the words I never got to say the first time around...
if the whole world is watching I'd still dance with you...
...everything comes back to you." 🎶
I just returned from a trip to New York City after, I dunno... three years... since my last visit? Yeah, that sounds about right... three years. And, as I tiredly lie in my own bed after several nights of sleeping on hotel and guest beds (a story for another post), the song "This Town" by Niall Horan comes to mind.
I gotta say... I missed New York City. It hasn't changed too much since my last visit... it was still very crowded and many parts still stank from tons of garbage and all that... but it remained awesome, so alive, so vibrant, so larger than life!
I hope to visit again at some point... but just to hang out with friends and family rather than to visit for work. Until then, I'll hum along Niall's sincerity with a beautiful tune.
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Video credit: The owner is indicated in the video. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
I've just been watching this TV movie where a 'city girl' - a 'senseless one', if I may say so, was 'thrown' in the wilderness by a job-related project. She was thrown-in in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of outdoorsy people who, like her, were competing for a contract with an app developer who organized the 'wilderness throw-in'. She was doing so badly... and it's annoying how she was always insanely hysterical at every turn in the wilderness, which, by the way, was so breathtakingly beautiful. There was a good-looking guy in the bunch... and, predictably, he took notice of Ms. Hysterical. And, predictably, she was annoyed at first by his guts and confidence... but eventually, his charm and consistent good nature won her over. Not that I am not complaining... because I am. Uhm, yes, that's right, I am complaining! She doesn't deserve him! Uh, yeah, I know... it's just a TV movie!
But what's my point? I do have a point, see. 😅 In one of those scenes where the story belabored the point of how the 'opposites', Ms. Hysterical and Mr. Cool Outdoorsy, slowly fell for each other, they were crossing a gorge through a hanging bridge. Mr. CO was guiding Ms. H (whose eyes were shut close... what do you expect? 🙄) along the bridge. And then, he paused in the middle of the bridge to admire the beautiful view. Ms. H opened her eyes, and gasped... taken by the beautiful view, too. But, of course, she had to ruin the moment by her 'hysterically impressed' reaction. 🙄
A little part of the Boise River viewed from the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge at the Boise State University campus.
I know, you must be asking - again, "so, what's your point?" Hang on, 'cause I'm not here just to bash Ms. H. I do have a point. Hmm... actually, I have a related story to tell. Back in AY 2021-2022, I was in a Humphrey Fellowship at Pennsylvania State University ('Penn State'). While in the Fellowship, I had a great opportunity to travel around the US again. I chose to go to some of the places that I haven't been before, and joined events that I have not experienced before... and I loved it! One of my favorites is my prolonged stay in Boise, ID. I did a part of my Fellowship there, specifically in Boise State University (BSU), where one of my sisters used to work. I loved it there! It's the closest thing to a real 'happy marriage' between the preserved beauty of nature and urban living. My sister's home, where I stayed, in the four trips that I took to Boise while in the Humphrey Fellowship (twice on vacation with my sister and her husband, and twice on official Humphrey Fellowship business) is located just several hundreds of footsteps from the BSU campus. In the opposite direction from the campus, several hundred steps away, is downtown Boise. There are several parks and points of interest in between... and that was why I loved walking to and from the campus... and taking a walk downtown during lunch breaks or before walking home.
"Boise is located in the Treasure Valley, along the Boise River.
The word 'boise' is French for 'wooded', and the name likely originates from
French Canadian travelers who named the area Boise because it was a rare
wooded valley in the context of high desert area."
One of my favorite walking trails from the campus, specifically, from the library, to downtown and back is through the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge across the Boise River. There was a long walking trail along the Boise River - the "Boise River Greenbelt", which ran from one region of the Boise City to another. It is a famous walking, running and biking trail for the locals, including my brother-in-law who is an avid 'walker'. The first time I walked along the Greenbelt and crossed the River towards downtown using the Bridge, it was between Fall and Winter time: Thanksgiving Break. And, I was so astounded by the view of the mountains where the river seemed to appear magically, and then disappear again in the opposite direction. I frequented the trail and crossed the river through the Friendship Bridge, and the view took my breath away each time! Mr. CO's reaction in the TV movie reminded me of my own reaction everytime I crossed the Friendship Bridge. I took a few dozen photos and videos as well, especially when I was able to catch the sunset.
In downtown Boise, the Capitol Blvd. where the Capitol is found at its end, viewed from the Boise Depot on the hill.
When I returned to Boise for Christmas break, I was lucky enough to experience a beautiful white Christmas. One of the highlights of my vacation was a sunset walk along the Greenbelt, crossing the river towards downtown together with my sister. And, when I returned in springtime, I got curious, and the Bridge was the first that I visited as soon as I reached Boise... after eating lunch with my sister and brother-in-law, that is. The view at the river, the surrounding lines of trees so green, and the mountains, was just breathtaking! But what is most fascinating was that such sceneries can be found right smack in the middle of the City, and they bind the BSU campus with downtown Boise and the residential areas that were made so pretty by a huge variety of flowers. I enjoyed that very much... along with all those friendly people in Boise that I had the great pleasure to meet, and some became friends.
My 'I was there' photo, taken at the Boise Depot by my sister.
My longest stay in Boise was for five weeks, and it was towards the end of spring and halfway through summer. Naturally, I went crazy! Boise was so beautiful then... and the whole Boise was a-buzz with summer activities. There are days when the City was quiet as most people would spend a long weekend, camping in the woods located in the outskirts of the City, or up the mountains. I do think that it's a fascinating lifestyle, observing environmental sustainability and benefiting from it, too... and I loved it! I wish to be back... and I hope that, next time, it will be for a longer period.
