It's been a year since i blogged here and I have graduated from this magnificent university ~ Cornell!! It's been a year since i have graduated with my Master...The experience had been memorable with bittersweet events...apart from the workload had been very challenging and stressful. I am glad i gone through the experience strong and with a great support from my dear roommates and friends at school and my "patpo" gang friends!! Not forgotten my dear parents and sisters!!! They have been my pillar of support throughout the year and without them i wouldn't have grown so much and stronger than ever before...
Thank you so much to all and my achievement is proudly shared with you all!!! Cheers!!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Friday, November 19, 2010
Life is tough @Cornell especially as international student
It is almost at the end of my 1st semester at Cornell and it is the worst timing of the season. The projects are pilling up, due dates are around the corner, exams are indefinitely coming soon in 2 weeks' time and the contents of every courses are extremely difficult. Well, everyone would say this is what a graduate life should be and it is always more challenging than undergraduate. I do agree with that but the expectation is so high here and the pressure is just so intense that there are a few people who blackout in labs or while working on projects.
After being here for a few months now, I can definitely say that Computer Science and Engineering at Cornell is extremely difficult, and these words actually came out from the ex-Cornellian who did their undergraduate here. The projects and exams are all super difficult but yet they are interesting if the professors actually covered them in classes. The problem here is the professor assumes that it is your responsibility to search and figure it out yourself and they won't cover them in classes. Well, there is good and bad here and i hated the way when it is a total new content for you and when you go to the office hours of the teaching assistants, they are not entirely helpful and they would just bombarded you with "why not you tell me this..., or think about this..." and why can't they just explain how should i look into and give me some idea what the whole thing is about. I know they do not want to spoon-feed the students but come on, everyone is a student, and I made it clear it is totally new thing and i did try searching in the website to understand it, but can't you help to explain to me as i do not understand the whole picture.
The worst part is when you are an international student who did undergraduate in other places, the whole situation just get worst. It got worst because we have different background based on the different syllabus being taught, and the culture cum the language being used here...as the slang or the local terms here are so new to us. The worst part is that the professor would assume all the students know everything as he thinks that the students did their undergraduate at Cornell. And he would just say you already known this from "xxxx" class and it is the same..and then some of us would just go blank (the international students) and we have to figure it out on our own.
Well, I know it's tough and i can't complain as I just have to work harder. But it's not just about working harder...i have worked very hard....studying and working on projects 24 hours a day except for 3-4 hours of sleep...and the work is never ending and the time is so limited. It's really stressful here and sometimes i would think why would i need this....is this for my future career? (i do not really need this as I have my career) and is this for my better life? Well i do not think this will provide me better life after graduation except of getting a Master degree. My earlier thought was to learn and expose myself to the new technology as US has the fastest yet latest technology, but after being here...makes me think getting back to school to experience this is a silly thing to do as i can see...it makes no different that students/people here are all competing to get good grades for better career and life...so it is very restrictive.
And the students here especially the locals and the undergraduates are so selfish and ignorant. They would just compete among themselves and not sharing any information when you need some help. It is really sad...cause though they are super smart but the interpersonal personality is so bad and I really dislike the students here. On the contrary, the international students are more helpful and they tend to help each other cause they know it's tough and we tend to share and back each other up. So sometimes, the locals here or the people should not stereotype why international students tend to stay together because the locals are the one who create this environment.
Anyway, I will continue to strive no matter how miserable and difficult life is here...i just wish that i won't do so badly in this semester...but it is really eye-opening to experience the different culture, lifestyle, the people here and their perception.
After being here for a few months now, I can definitely say that Computer Science and Engineering at Cornell is extremely difficult, and these words actually came out from the ex-Cornellian who did their undergraduate here. The projects and exams are all super difficult but yet they are interesting if the professors actually covered them in classes. The problem here is the professor assumes that it is your responsibility to search and figure it out yourself and they won't cover them in classes. Well, there is good and bad here and i hated the way when it is a total new content for you and when you go to the office hours of the teaching assistants, they are not entirely helpful and they would just bombarded you with "why not you tell me this..., or think about this..." and why can't they just explain how should i look into and give me some idea what the whole thing is about. I know they do not want to spoon-feed the students but come on, everyone is a student, and I made it clear it is totally new thing and i did try searching in the website to understand it, but can't you help to explain to me as i do not understand the whole picture.
