back from Boston's trip Oct. 21-25, 2008

I think my Olympic Blog serves a great deal of my trip in Beijing and afterwards. now I will spend more time here, focusing what I want to do.

Just got back from my Boston's trip, besides the long delay due to storms and burrr cold weather in Boston, I love this trip absolutely. part of me, deep inside of me feel alive, well-connected the spirits there, encouraging me to pursue.

The main purpose of this trip is to attend MIT SDM open house and this year SDM conference. Ever since I returned from my China trip, I put a lot of time to think through how I want to move the next step, but keep not getting a clear picture. I was hesitate to go to this trip but decide to go, to find more information about what I decide to do. I know that I will move out of current place, just matter of time. When most people worry how they could get offer, I got couple amazing ones in hands already. My hot potato is how to execute the plan, how to link each step well, making my own unique linear graphic here. Am I too engineering? Though the schools are very famous, I'd rather to select well based on how education helps my career growth and realize my dream, instead of bragging the fame of school. So, I went on the Boston trip.

Needless to say, I love MIT, like being a nurd in a right place, not feeling odd and getting funny looks from people. That is true, with my own oddness, sometimes, I found very off-beat with most crowd, but in MIT, feeling just in nature. Do not brag how smart you are, as you can always find someone who is smarter than you. Do not show off what you have done, as you can always find someone who did more amazing stuff than you. Here, you learn, you absorb, you dive in with clear vision.

Open house is much like a routine work. I went to check out the financial air and housing. The living standard in Cambridge is way high. Well, there are some drawbacks here, probably this is one of those things I need to get used to or deal with. The fun part of day 22nd was meeting with all current students and alumni. It is a small program with 30+ students. ye, you will get very inch of attention from professor and staff members. is that great? I do not want to be one of oven popseed muffin, rather getting what I am looking for. During the reception, I talked with an elder gentleman who sat next to me, for over an hour we discuss the relationship between engineering design and business strategic planning, fascinating! In the end, he said, "are you ready to be in my class?" ehh?? what class? He is Prof. Tom Allen, will teach one of core courses to me soon. cool!

Due to the time difference, 3 hours between east and west coasts, I keep reading my new book , a good one!

Trip in ShangHai

July 28, 2008 Monday

By early morning, we reached Dalian. The sleeping seat in the train was really comfortable. I only have 3 hours to be home before I headed to airport flying to ShangHai. My mom made fresh noodles. In Chinese sayings, welcome with noodles and eat dumplings at farewell. I'd rather to eat noodles.

View from Dalian airport, I just felt amazed with those apartment buildings.




Reach Shanghai, view the cross river bridge, which is a very important connection here.



Shanghai street, you can see the instant mineral water machine to purchase and local food vendor around the corners.


The largest ShangHai subway terminal, big, clean and safe.



I had some meetings this afternoon, by evening, when I went to hotel, at square, residents having an out-door dancing event. The sweet rhythm and sounds made you relax in the summer night. There are so many different age groups dancing.




Tonight I had Korean stone bowl rice dish, with eggs, veggies and meats. It is much better than the one I got in U.S., later I was told that there are quite a lot of Koreans living in Shanghai.



July 29, 2008 Tuesday
Today I am off since I have a whole day meeting tomorrow. I decide to tour around the city. I went to a traditional place to get breakfast, steaming bao-zi.





In pu-dong, there are many new buildings. But in the middle of pu-dong, there is a large century park, just like central park in NYC. It is a quite get-away place without traveling far away.







If you look at the central building shape, it just looks like a bottle opener. But, that is not Beer company, it is the financial district.


Central lake



Front landscape




Pigeon house





I walked around the financial district, ye, also went to a nice restaurant.



Since I need a pair of professional shoes for meetings, I went to Shinway Union Square "Ba Bai Ban", totally like NYC Saks Fifth Ave inside, locating right by the financial district. I had couple funny things happened there.



At women clothing location, when I asked a lady to pick up a shirt for me, she said that they do not have my size. I asked what the largest size they have, "only XL"!! goodness! By the time I was at shoes section, they told me that they do not have my size of shoes since too big(my shoes size is size 8). I guess I am completely out of Shanghai people average size. South of Chinese are petite, but I am only in petite in U.S. Hai-ya, I tried not to think too much about my size :(







July 30, 2008 Wednesday

Today is the day filled with meetings, talking, planning and discussing. I have to admit, that is very challenging and fun to work with people with different background. But we all have the same passion.

Tonight I went to Huang Pu river, the famous place in Shanghai. You will see the history of this city. One side is Pu-Xi district, another side is Pu-Dong district. Oh, I love this city, not because it is a city, but because its up-beating and youthful spirit!

A defer decision

July 18 I had a call with James Frick at CMU admission about my defer request decision. He was very helpful and suggest to fill out the defer request, due to my Olympic commitment.I really feel hard to make the decision, wishing to have both this year. But in reality, there is no way for me to make the trip to China, and go back to school on time. After the conversation with James, I sat there, cying, soaring for putting "hold" on this offer. In Feb. I went to CMU for on-site interview. Though the school locates in the very hitorical city presenting with years of past-glory on the steel industry, the school is uniquely standing there and super,super welcoming. I had a blast, even took time to learn the city history. Read this book , which is a good history desciption of the city and school.

