Wow, it's been a long time since I've updated anything (bad, Biyeun, no biscuit!).

Well, school has basically taken over my life. I'm thoroughly enjoying MIT--exploring new avenues, making new friends--but this comes at a price for a person like me who is only a beginner in time management. As a consequence, more time in the real world = less time in the virtual...and taking a very difficult physics class, in a particular subject I have not had ANY previous exposure to, does not help either.

But I love learning. I love a challenge.

And I'm certainly getting that here.

(Stay tuned for a MAJOR decision at the end of this post)

Also, I don't have that many digital photos to share with you right now, as I'm delving into the world of film. I'm taking a class called "The Finished Print." It's an advanced printing class, but my advisor (who teaches it) let me join without any previous printing experience.

So Anyway, over the course of the past two months I've learned a lot about different types of film (how the speed of the film affects the size of the grain in the photo), types of paper (how different tones affect the appearance of the print), and developer, exposure time...just a lot of stuff.

Spring term just started at MIT.

Term began with everyone piling into the ESG lounge, welcoming the newbies to the study group. All of us bright-eyed, well rested, and determined to make this term better (since grades actually do matter this time around).

Anyway, the week has been completely insane, good thing IAP slowly brought me back into academic mode with 18.02A (Calculus II). I'm off to get some dinner and when I come back it's study time again...

My classes this semester are as follows:

8.022 - Electricity and Magnetism (for Masochists): the more advanced version of Physics II, with a lot of calculus and theory. Since I plan to be a physics major, this course is a must. And it just so happens to be taught by Peter Dourmashkin (this is ESG, people), who is amazing.

18.03 - Differential Equations: Ah, now that multivariable is over, it's time for differential equations.

4.101 - Experiencing Architecture Studio: I initially wanted to take Introduction to Photography, but, unfortunately, the class conflicted with everything so I had to go with 4.101 (which is also required for Architecture majors, as in I need it to do my double major in visual arts). Yes I'm completely insane, but we've established that several times already.

SP.2H3 - Ancient Greek Philosophy and Mathematics: This is my communication intensive HASS class. I haven't actually had it yet since the professor has been out sick this week, but it will start tomorrow for sure.

SP.237 - The Artist in the World: This is a seminar that Graham is teaching. Every week an artist comes in to talk about his or her work, and discussion about art ensues. It's fantastic! (more about this later)

Oh, and guess what?

So a lot has been happening since I've been back at MIT for IAP (Independent Activities Period).

At first I thought I'd have a fairly light month, since it was IAP and I was only taking one class: 18.02A (the rest of Calculus II).

See, IAP consists of the entire month of January. It's completely optional and students can choose to take classes for credit, for fun, for both, or they can teach.

Well, I loaded my plate by taking not only 18.02A, but teaching a web design class, and taking a alternative printing photography class that Graham was teaching (Gum Bichromate).

Let's just say IAP wasn't as "restful" as I thought it would be. But let me tell you, it was certainly still a blast (aside from, you know, Stokes' Theorem, and such).

This weekend was the grand finale for all the robotics classes. On thursday I watched the 6.270 (autonomous lego robotics) finals. Yesterday I watched the Maslab finals. Jim and Bayo were on Team Awesome, and Quentin and I came over to root them on.

Robotics + MIT = a grand madness of fun.

Wow, I haven't posted anything in a long time.

So much has happened that it will require two posts to explain it all.

First, a recap of winter break.

Home.
Seattle.
I love this city.

Well, technically I live thirty minutes outside of Seattle at the foot of the cascades...but I still love to visit the city when I can.

I just woke up from my nap.
My near 20 hour nap that is.

Why? Well for the past three and a half days I had slept a total of maybe four hours. To answer the über why?! coming out of my mom's mouth right now...

Creative marathon.

You see, 4.301's final project involved installing public art somewhere around MIT or Cambridge/Boston area. And, if you've known me for a while, you know that I'm a sucker for large creative projects. So I took an idea that Graham (my freshman advisor and way cool photographer/composer/genius) had for a photograph/postcard and turned it into a sculpture involving 80 plaster arms.

All I can say now is, thank god it's over.

And a huge thank you to my magnificent and dedicated friends who've helped me pull off this (problem-ridden) project.

Yes, that means you...Jim, Charlie, Graham, Ashley, Samantha, Jacky, Bayo, and Mindy.

You all totally rock my socks.

Now onto the "making of" this manic manifistation...

In case you haven't checked yet, I have finally made an update to a page other than this blog! Check out the code page, and read about how I make this crazy stuff--well, kind of.

Anyway, on to how crazy life is at MIT now. We're in the middle of "mid-terms," or rather just our second tests where they would normally be, unless you're a masochist and are taking 18.01A like me and are nearing your fourth test. It's been crazy. Not to mention I spontaneously decided to join crew last week...

To de-stress, I've been taking a lot of photos. The other day I crossed the Mass Ave. bridge and sat on a boat dock along the Charles to snap a few shots of the sunset.

Joggers often stopped by and sat down at the other end to rest and meditate.

Just as soon as I started wishing I'd brought my iPod to listen to some scene-fitting music, a man comes up, sits down on the edge of the dock, and starts to strum his guitar! He told me he just came back from an audition with a music school nearby--said it went really well, but that he was still too young for them to accept him into the program.

He curiously watched me take photos, and I listened to him play guitar. Eventually I asked if he would let me take his picture in front of the sunset. The result: the photo below, an exchage between artists. How cool is that?

Boston is full of some very interesting people...yes, indeed.