LFar Blog

Dear Kenyan Roommate

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Look, I know a lot ou things I do are crazy. Brushing teeth with bottled water, for example. Continually sanitizing my hands. Eating protein bars. I'M CRAZY. Fine. However, today at lunch, I served a very commonplace lunch.

Macaroni and Cheese. More specifically, President's Choice brand of white cheddar. It's the very best, and I've missed it so much over the past few months that my mom sent me a few packs all the way from Canada. I'll admit that it tasted a little different from normal, since I can't rinse the noodles, on account of the inevitable stomache ailments that follow any ingestion of unboiled water, and there isn't any milk to mix with the cheese sauce, but it was still delicious. Part of me considered rationing it for a day when you weren't home, so that I wouldn't have to share, but instead I thought I'd be a good roommate and North American ambassador and share. Well, after one bite you said you didn't like it, and then just pushed it around your bowl for a while.

Look, I understand how it feels to not like something that everybody else thinks is delicious. Well, for me it's never about the taste but just the psychological aspects relating to texture or sourcing of ingredients. But even then, I made courteous exceptions, like when I once ate salmon steaks at my boss's house, or cream cheese one time when out for breakfast. Heck, as you may recall, when I was at your house I ate a chicken whose slaughter I had witnessed and that had then been boiled in it's own blood. And we're just talking Kraft Dinner here! It's noodles and powder cheese sauce! Can you really abhor the taste SO MUCH that you can't even eat out of the desire to not hurt my feelings? I know the taste might be new and unusual, but in case you haven't noticed, I've been eating Kenyan food for nine weeks straight. My heart broke to know that i sixth of my precious mac and cheese stock would not be eaten. COME ON.

It's probably not you, it's just me being sick of Kenya. I want to go home and everything is getting on my nerves.

From Lisa

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:35:00 +0000

I can't post all my Kenya feelings on my Kenya blog, because people like my grandma read it. But holy holla I miss flirting. Seriously.

Kenya Update

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:38:00 +0000

I know I said I'd be blogging here and at my kenya blog, but computer mishap means I can only blog at one. So please add momimalive.blogspot.com to your readers and comment early and often.

No joke, please comment. It makes me feel connected to the world.

Packing for Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Sat, 02 May 2009 18:14:00 +0000

Criteria for comfort food: is delicious and/or nutritious, is light weight.

Crystal Light (3 months of only water is difficult)
Instant Oatmeal (the high fibre, high protein variety)
a few packets of hot chocolate (it gets cold at night!)
Clif Bars (protein and fibre fiesta, basically)
lots of gum

Criteria for comfort books/entertainment: high "time to digest":weight ratio.

complete novels of Jane Austen (all 7 in one volume!)
the book The Power of One
the book Great Expectations
a notebook
a book of logic puzzles
a calculator (is any item more comforting?) (plus I'm teaching math. so)
iPod filled with all of my favourite songs plus some great podcasts

(Packing List Part 1: Medicine)
(Packing List Part 3: Hygiene)

Kenya Feelings

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 01 May 2009 15:46:00 +0000

Excitement --> Nervousness --> Dread.

I kind of don't want to go at all anymore.

Basically the reason I want to have a bunch o' kids

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:28:00 +0000

It's no secret that I love my little brothers to no end. With out a single doubt, they are the apples of my eye. The sunshines of my life.

I'm home for two weeks between moving out of Waterloo (I'm finished exams) and moving to Africa (May 4), so I've been spending lots of time with all my siblings.

So as I was walking the boys back to school after lunch yesterday, I asked if they wanted me to pick them up from school as well. Well, it turns out Robbie's friend plays on the grade 4,5,6 basketball team, so Robbie stays after school to cheer for him. And because Robbo stays, Jack-man does too. They asked if I'd show up and watch with them.

I figured this must be like a cool thing to do. The basketball team is the shit, or whatever. All the kids stay and watch. But no, it was just a bunch of mothers and my boys. Also, I felt like a total creeper coming to watch a little kids basketball game when I didn't know any player on either team.

Robbie's friend was one of the shorter kids, and didn't get a lot of playing time. But whenever his friend went on, Robbie got right into it. His friend got a swoosh and Rob was so happy for him. You know when you catch somebody doing a good deed when they don't think anybody is looking, and your heart kind of swells and you love that person a little more forever? That's how I felt watching my little hazel eyes be a best friend. I also thought it was super adorable that Jack just does whatever his big brother does.

Also, they are both getting so many freckles in for the summer.

Also also, they beat me in 2-on-1 basketball after dinner. COME ON. They're like not even 4 feet tall. They're quick, I tell you.

Also also also, they have the stinkiest feet in the world. You cannot understand. THE. STINKIEST.

I love those stinky feet so much.

Heat Transfer Party

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Asking my friend, Christine, for help with a heat transfer question. This is really nerdy. I apologize.

