It’s been quite sometime since I’ve written in my journal, although with only a month left before graduation, it just doesn’t seem like a very important thing to do. A lot has happened since spring break in early March and I’m going to try and summarize some of the highlights.
Just yesterday, I got back from a three day, two night trip to Worcester, Massachusetts with two other students and a professor. During our time, we attended CCSCNE 2006, a computer science conference for small colleges in the North East. There, we showed off the research we had done on our Bluetooth Automatic Data Acquisition and Synchronization Software. It was an interesting conference, although not as academically rigorous as I had hoped. It seemed like a lot of the papers presented were more suited for an IT conference and not for a CS one, although it was interesting to see what issues were being faced by professors. Moreover, the general caliber of the conference, compared to Apple’s WWDC ones that I’d attended, was lower. Granted, this was a much less expensive conference and was of course aimed at a different audience. It was quite nice to get away though and the accommodations at the Crowne Plaza were more than amenable. Plus, we had the opportunity to relax in the evenings, sample a couple of more-or-less local brews, and just have some time to reflect on the future.
About a month ago, I returned from a 9-day trip to Bogalusa, LA. During the trip, myself and a close friend led a community service trip with 8 other students as part of Hamilton’s Alternative Spring Break program. We travelled in a college-sponsored van two days each way and spent the remaining five days learning about the area and helping out. For the most part, we spent our time roofing - removing shingles and tarp, repairing the wood, and re-shingling. We also took part in some demolition and trench digging; basically our purpose was to help as much as we could.
A very touching moment was when we visited New Orleans. Having seen the damage left by Hurricane Katrina on TV, it wasn’t until we visited the devastated areas that we came to fully understand the destruction. Houses were absolutely gutted; cars completely destroyed. The force and the resulting damage were horrific and words (as well as images) do little justice. Areas of New Orleans were still without power and the 9th ward, the worst hit area, felt like a mass graveyard/battlefield. Along with the sad moments, there were also plenty of positive ones. We saw the French Quarter, spent time with the locals, and were able to stop in both Nashville, TN and Birmingham, AL on the way up and down. Plus, we got to change our van’s tire half way through the journey home! I’d describe it more but I think pictures do more justice. As such, feel free to flip through the photos I took during the journey!
To the present: two more weeks of classes, finals, Senior Week, and the job hunt. Time is running out and it’s definitely affecting me. I’ve made so many good friends and am in a wonderful relationship, making it difficult for me to be happy that this life is coming to an end. But at the same time, I’m excited. Work, traveling, and new experiences all lie ahead. Moreover, since I do plan to return at some point to academia in some form or another, I know what to look forward to. For the moment though, it’s time to get back to the present: my thesis, homework, grading, and the desire to fuel my caffeine addiction.
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I felt the same why just before finishing up my degree. It is very different afterwards, and going back to academia will never be the ame after the first time, BUT in my experience all the actually good friends remain close and, as you know, my wonderful relationship is just about to hit it’s third year. The end of University doesn’t mean the end of everything!
Least of all the caffeine addiction… Ahh, espresso.
Off to Nice for a flying (party) visit this w/e - we’ll wave to Villefranche for you :-)
Jess on April 24th, 2006 at 02:12 pm