I am obsessed with bacon and cheese lately.
Enough said; I think I am getting fat :).
Last night, I made a creamy cheesy bacony pasta sauce. It tastes so good (when I tried it straight from the pan) that I couldn't wait until my lunch time today :P.
So I cooked pasta, and set aside.
In one small saucepan, heat one spoonful of butter + one spoonful of plain flour (ensure an equal proportion). Pour one pint of heavy cream in (I know it's a lot), sprinkle some nutmeg, sea salt, and freshly ground black peppercorn. Stir well, throw some chunks of cheese (I put a lot of it) -- I used cheddar and smoked gouda, but I don't think people usually put gouda, let alone smoked, for cheese sauce.
In another pan, fry chopped smoked bacon (no oil required) until done, throw some corn kernels and diced zucchini (my other obsession). When both are done, pour the cheese sauce into the big pan, mix and stir well. Season if required.
Then I still added a few bits of smoked gouda =P.
Sinful but irresistible.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
a.l.l:h.a.i.l:e.u.l.e.r
I attended a Clay Public Lecture yesterday at Harvard and gosh I am smitten. I had a small-child-watching-a-circus-for-the-first-time look. Euler is awesome, the greatest mathematician ever alive; beautiful works of mind indeed.
I wish I can write more now, but I have to do my homework. I'll try my best to write more later.
Sometimes I regret that I didn't read a lot of Math stuffs when I was young. My friends who are from developed countries have easy access to those books, papers, publications, journals... and they've known many Mathematicians' works since they are 15? Yesterday I saw a 10 year old boy attending the talk and bringing two books to be signed by the speaker -- he clearly has read the book (some scribbles etc). When I was 10 (and even when I was 17) I still wanted to be an artist and NEVER an engineer/scientist ;). So now... I have tonnes to catch up... I don't want to leave school at all =).
All Hail Euler!!
I wish I can write more now, but I have to do my homework. I'll try my best to write more later.
Sometimes I regret that I didn't read a lot of Math stuffs when I was young. My friends who are from developed countries have easy access to those books, papers, publications, journals... and they've known many Mathematicians' works since they are 15? Yesterday I saw a 10 year old boy attending the talk and bringing two books to be signed by the speaker -- he clearly has read the book (some scribbles etc). When I was 10 (and even when I was 17) I still wanted to be an artist and NEVER an engineer/scientist ;). So now... I have tonnes to catch up... I don't want to leave school at all =).
All Hail Euler!!
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
gone are the days...
of tank tops, halters, shorts, and flip flops.
Fall is coming and it is coming fast.
The temperature has dropped to below 10C and the MIT Facility has not turned the heat on.
It's cold, I am telling you. I am thinking of bringing my fleece throw blanket and portable heater to office. Yeah that sounds like a good idea.
My office mates are talking about stochastic non-linear climate modeling. I have no idea.
Wait until I start talking about PDE hahaha :D.
I have a steaming mug of Twinning's Prince of Wales tea waiting....
Stay warm everybody!!
Fall is coming and it is coming fast.
The temperature has dropped to below 10C and the MIT Facility has not turned the heat on.
It's cold, I am telling you. I am thinking of bringing my fleece throw blanket and portable heater to office. Yeah that sounds like a good idea.
My office mates are talking about stochastic non-linear climate modeling. I have no idea.
Wait until I start talking about PDE hahaha :D.
I have a steaming mug of Twinning's Prince of Wales tea waiting....
Stay warm everybody!!
Monday, October 06, 2008
monday morning
Hey all,
The temperature has really dropped, it's cold and freezing here. Today is Monday so as usual, I woke up at 6, got to office at 7-ish, had my breakfast (toasts), and am ready to go to my class at 8. Mondays are always the busy day for me, today's no exception.... if not worse.
8 - 9.30: class
9.30 - ... : someone will come over for a meeting (and fixing a problem, so I wouldn't know how long will it take)
11 - 12.30: class
12.30 - 1: *free time* but i'll have to work on my slides.
1 - 2.30: class
2.30 - 3: *free time* but again, i have to work
3 - 4: meeting with my advisor
4 - 5: teleconference.
I'll see whether I can still stay longer in office and work afterwards; lest I'll go back and have a short nap.
I always think "I'll have to sleep and relax more next weekend." However, when weekend comes, it's full of catching up with stuffs that I haven't completed during the week... and that HAVE to be done before the following week. So weekends are usually a back-to-back rally... (at least the office is empty and quiet, though freeeeeeeeeziiiiing).
The temperature has really dropped, it's cold and freezing here. Today is Monday so as usual, I woke up at 6, got to office at 7-ish, had my breakfast (toasts), and am ready to go to my class at 8. Mondays are always the busy day for me, today's no exception.... if not worse.
8 - 9.30: class
9.30 - ... : someone will come over for a meeting (and fixing a problem, so I wouldn't know how long will it take)
11 - 12.30: class
12.30 - 1: *free time* but i'll have to work on my slides.
1 - 2.30: class
2.30 - 3: *free time* but again, i have to work
3 - 4: meeting with my advisor
4 - 5: teleconference.
I'll see whether I can still stay longer in office and work afterwards; lest I'll go back and have a short nap.
I always think "I'll have to sleep and relax more next weekend." However, when weekend comes, it's full of catching up with stuffs that I haven't completed during the week... and that HAVE to be done before the following week. So weekends are usually a back-to-back rally... (at least the office is empty and quiet, though freeeeeeeeeziiiiing).
Friday, October 03, 2008
me and the sea salt grinder
*i am taking a few minute break here, i am super tired.*
My friends usually tease me for my well-preparedness, the fact that I am always thinking TOO far ahead is hillarious to them.
Well, you know I started cooking a lot after I moved to this new apartment in June this year. It's still an on-campus housing, and I share the small apartment (huge bedrooms but small common area) with another Indonesian girl. We share with each other easy- and super fast-recipes :). I cooked more during summer, and after that it is SO difficult to think of on-campus food as, well, decent food. So I now bring my food to school almost everyday (I've brought a one year old fridge to our office, so it's convenient -- we don't need to use the bar fridge next door anymore). Since I don't have much time to cook now *well not surprising* I usually cook a larger batch (for 2-4 meals) and cook simply. When I am really in a hurry, I don't even have time to taste what's in the wok/pot :). We're definitely getting better in multi-tasking and space utilization. We dash around the apartment (lucky it's small) to cook, cut, clean, wash, eat (seriously!!) etc at the same time. It's easier when we don't cook together, but we sometimes have to take turn to cook-clean-cook-clean as we don't have enough space if both of us cook/clean together.
There are times when my cooking turns out amazing and I can so beat Ms. Stewart (kidding) but there are more unfortunate (but still edible) times.
So to beat the odds, I have a sea salt grinder in my office, to the amusement of my office mates :).
As you know salt is crucial in food, and good salt does wonder -- it's a good investment, seriously. So high-quality freshly ground sea salt will always be there to save my life *exaggeration indeed.* It helps me to always have a good meal no matter how screwed-up my cooking is bwahahahahhaa =D
back to work....
My friends usually tease me for my well-preparedness, the fact that I am always thinking TOO far ahead is hillarious to them.
Well, you know I started cooking a lot after I moved to this new apartment in June this year. It's still an on-campus housing, and I share the small apartment (huge bedrooms but small common area) with another Indonesian girl. We share with each other easy- and super fast-recipes :). I cooked more during summer, and after that it is SO difficult to think of on-campus food as, well, decent food. So I now bring my food to school almost everyday (I've brought a one year old fridge to our office, so it's convenient -- we don't need to use the bar fridge next door anymore). Since I don't have much time to cook now *well not surprising* I usually cook a larger batch (for 2-4 meals) and cook simply. When I am really in a hurry, I don't even have time to taste what's in the wok/pot :). We're definitely getting better in multi-tasking and space utilization. We dash around the apartment (lucky it's small) to cook, cut, clean, wash, eat (seriously!!) etc at the same time. It's easier when we don't cook together, but we sometimes have to take turn to cook-clean-cook-clean as we don't have enough space if both of us cook/clean together.
There are times when my cooking turns out amazing and I can so beat Ms. Stewart (kidding) but there are more unfortunate (but still edible) times.
So to beat the odds, I have a sea salt grinder in my office, to the amusement of my office mates :).
As you know salt is crucial in food, and good salt does wonder -- it's a good investment, seriously. So high-quality freshly ground sea salt will always be there to save my life *exaggeration indeed.* It helps me to always have a good meal no matter how screwed-up my cooking is bwahahahahhaa =D
back to work....
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
last monday...
was one of the Suicide days -- no classes. Referring to my previous post, the temperature drops and the day is shorter (after having sunsets at 8.30 pm during most of summer).
I came to the office, early. It was really gloomy outside: misty, cloudy and *sigh* cold.
I studied for my Airline Industry homework (it is really long), which I haven't finished until now.
I ate my experimental Indonesian fried chicken for lunch (no instant seasoning).
Then continued working. Having a teleconference. A skype meeting with my professor (in NZ).
I am now addicted to sweets when I have my panic attack (well, only certain kinds -- I usually despise sweet things).
I went back early for the housemaster dinner; I was really quiet then. The food wasn't fantastic and I was totally exhausted.
I continued doing my homework, almost fell asleep in the common kitchen (I moved there for a 'change' lest I'd be too bored in my room), and continued reading until 2 am in my room.
Okay, I have to rush to my class now (it starts at 8 am!! -- so I am already in my office at 7 am every Mondays and Wednesday *sigh*)
I came to the office, early. It was really gloomy outside: misty, cloudy and *sigh* cold.
I studied for my Airline Industry homework (it is really long), which I haven't finished until now.
I ate my experimental Indonesian fried chicken for lunch (no instant seasoning).
Then continued working. Having a teleconference. A skype meeting with my professor (in NZ).
I am now addicted to sweets when I have my panic attack (well, only certain kinds -- I usually despise sweet things).
I went back early for the housemaster dinner; I was really quiet then. The food wasn't fantastic and I was totally exhausted.
I continued doing my homework, almost fell asleep in the common kitchen (I moved there for a 'change' lest I'd be too bored in my room), and continued reading until 2 am in my room.
Okay, I have to rush to my class now (it starts at 8 am!! -- so I am already in my office at 7 am every Mondays and Wednesday *sigh*)
Friday, September 19, 2008
cold
Fall is coming and the temperature has dropped.
Imagine walking back at 11 pm, no dinner yet, stressed out from work, with a temperature of 12C outside. It's not pretty at all.
All my cold-symptoms start appearing: dry skin, eczema, neck & shoulder aches. And it's not even winter yet.
*sigh*
Imagine walking back at 11 pm, no dinner yet, stressed out from work, with a temperature of 12C outside. It's not pretty at all.
All my cold-symptoms start appearing: dry skin, eczema, neck & shoulder aches. And it's not even winter yet.
*sigh*
random ramblings in my office
There are (at least) two super stressed-out girls in our office today. For once, I am not one of them *proud*.
One research scientist is leaving us (MIT) today so we prepared a card for him and some of us had the chance to have lunch together with him (in between meetings, so we just hung around our meeting area).
One of the girl couldn't make it for lunch, so we passed the card afterwards for her to write. She was rambling about random stuffs that nobody could understand. She said it's because she hasn't had enough food for the day, coupled with her sickness, cold, tiredness, and stress.