Christine says: ah let me see what the question is and then sure
oh yeah this one’s a bitch
ok
i figured it all out
Lisa says: reflected radiation = Gref
Christine says: so the reflected radiation is called Gref, the total irradiation is G, and the total hemispherical reflectivity is rho
Lisa says: got that
Christine says: corrrrect
Lisa says: so why does rho= 1-alpha?
Christine says: for an opaque surface, rho = 1 - alpha
Lisa says: because transmitted=0?
Christine says: ok welllllll
right
for an opaque body, there is nothing transmitted
the total irradiation a body can absorb is based on its blackbody emissitivty or whatveer its called
if it was a blackbody it would absorb everything
so G = Eb(Tf) = sigma Tf^4
but since we arent dealing with a black body, some of that is going to be reflected
Lisa says: so that if rho=1, then G=black body values
and rho is just a percentage tahts reflected?
Christine says: so what youll end up with is q = G - Gref - E
and youve already solved for Gref
Lisa says: flux is the rate at which it radiates, yeah?
Christine says: and E is the emissivity of the surface multiplied by its blackbody emissive power
Christine says: i think flux is confusing, the way i see it is, that body is collecting energy
Lisa says: no wait... radiative flux is the rate at which it _______
Christine says: i think its the rate at which its taking energy in
which is why its the total possible irradiation minus what it reflects and what it emits
Lisa says: oooh
Christine says: yeah?
Lisa says: its confusing that radiosity means giving out
i'm confused by which mean out and which means in
irradation is in??
Christine says: ok hold on
Lisa says: oh right, its arriving at a surface
irradiating is arriving at a surface, so radiative flux is rate at which it leaves the surface
Christine says: i guess so
Lisa says: so then q would equal G
Lisa says: it there was no reflection or emitted
Christine says: if it was a blackbody
righto
Lisa says: so it would all just come in and then get right back out
Christine says: a blackbody absorbs ALL incident radiation
but emits the max energy for a particular temperature
so theres still some energy being taken in
Lisa says: whats the diff between irradiate and absorb?
is irradiation like a knock at the door
then absorbed is who gets in?
so then radiation is the people who never get in the door at all?
and reflection are the people who get in the door but then leave?
Christine says: so for irradiation, theres reflection, absorbption, and transmission
no...reflection doesnt make it in the door
it leaves at the door
Lisa says: okay... so irradiation... 3 friends knocking at the door
Christine says: absorb makes it though and stays
Lisa says: one gets turned away, one comes in, and one comes but goes out to the backyard
Christine says: if the door is see through, transmission comes in, if its too busy, relfection leaves before it gets in, and absorptions like fuck it im getting in anyways
Lisa says: irradiation is friends at the door... radiation is ____?
Christine says: oh god
um well
irradiation is incident radiation
ok
i got it
the sun radiates energy
the irradiation to the earth, is the energy we pick up from it
but the sun still radiates all over the place
to the galaxy
which is where we get the view factors from
Lisa says: so irradation is when people wandering the streets find a house thats throwing a party
radiation is people just wandering the streets
Christine says: basically
if thats how you want to think of it
Lisa says: it is how i want to think of it
Christine says: radiation is looking for a party
irradiation has found the party
Lisa says: and then emissivity
is how something radiates?
Christine says: its ability to radiate, i guess
Lisa says: how much it radiates compared to a black body?
Christine says: right
its like a fraction of how much it radiates compared to a black body
Lisa says: black body= worst party ever. nobody wants in. the house smells like pee.
emissivity is a scale of how bad the party is
Christine says: well not really.
black body is like the best party
everyones in there
Lisa says: oh- everybody wants in
right right
black body is like "Lisa and Christine joint brithday party"
Christine says: so the BEST PARTY EVER
RIGHT
the BEST PARTY EVER is a black body
and emissivity is how all the other parties stack up to our party
this conversation is hilarious
Lisa says: i love this metaphor
Christine says: it works so well

Christine blogs here.

Also, for the record, this conversation went on like this for a very long time. The metaphor was extended as if it had an infinite modulus of elasticity, AM I RIGHT?

My knee and Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:11:00 +0000

In addition to lions, typhoid, and pirates, one of my recurring "omg, Kenya" worries is my knee.

I tore my ACL and had surgery last fall, remember? I've been doing my physiotherapy and only rarely does my knee bother me these days. I'm still restricted in that I can't squat all the way down and I promised my physiotherapist I wouldn't play even recreational soccer while in Kenya. (bummer) I have recently started running again and I've enjoyed a pretty rigorous weight lifting routine for most of this winter.

I've packed a knee tensor for in case I feel like I want a bit of knee support while there. The terrain is pretty hilly and rocky, but I'll be wearing sturdy shoes. I don't think I'll have any knee problems, but I'm still a little worried that something might happen.

Most people who re-tear their ACL after surgery do so within the first year. I'm not really in the clear, yet. I'll have to be really careful. If I do re-injure myself, I won't know what to do... I guess I'd come home early.

Exam anxiety or lack thereof

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:55:00 +0000

There's something kind of nice about exam period.

Like... you're not thinking. You're just doing. You're automated.

