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Dear Eliana,
There is this girl who I think is really cute. However I haven’t really talked to her much. I’ve only really spoken to her twice. Once, I sort of awkwardly introduced myself, and the second time I just said hi. I would like to be better friends with her, but I don’t really know how to start conversations with her to get the ball rolling.
-Pining for Penny

Dear Pining for Penny,
It can be scary to just go up to a really cute girl and start talking. Here are some tips: First, find common interests. Try to find something you two can bond over. Maybe you both like similar music or perhaps you can discuss your mutual hatred of some Sodexo policy. That will open the door to a conversation. Second, be outgoing. Don’t be shy. Get out there, and make yourself known! Say hi when you see her, or ask her how she’s doing. You can’t get to know her if she doesn’t know you’re there. Last, be confident. If you believe that you are awesome, she will believe it too (just don’t go overboard). I assume you’ve made other friends before, so just do what you did then, and you’ll be fine. You’ve got this!
-Eliana

Dear Eliana,
I’ve been noticing a lot of delivery guys around campus lately. And like everyone else, I’ve started to grow a bit tired of the selections at Usdan and Sherman, so I sort of want to try some of these places out. I’m kind of confused about the process, though. Do the drivers know what I mean when I tell them I live in East? What if they get my order wrong—do I just accept it and move on with food I don’t want? And is it worth it to spend real money on food when I have a meal plan?
-Anxious in East

Dear Anxious in East,
It can definitely be nice to change up the food options every once in a while. It’s perfectly reasonable to order out every once in a while if you just aren’t feeling the options on campus. In terms of delivery, a lot of the places that are near campus and are commonly ordered from will know what you’re talking about if you tell them where on campus you live. If not, just give them directions. It’s just like ordering takeout at home. If you have a meal plan, definitely use it, but it’s also fine to take a break and splurge on some delicious takeout every now and then. Enjoy!
-Eliana

Dear Eliana,
I live in Grad, so there’s a kitchen I want to utilize. However, I don’t have a car to get to Hannaford’s whenever I need to. Plus I don’t want to always have to bother a friend to drive me if I need milk or something small. Is walking down there the best option for me? People have told me that the BranVan will take me to Hannaford’s if I put in a request, but is it reliable enough for me to trust it will come back to pick me up so I don’t have to carry all my groceries back to my room?
-Nervous

Dear Nervous,
If you have friends who are willing to drive, that’s awesome. If you want to pay them back somehow, offer to help pay for gas or buy them a treat from the store. However, if you don’t want to constantly ask people to drive you for the small stuff, you could sign up for a Zipcar. Basically, you pay a fee, and you can use one of their cars in the area. (You can go to the website for more information if that sounds appealing to you.) If that seems too expensive for you, then use the BranVan. It is pretty reliable, and if you’re still worried, you can talk to the driver or call to remind them to get you. There is also a Waltham Shuttle that goes between Waltham and campus Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., so that’s always a good backup. Lastly, if you just want to get small stuff, or milk, there is a market close to Grad by Prime Deli that you can easily walk to. Enjoy your kitchen!
-Eliana

Dear Eliana,
Despite the constant reminders around campus surrounding Yom Kippur, I forgot to fast. Or maybe I should say that I broke the fast very early by eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast Saturday morning. The worst part is that I lied to my grandmother about fasting, telling her I kept the custom when I really didn’t. I don’t like lying to her since she’s old and frail and every time I talk to her, I worry it might be the last chance I get. I’ve been dreading telling her the truth and admitting I lied to her, since she would be very disappointed (she can hold a grudge), but I know I have to eventually. How do I bring it up to her? Do you think there is anyway I can numb the pain for her by promising her something else?
-Ravenous

Dear Ravenous,
It can be very hard to fast, even if everyone around you is doing it. If fasting on Yom Kippur is not something that’s important to you, then you shouldn’t feel bad for not doing it. On the other hand, lying to your grandmother is a problem. If your grandmother cares about you, then she should respect your decisions, and you should not be afraid to tell her the truth, even if it’s not what she wants to hear. At this point, it is a little trickier to tell her what happened. Next time you talk to her, you don’t have to promise her anything, but maybe try to give her some other good news. Then, tell her you’ve been feeling guilty since Yom Kippur, and you can admit to her that you might not have been entirely honest before, and that you decided not to fast this year. Tell her how bad you feel for lying to her. Maybe she will be disappointed for a bit, but apologize, and move forward. She is your grandmother, and as you said, you don’t want to miss your chance to be totally honest with her. You can do this!
-Eliana

Dear Eliana,
I had a paper due recently that my professor wanted both a hard copy dropped in her mailbox and to be submitted onto LATTE. Unfortunately, I had a bit of a problem getting my computer to work in order to submit the paper online, so I never did. I still got the paper into her mailbox and then sent an email to her about my problems, but haven’t gotten a response yet. Should I mention it to her at the end of my next class? Also, who do you think I should see about making sure this problem doesn’t happen again?
-Technologically Impaired

Dear Technologically Impaired,
Sometimes computers are uncooperative. It happens, and I’m sure your professor will understand. To be safe, I would talk to her at the end of class and make sure she knows what’s going on and doesn’t accidently fail you or something. In terms of fixing the problem, go see the LTS (Library and Technology Services) people in the library. Their desk is in front of the computer area, and their job is to help you with computer issues and such.
-Eliana

Dear Readers,

If you can’t already tell, this is an advice column, and I’m here to help you with any questions that you might have! If you want more exciting questions, send them in, and I will do my best to answer them. Whether it’s relationships, social problems or just life in general—send them here. I can’t wait to start hearing about everyone’s problems. Send questions to Elianasadvice@gmail.com.
Thanks!

-Eliana