I’m back! Where did I go? Nowhere really…

To those of you who eagerly await my weekly updates filled with mind-blowing and awe-inspiring stories (why do I sense silence?), I say sorry. My apology takes the form of another Nobel prize-winning post (cough).

Yesterday was the deadline for our Finance and Financial Management coursework. As part of the Mech Eng degree, I am obliged to take at least one business/humanities course. I decided on FFM because it seemed quite mathematical compared to the other more wafflely subjects.

I completely underestimated it.

FFM is weird and wacky, but the good thing is we have a great, experienced lecturer who has come straight from industry. Although I must admit that learning FFM sometimes feels very similar to learning a new language. E.g. today the lecturer was going over an example:

‘If you are short a put option on a certain stock with an exercise price of $20 that expires today, what is your pay-off at expiration as a function of the stock price?’

I mean, the individual words are undoubtedly English, but together they seem like some secret unbreakable code aliens have spent decades perfecting. I guess I have plenty of studying to do over the easter holidays…

I also got some good news this week. Apparently I’ve been accepted to work on a project at a highly-regarded nuclear research institute in Mol, Belgium. Basically I’ll be modelling heat transfers, and if I come up with a successful program I might even be able to publish a paper that goes into journals! Exciting stuff, and an excellent opportunity I believe. I’ve visited the place before, and its really quite serene with its large grounds and grass and trees and canals. You may find this slightly counter-intuitive, considering it is a nuclear institute we are talking about (I mean, there’s waste radioactive Plutonium in there), but there you go.

Also, I’m going to India this Summer! I’m eagerly anticipating the family, trips, sightseeing and of course the food. It’s hard to say just how much I’m looking forward to it, as I haven’t been in three years or so.

And of course, I’m going to the States to get ready for my exchange year – term starts on the 19th of August. I’d like to go a couple of weeks earlier to sort things out, and have a nice holiday. This summer is going to be one fun, chaotic mess, provided the exams and DMT project go well (Even though it doesn’t seem like it now, they will end one day).

Only one tiny problem.

All my summer plans happen to overlap! So either I choose one thing and perform/enjoy it completely (and relinquish the other two) or do a little bit of all three. If only all my decisions could be this pleasant.