I was still in office when my office mate came in (~7 pm). She was surprised to see me still working (I was reading a paper and waiting for my simulation to finish at the same time). All of a sudden she started rambling and had things like: work, economist, facebook, interview, energy club, boyfriend, colorado, schedule, crazy... that I couldn't really figure out the connection between one word with another :). Then she walked out of the office waving her hands up and down, her curly hair bobbing up and down, and said "stuffs, things, stuffs, things" (n-times) "so many things to do... aaarrrrgghhh." She then looked at me and said "I'll come here and work tomorrow. R, don't stay too long. Make sure you remember to go back home."
My friend just called me and asked me to go for dinner with them -- they go Indian this time. I like Indian food and to be honest I feel like eating Indian food now :). However, one of them is really hungry now and they're leaving the dorm really soon. I, on the other hand, am still in the office. So they asked me "so what time do you think you can meet us in the lobby?" My answer was "don't stress me out." Doh??? Random!! Don't ask me why. I couldn't even answer that simple question. What a disgrace. (I decided not to join them, I guess I'd just eat instant noodles tonight -- too lazy to prepare anything).
Baeeehh... so there are three rambling girls today :(. I have to strike through my second sentence then =P.
One research scientist is leaving us (MIT) today so we prepared a card for him and some of us had the chance to have lunch together with him (in between meetings, so we just hung around our meeting area).
One of the girl couldn't make it for lunch, so we passed the card afterwards for her to write. She was rambling about random stuffs that nobody could understand. She said it's because she hasn't had enough food for the day, coupled with her sickness, cold, tiredness, and stress.
I was still in office when my office mate came in (~7 pm). She was surprised to see me still working (I was reading a paper and waiting for my simulation to finish at the same time). All of a sudden she started rambling and had things like: work, economist, facebook, interview, energy club, boyfriend, colorado, schedule, crazy... that I couldn't really figure out the connection between one word with another :). Then she walked out of the office waving her hands up and down, her curly hair bobbing up and down, and said "stuffs, things, stuffs, things" (n-times) "so many things to do... aaarrrrgghhh." She then looked at me and said "I'll come here and work tomorrow. R, don't stay too long. Make sure you remember to go back home."
My friend just called me and asked me to go for dinner with them -- they go Indian this time. I like Indian food and to be honest I feel like eating Indian food now :). However, one of them is really hungry now and they're leaving the dorm really soon. I, on the other hand, am still in the office. So they asked me "so what time do you think you can meet us in the lobby?" My answer was "don't stress me out." Doh??? Random!! Don't ask me why. I couldn't even answer that simple question. What a disgrace. (I decided not to join them, I guess I'd just eat instant noodles tonight -- too lazy to prepare anything).
Baeeehh... so there are three rambling girls today :(. I have to strike through my second sentence then =P.
a random conversation with cecilia
I just met her yesterday, though I've heard about her many times (she is a good friend of my lab mate). This Argentinian girl was hanging around our office for some time yesterday, and she's a very fun girl to talk to.
I talked to her about my current biggest worry: my qualifying exam. If I don't pass next year, I really don't know what to do. Retaking it won't be easy: they'd set the bar higher. The big question may then arise: is it worth investing time and energy for one whole year while the chance of passing will actually be smaller?
Anyway, she has two points of view that I found quite interesting :). She's brutally honest and realistic and I like her.
1) She tried to build up my confidence by saying -- there are only two reasons why you can be at MIT: (1) either you are really smart or (2) you are really good in pretending that you are smart. Either way, you are good enough.
2) Ok, this is the more serious part -- she told me "R, I believe you can pass the qual. I just want you to listen to one thing: YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER. Your advisor will not make it easy for you, she'd want to make sure that you'll do all you need to do to qualify as a PhD candidate at MIT. If you are ready to accept and bear the suffering and live through that, you'll pass the qual."
Honestly, I think her second comment is the most true statement I've ever heard whenever I voice out my qual worries.
Wish me luck, friends...
I talked to her about my current biggest worry: my qualifying exam. If I don't pass next year, I really don't know what to do. Retaking it won't be easy: they'd set the bar higher. The big question may then arise: is it worth investing time and energy for one whole year while the chance of passing will actually be smaller?
Anyway, she has two points of view that I found quite interesting :). She's brutally honest and realistic and I like her.
1) She tried to build up my confidence by saying -- there are only two reasons why you can be at MIT: (1) either you are really smart or (2) you are really good in pretending that you are smart. Either way, you are good enough.
2) Ok, this is the more serious part -- she told me "R, I believe you can pass the qual. I just want you to listen to one thing: YOU ARE GOING TO SUFFER. Your advisor will not make it easy for you, she'd want to make sure that you'll do all you need to do to qualify as a PhD candidate at MIT. If you are ready to accept and bear the suffering and live through that, you'll pass the qual."
Honestly, I think her second comment is the most true statement I've ever heard whenever I voice out my qual worries.
Wish me luck, friends...
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
gempor
Hari ini, Senin 15 September 2008:
jam 6 pagi: bangun, gosok gigi, mandi, makan, siap-siap.
jam 7 pagi: berangkat ke sekolah (tepatnya ke kantor). kerja dikit.
jam 8 pagi: udah siap di ruang lecture.
jam 9.30 pagi: kelar lecture, ke student center beli a birthday card for my lab mate.
jam 10 pagi: balik ke kantor, nulisin dan ngasi kartunya ke lab mate, and kasi tau dia ada kejutan di kulkas (strawberry pie yang aku bikin midnight kemarennya). lanjut dengan nge-print macem-macem, ngurusin kerjaan.
jam 11 pagi: ada kelas.
jam 12:30: makan siang dengan amat sangat terburu-buru (hari ini aku gak sempet cari makan, besok temenku gak sempet cari makan, jadi kita gantian beliin makanan =D).
jam 1 siang: ada kelas lagi (udah mulai ngantuuuuk).
jam 2:30 siang: mesti "njemput" temen di kantornya, terus kita pergi ke Volpe Center (salah satu kantor Departemen Transportasi) untuk meeting -- jalan kaki ~15 menitan dari kampus.
jam 4 sore: balik ke kantor, ngegotong laptop ke ruangan kosong soalnya ada skype meeting sama professorku.
jam 4:30 sore: ngerayain ulang taun lab mate ku --> potong pie and ngobrol-ngobrol (lumayan rame juga tadi). Mendapat pujian dari kanan kiri *terima kasih, terima kasih.*
jam 6 sore: kerja lagi.
jam 6.45an: nyerah, cari kopi (kopi hitam!! tanpa susu, krim, atau gula. harus hitam).
jam 8 malem: makan malem (udah masak hari minggu, tinggal dimicrowave).
jam 8.45 malem: kerja lagi.
jam 11 malem: nyadar kalo ternyata udah late banget, putus asa (cuapek buanget, man!).
jam 11:02 malem: kerja lagi *keluh* -- gak ada pilihan.
jam 11:40 malem: pulang ah.
jam 11:45 malem: yah kok masih error.
jam 11:46 malem: debug.
[cycle dari jam 11:40 sampe jam 11:46 terulang sekitar 4 kali]
jam 12:17 pagi: *nada ngancem* Awas lu kalo error lagi.
jam 12:20 pagi: ah manisku sekarang engkau bekerja. mami pulang dulu ya. cepet-cepet ngeluyur pergi sebelum keliatan error yang laen.
jam 12:40 pagi: (udah di rumah) cuci piring, ngeluarin ayam dari freezer (moga-moga besok sempet masak), mandi, ngeblog =P.
jam 1:17 pagi: *sekarang* udah kriyep-kriyep, mesti tidur segera (pengen baca buku dulu).
Besok pagi rencananya bangun jam 6:30 am, soalnya bacaannya buanyak buangeeeeeeeet, man.
OK deh, sekarang mau kandas karam di tempat tidur.
jam 6 pagi: bangun, gosok gigi, mandi, makan, siap-siap.
jam 7 pagi: berangkat ke sekolah (tepatnya ke kantor). kerja dikit.
jam 8 pagi: udah siap di ruang lecture.
jam 9.30 pagi: kelar lecture, ke student center beli a birthday card for my lab mate.
jam 10 pagi: balik ke kantor, nulisin dan ngasi kartunya ke lab mate, and kasi tau dia ada kejutan di kulkas (strawberry pie yang aku bikin midnight kemarennya). lanjut dengan nge-print macem-macem, ngurusin kerjaan.
jam 11 pagi: ada kelas.
jam 12:30: makan siang dengan amat sangat terburu-buru (hari ini aku gak sempet cari makan, besok temenku gak sempet cari makan, jadi kita gantian beliin makanan =D).
jam 1 siang: ada kelas lagi (udah mulai ngantuuuuk).
jam 2:30 siang: mesti "njemput" temen di kantornya, terus kita pergi ke Volpe Center (salah satu kantor Departemen Transportasi) untuk meeting -- jalan kaki ~15 menitan dari kampus.
jam 4 sore: balik ke kantor, ngegotong laptop ke ruangan kosong soalnya ada skype meeting sama professorku.
jam 4:30 sore: ngerayain ulang taun lab mate ku --> potong pie and ngobrol-ngobrol (lumayan rame juga tadi). Mendapat pujian dari kanan kiri *terima kasih, terima kasih.*
jam 6 sore: kerja lagi.
jam 6.45an: nyerah, cari kopi (kopi hitam!! tanpa susu, krim, atau gula. harus hitam).
jam 8 malem: makan malem (udah masak hari minggu, tinggal dimicrowave).
jam 8.45 malem: kerja lagi.
jam 11 malem: nyadar kalo ternyata udah late banget, putus asa (cuapek buanget, man!).
jam 11:02 malem: kerja lagi *keluh* -- gak ada pilihan.
jam 11:40 malem: pulang ah.
jam 11:45 malem: yah kok masih error.
jam 11:46 malem: debug.
[cycle dari jam 11:40 sampe jam 11:46 terulang sekitar 4 kali]
jam 12:17 pagi: *nada ngancem* Awas lu kalo error lagi.
jam 12:20 pagi: ah manisku sekarang engkau bekerja. mami pulang dulu ya. cepet-cepet ngeluyur pergi sebelum keliatan error yang laen.
jam 12:40 pagi: (udah di rumah) cuci piring, ngeluarin ayam dari freezer (moga-moga besok sempet masak), mandi, ngeblog =P.
jam 1:17 pagi: *sekarang* udah kriyep-kriyep, mesti tidur segera (pengen baca buku dulu).
Besok pagi rencananya bangun jam 6:30 am, soalnya bacaannya buanyak buangeeeeeeeet, man.
OK deh, sekarang mau kandas karam di tempat tidur.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
when you are not in a good mood -- don't cook
I made a mistake yesterday: I went for grocery shopping and then cooked when I wasn't particularly happy or in a good mood. My mind was distracted by works and myriad other things. With my worries and fears. So what happened are:
(1) I forgot to buy a few important things that I wanted to buy.
(2) I bought the wrong beef part (hopefully it won't change the dish I want to make by much).
(3) My cooking sucks.
(4) I couldn't really enjoy my meal, which added salt to the injury.
We went for an Asian supermarket yesterday, and as it's not easily accessible, we can't go there too often and thus we usually shop quite a lot. So the fact that I missed out something really irritates me. There's another branch that is more accessible (in Chinatown) but it's not as complete. Bah.
There are days when cooking is very enjoyable and the food is fantastic.
Yesterday was just not one of those days...
(1) I forgot to buy a few important things that I wanted to buy.
(2) I bought the wrong beef part (hopefully it won't change the dish I want to make by much).
(3) My cooking sucks.
(4) I couldn't really enjoy my meal, which added salt to the injury.