Did I make 'my point'? Hmmm... I guess, not yet, huh? Well, stay tuned then... more to follow!
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Video credit: The owner of the video is indicated in the video credits. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Image credit: All photos belong to me - I took them unless otherwise indicated.
A souvenir from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH
Finally, a little time to slow down... after that critical deadlines galore, big meetings here and there, a long string of speaking engagements, a peppering of 'painful' just-suck-it-all-in-it'll-be-over-soon events that introvert people like me dread, the release and live performance of JK's 'Dreamers', the release of RM's first album, 'Indigo'... and the 2022 FIFA World Cup where the phenomenal Lionel Messi - my idol - emerged victorious with his Albiceleste side. He can finally be crowned now as GOAT of the beautiful game (a long post to come soon! ⚽ðŸ˜ðŸŽ‰) with no plausible objection from anyone, too!! Whew!
It has been a lot of sleepless nights - literally. How did I survive the last 30 days? No clue... perhaps, just the sheer force of determination to make it through to 'the other side'! I took a deep breath, focused... and just sprinted with all my might - real and imagined... and a lot of prayers!!
Anyway, I am putting finishing touches on our Christmas tree just a few minutes ago... in time for the 'big day' and tidying up my room as well. Now, I gotta admit that tidying up my bedroom is a bit of a challenge that I am hoping I'd overcome somehow... especially that I keep pausing to reminisce on things that should already have found their way in the trash bin a long time ago. I'm such a sentimental hoarded! Just a few minutes ago, I found a box of unopened stuffs hidden behind
Up close and personal...
a framed picture on the floor and leaning against the wall... and my heart started to beat faster. As I peeled off the thick wrappers of each little item, my heart kept skipping a beat with my mouth and eyes wide open with surprise! Ahh... I love that feeling - being pleasantly surprised! I found items from my travels to Rome, Florence, Shanghai, Seoul and various parts of the US just before the pandemic. I didn't realize I still have these things unopened. I thought, I have all my travel stuffs unpacked a long time ago!
I will talk about those experiences in another post. I just want to drop by here to make sure that I have something written up about the unexpected finding of this long-forgotten beautiful Christmas tree ornament - a souvenir from my first visit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio sometime in July 2019. It was a well-spent 'free time' as I visited my research students who were working on our project on 3D printed food at the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU, or simply 'Case') that time. I did stay for a week in Baltimore, Maryland before that for the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) series of meetings and a few networking activities with our alumni in the East Coast.
I remember spending the weekend browsing the
A bagful of souvenirs from the Cleveland Museum of Art, including a set of coasters designed with the work of some of my favorite impressionists.
Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) at the Case campus, which has a superb collection! The lawn was very pretty, too, and the walk from my hotel to the CMA was so interesting. I kept finding mini monuments of guitars in the gardens. I wondered about it... little did I know that I was going to find out in a big way!
Anyway, after a couple of hours at the CMA, I wanted to do more. So, I ventured in the City Center with my students, and visited 'The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum'. I studied for a year at the Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, OH sometime in the mid-90s, and I visited Cleveland a couple of times. It never occurred to me then that the 'Rock Hall' was located in Cleveland! Apparently, it was established there to honor the man - a disc jockey named Alan Freed - who referred to the music genre that was making waves in the 1950s as 'rock and roll'. I am glad that I finally had a chance to check it out.
We saw an incredible amount of exhibits from the likes of Elvis Presley,TheBeatles and The Rolling Stones to the likes of Michael Jackson and Oasis, and many more in between and beyond! Being a big R&R fan, I had a 'field day'! But after half a day, I was so overwhelmed that I was going dizzy. Surreal! It's a good thing that the 'Rock Hall' is adjacent to the Great Lakes Science Center, too, where famous Ohioan astronauts, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Judith Resnick... among other cool science and engineering stuffs were featured. So, we went to visit that as well... while we waited for a show at the Rock Hall to come on. It was an INCREDIBLE experience!
Anyway... I need to take it all in again. So, I am taking a little break. And, what better way to take a break than to drop by here in this blogsite for a few minutes to reminisce and share the experience?
Until then...
***
Photo credit: The photos featured here belong to me, and were processed for the sole use of this blog. They may not be used elsewhere.
By now, you must already know that I am all about 'variety', 'sari-sari' - in food, in sports, in music, in fashion, in traveling, in my approaches to teaching learning, and what have you! I am not one to stay glued in one place, patronizing the same thing over and over again. I do have 'favorites'... like a 'classic', a 'go-to' when in doubt. And, I am usually very loyal to my favorites. I also have 'something'/'someone' I 'follow' on social media... but that's only because those favorites or 'something'/'someone' keep evolving, too. They mix up a variety of things, finding the best blend... and moving forward constantly. Or, they do things with the future in mind... adopting a formula that applies to the present and to the future, which is absolutely brilliant! So, whatever they create remains good and fresh for a long time. I know that that takes a lot of work - it requires careful study, and lots of daring. That is why I have great respect for my 'favorites'... although I don't have very many.
Anyway, let me just say that I get bored so easily... when things are slow, repetitive, too parochial or too mundane. And, that's not being snotty or sassy either, far from it, actually! It's just an inclination to innovation... and FUN!Fun, most of all because innovation is fun... and change (for the better) is refreshing and fun!