In exam periods past I've spent my days finding creative ways to procrastinate, like going the gym a record number of times, cooking elaborate meals or shaving my legs every time I shower. Every time! Yeah, outta control, right?

And through out the procrastination I've felt an inescapable panic. A little drumbeat of "get to work get to work get to work YOU'RE GOING TO FAIL" that would wake me up in the middle of the night, or give me sweaty palms whenever I took too long of a break.

I don't know, this term has been different. For starters, I did much better on my midterms than I usually do, so maybe I feel a bit of safety there. I think though that its just this feeling of melancholy. My undergrad is a 5 year program, but all my high school peers who entered 4 year programs are graduating this year. Things are wrapping up everywhere. But instead of being panicked about what I'll do next year when I graduate, I'm just feeling sad about the fact that things end.

Instead of procrastinating, I've caught myself just sitting blankly at my desk. Not daydreaming- just being vacuous. I have 3 exams left this week and I'm feeling neither prepared nor nervous. I just wish it was next Saturday already so I could snap out of this automated mood and start preparing more for the upcoming adventure in my life.

Speaking of- I leave in 20 days! And today I found out that I'll be teaching in an all girls secondary school.

A comparison of the female characters in the shows I've been watching

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:21:00 +0000

Let's headline with Parks & Recreation.
So, it wasn't that funny. It was enjoyable in a "season 5 of the office" sort of way, but it earned no lols from me.

That's not the point. Leslie Knope is very likable. She's driven, she's positive, she wants to do good. We're only one episode in, but I'm worried about seeing some Michael Scott ego creeping in. She's entirely un-self aware but at the same time, that's all she is. The writers will definitely give this character dimension though, and Amy Poehler will play the heck out of her.

Good Leslie quote: These people are members of the community that care about where they live. So what hear when I'm being yelled at is people caring ... loudly at me.

I like that this show has two female leads. It certainly passes the Bechdel test.

Final Rating for Female Characters: 4/5

On the same channel we've got 30 Rock.Well, I love Liz Lemon's guts. Plus, a plural number of people have told me Liz reminds them of me! I've known that Liz and I are kindred spirits ever since that first episode when she bought all the hot dogs to teach the line budders a lesson. She's the head writer and the most senior on the show. Even though she sometimes makes bad dating choices (Dennis!) she usually breaks up with them in good time, and for good reasons (Drew!).

Classic Liz Lemon quote:

Jenna: That guy wanted to buy you a drink!
Liz: Really? But I already have a drink. Do you think he'd buy me mozzarella sticks?

Liz is written with a lot of flaws but still with confidence and independence. However, I think this show might fail the Bechdel test. I don't know, does Jenna count? I guess so. Okay, so this show passes the test. Hooray!

Final Rating: 4.5/5

Dollhouse.Haha. Okay, well when Echo's personality comes through I guess we get to see that she's good, but the central conceit of this show is a futuristic prostitute ring where the dolls literally have no personality of their own. It's Joss Whedon though, so I want to believe.

And I guess even though Adele is evil, she's the boss of it all which is nice to see? Is it?

Anyway Bechdel test FAIL at least until we get Sierra and Echo out of their mind wipes a bit more.

Final Rating: 2/5 (points for potential)

The Ladies' No 1 Detective Agency

100 out of 100!Grace Makutsi is beyond the best. She scored the highest mark in secretary school history (97, she reminds us frequently) but couldn't find a job because she refused to wear short skirts, like that other girl who got a 42% but gets paid a fortune anyway. She is determined, she is loyal, she is honest, and most of all she is GOOD. Sometimes she lacks self awareness, and sometimes she is accidentally a little bit rude or pushy, but as we keep learning, she is selfless and caring. I cry about once per episode and its almost always because Mma Makutsi's goodness. Plus I loved that time when she was determined to get a promotion in job title, and wouldn't back down until she got it.
Precious Ramotswe is also the very best. She stands up for people and does what's right. She never lets anybody insult the way she looks. She's super smart and come on, she opened a Ladies' Detective Agency. Her dad taught her how to shoot a gun. She killed a crocodile, sliced it open, and dug around with her hand to find evidence. She's compassionate, wise, and very patient. She solves mysteries with knowledge of human nature rather than forensic evidence. And she loves Botswana so much!

Bechdel test pass fiesta! The ending of the first episode has such a wonderful moment between Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi. I watched that part three times in a row.

It's no secret that I love detective shows, but this one I watch mostly for the characters. Go read the books. Go watch the show. It's all just so great. It surpasses Veronica Mars as best show ever.

If you're not watching the show already, check out the trailer here .

Final rating: infinity/5

Aunt Flo is a bad travel partner.

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:34:00 +0000

I said there'd be Kenya posts on poops and periods. Here is the first about periods.

I went to my doctor last week to talk about period manipulation. As an aside, he said nobody had ever given him a standard deviation when expressing their cycle length. Thanks, MonthlyInfo.com! I just really like data. Anyway.

