Sigh and sigh and sigh

In life, there are many things that we can sigh. What do I like to sigh? Hmm... lets see:

(1) That everyone works so hard, in turn makes me work hard, and in turn making them work harder
(2) US has very few good food outlets
(3) It takes so long to establish yourself
(4) It takes so long to get to level 70 in WoW
(5) All large institutions have so much politics that everyone has very little room to manuvre
(6) I didn't meditate consistently
(7) I miss living in Singapore
(8) I couldn't find a way to do research for Singapore
(9) My table is quite messy

It does seem that there are more to complain than to cheer about. Actually, the fact is happy things open up opportunities which you would take immediately. Then they pass. Obstacles stay for a while. So they bother you much if you let them do so.

Nonetheless, if you can't solve it, its not a problem. Yes, but I still like to complain. tsk tsk...

Sigh... :p

PhD? Wow. Tough.

Many people ask me how am I doing. Recently, I normally say "Alive," "Tired," "Lots of work." Truly, doing a PhD in US isn't easy. There are lots of pressure point beside your own research. Every process was planned out for you, and you have to clear them, like Americans production process.

First, you have to clear about 10 subjects.
Then, there are teaching duties.
Then, there is an exam. You have to read about 53 hard papers, and then take an open-ended exam that last one week.
I think there is a bit more, but all these for now.

On top of these, there is your real goal, to do a breakthrough research and write your thesis.

Tough... its not the difficulty I guess, but more of the workload. And to some extend, which makes you ask, "Why do I have to do this?" "What's that for?"

Guess I am grumpy. Maybe not enough WoW. Oh I miss Ya Kun.