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BTS is 💜
This is the reason why I like BTS very much! I listen to their music everyday for the past how many years... and I don't get tired of it. Why? It's because the quality of the songs are thickly layered and meticulously produced. Almost everyday, I discover a 'new layer'... or a new 'patch' somewhere when I thought there was a teeny-tiny 'empty space' where the notes sort of 'jiggled' a bit the previous time I listened to the song... it's fascinating! The production is so 'airtight' as I often say... and yet, they encase the songs in a multi-compartment 'music time capsule'. At any point, when a compartment is injected with a new 'component', the song would sound 'new', but the core quality remains very high because only the 'casing' can be touched, and not the 'backbone'. This is why I love the remixes of their songs, too. The 'backbone music' is intact, but the remix 'redresses' the song to fit the 'new occasion'. Just see the 'hotter remix' of "Butter" below, and you'll understand what I mean.
For starters, see RM's excited display of dancing prowess at mark 0.38-0.44 min - hilarious! The group's endearing 'craziness' is on full display at mark 1:20-1:37 min where Jin and Hobi are hysterically hilarious! SUGA let his guard down and went about being funny, especially in the end. Our three maknaes, Jimin, V, and JK are the cutest while being funny. All are incredibly good looking, of course. 💜 (Warning: addictive! 'Once you start, you can't stop!' So, be strong! Haha...)
In June 2022, BTS commenced their 10th year as a group. After debuting in June 2013, they completed their 9 years 'on air', 'on line', 'in prints'... and in the hearts of ARMY. So, in another 10 years, we shall see how well the backbones of their music would hold... given the onslaught of new things in the music industry that come and go by the second. I'll offer a not-so-wild-but-mostly-calculated guess (uhm, I'm an engineer... that's what I do, I calculate! Haha...): they will hold!
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"RM"
One of the people who are responsible for the final quality of BTS music is their leader, "Rap Monster" or "RM", whose real name is Kim Nam-joon. He is one of the perennial songwriters and producers for BTS, along with the other members, mainly SUGA (Min Yoon-gi), who is usually involved in songwriting and record producing, and J-Hope (Jung Ho-seok). Incidentally, these three make up the awesome rap line of BTS, whose 'muscular' rapping complement the beautiful singing of the vocal line... bringing the BTS music to a different level of quality that is not easy to rival these days. My view of their artistry is expressed in a previous post.
RM usually speaks on behalf of the Group in their international engagements, especially in the early stages of their career as he is most fluent in English. He speaks with tact and with diplomacy, too. He is good looking, especially when he started to mature in age and in his artistry, when he became more and more confident with himself, and BTS became more and more 'the Group to beat' worldwide. He walks tall in confident and graceful strides. He speaks with calm confidence but with courteousness, typical of his culture as a Korean. Simply put, he is a Korean Idol and a gentleman. As such, he commands respect - for himself, and for the Group that he leads.
Overall, RM is excellent in what he does as a musician and as the BTS leader... but less than excellent (uhm... far from it, actually) when dealing with practical little things such as, uhm, boiling water, peeling a little potato, or simply keeping his house slippers from losing their soles when he walks, just to name a few. Hahaha.... In their features on Bangtan TV, when something breaks, RM is usually responsible, or part of the guilty party. His intellectual capacity is in excess... but when dealing with practical everyday things... uhm, let's just say that 'his sense is not so common', far from common, actually! In fact, it is unique. Hahaha... Even he surprises himself when he breaks something... because, commonly, those are simple enough to handle without breaking them. Perhaps, his brain process has one dominant path - the complex intellectual path. And before his brain finishes processing, the moment already passed... and something slipped through his grasp already... and, yeah, break! This is why, the members call him the 'god of destruction' (god). While he usually breaks things or hurts himself, fortunately, it's never serious. Therefore, his 'not so common sense' is acceptable. Usually, it is a source of entertainment for the group, and for ARMY, too. In fact, his being "god" endears him to ARMY, regardless of their 'bias'. On VLive with Jimin, Jin sums it up in a vintage Jin way - hilarious but insightful. He said, "when I see Namjoon (being clumsy like that), I realize that, indeed, God is fair," or something to that effect. You get the picture, right? Right!
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"Namjooning" is 💜
Namjoon is a visual arts enthusiast, and an avid fan of nature. I think it is accurate to say that one of his favorite visual arts is nature itself... with some bias on crabs. Don't ask me why... it is what it is. He'll probably say the same thing if you ask him. Anyway, he goes on arts appreciation trips on a regular basis, and have been into collecting works of art in the various galleries and Art Fairs that he visits. He shares photos of his arts expeditions and his growing collection with ARMY (and non-ARMY followers) on Instagram (IG). Through example, he encourages his Followers to consider work-life balance and self-improvement though nature and arts appreciation. In his own way, he is able to support the Visual Arts industry, too, as well as the new and well-established artists alike as he has a considerable IG following. I support this as I, myself, is a huge arts fan since my teenage years. Apart from traveling and foodie-ing, reading, music and film, it is one of my favorite avenues of relaxation and a way to refresh my mind. These days, one or a combination of these activities is known as "Namjooning" (see footnote below). It gets my mind off of the 'logically chaotic' world of engineering... whenever needed.
Over time, one can see that RM's taste in Visual Arts grew in sophistication and in variety. I particularly like his preference for Claude Monet and his fascination for conceptual arts, such as the works of Roni Horn and the late Felix Gonzalez-Torres, which are currently on exhibit at the Pinault Collection in Paris, France. Earlier, some works of Horn were exhibited at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, TX. RM visited Chinati as well.