My flight is booked for May 4th, landing May 5th. I expect to get my period May 5th. Worst timing ever! In addition to that 18 hour flight, I then have an 8 hour drive. Plus I'll be overwhelmed emotionally probably, and physically exhausted. I won't know where bathrooms are. I just don't really want to have my period for the first day I'm there, you know?

So Doc gave me a 21 day prescription for Aviane. As an aside, did you know with student insurance, one month is only $2? His plan is for me to start taking the daily pill nearing the end of April, and continue for 3 weeks. Then I'd get my period when I stop taking them (which would be mid-May).

This sounds great! Except I've never been on the pill so I had a bunch of questions.

Side effects? Yes, he says. Including moodiness, headaches, nausea, spotting. What? Oh man. Is it worth it?

Will I go back to normal afterwards? And be able to accurately estimate the next cycle? Maybe, he says. Probably, he says with a shrug. Who knows though, he says with non-nonchalance. Oh man, but I need to be able to predict! If not for preparedness, at least for the sake of beautiful data! I like my small standard deviation! Is it worth it?

Ugh. I don't know. IS it worth it?

Kenya Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:21:00 +0000

Well, here's the ish. I have to goals for blogging while in Kenya.

Goal 1: I want to share my experiences and insight so that if somebody else was ever thinking about going, they could read my blog at get a lot of answers. Maybe I could distill some nervousness. Maybe I could uniquely present the harsh realities. Who knows?

Goal 2: Keep my family up to date.

Which brings us to two problems.

Problem 1: Friends read this blog, but my mom (and grandparents, et al) certainly doesn't. So I can't blog here, or else she'd have an invite to all my posts. No way, thank you!

Problem 2: But then if grandparents are reading what I write, then I'll have to keep the content pretty sweetness and light. I wouldn't feel as free to talk about periods and pooping. And since 90% of my anxiety over going to Kenya revolves around periods and pooping, I think it's really important to be open on those topics.

So what I'm going to do is blog daily at Mom, I'm Still Alive. But I'll cross post most of the stuff over here, and also post anything parentally inappropriate over here. That sounds good, right?

Hey also, check out the home page of hands in! My submission was posted!

Cobra Heat

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:41:00 +0000

This is my 3B design project. It is a heat sink. I am very proud of it.It's name is Fang. The previous model was much bigger. It's name was Bertha.

Our team name is Cobra Heat. Best logo ever or what?
I finally finished the final report for this project. I never want to type again.

Dressing for Kenya

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:56:00 +0000

I've been doing lots of reading and talking on what clothes are and are not culturally appropriate.

This post (Put Some Damn Clothes On!) starting my thinking. One friend told me that when she went to Ghana, she was wearing pants but felt like she stood out so much that she went and bought a whole bunch of dresses her very first day there.

I don't care at all about standing out but I do care about being respectful. I emailed a girl who used to live in Kikima (but now lives in Canada for university) and she said this:

Its good to dress in a conservative manner (skirts/dresses not above the knee), unfortunately no shorts, and no low-neck clothing. Especially since you are a foreigner you will be under more scrutiny so its good to keep a low profile in terms of clothing so the culture is not offended. If there is a gathering or church service or you're teaching, you need to be dressed appropriately (formal - nice dress/skirt). No jeans. You can get away with wearing trousers in the town (Machakos - its a bigger town) but not in Kikima. Even when you're travelling there, you can wear pants. Its just during the day, in the marketplace and in the school thats a bit hard to do.

Okay. So what kind of skirt fits the bill? I own 3 business-y skirts, that need ironing and I wear when I work in an office. I also own a few jean skirts and mini skirts that I wear when I've recently shaved my legs and want to show case that fact. I own a few semi formal dresses, and one halter top sun dress.

Suffice it to say I'll need to go shopping.

I guess I can wear shorts under the skirt so I don't feel uncomfortable. I have plenty of little bike shorts that will do nicely. But where does one go to buy low maintenance, conservative dresses and skirts? I don't even know what I'm looking for!

(Cross-posted at my Kenya blog, Mom, I'm Still Alive!)

Update: apparently Old Navy has lots of great long cotton skirts for cheap!

Kenya Immunizations

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:01:00 +0000

Today I headed to the travel clinic to get my immunizations for my trip to Kenya.

My research told me I'd be needing 9 needles but when I got there I learnt that at most, I'd need at most only 5, since some are combined with each other, and others, like Japanese encephalitis, I didn't need at all.

The vaccines suggested were:

Dukoral (oral vaccine)- for traveller's diarrhea and cholera
Menactra- for meningitis
YF-Vax- for Yellow Fever
Vivaxim- for Hepititis A and Typhoid
MMR Booster- measles, mumps, and rubella
Polio

Yellow Fever is mandatory for travels to most part of Africa, including Kenya. If you arrive without the immunization, they might make you get it there (and my doctor told me to avoid getting any needles while travelling, if I can avoid it.)

