Merry Christmas

We are here in Texas having so much fun! This has been a fabulously fun Christmas with family and meeting Michael's fiance Meghan. And I got my grades - A, A, A-! Hallelujuah - I won't lose my fellowship after all.


Merry Christmas to everyone!

Finals are done!

As of 12:30 today my finals are done. Thank heavens. I think I did relatively well on at least two of my finals. My Medical Imaging grade is out - A- and I am happy for it. I was worried that I would go down, but I got a 51/60 on the final which I am very very pleased with. Especially considering my 75 percent average on the homework ... he he he.

Katsu already got both his grades - an A- and an A!!! Yeah, for Katsu! I think he will probably have a higher GPA than me.

We are so excited for Christmas and to see the family!

Snowy Day Thoughts

Yesterday, I was just minding my own business, studying, when a guy from my Medical Imaging class started talking to me. After a few minutes of homework related questions, he said, point-blank, "Are you Mormon". To which I responded yes, followed by him asserting that he was also Mormon and he had figured I was because 1) I had a wedding ring and I was a young woman, 2) I always wore modest clothes (this baffled me as it has been winter/fall for a while here and as far as I can tell, cold-weather clothes are always modest), and 3) I just kind of had that look about me (ha - me! the girl who is quiet and rarely ever talks to anyone in this class and just tries to pay attention during class). So, it turns out he is a Masters student about to graduate with a wife and a baby who is in the Ann Arbor 2nd ward. He asked me wheat I was doing. Of course, I have no clue, so I said I wasn't sure ... masters or PhD. I said I would take qualifying exams and see from there. And he asked about my husband, etc. When he found out that a) I might just end up getting a Masters and 2) we would be here a long time because of Katsu's schooling, he said there are lots of places to work here - he recommended a place that he was going to work out ... for one of the auto companies, or he said I could be a nanny - his wife was one and made almost $25 an hour. This is perhaps what I found funniest(?) of all. I am sure he was just being well-meaning, but I found it hilarious. What if I suggested that after receiving his Master's degree, instead of that well-paying job in AZ that he was going to take, he be a nanny! Ha ha ha. What a conundrum, but perhaps expresses the feelings I feel quite nicely. I really fell stuck between a few different worlds here. On one hand ... I am a Mormon, I do wnat to have children, and ideally I want to stay home with them. On the other hand, I am in a masters/doctoral program in electrical engineering at a top university with a full fellowship and am doing well. And these two seem often contradictory at times, especially now when I know people who are in both places - Mormon and in engineering graduate school, albeit they are all men. I think they see me as a sort of misfit. Not quite sure how I belong - but then, again, am I really sure of this either. Anyways, I should go study for my quiz that is in half an hour.

Bye!

Thanksgiving Was a Success!

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We got up early and put the turkey in around 8:00. I was kind of worried how it would turn out, but five hours later it was perfectly done! It tested just like Mom's even though we cooked it a totally different way. Everything else was fabulous too. There was a total of 8 people there - two couples from church (one with their baby and dog) and a friend of mine from school and one of Katsu's coworkers. THe food was fabulous and tons of it! We had so much fine. We're so grateful that we have so many great friends after being here only a short amount of time.

Happy THanksgiving everyone!

Some Pictures of our Trip to Detroit

http://amandatsu.dell.shutterfly.com/

Christmas

Okay, so yeah, it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but it feels like Christmas this year. Maybe I am just feeling like I missed Christmas last year (Christmas in Japan is just not the same as it is in the states ... I missed having a stocking) so I am trying to over-compensate this year, but we are all excited about Christmas.

We have never had a Christmas tree before - well, unless you count those little tiny ones that are like 1 foot tall. So, this weekend we went out and bought a Christmas tree, ornaments (big red and small green and silver balls), that silvery stuff that you wrap around the tree, lights, and a gold star to put on top. It was so much fun. Yes, it's fake - we've always had a fake tree in both my and Katsu's family, so we are content with it. So, it was so much fun to put it up together. And it really feels like home to turn off all the lights except for the Christmas tree lights and watch them twinkle away. And of course, you can't forget the Christmas music - I found Detroit's only 24 hr a day Christmas music station. So, we are already getting all the Christmas music stuck in our heads.

