我来西班牙马上就要满三星期了。因为我碰见了很多好人，因为我住在和工作的环境很舒心， 现在的我已经完全适应在这里的生活 我自己都不敢相信在过三个星期我就要回美国去面试。当时去西班牙的时候，我以为我要去一个很遥远的地方去很久很久，结果根本就不是这样子。我觉得来西班牙以后，我发现这个世界其实没有我想象的大。我很希望在我回美国之前开始做我的课题，不过这就要看这个课题需要的老鼠会不会按时的被运过来。
前几天当我和实验室的同事一起吃饭的时候（现在我用刀叉的方式已经跟他们一样了），他们其中一位说他以后可以定居在欧洲的任何国家，但绝对不会在美国。“我不能忍受美国的生活方式”。当时我就开始想，欧洲和美国生活方式那里不一样了？我在这里的同事工作时间也很久（早上9点到晚上6-7点）。到目前为止我发现在这里人们吃饭的时间不一样，让后大家每天都很开心，无忧无路的。我记得当我在麻省理工的时候，看见的大部分研究生（也有本科生啦）都是神色紧张，行走匆匆，独来独往，好像时间很少的感觉。但在这里，大家做事情都是不慌不忙的。然后从观察我的房东的家庭，我觉得在西班牙，家庭成员之间来往跟多。比如说我的房东的一岁半的小孙子几乎每天晚上都会过来（他已经认识我了，见我就说TAO, TAO。。。）另外有一点让我不解的是在西班牙酒真是想当便宜，跟牛奶的价格差不多。2-3欧元是一般的，如果优惠的还有少与一欧元的。可是为什么在新闻里听不到关于喝酒过多的警告。噢，我都忘提了，在我们吃饭的食堂，有一个售卖啤酒的机器，一瓶啤酒半个欧元。这个是我头一次看就自动啤酒售卖机。这是世间之大，无奇不有。
今天我从实验室回来的时候，经过一个咖啡店，买了一杯牛奶咖啡，一边喝一边读店里提供的报纸。这种感觉真是非常非常的好 ：）
Sunday, September 28, 2008
update on lab
Three days ago, I was finally able to see the results of one of my surgeries. It was a huge relieve to finally know that surgery worked. The goal of the surgery is to inject a thin needle into a small part of the brain called the striatum (the greater goal is to create a mouse model of Parkinson's disease by injecting a toxin that causes the the death of a specific type of neurons). The only way to check whether or not the injection occurred at the right place is to extract the brain, fix it, and cut it into thin slices. For the past few days, I have been performing the two steps—surgery and brain extraction—over and over again. There were accidents, mistakes, catastrophes (I lost (or accidentally killed :( ) two mice after I switched to a new anesthetics and broke a really expensive syringe that holds minute volume of solution). Watching a mouse's heart rate gradually slowing down and eventually stops was one of the most horrific lab experiences that I have ever had and breaking the syringe definitely caused me a lot of anxiety. But it was truly fortunate in everyone in the lab was supportive and understanding. When I ran back to the lab with the broken syringe, one of the graduate students told me that it had happened before, normal for people who have used it before (I know have a new, working syringe).
Another lesson I learned from this is the importance of details. When I watched the surgery, I thought I took enough notes that I could repeat it without any problem. But there were so many little things ranging from variability in the mouse's brain to the ways to prevent clogging in the syringes that added unexpected complexities and difficulties to the surgery. I can now better appreciate the saying that practice makes perfect.
Sorry, enough about the surgery, I have to mention another aspect—this aspect will have even greater influence on me than learning the knowledge and skills—that is the people I met in lab. They are truly the most wonderful labmates one can ever hope to have. While they never hesitate to point out my mistakes, they also voluntarily share with me the tricks they use to carry out different procedures. During lunch time, we could talk about anything, ranging from our families to to our likes and dislikes.
For this coming week, my goal is to perform a surgery in a much shorter time.
Another lesson I learned from this is the importance of details. When I watched the surgery, I thought I took enough notes that I could repeat it without any problem. But there were so many little things ranging from variability in the mouse's brain to the ways to prevent clogging in the syringes that added unexpected complexities and difficulties to the surgery. I can now better appreciate the saying that practice makes perfect.
Sorry, enough about the surgery, I have to mention another aspect—this aspect will have even greater influence on me than learning the knowledge and skills—that is the people I met in lab. They are truly the most wonderful labmates one can ever hope to have. While they never hesitate to point out my mistakes, they also voluntarily share with me the tricks they use to carry out different procedures. During lunch time, we could talk about anything, ranging from our families to to our likes and dislikes.
For this coming week, my goal is to perform a surgery in a much shorter time.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
令人沮丧的一个早晨
现在的我每天都是早上做饭，因为下午回来时已经是又累又晚，让后我也担心我的房东需要用厨房，所以我就在早上把早饭和晚饭都准备好。前几天还很容易，我有煮面条，煮鸡蛋，还有用微波炉热馒头等等。让我沮丧的是今天早上我5：50起床，让后开始做早饭。我这个周末买了一条鱼，然后今天早上把它放在水里煮。可是不知道为什么，我煮了半个小时以后，那条鱼还是很硬，结果我等的不耐烦了，就把那条鱼给扔了（不过西班牙的鱼很便宜，那只鱼只花了我两欧元左右）。不过我还是很沮丧。我觉得我最近都不会吃鱼了。。。。。。不过我今天早上没有吃鱼可能是一件好事，因为我上午给老鼠做手术。如果有吃鱼，我可能会很不舒服。（深深的叹了口气），现在因为老鼠的缘故，我在食堂了看见肉就觉得反胃。啊。。算了算了，不想了，不想了。。。
Sunday, September 21, 2008
一个又开心又难过的周末
这是我在西班牙的第二个周末，发生了很多令人难忘的事情。
开心的事：
昨天晚上LEDIA的妹妹带我到几个中国店去了。 那些店离我现在住的地方很远，不过坐地铁好事很快。老实说我不是很习惯大部分西班牙的食物。他面的面包太硬了。。。所以我以后可能每一个月去那里一次。 这次我买了豆腐，馒头，包子，大白菜，豆奶和粉丝。那天晚上，我替LEDIA的妹妹做了晚餐，然后我每聊了很久。我非常非常的喜欢她。她现在正在学习成为一名护士。虽然她很忙，但是她还是抽空来看望我和问我有没有需要的东西（昨天我是非常需要中国的东西。。。她真是雪中送碳）。她也邀请我去她和她妈妈家吃晚饭。当我有时间的时候，我一定要去。她也告诉我现在我住的地方是马德里比较富裕的地方。这解释我的困惑，因为我发现周围都是房子和汽车，还有穿着很正规的百人。在中国店的附近，我看到了很多被的种族的人，包括东方人。我觉得自己很幸遇，因为我的住的地方周围真是非常非常的漂亮--宽敞的砖头路，各种颜色的花，风格各异的房子。我的房东为人非常非常的好（LEDIA的妹妹对我的房租很吃惊，因为在这个地方350欧元的房租算是相当的便宜）。 我的感觉是应为我的房东的孩子们都长大了，然后他们可能觉房子太空了，所以愿意把几件房间来出租。然后最重要的是我住的地方离研究所很近，这替我减少了很多麻烦。因为马德里的地铁虽然很方便，但我对它还是觉得有些紧张。不过我也觉得很遗憾，因为我现在环境让我无法和各种各类的人打交道。
难过的事
今天因为我用了太多的麻醉药，我的一只老鼠去世了。我并不怕给老鼠做手术，可是我现在还是无法掌握怎么调整麻醉的剂量，这样老鼠又不疼但又不会因为麻醉剂量太高儿死亡。道目前为止我已经替5只老鼠做了手术，每只都花了我2-3各小时。我的目标是半个小时。因为我的课题是需要给大概45只老鼠做手术。
开心的事：