The rest were not mandatory, but strongly recommended. Polio and MMR are 100% covered under Ontario Health Insurance, and the rest are covered 80-100% by my student insurance. So I figured, why not get them all? If they're recommended, I don't want to take the risk of contracting an illness while travelling just because I was afraid of some needles today.

I was feeling totally fine until I heard the nurse and doctor talking outside my room.

"She's getting all 5!"

"No way! That's brave!"

... wait, what? 5 in one day is uncommon to the point of being brave? Oh no, what have I gotten my self into? Crap.

The doctor then comes in and says she'll put 3 needles (MMR, Polio, Vivaxim) in my right arm, 1 in my left (YF-Vax) and one in my buttocks (Menactra)

BUTTOCKS?

After the first two in my right arm, the doctor paused to ask if I was feeling okay. Yes, yes, I answer. After the third she suggested I take a lie down break. I was sweaty and dizzy. It was really embarassing. It's not the pinch of the needle that bothers me, but that pressure you can feel with the fluid goes in, you know? The doctor told me it happened to lots of people, but maybe she was just being nice.

Then I put my brave face back on, sat up, but she suggested we just stay lying down. And good thing because yellow fever hurt A LOT. It took a long time too! Like 20 seconds. This one was definitely the most painful needle.

Time for the bum. Oh man. I was feeling kind of uncomfortable but it turns out "in the buttocks" just means you pull your pants down a little bit. It's more of a lower back than an upper butt cheek, really. Like no underwear removal or anything.

And that was that!

I also got a perscription for Malaria pills (Malarone) and traveller's diarrhea pills (Ciprofloxacin). Malaria is gosh darn expensive, you guys! Like $600 for 95 days worth. Good thing it is also 100% covered!

I now can't raise my arm from all the needles. I think I'm going to go wimper and a nap.

Engineering March Madness

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:26:00 +0000

My class has been looking pretty nasty lately. Somebody decided that this month would be Moustache March so there's been a lot of not shaving going on.

The girls in the class were the judges today, and we awarded the following titles

best musketeer
best pornstache
most original design
least kissable (they all won)
"If you like this, you'll love the candy I have in my van out back"
best use of mascara
dirtiest

One friend said he suggested continuing on the madness into Moustache April and she said, "Yeah, and how about Abstinence April as well." Zing!Also, tomorrow is IRS (Iron Ring Stag) so basically all the graduating engineers get their rings, and then go to a giant party. However, that means today is the day the engineers get drunk, get dressed up, parade around campus, disrupt class rooms, etc.

I'm really excited because if the class of 2009 has gotten their rings, it means that I am next in line. Class of 2010, here we come!

(cross posted at This is what an Engineer Looks Like)

Needle Nightmares and a Forgotten Wallet

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Today I had plans to go to the travel clinic and get about 5-9 needles.

I spent all weekend sweating about it. I hardly slept last night have needle nightmares. Today in class the prospect of having to get needles in one's bum came up.

When I finally got there (30 minute bus ride away) I realized I didn't have my wallet with me. More than embarrassing! I called my roommates to see if anybody was home who could drive it over, but nobody answered the phone. When I went up to the desk to see if I could reschedule, they asked for the information booklet back (digging it out of my backpack: how embarrassing activity #2!).

I had been waiting for 3 weeks for this appointment, but luckily they had an opening for next Monday, so I'll be able to get all my immunizations a full month before I leave for Kenya. So other than the hour I lost to pointless travel time, and other than the class I skipped to make my appointment, I guess it's really not a big deal and I should just shrug it off.

But shrugging it off means you don't learn any lessons! So what are my potential lessons learnt:

1. Get a cell phone already. Honestly every human in this country has one. They're not even that expensive. Then you would have had a whole list of friends' numbers at your finger tips, and you could have kept calling until somebody with a car was able to drive over your wallet.

2. Get a car. Then you can just drive yourself places. Nope, too expensive.

3. Carry your wallet around with you wherever you go, like a normal person. Yeah, but then I'd have to buy a lock for when I leave my stuff in the change room while at the gym or the pool. Plus then I'd always be buying brownies from the C&D on campus. Carrying money around with you makes it too easy to spend. 3b. Maybe just keep your Visa in your coat pocket (with your student card, which never leaves your pocket)

4. Be less careless.

Fine. 3b and 4.

It's just super annoying that I have to go through the whole "have needle nightmares" process again next week.

The first of many "I graduate SOON!" freak outs

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:52:00 +0000

On Tuesday I volunteered at UW's March Break Open House (oh, the lengths to which I'll go to get a free t-shirt!) giving tours and talking to potential engineering students.

I ran into an old prof from a course I took last summer, Fluids. It just so happens that I got my highest university mark ever in Fluids. I liked the course, I liked the prof, and I may or may not have had a mild, mild, mild crush on the TA.

Anyway he totally remembered my full name! Come on, that's pretty rare. I guess as a female engineer I'm slightly more memorable than my classmates, but then he also remembered my mark in the course. He then brought up that he had seen me at the engineering graduate studies presentation (oh, the lengths to which I'll go to get free lunch!) and asked if I had considered doing a masters specializing fluids.

