Just got my Masters diplomas (note the plural, ha...ha). One in English, one in Dutch, each signed by all three Universities. They are done really nice. Sooo cool.
Showing posts with label University of Edinburgh. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Edinburgh. Show all posts
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Hogwarts
'Tis the eve of the my final day here in Edinburgh. I suppose I don't have anything miraculously scintillating or enlightening to culminate the last 3-4 months, so I'll spare everyone from the minutia of my miscellaneous musings. Give me a few train rides on the way down to London and I'll produce some laureate quality exposition later this week that even Stevenson would be proud of (not to mention SW Scott)
Last day spent with George making Eduardo & I a full Scottish breakfast (egg, black pudding, lorne sausage, and regular sausage topped with a suitable amount of HP sauce), lunch at UK fast food monopoly Gregg's for a bargain basement sausage roll and 'holiday bake'(rolled in light, crispy, golden puff pastry bread), then George insisting on a fine dinner at a Chinese restaurant followed by a 'pint of heavy' (which is not really so heavy in fact) at the local pub John Leslies.
Onwards by train tomorrow to Hull. I have no clue what is there, but an old coworker will be there so I thought it would be nice to meet up since I won't be making it back to Chicago very soon. Then, York for a bit, maybe Leeds, about 5 days in London, and flight back on the 22nd.
Oh, the blog title refers to the extent of my Harry Potter knowledge gleaned from 3 months here. I did, however, manage to check out the graveyard where the author took lots of the funny names from in the book, as well as the cafe where she wrote the majority of the first book.
See everyone in less than a fortnight!
Last day spent with George making Eduardo & I a full Scottish breakfast (egg, black pudding, lorne sausage, and regular sausage topped with a suitable amount of HP sauce), lunch at UK fast food monopoly Gregg's for a bargain basement sausage roll and 'holiday bake'(rolled in light, crispy, golden puff pastry bread), then George insisting on a fine dinner at a Chinese restaurant followed by a 'pint of heavy' (which is not really so heavy in fact) at the local pub John Leslies.
Onwards by train tomorrow to Hull. I have no clue what is there, but an old coworker will be there so I thought it would be nice to meet up since I won't be making it back to Chicago very soon. Then, York for a bit, maybe Leeds, about 5 days in London, and flight back on the 22nd.
Oh, the blog title refers to the extent of my Harry Potter knowledge gleaned from 3 months here. I did, however, manage to check out the graveyard where the author took lots of the funny names from in the book, as well as the cafe where she wrote the majority of the first book.
See everyone in less than a fortnight!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Exams!
Well, I have finished one exam, and have three more to go.
It's an interesting feeling to feel fairly comfortable with your exams in advance of them. Today, in my fire dynamics exam, I thought I did fine. Not spectacular, not poor, just fine. And I was not terribly stressed leading up to the exam.
I have two more exams tomorrow, and, tonight I was able to quit my studies early, enjoy the haggis, mashed potatoes, and mashed turnips my landlord prepared, have a glass of wine, and watch tv. Probably more relaxing than any normal Tuesday night the last 6-8 weeks.
It is a bit of an odd feeling, though, to be quite prepared when exams come. When I compare my undergraduate, I can't remember a time when I felt like I was really prepared for exams. I never felt like I knew the material very well. Here, I feel pretty prepared overall, withough much worry.
Going into the program, I knew it was going to be hard, and it certainly was hard. Parts of it were extremely difficult. I had to re-learn a lot of material I forgot from undergraduate sometimes, just to begin to understand new material that was presented. But I think the real reason I was ready is because I knew I wanted to be here, and dedicated myself more to the cause.
In fact, I must say, I'm not really even too concerned about the particular grades that I get. As long as I pass, that's fine. I think in undergraduate, I was more worried about the grades. Getting a job depended on good grades, so I really had to. Here, I don't care, I just want to learn and really understand the material, to make myself a better engineer when I'm done. I've worked in the fire field, and I will when I'm done. Fire is a small field where everyone knows each other, new things are always being developed, lots of knowledge is still to be uncovered, and knowing whats traditionally considered correct can even be a hindrance if you can't think for yourself and think outside the box. But a real understanding of the basics is really necessary for that. It requires a more fundamental understanding. So that's what I am going for. And in some classes, I don't feel an exam can justifiably test that particular aspect. 3 questions in 1.5 hours to sum up 3 months of intense learning is just not representative. I feel like I've spent a ton of time this semester studying my butt off (some of the undergraduates even think I'm smart and asked me questions in one class because I'm in masters program, imagine that!), my social life stunk a bit because of it, but I learned a lot, and as a result, am not stressed about exams, and am not really too concerned about the specific grades.
