This summer has been full of new experiences for me. I kicked it off with a trip to the Israel where we celebrated a family friends Bar Mitzvah. Soon after that I headed to Da Li, China, a small town in the Yunan province, to study Chinese at Da Li Da Xue with Rustic Pathways. Currently, I’m working in New York City as a host at a restaurant called Dos Caminos. Today will be my first day out of training and as a real host. When thinking about what I look forward to this year, I definitely think about my friends, many whom I haven’t seen since June and my return as an upperclassmen. Now I’ll be able to have priority for EDTs (camping trips) and I will be able to serve in the back during formal dinner. But I am not looking forward to kicking off my the last half of my Thacher career. It is crazy to believe that I’m half-way done!