昨天晚上LEDIA的妹妹带我到几个中国店去了。 那些店离我现在住的地方很远，不过坐地铁好事很快。老实说我不是很习惯大部分西班牙的食物。他面的面包太硬了。。。所以我以后可能每一个月去那里一次。 这次我买了豆腐，馒头，包子，大白菜，豆奶和粉丝。那天晚上，我替LEDIA的妹妹做了晚餐，然后我每聊了很久。我非常非常的喜欢她。她现在正在学习成为一名护士。虽然她很忙，但是她还是抽空来看望我和问我有没有需要的东西（昨天我是非常需要中国的东西。。。她真是雪中送碳）。她也邀请我去她和她妈妈家吃晚饭。当我有时间的时候，我一定要去。她也告诉我现在我住的地方是马德里比较富裕的地方。这解释我的困惑，因为我发现周围都是房子和汽车，还有穿着很正规的百人。在中国店的附近，我看到了很多被的种族的人，包括东方人。我觉得自己很幸遇，因为我的住的地方周围真是非常非常的漂亮--宽敞的砖头路，各种颜色的花，风格各异的房子。我的房东为人非常非常的好（LEDIA的妹妹对我的房租很吃惊，因为在这个地方350欧元的房租算是相当的便宜）。 我的感觉是应为我的房东的孩子们都长大了，然后他们可能觉房子太空了，所以愿意把几件房间来出租。然后最重要的是我住的地方离研究所很近，这替我减少了很多麻烦。因为马德里的地铁虽然很方便，但我对它还是觉得有些紧张。不过我也觉得很遗憾，因为我现在环境让我无法和各种各类的人打交道。
难过的事
今天因为我用了太多的麻醉药，我的一只老鼠去世了。我并不怕给老鼠做手术，可是我现在还是无法掌握怎么调整麻醉的剂量，这样老鼠又不疼但又不会因为麻醉剂量太高儿死亡。道目前为止我已经替5只老鼠做了手术，每只都花了我2-3各小时。我的目标是半个小时。因为我的课题是需要给大概45只老鼠做手术。
Friday, September 19, 2008
First week in lab
Hi everyone, sorry for the belated post. The past five days were busy and yet wonderful. Below are several aspects of my week
Lab (yay!:)
The lab I work now is both similar and different from the lab I worked at MIT. Same because the techniques, the science, the goal are the same, different in the hours, the people and the culture. My day usually begins at 7, where I would cook breakfast and then go to work around 7:45. At work, I spent time reading papers and learning the techniques I need to carry out my first project. This weekend, I will have a chance to practice the techniques I learned (because during the weekdays, the equipments are usually occupied).
Definitely the thing I liked the most is the people. Even though I spoke Spanish at a much slower speed, they were patient in listening to me and always asked me if I needed anything. Especially on Wednesday when I was learning the surgery, the person who taught me was unbelievably forgiving of all the mistakes I made. I also greatly enjoyed going to lunch with them everyday. In America, I usually hold my fork with my right hand. But after a week of watching people around me always holding the fork in their left hand, I found my usage of utensils becoming more and more European.
In some ways, I found Spain and China to be very similar in its current history. Both countries were involved in World War 2, both countries lived under stringent political situations until the 1970's, and both countries have witnessed their economic growths and increase in international influence in the past three decades. However, Spain's progress does not seem to be nearly as publicized as that of China. When I told people that I am going to go to Spain, people are fascinated by it because Spain is a popular place for tourists with its museums, sports and food, but they are surprised that I would be doing research there because of the perception that there is very little science going on. Indeed, I wondered about it. Because in my neuroscience class, we learned about the discoveries made by the Spanish neuroanatomist Santidago Ramon y Cajal during our first lessons, yet, Dr. Ramon y Cajal made his discoveries in the early 1900. What must have happened is that with the civil war, World War II and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco starting in 1930s, the science in Spain came under a halt (I feel like the Franco period is extremely similar to the cultural revolution in China...that most people who went through the period are reluctant to talk about it). But when I arrived at the Cajal Institute on Monday, I was extremely impressed by its building, by the people, the resources and equipments. But this institute built only 7 years ago, when the Spanish government began to devote massive funding to attract more scientists, especially Spanish scientist who went to do research abroad. With the equipments being the same, I had no trouble of getting adjusted to performing the actual tasks required for project. But what is a little difficult is lab is set up in everything (5-7 people) work in the same medium-sized room where most of the equipments are, one can often hear conversations, making concentration more difficult. I really really enjoy the friendly environment this creates, but at times when I really need to focus on absorbing an idea, the sound can become disruptive (another possibility is that my ability to focus was weakened by the need to converse in another language).
The most fascinating yet difficult skill I learned this week is surgery (I won't go into the details here...). But moments when I saw definitely shaken by I saw the brain and the beating heart of a mouse. It is not the first time I saw these two things, but it is the first time that I was the one holding the scissor and scalpel.
Another random observation...in U.S., working with lab animals requires a stringent process of getting trained, applying to perform specific procedures on animals and wearing all the necessarily gears. In Spain, because it has become revive its research activity, many rules are still in the process of being developed and finalized, there is definitely some "gray" area. For instance, I am required to obtain a license to work with animals. To obtain that license, I needed document showing that I have been trained to work with animals, but the rule does not specify what kind of document I need. (update: but I was able to get the license. )
Place to stay (yay!:)
My new place landlords are amazing people!:) Especially Kirsten, one time I had to leave in a hurry, so I left my cookware in the sink, and she washed it for me later. Talk about cooking...I feel both fortunate and unfortunate. Kirsten had every kind of cooking utensil one can ever imagine...basically a full-scale kitchen...but my cooking skill is not developed enough to take advantage of this...sigh....
