Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Will be staying in a hostel with Hilda tomorrow. Hope it's alright. Not expecting much, but it's just for a few days. Good luck to us!
Anyway, the highlights of Seattle, Washington were:
- Getting lost and travelling to a community college instead of going to our wanted location in downtown (the bus driver was super nice, gave us a day pass which costs $4.50 when we only paid $2 meant for a single ride trip).
- Waterfront with the many piers of Seattle. Good view at every pier.
- Chinatown (but not much there, just ate dim sum). Met a sea of soccer fans who just came out of a soccer match with Seattle's Sounders F.C. playing (but lost).
- Seattle's Central Library with 10 floors.
- Seattle's Space Needle (didn't go up due to weather, was going to rain)
- Ivar's Acres of Clams brunch buffet! A very worthy USD$31.50 (including tax and tips). There was alaskan crabs, oysters, clam chowder, other fantastic food and dessert! We all ate till our stomachs were gonna explode and did not eat anything else for the rest of the day!
- Sacred Heart Catholic Church for Pentecost Day.
- Bill Spiedel's Underground History Tour of Seattle. Super fantastic tour with a humorous twist for USD$12. Really loved the tour and did not regret it! Funny stories which the tour guide shared.
- Smith Tower view of Seattle. Paid only USD$5, as compared to Space Needle's $17. ;)
- Qwest Field and Safeco Stadium. (The soccer match was held at Qwest Field)
- Wanted to go to the Klondike Gold Rush Museum and Police Museum but they were closed early as it was Sunday.
- Pike's place Market with the flying fishes.
- First Starbucks in the World! Loads of Starbucks in Seattle though. I believe every block has one in Downtown Seattle. (oh and did I tell you that there's a free bus ride zone in Downtown Seattle where you don't have to pay anything?! shioks!)
- Fremont District with its Troll and street art and beautiful boutiques plus quaint little shops.
- Queen Anne District (here's where we walked for 45mins from Fremont up super steep slopes! Gosh! But they have really nice houses in the district). Went to Kerry Park with a fantastic view of Seattle and Mount Rainier.
- Shopping! But thank goodness I didn't buy anything. My luggage is seriously seriously on the verge of explosion.... =(
It has really been a good trip in Seattle. Hope the rest of the holidays will be this fantastic as well! Till San Francisco!
- Hello Seattle, Goodbye Seattle.
by snoopy_lim @ 3:44 PM
Friday, May 21, 2010
I really want to that ALL my friends here who have made this exchange such a memorable one. When I say friends, it refers to my Singaporean exchange friends, classmates, all the RPI students whom I've met and talked to, my lecturers, my church people (priest and the elderly as well) and everyone whom I've come into contact with.
The cutest professor I have! Dr. Joseph Warden. Teaches Theoretical Chem, a very very tough subject. He always has great introductions to the class. My favourite phrase from him: "Yeah, the squirrels have had a tough winter!"
My lab professor. He's very very nice! Kurt Wicks. Very generous with his marking of our lab reports as well! And caring to point out our mistakes during lab. =)
My very very very slack TAs for my other lab course (Experimental Chemistry IV). Kal and James. Labs are pretty casual here. No lab coats needed and you can even wear berms to lab (not advised though!) Lab reports can be handed in ANY time (as long as it's before the final deadline which is at the end of the semester).
The professor to Ex Chem IV, Dr. Ronald Bailey. He's really really mild tempered and nice. Formal lab reports are handed in to him, but can be handed in any time too. And he helps you correct them until you can get an "A" for the lab report.
Dr. Mark Platt. The professor who has been to Singapore and is very amazed that there's no chewing gum! A pretty young and cool professor (though classes are a little boring)... hehe I enjoy listening to his dry humour. ;)
Montse! Our friend from Spain, also here on exchange. =) There's another Spanish girl called Berta whom I didn't have a chance to take an individual photo with. I managed to meet Montse on the last day before she flew because there was a fire alarm in the Union! If not, I would have missed her....
This is Rhiannon, a friend from my Theoretical Chem and Ex Chem IV class. Really glad to have met her and another guy named Sonny. If not, I would be so totally lost in Theoretical Chem (which I still am actually) and wouldn't have gotten that surprising A-!
This is probably my favourite hangout in RPI. The C+CC. It's actually a church, but other religions use this place as well (very seldom). This is the place where I am very moved and I have grown spiritually so so much through this exchange. Had such a fulfilling Lent and Easter experience!
