[2014Summer Road Trip]Trip Overview/[2014夏日公路旅行] 行程總纜

In addition to attending my wedding, I also arrange a 6-day Michigan trip for my parents.  My parents enjoy the beautiful nature, and Michigan is just the perfect place to see the sceneries that are different from Taiwan.  Below is our itinerary:

過去四個月的生活進展/Life Progress in the Past Four Months

原以為暑假會很有時間寫生活雜文，結果反而讓部落格荒蕪了四個月。馬克先生也常常在我面前瞪著電腦螢幕看著我的部落格說：怎麼都還沒更新啊？過去四個月我到底忙了些什麼？

Shake by the Head and the Heart

中文歌曲對我而言，充滿意境的歌詞比優美的旋律更能吸引我；歌詞若只是無病呻吟歌曲就好似少了靈魂似的。不過聽英文歌曲時，只要旋律好聽我就能愉快享受，歌詞一知半解就罷了。但若這首歌能進一步吸引我上網搜尋歌詞跟著哼唱，那就一定要在部落格跟大家分享。

我回來了！/I am Back!

今年最重要的是事之一，就是通過博士第二年的資格考。系裡對資格考的規定是完成一篇論文的撰寫與口頭報告，並獲得系裡所有有終身職的教授的許可。寒假過後，幾乎全部的心力都放在論文的資料分析與撰寫上。終於，在5/19順利通過我的資格考，正式成為博士候選人了！
One of the most important tasks this year, is to pass my qualify exam.  In our department the qualify exam is defined as writing a paper, presenting it in front of all the professors with tenure, and getting approval from them.  After the winter break I devoted my whole time to data analysis and paper writing.  Finally I successfully passed my qualify exam on May 19, and formally became a PhD candidate!

紙箱電影院/Cardboard Box Office

記得小時候如果有大紙箱可以玩，可是超樂的一件事呢！有時假裝那是自己的房子在屋裡燒菜喝下午茶、或是假裝那是一艘船自己是船長，乘風破浪冒險去。每次大人們把箱子丟掉都覺得很可惜。現在人在米國，常常網路購物（咦？）的結果就是容易堆積紙箱。居住公寓也沒太多收納空間，通常也就把紙箱丟了或拿去回收，倒也沒特別想要留下。