News ( :( )
Today when I finally had the time and energy to read the news, I was extremely saddened by both the English and Chinese news I read. It is hard for me to imagine that during the past five days, U.S.'s banking system had been in crisis, and parents in China are lining up in the hospitals to have their newborns examined. Because I am in Spain, I did not hear these tragedy talked about (or perhaps it was discussed just that I did not pick it up :( ). But returning to the topic on the similarities between China and Spain. So far, the price of the items in Spain are same and even more expensive than that of U.S. (with the exception of wine and chocolate). Yet, I see the supermarket full of people. China, on the other hand, despite the economic growth, its price of most items is significantly lower than that of U.S. I had been wondering why China received much more notice for its economical growth, and the most explanation I could come up with is the absolute size of China and its close economical ties with U.S.
Lab (yay!:)
The lab I work now is both similar and different from the lab I worked at MIT. Same because the techniques, the science, the goal are the same, different in the hours, the people and the culture. My day usually begins at 7, where I would cook breakfast and then go to work around 7:45. At work, I spent time reading papers and learning the techniques I need to carry out my first project. This weekend, I will have a chance to practice the techniques I learned (because during the weekdays, the equipments are usually occupied).
Definitely the thing I liked the most is the people. Even though I spoke Spanish at a much slower speed, they were patient in listening to me and always asked me if I needed anything. Especially on Wednesday when I was learning the surgery, the person who taught me was unbelievably forgiving of all the mistakes I made. I also greatly enjoyed going to lunch with them everyday. In America, I usually hold my fork with my right hand. But after a week of watching people around me always holding the fork in their left hand, I found my usage of utensils becoming more and more European.
In some ways, I found Spain and China to be very similar in its current history. Both countries were involved in World War 2, both countries lived under stringent political situations until the 1970's, and both countries have witnessed their economic growths and increase in international influence in the past three decades. However, Spain's progress does not seem to be nearly as publicized as that of China. When I told people that I am going to go to Spain, people are fascinated by it because Spain is a popular place for tourists with its museums, sports and food, but they are surprised that I would be doing research there because of the perception that there is very little science going on. Indeed, I wondered about it. Because in my neuroscience class, we learned about the discoveries made by the Spanish neuroanatomist Santidago Ramon y Cajal during our first lessons, yet, Dr. Ramon y Cajal made his discoveries in the early 1900. What must have happened is that with the civil war, World War II and the dictatorship of Francisco Franco starting in 1930s, the science in Spain came under a halt (I feel like the Franco period is extremely similar to the cultural revolution in China...that most people who went through the period are reluctant to talk about it). But when I arrived at the Cajal Institute on Monday, I was extremely impressed by its building, by the people, the resources and equipments. But this institute built only 7 years ago, when the Spanish government began to devote massive funding to attract more scientists, especially Spanish scientist who went to do research abroad. With the equipments being the same, I had no trouble of getting adjusted to performing the actual tasks required for project. But what is a little difficult is lab is set up in everything (5-7 people) work in the same medium-sized room where most of the equipments are, one can often hear conversations, making concentration more difficult. I really really enjoy the friendly environment this creates, but at times when I really need to focus on absorbing an idea, the sound can become disruptive (another possibility is that my ability to focus was weakened by the need to converse in another language).
The most fascinating yet difficult skill I learned this week is surgery (I won't go into the details here...). But moments when I saw definitely shaken by I saw the brain and the beating heart of a mouse. It is not the first time I saw these two things, but it is the first time that I was the one holding the scissor and scalpel.
Another random observation...in U.S., working with lab animals requires a stringent process of getting trained, applying to perform specific procedures on animals and wearing all the necessarily gears. In Spain, because it has become revive its research activity, many rules are still in the process of being developed and finalized, there is definitely some "gray" area. For instance, I am required to obtain a license to work with animals. To obtain that license, I needed document showing that I have been trained to work with animals, but the rule does not specify what kind of document I need. (update: but I was able to get the license. )
Place to stay (yay!:)
My new place landlords are amazing people!:) Especially Kirsten, one time I had to leave in a hurry, so I left my cookware in the sink, and she washed it for me later. Talk about cooking...I feel both fortunate and unfortunate. Kirsten had every kind of cooking utensil one can ever imagine...basically a full-scale kitchen...but my cooking skill is not developed enough to take advantage of this...sigh....
News ( :( )
Today when I finally had the time and energy to read the news, I was extremely saddened by both the English and Chinese news I read. It is hard for me to imagine that during the past five days, U.S.'s banking system had been in crisis, and parents in China are lining up in the hospitals to have their newborns examined. Because I am in Spain, I did not hear these tragedy talked about (or perhaps it was discussed just that I did not pick it up :( ). But returning to the topic on the similarities between China and Spain. So far, the price of the items in Spain are same and even more expensive than that of U.S. (with the exception of wine and chocolate). Yet, I see the supermarket full of people. China, on the other hand, despite the economic growth, its price of most items is significantly lower than that of U.S. I had been wondering why China received much more notice for its economical growth, and the most explanation I could come up with is the absolute size of China and its close economical ties with U.S.
Monday, September 15, 2008
My first formal Spanish dinner
This past Sunday, Kirsten invited me to have lunch with her family and friends. I happily accepted her invitation, but I was nervous about having lunch. Lunch began around 3:15 P.M. and took place at the backyard under the shades provided by a fig tree and grape vines. The people present were Kirsten's family and Martin (from Germany) and Honey (from Austria). In the beginning, while we were eating salad, cheese and BBQ meat and drinking either wine or orange juice (I chose orange juice), I noticed myself to be the only person using the American style of eating, i.e., first cut up the food with fork on the left hand and knife on the right hand, and then put the knife down on the plate and switch the fork to my right hand and then pick up the food. Everyone else was his or her utensils with the Europeans whie, i.e., eating with fork always held by the left hand and knife by the right hand. But no one seemed to mind :).
Along with the salad and later a stew as the main plate and dessert, the entire meal took two and a half hours along. During which we talked about many things, including soccor and politics. It was very relaxing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, except at the end, when I was helping Kirsten putting away the dishes, I noticed the massive number of dishes and cups and utensils that needed to be washed :(.
But everything else--which was all wonderful--has definitely given this meal a special place in my memory.
Along with the salad and later a stew as the main plate and dessert, the entire meal took two and a half hours along. During which we talked about many things, including soccor and politics. It was very relaxing. I thoroughly enjoyed it, except at the end, when I was helping Kirsten putting away the dishes, I noticed the massive number of dishes and cups and utensils that needed to be washed :(.
