Jan 11 2012

Starting 2012 on a volcanic island

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Life & Culture

First time in a foreign country - the pace at which new things are thrown at you is beyond words. Thoughtful reflections connecting all these new experiences may come later, but for now, let's not get lost in translation. I'm here to introduce to you Jeju Island, South Korea, as experienced by twenty MIT students. 

After the endless flights, we finally settled in the dorms of Jeju National University. Then we went outside... 

The sky was overcast, but I spy with my little eyes...OCEAN. 

And then there was fried chicken. SPICY fried chicken.

On December 31, the teachers gathered with the program coordinators and Korean teaching assistants for a banquet reception.

Here is my friend Maggie'12 and I. 

Don't let the business casual fool you. That's not how the night ended. The Korean people did not forget that 12/31 was the night before 2012 and we were about to find out how Jeju does New Years'. (I apologize in advance for the screaming. :X) 

Holy cow.... read the post »

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Dec 25 2011

Impulsive Decisions

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Life & Culture

Happy Holidays everyone! I can't believe another semester's done and over with - pushing me officially past the halfway point at MIT. (AHHH). I'm now sitting at home, trying to relax but not quite, because there is a LOT of work to be done. But how could this be! It's Christmas! Well, let's back up a little bit…

For one reason or other that I cannot fully explicate, this semester has been a blur, passing by faster than I could process. While one always needs a certain level of conscious judgment to go to classes, carry on coursework, etc., I feel like this semester, I've been putting school on cruise control. This functionality might come from having been at MIT for a while already - from becoming an "upperclassman" and developing a programmed rhythm for handling a semester, all the way from pre-registering classes to finals…

A parallel (or antithesis?) to this apparent cruise control on the school side is a burgeoning urge to just LET. LOOSE. and jump on everything not class... read the post »

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Dec 4 2011

The Post-MIT Trajectory

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Information

As a junior, it's imminent that I think about what happens after MIT. In fact, the thinking has already been brewing. As I'm talking to my peers, it seems like "post-college plans" are a dreaded can of worms that no one wants to open. Except I tend to be the one prying at it until everyone around me is stressed and apprehensive - sorry, friends. But really, "life after college" is a scary but also exciting topic to think about.

Because for the first time in our lives perhaps, there is very little structure. We grew up knowing that 3rd grade came after 2nd, middle school came after 6th, and of course, college after 12th. College. Something so important and life-changing. Some people even get engaged in college - how scary is that? As much as our high-school selves may put "college" high up on some kind of maturation pedestal - and it is worthy of the hype I can tell you - but college is not a destination. And more than halfway through it, we are necessarily confronted with the... read the post »

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Nov 11 2011

We are artists & writers

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Life & Culture

It's important to recognize that while MIT is known for top-notch engineering and science programs, this school actually has the resources to foster all kinds of creative juice. I wanted to introduce one such example, and that is RUNE, MIT's journal of art and literature. Having partaken in a literary magazine in high school, I knew it was something I want to continue doing. So what is RUNE as a club like? We are a group of MIT students (both undergraduate and graduate) who really enjoy creative writing and the visual arts. But more importantly, we believe that we can tap into the wealth of creative gems embedded in all the scientific/engineering ingenuity at MIT. Basically, RUNE solicits art and literature submissions from the MIT community and meets weekly to review those submissions for inclusion in a glossy magazine published annually at the end of the spring semester.

Truth be told, RUNE is traditionally small, with a staff never far beyond 10, and low-key; think of us as a... read the post »

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Oct 25 2011

Our homework is to go camping

Posted in: Miscellaneous, Academics & Research, Life & Culture, Majors & Minors

Aye, I'm back with more architecture adventures. I feel like all I ever blog about is architecture stuff - but who am I kidding - it literally consumes my life. I complain sometimes - okay a lot - but deep inside, I really would not have picked a different major at MIT. I am SO glad to not have any psets or major exams. Keep scrolling to find out why this semester has been especially fun and out-of-the-ordinary. 

So two weeks ago -
…the assignment was to construct a bamboo-and-canvas shelter to be erected on the lawn of the Endicott House - MIT's private mansion used for conferences and fraternity/sorority semiformals, etc. Our structure has to

• provide sleeping area for the 10 people in our class and
• provide shelter in rain or shine
• be designed and built in one week 

And this is what went down. 

We slaved away at the woodshop day and night to prepare the bamboo structure - 

Then slipped on the canvas roof cover sewn by ourselves - 

And built 5 sets... read the post »

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