The acronym “IAP” usually evokes several feelings, including:
- Euphoria, associated with a lack of problem sets
- Excitement, over having free time to participate in competitions, take a class in something you’ve always wanted to learn, hang out with friends, or do research in the lab
- Dread…knowing that January is the coldest month of the year, with an average high temperature of 36 degrees and an average low of 22 degrees.

That dreadful feeling was inappropriate today, as temperatures were around an extremely pleasant 65 degrees! My classmates and I took advantage of the warm spell by being outside as much as possible. I saw a group of friends having a picnic outside of East Campus (complete with a guitar, basket of food, and blanket), and I was pretty envious. I chose to read my book (Giving, by Bill Clinton) on the roof of Baker, take pictures (I included some below), and go for a run.

Boston is known for being a very walkable city, and it’s even more runable! It’s no sweat to get to some of the area’s most fun and picturesque spots, including the Museum of Science, Harvard Square, Fresh Pond, the Navy Yard, Newbury Street, the Emerald Necklace, the Harbor, and the Esplanade. The Charles River is only a few feet away from most of the dorms, and once you’re there, you can take countless loops around and along it. Just want to work off some stress? Do the Harvard-B.U. Bridge Loop (2.7 miles). Training for a marathon, like two blogger alums? Run the Harvard-Mt. Auburn Street Loop (14.1 miles)…twice! For a map, click here. Mitra had also written an entry about running, found here.

Here’s a little snapshot of the southern view from the Baker roof (click to see a bigger version):

And here’s the northern view. It’s game time! Can you identify all of the numbered buildings?

Finally, we had a beautiful sunset! (Sorry for the low image quality...)

Comments (Closed after 30 days to reduce spam)

First!
Baker seems like the perfect dorm.

Posted by: Samantha on January 9, 2008

such gorgeous pictures! yeah, the weather's being weird/really warm here (Illinois)too...

Posted by: 0 on January 9, 2008

ya that's cause a low pressure in the Northwest is just devastating the west coast... for once you guys have better weather than we do. get over it. nice pictures by the way.

Posted by: 0 on January 9, 2008

The pictures are delightful, the theme is vital, the entry is glowingly well written. Splendid as always, Melis! =)

Posted by: Edgar on January 9, 2008

And the sunrise this morning was just as beautiful =) I just got back from California, and started by bio lab bootcamp and 6.270 classes! It's exciting! And I have no time, which in my mind means I'm doing IAP right =P

Posted by: Piper '11 on January 9, 2008

1. Johnson Athletic Center
2. Zesiger Center
3. Kresge Auditorium
4. Stratton Student Center
5. the Dome (lobby 10)
6. Marriott Hotel
7. Green Building
8. Baker House
Is that right?

Posted by: picture happy on January 9, 2008

I live in San Diego--we get funny high pressure systems here too. Except it'll hit NINETY degrees in January. I'm not talking about Santa Ana's--these come from somewhere else but I forget what they're called.

Posted by: Twilight Bob on January 9, 2008

i LOVE the one of the sunset

Posted by: Aditi on January 9, 2008

I don't think #8 is Baker, is it? Baker has that undulating design - unless that's an annex or something o_0

Posted by: Shamarah on January 9, 2008

Hey you had a very nice entry.
What I liked is that even if you kept a title which of great concern, you showed that we can make use of it. That's very resourceful of you. I admire that.

And I love the first pic. It's very beautiful.

Thanks for the entry.

Posted by: A on January 9, 2008

Try again for #8!!

Posted by: Melis on January 9, 2008

Well I don't know all of them. But I can try #8 which is MacGregor House.

Am I right?

Posted by: A on January 9, 2008

Sorry, #8's not MacGregor!

Posted by: Melis on January 9, 2008

Then it is McCormick Hall

Posted by: A on January 9, 2008

You got it =) Well done, everyone!

Posted by: Melis on January 9, 2008

Phew


Yay!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: A on January 9, 2008

Yes, this warm weather is uncanny! I am really excited to have a chance to wear the Birkenstock (sp?) sandals I got for my birthday (which is in December...).

Baker seems so nice... *want to live there, perhaps *

Posted by: Lauren on January 9, 2008

Oh wow great panoramical pictures ! You took them ? Wow they're breautiful. What camera do you use ?

Posted by: Isshak on January 9, 2008

#7 is the Green Building! I worked on the 14th floor this past summer.

Posted by: Marissa on January 9, 2008

My educated guesses:
1-student gym
2-student center
3-Kresge
5-The Great Dome
7-Is it the Green building? I know it's academic...
8-McCormick Hall
I'm not going to try 4 or 6.

Posted by: Lainers on January 9, 2008

Hold on. 2 is the student gym (Z center). 4 is the student center. 1 I don't think I know.

Posted by: Lainers on January 9, 2008

All the warm weather IS a bit disconcerting, being that we in Western MD are also a zone that the arctic circle somehow misses yet mirrors to the last snowflake. This time last year, under four feet of snow; this year, wearing sandals and going for a bike ride! An Inconvenient Truth, anyone?
But, grim omens aside, great pictures! (Swoon) Oh, MIT! IHTFP- Inciting Hope, Thou Future Panorama! Heh, sorry, just trying to be cool... And failing... Shutting up now...

Posted by: E. Rosser on January 9, 2008

A pretty simple way to figure out the buildings:

1. Download the map.
web.mit.edu/admissions/pdf/MIT_Campus_Map.pdf

2. You know where west is (SUNSET!), look for a triangular building pointing at the east -- Ralph Landau Bldg 66.

3. The Kresge Auditorium is easy to find.

4. And Harvard Bridge to Boston.

5. Etc.

Posted by: Tanmay on January 10, 2008

Can anyone tell me what are the major symtoms of global warming.......... and plz give some evidance.

Posted by: FAAHD on January 10, 2008

Faahd:
Here is one example for you:
http://geology.com/sea-level-rise/venice.shtml

Posted by: VVSB on January 10, 2008

Tanmay - You'd be surprised to realize how many people simply don't know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. (Even that statement isn't quite accurate, since the sun only sets in true west on the equinoxes.)

Still, nice suggestions! In my opinion, one of the great things about MIT is that you can get lost on its campus...and there's always such cool things to be found.

Posted by: Paul on January 10, 2008

very good!

Posted by: nike shoes wholesale on January 10, 2008

@ Paul:

hmmm... that's a point. Let me think of something more general then.

Posted by: Tanmay on January 13, 2008

Here it comes...

Building 66 is the only MIT building with a predominantly triangular shape AND is connected to its neighbor by a little 'bridge'.

So, tis better to abandon all that east-west complication!

Posted by: Tanmay on January 13, 2008

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