We went for an Asian supermarket yesterday, and as it's not easily accessible, we can't go there too often and thus we usually shop quite a lot. So the fact that I missed out something really irritates me. There's another branch that is more accessible (in Chinatown) but it's not as complete. Bah.
There are days when cooking is very enjoyable and the food is fantastic.
Yesterday was just not one of those days...
Friday, September 05, 2008
thinking out loud -- overwhelmed
I am overwhelmed with the many things at (my) hand right now. So much so that I have to breathe in, calm myself down, and breathe out sloooooooowly; hoping that things will get better and my mind will be less muddy. I can't really think now, I am panicking and I don't know what should I do first. I have books, notebooks, papers all around me. Not to mention one MATLAB code running, another simulation running at a remote client, and after that's done I'll have to start six (or seven?) other simulations in six (or seven?) different client computers.
OK, so here's what I have in the list (as the title suggests, I am thinking out loud here):
(1) FAA Research
As some of you may have known, my study at MIT is fully funded by the Department; and for my specific project and work it comes directly from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- if you go to the Mall in Washington DC, you'd see the office building: next to the Aircraft Museum (Aviation? Aerospace? where you know what I mean, the one housing Wright brother's plane). That means, I have to fulfill myriads or request and myriad other paperworks (!!!!) . Well you know how it is if you work with a large organization, especially when it is affiliated with government. On top of the agony, my advisor is currently enjoying her sabbatical year in New Zealand. Communication is done through skype and... documents: mostly in .pdf file. However, being a super-demanding and perfectionist person that she is, I can't do it in Microsoft Word (it's for high school she says). Rather, I have to type (and "code") in LaTeX; which I also prefer, but can take longer to finish.
Anywaaaaaaaayyy... I have to devise my own experiments, do it, etc etc etc... not knowing whether it's the right way to do (nobody has ever done what I am doing it before). Too much coding, too much debugging, too much testing, too much caffeine...
(2) Thesis Research
So, apart from my FAA research, I still have my own personal research. By "personal" it means I have to figure out a problem, gaps in literature review, and produce a novelty in the end. it's maddening.... how I spend Saturdays reading stacks of papers, not knowing whether I'll use them or not. But literature review is the backbone of any research, so you'd have to do what you have to do. This research will be the main topic and content of my PhD thesis (if I ever graduate).
After tons of papers being read, my advisor and I concluded that the (broad) topic that we had discussed is indeed new and waiting for someone to work on it (that's me!!).
So I have to devise my own experiments, do coding, evolve the code and problem, expand the problem, scale the problem, etc etc etc...... In other words, it's not easy. I am having a sketchy start now :(.
(3) Qual preparation
Ah, qual. The most dreading word in my mundane life now. Qual is a short form of qualifying exam that all potential PhD students have to take, but with varying difficulties and passing rate across departments. The two contenders for the most difficult and lowest passing rate are: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Dept. of Aeronautics/Astronautics (mine!). This year (2008), Aero/Astro unquestionably won. The results are very surprising to most qual takers. Even some outstanding students failed miserably. So now you know why am I panicking. I wanted to start preparing during Summer but I didn't have time. By the way my qual will be in January *shudder*. The classes that will be examined (orally): I took them TWO years ago. So I guess I must attend and sit in those classes again *big sigh*. One of the class is at 8 am twice a week!!!
(3) Coursework
Due to my mounting workload and qual preparation, my advisor suggests that I only take one class this semester, which I agree. However, I still haven't really decided on which class to take. I want something useful, interesting, and not too time-consuming: difficult criterion indeed. The class that I currently take seems really interesting, I like the professor and he likes me, but it requires a lot of work. Booh.
I am also a Listener for another class: The Airline Industry. Interesting indeed, but I don't think I'll take it for credit. Just as a Listener.
There's another class that I am interested at, but requires Artificial Intelligence and State Estimation background :(.
There are many challenging (read: fun) classes that I really want to take, but I have to restrain myself from taking them; following people who have taken their quals (no challenging classes when you need to prepare for the qual).
Ah, well, I'll just stick to the class that I've registered and hope for the best... and more caffeine.
(4) Others...
I seriously consider joining MIT Concert Choir; but I don't know. The commitment is 5 hours/week... imagine how much work you can do within that time.
I'll cook more; the least thing I can do to myself at this time is to enjoy my meal, and food in Boston in general sucks *no offense*. Let me rephrase, food around MIT sucks.
Okay, that's all from now. In ~30 minutes time I'm going to attend a seminar on Flapping Wings Aerodynamics or something like that... Exciting!!
* I am hungry *
* I still enjoy my current life much more than when I worked though *
OK, so here's what I have in the list (as the title suggests, I am thinking out loud here):
(1) FAA Research
As some of you may have known, my study at MIT is fully funded by the Department; and for my specific project and work it comes directly from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- if you go to the Mall in Washington DC, you'd see the office building: next to the Aircraft Museum (Aviation? Aerospace? where you know what I mean, the one housing Wright brother's plane). That means, I have to fulfill myriads or request and myriad other paperworks (!!!!) . Well you know how it is if you work with a large organization, especially when it is affiliated with government. On top of the agony, my advisor is currently enjoying her sabbatical year in New Zealand. Communication is done through skype and... documents: mostly in .pdf file. However, being a super-demanding and perfectionist person that she is, I can't do it in Microsoft Word (it's for high school she says). Rather, I have to type (and "code") in LaTeX; which I also prefer, but can take longer to finish.
Anywaaaaaaaayyy... I have to devise my own experiments, do it, etc etc etc... not knowing whether it's the right way to do (nobody has ever done what I am doing it before). Too much coding, too much debugging, too much testing, too much caffeine...
(2) Thesis Research
So, apart from my FAA research, I still have my own personal research. By "personal" it means I have to figure out a problem, gaps in literature review, and produce a novelty in the end. it's maddening.... how I spend Saturdays reading stacks of papers, not knowing whether I'll use them or not. But literature review is the backbone of any research, so you'd have to do what you have to do. This research will be the main topic and content of my PhD thesis (if I ever graduate).
After tons of papers being read, my advisor and I concluded that the (broad) topic that we had discussed is indeed new and waiting for someone to work on it (that's me!!).
So I have to devise my own experiments, do coding, evolve the code and problem, expand the problem, scale the problem, etc etc etc...... In other words, it's not easy. I am having a sketchy start now :(.
(3) Qual preparation
Ah, qual. The most dreading word in my mundane life now. Qual is a short form of qualifying exam that all potential PhD students have to take, but with varying difficulties and passing rate across departments. The two contenders for the most difficult and lowest passing rate are: Dept. of Mechanical Engineering and Dept. of Aeronautics/Astronautics (mine!). This year (2008), Aero/Astro unquestionably won. The results are very surprising to most qual takers. Even some outstanding students failed miserably. So now you know why am I panicking. I wanted to start preparing during Summer but I didn't have time. By the way my qual will be in January *shudder*. The classes that will be examined (orally): I took them TWO years ago. So I guess I must attend and sit in those classes again *big sigh*. One of the class is at 8 am twice a week!!!
(3) Coursework
Due to my mounting workload and qual preparation, my advisor suggests that I only take one class this semester, which I agree. However, I still haven't really decided on which class to take. I want something useful, interesting, and not too time-consuming: difficult criterion indeed. The class that I currently take seems really interesting, I like the professor and he likes me, but it requires a lot of work. Booh.
I am also a Listener for another class: The Airline Industry. Interesting indeed, but I don't think I'll take it for credit. Just as a Listener.
There's another class that I am interested at, but requires Artificial Intelligence and State Estimation background :(.
There are many challenging (read: fun) classes that I really want to take, but I have to restrain myself from taking them; following people who have taken their quals (no challenging classes when you need to prepare for the qual).
Ah, well, I'll just stick to the class that I've registered and hope for the best... and more caffeine.
(4) Others...
I seriously consider joining MIT Concert Choir; but I don't know. The commitment is 5 hours/week... imagine how much work you can do within that time.
I'll cook more; the least thing I can do to myself at this time is to enjoy my meal, and food in Boston in general sucks *no offense*. Let me rephrase, food around MIT sucks.
Okay, that's all from now. In ~30 minutes time I'm going to attend a seminar on Flapping Wings Aerodynamics or something like that... Exciting!!
* I am hungry *
* I still enjoy my current life much more than when I worked though *
Friday, August 29, 2008
Office madness
I am no longer alone in office, which is good and weird at the same time :). I am so used to be alone: blasting music on the speaker, singing along -- well, sometimes, laughing with all my heart content when I read or watch something funny.
The office was particularly busy yesterday. Okay, so the Korean girl is back, but the Indian is still in the middle of nowhere (she's travelling to almost 20 places in India, the purpose of her visit is not to visit her family as they are here in the US). However, another Chinese girl from Florida is using her computer as she needs to execute massive runs on computers -- she's basically hijacking all computers she can find.
For easier explanation, let's name them (randomly):
1) the Korean girl -- Minnie
2) Indian girl -- Annie
3) Chinese girl -- Disney (she lives just next to Orlando's Disneyland)
4) half Chinese-half French Canadian girl -- Ellie
[indeed in our research group there are too many Asian girls haha]
So, Disney went home to, well, Disneyland, approximately two weeks ago. Sadly, before she left, her advisor (who happens to be the Head of Department) requested some results. Disney is the only hope as Annie and Minnie were on vacation. So she had to work from home with rollercoaster noise behind. Thanks to the advancement of technology, she could do a lot with remote access -- and with our (Ellie's and my) helps to reboot the computers whenever MATLAB froze them :) -- the credit goes to e-mails and google talk *grin*.
Yesterday morning, Ellie knew from the HoD that they needed to run TWENTY SEVEN simulations and assessments before 4 pm on the same day (!!!). It was insane... and I pity them. What's worse, they need to collaborate with two guys who happen to NOT checking their e-mails that day (one is in Cambridge, UK). They could only started to run everything at 1 pm. So Minnie helped them too with some runs.
I, on the other hand, was busy with endless FAA's requests: reports, plans, assessments, analyses, discussions, proposals, scheduling.... phwoaaarr...
On top of my own research (that I still can't really start due to the endless streams of requests coming from DC)... double phwoaaaarrr...
and I also have TOO much computer problems in the last month: both laptop and desktop....
So, it was insane yesterday... Our office looks like a crisis center with all-woman staffs :). Ellie's office is further down the hall, so sometimes I heard her running and shouting "the code is still buggyy.... i don't know what's wrong and i have no time to debug it..." or "are you sure the inventories are the right one? it's weiiiiiiiiirrdd..."
Ah, and they had a meeting with the HoD at 4 pm, but obviously they hadn't finished everything -- so the deadline is extended to before the HoD flies to present the results: 5 am this morning.
I bet our office will be quiet and empty today (I work from home, and I guess they are sleeping).
How's your day?
The office was particularly busy yesterday. Okay, so the Korean girl is back, but the Indian is still in the middle of nowhere (she's travelling to almost 20 places in India, the purpose of her visit is not to visit her family as they are here in the US). However, another Chinese girl from Florida is using her computer as she needs to execute massive runs on computers -- she's basically hijacking all computers she can find.
For easier explanation, let's name them (randomly):
1) the Korean girl -- Minnie
2) Indian girl -- Annie
3) Chinese girl -- Disney (she lives just next to Orlando's Disneyland)
4) half Chinese-half French Canadian girl -- Ellie
[indeed in our research group there are too many Asian girls haha]
So, Disney went home to, well, Disneyland, approximately two weeks ago. Sadly, before she left, her advisor (who happens to be the Head of Department) requested some results. Disney is the only hope as Annie and Minnie were on vacation. So she had to work from home with rollercoaster noise behind. Thanks to the advancement of technology, she could do a lot with remote access -- and with our (Ellie's and my) helps to reboot the computers whenever MATLAB froze them :) -- the credit goes to e-mails and google talk *grin*.