2008 Olympic Trip Journey

With many friends requests to have a blog about my Olympic Trip, I decided to register one for that purpose. I still want to keep this one as my diary.

So, this is my blog about my Olympic trip:

http://charlotte2008olympic.blogspot.com/

need a clear mind

Jumping among too many things, I try to get a clear mind, not loosing my focus. Today and tomorrow I am off. I will concentrate on my documents. in addition, get everything organized, ready for the trip.

Glad mom found the better way for me to get a spot in U.S. consulate, she is way too SMART and CALM when handling tough situations. I have a list of things to check before I leave for trip, aha, check this one!

xixi, busy time, I only can go to "books" to find my get-away moments. I went back quickly skimming read several books, well, thankfully I read before, otherwise, with this speed, just too crazy. I like those books, hey, what a hack! I do not even share this blog with others, just blahblahblah here :)

"To kill a monckingbird", still remember when Mark VH recommended this book to me, my mind was sucked into the words; "The fountainhead" by Ayn Rand, Tricia likes this one, so do I; "Siddhartha Hermann Hesse" and "Occupied America", there are certain sections, my favorite, I just jumped there to taste my old feelings.

good news never comes alone!

While I prepared how I can communicate clearly and effectively with Tepper admission on July 3rd noon, 11:45a.m., just 15 mins before the agreed conversation time, I received an email from MIT. xixi, good news really never comes alone. This is a decision letter of "yes, we want you to be our MITer!" message. I was stunned and wow!

Before I have to continually spin my head with too many factors, news and reach my decision, I decide to enjoy the news for a while then bother my already complicated situation. Thinking about couple years ago, when I first had this thought, now, I feel the invisible wave that I could touch, to feel what I dream for :) way to go, girl!

July 4th, I went to Cairn's lake house for the holiday gathering. Truly, I am thankful for this country and his freedom. I am amazed with friendly people and great friends I had here.


Current reading: "The PIXAR Touch" by David A. Price (if you have seen any pixar clip, you might wonder how these people pull out the great idea and carry on. so far, this is a good book.) When I use the gift card purchasing this book, there is another book "mountains beyond mountains" got my attention, eeee, when I finish this, aha, I already got one in line.

a late email from Tepper

Friday(June. 27, 2008) very early morning I received the email from CMU which came way too late. If this email came one month early, I have not hesitation, accepted and moved on. But when I could not confirm any information a month ago, I decided to work on my own. Now, this late email just stirred the pot.

I am so thankful for my sweet friends who listen to my wonder and uncertainties, strongly encourage me to think through what I want to do next. want to whining little bit here "I wish I could sneak out of these decision modes for a second..." :)

It is supper hot here, around 90 through the weekend. I am cooked!! whining here again! goodness, I feel my brain is running crazily, well, I have around one week to make decision.

looking forward to see my family! miss them terribly!

Can not wait to see my parents!

I am counting down the days when I will fly home. Ever since I got my flight ticket, I began to feel homesick. Really, how old am I? I wonder if there is a certain age that the person will not feel homesick anymore. I doubt I will reach the age soon.

How much do you believe your own abilities?

Have you doubt if you can do what you dream for? what will you tell yourself if you hesitate with your plan/vision? how much confidence you have in you? more than 4 year's development and planning during my spare time and endless evenings, I am approaching the road to build the steps towards the vision. Many factors and thinkings, totally different kind of "stress", but I am glad that I did not give in before while I was not sure. I am very thankful for my parents supports, many times they encouraged me to look at the big picture I want to go for, instead of only thinking. Do not let the safe net stop your moving-forward steps! what kind of wisdom inside!! I am sure there will be more difficulties on the road. I bet there will be time I will be hesitate with my decisions and question. I am glad that I am working and making things happen, then just dreaming. Oh, I love the beauty and unknown of life. Keep up, working hard and focus, you will get there. oh, hey, do not forget to have fun!


I am counting down the time when I will be home. It is always home for me there. I am longing for seeing parents, families and friends. Though I will bring part of tasks along the trip, I will enjoy every minute. Watch this Beijing Welcome You

Current Reading: Harvard Business Review -- Interviews with CEO. This book definitely gathers the good amount of CEO with their advice, wisdom and suggestion. Perfect timely for me to get my mind off the things and listen to their words.

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to myself! Yesterday was the Bday, my friend Kristen took me for lunch and Jane & Henry took me for dinner. Tonight, my friends Spee and Bishop hold a birthday dinner for me. I enjoy the time with friends very much.

On birthday, there was an call from the Olympian newspaper sports section interviewed me about my upcoming trip to China working for U.S. Olympic Committee. Here is the link of the news Unfortunately, there were a few errors in the statement. I just have to laugh loud for what is on the newspaper.

This year's birthday is less anxious and stressful than last year. I feel that I am much patient and willing to look the alternative options.

Current reading: How the best of the best get better and better.