Happy New Year!

In spring, the place I went to most frequently and stayed in for the longest hours was the computer lab in Stewart Center. Somehow I felt more comfortable to work on a very private thing-my Master thesis- in a public place. I guess being surrounded by a bunch of people replying e-mails or reading news online helped to reduce my stress. Yeah, I was about to leave Purdue yet I felt I didn't know this place enough to talk about being a boilermaker. I was often joking that the part of my brain that controlled my emotions and feelings was almost paralyzed in this engineering school that engineering ambience has permeated into every corner of the campus. But all of a sudden, I found it hard to leave this place along with my friends as well as the heavy and the joyful memories behind.

In summber, I ate most, played most and talked most. I fell in love with that cozy town called Fort Wayne in the northeast of Indiana.

In fall, I threw myself at tons of readings in the new orange and blue campus-UIUC. Hey, don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining yet. I haven't told you how juicy those readings are and how excited I'm with the new prospect of the researches I am and will be engaged in. I'm not saying my Purdue research is dry, without which I actually can't be who I am now.

Just imagine while I had no computer and no office at Purdue, I have four discreationary computers and offices now! What's more luxrious for me to adjust to is Carla Santo's mentoring style. As it is completely opposite to traditional Chinese teaching style which always sets an invisible boundary between teacher and student, hers encourage intimacy and reciprocal understanding between the two sides. I find as much surprise as comfort and ease in this new fashion.

In class, I tried to break down the stereotype of the "quiet, shy, modest, no-opinioned, too-nice-to-say-anything" Asian. I guessed I talked too much in RST 501 until oneday the professor said to the class "a Chinese knows more about Western history than you guys", which sounded as if a Chinese was not supposed to be like that. That word completely quieted me down and made me realize that my knowledge which mostly come from highschool history class must appeared as "showing off " to the class. I am still wondering if I overacted to fight against the unspoken image that "Asians don't talk" or this image does not exist at all and only comes from my imagination.

In winter, I did two patchworks-revising the papers according to the reviewers' comments- and two new papers. I have to be honest that I don't like patchworks. It's always hard to satisfy with the pieces of researches that you have done a while ago. They always appear so immature while you feel unable to make it the one that represents your current self. But I guess it's just like one's life history, you will just laugh when you look back at the mischievous things you have done!

Well, best wishes to everyone who is having a baby or expecting to having one, getting married or expecting to get married, being in love or expecting to be in love!

Have an exciting 2007!