Caltech

Mont St Michel

In France, there is a small abbey called Mont St Michel, which was first settled in the 8th century. This abbey is on an island - but only sometimes. By that I mean that the piece of land only becomes an island around 6 times a year, when the tides are highest. This island is one of the magical places where you can watch the tides coming in to surround the island, approaching across the clay flats at an amazingly fast rate.

The island itself is tiny. It’s only about 1 square kilometer, with one tiny main street. And it's such a tourist trap. With no more than 10 different restaurants selling omelets, ice cream and crepes (the typical tourist fare), everything is 1.5 times as expensive. However, knowing this ahead of time, my friends and I bought a lunch off-site, making it a lot cheaper. Anyway, what could be better than a lunch of french baguette, cheese, and sliced jambon?

However, one thing we didn't know beforehand is that the abbey is actually disappointing. If you are able to get in free (EU residents under 25 can do this), then there is no harm in doing so. Otherwise, the parts of the abbey that are accessible are quite empty and don't really add that much to the experience. I will admit that the views from the terraces and gardens in the abbey are very nice. Despite that, there are other places on the island which afford similar views of the surroundings that just aren't as high.

That being said, going is a surreal experience, because the island is gorgeous and amazingly photogenic. I would definitely go back just to be able to watch the island as its character changed in different light conditions.

A Night of Poetry

L'X hosts a lot of international students here during the year. This year, there are around 40-50 that are being hosted for different periods, varying from 3-4 months to the full year. All of us come from amazingly varied places. There are students from China, Israel, and all over Europe, from Poland and Russia to Portugal and Iceland. It's very cool to meet so many people and learn about how things happen all around the world.

Recently some of the international students organized a poetry night for everyone to share a poem from their country (translated into English). It was a really fun time, with people really putting thought into the poems that they shared. Some students even translated the poems themselves! I think the most interesting part is actually that both the Israeli students chose to share songs instead of poems - because in Hebrew, the word for song and poem is the same.

At the end of the night, we had shared poems in French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Catalan, and Italian. All of their meanings were shared in English afterwards, and it was a really nice time to share such thought-provoking pieces of writing.

L'X Campus

École Polytechnique is unlike many European schools. Because it’s in the suburbs of Paris, it has the space for an actual campus with labs, lecture halls and sports fields instead of only a few buildings used for classes. And for a school so focused on sports and being a part of the military, this is fairly important.

The campus is super large; it includes a lake for rowing, multiple rugby and football (soccer) fields, tennis courts, an athletics track, stables and a few different gyms. All of these are needed for the sports that l'X requires the Polytechnics to do. It's even more arduous than what Caltech requires: while we only have to do 3 gym classes in our whole 4 years, they are expected to do 6 hours of sport a week!

As an exchange student, I am not required to participate in sports to the same extent (again, to put this into perspective, the students live in sections with the other people in their sport - that is how central it is!) but all of us are certainly encouraged to participate in sport wherever we can. L'X offers a wide range of sports, from classic sports like swimming and volleyball to less practiced ones like equitation and handball. I chose to do climbing, since I took a class last term and wanted to continue the sport. All of the participants are welcoming and helpful, so I'm really looking forward to the next few months with them!

Typhoon Season

After the rainy season in Japan comes summer. And with summer comes the typhoon season. Typhoons (or as we call them, hurricanes) are common in this part of the pacific. They will often hit the coast and Japan has frequent typhoon warnings, especially Kyushu, Shikoku, and western Honshu, the main island. Okinawa, which is farther south and west, has even more trouble. These typhoons are often downgraded before hitting the coast, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t any devastation. The high winds and heavy rains mean that mudslides and flooding rivers are fairly common with the advent of each typhoon.

The most recent typhoon, Krosa, was downgraded to a Severe Tropical Storm before hitting Japan. But it still went right through Hiroshima, with winds strong enough for Japan Rail to stop Shinkansen service in JR West (everything to the West of Osaka). Boats and ferries to smaller islands off the coast of Honshu were also cancelled that Thursday. I know because I was originally planning to take one! Even if they happen often, they're still dangerous. It's concerning that one can get used to hearing about typhoons every other week. Now, I almost expect them to come up on the news.

Summer Festivals: Otaru Ushio Matsuri

Summer in Japan is the season of festivals (matsuri) and fireworks (hanabi). Right now I’ll talk about the festivals that go on all around Japan. They take place for many different reasons and celebrate many different things. The pictures you see are from a festival in Otaru, Hokkaido called the Ushio Matsuri. This is the tide festival that they hold to thank the ocean for the bountiful year and pray for the growth and protection of the city and its citizens. Matsuri usually last a few days and come with a parade of some sort (and occasionally fireworks at night). The participants in the parade vary by the festival. Because this was a tide festival, those in the parade dance to Ushio Ondo, and taiko drums feature prominently. Other Buddhist festivals include shrines (called mikoshi) that are carried in a procession by participants, while still other matsuris have dances such as the Bon Odori.

These festivals take place all over Japan, and I can assure you that one will take place somewhere almost every week or weekend! There is a ton of variety and so much history behind each one. I think that this is one of the most unique things about Japan, and something that you would be hard pressed to find in any other country. I am trying to see as many as possible while I'm here, in order to get the full experience of Japanese culture!