Well colour me flattered! (i.e, kind of mauve-taupe, wouldn't you say?)

I've been giving law school some pretty serious consideration since about January, but all it look was 10 minutes with this prof for my mind to be completely changed! I love all the profs in the fluids department. Ooh, I wonder where my office would be? Man, I'd be the very best TA.

I called my mom that night and she was like, "uh, you'd hate that. You're just flattered. You don't want to do a masters in engineering" and I was all, "What, no, I was BORN to do a M.AppSci or whatever it's called! BORN TO"

But now, 48 hours later, I've realized that mom does indeed know best. I wasn't really interested, just flattered. Ugh, imagine the career I'd have if I did my masters? Like, research? Teaching? Lord knows I don't have the patience for teaching ESPECIALLY for teaching engineers. Engineers are a cocky bunch. I can say that because I'm a year away from being one. You can't say it though. Those are the rules.

Anyway but in my haste to imagine a future as an engineering grad student, I thought up 100 reasons why I'd hate law school. So now in addition to realizing I should never do a masters in engineering, I've also realized that I'd hate law school. Like tort law? Real estate law? That stuff? Bore me out of town, please!

The trouble is that my skills/interests are so diverse (I only know one other engineering-improvising-triathlete. KoryMath. But he doesn't share my passion for feminism and baby-naming trends so I'm back to feeling alone in the world) that I'm very afraid that nothing exists to satisfy all my parts. Surely there's a tiny niche out there somewhere just crying out for somebody like me?

Kenya flight booked!

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:05:00 +0000

Well, I booked my flight to Kenya.

I depart May 4th (and 18.5 hours later I arrive in Kenya on May 5th).
Then I come back on July 28th.

Holy smokes!

Fun fact: this flight is the most expensive thing I have ever bought (other than tuition, I guess).

Yikes-a-likes!

Things to do:

book an appointment for travel immunizations (check. March 24th)
get more info on visas (you can get them when you land, or you can get them ahead of time. I'd like to plan ahead and have it before I leave, if possible)
get more info on how to get GPRS so I can get on the internet
look into buying somebody's old laptop off them, so I don't have to bring my pretty new one with me
start putting together a packing list

This is really going to happen!

Summer Plans: Phase 7

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 02:39:00 +0000

I have officially decided. I am going to Kenya this summer!

... AHHHH!

Kaja's Turns 7

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:28:00 +0000

To my sweetheart buddy boy, Jack,

You turned 7 a few days ago! Holy smokes! I called home to wish you a happy birthday and you sounded SO OLD.I was looking for pictures of you to post here, and I found some ones that felt recent. But then I checked their date and whoops, no, they were from 2007. Time passes pretty quickly. You're not a baby anymore.

This past year you did your first duathlon. I mean, you're good at every single sport in the world so of course you'd be an ace duathlete, but when I saw the competition I was a little nervous. Little kids wearing spandex with expensive bikes and parents who train them. But you really hustled and finished second of your age group. You've got some drive, kiddo.Also you've started talking about your future days in the NHL. You play this game where you make everybody list one thing they want, and one place they want to go. And then once we all choose our things/places, you say, "okay, when I'm in the NHL I'll pay for that." Thanks, farty.

You like calling me farty, but you always say it with a British accent. Fawty. You break out accents often and without reason.Also you sweat a lot. More than most people, I think.

When we were in Seattle visiting Laura, you and I shared a bed. You talk a lot in your sleep, mostly saying hilarious things, and you have a lot of bad dreams. And you like cuddling. Sometimes I'd wake up with your torso on top of my face. I didn't mind at all, you sweaty mess.
Laura got married this summer and you took it hard. I have a picture of the morning after the wedding, as she and Jerry left for their honey moon. You are grief stricken. Tears running down your cheek... it's the saddest picture in the world by far. I sort of realized that not only do we love you, but you love us. Your little heart loves so much!You're also quite the trend setter. You started saying "ahem ahem?" when you wanted attention and it caught on. Example conversation:

Me: I made this cake
Jack: ahem ahem?
Me: Jack helped

It's catchy and effective. Nice one Spratt-man.

Oh, nicknames. Jack, Jack-o, Jacques. Then Jacques backwards is Kaj. Then Kaja and Kajey. Then Kajak and Kajakistan and Kajakistanley. Jack-Spratt, Jack-man, Spratt-man. Toothless.When I came home from Texas (after not seeing you for 4 months! The longest I've ever gone without seeing you!) you waited for me in the airport patiently (my luggage was lost so you were waiting a long time. You have a lot of patience for a then-6 year old!) with a sign and balloons. Then when I finally came out of the doors, you dropped the signed and sprinted over (with your fake sprint where you take long strides and jut your elbows out to the side).

I started giving you a million kisses and while I'm sure most little boys would squirm and run away you hugged me tight with one arm, with the other hand did a beckon, and said, "oh yeah, keep them coming."

