Life of Åsmund
A working life
ABOUT DROWNING SLOWLY
Jan 21st
I’ve been working since 8h this morning, so I’m pretty fed up with anything that looks/sounds/feels like work. In Marketing class at 8h, I started preparing for the presentation FX and I had at 13h. I tried to memorize as much as possible of the four possible presentations – I’m still not confident enough to freely, and without manuscript, explain quantum mechanical phenomenas in French.
The thing about today’s presentation is this clever plot:
Make a 10 minute presentation of four experiments you’ve completed throughout the semester. At the time of the presentation you will draw one of the four – which you are to present.
So, FX and I have the past days made four presentations, three of which will be a waste of time as they will NEVER be used for anything. Love it, specially since I have to work a lot with writing down what I want to say in French and then memorize the sentences.
As a reminder to myself, these are the experiments we prepared:
- Luminescence 2 (Electro luminescence) <– The one we presented
- Optique Fourier
- Effet Magnéto-phonon
- Absorption de Semiconducteurs
To make the whole thing even better, FX and I really f***d up the presentation as we had misunderstood some basic concepts. Though, I’m just happy it’s over, one less thing to worry about.
Right after the presentation we started preparing our Multidisciplinary project presentation, due Friday. Around 6h of work made gave us an ok result.
I got home (listening to the Arn Trilogy on audiobook. I’m always listening to it when moving between places) and made myself a fast pasta dinner. At 20h30 I started preparing for Thursday’s exam in Nanophysique 3 and got squeezed in 3 hours. I’m happy about the work I’ve done today!
Tomorrow I can concentrate on Nanophysique 3 as I have the whole day “off”!
I recently discovered Matt Costa’s “Songs we sing” album thanks to Last.fm, it’s simply fantastic and great for relaxing between the work sessions!
Life as an Erasmus student is not very fun right now, but after Friday (also Boom night) the workload will decrease! Just need to hold my breath a little longer!
THE PAST DAYS
Jan 16th
Monday
The exam on Monday went horribly bad, I had focused my energy on the wrong topics. Oh well.
After the exam I prepared a Marketing presentation with my group, getting to bed around 1 o’clock. The presentation didn’t go very well for my part, as I read my sentences from a paper. (it was in French, so I have a little excuse there) Anti-dynamic presentation in other words. The others in my group did very well in my opinion and impressed me with their presentation skills!
Tuesday
Studying for Électronique du solide in Bib’INSA (the library)
On Tuesday, after the presentation I studied for the Thursday’s exam until 16h30 where I picked up my brand new checkbook in the bank. So now I own my first checkbook ever! (they are next to extinct in Norway)
At 17h I had a meeting concerning the trip to the Alpes in April. I got to try out how to write a check right away as a 200€ check was needed as a deposit in case we ruin the apartments we’re going to rent (I made 8 in total to help my friends who doesn’t have a checkbook yet).
Synnøve showing me the science of removing a check from the checkbook without destroying both
I went home, felt like crap so I went to sleep before 20h. No more studies.
Oh, by the way! Tuesday I found out that I passed the fifth year course Optoelectronics I had to take in order to get my year abroad accepted by NTNU (my home univ.)! Wee! Made my day even if I felt like crap :)
Wednesday
Lab from 08h30 until 18h30. The first lab with Mr. Gauffier and I think it will be quite fun. Mr. Gauffier is an interesting man. Especially I find it fun how he walks around smoking his pipe in the lab (No smoking policy in the building).
FX sitting next to the MET instrument
Safety glasses are important when vaporizing gold (yup we did)
As every day I’ve been eating Ibuprophen like I had no tomorrow, so I got through the day quite well and I managed to study Electronique du solide until 23h.
More Ibuprofen
Thursday
Exam from 8h to 10h. Went better than the exam on Monday, but still quite bad I think. Went home, sleeping/relaxing. Had French class from 14-16h. Went home, went to bed and slept until my alarm clock went off 09h Friday
Friday
FX and I (FX is my lab partner) were supposed to work today, but as I had a little fever this morning I told him we had to postpone it until Saturday. So today is my getting well day, I’m staying in bed. No time for fuzzing about!
Have a nice day and a fun weekend!
MUCH TO DO
Jan 11th
As I studied “Molécule au matériau” I somehow I came across Photofunia, a real time waster, but it works quite nicely. I made a few pictures to try it out :)
Time wasting or not, it was a bit amusing.
A COUGH HERE, A CAF THERE
Jan 9th
My nose is still blocked and I’m coughing a lot still, but I see the end of the tunnel as my coughing is “drying up”.
Over the holidays I’ve also received CAF, meaning that the French state is now sponsoring some of my living expenses here in France. Since they’ve been so slow (French bureaucracy – but I’m not complaining at all!) in handing out the money I didn’t have to pay the December rent because of the late money poring in. And I still have some left, so January will be quite cheap as well :)
The extra cash will be handy when it comes to the extra cash that can be used on cultural events!
No I have to start studying! This is the exam/work program for the next week.
Monday: Exam Molécule au matériau
Tuesday: Deadling project in Marketing
Thursday: Exam Électronique du solid
Thursday: Deadline Power Point presentation of experiment.