'Namjooning' at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Feb 2022)
I am a fan of Monet myself... and of impressionism as a whole. I have a collection of books on Vincent van Gogh, and something on Monet, of course. When I studied in Sweden for a year, my apartment walls were covered with posters of van Gogh's work, which I collected from visiting museums in the Scandinavian region. I was a 'poor student' that time, so all I could afford were posters and postcards. Well, it's still the same now... I'm still 'poor' - 'poor professor', that is. Haha...
Anyway, yes, I love visiting museums and art galleries. The most memorable was my visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Summer of 2007. Although I've been there a few times, that particular visit was special because it was with my late father. My younger sister who is an Art and Humanities walking encyclopedia was with us in that visit, too, and we had a blast! I don't think I could ever look at a van Gogh, a Monet or a Renoir without thinking about my father. My most recent opportunity to appreciate their work was last February this year at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Carnegie has a laudable Impressionism Section where the works of the said masters are featured as part of their permanent collection.
Although I've never had the opportunity to see the works of Horn up close and personal, I appreciate what RM shared on his IG. I love how the illumination and glitters from lights are multiplied as they are reflected from the smooth glass surfaces in the Pinault Collection installation. The depth of the glass sculpture temper the multiplying of light without distorting the images. RM did a great job capturing the essence of the installation in which one can no longer distinguish between which part of the illumination in the room comes from the hanging lights themselves and from the reflection off the glass surface. It is impressive how Horn showed expertise in manipulating and making the most of his medium: glass.
My recent close encounter with glass sculpture: blown glass sculptures at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona by Dale Chihuly (March 2022).
My own recent close encounter with glass sculpture was last March 2022 at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona. It was "Chihuly at the Garden" by the renowned blown glass artist, Dale Chihuly. He showed the same principle of multiplying illumination of light through surface reflection. it was very, very dramatic and so beautiful as the colored blown glass in various shapes reflected the colorful lights of the sunset... and as the glass reflected the twinkling lights in the garden in the evening. This will be the subject of another post in the next few days... once I get a little break from work, that is... uhm, if at all! Haha...
My interest in glass dated back in my student days. My undergrad thesis as a chemical engineering student was about colored glass using bagasse ash... and so, this is particularly fascinating to me. Glass possesses liquid-like structure molecularly but solid-like properties mechanically. Its properties as a material - whether as utility material or decorative - depends on one's thorough understanding of the thermodynamics involved in the phase transitions that the raw materials go through towards 'glassy state', and the rate at which these transitions take place. The fact that Horn can show how glass can be utilized as an artist's medium without sacrificing its functionality as an engineering material is beyond impressive for me. And the fact that RM sees the artistry and practical application of those installations is just awesome!
RM's recent Swiss Arts Appreciation travel, er, 'Namjooning' as chronicled in his Instagram account.
The photos he shared on 'light and space' in his visit of the Chinati Foundation got me thinking about many things. He focused on the interplay between sunlight and the structural design of the building, including the location and the way the building was oriented in order to maximize the benefit of daylight all day. The way he captured these in his photos was impressive. The art installations in that location were fascinating, too. They were made of stainless steel... but the principle of multiplying light through reflection on smooth surfaces, and with efficient angles to catch the sunlight from the windows was very prominent. These are things that we actually consider in design engineering. The fact that such practical considerations intersect art aesthetics is fascinating. Namjoon captured those efficiently through his photos.
When he joined the gathering of some of the biggest visual artists in the world at "The Art Basel" in Basel, Switzerland last July, it is obvious that he is on his way to becoming a big player in the Visual Arts industry. His attendance did not go unnoticed either. He was recently interviewed by Marc Spiegler for "Intersections: The Art Basel Podcast", Season 2, Episode 1. This was listened to by millions of RM's followers on Apple Music and Spotify. In the interview, he revealed his future plan of opening his own Gallery where he can share his collections with the public. In his recent Vlog, he shared with ARMY and to the rest of the world his visit to Switzerland, and in Paris, France.
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RM = Vlog Monster = 💜
In his "Swiss Vlog", it is evident that Namjoon was in his elements. He was funny, spontaneous, chatty... and in some key moments, quite contemplative - the artist in him kept finding its way to the surface. The camera can't lie. You can tell, he loved what he was doing. Although he kept complaining about how warm it was in Switzerland, his fascination of what he was seeing and experiencing turned his irritation as inconsequential. He uttered hilarious things like "chair party" (while some people go to 'tupperware parties', Namjoon goes to a 'chair party'), "ah, fallen ducks of Lucerne", "the famed 'Ugly Duckling'", "Makgeolli" (in various intonations), calling a hedgehog as "Ratatouille, my precious" (after alluding to the "Lord of the Rings" previously). It was not so much about what he said but about how he said them, and his timing, which was mostly unexpected! Yes, he was quite spontaneous in his vlog, and it was adorable. I think that our Rap Monster just found another thought processing path other than the intellectual pathway! Not convinced? Here, see and hear for yourself...
17:15 - 18:17 min (spiral slide at the Vitra Design Museum): "I'm scared". He*struggled* from uneven descent and from burning his bum against the surface of the slide only to find out that he missed using the protective mat. Oh, boy! He went again though (twice, actually), and enjoyed himself. Talk about not giving up... and enjoying to the fullest!
