Have booked my flight to Beijing. I will arrive in Beijing on Sep 16. Though there is a lot of work to be finished before the trip, I am feeling happy.

 

On August 17, 2003, I entered Canada. It has been 3 years. So I thought I might just leave a mark. Today, I helped a friend's friends who just came to London. It occured to me that I have seen many people come and go. Some of the people who came with me have left, some of the people I got to know here have left, and even many of my soccer buddies have left. The job market for my major seems bad this year. As a result, I might have to stay a fifth year here because even if I were able to defend my proposal on time there would unlikely be a job. The picture above was taken at the Beijing international airport on the day I left, the place I haven't come back to in 3 years.

For the first time in my life, there was a time this afternoon when no one on my MSN messenager was online. Looking at the empty list, I kinda felt lonely. I don't always talk to them when they are online, but it feels comfortable when there is someone around, even virtually.

When you think you have it all, there will always be surprises that make you doubt yourself. I have been running statistical tests for a month. The results keep confusing me. Even regression which I though was very easy turns out to be tricky. From now on, I will never claim I know anything. Instead, I will say I know something about it. 

After 3 trips to Toronto for my visa, I finally got to go to Mexico.  It was a quick trip, 4 days in total with 2 days on the road. It was fun though. Mexico looks much different from Canada, US and China. It is more like Thailand to me. Though I got sunburn very bad on my legs, I have to say it is worth it. I have decided to go to places like this every year if I can afford it. Next place will be Hawaii or Cuba.