But everything else--which was all wonderful--has definitely given this meal a special place in my memory.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sunday morning in Spain
Today I woke up at 8 A.M., which was very late for me. I think it was because the temperature was low (around 15 C) and I had a nightmare that lasted longer than usual. The house was really quiet and the only sound comes from the chirping of birds outside. After brushing my teeth, I realized that I did not have food, but I was not sure whether or not Caprabo, a supermarket about fifteen minutes away from where I lived, was open. After browing through its website and failing to find its hours of operation, I decided to walk to Caprabo. It was a On my way to Caprabo, I saw only a few people (mostly older people) on the streets walking their dogs. Unfortunately (but I kind of predicted), Caprabo was closed. I searched really hard but could not find its hours on the entrance (before leaving, I also looked at its website and could not find the schedule there either..faint...). Instead of going back, I decided to explore the area surrounding Caprabo. After walking in a random direction for about 15 minutes, I found a local bakery that was open and bought a loaf of bread for 0.95 euros (about $1.40). The owner was unbelievably nice and patient because it took me a long time to decide which one to buy. Moreover, when I asked him whether or not he sells coffee, he directed me to the bar near the street corner. I went into the bar, bought a cafe con leche and sat there and read the newspaper "el pais" for about 45 minutes. It was surprising that a significant portion of the newspaper was devoted to international news: there was a special coverage on Stalin, on the image of governor Palin, on the conflicts in Bolivia and Venezuela and on the tortures of minor in Guatamolo Bay (the last news definitely disturbed me). It seems that Spaniards pay a lot attention to news, for most people who were walking their dogs were also carrying a copy of the newspaper. In the cafe, where the owner provided "el pais", "el mundo" and "ABC" for his costumers, those who were not chatting were reading the news. However, they were all people who were middle-age or older, so I don't know if young people in Spain read the news as much (though when I talked to Kirsten's son yesterday, he was eating breakfast while reading the news, so maybe :) ). On the book review section, it talked about a book that teaches people how to save money at a time when the economy is bad. Faint....... It seems to be true. When I was walking towards the market, I saw several houses and apartments that were up for sale.
One thing that I remembered from orientation was the talk bu Professor Anden. He was concerned about the fact that very few young people in Spain pursue science and engineering. After observing the people walking on the streets, I realized that young people, much more often than older people, tend to walk in large groups (older people either walk alone or walk in group of two, like husband and wife, mother and daughter). It just dawned onto me that compare to the humanities subjects, science and engineering require more individual thinking. At least for me, I can only absorb the most difficult concepts when I am thinking in a quiet place where no one else is around.
Sigh...today is Sunday, so I know that Prado's museum is open for free. I really really want to go, but I have work to do...sigh....maybe next month, when things become more relaxed...then I am definitely going to spend a lot of time at that museum.
One thing that I remembered from orientation was the talk bu Professor Anden. He was concerned about the fact that very few young people in Spain pursue science and engineering. After observing the people walking on the streets, I realized that young people, much more often than older people, tend to walk in large groups (older people either walk alone or walk in group of two, like husband and wife, mother and daughter). It just dawned onto me that compare to the humanities subjects, science and engineering require more individual thinking. At least for me, I can only absorb the most difficult concepts when I am thinking in a quiet place where no one else is around.
Sigh...today is Sunday, so I know that Prado's museum is open for free. I really really want to go, but I have work to do...sigh....maybe next month, when things become more relaxed...then I am definitely going to spend a lot of time at that museum.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
现在终于可以打中文了
谢谢西西的建议。。。。。。
今天我终于找到我即将要工作的研究所了。它离马德里的市中心很近。如果做地铁的话，我会需要10 分钟，走路的话需要差不多半个小时。我想我多半会走路了，因为路边的风景很漂亮。这里的路很多都是砖头铺的。那个研究所也是两栋砖头房子，这样的话冬天里面希望不会太冷：）。
我也在附近找到了超市。不过很奇怪的是这里好像没有新鲜的牛奶。所有的牛奶都是在盒装的， 好奇怪。。。
我的房东们（Kirsten和她的先生）今天就会回来。我刚才碰见了他们的二儿子。他在学经济，曾经在美国上过半年学。我觉得自己有幸运又不幸运，因为我和Kirsten一家沟通很容易因为大家都说英文。可是这样子我就没有练习西班牙文的机会了。不过不要紧，我在外面和在实验室了可能都会说西班牙文。
今天当我在外面寻找咖啡店的时候发现了一个问题。我去的两家里面都有人在抽烟。因为是在太呛人了，我只好离开了。然后超市里也没有已将做好了的咖啡饮料。我发现在西班牙，即使是只喝一杯咖啡，大家都会坐在那里喝，而不会拿了咖啡就走。。。。这喝美国好不一样啊
今天我终于找到我即将要工作的研究所了。它离马德里的市中心很近。如果做地铁的话，我会需要10 分钟，走路的话需要差不多半个小时。我想我多半会走路了，因为路边的风景很漂亮。这里的路很多都是砖头铺的。那个研究所也是两栋砖头房子，这样的话冬天里面希望不会太冷：）。
我也在附近找到了超市。不过很奇怪的是这里好像没有新鲜的牛奶。所有的牛奶都是在盒装的， 好奇怪。。。
我的房东们（Kirsten和她的先生）今天就会回来。我刚才碰见了他们的二儿子。他在学经济，曾经在美国上过半年学。我觉得自己有幸运又不幸运，因为我和Kirsten一家沟通很容易因为大家都说英文。可是这样子我就没有练习西班牙文的机会了。不过不要紧，我在外面和在实验室了可能都会说西班牙文。
今天当我在外面寻找咖啡店的时候发现了一个问题。我去的两家里面都有人在抽烟。因为是在太呛人了，我只好离开了。然后超市里也没有已将做好了的咖啡饮料。我发现在西班牙，即使是只喝一杯咖啡，大家都会坐在那里喝，而不会拿了咖啡就走。。。。这喝美国好不一样啊
Friday, September 12, 2008
My new place
I just moved to my new place....given a map of Madrid, the house I am living in would located somewhere in the upper right quadrant. I really like my landlords. They are a couple, the wife is a middle age woman from Sweden while the husband is a middle age man from Germany. This is the first time they have a tenant from China :). Also living with them is their youngest son (whose girlfriend is learning Chinese, so he told me that she is very excited about meeting me) and a 23-year-old girl from Puerto Rico. I still need to learn their names...but they are extremely nice. The neighborhood I live in is full of brick-walled, two-story houses. It is absolutely beautiful and different from any place that I have ever lived before. Even though I don't usually take pictures, now I really wish that I have a camera so I can show everyone what the house looks like. Maybe...later...:)
a surprise.....