The original version of this post is four times as long as this. Haha... I went a bit crazy detailing the funny and entertaining parts as well as the interesting and introspective parts of RM's vlog. However, in the end, I thought it is better to just watch it. It's only about 35 minutes long... and it's filled with so much information, the beautiful sights and sounds of Switzerland, the humungous collection of fascinating art pieces at Art Basel, a bit of Paris, and lots and lots of wonderful 'RM moments', including foodie moments and hilarious antics (such as the fact that he kept whistling...and he wondered why? He himself didn't know why!). I am impressed at how he picked-up on the seeming 'ordinary touristic things', such as the ducks of Lucerne... and view them from funny but deeply discerning way. I appreciate how sincere he sounded in admiring Mount Rigi. I personally love how he referred to the Fjords of Norway while in Lucerne... it made me feel nostalgic, too, of that year I lived in Sweden and traveled around Scandinavia, including Norway... as a very (very, very) broke visiting scholar. Hahaha...
RM's vlog is a beautiful travelogue, indeed. There is something for everyone - whether one is an art enthusiast, a seasoned traveler who is looking for his/her next adventure, a BTS fan, an RM biased, or simply one looking to take a break from the monotony of daily grind, one will find something to be fascinated about. He did a great job chronicling his travel, and sharing them with his followers. I also loved it how he seemed to like beer... 'cause one of my research works is beer brewing - subject of another post in the future. Watch out for it! Hahaha...
So, yeah, our fantabulousRap Monster is now a Vlog Monster, too! AWESOME! 💜
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Photo Credit: The photos of myself in this post belong to me. They were processed for the sole use of this blog, and they may not be used anywhere else. RM's photos were grabbed from his IG account - thanks for the loan of the photos, Namjoon.
Video credit: The owner of the videos featured in this post are indicated in the video themselves, BangtanTV. Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.
Footnote:"Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon. This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference: Click here.). Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.
One of the things that I love about living in Ithaca in Upstate New York is how one can be very close to nature. There is always an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of nature whatever time of year... although winter can be truly harsh.
An assortment of blooms in the Cornell campus in Ithaca, NY during spring time.
This is the beauty of studying at Cornell University, too, specifically in its Ithaca campus. Aside from it being an Ivy League... and, therefore, the quality of education is topnotch, the Ithaca campus is surrounded by nature in its unadulterated beauty. The campus itself is beautiful: dramatic in Autumn, surreal in winter time, deliciously prettyin spring, and totally smashing during summer time. More than anything else though, the company of brilliant and fun students, and awesome mentors, was totally wonderful and unforgettable. I spent five years in the Ithaca campus of Cornell as a PhD student in the mid 2000s. I thank the Fulbright-Philippine Agriculture scholarship program endlessly for the opportunity... because those were some of the very best years of my life!
So, in AY 2021-2022, I had the opportunity to return to Cornell. This time, I return as a Hubert H. Humphrey (HHH) Fellowship grantee. The HHH Fellowship Program is under the Fulbright Scholarship Program of the US Department of State. It is a highly competitive program that is usually awarded to professionals in their mid-career or leaders who are ready to move up to more influential leadership roles in their field of work. In my Humphrey Fellowship, I was primarily hosted by the Penn State University in State College, PA but I chose Cornell as the venue for one of my two six-week non-local Professional Affiliations. The other one is Boise State University in Idaho. I couldn't be any happier!
Enjoying a lovely spring time evening, walking around East Hill area of Ithaca, NY.
In Ithaca, I stayed at the eastern side of the campus... up a hill, towards downtown. The house where I stayed this time was the same house where I lived on my last year as a PhD student in Cornell. Its location is adjacent to that of the Baker Institute for Animal Health of the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, which is recognized as one of the very best Vet Schools in the world. The house has among the most beautiful views of Ithaca sunset, which gets dramatic during spring time because of the usually thick dark rain clouds that contrasted with the burning red-orange color of the sun as it sank in the horizon among the tall trees on the hills. It is absolutely lovely!
Every single day, I was motivated to start the day well by the cheerful tweets of birds outside my window... and the gentle fingers of the rising sun that knocked on my window with its comforting warmth. They brought smile to my lips as I prayed for that beautiful day that beckoned. All day long, the horses at the stable of the Baker Institute grazed around the hills, and they usually wandered at the house's backyard. I enjoyed watching them, especially the two most active ones who loved to run around. They are the ones featured in the video above.
Towards the end of the day, I put all my concentration on my work so I can eat dinner early with the kind family who owns the house... and relax as I watched the beautiful sunset at the backyard. In the evening, I put on my walking/running shoes, put on my earphones, and pull down my favorite playlist on Spotify - mostly BTS music, of course! I then joined some of our neighbors as I walked/ran a minimum of 4km, chasing the colors of the sunset fade into the night. Perfect day for Namjooning, indeed!
I usually went to bed every single night satisfied with my day... and happy that I got to rest well as I anticipated another lovely day to come my way in the morning. Looking back, those days that were full of hope reminded me of my favorite line in one of the newest BTS songs, "Yet to come". The line went, "dream and hope, and go forward - we're so about it!" Yes, I am so about it, too!
Ahhh... Ithaca! Take me back!
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Video credit: The video featured in this post belong to me. I shot it for the sole use of this post.
Photo credit: All photos used in this post belong to me. I took and processed them for the sole purpose of this post.
Framing the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge across the Boise River.
