Time flies, andit’s been a month since we came to Boston. The internship of the SummerResearch of Optoelectronics has entered the second half. Our study, work andlife at Boston University are becoming more harmonious. Each project has mademuch progress. In the middle of the project, members of our group conducted aseparate interview with the mentor.
Our projectinvolves computational imaging, a field of research area that our team membershave never touched. During the course of the project, there were someunforeseen problems, and the progress was not as scheduled by our mentor, so wewere a little nervous when preparing for the materials. But considering this isa process that must be experienced in doing research, and also the dailyroutine of study and work in the future, we got kind of calm. Moreover, talkingto the mentor, making us not only be able to reorganize our previous work, butalso get some guidance and feedback about the current situation of the project,is a very important part, so we should take it seriously.
But in the process of talking with the mentor,there was no such tension as we had imagined before. When I entered the door,the teacher asked me how I felt. I thought he was asking about the progress ofmy research project, but later I discovered that he was not only concerned aboutthe project process but also asking about our daily life in Boston. This wasalso a small detail that makes me think of life in the United States. Peopleare always relaxed and comfortable. Even the rigor and seriousness ofscientific research will not reduce their friendliness. With such an easyopening, my previous nervousness was somewhat relieved, and I began to show theteacher some of the work I had done before and interspersed with some of myexisting questions which all got the teacher's answers and feedback, giving mea directional guidance for my work in the next period.Apparently it can be avery meaningful interview.
Americanlab punching is very strict in weekdays, so we are free on Saturday and Sunday.In the past weeks, we would come to the lab, but this week is not the same,because everyone is busy with his things, not just us, the whole ofMassachusetts. People are busy, because this weekend is a two-year tax-freeweekend in Massachusetts. After coming to the United States, we are scared by theexpensive prices, but in the tax-free weekend, it alleviated our burden. Thetax-free weekend is equivalent to a holiday where most of the goods arediscounted.
In addition, we participated inthe Freedom Trail's historic tour of Boston on Monday afternoon with studentsfrom BU. The Freedom Trail is a 2.5-mile, red-lined attraction route indowntown Boston. On this route you can browse 16 important AmericanRevolutionary historical sites. We browsed Boston Common, the oldest park inBoston, the splendid Massachusetts State House with Golden Summit, the GranaryBurying Ground, where many American revolutionaries lay on, the Old SouthParty, the birthplace of the Boston Tea Party, and more. With the staff'sexplanation, we have a deeper understanding of American history, especially thespirit of human beings' pursuit of democratic equality and freedom embodied inthe American revolutionary movement. At the same time, we also experienced thesolemnity and meticulousness of European and American architectural styles and deepened the friendship with BU students. As oneof the oldest cities in the United States, Boston attaches great importance tohistory, culture and education. I think this is one of the reasons why it canbreed a world-class university like Harvard University and MIT.