And the only priest in University Parish Christ Sun of Justice, Father Ed Karceguis! I really really love his homilies and he is such a nice Father! It is really hard to run and manage a parish on your own, but Fr Ed (also known as Fred) has done a fantastically good job. I cried when I said goodbye to him when I went for my last weekday Mass here earlier in the afternoon. I will really really miss the church here and Fr Ed a lot! Take care!
This is my bed in my room! I totally love the comforter. It is just so comfortable (as the name suggests) and it has truly kept me warm through winter. I love my little room and will miss it so so much!
My last time sitting on the slope behind the library which overlooks Downtown Troy. You can just see the sadness in my eyes.... I will really miss the beautiful surroundings and the people here. The squirrels, the friendly bus drivers, the caring people in church, the nerdy and cool students of RPI and all that is in and around Troy and RPI. It has been a great 4 months here! Goodbye Troy and RPI.... - Goodbye Troy and RPI!
by snoopy_lim @ 11:40 AM
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
I totally can't believe it's the last day of lessons today in RPI. It also wraps up my semester here in the United States. I just can't believe how fast time flew by....
I've really met many people and many things here in Troy. I do feel kind of sad that I have to leave this place in about 10 days time. AAAAaaaaawwwwwww, why does time pass so fast when you're enjoying yourself?
Took some photos with some profs and TAs. Will be posting them up real soon when I gather most of the pictures taken with the different profs who taught me. Look out for them!
- Last day of lessons in RPI
by snoopy_lim @ 8:35 AM
Thursday, May 6, 2010
I'm in a very contradictory mood right now. For one, I can't wait till the end of my exams on the 19th of May. Then it'll be travelling with buddy Hilz. And I'll be back in Singapore with my beloved family and friends plus all the delicious food. Yet, on the other, I don't want to leave here. I don't wanna leave my professors and lecturers, the beautiful environment, the cosy church, the cute little squirrels, the peacefulness of day.... I really don't.... =(
I hate it when someone eats up my stuff.... =( I really hate it.... Damn. Recently, I just bought a pint of Ben & Jerry's new ice cream flavour, Milk and Cookies. I tried it and I really love it. I'm the kind of person who will savour things slowly when I like something, slowly savouring it with a few mouthfuls everyday. BUT, yesterday, some friends came over to my house. My friend requested to try it, and I agreed. I can still remember her saying, "Just a little bit." Yet, when I went to check the pint in the freezer last nite (while they were eating, I was doing some work), there was only one pathetic bit left, pathetic to the point that I can see the bottom of the tub.... plus, you can even see the melted-and-refrozen-parts.... From a 3/4 full pint to almost nothing left.
My friend said that everyone just ate a mouthful, but there was this idiotic housemate of ours, who just sat there eating... She is the same person who has been secretly devouring some of our food (the one who doesn't share our groceries as well). We find our butter missing, my friend's cornflakes depleting at an alarming rate, even my friend's shampoo.... As the chinese saying goes:日防夜防，家贼难防. How true it is that no matter how you try to protect your property, the thief could be coming from within the house.
I am really upset because I bought this pint at the Albany walmart supercenter which requires a car to get to, and for the nearest place to our house that sells B&J ice cream, the price has gone up! Plus I really really love that flavour and intended to keep it and savour it for a week. FREAKING HELL!!!!!!!!!!! BLEAH!!! I seriously damn upset....
Bah. On a lighter note, something in my email cheered me up yesterday. I received an email from Dr Vesa, my Minor in entre professor. He gave me feedback on the EN105B report I submitted during my Spring Break, saying he really enjoyed reading it. An email all the way from Europe (he has resigned from his position in NTU, although he's still marking our reports). =) He made my day amidst the sadness of my lost B&J ice cream.... Thanks Dr Vesa.
It's really pretty now that Spring is in full force here. If you look at my FB photos, you can see a few pictures of the pretty environment which we have been taking recently. It's sad though that my last week of lessons here has to be spent mugging for most of the time. Damn. But I am trying to fully appreciate and treasure the moments which I still have here. AAAaaawwwwwwwwwww, can someone please slow down time??
Oh and can someone please tell me why am I so addicted to eBay (although not so much recently)? I have bought a few things from there and my luggage is so full already! Someone please just tie me up! Shopping online is seriously addictive. So is playing games. So is relaxing. So is eating B&J ice cream.... ARGH! I want my Milk and Cookies!!! (As you can see, I still haven't gotten over it yet. It's kind of like an accumulated anger + sadness) =(
Please let the time freeze....
- It's ALREADY MAY????
by snoopy_lim @ 11:21 AM