I waited for two days before posting this news because I had been thinking about the pros and cons of this news. During orientation, I learned that we are only allowed to spend 21 days outside of Spain. Since I will most likely need all of these days for interviewing, I will not be able to go back to China during Christmas and New Year. While this news made me very sad, I thought of the possilibility of my family visiting me in Spain. Moreover, I feel guilty about applying to schools while just beginning to work at a lab and I do feel I owe the professor more of my time..especially the days right before Christmas and the days right after New Year. My greatest wish now is that I could complete a publishable experiment by the end of June 2009 and know where I will be going after that. However, when I met with my advisor at MIT, she told me gently that if a project is not doable in one year, no matter how hard I try, it will still take two years (this is part of the conversation where she was trying to convince me to still do some traveling while in Spain). I was extremely surprised when she supported the idea of travelling, for she is one of most hardworking scientists I have met, but she told me about her experience as a young research in Isreal and how she regretted not being able to travel because she was focusing on research. My original plan was to spend all days in the laboratory and go to the museums and parks when I have free time during the evenings. While I still have not made plans for traveling, I began to feel pessimitic about the possibility of completing a project in one year (or 9 months to be exact). But I will know more when I meet with professor Moratalla on next Monday.
This is also the first time when I find myself not being able to hear the voices of my parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins, so I suspect that I am more prone to being homesick...but now I know this risk...I will try my best to prevent it :).
Again...I am finding myself having difficulty to wait until 2PM to have lunch....faint.....but I won't be able to do so anyway, because I have to move to my new place at 2PM.
This is also the first time when I find myself not being able to hear the voices of my parents and grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins, so I suspect that I am more prone to being homesick...but now I know this risk...I will try my best to prevent it :).
Again...I am finding myself having difficulty to wait until 2PM to have lunch....faint.....but I won't be able to do so anyway, because I have to move to my new place at 2PM.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Chinese translation of finally found a place to live
Xixi...the software you told me does not work on my computer...so I have to relie on the google translator being I figure the software out :((( Ah...but I have to say..there were so many mistakes with google translator...that I had to delete several sentences because they just did not make sense :((
之后，很多人要求在几个酒吧附近的地方....有人与GPS在他的手机最后指示我向街santolinos ....叹息… …它是不会出现在Google地图，因为它是真的真的小街道上像4家...至少我发现它。由于复杂的地铁系统....我想我可能会调用的CAB明天提出我的东西有....
今天上午，美国驻西班牙使馆向我们介绍了安全问题在西班牙。我不知道，当西班牙人到美国，不管他们是否会得到类似的安全简报.......无论如何....在他的鼓励下，我注册了自己与美国国务院和会尽我最难不要失去我的护照。叹...即使我觉得可能是马德里比武汉更安全，当我对地铁，我注意到，正在亚洲人绝对引人注目！啊， … …现在我知道如何外国人觉得当他们去中国。但也许是几天之后，我会使用到stares ，并期待… …但叹息… …我不认为我可以真的共混英寸..除非也许我染料，我的头发和磨损巨型太阳眼镜。 ..我将可能永远不会做....晕倒...........
我当时的规划，开设银行帐户，但随后银行，其实收在下午2时30分....所以，我觉得我会打开一个明天。我也买了一本国家报对我的方式回来，成本1时10欧元= $ 1.60美分， HMM的...种一样，次纽约时报...虽然纽约时报曾经是1.00元，但随后，增加了价格美元至1.25 ...晕倒..........
我也发现了超市周围的地方，我会生活，后环顾在的话，我来可悲的实现，它也许长期很久之前，我都不能有任何中国食品… …或者该种美国食物，我喜欢....微弱...............
啊...我只是实现了我写的博客充分的投诉… …但有一定somethings发生的今天，我感到非常高兴，就像人谁是愿意去的额外英里照顾了街对我来说，房子是我看到美丽的，它是一个很小的两层楼高的房子充分的植物和花卉的周围，居委会似乎有好...似乎有一种，很多人在科学领域的走动，这居委会... i dunno ，它只是很多人有携带包可能包含笔记型电脑在他们...种提醒我的人走动麻省理工学院。
我很高兴我最后会议业主(landlord)明天...我希望他们会像(like)月饼。
之后，很多人要求在几个酒吧附近的地方....有人与GPS在他的手机最后指示我向街santolinos ....叹息… …它是不会出现在Google地图，因为它是真的真的小街道上像4家...至少我发现它。由于复杂的地铁系统....我想我可能会调用的CAB明天提出我的东西有....
今天上午，美国驻西班牙使馆向我们介绍了安全问题在西班牙。我不知道，当西班牙人到美国，不管他们是否会得到类似的安全简报.......无论如何....在他的鼓励下，我注册了自己与美国国务院和会尽我最难不要失去我的护照。叹...即使我觉得可能是马德里比武汉更安全，当我对地铁，我注意到，正在亚洲人绝对引人注目！啊， … …现在我知道如何外国人觉得当他们去中国。但也许是几天之后，我会使用到stares ，并期待… …但叹息… …我不认为我可以真的共混英寸..除非也许我染料，我的头发和磨损巨型太阳眼镜。 ..我将可能永远不会做....晕倒...........
我当时的规划，开设银行帐户，但随后银行，其实收在下午2时30分....所以，我觉得我会打开一个明天。我也买了一本国家报对我的方式回来，成本1时10欧元= $ 1.60美分， HMM的...种一样，次纽约时报...虽然纽约时报曾经是1.00元，但随后，增加了价格美元至1.25 ...晕倒..........
我也发现了超市周围的地方，我会生活，后环顾在的话，我来可悲的实现，它也许长期很久之前，我都不能有任何中国食品… …或者该种美国食物，我喜欢....微弱...............
