We came back to Peking University a week ago. Before that, we had a week filled with shopping and packing and of course saying goodbye to everyone.
I replay what I have experienced this summer in my mind.
I remember the first day we arrived, tired but definitly excited and curious.
I remember the first meal we had in the US was Chinese food, and so were the second and the third meals.
I remember the first time I went to my lab and met my advisor, nervous but pleasant. I remember my first Meijer trip alone, stunned by the fact that I have to walk twenty min with two heavy bags all by myself and kept complaining about the car dominant country.
I remember the first and the last movie experience at showcase, Harry Potter!
I remember the volleyball time with other REU students, we were a great team~
I remember the taste of ice cream made with liquid nitrogen, of course!
I remember the first Chinese meal we made by ourselves.
I remember the first movie I made by myself of the beta hairpin in my project.
I remember the first poster of mine and the first "international" joint meeting!
...
I remember them now and will still remember them for a long time.
Summer 2007, thank you.
It is the end of this summer, but it is also the start of a fresh year!
9/06/2007
8/15/2007
Insane
I am insane last night for deciding to spend the night in my lab!
I always think about sleep in my lab but every time I think it is insane and so give up. Come on, there is a comfortable couch!
And last night, coming back from the celebration party for the succesful defense of a graduate student in my lab, with a little nerve from the wine, I made up my mind: I am going to sleep in my lab tonight!
Waken up several times in the night because of cold, I was dizzy and forgot my way in the morning. Trying really hard, I find out where I am and decided to go out for a run. Struggling to my feet, I felt pains here and there in my body. Anyway, I went out to run a short time and my head "hit" the grass in the lawn and I fell asleep!
When I came back to my lab, there is still no one there. And a few minutes later, my mentor came and I am sure he must be surprised since I never came to the lab earier than him like today... haha
I always think about sleep in my lab but every time I think it is insane and so give up. Come on, there is a comfortable couch!
And last night, coming back from the celebration party for the succesful defense of a graduate student in my lab, with a little nerve from the wine, I made up my mind: I am going to sleep in my lab tonight!
Waken up several times in the night because of cold, I was dizzy and forgot my way in the morning. Trying really hard, I find out where I am and decided to go out for a run. Struggling to my feet, I felt pains here and there in my body. Anyway, I went out to run a short time and my head "hit" the grass in the lawn and I fell asleep!
When I came back to my lab, there is still no one there. And a few minutes later, my mentor came and I am sure he must be surprised since I never came to the lab earier than him like today... haha
8/13/2007
Chicago, Hi & Bye (4) --- These and Those
When I sat in the train took me back to Ann Arbor, I still did not relieve, still worry about whether I am in the right train (actually, I did get in a wrong carriage but in the right train ) or whether miss something. With a short time but a big ambitions, I had made a tense, really tense plan:
arrive at about 5 pm the first day and then have a simple dinner
1. the art insititude for free tour to nine o'clock.
2. explore and wonder in the Michigan Ave and go to the music fountain.
3. have formal dinner in some restaurant in the Michigan Ave
4. Check in hostel and get some sleep.
the second day:
1. get up and have breakfast
2. the Grant Park and its neighbour
3. Chicago river
4. Navy Pier, rant a bike and have a tour
5. the beach of Michigan lake
6. have lunch in signiture room on 95th story of the John Hancock Observatory
7. the Field Museum
After a really rush hour, we made all these! However, if let me to plan again, I would not be so greedy and wish to get a relaxation, after all, that is what tourism means.
And we had some troubles too. The short of battery and memory card of the camera really freak us out and made us breathless. It is unacceptable for us not to take photos in such a wonderful tour. That makes me think again, we pay too much attentions to the photos that we nearly lose the chance to enjoy ourself!
arrive at about 5 pm the first day and then have a simple dinner
1. the art insititude for free tour to nine o'clock.
2. explore and wonder in the Michigan Ave and go to the music fountain.
3. have formal dinner in some restaurant in the Michigan Ave
4. Check in hostel and get some sleep.
the second day:
1. get up and have breakfast
2. the Grant Park and its neighbour
3. Chicago river
4. Navy Pier, rant a bike and have a tour
5. the beach of Michigan lake
6. have lunch in signiture room on 95th story of the John Hancock Observatory
7. the Field Museum
After a really rush hour, we made all these! However, if let me to plan again, I would not be so greedy and wish to get a relaxation, after all, that is what tourism means.
And we had some troubles too. The short of battery and memory card of the camera really freak us out and made us breathless. It is unacceptable for us not to take photos in such a wonderful tour. That makes me think again, we pay too much attentions to the photos that we nearly lose the chance to enjoy ourself!
Chicago, Hi & Bye (3) --- Museum
An undeniable famous part of Chicago is its many world-class museum, from art to science.
