Reverb12 Day 11: What was music to your ears?

Before moving to today's Reverb, I want to mention a little about yesterday's reverb:
What was the greatest risk you took in 2012? What was the outcome?

This prompt reminds me the Improv class I took last session, an important thing I learned from that class is taking risk!  But it's a little bit hard for me to figure out what is the "greatest" risk that I ever took. Sometimes, when we think about our past, the "greatest" seems to be not great at all. If I have to choose one, I think it is what I wrote on reverb day 7: trying to "sell" myself! Taking risk and facing what we are afraid of is profitable!

Okay, here comes today's prompt: What was music to your ears in 2012, literally or metaphorically?

This year, I realized that I love ballad and fork songs! To be honest, I was not a music lover especially pop music. By saying not a music lover, I mean I do not listen to it frequently. I usually listen to some soft music before sleep or after getting up, but seldom like other teenagers, stick to earphones during the day. As for pop music, I may have a "prejudice"towards pop songs and I think most them are too "noisy" or only about the so called "love"...

But this year, I changed a lot. The fuse is: I downloaded about 200 pieces of ballad and fork songs. After listen to some of them, I found I feel in love with ballad and fork songs! Most of them are very quite and melodious. I can close my eyes and immerse myself in the sea of the beautiful songs. So now, you may see me wearing my headphone and listening to music during the day!

Below are some of fork songs I recommend, and you cannot miss them!

 End of May- Keren Ann

Albacore-Ani Difranco

Abigail Washburn-Ballad of Treason

Blackmore's night-Memmingen

Nick Drake-Time Has Told Me

Just enjoy them!!

Reverb12 Day 9: Your favourite book?

What was the best book you read in 2012, and why? (And by "Why?" I mean: Why did you read it? And why was it your favourite? Although these answers could be one and the same...!)

The best book I read is Sophie's World, written by Jostein Gaarder, a Norwegian writer. It is an interesting introductory book about philosophical thinking and the history of philosophy.

The book of Sophie's world

Actually I have read this book when I was in elementary school. Of course, I cannot understand this book at all. What interested me is not the philosophy, but the story: who send Sophie the letters? Who is Hilde? And who is Alberto?

This year, I re-read this book and like it very much! On one hand, I get a lot of philosophy ideas from this book. From Socrates to Descartes, from Hegel to Freud. This book is a door to the world of wisdom. On the other hand, reading such a great book is enjoyable. I can jump out from the sea of mathematics formulas, forget the strict thinking pattern and relieve from all kind of academic pressure. And I can think about the intriguing questions like who are you? Where does the world come from?

I even plan to read this book again in 2013! But this time, I plan to read the English Edition instead of Chinese one.  It's foreseeable that I will encounter a lot of challenges when reading, but anyway, I believe I will learn much more by reading the this book again and will have a try!

The world is so mysterious!

Have you ever read this book? If not, I encourage you to read it if have time! Do you have any book that want to recommend to me? Tell me!

Reverb12 Day 8: Your most important relationship?

Considering the idea that nothing lasts forever: what was the most important relationship that you fostered in 2012? 

How will you continue to nurture it in 2013?

During 2012, I met a lot of new people, but the most important relationship I fostered is with my current roommates: Mochong, Yanran and Xueying.

We are classmates before coming here, but honestly speaking, I have many other good friends and do not know them quite well. After coming here, we live together and hence have a lot of time being together. What I find is: they are really very good guys and I feel lucky to have a chance know them better.

Mochong is a typical Northeast girl who is very broad-minded and considerate. Yanran is a lovely and energetic girl who love making cake and would spend several hours helping us with Algebraic Topology. Xueying is also very lovely and has her own ideas.

Our together time are full of laughter and sometimes, I would ask myself: what if I came here alone without the company of them? I must feel very lonely and miss my friends in China very much! But because of them, I got used to the new life very quickly and enjoyed these months very much! They are really important to me!

In the new year, they will back to China while I will stay at United States alone. I bet I will miss them when being alone... But I will keep in touch with these good friends!

Alone but not lonely!

Reverb12 Day 7: What will you take with you?

What's the one thing you want to take with you into 2013?

Of course, the answer is BRAVE!