On another note, the 18 lb. turkey is defrosting in the refrigerator, ready to be stuffed with our new stuffing recipe - sausage, apricots, and pecans ... yumm. I just love the holidays.

Promise to post some pictures soon.

Thank Heavens it's Almost Thanksgiving

Soo ... instead of doing something productive like studying or homework, here we go with updating the blog.

Life is going well. This November has been the prettiest November that I have ever seen. Warm, bright, perfect weather ... until yesterday where we had torrential rains and I got completely soaked through on my 20 minute walk home. But really, in all truth, it has been a beautiful month. Thouroughly enjoyed by all ... well, at least Katsu and I.

We are quite excited for Thanksgiving. We are having two other couples over. It should be an adventure because we haven't cooked a turkey before, but I figure it can't be that bad. And if it is ... oh, well. We can eat other food. Maybe I'll even cook a pie - I really want to do a cherry but we'll see how much time we have. It will be so nice to just relax ... and relax ... and relax for a few days!

Life is busy for me and mostly for Katsu too. He was very busy at work and such and research, but thankfully, his lab has submitted their grant and so life is much slower and easier there. It has been a much-needed break for Katsu. One of his classes will be finished before Thanksgiving and so he will really only have one more and his work till Christmas. I am pretty busy in school. It seems like I never get a break ... there's always something else to do. I have a probability exam this Friday and also my MRI project (which isn't going so hot) is due next Tuesday. Hopefully, I can get them both done with flying colors!

We are very excited for christmas. Both for the break of school and to see the family. I would like to buy some Christmas decorations, too, since we don't have very many. I am busy working on Katsu's stocking that I am cross-stitiching. Hopefully it will get done by then ... I will have to work hard on that over Thanksgiving.

Well, that's it for us!

A Post from the Crookston blog - fyi

Here is our little update, so everyone can know what is happening with us in Michigan (also, so I can procrastinate doing my homework for just a little bit longer). We are both very busy with school. Katsu is mostly very busy working. He is a graduate research assistant (that is how he gets his assistantship - i.e. free tuition + health insurance + stipend). It is both good and bad. Good in that he gets paid (yeah!) and he gets a good start on his research, for his dissertation, etc. Bad in that he is working about 40 hours a week (that does not include the school part of his PhD). He is taking two classes - an Exercise Physiology class and a Nutrition class (that is through the School of Public Health). Oh, and for those who don't know, this is all for his PhD in Kinesiology (study of movement).
On a more fun note for Katsu, he is on the soccer intramural team with other church members from our stake as well as some other students. They are doing pretty well and he loves getting a bit back into soccer. He is also very busy with church - he just got called a couple weeks ago to be in the Elders Quroum Presidency (again!) and is busy with that. We are also in the ward choir and Katsu has been asked to sing a solo as part of one of our pieces for next week. Everyone loves his voice.
I (Amanda) am very busy. i have a fellowship this year, so I don't have to work, but school work is really overwhelming in my department. I really am not enjoying grad school, so it looks like I probably won't be pursuing a PhD, but just a Masters at this point. We'll see. I am taking three classes - a probability class, a math class for signal processing majors, and a medical imaging class where we study things like MRI, Ultrasound, etc. The material is interesting, but it's very competitive - about 75% of my classmates are international students who came from top notch colleges around the world. So, that's me - my degree will be in Electrical Engineering Systems with a major in Signal Processing (and maybe a minor in Biomedical).
I have fun, too. Katsu and I are both ushers for the University Musical Society. This is one of the top ten venues in the US for performances. So, we are part of the Jazz and World Music Crew. We come an hour early to performances and take people to their seats and then get to see the show for free. So far, I have seen Sonny Rollins, the jazz great, and Pat Metheny and trio. It's a lot of fun and we get to meet new people too. I am the primary pianist in the ward (again!) and choir, etc. etc.
Miss everyone tons! If you are ever in Detroit or Ann Arbor or even Michigan, come visit!!!!!!!