Yesterday morning, Ellie knew from the HoD that they needed to run TWENTY SEVEN simulations and assessments before 4 pm on the same day (!!!). It was insane... and I pity them. What's worse, they need to collaborate with two guys who happen to NOT checking their e-mails that day (one is in Cambridge, UK). They could only started to run everything at 1 pm. So Minnie helped them too with some runs.
I, on the other hand, was busy with endless FAA's requests: reports, plans, assessments, analyses, discussions, proposals, scheduling.... phwoaaarr...
On top of my own research (that I still can't really start due to the endless streams of requests coming from DC)... double phwoaaaarrr...
and I also have TOO much computer problems in the last month: both laptop and desktop....
So, it was insane yesterday... Our office looks like a crisis center with all-woman staffs :). Ellie's office is further down the hall, so sometimes I heard her running and shouting "the code is still buggyy.... i don't know what's wrong and i have no time to debug it..." or "are you sure the inventories are the right one? it's weiiiiiiiiirrdd..."
Ah, and they had a meeting with the HoD at 4 pm, but obviously they hadn't finished everything -- so the deadline is extended to before the HoD flies to present the results: 5 am this morning.
I bet our office will be quiet and empty today (I work from home, and I guess they are sleeping).
How's your day?
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
solusinya...
Solusi membunuh kebosenan adalah: makan es krim!!
Abis beli es krim balik lagi ke sekolah, yang rada-rada gak efisien jadinya. Gara-garanya, jalan ke Toscanini itu ngelewatin jalan pulang ke rumah :).
Tapi kalo jalan sekalian pulang ke rumah takut kebablasan....
malah leyeh-leyeh di kamar keasyikkan nyantai dan kerjaan keteteran.
Haiz, padahal teorinya sebagai Research Assistant (RA) itu kerjanya officially cuma 20 jam seminggu!! Waktu sisanya mesti dipake buat nge-riset yang bakal jadi bahan thesis buat lulus-lulusan PhD. Bingung? Ya emang PhD itu gak sesimple degree-degree yang lain, apalagi kalo dapet funding dari institusi tertentu. Teorinya, kalo cuma 20 jam seminggu, 3 hari aja udah bisa lebih-lebih tuh jatah kerjanya (20 jam itu kerja beneran, gak termasuk makan, chatting, atau nge-blog hehe) terus 2 hari lainnya bisa dipake untuk riset pribadi, yang berarti weekend bisa nyantai-nyantai. BAH!! Jangan percaya!! Kenyataan selalu lebih pahit dari teori!! (ntar kalo sempet aku post deh cerita lengkapnya)
Yah intinya...
Pas lagi males-malesan (bosen, bo) aku cek e-mail, eh ada e-mail dari bos besar (main sponsor) -- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- yang nanya soal project plan etc. Hmmpphh, institusi pemrentah, emang banyak maunya.
Jadinya, ya harus memecuti diri sendiri... dengan es krim :).
Back to work now.
Abis beli es krim balik lagi ke sekolah, yang rada-rada gak efisien jadinya. Gara-garanya, jalan ke Toscanini itu ngelewatin jalan pulang ke rumah :).
Tapi kalo jalan sekalian pulang ke rumah takut kebablasan....
malah leyeh-leyeh di kamar keasyikkan nyantai dan kerjaan keteteran.
Haiz, padahal teorinya sebagai Research Assistant (RA) itu kerjanya officially cuma 20 jam seminggu!! Waktu sisanya mesti dipake buat nge-riset yang bakal jadi bahan thesis buat lulus-lulusan PhD. Bingung? Ya emang PhD itu gak sesimple degree-degree yang lain, apalagi kalo dapet funding dari institusi tertentu. Teorinya, kalo cuma 20 jam seminggu, 3 hari aja udah bisa lebih-lebih tuh jatah kerjanya (20 jam itu kerja beneran, gak termasuk makan, chatting, atau nge-blog hehe) terus 2 hari lainnya bisa dipake untuk riset pribadi, yang berarti weekend bisa nyantai-nyantai. BAH!! Jangan percaya!! Kenyataan selalu lebih pahit dari teori!! (ntar kalo sempet aku post deh cerita lengkapnya)
Yah intinya...
Pas lagi males-malesan (bosen, bo) aku cek e-mail, eh ada e-mail dari bos besar (main sponsor) -- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) -- yang nanya soal project plan etc. Hmmpphh, institusi pemrentah, emang banyak maunya.
Jadinya, ya harus memecuti diri sendiri... dengan es krim :).
Back to work now.
sendirian itu bisa membosankan, kawan!!
Semua lagi liburan, kantor ini pun kosong.
Warning: bahasanya rada-rada ga nahan. Hihi :)
Aku cuma ditemani oleh suara desisan AC dan tanaman-tanaman (geranium 3 warna dan tanaman-tanaman lain) yang udah mau mati -- gara-garanya pas kapan itu harapan terakhir mereka (aku dan teman sekantorku) harus cabut ke Cambridge, UK selama lebih dari seminggu.
Aku menghinggapi (???) kantor ini dengan dua orang cewek-cewek PhD manis-manis dan brilian-brilian. Yang satu lagi keliling India, dan yang satu lagi sedang mudik di Korea Selatan.
Awalnya memang enak, aku dapat berkonsentrasi penuh tanpa gangguan (tepatnya godaan) ngobrol dan ketawa-ketiwi (kantor ini memang dijuluki kantor ceria karena suara ngakakku yang tidak berperiketelingaan). Tapi, duh... kadang-kadang bosen juga. Lagi pada liburan, gak ada yang diajak ngobrol. Dengerin musik sampe bosen, blog-hopping juga males, belajar apa lagi. Alhasil progress nya lambat banget hari ini, dan jadi banyak makan (tambah gendut, perut berlipat-lipat seperti hamburger).
Mau beli ice cream males jalan :P. Mau pulang takut malah gak kerja nantinya :). Mau ganggu orang gak ada yang bersedia diganggu (ya iyalah).
Baeeeehhhh.... coba aku punya piaraan orang utan, kan bisa diajak maen.
Warning: bahasanya rada-rada ga nahan. Hihi :)
Aku cuma ditemani oleh suara desisan AC dan tanaman-tanaman (geranium 3 warna dan tanaman-tanaman lain) yang udah mau mati -- gara-garanya pas kapan itu harapan terakhir mereka (aku dan teman sekantorku) harus cabut ke Cambridge, UK selama lebih dari seminggu.
Aku menghinggapi (???) kantor ini dengan dua orang cewek-cewek PhD manis-manis dan brilian-brilian. Yang satu lagi keliling India, dan yang satu lagi sedang mudik di Korea Selatan.
Awalnya memang enak, aku dapat berkonsentrasi penuh tanpa gangguan (tepatnya godaan) ngobrol dan ketawa-ketiwi (kantor ini memang dijuluki kantor ceria karena suara ngakakku yang tidak berperiketelingaan). Tapi, duh... kadang-kadang bosen juga. Lagi pada liburan, gak ada yang diajak ngobrol. Dengerin musik sampe bosen, blog-hopping juga males, belajar apa lagi. Alhasil progress nya lambat banget hari ini, dan jadi banyak makan (tambah gendut, perut berlipat-lipat seperti hamburger).
Mau beli ice cream males jalan :P. Mau pulang takut malah gak kerja nantinya :). Mau ganggu orang gak ada yang bersedia diganggu (ya iyalah).
Baeeeehhhh.... coba aku punya piaraan orang utan, kan bisa diajak maen.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
cooking again
I feel so tired and exhausted somehow and can no longer focus (it's 2 am here).
However, the highlight of the day is that I've managed to make chicken smoor (semur ayam) and it tastes great :). I didn't use beef because it will take longer.
Okay, time to bed now...
However, the highlight of the day is that I've managed to make chicken smoor (semur ayam) and it tastes great :). I didn't use beef because it will take longer.
Okay, time to bed now...
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
to say no
A short conversation in the teleconference today:
B (from FAA): "Rhea, do you have any updates for the System Level Assessment?"
me: "Not for now."
B: "Well, I am aware that your end-of-semester is nearing..."
me: "Exactly."
It feels so good to be able to say No :). I used to try to always be an ideal "co-worker." Socially, I may not always try to please everybody but at works, sadly, yes. There are some points in life that you have to choose between your own sanity and others' happiness. The choice is pretty obvious, I guess.
MIT held its annual Spring picnic today. Overflowing food (sandwiches and wraps), fruits, snacks (chips, pop corns, cookies, brownies, muffins), drinks. Literally overflowing. We have grabbed our shares of lunch and dinner and numerous tea breaks, but they still have a lot more. The weather is great today; a bit chilly in the morning but was nice and sunny during the picnic. We sat on the grass in the Killian court. There was a small marching band playing The Phantom of the Opera (among others), a tiny lion dance (only two people underneath), and of course MIT Mascot Tim the Beaver.
My eyes are burning from too much reading and looking at computer screen...
B (from FAA): "Rhea, do you have any updates for the System Level Assessment?"
me: "Not for now."
B: "Well, I am aware that your end-of-semester is nearing..."
me: "Exactly."
It feels so good to be able to say No :). I used to try to always be an ideal "co-worker." Socially, I may not always try to please everybody but at works, sadly, yes. There are some points in life that you have to choose between your own sanity and others' happiness. The choice is pretty obvious, I guess.
MIT held its annual Spring picnic today. Overflowing food (sandwiches and wraps), fruits, snacks (chips, pop corns, cookies, brownies, muffins), drinks. Literally overflowing. We have grabbed our shares of lunch and dinner and numerous tea breaks, but they still have a lot more. The weather is great today; a bit chilly in the morning but was nice and sunny during the picnic. We sat on the grass in the Killian court. There was a small marching band playing The Phantom of the Opera (among others), a tiny lion dance (only two people underneath), and of course MIT Mascot Tim the Beaver.
My eyes are burning from too much reading and looking at computer screen...
Monday, May 05, 2008
read it, it's hilarious...
This is taken from The Tech. It has a column called "Ask a TA" in each edition, I don't know how it started though :). I seldom read this MIT publication; however, my friend showed me this article the other day and I found it hilarious....
A small list to help you better understand MIT terms (in case you're not familiar):
TA : Teaching Assistant (tutor/asdos)
Course VI: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MIT goes by number in everything)
Athena cluster: the name of internal computer cluster at MIT.
OK, here goes....
Dear Ask A TA,
How do I tell if my TA thinks I’m cute?
—Yearning to Know
Dear Yearning,
The reliable criteria for determining if a TA thinks you are cute are as follows. First determine if the TA in question is in fact your TA. If yes, then determine if your gender is compatible with your TA’s sexual orientation. If yes again, congratulations! Your TA thinks you are cute.
Why is this method so robust? Remember who your TAs are. Your TA is either a graduate_student@mit.edu, or an overachieving_undergraduate@mit.edu (which is saying a lot). When not TAing you, your TAs are either writing software, studying in preparation for the writing of software, or eating ramen noodles. This is not a lifestyle that facilitates the meeting of potential mates.
