Monsoon Season, Academic Issues, Fun with my Roommate

Situated two degrees above the equator, when it isn’t raining in Singapore it may as well be. Of course, when isn’t it raining during monsoon season in Singapore? I had to abandon whatever western style of dress I still had in favor of breathable fabrics (Nike Dri-Fit and Adidas Clima-Cool are working miracles for me), sandals, and a portable umbrella. Now that I am dressed more appropriately I am beginning to like the weather. There is something relaxing about the tropical flowers, chirping birds and buzzing insects, and the sound of the water trickling its way down trees. Maybe that is all too poetic, but I like it nonetheless.

I spent most of today studying and attending lectures. My courses seem to be (dare I say?) more engaging than those at Georgia Tech. I hated the stuffiness of the classrooms in Atlanta, but here all my professors have shown a genuine interest in teaching. I am probably being too hard on my alma mater – it really is a fantastic school. Like any institution so large there are bound to be a few down sides that pop up every now and then.

Speaking of my home university, I have been jumping through hoops all week trying to receive approval for the courses I am taking. I can tell there is a growing minority within my department who are not happy about what I am doing. Already the deans from two different departments have asked that I stop by to discuss my courses and grades when I return. It does not bother me because I take my courses seriously and have nothing to hide, but it is frustrating nonetheless because they do not seem to care about the upside of my experiences.

The great thing about mathematics, engineering, and the sciences is that they are the same everywhere when it comes to academics. The same material is taught, the same textbooks are used, and the correct answers in America are the correct answers elsewhere. The only difference in my mind is that Georgia Tech’s hardware (research facilities) is some of the best in the world. Since I am not doing any research, this has very little bearing on me.

I would go on to argue that when it comes to learning material and earning grades it is far more difficult in Asia – and the strict bell curve for each course does not help matters. The students are all the best of the best, and must maintain a high standard for fear of returning to their home country/province and losing their scholarships. A group of Singapore students once commented that all they remember from their childhood is studying, whereas all I remember is summer vacations, playing games with friends, and generally “being an American kid.”

Enough academic talk.

I went to lunch with a group of mainland Chinese students I met at the Night Safari and had my favorite meal, Gong Bao Ji Ding (diced Chicken, red peppers, white rice, and vegetables). The prospects for my semester have increased tenfold now that I know I can find this meal on campus.

I have one more interesting tidbit I want to include. I have mentioned that my roommate and I have only had the opportunity to talk a couple of times, but there was our second conversation had a quirky moment. It went something like this:

     Brett: “Where is the best library to study at on campus?”

     Roomie (very seriously): “That is a question of personal taste that I am unable to answer.”

     Brett: “Right”

That is a good place to finish for today.