Monday

It's Monday and once again I have basically done no homework. Last week, my excuse was an eye doctor appt (that was a good one - dilated eyes are absolutely no help); this week, my excuse is a dentist appt that I just got back from. But excuses or no, I really need to do my homework.

So the consensus is ... amanda does not like grad school. I really hate it at the moment. I am only taking 3 classes - really how hard could that be. Well, it's not going so hot. My class that was supposed to be hardest, a probability course, is fast-paced, but by far my favorite class. The exams are going to be a killer (which is why I should be studying now) but I really like the class. My second class has no point yet, at least none that I can see. Midterm is fastly approaching and I still have no idea what the class is about - feel free to enlighten me ... the name is like Mathematical Models for Signal Processing or something elusive like that. And finally my Medical Imaging class. ugh. The class itself is fine, but each week, I optimistically look at the homework, take a stab, and then realize I have no idea how to do any of the problems. maybe I am just not made out for grad school. Who knew half of my life here would be spent in office hours. Oh, well. I really am also not feeling competitive which is part of the problem. I just want to learn something, you know? I don't want to have to try to learn it better than every other person.

But so goes life. Katsu's classes aren't too bad but he's in the lab 40 hours a week (that does not include class time!) which I think is quite a bit for a first year student. I think it stresses him out some. But thankfully, he is doing intramural soccer which is helping. He really enjoys that and it is something new for him. Together, we are also ushers for the University Musical Society. We got the jazz & world music series which I was initially bummed about, but I think it will still turn out fine. I went to do a Sonny Rollins concert while katsu was at the Priesthood meeting and I enjoyed it a lot. And I didn't fall taking people up and down stairs in the balcony before the show. Yeah for us.

We are starting to plan a trip to London for spring break. I am so excited. Katsu is concerned that I have this idea in my head that we are millionaries and thus should go traveling so often. I don't think that ... it's just one more trip, right? Before we settle down? Or something like that. Though I do have that Jerusalem travel book sitting on the book shelf just dying to be used (not to mention Morocco and Italy) .... but don't worry, Mom.

Well, off I must trudge to office hours. "Can you help me, because boy do I need it?"

We've begun

Although school doesn't officially start until next Tuesday, I feel like we've both begun. Orientation for both the college of Engineering (me!) and the college of Kinesiology (Katsu!) was yesterday and our graduate school one for all of the University of Michigan is tomorrow. And boy - are we going to have diametrically opposite experiences. My school is HUGE - over 500 new graduate students in engineering with over 50% international (mostly China, Taiwan, Korea, and India, though I met a nice girl from Germany); Katsu's orientation has a whole 10 new graduate students this year. I am on a fellowship at the moment, so all I have to do this year is go to classes (well, and pass quals, get really good grades, and get an advisor). Katsu is a research assistant, has already been working about 50 hours a week at the lab, and feels like a full-fledged graduate student already.

But putting academics aside, we LOVE Ann Arbor. We still have little pangs of homesickness for Boston (what a great city, finances & parking aside), but Ann Arbor is almost like a mini-Boston in terms of culture with the added in nature that Boston was seriously lacking. We still feel like we live in a forest (we've seen deer twice this week!) and there are tons of outdoor activities - there are over 150 parks in Ann Arbor (!!!!) and biking is a huge thing here (and everyone wears helmets too).

We love the bus system here too. It's free for U of M students (YEAH!!!!) so we take it ALL the time - to school, from school, to the stores, to downtown, to the library, even to church (though people are always trying to give us a ride home - "you poor bus riders", but what can we say - we just LOVE the bus). Especially with gas prices .... Mon $2.63 Tues $2.99 Wed $3.19. Can we just way - AHHHHH .... no MORE CAR!!!!!