Now, consider your recitation section — a room full of young coeds, their eyes and ears fixed on your TA. This is the most attention your TA has gotten in quite a while. It’s flattering. And tremendously exciting. And some of these coeds are even so interested in spending time with the TA that they’ll seek out the TA outside of class. Sometimes this just means going to specified “office hours,” but at times it almost reaches the level of full-fledged stalking, with students constantly e-mailing, calling, and stopping by the TA’s place of work or home unannounced. For most people, this would be disturbing. But for your lonely hearted TA, this is probably the most exciting turn their social life has ever taken.
So, if your TA thinks that you are so cute, why doesn’t he make a move? Again, he isn’t just a TA, he is a TA@mit.edu. Why would you expect him to act any differently than anybody_else@mit.edu? Just like the rest of the MIT populace, he is shy and socially awkward. In fact, when talking about relationships, he’ll probably get nervous enough simply elaborating the relationship between impedance and frequency. A discussion about a real romantic relationship might make his poor little TAing heart explode. And then you’d definitely never find out what kind of questions will be on the final.
More importantly just like the rest of the MIT student body, he’s probably Course VI. As such, he’s most likely had this important TAing specification beaten into his skull — DO NOT hit on your students. It’s the cardinal rule of TAing and is specified as a user requirement of the TAship interface.
Now in regards to this forbidden attraction between you and your TA, the TA is presented with an interesting logical dilemma: the reason that you are interested in him is the same as the reason that your romance is forbidden. The classical solution to this game theory challenge is for both of you to wait until the semester is over to hook up. However, the logical basis of this solution is clearly flawed, and both you and your TA know it. Will he still be attractive when he no longer knows what is going to be on the final ahead of time? Seriously? I thought not. There is a very limited window of time in which you will find your TA cute. Your TA, though, will still find you cute long after he has marked off points for not showing work on the last problem of your final. So give it time. Wait until the end of the semester. Then, years later, if you are in dire relationship straits, send your ex-TA an e-mail and say you need to brush up on impedance over a romantic candle lit dinner. I guarantee that he will come down from the Athena cluster to join you. That is unless he is TAing another bunch of cuties that semester.
—Dr. James Graham Ruby G
A small list to help you better understand MIT terms (in case you're not familiar):
TA : Teaching Assistant (tutor/asdos)
Course VI: Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (MIT goes by number in everything)
Athena cluster: the name of internal computer cluster at MIT.
OK, here goes....
Dear Ask A TA,
How do I tell if my TA thinks I’m cute?
—Yearning to Know
Dear Yearning,
The reliable criteria for determining if a TA thinks you are cute are as follows. First determine if the TA in question is in fact your TA. If yes, then determine if your gender is compatible with your TA’s sexual orientation. If yes again, congratulations! Your TA thinks you are cute.
Why is this method so robust? Remember who your TAs are. Your TA is either a graduate_student@mit.edu, or an overachieving_undergraduate@mit.edu (which is saying a lot). When not TAing you, your TAs are either writing software, studying in preparation for the writing of software, or eating ramen noodles. This is not a lifestyle that facilitates the meeting of potential mates.
Now, consider your recitation section — a room full of young coeds, their eyes and ears fixed on your TA. This is the most attention your TA has gotten in quite a while. It’s flattering. And tremendously exciting. And some of these coeds are even so interested in spending time with the TA that they’ll seek out the TA outside of class. Sometimes this just means going to specified “office hours,” but at times it almost reaches the level of full-fledged stalking, with students constantly e-mailing, calling, and stopping by the TA’s place of work or home unannounced. For most people, this would be disturbing. But for your lonely hearted TA, this is probably the most exciting turn their social life has ever taken.
So, if your TA thinks that you are so cute, why doesn’t he make a move? Again, he isn’t just a TA, he is a TA@mit.edu. Why would you expect him to act any differently than anybody_else@mit.edu? Just like the rest of the MIT populace, he is shy and socially awkward. In fact, when talking about relationships, he’ll probably get nervous enough simply elaborating the relationship between impedance and frequency. A discussion about a real romantic relationship might make his poor little TAing heart explode. And then you’d definitely never find out what kind of questions will be on the final.
More importantly just like the rest of the MIT student body, he’s probably Course VI. As such, he’s most likely had this important TAing specification beaten into his skull — DO NOT hit on your students. It’s the cardinal rule of TAing and is specified as a user requirement of the TAship interface.
Now in regards to this forbidden attraction between you and your TA, the TA is presented with an interesting logical dilemma: the reason that you are interested in him is the same as the reason that your romance is forbidden. The classical solution to this game theory challenge is for both of you to wait until the semester is over to hook up. However, the logical basis of this solution is clearly flawed, and both you and your TA know it. Will he still be attractive when he no longer knows what is going to be on the final ahead of time? Seriously? I thought not. There is a very limited window of time in which you will find your TA cute. Your TA, though, will still find you cute long after he has marked off points for not showing work on the last problem of your final. So give it time. Wait until the end of the semester. Then, years later, if you are in dire relationship straits, send your ex-TA an e-mail and say you need to brush up on impedance over a romantic candle lit dinner. I guarantee that he will come down from the Athena cluster to join you. That is unless he is TAing another bunch of cuties that semester.
—Dr. James Graham Ruby G
Sunday, May 04, 2008
friendship and pies
What are the similarities between friendship and pies?
Well, they are warm, sweet, and certainly can make you happy :).
Let me tell you what happened in the basement kitchen yesterday.
I was back in my room at ~6.30 pm, all tired and exhausted. I wasn't feeling well this weekend for some reasons, perhaps just the accummulated tiredness over the weeks. I went down to start thawing my chicken breast and shrimps. There, I saw Pat slicing apples and Fei watching a movie while talking to Pat. So I asked Pat "are you going to bake an apple pie?" and she said yes. But I was too tired and swamped... I went back to my room to tidy a few things up and had a short nap.
At 8-ish, I started preparing my dinner: chicken and shrimp pad thai :). Pat was almost ready with the baking. Jing was there eating her dinner and Fei was already gone. While I was napping, Fei helped Pat preparing the pie crust. The TV was showing The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lions, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When I started cooking, she put the pies into the oven. Not long after, the sweet apple-y crust-y butter-y cinnamon-y nutmeg-y smell of the pies emanated the kitchen.
Fei was back in the kitchen to get something. The nice smell actually held her back. Jing was torn between reading a paper (duh) and watching Narnia while waiting for the pie. She was suddenly gone and back with a paper in her hand :). Fei saw it and she was gone too; then she was back with her laptop and she did some work. I went to my room and get my notes and homework down. I guess it wasn't the best and most efficient way of working but at least doing so lessened our guilt haha.
When Pat took the pies out from the oven, we AUTOMATICALLY grabbed our plates and forks. (By default, the pies are for sharing hahaha). We then waited and waited until the pies are cold enough to get a slice.
Pat came back to the kitchen. She took a knife. She walked to her precious pies. These three girls suddenly stopped working and LINED UP with our plates :). We got a slice each. It was DIVINE. I SO have to get the recipes (it didn't look too difficult/intimidating). Ore was there too and she also got a slice.
How could anyone want to NOT be in such a circle? =D
I do hope that when I move to that bigger place, I can still have a nice community to hang around with. I will live in an apartment-style grad housing, where we have our own small kitchen and it's only used by two people, i.e., you and your roommate...
PS: it's my 340-th post!!!
Although now, "340" always reminds me of Airbus-340 aircraft type, which is a huge four-engine aircraft.
Well, they are warm, sweet, and certainly can make you happy :).
Let me tell you what happened in the basement kitchen yesterday.
I was back in my room at ~6.30 pm, all tired and exhausted. I wasn't feeling well this weekend for some reasons, perhaps just the accummulated tiredness over the weeks. I went down to start thawing my chicken breast and shrimps. There, I saw Pat slicing apples and Fei watching a movie while talking to Pat. So I asked Pat "are you going to bake an apple pie?" and she said yes. But I was too tired and swamped... I went back to my room to tidy a few things up and had a short nap.
At 8-ish, I started preparing my dinner: chicken and shrimp pad thai :). Pat was almost ready with the baking. Jing was there eating her dinner and Fei was already gone. While I was napping, Fei helped Pat preparing the pie crust. The TV was showing The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lions, the Witch and the Wardrobe. When I started cooking, she put the pies into the oven. Not long after, the sweet apple-y crust-y butter-y cinnamon-y nutmeg-y smell of the pies emanated the kitchen.
Fei was back in the kitchen to get something. The nice smell actually held her back. Jing was torn between reading a paper (duh) and watching Narnia while waiting for the pie. She was suddenly gone and back with a paper in her hand :). Fei saw it and she was gone too; then she was back with her laptop and she did some work. I went to my room and get my notes and homework down. I guess it wasn't the best and most efficient way of working but at least doing so lessened our guilt haha.
When Pat took the pies out from the oven, we AUTOMATICALLY grabbed our plates and forks. (By default, the pies are for sharing hahaha). We then waited and waited until the pies are cold enough to get a slice.
Pat came back to the kitchen. She took a knife. She walked to her precious pies. These three girls suddenly stopped working and LINED UP with our plates :). We got a slice each. It was DIVINE. I SO have to get the recipes (it didn't look too difficult/intimidating). Ore was there too and she also got a slice.
How could anyone want to NOT be in such a circle? =D
I do hope that when I move to that bigger place, I can still have a nice community to hang around with. I will live in an apartment-style grad housing, where we have our own small kitchen and it's only used by two people, i.e., you and your roommate...
PS: it's my 340-th post!!!
Although now, "340" always reminds me of Airbus-340 aircraft type, which is a huge four-engine aircraft.
Friday, May 02, 2008
simple things that make me happy
In Green Hall, I share the spacious basement kitchen with nine other ladies in total. However, some of them are seldom seen in the kitchen. As for us the kitchen dwellers, we have formed a very strong bond over recipes, meal sharing, chips, desserts, or just having lighthearted chats while watching some comedies or romantic movies, e.g., Sweet Home Alabama or My Best Friend's wedding.
Green Hall will cease to be a grad dorm very soon, and undergrad will come and replace us. There goes our lovely kitchen and the friendship that has grown in the midst of garlic, curry, cumin, kecap manis (that's mine of course), ice cream, cakes, pies, wine, smoothies, etc etc etc.... I am pretty sad about it, honestly.
Now, everytime I feel bored with my study (it happens a lot), I can just go down to the basement kitchen and often I find some of the girls there. It's kinda refreshing to talk (esp. when it is over food/snacks/particularly desserts) even if just for a few minutes; although sometimes we flick over the TV channels and find something interesting to divert our attention from work.
I guess I should give an idea of how diverse we are. The six ladies who are normally spotted in the kitchen include: one Indonesian Chinese *me*, one Korean, one American, one Indian, one Chinese who cooks, and one Chinese who doesn't cook but always has a great stash of desserts (cakes/chocolates/pies) and... bottles of wines. Though strangely, she munches celery sticks as snacks *duh*.
We use to taste each other's food, exchange ingredients and utensils :). They were very amazed with my super efficient Indonesian fried rice. Actually I was too hungry to make anything fancy--it was 10.30 pm already, so I just threw some ingredients together and voila, i had a plate of nasi goreng for dinner (it smelt divine). The Chinese noodle soup, Korean bulgogi and other meats, the Indian curries (the best!! she's really good....)... have been part of my "struggle for survival" at MIT.
I have to admit that I didn't cook much at the beginning of the semester. The reason was classic: no time. Indeed I still have 24 hours per day now, but I think you can always make time if you want to (and set your mind into it). And... COOKING IS VERY RELAXING!! And the satisfaction you get from eating your own cooked food surpasses everything; although you also tend to eat double or triple your usual servings. The excitement you get from "devising" the experimental meal plan for tonight can keep you going sometimes (seriously...). For example, I can't wait until my first attempt of concocting Pad Thai tomorrow. Okay, the sauce is from "Thai Kitchen" but I am really not familiar with the ingredients (and especially where/how to get them in Boston) so the sauce is good for a start.