The Special Collections and Archives of Boise State University (BSU) keeps a data base of important materials and artifacts that make up BSU's history as well as that of Boise City, and the State of Idaho itself. Among others, they keep a list of remarkable works of art that abound the campus. One such remarkable work that catches attention when exploring the campus is the work of sculptor, Nobuyo Okuda, a graduate of the BSU School of Arts (BA Fine Arts, Class of 1984).
The work is composed of two half circles made of stainless steel, joined at a single point and supporting each other where they are joined. The two half circles then extend gracefully beyond the point of full contact. As such, it is a remarkably minimalist number that shows how geometry and physics are used in artistic creations but seems insignificant the first time one sees it... at least, by those who prefer things from the perspective of pragmatism and functionality. However, as one studies the origin of the sculpture, one can fully appreciate its significance.
The sculpture was donated by Robert Hay to BSU in honor of his wife, Janet Hay, who
"Eternal Wind" with the Administration Building of Boise State University.
served for three terms in the State of Idaho Legislature, representing Nampa; championing education as member of the Idaho State Board of Education. As such, the sculpture is also referred to as "Janet Hay Memorial". To pay tribute to Janet Hay's advocacy, Okuda created a piece that symbolizes the "student-teacher relationship" in teaching-learning process. Each half circle, which represents either the student or the teacher, stands incomplete and insignificant. However, as the half-circles are joined fully at one point - in an education institution where learning takes place - they stand beautifully, completing each other... taking flight to extend gracefully to reach the other end... until one can no longer distinguish where the structure begins and where it ends, hence, the "eternal" nature of the relationship that they symbolize. And, as they seem to move to reach each other in a circular motion, they generate "eternal wind"... in the same way that the effective teaching-learning process in an excellent student-teacher relationship can eternally generate useful information that is cultivated to bear knowledge... and nurtured to shape into wisdom. Indeed, it is a beautiful symbol of student-teacher relationship and that process of teaching-learning... not just in an academic institution setting, but in life itself! After all, we all have most beloved mentors in our lives... and in what we do in our vocations and professions... who guide us, inspire us and keep us motivated to do well.
To me, it is an added point that the "Eternal Wind" is located in a place where, at an angle from one side, the circle frames the "Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge", which connects the campus with downtown Boise that are separated by the Boise River. From the opposite side, the sculpture serves as a circular frame for the Administration Building, which is quite remarkable, too. The sculpture is also installed in a circular plaza between the Albertsons Library and the College of Arts and the Sciences where students can hangout. I spent many hours reading in that plaza... or simply, namjooning, waiting for the sunset so I can view it from the Friendship Bridge where the sun's fingers spread across the river one last time in a given day as it sinks into the horizon. Again, beautiful!
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Photo credit: I took all photos in this post and processed them solely for this post.
References: Special Collection and Archives of Boise State University (news writer - Rachel Taylor, 2019); The Arbiter, 06 October 1999.
Footnote:"Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon. This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference: Click here.). Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.
There are many important occasions today, and it's good that it's Saturday, too. Although it is a thoroughly busy day for me... as I am traveling from the US to the Philippines as I write this blog post. In fact, I am currently standing on a loooong queue that is snaking around the Tom Bradley International Terminal of LAX... that is not moving! There's a huge variety of anxiety-triggers along the queue: "late again?", "when do they start checking us in?", "can we make it to boarding at this rate?", "man, I have a connection in Manila! Will I make it at this rate?"... and what have you!
After missing a flight the day before... and after walking (thrice! Long story... not worth discussing.) from Terminal 7 of LAX to Tom Bradley with three pieces of huge check-in luggage balanced on a squeaking cart (well, can you blame it, given the weight of my luggage?), a carry-on, and a backpack, and with that heat outside, and the LA smog that made my eyes water, plus I am really hungry... I cannot listen anymore to all the complaints around me. So, after conversing and commiserating with my fellow frustrated passengers, I decided, I have to do something productive... and happy.
So, I switched on Spotify, opened my ever-reliable favorite Playlist... put on my wireless earbuds... and voila, here I am... in this safe virtual haven of mine. Let's go!
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Everything happens for a reason
Yep, I missed my flight the day before because of that Health Pass online Form that one person insisted I needed to fill out before I can be checked-in and be given a boarding pass. Apparently, she was misinformed... but, by the time someone made a clarification, my luggage did not have enough time to reach the plane even if I can still sprint to my gate! So, I returned to my sister's home, and spent most part of the morning getting re-booked for my flights today. Thankfully, the Department of State's Travel Agency that was assigned to handle the travel plans of Humphrey Fellows like myself was very efficient that everything was taken care of in only a couple of hours. I then spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon taking delicious catnaps... and listening to music in between.
The truth is, I wasn't feeling too well yesterday as I had my COVID-19 second booster shot last Wednesday evening. I wasn't feeling well the following day, Thursday, but I couldn't take a
rest because I had to pack and re-pack my luggage. Ten months of being in the US had me 'amassing' stuff - mostly books... and shoes - lots of them! Nope, I do not plan to make excuses... 'cause I have none! Anyway, the extra day of stay gave me time to recuperate... and be ready for the long journey home today - a blessing in disguise.
It was a beautiful day, too! It was a bit warm, but it was sunny, and the sky was clear and very blue - pretty, and perfect for some Namjooning! And so, in the late afternoon, as my brother-in-law went to play golf, my sister and I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood so I can admire the place one last time. I love the old huge trees that lined the streets, almost forming a natural canopy above our heads as we walked. The shade they provided made the warm air a bit cooler, keeping the heat radiated by the asphalt road in check. So, it was quite a comfortable walk.