We first went to the Art institude of Chicago because there is a free night on Friday ^_^
Although I am not a "art" person, I don't know much about art, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate art! After nearly two hours wandering in this big collection of art, I am a little lost and so tired. I began to think is it really a good idea to assemble so many great art masterpiece together? At least for viewer, the answer may be no. Let alone the visual fatigue brought by watching so many works at one time, it is not fair for many works since they cannot get the fully appreciation and respect they deserve when showed with so many other great pieces together. And it may also increase the risk for storage, once something like fire or other distroy happans, it will be a disaster for the whole world. During the tour, someone works there told us the story of one of the most valuable pieces in the museum which came from France. she was so pride of the museum for having bought it at a low price when the France didn't notice the value of it and refusing to sell it back to France after ten years at a very high price. I do feel happy for her but I don't agree to her. The painting should be in its own place, its own country where it was created and only where it can emit its charm and magic completely.
We also have a glance at the museum of contemporary art, it is really comfusing...
Now comes my favorate, the Field Museum of Nature History. It is so pity that we only got one and half an hour! Just show some photos here:
We first went to the Art institude of Chicago because there is a free night on Friday ^_^
Although I am not a "art" person, I don't know much about art, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate art! After nearly two hours wandering in this big collection of art, I am a little lost and so tired. I began to think is it really a good idea to assemble so many great art masterpiece together? At least for viewer, the answer may be no. Let alone the visual fatigue brought by watching so many works at one time, it is not fair for many works since they cannot get the fully appreciation and respect they deserve when showed with so many other great pieces together. And it may also increase the risk for storage, once something like fire or other distroy happans, it will be a disaster for the whole world. During the tour, someone works there told us the story of one of the most valuable pieces in the museum which came from France. she was so pride of the museum for having bought it at a low price when the France didn't notice the value of it and refusing to sell it back to France after ten years at a very high price. I do feel happy for her but I don't agree to her. The painting should be in its own place, its own country where it was created and only where it can emit its charm and magic completely.
We also have a glance at the museum of contemporary art, it is really comfusing...
Now comes my favorate, the Field Museum of Nature History. It is so pity that we only got one and half an hour! Just show some photos here:
Chicago, Hi & Bye (2) --- City view
Before the trip, I got an imagination of myself about what it is going to look like in the big city in the US. I have imagined the tall buildings side by side standing so near in front of us and taking our breath away, I have imagined the hurry and wave of crowd running after their destination and the fast life pace and I also have imagined the high rate of crime. All of these are partly proved to be true. I saw the most tallest building ever in my life and in such a unbelievable density:
And the people do walk realy fast:
And I have heard more three times of the beeping of police car or emergency car.
So I may think that living in a city like this is scary and uncomfortable at all.
However, what I saw which is what I haven't and cannot imagine is a beautifully and comfortablly agree between the nature and the city. We can see the birds flying in the forest of buildings and so many parks around us, entertaining us.
Water, yes, water, that is the impressive view Chicago left to me. Not to say the great Michigan Lake, the Chicago River, the Fountain has already made me forget every unhappiness. Just take a day off and lie on the beach of the Lake and there is nothing more relaxing than that. What supprised is that the lake and the river are in such a fitness with the whole city or we can say the whole city is so harmonic to them. The sound of water, cars, laughters all came together to my ears and doesn't become noise but a symphony instead. It is really amazing.
And the city got something knocking our minds out, some fancy staff as well:
Maybe not very clearly, can you see the small box after the bike? There is a baby in it! I've never seen someone carrying their babies like that! And please look carefully, there is not a single car at all in the most busiest street! That is the red light, hehe
We have seen many luxious cars like this one in Chicago. But what I want you to see is the motorcycle on the up right of the photo. It is because the speed of the motorcycle that makes these two fancy lines. There is a competation of motorcycle that night, I think, it is really cool!
A really interesting thing. You can see the whole view and yourself as well in this mirror-like thing.
And there are still a lot of interesting staff we have seen or wait us to see next time. We really had a great time in this fantastic city, attracted by its harmony, its amazing view, sound and smell.
And the people do walk realy fast:
And I have heard more three times of the beeping of police car or emergency car.
So I may think that living in a city like this is scary and uncomfortable at all.
However, what I saw which is what I haven't and cannot imagine is a beautifully and comfortablly agree between the nature and the city. We can see the birds flying in the forest of buildings and so many parks around us, entertaining us.
Water, yes, water, that is the impressive view Chicago left to me. Not to say the great Michigan Lake, the Chicago River, the Fountain has already made me forget every unhappiness. Just take a day off and lie on the beach of the Lake and there is nothing more relaxing than that. What supprised is that the lake and the river are in such a fitness with the whole city or we can say the whole city is so harmonic to them. The sound of water, cars, laughters all came together to my ears and doesn't become noise but a symphony instead. It is really amazing.
And the city got something knocking our minds out, some fancy staff as well:
Maybe not very clearly, can you see the small box after the bike? There is a baby in it! I've never seen someone carrying their babies like that! And please look carefully, there is not a single car at all in the most busiest street! That is the red light, hehe
We have seen many luxious cars like this one in Chicago. But what I want you to see is the motorcycle on the up right of the photo. It is because the speed of the motorcycle that makes these two fancy lines. There is a competation of motorcycle that night, I think, it is really cool!
A really interesting thing. You can see the whole view and yourself as well in this mirror-like thing.
And there are still a lot of interesting staff we have seen or wait us to see next time. We really had a great time in this fantastic city, attracted by its harmony, its amazing view, sound and smell.