FYI, I am not an "instant sauce" or "ready-to-serve meal" person. I am against instant pasta sauce. My Bolognaise always has fresh tomatoes, meat, onions, etc.... I guess concocting them from scratch adds more fun to the whole process, no?
Also, with preparing your own food you become much more creative. You know what to make if you don't have much time (and they are still good). You can see what you have left in the fridge and make something good out of it. Sometimes I am amazed with what I can come up with haha =D
Since I decided to cook again (after having two super intensive weeks that caused pimples and neurotic abnormalcy), all my friends said I noticeably look happier and much more relaxed. Also, I haven't seen any decline in my quality of work :).
Green Hall will cease to be a grad dorm very soon, and undergrad will come and replace us. There goes our lovely kitchen and the friendship that has grown in the midst of garlic, curry, cumin, kecap manis (that's mine of course), ice cream, cakes, pies, wine, smoothies, etc etc etc.... I am pretty sad about it, honestly.
Now, everytime I feel bored with my study (it happens a lot), I can just go down to the basement kitchen and often I find some of the girls there. It's kinda refreshing to talk (esp. when it is over food/snacks/particularly desserts) even if just for a few minutes; although sometimes we flick over the TV channels and find something interesting to divert our attention from work.
I guess I should give an idea of how diverse we are. The six ladies who are normally spotted in the kitchen include: one Indonesian Chinese *me*, one Korean, one American, one Indian, one Chinese who cooks, and one Chinese who doesn't cook but always has a great stash of desserts (cakes/chocolates/pies) and... bottles of wines. Though strangely, she munches celery sticks as snacks *duh*.
We use to taste each other's food, exchange ingredients and utensils :). They were very amazed with my super efficient Indonesian fried rice. Actually I was too hungry to make anything fancy--it was 10.30 pm already, so I just threw some ingredients together and voila, i had a plate of nasi goreng for dinner (it smelt divine). The Chinese noodle soup, Korean bulgogi and other meats, the Indian curries (the best!! she's really good....)... have been part of my "struggle for survival" at MIT.
I have to admit that I didn't cook much at the beginning of the semester. The reason was classic: no time. Indeed I still have 24 hours per day now, but I think you can always make time if you want to (and set your mind into it). And... COOKING IS VERY RELAXING!! And the satisfaction you get from eating your own cooked food surpasses everything; although you also tend to eat double or triple your usual servings. The excitement you get from "devising" the experimental meal plan for tonight can keep you going sometimes (seriously...). For example, I can't wait until my first attempt of concocting Pad Thai tomorrow. Okay, the sauce is from "Thai Kitchen" but I am really not familiar with the ingredients (and especially where/how to get them in Boston) so the sauce is good for a start.
FYI, I am not an "instant sauce" or "ready-to-serve meal" person. I am against instant pasta sauce. My Bolognaise always has fresh tomatoes, meat, onions, etc.... I guess concocting them from scratch adds more fun to the whole process, no?
Also, with preparing your own food you become much more creative. You know what to make if you don't have much time (and they are still good). You can see what you have left in the fridge and make something good out of it. Sometimes I am amazed with what I can come up with haha =D
Since I decided to cook again (after having two super intensive weeks that caused pimples and neurotic abnormalcy), all my friends said I noticeably look happier and much more relaxed. Also, I haven't seen any decline in my quality of work :).
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
all-nighter
I can sense that I'll need to pull another all-nighter tomorrow (Wednesday) night. I have a homework due on Thursday (still working on it) and a project (haven't started any writing up at all). And I've planned to skip my other class tomorrow morning :) -- I just have no choice unfortunately.
Here's my sleeping history since last Friday:
Friday -- slept at Saturday 6 am to 10.20 am.
Saturday -- slept at Sunday 2.40 am to 8 am.
Sunday -- slept at 1 am on Monday to 6 am.
Monday -- slept at 5 am on Tuesday to 9.40 am.
Tuesday -- it is now Wednesday 3:36 am and there is no sign of sleeping yet =P.
Another bummer: I am fined by MIT libraries for two stuffs that I have returned last Monday. I'll definitely have to confront them first thing in the morning tomorrow.
Heaven helps!!
PS: Things can be worse... Nothing beats my sleepless days in high school haha. I sometimes wonder I was a wonder woman back then. I've also had days with much less sleep here....
Here's my sleeping history since last Friday:
Friday -- slept at Saturday 6 am to 10.20 am.
Saturday -- slept at Sunday 2.40 am to 8 am.
Sunday -- slept at 1 am on Monday to 6 am.
Monday -- slept at 5 am on Tuesday to 9.40 am.
Tuesday -- it is now Wednesday 3:36 am and there is no sign of sleeping yet =P.
Another bummer: I am fined by MIT libraries for two stuffs that I have returned last Monday. I'll definitely have to confront them first thing in the morning tomorrow.
Heaven helps!!
PS: Things can be worse... Nothing beats my sleepless days in high school haha. I sometimes wonder I was a wonder woman back then. I've also had days with much less sleep here....
Friday, April 25, 2008
Overheard
"Overheard at MIT" is a Facebook group gathering unusual things uttered randomly around the campus. They all happen in real conversation, thus "overheard." One example can be found here.
These are two conversations that I was in (I won't say which one is me):
First conversation
A: How do you make the peanut sauce for satay?
B: Oh, easy... just fry some chopped shallots, throw peanut butter in it, add water and stir until you get the right viscosity.
A: Oh, so... in other words, the taste is not that important but the Reynolds number is?
B: Well, kind of.
Second conversation
A: Your chocolate-coated strawberries were great!!
B: Thanks. Really, it's so easy to make.
A: What chocolate did you use?
B: Oh I just used Ghirardeli's dark chocolate.
A: You double-boil it?
B: Yes.
A: Did you add any milk/cream in it?
B: You can, but I didn't.
A: How long did you do it?
B: Well, you know... you have to adjust the heat, keep stirring to maintain... umm...
A: the consistency?
B: Yeah, exactly. I couldn't find a better word.
These are two conversations that I was in (I won't say which one is me):
First conversation
A: How do you make the peanut sauce for satay?
B: Oh, easy... just fry some chopped shallots, throw peanut butter in it, add water and stir until you get the right viscosity.
A: Oh, so... in other words, the taste is not that important but the Reynolds number is?
B: Well, kind of.
Second conversation
A: Your chocolate-coated strawberries were great!!
B: Thanks. Really, it's so easy to make.
A: What chocolate did you use?
B: Oh I just used Ghirardeli's dark chocolate.
A: You double-boil it?
B: Yes.
A: Did you add any milk/cream in it?
B: You can, but I didn't.
A: How long did you do it?
B: Well, you know... you have to adjust the heat, keep stirring to maintain... umm...
A: the consistency?
B: Yeah, exactly. I couldn't find a better word.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
so sleepy...
I slept less than 3 hours last nigt. Needless to say, I am so sleepy now (it's 8:18 pm and I am still in office). I am just constantly overwhelmed with the amount of work that I need to do, this is maddening.
Today's lecture was so damn boring (especially because it was done by video conferencing). Hmmpph hope to sleep early tonight.
*a hammer thumping from inside my head*
Today's lecture was so damn boring (especially because it was done by video conferencing). Hmmpph hope to sleep early tonight.
*a hammer thumping from inside my head*
time to sleep
It's already 4:11 am and time to sleep :).
Let's see what I've read: multiobjective optimization, isopermance, and a bit of pressure vessel. Well, OK... time for my eyes to have their long overdue rest.
I ate ice cream *sluurp*: Cold Stone's coffee lovers (I added rootbeer too), awesome!!
See ya!
Let's see what I've read: multiobjective optimization, isopermance, and a bit of pressure vessel. Well, OK... time for my eyes to have their long overdue rest.
I ate ice cream *sluurp*: Cold Stone's coffee lovers (I added rootbeer too), awesome!!
See ya!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
agenda for tonight
It is a rare occurrence that I am home before midnight :). In fact I was back pretty early: 8 pm. I had my dinner: raisin bagel with blueberry cream cheese -- but that was NOT all (it won't suffice). I'd like to spread the 'excitement': cheese peas (my friend's creative invention), ice cream (with root beer), or Thai tea. Yummy :).
I had nothing to do with my desktop computer tonight (read: no massive simulation or optimization to run). Instead, tonight will be a reading frenzy nigth. So I decided to do that at home (taking the risk that I'll get lazier in my comfort zone).
So, my reading agenda for tonight consists of: multiobjective optimization, isoperformance, kriging, pressure vessel, radial basis function.... hopefully that's all. Not exciting at all.
I'll update you again by how much I'd have done just before I go to bed :). Hopefully I'll remember. I can assure you that I won't finish them all. Luckily I've read (soft) kriging and radial basis function partially in school. So I can skip them.
Have a great day!
I had nothing to do with my desktop computer tonight (read: no massive simulation or optimization to run). Instead, tonight will be a reading frenzy nigth. So I decided to do that at home (taking the risk that I'll get lazier in my comfort zone).
So, my reading agenda for tonight consists of: multiobjective optimization, isoperformance, kriging, pressure vessel, radial basis function.... hopefully that's all. Not exciting at all.
I'll update you again by how much I'd have done just before I go to bed :). Hopefully I'll remember. I can assure you that I won't finish them all. Luckily I've read (soft) kriging and radial basis function partially in school. So I can skip them.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Lingua
Blackboard (with its variant: greenboard or, less frequently found, whiteboard) is among a few of main 'staples' at MIT :).
Rumor has it that there is one male toilet that has a blackboard in front of each 'male urination thingy.' My friend actually found it, took a picture of it, and realized that there were actually worked numbers on the board *geleng-geleng kepala*.
We also have one in our tiny (but has window) office.
So I started "A word a day" some times before Spring break. Obviously, it stopped when Spring break was over. I prepared multiple columns: English, Hindi, Korean, Austrian, Indonesian, Chinese, French, and Spanish. From "how are you" to "uncertainty analysis" :). I filled up the English, Indonesian, French, and a bit of Chinese (I still remember some characters, you know).
Today (after we almost forgot about the table), B (French) came to our office and was amused with the table. He looked at the French column and started complaining "Oh, this is SO obvious that there are only girls in this office, no guys. The word for "pretty" is only the feminine one and for "ugly" is the masculine one." I only wrote "belle/jolie" for pretty and "laid" for ugly. Now: "belle/jolie & beau/joli" and "laid & laide."
Hahahhahaha I honestly didn't realized that.
Another story: remember when I mentioned that I stayed in office until 6.40 am... I wasn't alone that evening, my leggy friend Sonja was also there. She left earlier though, at 3.40 am. We were working on a project report and her homework (I'd finished mine that time). After some time, we started speaking in Indonesian and German to each other, but surprisingly we still talked :).
Time to sleep now... Tomorrow must wake up early (and I am really sleepy now).
Rumor has it that there is one male toilet that has a blackboard in front of each 'male urination thingy.' My friend actually found it, took a picture of it, and realized that there were actually worked numbers on the board *geleng-geleng kepala*.
We also have one in our tiny (but has window) office.
So I started "A word a day" some times before Spring break. Obviously, it stopped when Spring break was over. I prepared multiple columns: English, Hindi, Korean, Austrian, Indonesian, Chinese, French, and Spanish. From "how are you" to "uncertainty analysis" :). I filled up the English, Indonesian, French, and a bit of Chinese (I still remember some characters, you know).