We love downtown, especially the farmers market - yummy food & we bought ourselves a rosemary plant that is delicious! Hopefully we don't kill it. We love the library (YEAH!) and go all the time! THe DVD selection is fabulous!

Well, enough from me for now.

Ann Arbor-ites

I guess we're officially residents of Ann Arbor, now. We were here for two weeks, then to Utah for two weeks for a friend's wedding, and now we have been back in Ann Arbor for a week. We have Michigan plates and temporary Michigan licenses, and even an Ann Arbor library card! It's a small library - absolutely no comparison to the beloved BPL - but I think we'll survive.

Ann Arbor is very green. There are plants and wildflowers everywhere! I feel like we live in a rural forest. But we love it so far. Katsu loves to pick wildflowers to bring home. And by the time we finally got furniture (only 2 weeks of eating on the floor), our apartment looks pretty cute.

So, anyone and everyone, feel free to visit anytime you are out this way. Katsu started working at his lab but I"m still pretty free until September when school starts.

We're here

We've finally moved in and have become Michigan-ians, I guess. We're missing Boston quite a bit though ... So, we miss all of you.

Us at the never-ending gardens in Versailles.

Katsu in front of the clock at D'Orsay - the impressionist art museum that used to be an old railway station.

Us at the Louvre - what a great art museum ... we saw so many in Paris - Louvre, D'Orsay, Pompidou, Rodin, Picasso, Cluny, ...

Katsu in front of Sacre Couer.

Us in front of Notre Dame.

Amanda & the Eiffel Tower in the rain.

Back

We're back from Europe ... it was tons of fun ... and now the jet lag sets in. Unfortunately I got sick the last day there, so the plane ride was miserable. But hopefully I can recover and somehow Katsu and I can manage to get everything done in time to move in ... 5 days ... or something crazy like that.

Posting pictures soon.

Museum of Fine Arts

Okay - I admit - I am crazy. We went to an art museum again yesterday (that is two Saturdays in a row) right before our trip to Europe ... I sure hope we don't get art-museumed out. I feel like I can't. But, then, I definately got templed out in Japan.

But, it's been a year since I went (sad, but true) and I can't believe how much it's changed. I mean, the museum is always changing. Everytime I go, the pictures are in slightly different places. My freshman year, the MFA was a lot bigger. The basement was crazy. I got lost down their one time and ran into all these old buildings (churches, historical rooms, etc) that were transported down there. The museum seemed enormous to me. But they are attempting to expand the museum to double it's size. So, shortly after my freshman year they blocked the basement off, in prep for the construction I guess.

This time, the change was more than just minor - the pictures moving, etc. This time, they have completely redesigned some of the rooms and how they are displaying things (so far it seems just for the American Art rooms). They painted the walls. No more white, off white, or similar. Now they are warm blues and greens and such. Then, they took out some paintings and put in some furniture. Pre-this time I visited, the rooms were very segragated - American paintings in this room, musical instruments in this room, china & porcelien (how do you spell that word), furniture in another. But now, they are all combined. Stuart's George Washington next to period furniture and china. The portrait of Paul Revere next to his silver work. The effect is much more inviting to the eye. And before, I never particularly enjoyed looking at the furniture or the china. But now, I love it. I always loved looking at furniture, china, etc. in the Newport Mansions because it is in its place. In a museum, however, the anachronistic layout really didn't thrill me. But I love this new design.

And on a side note ... I got released from my calling. YEAH!!!

And on another sidenote - we are leaving to Paris in 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adams

Did you know that John Adams was a workaholic? He would wake up before 4 and make sure he was working by 4am and then work to 10pm. Crazy!