The University has really be pretty great though. Although my classes all felt pretty large, I still felt like I got to know my professors and they knew me at least a little bit (at least who I was). And all the professors, I really felt, are at the top of their fields, so the learning was top notch. With my fire dynamics class, the 10 people in our IMFSE program had separate lessons with Jose. In my finite element class, I was able to visit the professor several times, he had a separate class with us, and held a few extra sessions to help us as it was a pretty difficult class for us due to our varied backgrounds. Nonetheless, it was really challenging.
In the end, I actually feel 'smarter'. Whatever that means, based on your definition of smart. But I certainly know that I know more about something than I knew less about than before I started (that might not make sense, or it might, think about it). But it actually feels like I really did learn something and learn it well, not just learned it for a grade, or do a mediocre job, like it was so easy to do during undergraduate. Still remember my 5th year vibrations class from undergrad, one of the two or 3 hardest classes I have ever taken. The teacher stunk, the material was impossible to me at the time, and the exam was a cakewalk, so I got an A and I didn't learn much. Never used the material for even a split second afterward in work, but nonetheless...
Just a different mindset. Or, maybe I just summed up difference between a master's student and an undergraduate, ha!
I could complain about a few things, but I don't want to be a negative Nancy. So I'll leave with a few more pictures.
Off to more concentrated learning about fire in Sweden. Hooray!
The group with Jose (Never have I actually looked forward to a Monday morning lecture until Jose's class!):
Eduardo in front of our apartment building:
George & I at the beginning of the semester:
In front of the Kings Buildings (Engineering & Science Campus).
Ready to go to class:
Santa Stop here please:
Molisa scratching his heat (does it itch or is the material hard? haha).
It's an interesting feeling to feel fairly comfortable with your exams in advance of them. Today, in my fire dynamics exam, I thought I did fine. Not spectacular, not poor, just fine. And I was not terribly stressed leading up to the exam.
I have two more exams tomorrow, and, tonight I was able to quit my studies early, enjoy the haggis, mashed potatoes, and mashed turnips my landlord prepared, have a glass of wine, and watch tv. Probably more relaxing than any normal Tuesday night the last 6-8 weeks.
It is a bit of an odd feeling, though, to be quite prepared when exams come. When I compare my undergraduate, I can't remember a time when I felt like I was really prepared for exams. I never felt like I knew the material very well. Here, I feel pretty prepared overall, withough much worry.
Going into the program, I knew it was going to be hard, and it certainly was hard. Parts of it were extremely difficult. I had to re-learn a lot of material I forgot from undergraduate sometimes, just to begin to understand new material that was presented. But I think the real reason I was ready is because I knew I wanted to be here, and dedicated myself more to the cause.
In fact, I must say, I'm not really even too concerned about the particular grades that I get. As long as I pass, that's fine. I think in undergraduate, I was more worried about the grades. Getting a job depended on good grades, so I really had to. Here, I don't care, I just want to learn and really understand the material, to make myself a better engineer when I'm done. I've worked in the fire field, and I will when I'm done. Fire is a small field where everyone knows each other, new things are always being developed, lots of knowledge is still to be uncovered, and knowing whats traditionally considered correct can even be a hindrance if you can't think for yourself and think outside the box. But a real understanding of the basics is really necessary for that. It requires a more fundamental understanding. So that's what I am going for. And in some classes, I don't feel an exam can justifiably test that particular aspect. 3 questions in 1.5 hours to sum up 3 months of intense learning is just not representative. I feel like I've spent a ton of time this semester studying my butt off (some of the undergraduates even think I'm smart and asked me questions in one class because I'm in masters program, imagine that!), my social life stunk a bit because of it, but I learned a lot, and as a result, am not stressed about exams, and am not really too concerned about the specific grades.
The University has really be pretty great though. Although my classes all felt pretty large, I still felt like I got to know my professors and they knew me at least a little bit (at least who I was). And all the professors, I really felt, are at the top of their fields, so the learning was top notch. With my fire dynamics class, the 10 people in our IMFSE program had separate lessons with Jose. In my finite element class, I was able to visit the professor several times, he had a separate class with us, and held a few extra sessions to help us as it was a pretty difficult class for us due to our varied backgrounds. Nonetheless, it was really challenging.
