Travel tips from the New York Times

To travel cheaply while having fun is a good skill to have. This NY Times article details many websites that I think will be of interest to many people.

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/research-the-travelers-best-friend/

Have fun surfing!

The difference between the USA and Europe

Here's a wonderful article written by an American living in Amsterdam. He talks about how social-welfare and free-market can blend together in the Netherlands, and how USA can learn from the best of the system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/magazine/03european-t.html?_r=1&em=&pagewanted=all.

I think I totally agree with the author. Children in Europe are definitely happier, and I believe the society in which they live has a lot to do with it.

the world is flat?

Just about 10 years ago I would never imagine that I would be spend so much of my life in the western hemisphere. At that time even the thought of having a vacation abroad and taking a plane was exhilarating; but just this year, I traveled at least 10 times by plane and crossed the Atlantic Ocean 5 times; I've visited Belgium, Netherlands, and Austria during the weekends when I didn't work in the lab. Education-wise, I went to Yale, a wonderful place that I would like to call it my second-home in the last four years. I'm not bragging about anything; I just thought, wow, as Thomas Friedman said in his book, "the world is flat." Individuals today have so many opportunities. I don't know why that is, just suffice to say the world is really changing from my parent's generation; even within my short 25 years of life, I've experienced such a change. You can say the change provides unprecedented opportunities, and I'm sure I'll be shaped by such a change. Just don't know how...this is the thing I need to think about.

New Year's Eve in Germany

My new year's eve turned out not bad at all. Four other friends and I had a gathering yesterday night, and my lonely soul finally had some company. It was an inspiring night actually because my friends are all international students, and I enjoyed learning about their backgrounds and future goals. I have to thank Geoffrey for inviting me to the dinner, so that I did not spent my night alone.

Many places in Munich were transformed into large party zones. Tons of people were lighting fireworks yesterday night around the city. It was kind of dangerous to walk around, as some fireworks jumped here and there on the ground instead of shooting straight into the sky. I was almost hit by one; fortunately I walked away fast enough. The situation really reminded of land mines in Gambodia. Nonetheless, the festive atmosphere made the city much warmer despite the cold weather.

"We take care of your mind, body, and spirit!" A slogan I saw on the T-shirt a nurse wore at 6-3. It really spoke a lot to me, of why I want to be a physician.

So hot...

The bitter-sweetness felt at graduation begins to boil or evaporate away with my daily busy activities. Today is the first time that I actually feel the hotness of the summer. The wind is playing hide-and-seek between trees full of green and shiny leaves; water is flowing and laughing happily in the brook cutting through Whalley Avenue. In this clear weather I can see East Rock miles away; the mountain seems to stretch her arms and give everybody a huge hug. The white clouds also seems to rock-and-roll on the immense, blue stage.

Phases of Love

Somebody told me this, and I think it would be nice to share:

Only after we have these three experiences can we truly know how to love another person.

The first thing that hurts is: somebody we love leaves us. It teaches us that relationship is by nature impermanent. Relationship is a very fragile thing; how many times we think we finally find someone we can love, and that person loves us back, but then gears change-love changes to liking, liking to ignoring, and finally ignoring to dislike. It's really not our fault...things just change, despite ourselves.

The second thing that hurts is: we leave somebody who loves us and realize that we can never have that person back. It teaches us to see people around us to be precious, so that we won't regret when one day we realize we actually love them.

Finally, what is heartbroken is: even though two people love each other, they can never be together. It teaches us that all we have is really now, this very moment and nothing else. Never wait to show how much you appreciate another person's presence.

Hope it will be of some help to people!