MY ROCHESTER FRIENDS. There isn't much to say about the city of Rochester. The terrain is pancake-flat; the winter weather is miserable; the city closes at 11 PM; the downtown is deserted, save a few musicians. However, I am proud to call Rochester home. And that is almost solely because of the many wonderful friends I have been blessed with in this unassuming upstate New York city.

Two brothers, coming from the westside. This is Sanjeev, "in the hood", straight outta Sri Lanka. He is my closest friend, and has been like a brother to me for four years running. He knows (almost) everything about me; so if you ever want any dirt on me.... you know where to go.

1) Jack, my former apartmentmate, a white boy trapped in an Asian shell

2) Sanjeev, simply demonstrating to us his tough side, which was developed, refined and employed on the streets of Pasadena, California.

3) JT, completely out of character for his humble, gentle personality.


Sanjeev, Marguerite, and I chilliing with our new friend, Mr. MC Hammer. But who is Hammer, and who is Jeev???

Please Hammer, don't hurt us. Please.


With my friend Shumon... Thanks to living in Kenya and Bangladesh, Shumon comfortably speaks five languages. He occupies his time with computer hacking and trying to embarrass me in front of women.


Does it get any more adorable than this? Trudy and Brooke....

SCONER. Say, Dan, tell me: the Red Sox had a pretty successful year in 1918, didn't they?

Manuel. Christian, Puerto Rican, Spanish teacher, girl-chaser, philosophy and religion books never far away. He'll kick your butt in a religious / philosophical discussion at any time. In ten years, he should be a professor at Harvard Divinity School. Alfred. From Ghana, West Africa. He loves the Lord and he loves to pray. If you ever want someone to pray with, find this guy; he will go for hours.


Marguerite. She is easy to spot: the white girl at the lower right in Manipur, India.


Graduation! Erin (from Oregon), Manuel (from Puerto Rico / Germany), Jeev (from Sri Lanka), myself, Brooke (from New York), Triv (from Kuwait / India), JT (sitting, from Ohio), and Alfred (from Ghana).


Beth, we've been through a lot together

Cartic Vengkatraman, CV, the Ramblin' Man. He's got the voice of Muddy Waters and believes he's God's greatest gift to women. James and I. James is fantastic. Always willing to listen as a friend, and always willing to grab a 12-gauge and shoot up a deer.


Manuel, Jack, Jimi.

Or, if you will: Slash, Will Smith, Jimi.


Mac, Marguerite, Ren. Mac and I both love Pepsi. Coke is referred to in the house we share as "Heresy Cola". Hey, it's not the real thing. Mac was raised in the backwoods of Pennsylvania. It was inevitable that he would grow up to be 6 foot 2, 225. That's just how they make them down there.


JT, myself, Mac. JT is another wonderful brother to me. I love him very much. I also look like a complete goof in this picture.


Jack and his friend Sarah, POW for life.

Jack will kill me for posting this picture.

Eyal and myself. Eyal is an Israeli friend of mine who I met while studying abroad in Israel. He then came to study in Rochester. Here I am trying to make him American by hanging out at Starbucks. With his loud, uninhibited personality, Eyal will never get the hang of it. And that is perfectly fine... Shalom Shalom!


Sarah and Amy at an audition for the lead role in Annie


MORE THAN EQUALS, baby

InterVarsity poster boys Jeev and Chris


Myself, Ramzi, JT. Ramzi is from Jordan, and is one of the most interesting people I have ever met. Ramzi, for the short time you were here, shukran.

Brooke and Jeev

My beloved Tamil friends: Ravi, Gabriel, and Sanjeev. Straight outta Jaffna. After spending a couple of days with Gabe's family in Toronto, I began to wish I were Tamil as well. Ravi is, unquestionably, the city of Toronto's most esteemed taxi driver, and although there is much one can say about Ravi, no one could ever accuse him of being boring. "Tanabamama, you supplying Gabe??? You son of.... just kidding."
Ravi, pray tell, where did you get that shirt? That is a magnificent shirt! What is the significance of the Tiger? Oh, the shirt was a gift from Gabe, was it? That was mighty generous of Gabe to give up such a wonderful garment. And, pray tell, what is the deal with the air gun?! "I am Sylvestor Stallone!" Eye of the tiger, baby.


The Bible Study I attended my senior year, led by JT and Brooke.


Don and Sonya.

Don, if it rains and we can't play tennis, then consider that God's grace to you.

j/k