Chicago, Hi & Bye (1) --- Before the trip
Actually, I have been "dreaming" for the trip for a long time but for the reason of no place to stay at night I put it down. Only until one day a friend of mine here happened to talk about the hostel she has spent a night at that I can take the dream into realty to consideration finally.
So, first I want to talk about the hostel. It is like a place specially provided to the young travellers who don't have much money and willing to share a room with others to make friends with each other. That is the idea. At first, I was a little worried about the condition of the room and roommates. However, when I check in there is no anxiety any more. Here are some photos I took in my room:
the apartment contains four sleeping rooms each can hold two people and a rest room a shower room and also a living room for commen use. Very clean, convenient and comfortable. This is the view of my sleeping room:
So, basically hostel is a pretty good option for our students. And you can make reservation before your trip to make everything easy. Just type "hostel" and the destination in google you can find what you want : )
Now, talk about the transportation. I choose to take trains because the railway station locates in downtown which makes it much easier for our tour and it is cheap and doesn't take a very long time, only four hours. Interestingly is the difference in the time zone between Chicago and Michigan. So according to that it took us three hours to go and five hours to come back.
I made a reservation on line (at Amtrak) first and picked up the tickets at the station.
For in the city, there are many options to take and all of them are very convenient. The subway in Chicago is very developed. However, we didn't get the chance to try it this time. Because the interests we want to visit this time are almost all in the downtown so we can just walk or take buses. There is a website helps you to make your travel plans by bus much easier:
www.yourcta.com
on the bus:
make sure to take the time for transport when planing your trip and leave some time for emergency please. We almost missed our train when we went back though we have left one hour for the time on road already. There always got something out of your plans however perfect it is. It is lucky of us to catch a taxi after running and looking for half an hour. One more thing: do not forget to give tips when you get out of a taxi. ^_^
Another tips: If you want to save money, you can have lunch in the signiture room of John Hancock Observatory without pay for the fee of tour. The view is almost the same and the lunch is not too expensive. Don't forget to make a reservation first.
Sorry for that some photos are not in the right way~
So, first I want to talk about the hostel. It is like a place specially provided to the young travellers who don't have much money and willing to share a room with others to make friends with each other. That is the idea. At first, I was a little worried about the condition of the room and roommates. However, when I check in there is no anxiety any more. Here are some photos I took in my room:
the apartment contains four sleeping rooms each can hold two people and a rest room a shower room and also a living room for commen use. Very clean, convenient and comfortable. This is the view of my sleeping room:
So, basically hostel is a pretty good option for our students. And you can make reservation before your trip to make everything easy. Just type "hostel" and the destination in google you can find what you want : )
Now, talk about the transportation. I choose to take trains because the railway station locates in downtown which makes it much easier for our tour and it is cheap and doesn't take a very long time, only four hours. Interestingly is the difference in the time zone between Chicago and Michigan. So according to that it took us three hours to go and five hours to come back.
I made a reservation on line (at Amtrak) first and picked up the tickets at the station.
For in the city, there are many options to take and all of them are very convenient. The subway in Chicago is very developed. However, we didn't get the chance to try it this time. Because the interests we want to visit this time are almost all in the downtown so we can just walk or take buses. There is a website helps you to make your travel plans by bus much easier:
www.yourcta.com
on the bus:
make sure to take the time for transport when planing your trip and leave some time for emergency please. We almost missed our train when we went back though we have left one hour for the time on road already. There always got something out of your plans however perfect it is. It is lucky of us to catch a taxi after running and looking for half an hour. One more thing: do not forget to give tips when you get out of a taxi. ^_^
Another tips: If you want to save money, you can have lunch in the signiture room of John Hancock Observatory without pay for the fee of tour. The view is almost the same and the lunch is not too expensive. Don't forget to make a reservation first.
Sorry for that some photos are not in the right way~
8/11/2007
Chicago, Hi & Bye
It is such a short trip (only one day) that it looks like just say hi to Chicago and we have to say bye. However, we do have a wonderful and unforgetable experience in this modern big city!
8/09/2007
Joint Poster Session To-day!
We have our poster session today, and that's a international one, wuhu~
It is unbelievable to make this fatastic meeting actually happen. We use some technique looks like a video phone to have the view and sound from Peking University.
It is really nervious for me to give a presentation in English. I prepared for several days but still didn't do very well. My pronunciation and some toun really need to be improved. But it is a great experience for us to practise, to express, to communicate, and to experience of course.
Everyone made a great job. Doing research in a country totally strange and also the language problem block the communication. I think the three UM students undertook a harder time than us for the language. However, we all made to the final!
It is unbelievable to make this fatastic meeting actually happen. We use some technique looks like a video phone to have the view and sound from Peking University.
It is really nervious for me to give a presentation in English. I prepared for several days but still didn't do very well. My pronunciation and some toun really need to be improved. But it is a great experience for us to practise, to express, to communicate, and to experience of course.
Everyone made a great job. Doing research in a country totally strange and also the language problem block the communication. I think the three UM students undertook a harder time than us for the language. However, we all made to the final!