啊...我只是实现了我写的博客充分的投诉… …但有一定somethings发生的今天，我感到非常高兴，就像人谁是愿意去的额外英里照顾了街对我来说，房子是我看到美丽的，它是一个很小的两层楼高的房子充分的植物和花卉的周围，居委会似乎有好...似乎有一种，很多人在科学领域的走动，这居委会... i dunno ，它只是很多人有携带包可能包含笔记型电脑在他们...种提醒我的人走动麻省理工学院。
我很高兴我最后会议业主(landlord)明天...我希望他们会像(like)月饼。
Chinese version of my post on day 1
今天上午早餐 今天上午10时30分，我们有一个休息，所以我到大学的咖啡馆，并下令网吧情况leche 。 bascially ，这是一杆的快报与平等volumne牛奶添加到它。它尝到了惊人的....我觉得这里的咖啡是更caffeinnated ...是因为我感觉有点紧张喝酒后，这… …这解释了为什么我成了厌倦今午… … 。 现在，而且几乎是晚上11点，但我不是很困，因为我采取了行动方案后，立即定位，收于6 。 i睡了两个小时，但梦想有这么多的东西....中国，今年夏天和实验室… … 。微弱......一些梦想愉快的一些人不...他们大多是不.. … …我可以感觉到自己要离开，并不能移动....我猜想，这是事实，在REM sleep，我们可以不再使用我们的肌肉。 另一种微小的细节，我并没有期望的是被蚊子叮咬....我很少得到咬伤的蚊子在支那，但在这里，至少有两个蚊子位...我晕倒....也许他们的可能性的血型不同，从该蚊在中国。 我仍然无法找到街，我的房子在地图上，即使我的房东告诉我，我可以清楚地看到，在Google Earth上... HMM的.........需要下载Google地球....晕倒...... 方向，
第1天 我的经验教训和思想.... 今天我听到讲座，由双方总的富布赖特委员会在西班牙大学校长residencia Universitaria的奥古斯丁-内布里哈。即使因为房间是真的很热，或因为我没有星期六在讲座几个月来，我感到不耐烦，在几次的时刻。但也有点在演讲表示，一定引起我的注意。主任， seniora玛丽亚耶稣巴勃罗斯告诉我们，也许今年是去年我们去“享受生活” ，因为当时我们其实是有工作，做一些严重的研究， 追求一个稳定的生活和etcs 。即使我懂了她的意思，我不同意。为什么它在我们的社会告诉我们，青年是当生活的乐趣和愉快的，如果是成人，是当生活的要求和充分的责任。我希望总有一天，我们的教育或抚养我们的结构是一个方式，告诉我们从很年轻的年龄，我们是要找到一个目标，在生活中，真的很难的目标，使我们永远不会厌倦的生活（或总是有所期待） 。 ： ） ） ） 大学校长，Andes教授，他给了一个非常坦诚的谈论的现状，西班牙，其问题与移民和教育。这是安静的眼睛开放。他以坦率，即使他的女儿是在最好的大学在西班牙，他们避免讲座becaues他们发现，班太沉闷。然后，在暑假期间，他们会去其他学校在世界各地一样，在London School of Economics ，工作真的很难。Andes教授告诉我们，他是终生时，他是29 ，这不是不寻常的在西班牙。鉴于纾缓获得终生在西班牙的大学，有没有强烈的动机，以改善教育体系。他似乎也矛盾有关入境在西班牙。几年前，入境者的欢迎和他们收到同样的福利，作为人民在西班牙-免费医疗，免费教育和e tcs。然而，当养老金的资金开始减少，政府已开始限制移民。Anden教授一致认为，移民，谁可能会留在西班牙和有子女（他说，之前，这是以前的人认为他们会有工作了几年，赚足够的钱，然后返回他们的国家的土人。但是，这一思想是基于假设大部分工作由入境者临时建造业职位，这是不真实的。大多数移民有工作在服务部门作为护理照料或女服务员，这些可以去年长得多） 。在另一方面，Anden教授说，大多数西班牙人不会采取就业移民，并在为了使经济增长在西班牙继续进行，西班牙需要得到更多的年轻人进入劳动市场。实在是令人不解的是，即使西班牙是其中一个最天主教国家，在世界上，它最低的国家之一的出生率。因此，西班牙的需要immigration，以提高其劳动人口的… …在年底，Anden教授结束了真正的解决办法在于改变税收和社会福利结构，这是非常controverisal。他还介绍了严峻的预测，西班牙的经济可能会进入衰退，在最近几个月… …但在我的时间在西班牙，我将证人的失业率上升，增加了价格commondities ，晕倒… … 。一件事我要提醒自己要做的是阅读新闻，每天的文件....国家报，美国广播公司，世界报....签署........ 其余的我的生活 注册....这是晚上九时，现在，我坐在这里写我的博客，而是去吃饭，因为我终于了在吃晚餐，晚上八时。是一件好事，我带来的东西从美国...悬崖酒吧.... ，他们其实是不错的...还有： （但我认为这是有那么难吃午饭，在2和晚餐，然后在9 ... 。微弱....也许明天我会终于能够这样做。 我的房东电子邮箱我对我的房间，这将有互联网和一个阳台！是啊！ ，我会动议在上周五。
Chinese translation of my previous post
hehe...I found this tool on google that allow me to translate my posts into Chinese....so I translated it, moved some words around for the translation is not perfect, and now my grandparents and my dad can read them, yeah !:)
今天上午早餐一声叹息… … 。唯一的东西，我喜欢被橙汁和咖啡...一切：奶油蛋糕，河豚鱼奶油，面包，奶酪和火腿....真的，没有我喜欢有早餐。 ..晕倒..................我想我真的需要找到一个中国超市，并获得馒头或一些......希望新的地方，我会在下榻的有微波...叹息… …但今天的早餐是免费的...所以我实在不应该抱怨.....................
今天上午早餐一声叹息… … 。唯一的东西，我喜欢被橙汁和咖啡...一切：奶油蛋糕，河豚鱼奶油，面包，奶酪和火腿....真的，没有我喜欢有早餐。 ..晕倒..................我想我真的需要找到一个中国超市，并获得馒头或一些......希望新的地方，我会在下榻的有微波...叹息… …但今天的早餐是免费的...所以我实在不应该抱怨.....................
finally found the place live
After asking many people at several bars near the station Avda de la Paz....someone with a GPS on his cell phone finally directed me to the street santolinos....sigh...it is not on google map because it is a really really small streets with only four houses...but at least I found it. Given the complexity of the metro system....I think I will probably call a cab tomorrow for moving my luggages there....
This morning, an agent from the U.S. embassy briefed us on the safety issues in Spain. I wonder when Spaniards go to U.S., whether or not they would receive a similar safety briefing....... Anyway....under his encouragement, I registered myself with the U.S. state department and will try my hardest not to lose my passport. Sigh...even though I think Madrid is probably equally safe or even safer than Wuhan, when I was on the metro, I noticed that being Asian definitely attracts attention! Ah.....now I know how foreigners feel when they go to China. But probably after a few days, I will get use to the stares and looks...but sigh...I don't think I can ever really blend in...unless maybe I dye my hair and wear giant sun glasses...which I will probably never do....faint...........
I was planning on opening a bank account, but then the bank actually closes at 2:30PM....so I think I will open one tomorrow then. I also bought a copy of El Pais on my way back, it costs 1:10 euros=$1.60 cents, hmm...kind of like th NY Times...though NY Times used to be $1.00, but then it increased the price to $1.25...faint..........
I also found a supermarket around the place where I will be living, and after looking around in it, I came to sad realization that it maybe a long long long time before I can ever have any Chinese food...or the kind of U.S. food I like....faint...............
Ah...I just realized I wrote a blog full of complaints...but there were definitely good things that happened today, like the person who was willing to go the extra mile of looking up the street for me, the house I saw was beautiful, it is a small two-story house full of plants and flowers around it, the neighborhood there seemed nice...there seemed to be a lot of people in the science field walking around this neighborhood...I dunno, it just many people there were carrying bags that could contain laptops in them...kind of remind me of people walking around MIT. Right next to the neighborhood is a big Krafts company...no wonder I can see cereals around here.
