It is possible to walk through walls.

It is possible to be in two places at once.

It is possible to be standing and moving at the same time.

It is possible to create life.

It is possible that we were created.

It is possible that we are not alone.

It is possible that we evolved.

It is possible to move mountains with our minds.

It is possible that there is no Ultimate Truth.

It is possible that there is Ultimate Truth.

There are infinite possibilities. And, they are all relative.

I have no idea why I am so addicted to honey roasted peanuts from Walmart. They are so tasty, and I know that they aren’t particularly healthy, but it’s hard to stop. I guess it’s better that being hooked on something more fattening like chips, fried food or desserts. It’s like I get hooked on something every year. Another thing that I love is the Strawberry-Banana nectar from Walmart and the Fuze Refresh Strawberry-Guava drink.

Okay, enough of trivial speak. I figured this was a good time as any to write something on my blog and web space that I am paying for. I just didn’t have the motivation to blog the past few months. It would come up in my head but I never got around to actually doing it. But, instead of blogging, I’ve been doing a ton of photography and uploading on flickr. I just cleaned up over 1300 images from my winter trip and uploaded them onto Flickr. Flickr’s unlimited upload limits are fantastic for my needs. The service is really worth the money I pay every year. I’ll start using Zooomr when they get the Flickr import tool integrated because I don’t have the patience to upload, and tag all the information that I already have on Flickr.

Best of India (352 images) | All the shots from India (1012 images) | Heathrow and Philadelphia International Airports (120 images)

It’s unbelievable that I’ve been at Penn State for 8 months already. I’ve been learning so many new things. All the reasons for grad school are panning out, and I’ve gained experience in more ways than one. Academically, I’ve been filling the holes in my education from a non-materials engineering background. So, an introductory glass course, surface chemistry, thermodynamics of materials, advanced glass structure, kinetics of materials and characterization of materials later, I’m starting to gain some theoretical insight and knowledge for my research. [warning: science content ahead ] The big picture is to look at interface chemistry of Rohm & Haas‘ green Aquaset polymer and John Manville’s wool glass composition which make up the EPA award-winning new environmentally friendly formaldehyde-free insulation products (original pdf file). For now, I am making flat glas samples to check the contact angles of the polymer and its components on the glass surface. And then, do a time dependent contact angle analysis and surface composition after the solutions dry out using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). I will also do Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to look at surface morphology. This should give me some idea what to expect with the same tests on glass fibers. I’ll describe the fiber making process when I actually start making my samples for real.

Beyond school, swing dancing is going rather well. I pick up a few new moves every month. I also have 4-5 regular dance partners who mesh well with my style. I would mention names but I guess I shouldn’t. All I can say is that there is a girl who is an amazing follow who has an great style of her own. And then, there are three girls who picked up swing and Lindy so quickly, it’s still mind-boggling. They move very well, and can follow my lead style. And related to that, I’ve also uploaded several swing videos on Youtube, and found plenty of videos to pick moves up from.

Amnesty International (PSU Chapter) has been a great club and cause to be a part of. I’ve learnt a lot more about human rights, and have gotten more interested in such matters as the Sudanese genocide and terror war based human rights violations. I’ve also made some friends in this club which is pretty nice. The other one that I am involved in is the Penn State Public Issues Action Committee. I am trying to get a new fundraising idea off the ground that has the potential of raising several hundreds of thousands of dollars. The up side of this range is $1,000,000 and up if we get access to all the sources we need, and over 50% of students/staff/faculty participate. We want to use this money to support non-controversial sustainable projects in Third-World countries. We want to ask people to donate 1% to 5% of every transaction they make on campus towards this fund including parking. But so far, the Parking department is not willing to play ball and not giving us a reason. I am still to hear back from LionCash.

I have to start working out soon. I feel slow, and my stamina needs rejuvenation.

And I leave you with this candid of a girl with an iBook at Heathrow International. I like this shot.

I know that my new beginning started the moment I left undergrad, and truly took off when I stepped foot on Penn State’s campus. Classes have been underway for a couple of months, and it is ridiculous to stop and think that two months have sped by at the speed of light. However, in terms of what differentiates this experience from Coe is the expectations involved in research, as that’s paying for my education, and more. So, during the last few weeks, I’ve been diving into my work and learning the ropes of the trade. I just got trained on the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) today morning, and took a short day course on Fourier Transform Infrared Microscopy (FTIR), and a training session on the Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). I am just excited to broaden my instrumentation skill set. I’ll be learning how to use the X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). I need these instruments to characterize the surface and interfaces on my glass and polymer coating. You’ll know more when I know more.