8/03/2007
Poster Session of others
I "sneaked" into the bus and went to the poster session of REU students today. Because I didn't do any poster, it is more like a sneaking rather than something decent : )
It is pretty far and it is out of Michigan. So I have been to more than one state of the United State now, cool!
I really like the idea of poster! It makes students comunicate and learn more out of their own field. I have never done something like that before but I wish I can make it next week. Every poster is dedicated with a lot of effort and you can get further information from the author just beside it and ask and express as well. I have seen a lot of interesting poster today and some are even so beyond my understanding which excited me actually. There is one guy doing sythesis with enzyme and almost all the words in title knocked my mind out. However, with his explanation I am familiar with those words now. And there is another guy who also opened my mind with the idea of eject the DNA. It is an amazing experience to meet and talk to these students who have achived a great job during this summer and surprised me by their professional and confidence.
In the presentation part, I was even more surprised. How did they manage to make it so brilliant and without any mistake in their speech, fluent, clear and with humor. So impressive. I saw the huge distance between them and us which makes me anxious and nervous.
A little interlude. They provided us with liquid nitrogen to make icecream! Genius!
It is pretty far and it is out of Michigan. So I have been to more than one state of the United State now, cool!
I really like the idea of poster! It makes students comunicate and learn more out of their own field. I have never done something like that before but I wish I can make it next week. Every poster is dedicated with a lot of effort and you can get further information from the author just beside it and ask and express as well. I have seen a lot of interesting poster today and some are even so beyond my understanding which excited me actually. There is one guy doing sythesis with enzyme and almost all the words in title knocked my mind out. However, with his explanation I am familiar with those words now. And there is another guy who also opened my mind with the idea of eject the DNA. It is an amazing experience to meet and talk to these students who have achived a great job during this summer and surprised me by their professional and confidence.
In the presentation part, I was even more surprised. How did they manage to make it so brilliant and without any mistake in their speech, fluent, clear and with humor. So impressive. I saw the huge distance between them and us which makes me anxious and nervous.
A little interlude. They provided us with liquid nitrogen to make icecream! Genius!
7/30/2007
Lunch with Professor Coppola
It is always a great pleasure to talk with someone who knows so much and can hold your attention so long, who widens your views and makes you think. Happily and luckily, we get the chance to have lunch with professor Coppola today. Of course, he is the "someone" I just mentioned.
We went to his office first. Wa! It is unbelievable and really amazing. So many collections about China. There is even a piece from Han dynasty. I was supprised by the fact he knows a lot things about China that I never heard before! Definitely, I spent a much longer time in my own country than him as well as a lot of foreigners who travle to China, however, they always have been to more places than us and know a lot things we don't know. Why will something like that happen? Sometime, it is a shame for us. There is a saying that there are always no beauties nearby (I paraphrase). It means that we cannot see the wonders and beauties from the things we see everyday or we will not take it a big deal if we can get it easily. Having been in Beijing for two years, I haven't been to Yuanmingyuan Park, haven't seen the red leaves on Xiangshan; as a student of Peking University, I haven't been to the old building Honglou; actually, I haven't even gone through to every corner of our school let alone the old building remains. We think, we have a lot of time and chances to visit, to appreciate and to enjoy; we think, they are just commen things not worth our attention. Then, the day comes when we have to leave the campus, the day manifests itself when others know our country better than we do. I am a Pkuer, I don't want to leave Peking University without knowing its history, without feeling its breath, wituhout touching every corner of its stature. Similarily, I am Chinese, I want to know my own ancestors, feel the history, appreciate the beauties. The fact that you see it everyday or you can see it at any time you want doesn't makes "the place nearby" worthless, contrarily, that makes it more precious because you never know when you gonna lose it. So cherish it, now!
During the lunch, we asked professor about the application for graduate school and he also explain how the undergraduate education carried out in UM. It is really impressive and mind-blowing.
Firstly, about the attitude of top students. Back in my school, we students take the grades so serious and think it is very important for applications. Then bang! He told us they treat the students from our schools more or less the same. We can vary in our grades in our own school, but put us in China, we are all the top. And at that high level, it is hard to tell who is the best, the first one does not certainly promise a more outstanding future than the second or even the tenth. We always care so much about who is the number one, and the meaningless competition for it wastes a lot of our time and takes us to a wrong direction.
Secondly, about the rank of universities in the US. I know many students make their decision of application according to the rank, however, we never care or even try to know how the rank is made. Today, we were told that the rank is based on people's opinion. Even the opinions are from the chairmans of the department all over the country, it is not a valuable or even a reliable one. Moreover, what the rank gives is an average, it doesn't tell us the information about the individual professors. It is lucky for us to know the truth about the rank now, however, we are lost again. I think it not for no reason that people take the rank into count, it is because we have so little information about the school, about the professors, sometimes, the rank is the only thing we can look at when we make our decisions. The situation is pretty hard for us, we are searching our future in nowhere. So an experience like us is very useful and important! It opens our eyes and builds the connections between the professors in individule and us which makes the information transfering possible and much easier. Just today, I got some information about the professors here for one of my friends who will apply for graduate school this year.
Then we talked about the undergraduate education. Independence and creative are the most impresive characters I feel about the students I met here. And I think the latter one cannot happen without the first one being guaranteed. To be creative, you have to think independently first. The education system here leave the space for students' creativity and even at the cost of less knowledge.