Right now, I just woke up from a nap..the dinner is in an hour...I just had another cafe con leche and a pastry that has cheese and ham in the inside....when I asked them about the pastry..she only mentioned queso but not jamon....but it's okay, I still liked it :) Another thing I found unusual is that we actually leave our plates on the table as oppose to bring them to the counter..and we can pay for them whenver....
I am excited about finally meeting my landlords tomorrow...hopefully they will like the mooncakes.
breakfast this morning and permit card
ethical dilemma:
Sigh...today I faced another ethical dilemma. For our permit card application, we need to make copies of our passport, visa, stamp with the date of entry and application (4 pages total, but for me, it is three pages, because the official at Amesterdam stamped my date of entry onto my visa....). I went to the front desk of the university where I was staying and asked Pilar, a woman at the front desk where I can make copies (in broken Spanish of course...). She asked me how many pages I need, I told her three. So she said "vale, voy a hacerlo por ti" (she offered to make copies for me). I was really surprised and happy. Since she was still eating breakfast at the time, she told me to come back ten minutes later. So I spent the next several minutes staring at a big map near her station to look for the street where my landlord is living on (I still cannot find that street.....). Then another person from the program asked Pilar the same question, but this time, Pilar directed her to a place outside...I think across the street for making copies. As I saw that person...another young woman my age....walked out of the university...I felt extremely guilty but did not know what to do. Now I think I understand..that Pilar was not supposed to make copies for us...maybe because I asked first, maybe because I was the only Asian-looking person in this university, maybe because my Spanish was obvioulsy not fluent, that Pilar decided to break this rule for me. I thought about following the young woman to the place for making copies...but she was already out of the door. I thought about going to Pilar and told her that it is okay, that she does not have to do it, but I don't really know how to say that in Spanish, I thought about just not returning to her station...but then that means I am breaking a promise....she will spend time wondering why I did not come back...and I don't really know how to explain this dilemma to her, it is really hard to accuse someone of being unethical/unfair when that person is extending the favor to me (ah....as I am writng this sentence ,I realized the severity of my mistake)....so......what I did.....is that I gave the documents to Pilar and while she was making copies, I offered to help her return her plates to the cafeteria downstairs, which she happily accepted. When she was making copies, I realized that the copier she was using was extremely slow...takes about....almost a minute for one page to come out....this makes me feel even more guilty.....sign.......
Anyway....after this dilemma was over, I went to have the documents stamped and sent to the police department. .....ah................
breakfast this morning
Sigh.....the only things I liked were the orange juice and the coffee...everything else: butter cake, puffer cream, bread with cheese and ham were not....really something I like to have for breakfast...faint..................I think I really need to find a Chinese supermarket and get mantou or something......hopefully the new place where I will be staying have microwave...sigh...but today's breakfast is free...so I really should not complain.....................
Sigh...today I faced another ethical dilemma. For our permit card application, we need to make copies of our passport, visa, stamp with the date of entry and application (4 pages total, but for me, it is three pages, because the official at Amesterdam stamped my date of entry onto my visa....). I went to the front desk of the university where I was staying and asked Pilar, a woman at the front desk where I can make copies (in broken Spanish of course...). She asked me how many pages I need, I told her three. So she said "vale, voy a hacerlo por ti" (she offered to make copies for me). I was really surprised and happy. Since she was still eating breakfast at the time, she told me to come back ten minutes later. So I spent the next several minutes staring at a big map near her station to look for the street where my landlord is living on (I still cannot find that street.....). Then another person from the program asked Pilar the same question, but this time, Pilar directed her to a place outside...I think across the street for making copies. As I saw that person...another young woman my age....walked out of the university...I felt extremely guilty but did not know what to do. Now I think I understand..that Pilar was not supposed to make copies for us...maybe because I asked first, maybe because I was the only Asian-looking person in this university, maybe because my Spanish was obvioulsy not fluent, that Pilar decided to break this rule for me. I thought about following the young woman to the place for making copies...but she was already out of the door. I thought about going to Pilar and told her that it is okay, that she does not have to do it, but I don't really know how to say that in Spanish, I thought about just not returning to her station...but then that means I am breaking a promise....she will spend time wondering why I did not come back...and I don't really know how to explain this dilemma to her, it is really hard to accuse someone of being unethical/unfair when that person is extending the favor to me (ah....as I am writng this sentence ,I realized the severity of my mistake)....so......what I did.....is that I gave the documents to Pilar and while she was making copies, I offered to help her return her plates to the cafeteria downstairs, which she happily accepted. When she was making copies, I realized that the copier she was using was extremely slow...takes about....almost a minute for one page to come out....this makes me feel even more guilty.....sign.......
Anyway....after this dilemma was over, I went to have the documents stamped and sent to the police department. .....ah................
breakfast this morning
Sigh.....the only things I liked were the orange juice and the coffee...everything else: butter cake, puffer cream, bread with cheese and ham were not....really something I like to have for breakfast...faint..................I think I really need to find a Chinese supermarket and get mantou or something......hopefully the new place where I will be staying have microwave...sigh...but today's breakfast is free...so I really should not complain.....................
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I cannot believe that I forgot to comment on this....
This morning at 10:30, we had a coffee break, so I went to the university coffee shop and ordered a cafe con leche. Bascially, it is one shot of expresso with an equal volumne of milk add to it. It tasted amazing....I think the coffee here is more caffeinnated...because I was feeling a little jittery after drinking it...which explained why I became tired this afternoon.....
Now, it is almost 11PM, but I am not very sleepy because I took a nap immediately after orientation ended at 6. I slept for two hours but dreamed about so many things....China, this summer and lab.....faint......some dreams were pleasant some were not...most of them were not.....I could feel myself wanting to walk away and cannot move....I guess it is true during REM that we can no longer use our muscle.
Another tiny detail that I did not expect is mosquito bites....I rarely got bitten by mosquitos in Cina, yet here, at least two mosquitos bit me...faint....maybe their likeliness of bloodtype is different from that of the mosquitos in China.
I still cannot find the street of my house on the map, even though my landlord told me that I could see clearly on google earth...hmm.........need to download google earth....faint......
Now, it is almost 11PM, but I am not very sleepy because I took a nap immediately after orientation ended at 6. I slept for two hours but dreamed about so many things....China, this summer and lab.....faint......some dreams were pleasant some were not...most of them were not.....I could feel myself wanting to walk away and cannot move....I guess it is true during REM that we can no longer use our muscle.
Another tiny detail that I did not expect is mosquito bites....I rarely got bitten by mosquitos in Cina, yet here, at least two mosquitos bit me...faint....maybe their likeliness of bloodtype is different from that of the mosquitos in China.