These last month that I was in my sister's place in Boise City, ID, I walked almost everyday. First of all, I walked to the Boise State University campus... walked leisurely around the
campus and beyond after work, and then walked home. I typically complete more than 10,000 steps daily, which is usually equivalent to, at least, 7 km. The place is nice and safe, so I enjoyed every minute of my walk! Also, I loved looking at the houses around. They are most definitely not as HUGE as the houses in, say, Texas! However, they are dainty and lovely... making the village where my sister lives very pretty, indeed. People are so friendly, too. Many of them let me take a photo of their home, and even chatted a bit about the neighborhood, especially when they learned that I am a visiting scholar at Boise State. Perhaps, that is another thing that I love about this place - people's sense of community, and sense of pride of what their community has to offer.
My sister and I decided to eat dinner at one of our favorite Asian restaurants in the village. We took a different route on our way there just to explore the village. We saw interesting things
around the neighborhood. My favorite was a mini free library at the front yard of one house. There were a couple of comfortable seats provided, and there were a few more spares in the barn just directly at the back of the free mini library. Anyone in the neighborhood can come and read, and anyone can donate books as well. It is a very good idea, really. In fact, I've seen one like this at the Anne Frank Memorial at downtown Boise.... which I'll write about in the (near) future.
My sister and I did not have our 'usual' at the Asian resto... we ventured to something different. We usually ordered ramen or pho but, this time, I ordered their special noodles... which was truly special - lots of veggies, shrimp and beef. It was delicious... and I finished it all! The long walk gave me appetite, and I loved it! My sister opted for something with rice, and se loved it, too.
On our way back to my sister's house, we decided to walk some more at a park nearby. It was, actually, a dog park. So, there were many people walking and playing with their dogs... and there were some more playing tennis and basketball. It was quite busy... but not crowded - there was enough space for everyone. My sister and I decided to take camp at the
picnic area... I was so full and happy that I decided to lie down... and just enjoy the fresh air, and the peace and quiet while I bonded with my sister. We talked about our immediate and long-term plans... and things that we are not planning just yet. It was a very good talk, which I did enjoy. This is another thing that I love about this place... there are many amenities that are found in big cities, like New York City (NYC), for instance... MINUS the huge crowd, the noise, the stench, the security and safety threats, and the lack of privacy. Ah... perhaps, it's my age. I used to enjoy the sight and sound of NYC... but, these days, I go there primarily for business. Then again, times have changed tremendously... and so did NYC! Given the choice, I'd rather go to Boise or in Upstate New York... and even in rural Pennsylvania - hmmm... uhm, perhaps, I won't go that far! I do love Pittsburgh though! It's cosmopolitan and lovely with a fair amount of intellectual vibes about it... but not as chaotic as NYC, or Philadelphia!
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Oh, and about special occasions...
July is a special month for me because, uhm, its my birth month! CANCER month! Yes, indeed, I'm a crab! Proud of it, too! I can identify with many crabs in this life... such as the late Princess Diana
and his son, Prince William, as well as the brilliant, Tom Hanks, and the eternally youthful and innovative, Tom Cruise. Let's not talk about Elon Musk though... because we want to talk happy and good, right? He's a great engineer though... I give him that.
Anyway, speaking of Tom Cruise... I found out on Instagram (IG) a few days ago that he is an ARMY. Well, in the IG post, he sang the first two lines of "Butter" - and with gusto, too. Hahaha... and speaking of ARMY, the fandom make July even more special for me because the 9th of July is ARMY's birthday! Having officially joined the fandom lately, I feel happy that I can celebrate my own birthday with ARMY's birthday. Yaay!
So, when my sister and I reached home, at the suggestion of my brother-in-law, we went to harvest ripe raspberries at the backyard. And because, I didn't have cake to commemorate the special ARMY day, and it was too late to bake one, I opted for ice cream - Ben & Jerry's. Fortunately, I still had one of my favorite flavors, the Americone Dream, which was "vanilla ice cream with fudge-covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl" (credit: description is from B&J's website). So, I had a proper ARMY birthday celebration commemorated with ice cream topped with fresh raspberries - straight from the backyard garden!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARMY! 💜🎊
And to celebrate this occasion, let's dance to one of my favorite 'old' BTS songs, "Anpanman"... because, heaven knows, I need a hero right now!
I chose this because this is one of the first BTS songs that caught my attention four years ago... the rest is history. Also, the graphics in their background has the most semblance to Hobi's Jack-in-the-box album cover, which we are also celebrating these days! Hobi is awesome in this video... and in this one, too, which is another live performance of Anpanman.
Alright... the queue is moving - FINALLY! Outta here... for now.
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IMAGE CREDIT: All photos in this post are mine - I took them, and processed them, solely for this post.
VIDEO CREDIT: The owner of the video is indicated in the video credit, BangtanTV. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Footnote:"Namjooning" - per BTS explanation, it is the "act of living as Kim Nam-Joon. This includes taking walks through parks, admiring nature, hanging out with crabs, and having fun with friends" (Reference: Click here.). Kim Nam-Joon, also known as "RM" (short for, originally, "Rap Monster"), is the leader of the South Korean group, BTS.
As my phone's alarm sounded at about 7:30 a.m., I realized that my sister and I have been in Seattle for about 48 hours now. Her primary reason for choosing Seattle for our brief vacation and bonding time was to visit the Space Needle as she failed to visit it the last time she was in the 'city of rain' with her husband. That was her first time to be in Seattle, actually. In my case, I just wanted a break from the
A promising morning on the last day of our visit.