We went to the Adams site in Quincy (pronounced Quin-z-y) and saw the birthplace of John Adams and John Quincy Adams. I still can't believe I never went there before - it seems very unlike me. It was very nice. After the visitor's center and buying tickets, a trolley takes you over to the birthplaces with a short (30 min) tour and then you take the trolley back to the main house where they lived after they had both respectively become Presidents and take about an hour tour. The tours were very nice. Our tour guide was very strict and said that the federal government was very strict about cell phones because you could take a picture with your phone, send it to someone, and then they could use that photo to steal items (who knew that is why they are so picky about cell phones?). Anyways, so if someone's cell phone goes off you are required to leave - right then - along with the rest of your tour. Thankfully, that didn't happen. But it was interesting learning about them. I really should read that book by McCollough or whatever. Going to Europe in a few days ... EEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

Another Book Review

I finally finished Olympia, Paris in the Age of Manet by Otto Friedrich. I wasn't sure if I would be able to finish it ... it was a little tougher reading for some reason than I had anticipated. But I'm very glad I plodded through. I had thought it would be fiction, but it was actually a non-fiction book. Obviously, the book centers around Manet and part of each chapter is about him. But then Friedrich takes tangents, either with people who modelled for Manet or who liked Manet or the city in general. I learned a great deal about Manet, but also about the history of Paris, Napolean III and his wife, the history of all the Impressionists, the invasion by the Prussians, the condition of prostitutes in the city, the history of sphyillis, the personalities and pictures of all the other IMpressionists, etc. It really is like knowing all the gossip and personalities about all the Impressionist painters and their time period. I think having read it will really open up Paris & especially the Musee d'Orsay.

So, excited to go to Paris. Less than a week! :-0

And on a side note, I finished my paper that I have been working on this month (I am not completely a lazy bum). It's all written as well as all the statistics (finally figured out how to do a multivariate linear regression ... and from a person who never took a statistics course). My advisor as well as the college's statistician who was working with us really liked it. The other girl who worked on the project with me will continue and finish up the paper. We are hoping to get it published in the American Society of Engineering Education's (ASEE) journal and present it next year at their conference in Chicago. We'll see.

But otherwise, I really am a lazy bum. Most of our stuff is packed for the move, but not for Europe yet. We start packing this weekend ... eeeee ... so excited.

May ... may be taking a trip to Utah this summer. Call it the year of traveling. Between the two of us, we have gone to : Japan, Michigan, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Europe, and then maybe Utah, and definately Texas for Christmas. It's a wonder we're not broke from buying all these plane tickets ...

These last few weeks we have been trying to go and see all the things in Boston for the last time (and for a few, the first time). We went to the Fogg Art Museum (one of the museum's at Harvard) on Saturday before we picked up Katsu's brother. A very good cute museum. But anyways ... this is my favorite place in the world - the Boston Public Library!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so proud - I just can't resist another picture. Katsu with his Master's diploma in front of the Marsh Chapel at Boston University! GO KATSU!!!!!!

Us at the little Sargent College graduation - this was a little more personal than the entire Boston University commencement. Kudos to Katsu (and kudos to kiyo to stay awake despite jet lag).

Katsu's brother as we waited for the graduation. The president of Afghanistan spoke and so their was snipers on the roof (can't really see in this picture) but surprisingly there was very little security and the ceremony was good (though long). GO, KATSU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Katsu's brother Kiyo came from London for his graduation ... waiting for the graduation to start in front of McD's.

books ...

Can you believe we'll be in Paris in less than 2 weeks!!! I decided a have a lot of reading to do beforehand, so I went to the library yesterday and now have been on a crazy reading streak. I should be writing that paper or cleaning or something. So, since yesterday afternoon, I have read 2 books and am starting another.

Versaille was an interesting book but kind of cryptic and not what I expected. It described Versaille, all the rooms, etc. etc. in terms of the life of Marie Antoinette. Quite interesting. Made me feel a bit sorry for the poor Queen as well as very excited to see Versailles. I read all the history of the building on the official Versailles web page as well.

I also read The Sun Also Rises, possibly my first Hemingway, but maybe not. I didn't particularly like it. First thing I did when I woke up this morning was check out SparkNotes and try to figure out why this book was famous and if I was missing something. The dialogue was definately more modern than books that came before it. I liked it much bettter than Great Gatsby (I enjoyed the style much more) but they both are novels that seem centered around debauchery (on a side note - none of the kids I tutor know this ward ... they all think it means like virtuous).

