Lifestyle: Double Talk

Olga Bentsman has been in two places at once. During her last year of high school, the College senior was sick the day the yearbook staff photographed her extra-curricular activity pictures. But she appears in each photograph -- or at least one would think. While Olga Bentsman stayed home in bed, Julia -- her identical twin who is also a College senior -- posed for posterity. And although twins across the University share similar stories of leading double lives no two pairs agree on whether twins lead more similar or more asymetric lives than their single peers. But all agree that outsiders tend to view them as more similar than alike. College seniors Allison and Laurie Bieber remember when Laurie's current boyfriend met the sisters. The young man soon discovered that one of the girls was interested in him and guessed that it was Allison. "He was flirting with the wrong one," Allison said. "I love to torture him about it." Because twins appear so similar, people often treat each pair as one person. "When we were growing up, people would buy one present [for the two of us]," College senior David Cade said. His brother Nate, also a College senior and a columnist for The Daily Pennsylvanian, said people often base their opinion of one brother on impressions given by the other. "We want people to sit down and think before they formulate a judgement," David Cade said. While the Cades said they hate being treated as one person, Julia and Olga say they get upset when people don't. Born in the Soviet Union, the College seniors grew up in Leningrad, before immigrating to the United States a decade ago. Olga said that in Russia, twins are encouraged to be together. "I think separating is more of an American thing," she added. "I think it's wrong." She explained that in Russia, she was placed in the same class as her sister. But when they arrived in the U.S., the two were forced to be in different classes. The closeness between Julia and Olga makes it difficult for them to deal with being separated for too long. And many University twins said that being separate is not only difficult for them, but also confusing for their friends who need to compare the two to differentiate. "We've both got our own little niches," Allison said. But Laurie said that the differences are best identified by their work ethic. "I'd rather have fun, then get my work done," Laurie said, while she said Allison is just the opposite. The Cade's younger sister has never had a problem telling them apart, but Nate and David said their parents had to use hospital bracelets when they were babies to identify them. "Even now they'll say, 'Which one are you?'," David said. But Nate said that to the careful observer, his mannerisms, walk and dress seperate him from David. And David and Nate are not quite identical twins -- they are mirror twins. The most obvious consequence of being mirror twins is that Nate is right-handed and David is left-handed. Despite the differences, twins across the University report having shared many uncanny similarities. For instance, Julia and Olga said they have even had similar dreams before. "Identical twins have some sort of connection," Olga said. "We can sort of sense when the other is in trouble." No other twins agreed with the sisters' hypothesis of the mysterious connection, but all noted that some similarities could be perceived as being able to sense their sibling. And every set of twins said their academic ability is very similar within the pair and that they excel at the same subjects. Freshmen Amol and Ojas Shah tied for valedictorian of their high school and both are in the University's Management and Technology program. "We always end up getting in the same position even though we take two totally different approaches," Amol said. And Julia said that she and her sister have "pretty much the same talents." In fact, Julia and Olga said they insisted on their college applications that accpeting one meant accepting the other. But twins said that the general population has only heard the stories, myths and jokes that accompany their duality and often believe they have unique abilities. "It's not like you know exactly what he's feeling," Ojas said. And his brother Amol insisted that "there's no psychic connection or anything." Nate Cade explained simply that identical twins are scientifically the same person because they are born from the single egg which has divided. And growing up in a similar environment -- at the same age -- means the siblings will develop along the same lines. "I don't know what it's like to be a twin because I've never been an individual," Nate said. When twins go through life together, "You can't help but be similar," he added. His brother David likens it to all relationships noting that when people are around their friends long enough, they pick-up their mannerisms and behaviors. Still, twins insist that there are advantages. David said that the number of people one meets is doubled since everyone his brother knows, he eventually meets -- sometimes by accident when others confuse the two. Allison also said that these accidental meetings sometimes backfire when her sister's acquaintances greet her on Locust Walk and she does not recognize them. "Actually, they met Laurie," Allison said. And occasionally, many report that it takes a little persuading to convince people who is who. "We sometimes have to show our driver's licenses to prove that we are twins," Nate said. And University twins all said that living arrangements can compound the confusion. Amol and Ojas say they lived separately this year so they could meet more people, but noted they may room together in the coming years. David and Nate said they share an off-campus house since it makes it easier for their parents to keep track of the brothers. Whether or not they live together, many twins said the similarities between them often make it easier to confide in their sibling. "[Amol is] probably my best resource when I want to talk to somebody," Ojas said. And Amol agreed that Ojas is always available for him. "Sometimes he can be a pain," Amol added, "But I always have a lot of respect for him." While Allison and Laurie said each sibling acts as a role-model and motivator for the other. "Laurie's not always the first person I turn to when I have a problem," Allison said. "But I know I'll always have that option." But even though the similarities promote closeness, twins said that it can often be divisive. "When we get into an argument, it's intensified because we know each other so well," David said. "It's like being married. You're just so familar with everything about him." And Nate said that being four minutes older has never afforded him any authority during an argument.

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