The summer reprieve officially ended with the Labor Day Weekend. The attention now turns toward textbooks, lecture notes and heavy bookbags. From a laidback and relaxing summer to a hectic, fast-paced college routine, the real transition took place over last week. The initial excitement of meeting up with old friends and making new ones and, in some cases, the dread at coming (back) to school has mellowed into a wistful complacency. Slowly but surely, coursework threatens to overcome every waking minute of one's life. Oh, well!
For the moment, take some time off and read what some international students did; share their summer experience. Several international students return ed to their countries for a much needed holiday. In most cases, the need to revisit "home" and rejuvenate the native spirit is all that matters. Rabih El-Khoury, returned to Lebanon this summer; the highlight of his trip was a sojourn to spiritual tranquility 9400 feet above sea level, atop the highest peak in Mount Lebanon. There are several students who experience variations of this emotion and returned to WPI recharged and focused on making the best out of the new academic year.
Others preferred to spend their summer gaining real-life work experience in their chosen fields of study. Felix Rieper, from Germany, remained in the Worcester area and helped to develop several software products at Data General, to be launched into the commercial market later this year. He was accompanied by Sharad Bhojnagarwala, another Computer Science enthusiast, from India,who learned about System Adminstration-something overlooked at WPI.
Pallavi Singh, from the United Kingdom, had a rewarding work experience at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she conducted clinical research with HIV patients. Many peers also participated in some very constructive and productive projects that I believe have made a small but significant contribution to their fields.
And, finally, I (Hajira Begum) had a most enjoyable term at WPI, taking three courses (in relaxed and fun classes with fewer than 10 students each!!). I had my first constructive research experience in Professor Hobey's biomembranes lab. (Wish you could have been there!)
So, does the fun end with summer and is it all work from now on? "NO!," say the members of the International Student Council (ISC) who brought back some of the summer fun over the Labor Day Weekend, on September 5th, with an excursion to Boston. The trip , sponsored by the ISC and Residential Services, turned out to be a blast with 45 people joining us in the fun-filled exploratory trip. Fashionable Newbury Street, historic Fanieul Hall, intriguing Quincy Market and touristic Harvard Square were just a few places the group stopped.
Get ready for a Bar Be Cue with a sports oriented theme on the weekend of midterm week. Look out for more information and contact the ISC for further details.