As you know, I am now trying to be more brave and recently I find brave helps! It is very profitable! Here is what I get from being brave. Sounds like a dream!

It sounds like a beautiful dream! 

I attended a seminar; I encouraged myself to waited to talk with the lecturer; I forced myself to sell myself; and I got the chance!! The professor took away my CV and transcript, and finally he invited me to do some research with him semester! What's more, he would even pay me stipend each month!! That's what I haven't imagined before!! That's what I get from being brave!!

Although the professor is at Mathematics department, not Biostatistics department at which I want to study most, I can stay at Emory next semester,  I can walk by Biostatistics department and talk with professors there, and I may even audit some courses there! I believe these will enhance my chance of being admitted! Well, to talk with the professors and require to audit courses, I need to be brave. So, I will definitely take "BRAVE" with me into the new year!

Yes, be brave! And you will find you can achieve what you think you cannot!

Reverb12 Day 6: What did you learn?

Compare the “you” from the beginning of 2012 to the “you” that you are now. What new skills or talents have you learned or discovered this year?


Sorry for late. I don't want to break the contuni. , so make it up~

Overall, this is a fruitful year!

The first half of this year is quite normal. Just like every college student: study and play. Things begun to change when I came to the United States...

The first important thing I learned is how to cook!

Before coming here, I seldom cook. When at school, there are dining hall which provides cheap and delicious food, so I do not have the need to cook. (By the way, I don't have the place to cook when living at school.) When at home, ohoh, my mom is an excellent cook so I will just wait for eating! However, when I come here, since I do not like American food and nobody will cook for me, I have to prepare food for myself. Luckily, I have the gene of "good cook" get from my mom. I learned how to cook quickly and I like the food I cooked!

Hoho~ I am a cook now~

Another thing I learned is how to be brave!

I know I am still not brave enough, but I am on the way of changing! Here, I want to say thanks to my Improv and Blog teacher Ruth, who is so patient and encourage me a lot! I really appreciate that! What I find is: brave helps! I now want to announce the "lucky thing" I mentioned before but maybe it is more appropriate to write it into today's blog~

The two skills I learned are so useful! Cooking allows me to live healthily and brave makes my life more colorful and meaningful! Do you know how to cook? Are you brave? If not, I encourage you to learn these!

Reverb12 Day 5: What was your dream destination?

What was your dream destination in 2012 and why? 

Definitely, my answer to this question is: one of my dream school in the United States! It can be Emory, Gatech, UMichigan...

Emory University. 

Sometimes I would ask myself too, why I want to go aboard? Won't it be easier for me to stay in China? Won't I be happier to live with my parents and friends. Maybe! Liveing in a foreign country, I have to face all difficulties by myself. When I am ill, I have nobody to turn to except the doctor. When I am blue, I have to calculate the time difference and waiting to talk with my friends on the other sphere. So why? Why my desire of studying aboard so intense?

Two "objective" reasons are: education here are much better and opportunities here are plentiful! But these objective reasons seem too weak to support me. I think maybe the answer lies in "self-Prophecy". If you told yourself you want to experience the life in another sphere when you are ten years old, twelve years old, sixteen years old, twenty years old, then you would feel that going aboard has become one of you mission and one of the destination you are looking for!

Luckily, I have a chance to taste life in America before being admitted to graduate school. I like this kind of life. Busy but free!

I am looking for a sky to fly high!

Reverb12 Day 4: How will you celebrate YOU?

How are you going to celebrate your self this festive season? 

Oh, yes, I really need to celebrate myself after these super days! In the past few months, I was busy with applying graduate schools and recently, I am busy with preparing for the final exams. Sometimes I may stay up till 2am!! Oh, hard to imagine! I am not sure when will I have be not that busy, but once have time, I must celebrate myself! So,how?

Well, the first that appears in my mind is sleeping sleeping and sleeping!! Haha, I will turn off my cellphone and alarm clock and sleep three days!! Then, get up and eat my favorite chocolate! 

Turn of the alarm clock and have a three days' sleep!!