University that was in the middle of nowhere. I wanted to see a real city... which became a serious need after three months of being in State College, PA. The place is not bad, in fact, it is a wonderful place... but it's too quiet. Boise, ID where my sister and her husband live, and where I am currently taking my winter break, is quite cosmopolitan while it still maintains its small-town warmth but, hey, I come from Manila, Philippines - a MEGA city! It's 'crazy'... and I crave 'crazy' after three months of counting trees rather than automobiles in the 'middle of nowhere' (my classmate's words, not mine) in PA.
My sister and I chose Seattle because it's 'crazy' enough, close enough to Boise, ID that travel time is not insanely long, it has many things that are unique and exciting... and I haven't been to Seattle until this trip. So far, so great! And, we were excited to commence our third and final day of visit. The Space Needle was priority today as well as a short meeting with my former student who now works in the area in a high-tech global company. We wanted to eat lunch or early dinner at Jollibee in
Saying goodbye to our 'home away from home', The Westin, for the past 48 hours in Seattle.
Tukwila, WA but it was too far. Without our own car, it was quite risky. We decided to just play it by ear as far as eating at Jollibee was concerned.
As we haven't completely gotten rid of good ol' sleepiness, we took our time in the morning. We ate leftovers from dinner, and some chunky cookies and fruits bought in the Farmers Market from the previous day. The free coffee at Westin was not bad... it was Starbucks. So, breakfast was satisfying. Our flight back to Boise, ID was around 8pm. So, we had almost the whole day to see some more of Seattle. We checked out before setting out for the Space Needle. We packed our bags and left them at the baggage storage of the hotel. We descended from the 23rd floor of Westin's North Tower for the last time in that visit, and headed out.
The Space Needle was about 0.6 mi walking distance from the Westin via 5th Ave, which took about 15 minutes. We had about an hour on our hands before our scheduled entrance to the Space Needle. So,
A fortunate detour from 5th Ave to 6th Ave where the phenomenal Amazon HQ is located.
we decided to make a little detour and walked along 6th Avenue instead to have a close look at the phenomenal Amazon HQ in Seattle. Starting from the impressive "Spheres", Amazon's urban campus did not disappoint. It did look like an architectural marvel. My sister and I spent time walking around the grounds of the campus, taking in the shiny surfaces of the buildings and the indoor gardens inside the Spheres, which was reminiscent of the Osher Rainforest at the California Academy of the Sciences (CAS) in San Francisco. I had the great opportunity to visit the CAS for the first time back in 2010, and again in 2012. It was awesome both times. Considering that the Amazon Spheres are still primarily a workplace, it wasn't too shabby for comparison.
We also enjoyed sightseeing along 6th Ave. where we found the celebrated Rubinstein Bagels and the tourists' highly acclaimed Lady Yum Macarons & Mischiefs. Unfortunately, there is only so much our stomachs can take otherwise we would stuff ourselves with such heavenly goodies. We walked towards the Space Needle in such good spirits, all the while seeing the iconic structure in front of us, which grew bigger as we moved closer amid the incredible buildings at the South Lake Union. We were also blessed with a very good weather... especially per Seattle standard.
The Space Needle definitely lived up to our expectations. It was amazing! We felt the innovative Seattle spirit that it symbolizes. The 185-meter tower was every inch an attempt for perfection - in
The excitement build-up as we prepared to climb the top of the Space Needle.
engineering and technology, in architecture, in vision, and the desire to educate, entertain and inspire. We simply loved it! As we had a few more minutes before our scheduled entry to the saucer-shaped top house, we walked around the grounds and checked out their shop. Surprisingly, we found many items in the shop that were reasonably priced, and we took advantage. The climb to the top via limited-capacity elevator was exciting... and seeing Seattle for the first time from the top of the needle as the elevator opened was unforgettable! When they said that it was "awe-inspiring", they weren't kidding!
My sister and I spent about an hour going around the open-air view deck at the top house. We took photos and videos, and simply admired the beauty of Seattle - its harbor and piers, the phenomenal buildings that speak of the level of engineering and technology that Seattle nurtures to leading innovations, the variety of architectural phenomena that spoke of taste and standard of the locals and the vision of everyone for this city that they love collectively, the shared spaces all over the city where
Every second atop the Space Needle was incredibly fun!
residents celebrate their history, iconic achievements and their future, and the beauty of nature, preserved amidst all the incredible progress around. It was enjoyable as it was educational.
All the excitement and adrenaline rush made us hungry after a while, so we decided to eat late lunch at the top of the needle. We decided against eating at the Loupe Lounge and ate at their snacks bar instead. The food was delicious and satisfying... the chicken tenders are highly recommended. After lunch, we went to check out the revolving glass floor one level below the open-air view deck and where the Loupe Lounge was located. We did not only see the city from the glass walls in front of us but also through the glass floors underneath us - amazing!
We felt that an hour-and-a-half of being at the top of the Space Needle was not enough but we wanted to save some for the next visit... hopefully with more family members. For this visit, we contented ourselves with the great feeling of having flown the atmosphere of this 'rainy city', almost touching the thick gray clouds that hung over it almost constantly, and thankful that within the three days that we were in the city, the clouds kindly held on and never let go of the rain that it was keeping. We, on the other hand, stayed a little sleepy... and so, it was time to wake up. Starbucks, here we come!
To be continued....
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Photo credit: All the photos used in this entry are mine.