I am also reading this book called something like Olympia, Paris in the age of Manet or something like that. I have read tons of books about artists lately, so I was pretty familiar with Manet's life to being with. At first I was not so impressed with Manet's paintings, but I have to admit they are really growing on me, now. I really enjoy them and am thinking about going to the Museum of Fine Arts again to check out the Manet's that are there. I haven't been to the museum in so long, it will be good to make one last stop before I go. Speaking of which, Katsu and I really need to go see the Fogg art museum and I am still bummed we didn't get time to go to the MOMA. Another day, I guess.

Well, I really better work on that paper or clean or something (especially since bookclub is at my house).

Coming Up ...

This weekend is Katsu's graduation (his Master's is done!!! YEAH!!!). It is exciting because he didn't walk last year for his bachelors. Unfortunately, it looks like it is going to rain ... again ... it was pouring last year and they passed out poncho's to the entire crowd waiting in the field. And this year, the speaker at BU is the president of Afghanistan so security will be crazy. But, Katsu's brother Kiyo is coming in from London to see the graduation so we are really excited about that. We'll post pictures afterwards.

Amanda's Thoughts of the Day

I checked out a set of lectures from the Boston Public Library (which I am going to miss SO much when we move) called "The History of English Language" by Professor Seth Lerer. It's a set of 36 lectures on 18 CD's - half an hour a lecture. Anyways, I have truly enjoyed them and just finished them today. I learned a lot about language that I never knew before which I really enjoyed. I also feel like my brain expands just listening to these things. I kind of regret that I wasn't able to study liberal arts that much in college - engineering only leaves you with so much time. I feel as though studying the liberal arts really expands your brain and lets you learn and understand the world in so many different ways.

Anyways, this brings up so many thoughts and issues about language:

Is one language better than another? More complicated than another? I would first say, no, but then the person who really spread these ideas (Noam Chomsky) sure took these thoughts to very liberal conclusions that I don't think I agree with. Does believing in a lingual relativism require believing in a moral or any other kind of relativism?

Is there a reason for promoting a standard English in schools? Should there be a standard English? Is African-American English any worse than normal language or simply different? When people speak differently than we do (i.e. with a different dialect, different pronunciation) are they any worse than us? Any less literate?

I think one of the interesting ideas from this course is that how can speaking a different dialect make one person more or less literate. More or less intelligent. In fact, a great many of the debates around language really center around politics. It used to be that a high class person in Middle English spoke French and Latin. However, as speaking solely English came back into fashion with the emergence of Modern English, the high-class person now spoke the London dialect with the "proper" spelling. How much do we use these same sort of ideas to judge the language of another?

More questions ... if language is constantly changing and is a dynamic creature, what is the value of learning proper grammar and spelling in schools? Is "proper" English neccessary if we can communicate? Is it simply a desire to ensure that our offspring stay in the correct social class and communicate likewise? Interesting questions, indeed. I wonder if with the new emphasis on grammar on the SAT, if grammer will be taught more thoroughly, especially in high school. Many question the learning and importance grammar in these veins, and yet, I still see value in grammar, especially as it helps students to be better writers.

And of course, that's not even brushing on spelling. Should we use historical and pseudo-historical spelling as we do, or should we have a phonological spelling?

Well, enough interesting questions for the day. But it's a lot to think about. I never really thought so much about language and the debates that will continually flood our society about it.

Amanda

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!!!!

We are busy getting ready to move and such. We have packed up quite a bit and have gotten most of the things we need for our trip to Europe. I am getting so excited!!!! It will be nice to move ... we only have 3 more Sundays at church - only 3 more weeks of Primary, yeah!!!

Katsu is graduating in just a couple weeks now. His brother, Kiyo, will be here from London, which we are very excited about. Katsu has to close the building he is a resident assistant for on Monday, so I will be in charge of entertaining Kiyo. I don't know what we'll do yet. Hopefully it will be good weather and I can take him around the Freedom Trail. Honestly, I am tempted to drive down to Newport and get one more day out of our year's pass to the mansions ... hmmm ... I miss the mansions down there.

