Since you're a senior, what is your major and what are your plans for next year?

I'm a computer science major, which means that I have spent more quality time in the basement of SMudd than I care to remember. Next year I am teaching for Teach for America-I'm going to be a secondary school math teacher in New York City.

I heard you have a radio show and that it's the best thing in the world. Is this true? Care to elaborate?

You have good sources. I am, in fact, a member of the two-person DJ team that puts on a magnificent show called "Emma and Nora's Popular Hour." It's on from 8-10 p.m. on Monday nights on the Amherst College radio station, WAMH 89.3 FM. When we first got a show sophomore year, it was from 12-2 in the morning, but we called our spot "Prime Time" to trick lots of people into listening. Now we actually HAVE a prime-time slot, which just goes to show you if you tell well-intentioned fibs for long enough, they come true! Our motto is "same jokes as last week, only funnier," and we stick to it.

Any pets?

I have a precious cat named Java, but she lives at home with my parents so I don't get to see her when I'm at school. Here at Amherst I have two pet fish named Larry and Stinky Pierre and they are sweet, sweet angels. And I did NOT, tragically, get them or any of their equipment from the Campus Center. It's okay though; I've made peace with my extra expenses by convincing myself that my fish are seven billion times better than (smarter than, prettier than, just plain superior to) anyone else's. And they are.

I'm told you studied abroad. Was it an experience you would recommend to people?

I did go abroad and I would definitely recommend it. I was in Costa Rica second semester last year, and I certainly had quite the experience. I did, unfortunately, get assigned to live with a host family that turned out to be less than awesome. To make a long story short, my host mom, who only spoke Spanish, fell in love with this American who stayed at our house for like a week and only spoke English. She kept writing weird love letters to him and made me translate them from Spanish to English. Then she decided she was going to learn English and save up enough money to go to the United States to stalk him or something. So she stopped really feeding me to save money for her United States journey. As cool as that was, I decided I would really rather be in a non-lunatic-filled house, so I switched to another family and they were GREAT and I loved them.

What's the stupidest thing you have ever done?

Oh please. I do only practical, smart, worthwhile things that are always carefully thought through before I do them. .... The other day I mailed this letter and when the postman held out his hand (because I was supposed to pay him) I slapped him high five instead. He looked at me as though I had an elbow or something where my head was supposed to be. That was cool.

How did you start playing the violin, and how long have you played?

My parents have been in various bands since before I was born-right now my mom and dad are both in a Cajun band called "Squeeze Bayou" and my mom is also in a country band called "The Blue Moon Cowgirls." When I was three I decided I wasn't about to be left out of all the fun, so I asked for a violin. My parents got my one for my fourth birthday, and I've played ever since.

Snow: like it or hate it? Why?

Liked it in high school when school got cancelled whenever there was more than two inches on the ground. Like it when it's beautiful and tranquil. Hate it when I'm trying to go to Valentine for breakfast in the morning and I slip and nearly kill myself eighty jillion times and then regain balance, take a deep breath and gag on the smell of soy sauce.

Three things you would bring to sustain you on if you were stranded on a desert isle:

1. A fan (if it is a hot island, anyway).

2. Really, really comfortable bed with mosquito netting all around it.

3. Truck (you didn't say it couldn't be a truck!) full of food, water, a TV, and a computer with Internet access. (Let's be honest, I would last about four hours on a desert isle.)