But that's far from enough! I also want to celebrate myself by travelling! Have a trip to all places around China! If things go well, I will spend at least five yeas in the United States to finish my PhD study. So before leaving China, I want to spend at least one month doing nothing but travelling! To see the beautiful scenery of Lijiang, to feel the sacred at Tibetan and to eat all kinds of snacks at Chengdu!

The Old Town of Lijiang is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Lijiang City, Yunnan, China.

Reverb12 Day 3: What do you really wish for?

Below is today's prompt! An interesting topic that I have asked myself for thousands of times.

What do you really wish for?

Living life on a transplant waiting list gives you lots of reasons to reflect on what you've achieved in your life, and what you wish for the future.

Imagine a scenario where you only had one year left to live. What is one thing that you really wish to do that you just haven't had the chance to accomplish yet?

I have a lot of dream and the most "urgent" one is trying to be admitted to one of my dream graduate school. Doing research means a lot to me and I love the atmosphere of university. I love contact with young people who are engertic; I love discuss with people who are very intelligent and I love reading and thinking. So instead of trying to go to industry and earning a lot of money, I prefre to leave at university and do what I like. In order to become a faculty at an university, I must graduate from a relatively famous university. So to live the life I dream of, I wish I can achieve this "urgent" dream in the near future.

University of Michigan. One of my favorite universities! (Photo from the Internet)

As for lifelong dream, I think that's pretty simple as well as a little bit blured: do what I want to do, reading by myself, travelling with my friends, and... Yes, just a kind of lifestyle, my lifestyle.

I am looking forward to the year of 2013 and I hope it's a year of harvesting!

Harvesting.

An inborn fearless girl

Today, I interviewed my roommate Yanran, who is very brave and love to try new things. Below are our conversation:

Interview. I am interviewing my roommate Yanran! (Photo by our friend Mochong)

Summer: Yanran, I think you are very optimistic. Do you think you are a brave girl? Is their anything you are afraid of?

Yanran: Well, it really depends. Most of the time, I think I am. I would express my ideas bravely and do a lot things others are hesitate about. But there are some things I am afraid of, such as exam! I am quite anxious about our Algebraic Topology exam!

Summer: Uh-huh, I see! Me too! So what makes you so brave?

Yanran: It is inborn. I am inborn love trying new things and not afraid of challenges. I think it is inborn.

Summer: Inborn? You make me really sad. I am not an inborn brave person. So are there any suggestions you want to give me?

Yanran: Hum, don't think too much and just do it. I mean do not take days thinking about the possible bad consequences. That will make you irresolute and do not dare to have a try. So next time when you want to do something, don't care about what others may say or think, and don't consider too much about the consequences, just do it.

Reverb12 Day 2: Your most significant spend?

The answer jumped out once I see today's topic:

What was your most significant expenditure in 2012?

It doesn't have to be necessarily the biggest expenditure, just the one with the most impact.

What difference has it made to your life?

Yes, my most significant spend is going aboard!

I really appreciate my alma mater, Xi'an Jiaotong University, who gives me this precious opportunity! So that I can study at another sphere of the earth. My alma mater sponsored most of my fees here, but I still have to undertake some of living expenses. Not much but very significant to me!

Xi'an Jiaotong University.This is one of the school gates of my alma mater. I love Jiaotong University very much!  (Photo from Internet)

This expenditure allows me to experience a different style of life. Eating sandwich each morning and saying "have a great day" to every one I meet.

Sandwich. After coming here, my breakfast is always a sandwich and a cap of milk. I really miss the "youtiao" in China! (Photo from Internet)

Reverb12 Day 1: How are you starting?

I take part in the Reverb12! Every day, I would post an article about the topic post by Kat. To reflect on the 2012 and to plan the new year!

Reverb 12 "The month of December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest your dreams for the new year." (from kat)

Today's topic is:  How are you starting this last month of 2012?

I really want to say something encouraging or colorful, but the truth is: swamped in preparing for the Algebraic Topology exam!

I should prepare for this tough text earlier! But just busy with reading literature suggested by the professor I am going to work with, and busy with applying graduate school. Today is my first day of reviewing, and I know it is a little bit late. Many of my classmates have prepared it for days. But anyway, I will make the best of remaining four days.