Today (after we almost forgot about the table), B (French) came to our office and was amused with the table. He looked at the French column and started complaining "Oh, this is SO obvious that there are only girls in this office, no guys. The word for "pretty" is only the feminine one and for "ugly" is the masculine one." I only wrote "belle/jolie" for pretty and "laid" for ugly. Now: "belle/jolie & beau/joli" and "laid & laide."
Hahahhahaha I honestly didn't realized that.
Another story: remember when I mentioned that I stayed in office until 6.40 am... I wasn't alone that evening, my leggy friend Sonja was also there. She left earlier though, at 3.40 am. We were working on a project report and her homework (I'd finished mine that time). After some time, we started speaking in Indonesian and German to each other, but surprisingly we still talked :).
Time to sleep now... Tomorrow must wake up early (and I am really sleepy now).
Hello World
Wow, more than two months.
LOTS of things have happened in my few months here, and I am still in one piece :). That's a good news.
Doing PhD at MIT is MUCH more intensive than my Master days last year. The pressure is higher (esp. now that I am funded by the professor), the deadlines are tighter, the work is much much more, the stress is maddening, the meeting is endless, my sleep requirement is getting less and less (now a 4-hour sleep is enough, compared to the usual 6-hour). I get too used to sleep less now that I always wake up after 4-5 hours of sleep even in weekend when I really want to sleep longer.
At the same time, there's a fun factor of being here. And you start learning to appreciate simple things in love, for example:
1) a half-hour nap on a Sunday afternoon is a TOTAL bliss, and it will actually enhance your efficiency and 'workability,' seriously =). This happened on the last day of Spring break. My other two team mates just came back from their respective holidays (Florida and Austria) so we arranged to meet on Sunday, 2 pm. I didn't sleep enough the previous night, but I still went straight to office after mass (it ended at 11-ish, including the coffee & donut session =P). I felt so lethargic so I decided to go back to my room at 1 pm after finishing one report. I had a short nap and was already back in office just in time for the meeting. Trust me, that half-hour was a total bliss (I woke up wondering what made me feel SO happy and refreshed---it's the nap). I was ready to work long-hour again afterwards, just like an Energizer bunny.
2) having a freshly washed hair in the morning can lift up your mood :). I used to wash my hair every evening. One day, I reached my room at 7 am (yes, pulled an all-nighter in office) so I just brushed my teeth, washing my face and feet, and went straight to bed. I woke up just in time to do the final editing of the report :), take a shower, and dash to class. So I washed my hair that 'morning', went to class with my semi-wet hair let down (it almost never happens): spreading a gentle waft of Dove's cucumber and green tea scent---it simply made my day!!
So now I wash my hair in the morning and go to school (sometimes) letting my hair down---enjoying the breeze playing around with my hair, and (especially) the scent. Then I reached my office and have my ponytail again (I can't work with my hair down).
I have this very fine type of hair: they ALWAYS fall back into place after any kinds of turbulence... within seconds. Haha it's the envy of some of my friends so sometimes I do it on purpose by creating a self-made turbulence, shake my head gently a few times (kayak iklan sampo tapi ini beneran) and they are as good as newly washed and combed hair :).
I never knew before how much I like my hair :)
LOTS of things have happened in my few months here, and I am still in one piece :). That's a good news.
Doing PhD at MIT is MUCH more intensive than my Master days last year. The pressure is higher (esp. now that I am funded by the professor), the deadlines are tighter, the work is much much more, the stress is maddening, the meeting is endless, my sleep requirement is getting less and less (now a 4-hour sleep is enough, compared to the usual 6-hour). I get too used to sleep less now that I always wake up after 4-5 hours of sleep even in weekend when I really want to sleep longer.
At the same time, there's a fun factor of being here. And you start learning to appreciate simple things in love, for example:
1) a half-hour nap on a Sunday afternoon is a TOTAL bliss, and it will actually enhance your efficiency and 'workability,' seriously =). This happened on the last day of Spring break. My other two team mates just came back from their respective holidays (Florida and Austria) so we arranged to meet on Sunday, 2 pm. I didn't sleep enough the previous night, but I still went straight to office after mass (it ended at 11-ish, including the coffee & donut session =P). I felt so lethargic so I decided to go back to my room at 1 pm after finishing one report. I had a short nap and was already back in office just in time for the meeting. Trust me, that half-hour was a total bliss (I woke up wondering what made me feel SO happy and refreshed---it's the nap). I was ready to work long-hour again afterwards, just like an Energizer bunny.
2) having a freshly washed hair in the morning can lift up your mood :). I used to wash my hair every evening. One day, I reached my room at 7 am (yes, pulled an all-nighter in office) so I just brushed my teeth, washing my face and feet, and went straight to bed. I woke up just in time to do the final editing of the report :), take a shower, and dash to class. So I washed my hair that 'morning', went to class with my semi-wet hair let down (it almost never happens): spreading a gentle waft of Dove's cucumber and green tea scent---it simply made my day!!
So now I wash my hair in the morning and go to school (sometimes) letting my hair down---enjoying the breeze playing around with my hair, and (especially) the scent. Then I reached my office and have my ponytail again (I can't work with my hair down).
I have this very fine type of hair: they ALWAYS fall back into place after any kinds of turbulence... within seconds. Haha it's the envy of some of my friends so sometimes I do it on purpose by creating a self-made turbulence, shake my head gently a few times (kayak iklan sampo tapi ini beneran) and they are as good as newly washed and combed hair :).
I never knew before how much I like my hair :)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
more ladies...
I am just relocated to my new office today. It is above the Gas Turbine Laboratory so there are funny smell and heat around it. Location wise, this new office is worse than my previous one as it's detached from the main buildings, which are interconnected by the infinite corridor. This means that you have to put on your complete winter gear whenever you want to go to another place, including when you want to buy lunch/dinner/coffee/cakes. However, some of the good things are: it's not directly opposite your professor's office, as before; and it has windows, i.e., daylight.
In that building (or at least among my project mates), offices with windows are given to those with more seniority: research fellows/engineers, and PhD candidates. Master students have no windows in their rooms. Funny, huh?
Sharing the office with me are two female students. When the project coordinator passed me the key and showed me around, she made an interesting remarks: "There are more and more female students in this project." Well, ALL new incoming students are female (at least in our project). According to her and one ex-student who has become a research engineer, this is the first time it happens. At least now I am no longer the minority, as was the case in my undergraduate and my first job.
In that building (or at least among my project mates), offices with windows are given to those with more seniority: research fellows/engineers, and PhD candidates. Master students have no windows in their rooms. Funny, huh?
Sharing the office with me are two female students. When the project coordinator passed me the key and showed me around, she made an interesting remarks: "There are more and more female students in this project." Well, ALL new incoming students are female (at least in our project). According to her and one ex-student who has become a research engineer, this is the first time it happens. At least now I am no longer the minority, as was the case in my undergraduate and my first job.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Superbowl
My leggy friend Sonja managed to drag some of us to watch Superbowl in Student Center. The interesting part is, she just read about it yesterday but has now given the impression that she was born with it and breathing it. She has fallen deeply in love with Randall (Randy) Moss from New England Patriots and have planned that if they EVER get married (yeah, you go girl) she'll name their daughter Kate.
So, the game became really interesting to us thanks to her. I believe she stole the attention and all limelight. It's obvious that some people just went there to get free dinner (pizza, chips, and brownies), as they just left afterwards. We stayed, of course. It was hilarious and entertaining to watch her, and she is not even American let alone real Bostonian. She screamed, shouted, jumped up and down, and everybody in the room knew if she wanted to pee =).
I've never known about American football before, but I picked it up as I watched the game. Sonja didn't really help though, as she also just learned about it and she got too emotional sometimes =). Our other friend, Jesus-lookalike who unfortunately has cut his hair short, explained to us. He's lived in the US for almost 6 years, so he is in the better position.
It was really fun, though we've lost =(. The after match was another drama. My leggy friend literally ranted and ran and kicked stones on our way back. Let just put it this way, Tom Brady should run for his life everytime Sonja gets anywhere close to him =).
Anyway... a pleasant day today. Sonja, Rachelle, and I went for and Indian buffet lunch in Harvard Square. Embarassingly, I was the one who has the weakest tongue. I poured so much yoghurt on the aloo gobhi (to make it less spicy) and they just laughed at me, this Indonesian-girl-who-can't-take-spicy-foods-at-all. The dessert was a sugar overload; it was a curly dough with just too much sugar coats. Nonetheless, I love the dosai, tandoori and naan (too bad garlic naan is not part of the buffet). So now my leggy friend has officially tried Indian food.
Go Mossie!!!!!!!!
(the two touchdown for Patriots are thanks to Moss)
So, the game became really interesting to us thanks to her. I believe she stole the attention and all limelight. It's obvious that some people just went there to get free dinner (pizza, chips, and brownies), as they just left afterwards. We stayed, of course. It was hilarious and entertaining to watch her, and she is not even American let alone real Bostonian. She screamed, shouted, jumped up and down, and everybody in the room knew if she wanted to pee =).
I've never known about American football before, but I picked it up as I watched the game. Sonja didn't really help though, as she also just learned about it and she got too emotional sometimes =). Our other friend, Jesus-lookalike who unfortunately has cut his hair short, explained to us. He's lived in the US for almost 6 years, so he is in the better position.
It was really fun, though we've lost =(. The after match was another drama. My leggy friend literally ranted and ran and kicked stones on our way back. Let just put it this way, Tom Brady should run for his life everytime Sonja gets anywhere close to him =).
Anyway... a pleasant day today. Sonja, Rachelle, and I went for and Indian buffet lunch in Harvard Square. Embarassingly, I was the one who has the weakest tongue. I poured so much yoghurt on the aloo gobhi (to make it less spicy) and they just laughed at me, this Indonesian-girl-who-can't-take-spicy-foods-at-all. The dessert was a sugar overload; it was a curly dough with just too much sugar coats. Nonetheless, I love the dosai, tandoori and naan (too bad garlic naan is not part of the buffet). So now my leggy friend has officially tried Indian food.
Go Mossie!!!!!!!!
(the two touchdown for Patriots are thanks to Moss)
A not so ugly part of the school
Everybody who has stayed at or visited MIT agrees that it is an ugly school. Don't imagine pretty buildings and vast green lawns like what you see in TV when you're trying to picture MIT. It's prudent that they actually ban all filming within MIT buildings, though the actual story setting is in this world-famous school, e.g., Good Will Hunting and 21 (adapted from the book Bringing Down the House, about the MIT's Blackjack team's success---real---story in Vegas). I saw the filming of 21 in Harvard bridge last year. They use BU (Boston University) campus for the on-campus scene.
If you notice, people visiting to MIT take picture mainly with the Great Dome (building 10), main lobby (building 7), and Stata building (building 32). There is, actually, another small building that I like: the MIT Chapel (see pic below). The interior is very nice too, especially during candle-lit masses (in Easter vigil, for example). The building is small, and looks like a giant chimney. It is surrounded by water that will reflect sunrays beautifully to inside the building. On a sunny day you'll see the reflection dancing (due to the rippling of water) on the inside wall. During winter, however, there's no water or else it will freeze.
