A season behind

I had been procrastinating till now. I finally uploaded my fall pictures taken in Baltimore county. I did not expect Maryland to be this scenic. Stretches of fenced up pastures reminded me of pictures in calendars of childhood days.

I am realising my dreams when young Paul wished he was there to ponder on the beauty of falls firsthand!

The pictures are available here.

No sign of snow yet

This winter has been a mild one. In fact, the temperature for one Saturday was 70 degree F (21 degree C). Highly unusual in winter. I was expecting snow by the time I got back from Singapore.

The weather forecast for this week is that there will be snow. My first in my entire life where I will upload pictures of snow-covered Baltimore.

Meanwhile, I am nursing myself to health from the flu bug, the common seasonal pest that comes with each winter.

Sneezing off

Baltimore City is like Gotham City

I had noticed choppers with spotlight flying around my area at night. They hovered way down low and the noise they created was annoying. I wondered what they were doing.

I got my answer on last Monday. Vladimir and I were taking a stroll at JHU Homewood Campus after a hearty dinner. When we parted, I first saw a black man running fast (definitely not in running gear but in polo t-shirt and jeans), followed by an officer chasing after him. I thought of helping the officer but I was thinking that was not a good idea. What if the suspect had a gun. I was not going to risk my life. As I reached the campus entrance, an empty patrol car was parked beside a bicycle which I suspected belonged to the suspect.

Moments later, a helicopter appeared and started flying around the vicinity. The helicopter served as an aerial surveillance of spotting the suspect. So like in Batman comics where they flashed the Batman sign when there was trouble, the choppers would be there to find crooks roaming the streets of Baltimore City.

Shifting out soon

My current lease with Broadview will end by 28 Feb 2007. They are raising the rent to $705 from $670, including only water and gas. Let me quote you a sentence which I found amusing "Management strives to keep costs at a minimum, but in order to maintain the high standard of living and service to which you've become accustomed, we find it necessary to increase rents at certain intervals". What nonsense! I am not buying this, so I am shifting out.

For the past two weeks, I had been looking for a place to rent for another year. I began sending out advertisement to the Chinese Association mailing list, asking around and searching the internet. A good website was http://baltimore.craigslist.org/ where I found several places. Some were located in an unsafe neighbourhood or the common area was messy where you had to share with five strangers for cheaper rents. Other considerations were the timing of shifting in, the number of housemates, duration of lease, proximity to workplace.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to rent a room from a 2 bedroom/2 bathroom condo unit at $650/mth which includes electricity, water, gas, cable TV, internet, local phone and private laundry. I have my own bathroom. My room looks out into the greenery and it has sunshine coming in. I cannot stand living in the basement where I cannot see the sun. As the landlord just bought the unit last July, everything is new. All I have to do is to bring my luggage and cooking items. The condo has tight security, a rooftop pool and gym facilities. Also, I will be a stone throw away from the shuttle stop where I go to work.

To conclude, I will give up my 'freedom' to share with someone whom I hope we can be great friends (instead of coming back to an empty apartment) and paying lower rent to maintain the high standard of living and service to which I've become accustomed.

PS: Those who want to bet on 4-digit system, try 1011 which is my new unit number.

A well written work on a taboo subject

Finished reading a book that is simply controversial. It sets the reader thinking what he would do regarding to his own body upon death (normal persons would have been buried or cremated).

Entitled "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" by Mary Roach who had done an excellent job detailing how to use the human corpse for worthy purposes other than rotting in the grave or be burnt at high temperature. Dead bodies have been used for practising surgery, targets of guns and ammunitions for developing body armour, and even medicinal uses?! To set the record straight, I do not mind donating my organs to save the lives of others but I am not willing to be experimented over my dead body.

I am reading two books simultaneously since one needs reflection and the other is a fiction. One of my favorite authors, Paulo Coelho shared his thoughts and reflections of life in "Like The Flowing River". This was a gift from Huibin who thought I might be bored at night and weekends with no good book to read. The other is "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown borrowed from the mini library at Broadview basement.

I Believe

On Jan 4, 2007, I received a happy news which I had been anticipating since I started my graduate studies on Jan 7, 2002. Thank you, Abba Father and all glories are yours! I could change my salutation title to Dr. from Mr. It was like a fairy tale came true.

From young, my nickname in Teochew was "Ah gong" (English translation would be stupid or slow). I had been teased for doing foolish things or be the butt of the jokes. Who could have thought that this ‘fool’ had climbed to the pinnacle of education and succeeded!

Embarking on this path had its ups and downs. The perks included acceptance of papers, paid oversea trips to conferences (which were dependent on supervisor’s fund) and one was paid to study as the term ‘professional student’ so aptly described. There were periods of self-doubts, frustration at failed experiments after repeating umpteen times, many nights spent at laboratory, rushing for publications and their revisions, etc.