Final Exam. The algebraic topology is a very hard  graduate level course. (photo from Internet) 

Yes, your can never look down your potential! So, Summer, facing the challenge bravely!

How to Blog?

I am a blogger but only a beginner. Despite my inexperience, I learn a lot these days from my teacher Ruth about how to blog! Below are what I have learned during the last several weeks:

Blog. Blogging seems to be easy, but not at all! To be a good blogger, you need to learn a lot of things. (Photo from Intetrnet)

1. To be a good blogger, what you need to do first is to choose a topic! To decide what you are going to write about, to create a theme that you like and to choose your own voice! Like me, I am quite shy and want to be brave, so I build this blog to cultivate my courage and to express my own opinion.

Choose a topic. This is an essential step of blogging! (Photo from Internet)

Reflection #5 Happy & Lucky!

These days, super busy! But today, I feel super happy, and, lucky!

The happy thing is, today is the birthday of my roommate Mochong! Happy birthday to her! She is such a nice girl! Very optimistic, very generous and very considerate! I still remember the day she prepared food with me. All other people went to play and only she chose to stay and work with me. I was totally moved at that time! Again, Mochong, Happy birthday and wish you all the best!!
 

Working. Mochong is very good at preparing food! (Photo by Summer)

Ice Cake. Very delicious ice cake although it is a little bit too sweet. (Photo by Summer)

A late "Thank you"

I should write this on Thanksgiving. But... Anyway, I hope it is not too late.

Thank you, mam and dad! You are so warm and supportive! I know that you want me not to be too far away from home but you also agree me to further my education in the United States. You encourage me to chase my dream and be what I want to be. Thank you!

Family. Family is such a warm word! Thank you mam and dad! (photo from Internet)

Thank you, my dear friends! My life become much more colorful because of you! Thank you for staying with me when I am sad! Thank you for listening to my complain when I am angry! I will always remind myself the happy time we have!

Friends. Thank you friends! (photo from Internet)

And thank you to everyone I know! You make my life being like a life!


Saying thank you shouldn't be limited only on Thanksgiving day and I will keep a heart of gratitude!

Thank you!

Fragments of My Life

This is a story of a Chinese girl studying in Georgia Tech as a visiting student and wanting to pursuing her further education in the United States...

You know, Chinese food is famous all over the world and so let's begin with lunch:



Chinese Lunch in the United States.   This is a typical lunch of me in the United States: instant noodle and yogurt. In fact, before coming here, I seldom eat these kind of food because they are not very nutrient. But now, it seems like that I will eat these "junk food" everyday. One main reason is that it is easy to prepare. Uh-ah  I'm a little bit lazy to cook food... I really miss the delicious food in China! (photo by Summer)



My desk.  Here comes a photo of my desk. Maybe the most "odd" thing is that there are two laptops. Yeah, I bought a new one several weeks ago. Not because computer in the United States is cheaper, but because my old one crashed down!! Oh, what a terrible thing!! There are a lot of important materials in it especially those paper work for my application! Luckily,  I took out these important data and put in my new ultrabook. By the way, I really love my new computer since it is very thin and light, and I can carry it with me easily. That does help me a lot in application! (Photo by Summer)



My favorite piece of cloth. This photo was taken when I was ten years old and from that time on, obtaining more about the nature, pursuing a higher degree and further my education in America has become my dreams. I hope in the near future, I will put on a real doctor's academic dress! (Photo by photographer)

Reflection #4 A peace day

Today is a quite peace and normal day. But I don't want to stop reflection just because it is peace. So I searched the Internet to find some inspirations. Here I read some good articles about how to gain courage and I will arrange them in an interesting way:

Article #1: How to Cultivate the Courage to Deal with Daily Challenges (3 tips)

Article #2: How to Have Courage (5 tips)

Article #3: how to increase your courage: 7 tips

Article #4: 20 Steps to Courage

It's a little bit late and I don't want to spend too much time on summarizing these articles. The key point, in my opinion, is: JUST DO IT! 

Most of the time, we need to jump out of our comfort zone! (photo from Internet)

Reflection #3 Brave will pay off

What a beautiful day!