I am also leaving the field of casual amateur photography, to a serious amateur level as I got new gear including a brand new Canon Digital Rebel XTi (black) [$750], three lenses (Sigma 28-70mm F2.8-4 [standard, $80], Canon EF 70-300mm f4-5.6 IS USM [zoom, $560], and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II [lowlight, $75]), a Canon photo backpack 200EG [$35], Canon 200DG bag, extra battery [$70], a Canon monopod 100 [$30], Canon RC1 wireless remote [$18], and a Sunpak 6601 UT tripod [$20]. I started with a few shots of the sunlight breaking through the clouds, and I’ll try to take more tomorrow during the dances.

I’ve also gotten involved in a few clubs on campus, although I think I might be the only graduate student in most of the groups. I love Penn State Swing Club because it is incredibly active, and I dance more than twice a week. That helps me de-stress, and make new friends. I am also heavily involved in Amnesty International, and the Social Awareness Committee. I recently attended the regional Amnesty International meeting at Delaware, and made a few friends from Penn State and University of Delaware, apart from staying/hanging out with Jenn for the weekend. The Social Awareness Committee needed a person to manage and create a new blog for them, as well as help with the podcasts. So, most days I have my hands full, and love any down time I can get. I usually leave in between 8 or 9am, and get back anywhere in between 6.30pm, and 1am. Monday’s and Wednesday’s are the two days that are the busiest, with full load of classes and clubs in the evenings.

And to end this post, an image that personifies a new beginning in a novel way that’s not related to plants or bugs.

The Birth of Water, originally uploaded by javanutmom.

Liminality (from the Latin word līmen, meaning “a threshold”).. The liminal state is characterized by ambiguity, openness, and indeterminacy. One’s sense of identity dissolves to some extent, bringing about disorientation. Liminality is a period of transition, during which your normal limits to thought, self-understanding, and behavior are relaxed, opening the way to something new.. [Wikipedia]

 
originally uploaded by April H..

I don’t know why but this word has been my favorite since I was introduced to it during a religion course on Hindu deities at Coe.  This zone is possibly one of the most feared in life, and those who navigate the murky waters, are successful in life.

originally uploaded by indoloony..

I’ve been in this zone since May, and the fog is clearing ever so slightly. I knew how it was going to feel, starting up again in a new place, where my slate is wiped clean, for a fresh beginning. I get to learn from my mistakes, and make sure I don’t make them here. A lot of these mistakes pertain to my social life, because learning how to deal with the multitude of cultures was painful at times. I have been very careful about how I approach peers, and not dive into anything rushed.

originally uploaded by raspberrytart..

You have no idea how worried I was about screwing up with first impressions because I come on hard sometimes. I’m very opinionated, and if I am not careful, I blurt out things I don’t mean to say out loud. That’s why I’ve been keeping my criticisms to a minimum with my new friends. I need to forge solid friendships before being fully honest, and talk about my pet peeves.

originally uploaded by CarminaGitana..

I know that there are others in this zone, but they seem to coagulate far too homogeneously for my taste. This is not restricted to any one regions, but is widespread habit from non-English native speaking students. I find that rather unfortunate because they could have studied in their own country if they didn’t want to experience culture here, which makes it different. Some people are paranoid about losing their cultural identity, which is a rather cowardly notion. Shying away from something new, and potentially more exciting, is a sad way to live life. However, that might be too harsh of a judgement if I didn’t know how their next 2 to 5 years were going to play out socially. What I wish for the the kind of interaction from the image above, and it is pretty evident that this movement is catching on. I must know, since my first love was an American.

originally uploaded by Miss Cleopatra.

It is also a vicious circle, when it comes to interactions between different cultures. Each one regards the other as a foreign entity instead of seeing that we are all the same people with different tastes, and backgrounds which includes culture. We all want the same things in life.

originally uploaded by indoloony..

Anyway, I am waiting to see when I do get out of this liminal phase, to full integration into a new place. Right now, I am enrolled in bridging courses, meant to give me the required core concepts needed for my research, that I was missing from undergrad. This is perhaps the most important liminal state that matters for my future. I am working my way through this phase, so that I understand my research and the science behind it.

I will get out. It is only a matter of time.

This group (flickr) is about supporting Lebanon and raising awareness about the war that is occurring there.

Pictures: Every member is required to take a picture of themselves with a red cloth tied around their wrist and tape being pulled away from their lips symbolizing their support for the people of Lebanon.

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