I wrote
this article to conclude my performance in 2013. If everything is smooth, I
would be too happy to remember writing this article. The existence of this
article shows that 2013 is not a satisfactory year. The first half 2013 was a
good period of time so no need to emphasize it or I would fall into my
daydreaming. The second half was a mess. It looks like a warning from the
heaven that my life during the first half period was too fantastic.
Last time
when I came here, the weather was a rainy day. It was not raining when I
arrived. At the beginning, it was cloudy, similar to my feeling. My paper was
just been rejected by a journal. This showed I have a long way to go. This
strike would ruin this trip if I dealt with it wrong. Luckily, it is not hard
to hide my sorrow because my unique personality makes me look sentimental.
I met her again. She is as cute as she was. The most fantastic change is that she seems more mature and prettier. She also shared some costs for meal, transportation, and entrance fee. Not easy for a pretty girl. It was my honor to have her accompany in this short trip. This was the first time I knew she likes to sleep away on the weekend. In the Buddhist temple, I knew she is a devout Buddhist. The next day, I guess I made a mistake by choosing a cold tourist spot. She hasn’t recovered from the cold caught a few days ago. No many tourists visiting there in such a cold rainy day. We left soon and went to have a dinner in downtown. Happy days always pass by soon.
West Lake
One of the largest Buddhist Temple I have ever seen.
Xixi Wetland
Silent Hill in China
I left without reporting the absence, but people in this research group all
knew where I came. They asked why I went to meet this girl and don’t try to
pursue her. Indeed, I went to Hangzhou not just for its scenery. There are only
three cities, i.e. Boston, Kyoto and New York where I’d like to visit for the
second time. If it was not for this special girl, it is very likely I don’t
bother to move any finger.
“The distance is a big problem” I said, “Prof. Dong said Hangzhou is a shitty city, but the city which we are working at is hell.” I am like a leave gone with the wind. Today I am in hell, and I don’t know where I will be tomorrow. This fate had been determined right after I decided to get a PhD in the US. Sad but irreversible?
Food is much tasty than food in hell.
Cheese Rice Cake
Rice Soup
2007 Fall – 2008 Spring
In the first semester, I didn’t know what I
can eat. There was a Food Lion within the walking distance from the apartment.
I always buy frozen food and lettuce for dinner, and bread and milk for
breakfast. In the university I grasped a cheese burger and fries in the Atrium
food court. When I stayed in the library at night, I liked to join some Korean
students to have dinner in Fountain Dining Hall, Waba or Charles’ Grilled Sub. Then
I learnt there is a convenient dining option called meal plan. Across the
Hillsborogh Street, there was a Chinese fast food restaurant. I didn’t
understand why it was always packed with Chinese students in the lunch hour
until I work in China. I lost several pounds in the first year.
Continental breakfast warmed my heart
Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 2013
This was a frustrating afternoon. An idea
which I had been thinking about for months back to the days when living in
Mission Apartment didn’t work! I tried several DSGE setups and there were
always problems. Then I found the main reason is either there is no clearing
for a market or the issue I want to ask becomes trivial if I assign a new
exogenous condition. I wrote an email to tell older Joe, my colleague and
coworker in Japan, that I got stuck in the bottleneck.
Hello, Philip,
I believe you are about to packing your stuff. Unlike me, a child spoiled
by my parents to enjoy life in the US, you might be happy to go home with your
family and resume your job soon. I’d like to update my unique experience so far.
Pace
is quite slow in this town. Pedestrians seem have no business to do; students
seem have no care of their studies. I have known some new colleagues and new
friends. Some of them got degrees in the US, and the others are US
undergraduates who teach English in the school of foreign languages. Perhaps I
won’t forget English shortly.
In the first week of class, I didn’t do
much. I wrote and improved a small piece of a working paper. Then I manually
transfer a chapter of the dissertation into a LaTex format for submission. It
hasn’t been done. The main reason is my Italian colleague. He wants to enjoy
nightlife and I sometimes have to go out with him. This guy is so Italian. We went
to downtown and eat in restaurants at 4 nights consecutively. Because of him, I
went to a KTV for the very first time in my life. He likes to hang out with girls,
American and Chinese or anyone causes his interest. Even eating in a coffee
shop, the young waitress wanted to exchange emails and phone numbers with him. Oh,
my gosh.
Noodle soup in a famous restaurant. It tastes ok.
Fish hot pot, the most delicious food I ate in this town.
And also because of him, I knew a colleague called Joyce. She is like
us, new to this university and the town, but much younger than we are. Aside from
her charming, we are also impressed by her English speaking and listening given
she haven’t studied in the US. When it comes to the US...
I miss my simple and healthy life in the US
so much. Soon you will, too.