I feel so lucky to take part in the seminar about MRI and waited for 30 minutes to talk with the lecture! I feel so happy to ask my teacher for help and really appreciate her reply! I feel so wise to put down my "stubborn" and listen to opinions from other people. I feel that brave begin pay off!

Again, what a wonderful day!

Still on the way. Just keep smiling and be positive. Looking forward to the new day!

New day. Waiting for the new day and waiting for bathing in the sunshine! (Photo from Internet)

Reflection #2: Be positive

Today, I find a poem by chance and want to share with you:

REALITY OF FEAR:

You’re not scared of the dark;

you’re scared of what’s in it.

You’re not afraid of heights;

you’re afraid of falling.

You’re not afraid of the people around you;

Fear (from Internet)

you’re afraid of rejection.

You’re not afraid to love;

you’re just afraid of not being loved back.

You’re not afraid to let go;

you’re just afraid of accept the fact it’s gone.

You’re not afraid to try again;

you’re just afraid of getting hurt for the same reason.

Reminiscent: a brave story of mine

Believe it or not, I used to be quite brave. And if you want to listen I will tell you the story...

Tengfei Tower. This is one landmark in my university: Xi'an Jiaotong University. When I first entered it, I was curious about everything: huge campus, grandiose library and most importantly, the various activities. I took part in four clubs and countless activities and among them is the debate competition. That's the beginning of my story...(photo from Internet)

Me and my best friend Yue Sun. Yue is one of my best friends in university. Actually I am quite hesitate about whether to participate in such a competition. You know, I am not good at debating and quite shy when speak in public. It was Yue who encouraged me a lot and finally I agreed to challenge myself and have a try! (Photo by our friend)

Reflection #1 Keep going~

Before going to bed, it is time to do a reflection. 

I believe an important source of improving is to look back and think about what you did and what you thought during the daytime. So reflection will help us mature and keep on reflecting is a great way to kick away the yellw pig. One great philosopher Tseng once said:

Each day I examine myself in three ways: in doing things for others, have I been disloyal? In my interactions with friends, have I been untrustworthy? Have not practiced what I have preached?

Tseng One great philosopher in China. He is a student of  Confucius and  is credited with having authored a large portion of the Great Learning, including its foreword. Zengzi's disciples are believed to have been among the most important compilers of the Analects of Confucius and other Confucian classics. (from wikipedia. Photo from Internet)

And I may also examine myself in three ways: in doing things, have I been active and grasped the opportunity? In my interaction with people, have I been brave enough to express my unique voice? In the way of chasing my dream, have I keep faith and havn't waste too much time? Aha, maybe not so strict, just a reflection.

Restart

I'm a little ashamed of my laziness. I've promised I will kick away the yellow pig, but it seems like the passion just  fade away quickly...

Thank you, Naho. Thank you, Ruth. Your replies let me realize that there are others who care. So I decided to restart and I hope it is not too late...

Busy can never be an excuse! I do have time for coffee although most of the time it is for refreshing rather than relaxing.

LITANY

To my upright and tenacious farther! I always love you!

You are the aspen and the oak,   

the marvelous evergreen and the pine.   

You are the spartina native to the salt marshes

and the sunflower under the sun.   

You are the imperial lion in the prairie
and the free eagle soaring in sky. 
  

Sunflower

However, you are not the mimose in the grassland,   

the epiphyllum in the garden,   

or the mouse ready to escape.   

And you are certainly not the lamb flinches in the sheepfold.   

There is just no way you are the lamb flinches in the sheepfold. 
  

Lamb

This I Believe

What is BELIEF and what's my core belief? It seems to be a quite broad question. By reading numerous stories in THIS I BELIEVE, I begin thinking this question seriously. We can believe in everything: believe in Peace Can Happen, believe in Becoming a Parent Is a Gift, believe in Never Give Up, and believe in I Am Not My Body! The core belief we have is what we say to ourselves when we are alone and it supports us when we things do not go well.   

I believe

For me, I believe all difficulties are not as difficult as we think and we can conquer them by taking the first step bravely! 

We are Together!

