Tsang's RISE Trip

New Kids on the Block

So, been a while, but I was in Prague and it was difficult to get internet access. Apparently it was only possible to get into the internet/hostel room if a) somebody left the door open or b)the cleaning lady was cleaning the room. I promise to upload some of the nicer photos, but you can check out my msn space (on the sidebar link) for a complete set of Prague photos. It is beautiful, but I think 1 whole week is too much...maybe 3 to 4 days.

In the time that I have been gone, there has been 3 new arrivals to Dortmund. Before, there was Laura Grisby from U Tusla in the Chemistry dept., Lynn Sutter from McGill and Cat Lewis from Whitman Uni in the Physics Dept. We have been joined by Sasan from Temple U, Lauren Cassidy from Sage and Kenneth Kamp from U Missouri (who reminds me quite a bit about Mike Hull...the resemblance in personality and appearance are eery).

It seems like everybody here who is doing this program is mostly in their second year of school. I wish I applied earlier and had more chances for exchange. For those of you considering something like this, I highly recommend it. The learning curve is steep and you find yourself learning at a much faster pace than in school. This is partially to the different system they have in Germany. University degrees are not the typically bachelors and masters; they have a diploma program which are said to be equivalent to a masters when students finish. As a result, the dipl. graduates are truly specialists in their field. The dipl. graduates are working on their PhD's and have been doing that for over 4 years on average. They have to teach courses and have more responsibility than our TA's back home at Queen's. The professors are more research focused and to my understanding have a more hands off approach to the students. Talking to some of the other students and grad students here really made me appreciate the support I had at Queen's and the relationships we were able to make with our professors.

For the 2 weeks and change that I have been here, I feel that World Cup has probably changed Dortmund (obviously) in that the town is always bustling (except Sundays). I vaguely remember the few days before the festivities started and feeling that the city was quite busy with a mainstreet full of pedestrians. However, I am assuming that this could change after the championship, but I have been enjoying the atmosphere so far. There are lots of people everywhere celebrating all the time and it is hard to find an empty spot to sit. Also, the sales have been good so far and I am looking forward to collecting WC merch once this is all over.

Well tommorow is another day and probably filled with new things to learn so I am signing off.

posted by ktsang @ 11:25 PM