February 2011 Archives

I'm sitting in my room, supposed to be preparing for class (sorry, ProbStat), but I've got something on my mind.

Somehow, we have arrived at Candidates' Weekend I. It begins today. Not next week. Today.

There has been A LOT of preparation all over campus, and it's exciting to once again see it all happen.

I'm back at Olin!  After a semester abroad, my transition back to Olin was at first really exciting, then weird, then just Olin-ey.  Life has really picked up from the relaxed pace of study abroad to a hectic and sometime stressful Olin speed.  A quick rundown on my adventures that you'll read about this semester:

• Suite life: I'm living in a suite with Erika (Beach Sparkle reunion), Scott and Abe '12, and Thomas and Frederik from Group T in Belgium.  I love having the centralized open space of our suite lounge to hang out even though the level of cleanliness drove me crazy at first (I have let it slide a bit. There's just not enough time to be overly OCD).
• Legs, legs, legs: I'm doing an independent study in biomechanics/robotics with Clay and Gray '12 and Erica and Andrew '13.  The study is based on an Advanced Classical Mechanics project and a Mechanical Design project from last semester.  We will be building on a MATLAB model of gait while designing a novel new robotic leg.  I think it will be incredibly exciting.
• Half Marathon Training: Let it begin again!  This year will be my third year running the Great Bay Half Marathon in the beginning of April.  This time around my training program consists of 3-days a week running, 1 day biking, 1 day swimming, 1 day off.  I'm hoping it works out well.  Six mile run tomorrow!
• Human Powered Vehicles: I'm reunited with the Olin Human Powered Vehicles team which designs, builds, and races recumbent bicycles.  Competition is at the end of April and we're busy busy busy!

With all of this I'm trying to find time to do purely enjoyable things like baking and just hanging out.  Last night I got off campus to the North End of Boston, which was loads of fun.  Looking forward to what the semester has in store for me!