The worst part is when you are an international student who did undergraduate in other places, the whole situation just get worst. It got worst because we have different background based on the different syllabus being taught, and the culture cum the language being used here...as the slang or the local terms here are so new to us. The worst part is that the professor would assume all the students know everything as he thinks that the students did their undergraduate at Cornell. And he would just say you already known this from "xxxx" class and it is the same..and then some of us would just go blank (the international students) and we have to figure it out on our own.
Well, I know it's tough and i can't complain as I just have to work harder. But it's not just about working harder...i have worked very hard....studying and working on projects 24 hours a day except for 3-4 hours of sleep...and the work is never ending and the time is so limited. It's really stressful here and sometimes i would think why would i need this....is this for my future career? (i do not really need this as I have my career) and is this for my better life? Well i do not think this will provide me better life after graduation except of getting a Master degree. My earlier thought was to learn and expose myself to the new technology as US has the fastest yet latest technology, but after being here...makes me think getting back to school to experience this is a silly thing to do as i can see...it makes no different that students/people here are all competing to get good grades for better career and life...so it is very restrictive.
And the students here especially the locals and the undergraduates are so selfish and ignorant. They would just compete among themselves and not sharing any information when you need some help. It is really sad...cause though they are super smart but the interpersonal personality is so bad and I really dislike the students here. On the contrary, the international students are more helpful and they tend to help each other cause they know it's tough and we tend to share and back each other up. So sometimes, the locals here or the people should not stereotype why international students tend to stay together because the locals are the one who create this environment.
Anyway, I will continue to strive no matter how miserable and difficult life is here...i just wish that i won't do so badly in this semester...but it is really eye-opening to experience the different culture, lifestyle, the people here and their perception.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Seneca Lake
Seneca Lake is one of the five finger lakes in Ithaca. It's a huge lake surrounded by hills of vineyards. Seneca Lake trail is famous for its wine trail and grape winemaking.
There is a driving trail around the Seneca Lake but i did not go round the lake due to limited time i had. Therefore, i stopped at the Seneca Lake harbor to get the scenic view of the lake....
There is a driving trail around the Seneca Lake but i did not go round the lake due to limited time i had. Therefore, i stopped at the Seneca Lake harbor to get the scenic view of the lake....
The colorful falls of Ithaca along the drive to Seneca lake
The Seneca Lake harbor
The view of the Seneca Lake (in the evening)
I had a great peaceful evening enjoying the breeze and the picturesque view of Seneca Lake
Ithaca is Gorges!
Fall break is here and it will end soon on Tuesday. I did nothing much this Fall break except shopping for winter jackets and also did a short trip to visit one of the falls in Ithaca and Seneca Lake. The break is short and before i get enough rest, it's time to be back in the battlefield of once the class starts again.
Do you know the best time to be in Ithaca is during the Falls? The reason behind is Ithaca is a countryside and it is full of natural beauty...and there are a lot of gorges (falls) around Ithaca. The wonders of nature is fascinating and it relaxes my mind and soul after all the stress from study and assignments.
One of my recent visit was the Watkins Glen Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park. The gorge was really gorgeous and it took my breath away! The beauty of the gorge was incomparable to the waterfalls in Malaysia. It's sad to say this but it's true...The place is so well maintain with the park and the falls are profoundly beautiful with flora and fauna.
It is a must visit place if you are in Ithaca especially during Fall season @ Watkins Glen State Park and its gorge.
Do you know the best time to be in Ithaca is during the Falls? The reason behind is Ithaca is a countryside and it is full of natural beauty...and there are a lot of gorges (falls) around Ithaca. The wonders of nature is fascinating and it relaxes my mind and soul after all the stress from study and assignments.
One of my recent visit was the Watkins Glen Gorge at Watkins Glen State Park. The gorge was really gorgeous and it took my breath away! The beauty of the gorge was incomparable to the waterfalls in Malaysia. It's sad to say this but it's true...The place is so well maintain with the park and the falls are profoundly beautiful with flora and fauna.
It is a must visit place if you are in Ithaca especially during Fall season @ Watkins Glen State Park and its gorge.
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen Gorge ~ isn't it spectacular??!!
