In Which I Overcommit
September 4, 2014
Today was my first physics class. I was excited to begin quantum mechanics, yet, when I arrived it turned out I had already missed a full hour of class the previous day. Unbeknownst to me, while I was sorting out my enrollment, the first tutorial slot had already been filled by a lecture! However, given the fact that I had just recently completed my degree in physics, it was not to difficult to catch up on the few bits of linear algebra revision I had missed.
Following the lecture, I returned to Hillel for lunch and browsed the student activities fair. The student activities fair was a giant array of tables and stalls set out along locust walk, with every student group represented. I signed up to pretty much everything, wanting to gather information on all the opportunities available on campus. In retrospect I probably signed up to a few too many and would later start un-signing myself from a number of clubs that I prematurely joined.
At 7PM I raced back to my room for the ‘hall meeting’ in which I met the ‘graduate associate’ for my floor, an adviser from the graduate body who provides pastoral care and support to all the residents. The meeting was uneventful but not un-enjoyable and Karen, the GA was very relaxed. Soon after I sprinted over to the Annenberg Performing Arts center for a sound check to arrange an upcoming concert, and following that to Ware College house for another hour long gig. This gig was particularly high on energy and the numbers that I wasn’t in all sounded excellent and were highly entertaining.
The following day was mostly empty and I spent much of it in my lab, reading papers and getting some homework done. Other than that, the usual running around to arrange my new life. I took a nap in the early afternoon to rid myself of the last vestiges of jetlag and subsequently it was time for Shira Chadasha at Hillel. The service that evening was particularly beautiful but also packed full with people. I’d estimate over one hundred and twenty people had crammed into one small hot room, all singing, all dancing. Dinner was at Hillel again, nothing special to report, but I hung around for a long time to chat with a number of old friends.
Before going to sleep I made a quick pitstop at the ‘glouse’ (glee club house/residence), said a quick hello and then was fast asleep, not to wake till late the next morning.
Sunday/Monday – Day 237/238
March 29, 2013
Things didn’t stop going well over the next few days. Some of my best times at Penn. Sunday was a full day of work. After I woke up that is. Coding till so late the night before, didn’t exactly give rise to a full day of awakedness. Bits of group project work and lots and lots of physics. I didn’t realize that much of the physics on the assignment we hadn’t actually covered yet and so I spent hours trying to figure out what was going on, with much futility.
Had a new ‘chevruta’ (learning partner) in the evening with Shlomo Klapper, that was most fulfilling. Thankfully too, it came with dinner and bagels, the last chametz of the week!
After that I headed to Kiwi with Yoni Weider and Ariella and we had a good chat over some real US style frozen yogurt!
I didn’t sleep much that night, had another minor argument with someone and it just kept replaying in my head. I’m not a fan of conflict.
The next morning I was up early for minyan, siyum and biur chametz (prayers, meal and public burning of bread), in preparation for Pesach (passover). There was a small crowd there but everyone got very into it all. Had a short day, with a midterm that went excellently despite little to no study for it. I then packed by bags, walked with Aviva through the rain to drop off her homework and ran to the car where her dad was waiting for us to take us to her place.
The details of what happened next I’ll leave to further posts, but needless to say my next few hours were exciting.
Monday – Day 188
February 5, 2013
Today was up early again for physics, I seem to be handling it a little better thus far but the timing of the homework clashes really badly with my timetable. Monday’s is when we have the recitations in which we can get help on the homework before Tuesday, so I diligently attend. However, following 9AM I have no breaks till 11PM at which point I have to write up the entire weeks work before sleep!
Other matters that arose today were paying my rent for the first time, dealing with the bank (not really a super fun experience) however, Steve, the manager at my local branch of the PNC bank was really helpful as he always is and helped me to get my issues sorted. A quick lunch at Hillel and then an hour and a half long briefing on the next project due for networking. Security at the moment is really just repeating all of networking and adding a few details here and there otherwise, so it’s not super enjoyable.
Rehearsals tonight were both good but I have way too much work and Steph and I ended up cancelling our weekly chat. Next week isn’t looking great for it either with Glee Club Hell Week for our Spring Show which opens next Thursday.