I love your old man pajamas and how long it takes you to diligently button them up. I love that you respond when I call you buttface. I love how you like to wear necklaces or those ugly rubber bracelets. I like how you hold a pencil and how gentle you are with cats. I love when I check your math homework, and you get it right you go, "OH YEAHHH. OH YEAHHH. OH YEAHHH." in my face for five minutes. I love how squeamish you are when looking at other people's cuts (like how you almost barfed at my knee stitches). I love your freckles and I love your dimples.
You're my favourite boy in the world, and I will love you forever and forever and forever.

Love Lisa

ps. I don't like when you give me beef stew. So stop that.

(Beef stew is when he farts on my face)

(Jack turns 6) (Jack turns 5)

Summer Plans: Phase 6

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:34:00 +0000

Phase 6: Decide like the engineer that you are

When called to the witness stand, my gut instinct got all wishy-washy then feigned some dry heaving and asked to be excused. Gut instinct, as usual, is useless.

So let's put some lists and numbers to the choice. Kenya vs NYC.

Financially:

Kenya: would nay make any money obviously. Cost of flight, immunizations, visa, etc: about $2000-3000.

NYC: would add to collection of coins. I'd be able to afford things like flying to visit my bestie who now lives in Argentia. Fly anywhere and every where and spend money recklessly on clothes and fancy food.

Emotionally:Kenya:the blue line, here approximated by 9sin(2x). Kenya is like AHHHHHHH. I'd be lonely a lot, I'm sure. And there would be a lot of adjusting.

NYC:the red line, here approximated by sinx+3. NYC it would be like more rah rah good times guaranteed.

Bloggingly:

Kenya: So much to blog about! Would miss 20sb meetup.

NYC: Would meet so many blog friends!

Finding direction in my life?:

Kenya: MAYBS.

NYC: PROBS NOT.

Health:

Kenya: as my mom said, "What's the worst that could happen? You get sick and dehydrated and they have to send you home in a medical airplane?" ... uh, sounds pretty bad. And I don't think that's the worst. Also, I have plenty of digestive issues. Imagine those issues without a flush toilet? At least it's at a higher elevation, so mosquitos/malaria isn't so much an issue.

NYC: the subway is dirty, but I have hand sanitizer.

Helps out my future career:

Kenya: Not really, but maybe indirectly.

NYC: I guess so but not really if I do end up going into law school.

Originality:

Kenya: Incred-unique opportunity. If I ever go to Africa, it should be now. Total real experience ("this is not Africa-lite" I've been told) with the nicest, most welcoming people ever. They say I wouldn't see another white person for the whole time I'm there. You sometimes see zebras.

NYC: The first time I packed up and moved to New York was 3 years ago, when I was 19. Then again 2 summers ago. The city that never sleep is almost ho-hum. Although this time I'd be over 21 so that might be a different spin.

Final line:

Kenya: Risky! Adventure! Potentially life changing!
NYC: Safe! Fun times! Guaranteed fun times! But for real: Fun! Times!

Choose for me.

My summer plans: Phase 4 and 5

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:09:00 +0000

(Phases 1-3 here)

Phase 4: Go with what you know

I worked in NYC two summers ago at a fantastic office with fantastic people doing fantastic work. That summer was most certainly the best summer of my life. I love New York to the max, and this summer I'll finally be over 21. A million fantastic bloggers live there. I could re-sign up with my bike coach. I know the subway lines. I have friends there.

I emailed my boss from my job a week ago to see if they might be able to offer me a job for the summer. I got an email from him on Friday saying that yes, he got approval to hire me! This boss is the best boss in the world, and even if I was on a crappy project it would be a good learning time because he's just the best like that.

Easy peasy. Known quantities galore. Very safe choice. But also very fun choice!

Also, I could probably work it out so that I'm only working 3 months, and then take August off to travel (I have friends in Argentina now! And camp is in Vancouver). WOULD BE THE BEST.

Phase 5: More cards on the table

My hesitations in volunteering internationally are that the expensive, big program safe "voluntourist trips" are expensive, and seemingly for rich kids looking to pad resumes, and that the cheaper programs all seem really sketchy. Without knowing somebody who's done it, I can't feel certain about my safety and stuff, you know?

Then my mom remembered that some family friends are involved with a program in Africa. A bunch of Canadian authors came together and together, with a school board, they're sponsoring 7 orphans. They've visited the village but if I went this summer, I'd be the only North American there. Everybody speaks English but still. I still have to get more details to know what I could be doing. What can I even do? I can type fast and factor trinomials like nobody's business... but what do I even have to offer, you know?

So many unknowns. I'm going to email my mom's friend more, get a dialogue going, get some more answers. It'd be the riskier decision for sure. More adventurous definitely.

I'm just nervous about making the wrong decision.

Katoleary summed it up nicely today: "I always think the problem is that I don't like any of my options. It’s not. The problem is that I like too many of them, and I feel like opening one door has the effect of closing every other."

Yeah. Exactly.

Brandy Walters: the interview

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Brandy got in the mood to ask questions one day. Here are the questions she asked me. Also, here are my answers.