I still cannot find the street of my house on the map, even though my landlord told me that I could see clearly on google earth...hmm.........need to download google earth....faint......
orientation day 1
What I learned and thought....
Today I heard lectures by both the director of the Fulbright commission in Spain and the president of the university Residencia Universitaria Augustinus-Nebrija. Even though because the room was really hot, or because I have not sat in lectures for months, that I was feeling impatient during several moments. But there were points during the lecture that definitely caught my attention. The director, seniora Maria Jesus Pablos, told us that perhaps this year is the last year where we get to "enjoy life", because then we actually have to work, do some serious studies, puruse a stable living and etcs. Even though I understood what she meant, I have to disagree. I want the last year of my life to be the last year where I get to "enjoy life." Why is it in our society that we are told youth is when life is fun and enjoyable, where is adult is when life is demanding and full of responsibilities. I do hope that someday our education or our upbringing is structured is a way that we told from the very young age that we are to find a goal in life, a really difficult goal so that we will never get bored with life (or always have something to look forward to). :)))
The president of the university, senor Fernando Fernandez Mendez de Andes, he gave a very frank talk about the current state of Spain, its problems with immigration and education. It was quiet eye-opening. He spoke frankly about even though his daughters are in the best university in Spain, they avoid lectures becaues they found the classes to be too boring. Then, during the summer, they would go to other schools around the world like the London School of Economics, and work really hard there. Profesor Andes told us that he was tenured when he was 29, which is not unusual in Spain. Given the ease of getting tenured at Spanish universities, there is not a strong incentive to improve the educational system. He also seemed ambivalent about the immigration in Spain. A few years ago, immigrants were welcomed and they received the same benefits as the people in Spain--free healthcare, free education and etcs. However, when the funding for pension begins to decrease, the government has begun to limit immigration. Profesor Anden agreed that immigrants, who likely to stay in Spain and have children (he said before it was previously thought that they would work for a few years, earn enough money and then return to their natives countries. However, this thought is based on the assumption that most jobs by the immigrants are temporary construction jobs, which is untrue. Most immigrants have jobs in the service sector as care caretaking or waitress, these can last much longer). On the other hand, senor Anden said that most Spaniards would not take the jobs immigrants have, and in order for the economical growth in Spain to continue, Spain needs to be more young people entering the workforce. It is really puzzling that even though Spain is one of the most catholic nations in the world, it has one of the lowest birthrates. Therefore, Spain needs immigraiton to boost its workforce.....In the end, senor Anden concluded the real solution lies in changing the tax and social benefit structures, which is extremely conterverisal and politically suicidal. He also gave a grim prediction that Spain's economy will likely go into recession in the recent months...but during my time in Spain, I will witness increase in unemployment, increase in price of commondities, faint..... One thing I have to remind myself to do is to read news paper everyday....el pais, abc, el mundo....sign........
the rest of my life
Sign....it is 9PM now, I am sitting here writing my blog instead of going to dinner because I finally gave in and ate dinner at 8PM. Good thing that I brought stuff from U.S....cliff bars....they are actually pretty good...still :(. But I think that it is so difficult to eat lunch at 2 and then dinner at 9....faint....maybe tomorrow I will finally be able to do it.
My landlord e-mailed me about my room, which will have internet and a balcony! yeah!, I will move in on Friday.
I have trying to get some work done, but been feeling unusually tired....
Things to do tomorrow
*open a bank account
*laundry?
*take a trip to the place I am moving in tomorrow...so I can decide for Friday, whether or not to take the T or use a taxicab
Today I heard lectures by both the director of the Fulbright commission in Spain and the president of the university Residencia Universitaria Augustinus-Nebrija. Even though because the room was really hot, or because I have not sat in lectures for months, that I was feeling impatient during several moments. But there were points during the lecture that definitely caught my attention. The director, seniora Maria Jesus Pablos, told us that perhaps this year is the last year where we get to "enjoy life", because then we actually have to work, do some serious studies, puruse a stable living and etcs. Even though I understood what she meant, I have to disagree. I want the last year of my life to be the last year where I get to "enjoy life." Why is it in our society that we are told youth is when life is fun and enjoyable, where is adult is when life is demanding and full of responsibilities. I do hope that someday our education or our upbringing is structured is a way that we told from the very young age that we are to find a goal in life, a really difficult goal so that we will never get bored with life (or always have something to look forward to). :)))
The president of the university, senor Fernando Fernandez Mendez de Andes, he gave a very frank talk about the current state of Spain, its problems with immigration and education. It was quiet eye-opening. He spoke frankly about even though his daughters are in the best university in Spain, they avoid lectures becaues they found the classes to be too boring. Then, during the summer, they would go to other schools around the world like the London School of Economics, and work really hard there. Profesor Andes told us that he was tenured when he was 29, which is not unusual in Spain. Given the ease of getting tenured at Spanish universities, there is not a strong incentive to improve the educational system. He also seemed ambivalent about the immigration in Spain. A few years ago, immigrants were welcomed and they received the same benefits as the people in Spain--free healthcare, free education and etcs. However, when the funding for pension begins to decrease, the government has begun to limit immigration. Profesor Anden agreed that immigrants, who likely to stay in Spain and have children (he said before it was previously thought that they would work for a few years, earn enough money and then return to their natives countries. However, this thought is based on the assumption that most jobs by the immigrants are temporary construction jobs, which is untrue. Most immigrants have jobs in the service sector as care caretaking or waitress, these can last much longer). On the other hand, senor Anden said that most Spaniards would not take the jobs immigrants have, and in order for the economical growth in Spain to continue, Spain needs to be more young people entering the workforce. It is really puzzling that even though Spain is one of the most catholic nations in the world, it has one of the lowest birthrates. Therefore, Spain needs immigraiton to boost its workforce.....In the end, senor Anden concluded the real solution lies in changing the tax and social benefit structures, which is extremely conterverisal and politically suicidal. He also gave a grim prediction that Spain's economy will likely go into recession in the recent months...but during my time in Spain, I will witness increase in unemployment, increase in price of commondities, faint..... One thing I have to remind myself to do is to read news paper everyday....el pais, abc, el mundo....sign........
the rest of my life
Sign....it is 9PM now, I am sitting here writing my blog instead of going to dinner because I finally gave in and ate dinner at 8PM. Good thing that I brought stuff from U.S....cliff bars....they are actually pretty good...still :(. But I think that it is so difficult to eat lunch at 2 and then dinner at 9....faint....maybe tomorrow I will finally be able to do it.
My landlord e-mailed me about my room, which will have internet and a balcony! yeah!, I will move in on Friday.
I have trying to get some work done, but been feeling unusually tired....
Things to do tomorrow
*open a bank account
*laundry?
*take a trip to the place I am moving in tomorrow...so I can decide for Friday, whether or not to take the T or use a taxicab
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