Trip to Enoshima

Between Kamakura and Fujisawa of Kanagawa prefecture is a tiny Island called Enoshima. It is part of a long stretch of the coast known as a beautiful summer vacation spot, especially for the beaches and the view of Mt Fuji on a clear day. That stretch of coast especially attractive in the hot summer for the cooler ocean temperatures, even though it’s bloody humid - because honestly, so is the rest of Japan. As you come from Kamakura, either by foot or using the train, there are a lot of old temples that you can tour. Kamakura is known for the Daibutsu (literally big budda) and the numerous temple gardens. As it's summer right now, the flowers are in full bloom, and are a must-see!

Enoshima is known for the great views of the ocean that you can get from the top of the “candle” on the island, as well as the complex of caves that is said to have been the places where multiple monks reached enlightenment. Another thing it’s known for are the tiny, almost-translucent fish called shirasu. It’s somewhat related to anchovies, and is traditionally eaten raw like sushi. However the restaurant I went to had options to have it boiled or fried like tempura as well. Although I did try it (and liked it!) the taste and texture is not for everyone. I can always say that I’ve tried it now though!

A Peek at Yokohama

I've been living in Yokohama while in Japan, a city I've never actually been to despite its proximity to Tokyo (a place I've been a fair number of times). Because it's by the bay, it has beautiful views of the sea. I'm also super lucky, as I am living only a kilometer from the famous island Minato Mirai, which is a premier tourist destination. On my brief walks around, I have really enjoyed being so close to the water. When you hear the rumble of the waves as they rush into the side of the pier, it has a calming effect that I don't believe anyone can deny. That, coupled with the vast views of the harbor, the bridge, and the ships as they float by, makes for a wonderful experience.

In addition, there's a lot around the area, from numerous shopping malls along the water, to great big green spaces (like the International Cruise Ship Terminal), to the Cup Ramen museum and a small amusement park on Minato Mirai itself. It's really amazing how much there is to do in the area - with Yokohama Chinatown only being a short walk away as well! If you manage to drag yourself away from the views and actually make it to Chinatown, the nikuman (meat buns) there are pretty famous, as are the moon cakes. My favorite snack will always be the sesame balls though!

Rain, rain, go away... jk please stay

Ever heard of the rainy season? I have heard that it’s very common in certain parts of the world. However, I lived in America all my life, so I never had the chance to see or experience it for myself. Until now at least! Japan has this rainy season, which they call Tsuyu (梅雨) as I learned. I really had no idea when it was supposed to happen, but I arrived right in the middle of it! It lasts from after spring, right around May/June until midway through July.

So far, it’s been characterized by cloudy skies every day. There’s been light rain at least once a week as well, sometimes accompanied by some pretty strong winds. I’ve already broken one umbrella, and I hope the count doesn’t go up! Still the temperature is not too bad, around 70 or 80 Fahrenheit and 24-28 Celsius. It’s much preferable to the actual summer temperatures. I’ve been told it can get up to 35 Celsius - which I have been too scared to look up so far, but I’m sure it won’t be pleasant when I actually have to experience it in August!

So cloudy! It was actually sprinkling here...

My Morning Commute

Japan is well known for its bullet train, the Shinkansen, but the country is very well connected through a lot of different train lines locally. It’s unbelievably useful in getting around (especially coming from LA, where one has to drive everywhere!) but it can also be super confusing if you don’t know exactly the direction you’re going in and what you have to take. For example, you can’t just know the train lines and the stations at which you will be getting on and off. At the very least, you should also know the terminus of the line in the direction that you’ll be going in. Ideally, you’ll also know if the train line offers express trains, and which stations those trains will stop at. This can also help in arriving at your destination quicker, because you’ll be able to take express trains as close to your station as possible.

I say that you should know all this because I’ve had quite a bit of trouble navigating the complex train system here. So far, I’ve waited for my train at the wrong tracks (there were 6 tracks for one line at the station, who needs so many tracks?), gotten on a limited express service when I needed to take a local service, and somehow done a combination of the two! The last time was especially bad because I took a limited express train going the wrong way, meaning that getting back on track took longer than being derailed. I don't think it's inevitable that you end up like me though. Just pay enough attention, and make sure you leave time between trains to navigate the huge stations in Japan!

Do you have a good transportation system where you live? Have you had any similar mix ups?

Ski Trips!

Almost every house at Caltech runs their own ski trip. The members of social teams choose a weekend to reserve a cabin at resorts like Big Bear or Mammoth Mountain, and offer this accomodation for their members for the weekend for people to go skiing and snowboarding at these resorts. As I’m a part of two houses, Avery and Blacker, I get the chance to go on both - which I am happy I got to do this year! Usually I have fencing tournaments scheduled over the same weekends, and so I can’t go to ski. It was extraordinarily lucky this year that I got two trips. Freshman year, I could only go to one, and last year I could go to neither.

The level of organization depends on the house. Many houses to a yearly trip, and so know the wherebys and wherefores of organizing a trip of this size. This is the case in Avery, and especially so because the house is so large. However Blacker has a different situation, as the trip has so far happened every other year. Not as much budget is put aside for the trip, and there is not as much help from previous planners each year. It’s something that the people involved in planning are trying to change, so that in the future things will be better for everyone!

It can be quite expensive to go skiing, especially if the house doesn’t have the funds to subsidize. Even so, I really love doing it, and it’s always great to ski with friends. I have skied for a long time now, and I can honestly say that part of the fun of it is being able to do more difficult runs. But whatever level you’re at, it’s always such a rewarding feeling to accomplish something you at one point found difficult or were too scared to try.

I love the house ski trips; I think they’re a great part of the house experience. Being able to spend a weekend away from Tech to relax is a great way to both procrastinate and spend your time. I really hope I get to do more skiing next season as well!