you react to difficult or stressful situations.
In stressful situations where I have a whole lot to do and I'm confused and frustrated and don't know where to start, I make lists.  Not ones to follow, because I know that I wouldn't actually do it, but just to show myself that it's doable and that I need to calm down.

In difficult situations that are more crisis-like, I'm good with going with my gut.  My job gives me a lot of responsibility when it comes to crisis and near-crisis situations, so I've learned the basics, and from there trust my judgement.   Afterwards, I always go over what happened and what I did, so that I can learn from the situation; but while it's going on, I just hit the ground running, and go.

13. Which do you value more: compassion or justice?
I'd say compassion. Because, here's the thing - more often than not, justice is the compassionate choice. But there are times when what's right by the letter of the law, isn't right by the spirit of the law, so even though justice is served, it's not necessarily the right thing. So by saying compassion, I think I'm including justice, because I don't think that being compassionate doesn't keep you from being just. It just keeps you from being so blinded by justice that you forget that these are people you're dealing with.

14. Would you say that you’re a child at heart, or that you have an old soul?
I think I've got a bit of both, but I'm more of an old soul. People and knowledge and doing what's right is more important to me than going crazy and having fun. My personal way of having fun is more subdued. And while I think I have a lot of the innocence and naivete of a child, I also have the maturity to deal with difficult situations.

15. Which Hogwarts House do you think that the Sorting Hat would place you in?
Either Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.
I'm a nerd, and I have no problem with that. I love learning, I like reading, and I'm quick on my feet. I also love analyzing and problem-solving. I'm not so good at word puzzles, but I love logic puzzles - I do them for fun (see? Nerd!)

However, I also think I put other people first, and am empathetic. I'm bad at followthrough most of the time, but if there's something I feel really passionate about, I'll work my ass of to do it. It's less important for me for everyone to know me, and more important to me that those who do know me, like me.

16. If you have a picture of yourself and feel comfortable posting it, please do so! Pictures are fun!
This has me really shiney, but it shows off my new, hot, haircut:


And these are blurry, but they're Puddlemere United shirts that my sister made for us for the PoA premier (I'm on the right) - bonus points if you get the significance of the backs!