Ted
I came to work too early. I should have
taken up the invitation and headed to Beijing first, or I should have stayed at
hometown swallowing hamburgers until I would get sick of it. This place is
beyond my imagination. I can read the characters, but I hardly understand what
street people speak. Maybe they are talking in dialects or Mandarin with very
different accents. It is very often I reply them based on the key words I hear.
The streets are exotic. You can see brand cars, bizarre scooters and bicycles
on the same road. There are lots of shops along the street in front of the
university. What interesting is none of them is familiar to me. International
food chains haven't expended their businesses to the inland town. Outside the
university most people in the town look like countrymen or countrywomen.
It had been one month since I came home. Next
Monday the journey will begin. I understand it is depressed to leave a comfort
zone. Previously it was in Raleigh, now it is in my hometown. One the other hand, I
totally acknowledge without taking risk, how does one get the premium? Hometown,
I don’t really know what it is; I’m just familiar with my home and its
neighborhoods where includes a coffee shop, a bookstore, a bakery, a grocery
stores, and a McDonald’s in which I visit every week. On this weekend, I’d like
to stretch the neighborhoods farther. I'd like to go to Costco, to see an English
movie and have lunch in a Japanese Restaurant. Maybe I can regain a part of my
memories left in Raleigh.
Preface
Yesterday
I went to a university to meet a professor I have known for many years. I heard
him talking about how creative his ideas are and promising his research is. At
the same time, he showed his disproval of the most important chapter of my
dissertation. He said it cannot be published because my advisor doesn’t give
his name on the working paper for endorsement although he didn’t read it. Of
course, I showed my respect and said nothing because there was Asia.
The weather
in this week was unusual. It was sunny in the day, cloudy in the afternoon, and
heavy rain pours down in the evening. Several times I was stuck in Carmichael
Recreation Center. I didn’t mind staying there longer since I didn’t know that would
I have any chance to be there again? I have a gloomy feeling that I never ever
had before. I should have expected the day would eventually come, but I was
either too busy or too happy to notice it until it approaches close to me. It
is so overwhelming that I cannot stand it.
Downpour
Arrival, May
8th
It took
around one hour to fly from Raleigh to New York, shorter than transferring from
JFK to Midtown Manhattan through subway. I left the luggage in the hotel and
went to have a tour. Today I walked from Chelsea to Midtown, and approached
Times Square. Life in the city must be stressful. People are pushed to move
fast; pedestrians cross roads without seeing traffic signals; car drivers tap
horn frequently. If it were not the fancy stores and tons of skyscrapers, I
would guess I am in a developing country. Maybe this is the cost of being the
world's biggest and funniest city. Just staying in half day, I knew this city
is not a place for me. Smaller cities, e.g. Boston and Charlotte, are supposed
to be helpful to my career. I need to keep the distance from the crowd or I
couldn't think and work. But the good thing is there are many grocery stores
and people don't need to drive to buy toothpaste although the sum of driving
cost and the product price is cheaper in Raleigh.
Manhattan
I preordered
the game from Amazon and have played it for a few hours. It is sad to see it
doesn’t sell very well. The game critics just give it mediocre grade. It might
be because it doesn’t meet people’s expectation, especially the graphics. I
agree that the problem frame rate isn’t negligible. Buildings far from some
circumferences become obscure, are like dwelling in fog; pedestrians and cars
don’t show out until you are close to them enough.
Lego City Undercover: The Chase Begins
"Congratulation." the advisor
said.
I had been waiting for this day for ten
years. However I feel no excitement after I get the degree. Today is just a
point of the lifetime learning; and the title Doctor of
Philosophy is a summary of the accumulated
learning results so far. It does not come to me suddenly instead I have to approach
to it inch by inch.
Name: The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia
Authors: Shigeru
Miyamoto et al.
Publisher:
Dark Horse
I play
games, not accessories, such as figurines, cards, soundtracks associated with
them. There are still some exceptions, and The Legend of Zelda is one of them.
After watching the IGN's review, I bought Hyrule Historia online.
The touch of hardcovered books is wonderful.
Xenoblade
Chronicles is a critically acclaimed game. I haven’t had a chance to play it,
but I have enjoyed its music on Youtube very much. Sunday night I was listening
to a song call “On the Fallen Arm.” The music is simple and touching, like sea
rolling toward the cliff, the flushing water sparkling in daylight.
Jan. 4th
I walk on the street, wondering why this happened. I could not believe only one top university gave me the interview. Nothing is important to me now after I finished this interview this afternoon. It is really a pleasure to find a 7-11 near the motel I am staying at. I bought purified water and some nuts as snacks. Tonight I would like to watch the old movie hands of the ripper despite tomorrow's interview is waiting. My boldness comes from my preparation and self-confidence.
It is afternoon as I arrive San Diego
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