One thing is that the "job" here is done by project, in laboratory as well in classes. The best part of project is that it is a whole thing, with beginning and end, theoretically. So one has to understand the whole thing to make to the end and each project is a unit relatively independent and systematically. Take me for example. I never do anything about simulation before, let alone molecular dynamics. Then I came here, with fear of ignorance. I am so frustrated the first few days, sitting in front of my compter, trying to figure out what is going on. And my mentor gave me a project, not for research, but for tutorial. With the system I start my journey. I first make clear what I am going to do and what I need to know to get the thing I want. Then I search, I ask, I read, I try. Step by step, now I've got a movie of molecure! It is true that you don't need to know everything, just know what you need and where you can find it. A project leads you through the learning. UM students conquered projects after profects and reach their graduation. They maybe don't know as much as we do, but they can do much more than us with the independence and confidence as "naive courage".
Another difference is the content of the project. They just give the students something no one knows the results or even the future. There is no right or wrong, only reasonable or unreasonable. They can try as what they think. Independence comes from freedom. That is the one thing our system lack, freedom. For us, everyone does the same experimet and even the same as the students many years before us. We know what is a good result and everyone pursues it. We have to follow the traditional ways to do it because that is the way leads us to a good result and a good grade. Creative? That costs too much risk whick is beyond our bearing and out of our consideration. So, gradually we are used to follow and lose the creativity as well as independence.
And we value grades very much. To some extend, I think the education system in China is not only for educationg students but also for selecting. A lot of things are related to the grades: the fellowship, the honor and even the way people treat you. Most important is the future, far as the job and the life standard, near as the offer we get after graduation, which I know now is not so important as we thought. So our classes are designed in a way that they can evaluate us. That is the reason!
A lot thougts are still flying out of my mind but I cannot continue anymore. Save for next time ...
We went to his office first. Wa! It is unbelievable and really amazing. So many collections about China. There is even a piece from Han dynasty. I was supprised by the fact he knows a lot things about China that I never heard before! Definitely, I spent a much longer time in my own country than him as well as a lot of foreigners who travle to China, however, they always have been to more places than us and know a lot things we don't know. Why will something like that happen? Sometime, it is a shame for us. There is a saying that there are always no beauties nearby (I paraphrase). It means that we cannot see the wonders and beauties from the things we see everyday or we will not take it a big deal if we can get it easily. Having been in Beijing for two years, I haven't been to Yuanmingyuan Park, haven't seen the red leaves on Xiangshan; as a student of Peking University, I haven't been to the old building Honglou; actually, I haven't even gone through to every corner of our school let alone the old building remains. We think, we have a lot of time and chances to visit, to appreciate and to enjoy; we think, they are just commen things not worth our attention. Then, the day comes when we have to leave the campus, the day manifests itself when others know our country better than we do. I am a Pkuer, I don't want to leave Peking University without knowing its history, without feeling its breath, wituhout touching every corner of its stature. Similarily, I am Chinese, I want to know my own ancestors, feel the history, appreciate the beauties. The fact that you see it everyday or you can see it at any time you want doesn't makes "the place nearby" worthless, contrarily, that makes it more precious because you never know when you gonna lose it. So cherish it, now!
During the lunch, we asked professor about the application for graduate school and he also explain how the undergraduate education carried out in UM. It is really impressive and mind-blowing.
Firstly, about the attitude of top students. Back in my school, we students take the grades so serious and think it is very important for applications. Then bang! He told us they treat the students from our schools more or less the same. We can vary in our grades in our own school, but put us in China, we are all the top. And at that high level, it is hard to tell who is the best, the first one does not certainly promise a more outstanding future than the second or even the tenth. We always care so much about who is the number one, and the meaningless competition for it wastes a lot of our time and takes us to a wrong direction.
Secondly, about the rank of universities in the US. I know many students make their decision of application according to the rank, however, we never care or even try to know how the rank is made. Today, we were told that the rank is based on people's opinion. Even the opinions are from the chairmans of the department all over the country, it is not a valuable or even a reliable one. Moreover, what the rank gives is an average, it doesn't tell us the information about the individual professors. It is lucky for us to know the truth about the rank now, however, we are lost again. I think it not for no reason that people take the rank into count, it is because we have so little information about the school, about the professors, sometimes, the rank is the only thing we can look at when we make our decisions. The situation is pretty hard for us, we are searching our future in nowhere. So an experience like us is very useful and important! It opens our eyes and builds the connections between the professors in individule and us which makes the information transfering possible and much easier. Just today, I got some information about the professors here for one of my friends who will apply for graduate school this year.
Then we talked about the undergraduate education. Independence and creative are the most impresive characters I feel about the students I met here. And I think the latter one cannot happen without the first one being guaranteed. To be creative, you have to think independently first. The education system here leave the space for students' creativity and even at the cost of less knowledge.
