Trip Down to San Diego
| So I met this completely random girl on the internet a year and a half ago who happens to be studying physics and electrical engineering at UC San Diego. We met next to their really spiffy Student Union. |
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| She knew that there were a few UC San Diego physics professors doing some pretty interesting experimental work at SLAC, so I thought I'd drive down there Sunday morning for a tour of campus and visit with people Monday. My plan was to drive back to LA before traffic got bad so I could talk to people at Caltech on Tuesday and Wednesday. (Yes, the Caltech page should have been split in two to maintain chronological consistency, but that would ruin the mood I've established.) This is looking at my previous location from the outside walkway of the Union. |
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| The campus was incredibly beautiful. On Sunday, though, the place was completely empty. I thought meeting in a public place like the Union would make things cool, but there were maybe only four or five other times we saw other people. I guess everyone goes home for the weekends, but what kind of college campus is this!? |
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| This is their way cool Geisel Library, named after Dr. Seuss. I was told it was the alien ship in the B movie classic Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. |
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| All these pictures were taken on Monday when I brought my camera, which is why you may see people. I didn't want to bring my camera on Sunday scare my internet friend off by giving her the impression that I'd post every picture I took on the web. Who does that, honestly? |
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| On this stone is inscribed a quote from Milton's Paradise Lost -- something about always remembering the time you spend in this paradise. They're certainly not modest about their campus here. |
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| The "main drag" from the top of the library. Yep, it's definitely not a weekend. |
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| UCSD Physics Building where I chilled with professors and grad students for most of the time I wasn't taking pictures. |
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| The incredibly austere Computer Science building where I e-mailed to tell my friend that my time with physics types went better and longer than expected, and that I'd be sticking around for dinner. |
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| In case you lose your zebra... |
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| Spot something unusual about one of the trees? When she asked me this on Sunday, I responded, "That one appears to be of a different species as the rest." |
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| Different indeed. And it even sings when you're nice to it. |
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| A rare bird, only seen in the so-and-so art collection.... Yeah. |
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| After another meal and another evening of excellent conversation, my gracious host was kind enough to return me to my rental car to begin the two and a half hour drive back to Maribeth's apartment. |
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