The field trip to Kingston, TN

It was a two-day field trip with 70% of time on traveling. We spent at least 16 hours on the car within two days, which really made me feel speechless. Even my brain was still sleeping while we were visiting the power plant. It's a trip with litte informative materials I have to admit. However, its a great opportunity to chat with people, in English, to know more about the people I usually don't have the chance to know, to practice my speaking, to spend time to think about my life, to let my thought be deposited. How hard I have tried to fight with myself to stay away from my confort zone. How little I have achieved to live like an American. What's wrong with me? What's wrong with my education? What's wrong with my life?

Desperately, I search for the oasis in the deserted desert. Unfortunately, I am doomed to be mummified without the any mercy of the droplet of dawn.

Things have changed rapidly in the last couple weeks, in NI, at school, home. The desperation for contact is often being suppressed by my laziness and the lack of motivation. Many times I have tried, to live more actively for myself, to forget what you have lost, and to pursue the things that enlighten me in the labyrinth. Nevertheless, as everyone can expect, I failed it again and again, and again. The failure and the frustration kept me from leaving my room, also kept me from the sunshine which I need to generate Vit D to alleviate my melancholia. Like a vampire, my room became my coffin where I, alone, shall rest in peace. Though, there is an appreciation for the opportunity to secure a job here, and work with the people who really taking care of me, still, the solitary shadow under the moon light has gave up to make any extra effort to breathe the cool air in Durham.

Silence took over the car. I put on my earphone trying to quarantine myself, so I can unveil the wound and reach the deepest part of my suppurated heart. "How have you been? Sorry I was too busy to talk with you." A familiar laughter, a shadow, a illusion I saw, yet I fully realized that it is just its fantasy, the throes of dying of my poor soul. However I was satisfied, because I can still dream of it. It's a revelation of salvation, no matter how unrealistic it is.

"Will I see you again?"

Life Recently

Recently, my life and schedule are stuffed with works, assignments and meetings. Thanks to Jen, I joined the BCI (BigCatInitiative) group, finally I have the chance to work with people that care about wildlife. It's an honor and pleasure to work with these people. They inspired me with their knowledge and passion. I feel there is so much I need to learn in conservation science, and these guys are serious. After all, you need to be serious because the population of wildlife won't stop dwindling. Even you have problems in your life, you cannot stop conserving!

I also appreciate the opportunity to work with Darma. He's such a smart workaholic, from 3am to 5pm every single day. For me, he's an perfect example of how aliens should work on this land to fulfill their american dream. He did it, and he has even bigger one await. I am thankful for his concern, making me feel like he's my elder brother that really taking care of me. I really appreciate it.

The progress in master project is limited. However, I will have regular meeting with my advisor so that she can keep track on it. This is also the way to force myself being lazy, staying away from the confort zone.

As a result, the time I have spent at home is poorly little. I think I can just rent a bed instead of the whole room.

I tried hard to fill out every single block on my google calendar, so that I can stop thinking about the being alone. Even being alone, I let the music distract myself from connecting the tranquility with loneliness. Still, I would inevitably feel the huge wave of solitude overwhelming me when I walk alone in the campus, when I drive alone during the night, when I shower and try to sing to myself. Every night and day.

By the way, coffee works.