In the end, I actually feel 'smarter'. Whatever that means, based on your definition of smart. But I certainly know that I know more about something than I knew less about than before I started (that might not make sense, or it might, think about it). But it actually feels like I really did learn something and learn it well, not just learned it for a grade, or do a mediocre job, like it was so easy to do during undergraduate. Still remember my 5th year vibrations class from undergrad, one of the two or 3 hardest classes I have ever taken. The teacher stunk, the material was impossible to me at the time, and the exam was a cakewalk, so I got an A and I didn't learn much. Never used the material for even a split second afterward in work, but nonetheless...
Just a different mindset. Or, maybe I just summed up difference between a master's student and an undergraduate, ha!
I could complain about a few things, but I don't want to be a negative Nancy. So I'll leave with a few more pictures.
Off to more concentrated learning about fire in Sweden. Hooray!
The group with Jose (Never have I actually looked forward to a Monday morning lecture until Jose's class!):
Eduardo in front of our apartment building:
George & I at the beginning of the semester:
In front of the Kings Buildings (Engineering & Science Campus).
Ready to go to class:
Santa Stop here please:
Molisa scratching his heat (does it itch or is the material hard? haha).
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Life of The Student (IMFSE) Semester 1!
From the life of a project engineer to the life of leisure to the life of a IMFSE student! A small pictorial summary of the goings on this semester (which was not sooooo leisurely):
In all it's glory!
The group:
Snowball fight!
Chocolate muffins give you super thinking power. So do Mars bars (try at least 3 a week!). Deep Fried Mars Bar anyone? The great thing about being a student again: You can have ridiculous facial hair and don't have to meet company codes!
Studying hard in the lecture hall for Philosophy of Structures Tutorial Session:
Me, Hooi, Claudia on our way to class:
Professor Rotter, the world's Shell Structure expert! (And quite an entertaining teacher).
Preparations for the queen and Papal visit to Edinburgh:
Side trip to Pitlochry for some Highland Games:
Scotland vs. New Zealand Rugby game. With our super Scottish landlord George, Eduardo, and visiting friends.
Many a full scottish breakfasts were consumed:
Becoming a professional fiddler instantly at FiddleFest 2010:
Brecht, Karliss & Eduardo at a pub!
The fire research facilities:
With Netsanet & Woody, fire dynamics tutor, PHD candidate. Many a nice discussions on fire were had. Thanks Woody!
The happiest Ethiopian guy in the world! Netsanet enjoys his first snow ever!
Picnic on Arthurs Seat:
Me at my favorite Scottish dance, the Celidh! (Not the guy in the Kilt!)
Studying hard, or hardly studying? I think studying hard. Finite Element Method.
Climbing Arthurs Seat with Brecht before classes began:
Lothian Buses:
Local Pub, John Leslies:
Can you see me?
You get $100 if you can name this guy (and you don't live in Edinburgh!)
Foods for our international foods party:
In all it's glory!
The group:
Snowball fight!
Chocolate muffins give you super thinking power. So do Mars bars (try at least 3 a week!). Deep Fried Mars Bar anyone? The great thing about being a student again: You can have ridiculous facial hair and don't have to meet company codes!
Studying hard in the lecture hall for Philosophy of Structures Tutorial Session:
Me, Hooi, Claudia on our way to class:
Professor Rotter, the world's Shell Structure expert! (And quite an entertaining teacher).
Preparations for the queen and Papal visit to Edinburgh:
Side trip to Pitlochry for some Highland Games:
Scotland vs. New Zealand Rugby game. With our super Scottish landlord George, Eduardo, and visiting friends.
Many a full scottish breakfasts were consumed:
Becoming a professional fiddler instantly at FiddleFest 2010:
Brecht, Karliss & Eduardo at a pub!
The fire research facilities:
With Netsanet & Woody, fire dynamics tutor, PHD candidate. Many a nice discussions on fire were had. Thanks Woody!
The happiest Ethiopian guy in the world! Netsanet enjoys his first snow ever!
Picnic on Arthurs Seat:
Me at my favorite Scottish dance, the Celidh! (Not the guy in the Kilt!)
Studying hard, or hardly studying? I think studying hard. Finite Element Method.
Climbing Arthurs Seat with Brecht before classes began:
Lothian Buses:
Local Pub, John Leslies:
Can you see me?
You get $100 if you can name this guy (and you don't live in Edinburgh!)
Foods for our international foods party:
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