The beauteous landscape of Watkins Glen gorge
Far view of the gorge
The gushing fall of the Watkins Glen gorge...it's gorges!
Natural beauty of Watkins Glen state park during fall season...
Monday, October 11, 2010
Grapes picking
I love grapes and i finally found a farm which i could do grapes picking! Yeah, i can pick my own fresh grapes! I have always buying grapes in supermarket and i have no way to get fresh grapes especially when i was in Malaysia. All grapes are imported in to Malaysia and there is no way to get fresh grapes and even the taste is super different...
The grapes here are so sweet and they have sweet flavor with rich rosy sweetness of pungent when I eat them in my mouth. It's really good! Moreover, with me being able to choose the grapes and pick the grapes which i wanted, the experience was indescribable! I had a lot of fun and good time with my sister and our friends picking the local traditional grapes from Ithaca. They were grown from Ithaca and has been grown over many generations...The grapes varieties which I picked and ate were Concord, Catawba, Niagara and Delaware. And the grapes sold there were really cheap...it was $0.45 per pound! I got 6 pounds of grapes with only $2.70! i had 2 weeks of grapes!
The grapes here are so sweet and they have sweet flavor with rich rosy sweetness of pungent when I eat them in my mouth. It's really good! Moreover, with me being able to choose the grapes and pick the grapes which i wanted, the experience was indescribable! I had a lot of fun and good time with my sister and our friends picking the local traditional grapes from Ithaca. They were grown from Ithaca and has been grown over many generations...The grapes varieties which I picked and ate were Concord, Catawba, Niagara and Delaware. And the grapes sold there were really cheap...it was $0.45 per pound! I got 6 pounds of grapes with only $2.70! i had 2 weeks of grapes!
Concord grapes
Delaware grapes - small red grapes with sweet flavor
Niagara grapes
Picture taken with the farm owner. She was a sweet lady ^_^
Cornell Homecoming Football game
I had my first live American football game when Cornell had its homecoming football game against Yale on September 25, 2010. My friend, Assel and Sam came with me to watch the homecoming game.
It was held at Cornell Football stadium and graduate students got free entrance to watch the game! Yippee!!!
Though i did not really understand how the game worked, but it was fun to watch a group of "big" guys ran over each other over a "small" football to get touch down. And they even had cheerleaders and the band to cheer for Cornell football team. However, it's unfortunate that Cornell lost to Yale by 7:21. It was a great lost but it was a good experience for me to watch live football. In addition with the great companions i had, they made my day a spectacular one!
It was held at Cornell Football stadium and graduate students got free entrance to watch the game! Yippee!!!
Though i did not really understand how the game worked, but it was fun to watch a group of "big" guys ran over each other over a "small" football to get touch down. And they even had cheerleaders and the band to cheer for Cornell football team. However, it's unfortunate that Cornell lost to Yale by 7:21. It was a great lost but it was a good experience for me to watch live football. In addition with the great companions i had, they made my day a spectacular one!
The football game is on! Go go Cornell! (Red was Cornell and white was Yale)
The Cornell band performance
Our Cornell "Big red Bear!"
The cheerleading squad
A night out with my roommates
I am blessed with 3 wonderful yet friendly room mates! They are Kaity from NYC, Pratima from Toronto, and Yoganya from Melbourne. All of us come from all around the world. What a wonderful mix!
Well, after being busy hunting for classes in the first 2 weeks, we finally had some time for dinner together. We had our girls' night out and we had a sumptuous dinner at a Vietnamese Restaurant and we started to get to know each other better...everyone was shocked to know that i am married and have 2 kids! Ahaha...guessed i really don't look like a married woman or maybe i looked very young (which is a compliment to me).
We had a long chat and hang out for that night...it was a great night out with my room mates!
Well, after being busy hunting for classes in the first 2 weeks, we finally had some time for dinner together. We had our girls' night out and we had a sumptuous dinner at a Vietnamese Restaurant and we started to get to know each other better...everyone was shocked to know that i am married and have 2 kids! Ahaha...guessed i really don't look like a married woman or maybe i looked very young (which is a compliment to me).
We had a long chat and hang out for that night...it was a great night out with my room mates!
My room mates! They are wonderful girls!
Had my first play on darts...really interesting game and it's not too difficult to learn..
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