By Kira Cohen
Features editor
@Mitzpeh
Junior philosophy major Mikey Pollack and sophomore public health science major Alyse Messafi met up at Dunkin’ Donuts under Terrapin Row on Nov. 5. Their date was originally set for Nov. 2 at 7-Eleven, but when Pollack and Messafi went to two different 7-Eleven establishments, they were unable to find each other. Traumatized from the date gone wrong, and from all 7-Eleven institutions, Pollack requested that the make-up date take place at another location. Dunkin’ Donuts was selected as the new venue. Neither Pollack nor Messafi ordered anything, and their $0 bill was reimbursed in full by Mitzpeh.
Was this your first blind date?
Mikey: Well, my second blind date…first blind date the girl stood me up for Friday morning, so this would be my second blind date.
Alyse: Yes.
What inspired you to sign up?
M: Some would call it divine providence, some would call it…okay next question.
A: I just thought it would be fun, a nice experience I guess.
What were you expecting about the date going in?
M: I was expecting to get a drink, an Oreo hot chocolate at Dunkin’. And sit down and have a nice civil conversation. OR, to walk in to Dunkin’, her see me, and run the opposite direction.
A: I had no expectations actually, just maybe meet someone new and get to know someone in the community.
What did your date’s order say about their personality?
M: My date’s order told me she’s a girl of class and self respect. (She did not order anything.)
A: He didn’t order anything. He was probably just going off of what I was doing.
What did you talk about?
M: We talked about a lot of things…topics ranging from employment opportunities on campus…the intense bureaucracy of Dunkin’ Donuts and why they wouldn’t hire me…God, Judaism, her past, our majors…we spoke about anything, really everything under the sun. As the New York Times once said, “all the news that’s fit to print.”
A: We talked about our hobbies, our majors, Jewish thought and philosophy.
What surprised you?
M: It surprised me when she tested me…the reason she asked you (Kira) for 4:45 (as the date time) originally, is to see if I would say yes to that, to test if I was someone who went to mincha/maariv (afternoon services). And that cunning on her part surprised me.
A: Well, he wants to make aliyah (move to Israel). I thought that was surprising.
How would you rate your date, on a scale of one to Beyoncé and Jay-Z?
M: Like Bruce Springsteen. You kinda want to listen to them all the time, but sometimes, you can’t, because there’s lots of good music out there, and, and you can’t just listen to the same artist over and over again, and I’m not sure I’m ready to commit to marriage, which she seemed ready to be committed to marriage by the end of the night, and it’s not something I could do. I need to listen to a little bit more music before I go head on.
A: Like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner? I’m pretty sure they broke up. So I’ll say that.
Do you think you will go out again?
M: No. BUT – I could see myself running into her at the correct 7-Eleven, having a nice conversation, and around the community, and…fostering if you will, fostering, a true friendship that will last for life.
A: Probably not.
How has this date changed your life?
M: Oh, in so many ways. I did not think that someone could walk into a Dunkin Donuts’ and not order something. Definitely opens the world to me. I was also a little surprised that I could recover so quickly after having a date fall through on Friday morning. So after that, and the fact that I recovered really, really, really, really really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really really, really…
A: It was just nice to get to know someone that I had seen but never really talked to.
Is there anything else you’d like the world to know about your date?
M: No matter who you are in the world, whoever’s listening to this, whoever hears this, whoever reads this, know not to go on dates in 7-Eleven, because it can lead to emotional heartbreak. But such establishment such as Dunkin’ Donuts can lead to newfound love.
A: He’s a good guy. Also that he passed out at his flu shot last year. Also, I’m pretty sure he is actually in love with Kira.
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