Finding Friends with you is a good idea to start a journey! We can have fun when travelling, encourage each other when facing difficulty and share our ideas when discussing around the table. That sounds like so great! So I use Google to search people who want to be brave, who love life and who enjoy thinking and reflection. Below are the treasures I find:

Friends

Coffee With Hallelujah

What an interesting blog name! Actually it’s my English teacher’s blog. Despite she declares it’s a blog about art and there are a lot of fantastic pictures drawn by her, I can read more than art: her positive attitude towards life, her original ideas about humanity and her feminism. All these are very inspiring to me! Open your mind, be creative! Fear not, be yourself! I have so many to learn from her!

Hallelujah Truth's Friends

3rd 4th day: Breaking Down

Oh, I have to say I fail to take out my plan these two days.

Yesterday I did went to the seminar about Hyperplane Conjecture, but since the English ends at 12 and that is exactly when the seminar begin. So I missed the first part and did not know what the lecturer is talking about! Alas, I should prepare for it before.

Seminar

The rest of yesterday I was busy with rewriting my Research Proposal and totally forgot kicking away the yellow pig! Perhaps I should think out some "punishments" so that I could keep on reflecting every day. But I am afraid this will make this journey less enjoyable. Oh, oh, what should I do? My dear, friends, do you have any suggestion?

Second Day: Finish Research Proposal

Yesterday I did finished my Research Proposal and send it to the professor I want to apply for. But this morning I received his reply saying that my proposal is too dilute. Multiscale modeling is a totally new area to me but I only spent two days to read literature in this area. So what I wrote are all generally ideas about its development. But to be a PhD student, I must pinpoint the specific area I want to indulge in! Deadline is Nov.15, I must hurry up!

This afternoon, I am going to attend a seminar about Hyperplane Conjecture, a totally new area too. It is a great opportunity for me to train courage. So I will force myself to ask a question or talk with the professor. It’s much harder than asking question to Ruth. But the harder it is, the more I can learn from it.

Say hello to the new day!

New Day!

 

First Day: Be Brave to Ask a Question!

I should write this yesterday! But I “forgive” my tardiness because I am quite satisfied with my performance yesterday: asking Ruth a question in class.

Since I knew I have a task to finish, I remind myself at the very beginning of the class: find something you are not clear about, stand up and speak out loudly! But I have to say that does affect my listening. Instead of paying attention to the lecture, I kept on finding question. Yes, asking question should be a natural and spontaneous action and I am not good at that. Finally I got a chance and asked a small question. It is so minor that I now forget what it is!

As the saying goes, opportunity favors the prepared mind. Then there came the chance: Ruth asked us what we’ve learned from the activity! I tried to organize my language but just at that moment, Ruth decided to choose a student to answer. Oh, she must be upset about us inactive Chinese guys. What should I do? Stand up despite I am not well-prepared? Or let the great chance slip away. A voice appeared: do wait for the perfect idea, just go for the good one! Then I raised my hand! I am a little surprised by that! I achieved!

Stand out!

I find that asking question is not as easy as I think but stand out is not very hard! Just be brave!

Tomorrow, oh no, today, will be a diligent day! I plan to finish my Research Proposal about Multiscale Modeling. It’s gonna be very challenging, but I have to because the deadline is around the corner! I am ready!

Research Proposal

 

At the Beginning of the Journey!

Welcome! Welcome to my blog! Welcome to kick away the yellow pig with me! I will write down my journey of overcoming my laziness and timidity. As long as you like thinking, like reading and like challenging yourself, welcome! Let reflect every day and overcome our weakness during this journey!

Welcome!

As I said in “about me”, I am an idealist and have a lot of dream. But laziness and timidity make me lost a lot of great opportunities. I do not want to flinch behind and regret afterwards, so I have to change! Every day, I will give me an “assignment”, either about “brave” or “diligent” and then I will try to finish the next day! It’s gonna be quite interesting at first but very challenging to keep on doing.

The first day of my journey is a brave day which may provide me the courage I need. My first task is asking Ruth a question in class! Sounds like quite easy but I am sure I can learn a lot from that. Oh, I am eager to begin!

Asking Question!

Are you with me my dear friends? Do you like reading and reflecting? Do you have the same problems as me? Do you have similar dreams with me? Do you want to have a change? Let’s start! Let’s kick away the yellow pig in our heart! Let’s go!

Journey