Farewell Michigan

And so it has come to this. My final few days in Ann Arbor. I have been going for random walks the past two weeks, snapping pictures around the North and Central campuses. Has it already been a year? Well, almost. And what an eventful year this has been. Sure, not every experience was a good one, but life isn't a bed of roses, is it? It has its ups and downs, and being here for an extended period means I've had my fair share of each kind. Thankfully, I could say that there have been more ups than downs here.

There are so many people I want to thank for all my experiences here. To everyone that I've met here who has guided me and helped me out in one way or another in shaping this unique American adventure, you are very much appreciated, and please, let's keep in touch. I also want to say a huge thank you for all the SUPPORT from everyone back home, family, friends, colleagues, and erm, the taxpayer?! I couldn't have done it without your faith and confidence. I'm proud that you are proud of me.







This is such a cliché, but I will definitely miss this place. If anything, I've experienced independence like no other time of my life. And I truly, truly enjoy it. But it's also time to return home, to leave this phase of my career, of my life and enter a new one. Exciting times ahead, I should think.









Beautiful sunsets... something I will remember very very fondly.




Well, it leaves me then to say, Thank you Ann Arbor, Thank you Michigan (Go Blue!), Thank you America. Goodbye, and till we meet again!

Penultimate weekend

I have been finishing up on my coursework at the university, making changes to my paper, and essentially giving it some touch up before my submission just prior to leaving. It looks alright, although I still can't say it is the best yet. Well, I still have about a couple of days to give it some icing.

At the same time I'm also packing up in preparation for going home. It's a surreal feeling, barely a year ago I was unpacking right at this very apartment, trying to see where to place certain things, deciding what additional supplies I need to get, and so on. I have amassed quite a bit of things in 11 to 12 months that I'm here, and it took quite a few trips to the dumpster. Still, it feels like I'm bringing home a lot of things. And I mean, a lot.

I have started to "look back" at my time, here, but I still don't want to blog about it so quickly. Maybe I'm not ready to say goodbye yet. Yes, I'm not ready. A friend who used to study in the States told me he took more than 2 months to get adjusted back to life at home upon his return, and I'm wondering how long I will take myself, being such a sucker for nostalgia.

But ready or not, this is the penultimate weekend, which means next week is the final weekend, and then my subsequent weekends will be spent back home. Will I enjoy my weekends back home? But of course, there are friends and family members with whom to catch up (quite excited to be eating my sashimi and bak chor mee, and drinking sugar cane juice). Will I think about my weekends in Ann Arbor? You bet. It's just a different lifestyle, a lifestyle carved out for myself during my stay here.

But I have to move on. After all, a new phase of my life and career awaits me.

In the meantime, back to more packing...

Bambi

Was on my way to the gym today, when I spotted two young deer (aka fawn) cooling off under a tree on a rather warm, sunny afternoon. Of course, the paparazzo in me decided that this was a photo opportunity too good to be missed, so I ran back to my apartment to grab my camera.

I've always seen deer walking around, and in fact was "approached" by one some months back while going to the laundry room, but have never had the chance to take pictures of them, so this time .... carpe diem!

The two deer pretty much went about their business while I took their pictures, although they did stare at me quite a bit. Maybe they were thinking, should they take a picture of me? After a while though, they decided that I had overstayed my welcome and started to run away to another tree.

In any case, I managed to capture quite a few shots. It's Bambi and Bambi come alive!

Two short summer holidays

Went on two short holidays recently. Very refreshing and fun, as always, short as they may be. With the intensity of the summer classes and my paper writing, it's great to just get away now and then. Of course, noting that I have just a few weeks left in this country, I just had to seize every opportunity to travel locally.

My first trip was to Arizona, the Grand Canyon State (and also very very hot state, literally), with a few other guys. Needless to say, the highlight of the trip was the visit to Grand Canyon. What do I make of the landscape? simply awesome. There is really a reason why it is a natural wonder of the world.








We also visited Sedona, "red rock country", a little bit south of Grand Canyon. The temperature there was higher, about 40 deg C, and the low humidity made the place feel a bit like a giant oven. However, the magnificence of the scenery was enough to cool down most of the heat.








The four of us, with our jeep.


My other trip was within Michigan itself; namely to Frankenmuth, a German-flavoured town about 1 hour's drive away, north of Ann Arbor, and to Grand Rapids, Michigan's second largest city on the western part of the lower peninsular (about 2 hours drive from Ann Arbor). Took in some of the sights and a bit of history in both places, though the feelings that resulted from the visits were somewhat different.

Frankenmuth was the place where some German immigrants first arrived in Michigan, hence the German name of the town. While the small history museum was rather lovely to visit, and some of the architecture there was also quite quaint, the place in general gave me a rather touristy feel --- not always the best thing for me.







Visited the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, and what a brilliant history lesson I had. The late former president is a very much celebrated person at my university but I did not know much about his life and his work, until the very enlightening visit to this museum. An amazing man, with a legacy that is truly remarkable. I remember being awed when I visited the JFK Presidential Museum in Boston last year, and this museum is just as excellent.







Looks like these may be my last two holidays here in the States before I return home. Still a long list of places here that I want to visit, but I suppose they will have to wait till a (hopefully not so) later time....

Back to summer term work!

New friends and summer

The summer term has just started this week, and it has been really interesting for me. Made 4 new friends in my classes, and they all come from different countries: Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Canada. It could be the weather, but everyone's just in a jolly mood in general, even though the summer course is pretty intense. I'm coping fine with it so far, I guess. The lecturers are clear and fairly animated, and they somehow make everyone feel quite at ease.

I'm more worried about my "amazing" paper that I need to churn out by the end of the term for my professor. Have been working on it since the middle of May. Goodness, it's really baffling, but sometimes the more I care about things, the tougher I find the going to get things done well. Am I pressurising myself? Maybe. But I don't want to end my intellectual adventure here with a bust. I don't need fireworks, but at least the end product should be something decent, what with a year of new knowledge and perspectives!

Crossing my fingers....

Remembering someone dear

365 days (or rather, 366...) . It's been a while. Still remember that exact moment. It was strangely calming at that point for me. You were no longer suffering, and you looked really peaceful.

I still think of you, and smile at the times we've shared. It's tough, even after a year. I know, mortality is but a part of life (how ironic!), I just regret that I have not been able to give you a better life.

Though once you ruled my mind
I thought you’d always be there
And I’ll always hold on to your face

You meant something more to me
Than what many people will see
And I hope you’ve gone to a better place

Sometimes, I still dream of you, still feel your presence, still hear you talking to me. Whatever the case, I just feel happy to have had your love, care and concern.

Time is running out

Just realised that I have less than 3 months left of my postgraduate life. It's a mixbag of feelings, at least for now. On the one hand, it's probably (and I do mean just probably) nice to get back to work, but on the other, this student life is just too precious to give up! I think I have really gotten into the rhythm of attending classes, doing readings and assignments, watching cable TV, going to the gym, travelling, and then repeat. Is this dreamland for me? I still feel so. I recall exactly two years ago when I was informed that I have been awarded a scholarship to study in the US --- my jaw literally dropped. And now, here I am, doing the "looking back" thing, albeit prematurely.

Many predecessors at work, as well as friends have often told me to enjoy all this because I will miss it once I get back to work.

And I think I will..... ow....

I've got to go for another road trip sometime again!