September 3, 2008
I’ve promised Chiung-Yu (NIAID) to share more of my experience at NIH/NCI as a summer fellow to the grand Taiwanese students. Also, as a representative at JHU-TSA/DC-TSA, I think new students (or prospective ones?) would like to know how the life at medical campus is like — from my perspective. SO! The following notes will basically be written under these two big umbrellas..
Stay tuned!
August 26, 2008
“You’re so lucky. Everything happened on you went smoothly..” An-Tsun said.
“yea, I’m pretty lucky. :)”
In fact, to be lucky, I need to work hard and know how to create opportunities. Luck doesn’t come as you want, unless you’re well prepared and open up yourself to any kind of chance.
This world is a cruel reality show. If you’re a loose end and don’t know how to cherish what you’ve had, even someone tries hard to put you into a strong network, this connection would just stay as a weak tie and you’ll be replaced by others easily..
No matter how smart you think you are, only working hard would make your cleverness be a plus to your work.
August 26, 2008
This is a memorandum –
I know all other summer students in my suite DO buy presents to their mentors at the end of their fellowships. (They are AMERICANS!!).. LOLLLL. So, that’s not the cultural difference between Taiwan and the States. Hopefully, it wouldn’t stop Mary from having Taiwanese students in the future. :P
Alright.. I knew what Mary meant was “frequently” buying Starbucks coffee for her.. That’s just me — It has nothing to do with the culture.
“Hey~ :D (Walking toward the counter) I’m going out for
lunch. Do you want me to bring back anything for you?”“I’m good, :) ” the security looked at the clock and asked,
“Are you having lunch or dinner? LOLL”“Umm.. Maybe both.. LOLLLLLLL” I laughed.
By the way, as far as I know, it seems like other than me, no one received gifts from their mentors… Mary, you’re so sweet!! I’ll remember what you said, “the NCI/NIH souvenir is a tradition for our summer students” — Whenever I have summer students in the future, I’d buy them souvenirs and pass your kindness to them..
August 24, 2008
September 5th is Mary’s birthday.
I originally planned to make a papercut as her birthday present — using the idea/materials of traditional Chinese papercut, but the theme is about her activities off work (ex. Yoga, Kayaking, Biking, cross country skiing, etc). I also asked Jane to get one 筆刀 for me from 光南 on her way back to Baltimore. (筆刀 is the pen-like cutter/knife used in making Chinese papercut, and 光南 is a store in Taipei, Taiwan).
I’ve finished drafting different activities, but haven’t got the chance to draw a second draft to put them into one harmonious graph (to make it more like a Chinese papercut and not to be too awkward by combining “Western” activities with the traditional Chinese papercut design). I stopped there as Mary said not to give gifts to her..
On the day Mary walked in to my office with gifts, I was surprised. “.. I shouldn’t have stopped making the present for her,” I thought.
Mary finally said (in regulation) the maximum amount to spend on the mentor per year is 20 dollars. “And you’ve bought me the coffee. That’s enough. :)”
I admit I DID buy/make coffee for Mary for few times (just FEW times!!).
“I’m not sure whether it’s the cultural difference between Taiwan and the States,” Mary said a week before. She felt uncomfortable with receiving gifts.
I could sense that she doesn’t want me to spend too much on her – just like me, we are used to give (favors) instead of to receive. However, as I mentioned she’s a family to me — of course you’d want people you love to enjoy their lives. If I can do something to make their lives easier or more enjoyable, I’d definitely go for it. Meanwhile, I wouldn’t insist in doing things that would make him/her unhappy.
I didn’t know how broad she meant for the gifts at that time. It was why I stopped making the papercut as her birthday present – cause I didn’t want the present to become a burden to her or to make her feel uncomfortable with it. It’s good that Mary spilt out a number (20 bucks) on Thursday — I don’t really care about the amount, but now I’m sure about her attitude.
If it’s about the money, I’m positive she wouldn’t mind receiving hand-made cards (DING! $0 dollars.. materials don’t count.. LOLLL). The only problem is I missed the week/weekend to go back to Baltimore to get the tool from Jane. By the time I’ll have them, I’m running out of time of completing the papercut.
What I can still do before September 5th is to write articles in recognition of Mary’s thoughtfulness and kindness. That’s why I said in “Geek and the world” that I’d give myself up to 2 weeks to write the blog.. (Mary was definitely born at a good timing!! haha.. If she were born later than September 5th, I’d be swamped by the exams/problem sets/.. and won’t have the energy to even write the blogs.. lol)
Other than the blogs, I will still hand-made something for her — but let’s just keep the design a secret. :P
August 24, 2008
When Mary first told me students shouldn’t give gifts to mentors in mid-August, I was shocked.
“So like Debra is the branch Chief right now, you can’t give her gifts..” My astonished look made Mary further explain a bit. :P
However, that wasn’t the reason why I was surprised.
When I told Kris and all my friends that Mary is like a family to me, I meant it. I didn’t say this just out of kindness or courtesy. For an international student like me — having all the family and relatives live in half the globe away and I’m the first one who study aboard, I wouldn’t say I’m lonely as I always have fun myself or with friends during my stay in the States (besides, my family and I have a pretty close relationship — I know they are always there!). Even though I’m really independent and can manage my life well, it’s really nice of Mary to truly care about me and not treating me like an outsider.
Interaction between people is like a two-away street. Since Mary treats me like a family, I take her way beyond as a mentor. So when Mary said “students shouldn’t give gifts to mentors,” I was shocked — not because “students shouldn’t give gifts to mentors” but because I haven’t actually thought we are the “student” and the “mentor”..
August 24, 2008
That night, I wrote an email to Mary..