Our friend Crystal came and visited us today. It was nice to see an old friend. At first, it was a bit unfamiliar as it has been a long time since we've spent time together. But after awhile, it was just like old times, esp. after Katsu's laughing attack.

I am trying to write up a paper to hopefully publish in the ASEE (American Society of Engineering Education) about the physics program that I helped with this semester, trying to increase the retention and grades of freshman women engineering students. I hope I can finish it - all the administrators seem somewhat doubtful, but it is at least something to keep me busy. I can't believe I only have 4 tutoring sessions left! I am almost done! Hopefully, I can pick up some more business in Michigan.

Check out my tutoring webpage:

www.geocities.com/amandafunai

Well, that's about all for our life lately! Happy Mom's Day

Amanda & my parents

Katsu & Amanda

More pictures from graduation.

Amanda, as class marshall, carrying the college of Engineering flag.

Amanda at the Fleet Center - waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Graduation

Yesterday was my graduation. It was a long busy day for all of us. We had to get there before 8:00 to line up at the Fleet Center - the huge stadium where the Boston Celtics and the Bruins play their basketball and hockey games. I was picked to be a class marshal because I had the highest GPA in my class. So, I had to carry the flag. It was actually kind of fun and I was one of the very first people to get my diploma. They did the speed-version of giving out diplomas. They had four lines - a set of people gave you your diploma, you walked up the stage and took a picture with your dean, and then you walk back down the stairs. And each of the lines is doing the same thing - so it is totally crazy. They don't say anyone's name and you share your .5 seconds of fame with 3 other people, at least. But it was fun. The music had a lot of energy - wasn't the old normal graduation music. And they said my name when I put the flag in the front of the auditorium. Fun day.

Good Day

Yesterday was a good day for us! First, I had an awards ceremony, so Katsu and I got to go. It was kind of boring, but I won 3 awards. I won the Condit award and $300 for the top 100 seniors at Northeastern. I won the President's Award and $500 for the top 10 students per year at Northeastern. I also won the Hodgkinson award and $1500 for the top student in each college (so, I won for the College of Engineering). It was fun and we got to eat some good food which is always fun. Now, if we can just figure out what we should do with my money ...

Also, I got my funding at UMich. I am guaranteed funding the whole time I am there and the first year it's a fellowship, so I don't have to teach or be a research assistant right away. So, that's nice. We are now basically decided we are moving to Ann Arbor in June. Now we just have to get ready to move in a few months ...

That's our life. Today we are going to see our stake's production of Saturday's Warrior. I am interested to see how good it is. Katsu has never seen it at all, so it will be fun to see what he thinks of the musical ... I have a feeling he won't like it.

Amanda - Starting up

Decided since the rest of the family is, we better start a blog. Thoughts, events, and pictures. For us (Amanda & Katsu).

Our update -

We are trying to decide where to move & what to do for next year. Katsu is looking into getting his PhD in Physiology/Kinesiology at either Penn State (in Hershey) or University of Michigan (in Ann Arbor). Amanda is also accepted to an EE PhD at University of Michigan, but we're waiting to hear about funding. But maybe, she just wants to work, and not do the whole grad school thing. So, that's how it goes. Hopefully we'll know soon.

Otherwise, we're busy planning our trip to Europe this summer. We have tickets to fly to Paris May 31st and fly out of Madrd on June 23rd. Right now, we are planning on seeing:

• Paris - 4 days (1 of the days at Versailles)
• Marseille - 1.5 days
• Nice - 1 day
• Monaco - 1 day
• Barcelona - 3 days
• Granada - 1.5 days
• Seville - 1.5 days
• Madrid - 3 days
• Toleda - 1 day
• Segovia - 1 day
• Lisbon - 2 or 3 days

So, we're getting excited. That's all for us!