This journey had taught me much, from perseverance to self-confidence. I thought organizing and writing a 40,000-word dissertation was impossible. I often experienced a writer’s block where I could stare at my laptop screen without writing or editing. It took me four years to submit my dissertation (22 Dec 2005) and another year to get conferred.

The usual thesis examination period was five months but mine took 11 months. I was unlucky to have chosen an irresponsible examiner who claimed after the grace period was over that he/she could submit a report two months later. During last year, I was working at Johns Hopkins University which requested for my Ph.D. degree where failure to produce the certificate could result in my termination after one year contract. Anger and anguish accompanied me through this dark period. My patience was severely tested. I requested for a change to a new examiner in mid August where I am grateful to him/her for submitting the report within two months!

D-day was on 3 Nov 2006 when I had to present my work to the public. Next, was the ‘grilling’ session where the examiners would ask questions pertaining to my work. I felt my brain was squeezed dry for 45 minutes. After the whole session was over, I was congratulated for passing the examination.

I dedicate my success to my beloved mum who had set an example for me to follow. Though she was illiterate, she worked hard through her hands to get me to where I am today. When I finally got my conferment letter, I can truly say, ‘I believe’ as in the song by Fantasia Barrino.

Have you ever reached a rainbow's end
And did you find your pot of gold
Ever catch a shooting star
And tell me how high did you soar
Ever felt like you were dreaming
Just to find that you're awake
And the magic that surrounds you
Can lift you up and guide you on your way

[Chorus:]
I can see it in the stars across the sky
Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before
Now I finally realize
You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive
And finally, I believe

When you look out in the distance
You see it never was that far
Heaven knows your existence
And leads you to be everything you are
There's a time for every soul to fly
It's in the eyes of every child
It's the hope, the love that saves the world
And, oh, we should never let it go

[Chorus]

I believe in the impossible
If I reach deep within my heart
Overcome any obstacle
Won't let this dream fall apart
See I strive to be the very best
Shine my light for all to see
Cause anything is possible
When you believe yeah.

Finally, I like to share with you two quotes which had kept me going while writing my thesis:

‘Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up.’
Thomas Edison

‘Man's mind stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions.’

Sri da Avabhas (Adi Da Samraj)

Happy 2007 to one and all!

After two months back home in Singapore, I flew back to USA on Dec 28, 2355hr on flight SQ026 via Frankfurt, Germany to John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY. A total of 24 flight hours. The stopover at Frankfurt allowed me to step foot on Europe continent for the first time. (I have a German friend who had been inviting me to visit him since 2002 but have not done that. I had made a mental note to visit him when I fly back home next time.) The waiting area was dull and cold as compared to the posh, carpeted and well-planned transit area of Changi Airport. There was only one gents room available for the big waiting area. So, better hold your bladder while waiting.

I entertained myself through the arduous journey watching five on-demand movies from over 70 channels and was well-hydrated from the frequent serving of fluids from the flight stewardesses. Food was good but I avoided alcohol since I lack alcohol dehydrogenase. Overall, the service was better than United Airlines which I took on my first trip to USA.

Upon touched down at 1000hr Dec 29, I decided to travel back to Baltimore instead of spending a few days sight-seeing New York City and counting down at Times Square. I had four luggage which contained mostly Singapore local pastes such as laska, mee rebus, mee siam, etc and souvenirs for colleagues and friends. Getting to the actual train station was a challenge since I only had a bit of information from a friend who suggested this route.

I travelled on the Manhattan Express to The Grand Central Terminal which unfortunately was not the station departing for Baltimore. It did looked like a grand dame and was packed with tourists and passengers. I had to navigate myself through the crowd with four heavy luggage, carrying them up and down staircases. This was the worse part of my mini-adventure for doing things last minute as was contrary to my usual "plan ahead mentality". After two transfers of the NY subway, I arrived at Penn Station, NY and bought a train ticket (USD$114) leaving in 15 minutes time. Since it was the holiday season, the price was high compared to the usual $60 range.

There was little time for me to get lunch and go to the restroom with my heavy luggage. So, I opted to go hungry not knowing that food was available on Amtrak train. After settling myself comfortably, I noticed commuters heading towards the front carriage and back with food and drinks. I bought a pizza (the first typical American food after a two-month period) and a can of root beer. I had to fight against the sleeping 'monster' in order not to miss my stop at Penn Station, Baltimore (FYI: there are lots of Penn Stations in USA, so better ask which state before you buy your ticket). Fero was kind to pick me up at the station and sent me to my apartment.

I knocked out at 7pm after 31 hours of travel and got up the next day adjusting to the 13-hour difference.

For this new year, my resolutions include getting back into shape, learning how to bake, getting my US driving license, travel as many states as possible, and publishing first and co-author papers.

Signing off with a new start.