1. Your new blog "Notes for a Potential Suitor" is one of the best things that has ever been found on Planet Earth. It's hard to for me to pick a favourite entry, but if you had to share your top three, which ones do you love the most?

Oh, I am so glad you like that blog. I enjoy writing it so much. I guess my favourite 3 are #4, #8, and #31. And also #39. Choosing only 3 is for suckers.

2. Jack seems like the coolest person alive. If you could have him experience one life experience that you have had, what would it be?

Camp. More to the point, improv camp. In general it's the best place in the universe filled with the very best kind of people. Everybody there is just so themselves, you know? I think my summers there have been the most influential in shaping me to become who I want to be, instead of somebody with self-esteem issues and the inability to communicate. Okay, I was never THAT bad, but definitely camp has taught me a lot about perspective, compassion, honesty, and trust. I love that place.

Send your kids to camp.

3. If you had to give all your worldly possessions to one person who you are not related to, who would get the goods?

TOUGH. Because none of it is worth that much. Like, maybe a friend who is a student would enjoy receiving my laptop so s/he could take all my music files then sell my laptop for a few weeks worth of groceries or something. All my stuff of sentimental value (home made crafts from my little brothers, t-shirts from high school student council, that kind of stuff) isn't really of value to anybody other than myself.

All my stuff of moderate monetary value isn't worth enough to sell... can I give my books to SJ, all my engineering related stuff to a lucky first year student who reminds me of myself, all my triathlon stuff to my friend Julia who is probably the only person who might use it, and all my clothes to the Goodwill? (My fashion style is too non-descript for anybody to really want my clothes, I think. My sister would enjoy receiving all my Lululemon, but she's related to me so that sucks to her ass-mar)

4. Other than the whole health care thing and Wayne Gretzky, what's the best part about being Canadian?

When you're outside of Canada and you meet another Canadian, it's insta-bond. I don't think Americans do that. It's like meeting somebody from your hometown but for Canadians it seems to extend past town to entire nation. It's like auto-community.

Also, Canada is an incredibly beautiful country, geographically and culturally. I feel lame suddenly. I feel like I'm writing an intro to geography video for fourth graders. "You live in a unique nation! From the Rockies (cut to a panned out shot of people hiking in Bermuda shorts) to the Prairies (cut to a shot of wheat blowing in the wind) to the Atlantic provinces! (cut to a shot of grizzled fishermen unloading fish into a small bustling marketplace) Canada has something for everyone! (cut to a group of 4 friends, each a different race, skating on the Rideau Canal)

5. If you could either grow gills and swim underwater indefinitely or grow wings (the real kind, not some metaphorical pair) and fly, which would you prefer?

Gills. I could build a hovercraft if I was really into flying. Also, I'd be the best swimmer ever.

My summer plans: phases 1-3 out of infinity phases

noreply@blogger.com (lfar) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:46:00 +0000

Phase 1: Default

In the default phase, I hadn't really given much thought to straying off the straight and narrow. I applied for a 10 summer jobs that sounded interesting. However, most of them got cancelled (thanks, recession) so I ended up only getting 2 interviews, and from there, 1 job offer.

So basically the plan was to take the job (even though it wasn't the best for me, nor did it even pay that well), and spend the summer saving as much money as possible as to avoid going into debt next school year as I finish up my degree.

Phase 2: Reckless

Then I called my mom, sort of like, "ah, I dunno" and she convinced me to turn down the job offer on the logic that if something doesn't make me happy, I shouldn't do it. She also said if I couldn't get a good job for the summer, or if I decided I wanted to not be employed this summer, that she would loan me money for 4th year.

So, suddenly free from the shackles of making ends meet, I started researching volunteer opportunities. Like international ones! I found this excellent looking one in Nepal where I'd volunteer for three months at a women's crisis shelter.

My criteria for a placement was something like this:

3-4 months
doing something that couldn't be done by a local. For example, digging wells, or helping carry water. For the amount of money even just my plane trip costs, I should just stay home and send money. You know? Like why not pay somebody to dig that well, and the job gets done AND somebody can support his/her family.
relatively safe country
not teaching English. (90% of jobs are teaching English. I don't know... not up my alley so much I guess)

Phase 3: Let's be real here

So I've found that there are basically two types of organizations:

Type 1 is really expensive, and costs about 5000 for 3 months (plus airfare). The testimonials feature pictures of groups of volunteers playing beach volleyball, looking like they've all showered recently. Girls wear eyeliner. Sample itineraries boast weekend trips to nearby touristy cities.

Type 2 is less expensive; prices are about a quarter of type 1 organizations. But these Type 2 organizations have ugly websites with hotmail email addresses and animated gifs. Google searches for people who have blogged their experience with these organization turn up sketchy or no results.

So now I don't really know what to do this summer. I don't want to spend a lot of money to hang out with rich kids who are trying to buff up a CV. I also don't want to travel to a remote part of the world and be lonely and afraid.

Hello square one, nice to see you again.