Heikki Jaason came to his post as Ziv and Ridgewoord quad director in the calm before the storm-just weeks before housing lottery numbers were assigned. Now, a month into the job, this Canadian says he is impressed with Brandeis students' maturity and enjoys it here.Heikki Jaason
Role at Brandeis: Quad Director for Ziv and Ridgewood
Time at Brandeis: one month

JF: Where were you before you came to Brandeis?
HJ: I've been in Massachusetts for about a year. Prior to that, I was in Ontario, Canada ... I'm from Canada.

JF: What do you think of the U.S. and of Massachusetts, specifically?
HJ: I've lived in the U.S. before. I have dual citizenship and my grandma lives in Syracuse, so it's not foreign to me. Massachusetts is a great place for schools and for higher education. If I had to be anywhere in the U.S., I'd be here-except for Hawaii, maybe ... I spent a year in Hawaii and fell in love with the way of life: [it was] very friendly and laid back. If only there were a Brandeis in Hawaii.

JF: What were your jobs in Ontario and last year?
HJ: In Ontario, I worked as a quad director. Last year, I also worked as a quad director. Then I took a few months off, then this position opened up.

JF: What do you think of Brandeis so far?
HJ: I love it. I heard wonderful things about the school. The students here are unique and friendly.

JF: What is the highlight of the job?
HJ: I guess it's been coming into a work environment that is so supportive ... and is helping me get into the groove and figure things out.
Also, the student body is bright and interesting and a little different from students at schools I've worked at in the past. Students here are quite responsible and mature and considerate. They're focused on academics and getting involved in the community.

JF: So, would you say the students here are quieter?
HJ: Yes, overall, there are fewer community standards violations. It seems like people would rather get involved than go out and get in trouble. As a professional, this is the ideal group of students to work with. And I'm not just saying that ... students are getting involved, asking questions, always improving things.

JF: What has been the hardest part of the job so far?
HJ: I guess it's been establishing a credibility, figuring things out quickly enough to make them work.

JF: What do you do in your spare time?
HJ: I like staying active-summertime or wintertime-by running, hiking or biking. I also like going to shows ... And I also enjoy painting with acrylics. I love reggae and have really been getting into Peter Tosh lately.
I've spent the past couple months training for the Boston Marathon. This would be my first marathon, though as of today I have yet to hit the pavement. Mentally, though, I'm there.

JF: What was the best part of your own college experience?
HJ: I guess it was being able to live on my own, but at the same time have a support network to help me along the way and make sure I succeeded. I guess that's the biggest reason I am doing this kind of work.

JF: You mentioned that you like seeing shows. What is your favorite show?
HJ: Stomp. It's excellent.

JF: How do you feel about constant teasing of Canada? Have you been exposed to that?
HJ: Well, I don't say "eh" anymore, and I avoid saying "out" and "about" [pronounced "oot" and "aboot"]. But nothing serious. There are students here from all over; it's wonderful to see that kind of diversity.

JF: Anything else that you want Brandeis students to know about you?
HJ: I'm still very much a kid at heart and I hope to get younger with age I try not to take myself too seriously and try to have fun with everything I do.