If you notice, people visiting to MIT take picture mainly with the Great Dome (building 10), main lobby (building 7), and Stata building (building 32). There is, actually, another small building that I like: the MIT Chapel (see pic below). The interior is very nice too, especially during candle-lit masses (in Easter vigil, for example). The building is small, and looks like a giant chimney. It is surrounded by water that will reflect sunrays beautifully to inside the building. On a sunny day you'll see the reflection dancing (due to the rippling of water) on the inside wall. During winter, however, there's no water or else it will freeze.
flu updates
My flu came back two days ago and it wasn't pretty at all. My immunity collapsed whenever I stepped outside, and yesterday's nonstop pouring rain didn't do any good at all. I needed to walk quite a long distance under the rain (+ wind!!) and I forgot my gloves. Needless to say, my flu worsened.... I tried to do some paper review but to no avail, decided to sleep at midnight but couldn't. So I woke up again and read another paper, which is, luckily, much easier to read than the previous one. I guess I fell asleep after 1.
This morning I woke up at 8, as I've promised to bring a new girl in my dorm (a very nice Indian girl from UIUC, Illinois) to the Star Market at 9. So we did grocery shopping and came back at around 10.30 am. I somehow felt exhausted (again) and my attempt to do paper review again failed. I slept from noon 'til 1 pm, and had lunch at around 2.15 pm. I napped for another 10 minutes at around 4 pm. Only afterwards that I felt much better and could function again =).
So finally, I finished reading three papers and also did the short review, i.e., recording what did I learn/understand from them. One of them is very mathematical and I got stuck at around 11 pm =(. Anyway, I was done at 00:40 am and blogged =).
I am going to sleep now as I don't want to be late for mass. Hope tomorrow's weather is nicer and my flu is gone!!
This morning I woke up at 8, as I've promised to bring a new girl in my dorm (a very nice Indian girl from UIUC, Illinois) to the Star Market at 9. So we did grocery shopping and came back at around 10.30 am. I somehow felt exhausted (again) and my attempt to do paper review again failed. I slept from noon 'til 1 pm, and had lunch at around 2.15 pm. I napped for another 10 minutes at around 4 pm. Only afterwards that I felt much better and could function again =).
So finally, I finished reading three papers and also did the short review, i.e., recording what did I learn/understand from them. One of them is very mathematical and I got stuck at around 11 pm =(. Anyway, I was done at 00:40 am and blogged =).
I am going to sleep now as I don't want to be late for mass. Hope tomorrow's weather is nicer and my flu is gone!!
not for hungry stomachs...
I made these two goodies before I flew off, for no ocassions. They are much simpler than I thought. I used the ready-made pineapple paste though, so yes I cheated. However, it wasn't that bad for the second attempt. I mixed shredded cheese into the pastry dough and I also used them to garnish. They rather look like floss, don't they? =) I guess the added cheese made the pastry crispier, which I loooove. I made half heart-shaped and the other half normal-shaped. How difficult it is to make the heart-shaped ones? I found a shortcut so it wasn't difficult at all. Try it!!
These cookies are full of surprises. Despite their rocky looks, there will be oozing chocolate melt (!!) at almost every bite. They, to the last bite, can fly you to the moon and back. Hmm, come to think about it, you may like it ONLY if you have the same tastebuds as me =D. All modifications are made to suit my and only my tastebuds. Luckily, all my loved ones (or at least whoever lucky enough to try this) love it!!
This is the double dark chocolate cookies that I modified from the normal chocolate chunk cookies. I don't normally bake cookies I am not usually in the kitchen so modifying a recipe is a trully a brave move. The appearance may look 'demoralizing' but wait until you have a bite. The secret lies on the dark chocolate chunk that I use instead of normal chocolate chips (they're too sweet and not as flavorful). I throw extra chocolate powder and sometimes I add two tablespoons of Baileys (or any coffee liquors). Forget the Baileys if you want them extra dark (bittersweet). The right proportion of Baileys, in addition to the vanilla extract, can somehow make the cookie texture softer and more fragrant. Add chopped walnuts if you have them in store... heaven.
These cookies are full of surprises. Despite their rocky looks, there will be oozing chocolate melt (!!) at almost every bite. They, to the last bite, can fly you to the moon and back. Hmm, come to think about it, you may like it ONLY if you have the same tastebuds as me =D. All modifications are made to suit my and only my tastebuds. Luckily, all my loved ones (or at least whoever lucky enough to try this) love it!!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
recovered
My jet lag has finally recovered. It feels so good to be able to talk to people and have a meeting with (almost) full concentration, instead of struggling really hard to stay awake.
Now I only have a slight fever, I guess it's because the sudden drop in temperature when I walked back this evening (and the wind chill!!).
Work wise, I've already been given plenty works to do and LOTS of reading materials. I really have to catch up with things, and tomorrow I'll have a three-hour meeting. Hopefully everything will be fine eventually.
I still feel partially excited and partially SCARED about this PhD thingy. Some MIT students are TOO smart, it's so scary. I begged him NOT to enroll to PhD track hahaha (he's currently finishing his master thesis); or else he'll spoil the market =P.
My biggest worry now is the qualifying exam that I have to take next year. My second biggest worry is my lack of depth in advanced mathematics. It seems to me that MIT students breathe and eat Math's equations and proofs. This lack of depth is also acknowledged by my former professors in School of MAE. "Mechanical engineering students should get more advanced Mathematics," they argued---despite the fact that Mathematics 1 to 4 are compulsory.
Anyway, pray for me. I still have one year to prepare and I really have to start reading the notes and textbooks now! (I'll explain more about the qualifying exam later as I still have 4 papers to read).
Now I only have a slight fever, I guess it's because the sudden drop in temperature when I walked back this evening (and the wind chill!!).
Work wise, I've already been given plenty works to do and LOTS of reading materials. I really have to catch up with things, and tomorrow I'll have a three-hour meeting. Hopefully everything will be fine eventually.
I still feel partially excited and partially SCARED about this PhD thingy. Some MIT students are TOO smart, it's so scary. I begged him NOT to enroll to PhD track hahaha (he's currently finishing his master thesis); or else he'll spoil the market =P.
My biggest worry now is the qualifying exam that I have to take next year. My second biggest worry is my lack of depth in advanced mathematics. It seems to me that MIT students breathe and eat Math's equations and proofs. This lack of depth is also acknowledged by my former professors in School of MAE. "Mechanical engineering students should get more advanced Mathematics," they argued---despite the fact that Mathematics 1 to 4 are compulsory.
Anyway, pray for me. I still have one year to prepare and I really have to start reading the notes and textbooks now! (I'll explain more about the qualifying exam later as I still have 4 papers to read).
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
jetlagged JETLAGGED!!
Huh. I chose the pricey SQ's Singapore-New York flight for my Singapore-Boston trip to minimize jet lag (as it is the most comfy and convenient) but I still suffer from it nonetheless.
The last time I took the same flight, I couldn't really sleep well so I always grabbed the drinks that the crew brought along corridors... and I didn't suffer from jet lag as much as this time around. May be that's why.. the water. Apparently my 4 bottles of mineral waters and few cups of other things were not sufficient for my recent trip. Huh.
My body feels very strange lately. I feel so lethargic in the afternoon but it slowly ebbs away in the evening. Yesterday I gave up at 6 pm and had an hour nap but it didn't do me any good in the end. I couldn't sleep until 2 plus (though my body has given away at 10 pm); so I overslept until almost 8 am. Tonight cough starts coming in, in addition to the flu and cold that I've already suffered from.
They are not so bad though, I've experienced much worse jet lags before but still...
Today, I almost gave up in the afternoon (around 3 pm) but I staggered on... At around 10 pm, I went out, braving against the winter cold, to buy cough syrup =P. I was wide awake after that, though my body is still tired. I actually wanted to exhaust myself so I can sleep soundly and my cycle will then be back to normal. *fingers crossed*
Weirdest of all, my appetite and digestion system are in jeopardy (I now have a very low appetite). I feel hungry at strange hours. What with no supplies in my dorm room and the weather is still not so friendly to go out at night, I sometimes have to put up with my late night hunger and wake up feeling even more strange.
Seems like I'd have a pile of jobs to do so hopefully I'll be back on track really really soon!! OK, I'll write more later... want to catch a good night sleep. Ciao!!
Grumpy fact: the mattress in Green Hall single room is extra long!! (so, in US terms: twin size extra long) that means my bed sheet can't fit though it was perfectly fine when I stayed in Green Hall double room last year. grrrbblllll... Apart from that, I have a nice, warm and big (with too many compartments to handle) room.
PS: Can't wait for next week's winter retreat!!
The last time I took the same flight, I couldn't really sleep well so I always grabbed the drinks that the crew brought along corridors... and I didn't suffer from jet lag as much as this time around. May be that's why.. the water. Apparently my 4 bottles of mineral waters and few cups of other things were not sufficient for my recent trip. Huh.
My body feels very strange lately. I feel so lethargic in the afternoon but it slowly ebbs away in the evening. Yesterday I gave up at 6 pm and had an hour nap but it didn't do me any good in the end. I couldn't sleep until 2 plus (though my body has given away at 10 pm); so I overslept until almost 8 am. Tonight cough starts coming in, in addition to the flu and cold that I've already suffered from.
They are not so bad though, I've experienced much worse jet lags before but still...
Today, I almost gave up in the afternoon (around 3 pm) but I staggered on... At around 10 pm, I went out, braving against the winter cold, to buy cough syrup =P. I was wide awake after that, though my body is still tired. I actually wanted to exhaust myself so I can sleep soundly and my cycle will then be back to normal. *fingers crossed*
Weirdest of all, my appetite and digestion system are in jeopardy (I now have a very low appetite). I feel hungry at strange hours. What with no supplies in my dorm room and the weather is still not so friendly to go out at night, I sometimes have to put up with my late night hunger and wake up feeling even more strange.
Seems like I'd have a pile of jobs to do so hopefully I'll be back on track really really soon!! OK, I'll write more later... want to catch a good night sleep. Ciao!!
Grumpy fact: the mattress in Green Hall single room is extra long!! (so, in US terms: twin size extra long) that means my bed sheet can't fit though it was perfectly fine when I stayed in Green Hall double room last year. grrrbblllll... Apart from that, I have a nice, warm and big (with too many compartments to handle) room.
PS: Can't wait for next week's winter retreat!!
back to square one
Back to school brings a mixed feeling to me. Part of me thinks "yeah, so this is it," but another part says "Oh Gosh, I am waaaay behind my friends."
In each gathering I feel so small to hear my other friends who have started a family, or ventured a new business, hopped on to another lucrative job, etc. Me? I am back to a low-income and struggling student. Square one.
I often asked myself "will I ever reach the stage that they have comfortably been at at this moment?" or, better still, "will my effort be paid off one day and I can surpass them?"
All in all, I think it is all back to what we want in life. Life is a choice and I've made this decision of what kind of career and life that I want to have one day, and getting a PhD degree is the only way to get it. In addition, getting a PhD from a well-known university is critical to secure the job I want. It's all about reputation and... prestige?
Anyway, I know that life will be extremely difficult in the years that follow. I really hope that we will reap the fruits one day...
In each gathering I feel so small to hear my other friends who have started a family, or ventured a new business, hopped on to another lucrative job, etc. Me? I am back to a low-income and struggling student. Square one.
I often asked myself "will I ever reach the stage that they have comfortably been at at this moment?" or, better still, "will my effort be paid off one day and I can surpass them?"
All in all, I think it is all back to what we want in life. Life is a choice and I've made this decision of what kind of career and life that I want to have one day, and getting a PhD degree is the only way to get it. In addition, getting a PhD from a well-known university is critical to secure the job I want. It's all about reputation and... prestige?
Anyway, I know that life will be extremely difficult in the years that follow. I really hope that we will reap the fruits one day...
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