Scene Spotlight

Aarti Khanna

? Class of '06

? undeclared business major

While most Santa Clara freshmen have spent the last two quarters adjusting to the rigors of college and life away from home, Aarti Khanna has spent that time adjusting to an entirely different culture.

"It's tough being so far from your family, but it's fun because you're living on your own and doing things on your own," Khanna said of coming to Santa Clara from her native India.

Aarti grew up in New Delhi, India's capital, and her family is still there. This fall, she followed her cousin and sister to Santa Clara for college.

"The educational system in India is pretty dismal," she said. "There are a few top universities. If you don't get into one of those, there's really no point in going to college." Still, most of her friends from high school are attending college in India.

In America, says Khanna, most people take school more seriously. "Tuition matters. It's a lot more expensive to go to high school in India than it is to go to college. Here, it's the opposite."

Khanna has also found that it is less an automatic assumption that high school students will go on to college in America. "Out of my class of 160 kids, there is no way that more than two or three don't go to college," she said.

When asked what her favorite thing is about Santa Clara, Khanna does not even pause - it is undoubtedly the weather. "Our summers are hot and last nine months of the year," said Khanna. "It's nice to have the four seasons here!"

Brian London

? Class of '05

? history major

Growing up in Marin,Calif., Brian London discovered a love of music. Inspired by an older cousin, he taught himself to play the guitar at age 11.

"I never had a lesson," said London, who also plays the piano, trombone, drums, bass and harmonica.

Last Friday night, with three friends and fellow musicians, London played a show for Santa Clara students at the Bronco. "I want to say it's rock and roll, but it's also kind of pop music - good pop," he said of the group's music.

This was not London's first time performing publicly. He has a band with friends from high school. Although they now attend different schools, they still play together when they get the chance. "We've recorded two CDs and we're recording another one this summer," London said."

"I'd played at clubs in high school," he said. "I love it. I don't get nervous anymore. I just get really excited and have a great time."

The show at The Bronco last weekend was more exciting for London because he knew a lot of people in the audience. "I had a lot of friends there," he said. "It was more exciting because it was more personal."

London, who counts The Beatles, Oasis, Chris Isaak and Superdrag among his idols, hopes to someday turn his passion for the guitar into a career. He wants to become either a firefighter or a professional musician.

"I don't play the guitar for practice, I play the guitar to relax," he said. "I play whenever I'm watching TV, whenever I'm sitting down. Basically, I play all the time."