One thing is that the "job" here is done by project, in laboratory as well in classes. The best part of project is that it is a whole thing, with beginning and end, theoretically. So one has to understand the whole thing to make to the end and each project is a unit relatively independent and systematically. Take me for example. I never do anything about simulation before, let alone molecular dynamics. Then I came here, with fear of ignorance. I am so frustrated the first few days, sitting in front of my compter, trying to figure out what is going on. And my mentor gave me a project, not for research, but for tutorial. With the system I start my journey. I first make clear what I am going to do and what I need to know to get the thing I want. Then I search, I ask, I read, I try. Step by step, now I've got a movie of molecure! It is true that you don't need to know everything, just know what you need and where you can find it. A project leads you through the learning. UM students conquered projects after profects and reach their graduation. They maybe don't know as much as we do, but they can do much more than us with the independence and confidence as "naive courage".
Another difference is the content of the project. They just give the students something no one knows the results or even the future. There is no right or wrong, only reasonable or unreasonable. They can try as what they think. Independence comes from freedom. That is the one thing our system lack, freedom. For us, everyone does the same experimet and even the same as the students many years before us. We know what is a good result and everyone pursues it. We have to follow the traditional ways to do it because that is the way leads us to a good result and a good grade. Creative? That costs too much risk whick is beyond our bearing and out of our consideration. So, gradually we are used to follow and lose the creativity as well as independence.
And we value grades very much. To some extend, I think the education system in China is not only for educationg students but also for selecting. A lot of things are related to the grades: the fellowship, the honor and even the way people treat you. Most important is the future, far as the job and the life standard, near as the offer we get after graduation, which I know now is not so important as we thought. So our classes are designed in a way that they can evaluate us. That is the reason!
A lot thougts are still flying out of my mind but I cannot continue anymore. Save for next time ...
7/22/2007
Harry Potter Mid-night
July 21th, 0:00
We were waiting, with thousands of people standing and excited, in the bookstore Borders. With the time coming, we count "3, 2, 1!", as if waiting for the New Year. It is the magic!
I like Harry Potter, the story, the world J. K. Rowling builds for us. And I found not only me, so many people from different countries, speak different language, with different culture and backgroud also like it and crazy for it! When Katie asked me if I want to go to the mid-night party of Harry Potter with her, I answered without doult at all: of course! Not for the reason that I like it and want to read it at first, but also for the reason that I want to feel the tide of Harry-fun here in America and make myself melt into it.
We went to the Party at 9 pm and found the store was full of people already, adults as well as kids. We first played chess which was my first time. Then we walked around. There were a lot of people dressed in the characters in the book, Harry, Hermonie, Luna and so on. Just look like a assembly of wizards. And there were also many activities about the book and magic! I tried the face painting. A lot of people would like a scar to appear on their faces just like Harry Potter, however, I choosed a posion instead of a scar because I knew I will never become Harry.
As the time came, we were all very excited, but the problem is we cannot get the book at the same time! I was very curious about how the bookstore solve this problem and how Americans would behave under this situation. When we check in, everyone got a belt with different color, and it is the color which separate us into different groups that dicided the order to get the book. The work people in the bookstore tried to organize us and keep everything in order. They first moved the color in low rank upstairs and asked us to wait patiently because it is the only way for everyone to get our books quickiest. Half an hour later, we still hadn't got our books. We were tired and upset, some were a little angry and complains spreaded out slowly, but no one actully stood out to object or took act. finally, it was our turn, we were happy but also a little regret: if know how the store make it, we can come tomorrow...
On the way home, I walked alone in the late night. The city wasn't sleep yet. Three guys stand by the street, talking. I passed by and suddenly, they turned to me and said something. I don't know why I was so composed and just walked on as if nothing happened. I was not scared at all and I got home later, still felt unbelievable. Maybe it is because I was sure that nothing would happen to me. Luckily, and interesting experience, isn't it?
We were waiting, with thousands of people standing and excited, in the bookstore Borders. With the time coming, we count "3, 2, 1!", as if waiting for the New Year. It is the magic!
I like Harry Potter, the story, the world J. K. Rowling builds for us. And I found not only me, so many people from different countries, speak different language, with different culture and backgroud also like it and crazy for it! When Katie asked me if I want to go to the mid-night party of Harry Potter with her, I answered without doult at all: of course! Not for the reason that I like it and want to read it at first, but also for the reason that I want to feel the tide of Harry-fun here in America and make myself melt into it.
We went to the Party at 9 pm and found the store was full of people already, adults as well as kids. We first played chess which was my first time. Then we walked around. There were a lot of people dressed in the characters in the book, Harry, Hermonie, Luna and so on. Just look like a assembly of wizards. And there were also many activities about the book and magic! I tried the face painting. A lot of people would like a scar to appear on their faces just like Harry Potter, however, I choosed a posion instead of a scar because I knew I will never become Harry.
As the time came, we were all very excited, but the problem is we cannot get the book at the same time! I was very curious about how the bookstore solve this problem and how Americans would behave under this situation. When we check in, everyone got a belt with different color, and it is the color which separate us into different groups that dicided the order to get the book. The work people in the bookstore tried to organize us and keep everything in order. They first moved the color in low rank upstairs and asked us to wait patiently because it is the only way for everyone to get our books quickiest. Half an hour later, we still hadn't got our books. We were tired and upset, some were a little angry and complains spreaded out slowly, but no one actully stood out to object or took act. finally, it was our turn, we were happy but also a little regret: if know how the store make it, we can come tomorrow...
