Orienting with the Occidental

Today saw the first formal orientation organised by the Industrial Engineering department. The Industrial Engineering fraternity is pretty small (in number, I mean) here; that is probably one reason quality research goes on and the department is able to support almost everyone financially. Breakfast and lunch were provided. It was all in good taste.

After a brief introduction, the Profesors delved into their research and the courses they would be handling in the forthcoming year. They also exhorted us Masters students to complete our Masters as soon as possible; in fact, they were of the view that a really good student should be able to complete his Masters in a year! The session was veritably informal, and quite not 'informal' as the US makes itself out to be. But even as the Professors spoke, one could quite see that they were ever on the defensive and statements like "When I said this-and-that about so-and-so topic, I did not quite mean this, but actually meant that..." were made at regular intervals to ensure that their statements did not rub other Professors the wrong way. Words break bones here in the US (more than they do anywhere in India); not to speak of hard-earned savings in the pocket.

The students too gradually warmed up to the occasion and posed their aspirations and apprehensions related to graduate studies and beyond. I got a flavour of the research that is happening in the University and was drawn into a couple of Professors' talks about their research. 'Research' here is on a pedestal onto which you cannot hope to have garnered so much a peek in BITS. It's all about research here. People publish papers as if they were editors of the evening daily! The dictum for obtaining results here: Research! If you cannot find 'em, search! I do not know I will feel sated, researching. But for now, I am happy to be here. The session gradually drifted to the end as people clustered into various parts of the room, chatted informally for a while and then slowly trickled away.

The whole session sure left me with a good taste in my mouth; the pizzas served at lunch were tasty. One never minds a feast after a siesta. And one never minds a siesta after a feast!

- posted by Dileepan @ 3:57:00 am

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