Hi Mary,
Thank you so much for using hot water to wash both travel mugs!! Thanks for the gifts – nice pick!! I REALLY REALLY like them. I’ve already put the NIH LED keychain flashlight onto my original one – a keychain from rocky mountain with a thermometer and a compass (Huei-Ting (post-doc at GEB) gave it to me after she went hiking at Colorado). They are so match!! Haha.. And the travel mug – I love it! I’m using it right now (having a third cup of the water.. probably going to get a 4th cup soon :P) Don’t worry about giving me something that I’ve really had – I would NEVER claim that I have too many travel mugs, especially it’s from you. I like the design of the NCI travel mug. It’s quite unique. Also, black is a good color. The handle of the mug seems to be designed for the lefty – cause I tried holding the mug by using both hands, left hand fit better – or maybe it’s just my personal habit..haha.. Anyway, I’ll take good care of the key chain and the mug and use them every single day.. Thank you!
Though I really want to say.. you definitely don’t need to buy me the presents since I’m pretty content with and appreciate what I’ve had over the summer – knowing you, getting a chance to work at OEEB, etc. have already marked my days, still, thank you so much for the nice surprise! (I suspected a bit when you talked something about travel mugs after the branch meeting, but didn’t think too much about it..) Thanks!!
I sketched the travel mug and the key chain late this afternoon and hanged them in front of my desk. You’re welcome to come take a look tomorrow.
Katherine
August 24, 2008
“Wait.. but you said.. we shouldn’t give gifts to..”
“ehh! (smile) That’s for students to mentors..”
“But it should be the same the other way round..”
Thursday, August 21st. Mary stopped by my office to give back my NASA travel mug and hand in a R&W bag to me. (R&W: Recreation and Welfare Association of NIH)
(Take over the NASA mug.)
“Whoa, it’s still warm.. Ohhhh~ Mary is so sweet !!!!!! She even used hot water to wash it!!” I thought.
Mary said “it’s a tradition to give NCI/NIH souvenirs for our summer students” and she apologized for not knowing I’ve had another travel mug beforehand – she bought the gift before she knew it. “But.. This one is from NCI..” Mary reinforced.
I have to say, Mary really.. umm.. how to put this in English? ”Mary 真的很疼我！” (It seems like there’s no direct expression for the word “疼”..) Let me try to put it this way – Mary really cares about me like my parents. It’s definitely not because of the souvenirs, but because of her sincere heart/acts/words that moves me a lot..
August 23, 2008
(When other blood types are trying to figure out what AB is doing)
To make myself more like a “human being” instead of an “alien” — Oh well, let me rephrase this.. LOLLL
To make you understand what I’m doing and what I’m thinking, I give myself at most 2 weeks (till Friday, Sept 5th, 2008) to write about my life. Since I have a full load of coursework, thesis that I need to work on, also, I’m serving the Taiwanese Student Association (Vice President), Asian-Pacific Islander Public Health Student Club (co-Founder) and Occupational and Environmental Journal Club (co-Coordinator) in this coming school year, I’ll TRY to post more articles in the future — but I cannot promise..
Sorry folks, I know y’all care about how I’m doing. Yet, due to limited time – posting blogs isn’t currently on my priority list. I’d do my best to share my experiences online whenever I can. But! If you have any problems/questions or need any assistance, still, as always, feel free to phone me anytime!! My cell is on 24/7, except for times I’m in reception-free area.. :)
August 23, 2008
“Whoever will be your significant other, he must be blessed — cause you’re good at taking care of people.” My teacher at junior high school said. (oOoo Whoa, that was almost 10 years ago!)
“But you are also like a Gemini — pretty outgoing.” Wen-Yi said one day when I was sitting on her car.
How can it be — alike Cancer and Gemini at the same time? That’s another amazing thing that makes me a geek.. lol
I was born on June 24th. A date that falls into the category of Gemini-Cancer as some astrologists divided the horoscope into 48 types (others are Cancer I, Cancer II, and Cancer III). Actually, I should have had been even closer! The day when my mom was about to have C-section, the doctor told “me” to wait — cause that day was the Dragon Boat Festival and he was on vacation!.. haha.. Otherwise, my birth date were to be 2 days earlier — June 22nd, the first day of Cancer. :P
“Do you want to move to my door seat?” Jess asked me on her last day at OEEB.
“Ne.. It’s okay. I’m good sitting back here. :)”
“You enjoy being isolated uhh?!.. lol” Jacqueline stopped by and commented on our conversation.
“Yea.. You won’t believe me if I told you I’m shy. LoLLLL” I responded.
“No.. (laughed out loud) I don’t buy it.”
(Some parts in me are shy indeed.. haha.. There is a nice Blood Type comics that can reflect this. However, I’m probably more extreme?! — cause I’m an AB, plus a Gemini-Cancer.. :P )
It says..
August 23, 2008
A: “Are you a lefty?”
B: “That’s what I’m about to ask..”
Friends were surprised to see me using chopsticks by my left hand. Am I a lefty? Well, yes and no. I was born as a lefty. However, when I started to learn how to write, I switched my habitually used hand from left to right. My left hand hasn’t been trained since then. But! When I later found out I can still use my left hand to do all most the same thing as my right hand does (ex. paining, writing, cooking, playing most sports, etc), I was excited — I am not worried about one hand got hurt cause I still have another one.. lol.
So, whenever I’m having lunch/dinner with friends, if someone sits next to me is a lefty, I’d become a lefty; if he/she is a right-handed practicer, I am too — so then nobody would be hit by other’s elbow while eating.. (Umm, what if someone sits on my left uses his/her right hand to eat but the one on my right uses his/her left hand? I’d probably switch hands back and forth.. FUN, FUN, FUN! haha)