On the way home, I walked alone in the late night. The city wasn't sleep yet. Three guys stand by the street, talking. I passed by and suddenly, they turned to me and said something. I don't know why I was so composed and just walked on as if nothing happened. I was not scared at all and I got home later, still felt unbelievable. Maybe it is because I was sure that nothing would happen to me. Luckily, and interesting experience, isn't it?
7/15/2007
First time Meijer by myself!
It is so different to buy stuff here!
It is so hard for us to fing a store to buy stuff not so far from where we live. We have to go to the super market which is half an hour's driving from Oxford housing. I think it is because people here all have cars and it is convinent for them to go shoping once a week in a far away place. However, the situation is hard for us. Luckily, we get buses!
The bus system here is very developed. One can find the route's map and schedule on the webside easily. And the buses keep time very well. I took route 6 today which can send me to the mall as well as to the super market Meijer. By the way, there is a big cinema called showcase just near Meijer, and one can buy tickets of discount with a M card. However, the route 6 goes as far as the Michigan Union which is still 15 min' walk to Oxford housing.
You can buy almost everything in Meijer. Weiwang has bought stuff to cook there the other day and we cooked with a lot of fun yesterday. What is the most interesting is that we can scan the items we buy ourselves! I never done or even seen that before! I was wondering what if someone forgets or fail to scan some items? And the system relies a lot on the self-control of people. I think a self-scan machine in China may encount some unexpectable difficulties.
Something unforgetable happened on my way back to Oxford. I bought so many things that I can hardly move them by myself. When I was just wondering how I can make to Oxford, two guys showed up and asked me if I need help. They are college students but are now serving the church for two years. I cannot imagine what I am going to do if I haven't met these two guys. They help me with the heavy bags all the way home and left a small book about the christ when we say goodbye. What an amazing experince!
It is so hard for us to fing a store to buy stuff not so far from where we live. We have to go to the super market which is half an hour's driving from Oxford housing. I think it is because people here all have cars and it is convinent for them to go shoping once a week in a far away place. However, the situation is hard for us. Luckily, we get buses!
The bus system here is very developed. One can find the route's map and schedule on the webside easily. And the buses keep time very well. I took route 6 today which can send me to the mall as well as to the super market Meijer. By the way, there is a big cinema called showcase just near Meijer, and one can buy tickets of discount with a M card. However, the route 6 goes as far as the Michigan Union which is still 15 min' walk to Oxford housing.
You can buy almost everything in Meijer. Weiwang has bought stuff to cook there the other day and we cooked with a lot of fun yesterday. What is the most interesting is that we can scan the items we buy ourselves! I never done or even seen that before! I was wondering what if someone forgets or fail to scan some items? And the system relies a lot on the self-control of people. I think a self-scan machine in China may encount some unexpectable difficulties.
Something unforgetable happened on my way back to Oxford. I bought so many things that I can hardly move them by myself. When I was just wondering how I can make to Oxford, two guys showed up and asked me if I need help. They are college students but are now serving the church for two years. I cannot imagine what I am going to do if I haven't met these two guys. They help me with the heavy bags all the way home and left a small book about the christ when we say goodbye. What an amazing experince!
7/10/2007
I got a project!
Actually, it is not a formal one yet, but I do have something to do now. I have new account and can run charmm on our main computer now.
It takes me a long time to get started with charmm. I am even a little frunstrated. After a day-long's trying and failing, finally, I can make a file valid. However, there still is a very long way to go. I will try my best to make it!
My project is very simple. It is about a bate hairpin of protain. What I need to do is to pull the structure to see its stability and make a movie of pulling maybe. The aim of the project is to get me familar with charmm and how the MD carried out. I look forward to getting a beatiful movie, hehe.
It takes me a long time to get started with charmm. I am even a little frunstrated. After a day-long's trying and failing, finally, I can make a file valid. However, there still is a very long way to go. I will try my best to make it!
My project is very simple. It is about a bate hairpin of protain. What I need to do is to pull the structure to see its stability and make a movie of pulling maybe. The aim of the project is to get me familar with charmm and how the MD carried out. I look forward to getting a beatiful movie, hehe.
7/09/2007
In the lab
For no reason, I cannot post blogs last few days. Finally, it works today~
I am in the lab now, I have a desk, a computer and a beautiful view:-)
Unfortunately, I haven't begin my project for the guy who is in charge of putting on my account in the system of my lab is on vacation. I am upset a little. But it is ok for I can have some reading to compensate my poor backgroud on computational chemistry and on charmm.
I hope the problem will be solved soon and I can start my project immidiately.
I am in the lab now, I have a desk, a computer and a beautiful view:-)
Unfortunately, I haven't begin my project for the guy who is in charge of putting on my account in the system of my lab is on vacation. I am upset a little. But it is ok for I can have some reading to compensate my poor backgroud on computational chemistry and on charmm.
I hope the problem will be solved soon and I can start my project immidiately.
7/04/2007
We are here!!!
Yeah~
After almost sixteen hours flight, finally, we are here!
Every thing is great! The apartment, the weather, and the view!
We have the first dinner here in a Chinese restaurant. And the second meal Chinese too, and the third meal Chinese again... We are kind of sick of American Chinese food now, for they really taste different and honestly not so good. Fortunately, we have an American food for the fourth meal in "bd", a buffet dinner of barbecue, it is great.
Happily for me, I order the new Harry Potter here and have planed to go to the midnight with our guaid Katie! I am so excited.
We also got our account yesterday and we can write a check to pay now, which I have never used before !
We went to Meijer, a big suppermarket, yesterday and bought a lot of stuff. And we bought the so-called "cereal" for our breakfast which we saw one guy lives with us have for breakfast yesterday morning. I hope I will like it~
We have dinner with the professors and our graduate student mentor yesterday. Everyone met their advisor or mentor except me! My advisor and mentor were not here and Prof. Coppola said humorously that I will have a lab to work with.
And there are some problems we have to work on. First of all, the languge. Althrough we can listen and speak, we can understand and be understand most of the time, we still run into trouble now and then because our incorrect pronunciation and poor vocabulary. However, I am confident that I can make progress to communicate fluently in a few days!
Ok, I like it so far and I am sure we will have a great time here~
Some photos we take:
the Oxford Housing we live in. Isn't it great?!
neighborhood
The house of the president of UM
6/28/2007
Some questions
I was asked to answer some questions about the program. I think that is important for not only the program, the potential participants, but also for myself. It makes me clear that why I am here and what I should do. Ok, get into the real business now:
(A) What are you looking forward to the most about your trip to the US?
For me, it should be the different experience ahead of me. I always like taking adventures and challenging myself to open me to the wider and enrich my perspectives. Special experiences hold special place in our life. What makes me excited is the trip itself!
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(B) What gives you anxiety, or makes you nervious, about participating in this program?
As I have said, this program is perfect for me, however, there is some anxiety, such as I am a little bit nervious about my research. I have never done MD before, so I am afraid to mass it up and become a trouble for people around me, my advisor especially. I will work hard to make through and have a great time anyway! Moreover, I give up for this program the chance to carry out my own research here in PKU on single molecure detection which was just began this semester . Yet, I think it is worthwhile for special experience means a lot to me. Finally, the English. Although I have studyed English for so many years here, I am not sure that I can communicate freely with the natives and escape to be overwhelmed in the sea of "foreign language". It is a challenge, and I just love to be challenged~ I think I can survive^_^
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(C) Not all of the students who expressed interest in the program actually applied. What was the most important thing about the program that actually made you DECIDE that you actually wanted to participate?
As said before, I value the special experience this program offers to us and what's more, the highlight of this program is that it is not about taking classes, it is about doing research. You know, for undergraduate students, especially freshman and sophomore, we focus mostly on our classes and do not many chances for doing scientific research. However, we need it badly. We want to see how work is done and develop our interest, our sensitivity on it. As a result, things get awkward and we end in anxiety about our future, depressed. All I want to say is that this program just comes out in time and fills in the gap for us. That is another important reason why I want to participate.
(A) What are you looking forward to the most about your trip to the US?
For me, it should be the different experience ahead of me. I always like taking adventures and challenging myself to open me to the wider and enrich my perspectives. Special experiences hold special place in our life. What makes me excited is the trip itself!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(B) What gives you anxiety, or makes you nervious, about participating in this program?
As I have said, this program is perfect for me, however, there is some anxiety, such as I am a little bit nervious about my research. I have never done MD before, so I am afraid to mass it up and become a trouble for people around me, my advisor especially. I will work hard to make through and have a great time anyway! Moreover, I give up for this program the chance to carry out my own research here in PKU on single molecure detection which was just began this semester . Yet, I think it is worthwhile for special experience means a lot to me. Finally, the English. Although I have studyed English for so many years here, I am not sure that I can communicate freely with the natives and escape to be overwhelmed in the sea of "foreign language". It is a challenge, and I just love to be challenged~ I think I can survive^_^
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(C) Not all of the students who expressed interest in the program actually applied. What was the most important thing about the program that actually made you DECIDE that you actually wanted to participate?
As said before, I value the special experience this program offers to us and what's more, the highlight of this program is that it is not about taking classes, it is about doing research. You know, for undergraduate students, especially freshman and sophomore, we focus mostly on our classes and do not many chances for doing scientific research. However, we need it badly. We want to see how work is done and develop our interest, our sensitivity on it. As a result, things get awkward and we end in anxiety about our future, depressed. All I want to say is that this program just comes out in time and fills in the gap for us. That is another important reason why I want to participate.
6/23/2007
Got started
Finally, I have my blog got started!
I named this blog as "Summer 2007" for the reason that this summer will absolutely become a special and remarkable time of my life. Luck as I am, I seize this great opportunity to spend this summer in another country and experience a different life.
I cannot wait to see it beginning.
So, let's start the journey!
I named this blog as "Summer 2007" for the reason that this summer will absolutely become a special and remarkable time of my life. Luck as I am, I seize this great opportunity to spend this summer in another country and experience a different life.
I cannot wait to see it beginning.
So, let's start the journey!
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