WashU

I just finished catching up with all the recent posts. There seems to be a lot of things happening and changing. This past week was orientation week for new graduate students at Washington University. The physics group does a very good job at assimiliating their new graduate students. The older graduate students organized a bunch of fun activities so that the new students can get to know other new students, older students, and professors. I am actually quite impressed. Most of the older graduate students are so attentive and willing to help with anything.

Some of the activities that we did include: eating out, bowling for four hours, playing soccer, physics department BBQ, and playing games and eating at one of the graduate student’s house.

 Thus far, the new graduate students are also very nice. I think there are thirteen or fourteen of us. Two are from China, one is from India, oneis from Japan, and another was born in Australia and has an Australian accent. The others are from various parts in the United States.

I did fairly well on a diagnostic test that I had to take. I am taking a 400 hundred level course in Statistical Mechanics and 500 level (i.e. graduate level) courses in Electrodynamics and Quantum Mechanics. I just heard today from one of the 2nd year students that the professor for Electrodynamics is very hard and has demonstrated in the past to be somewhat emotionally unstable (like getting in an argument over a simple problem with another professor and screaming at the top of his lungs–while in class). So, please pray about that.

 Last March, when I came to visit Washington University, I had expressed interest in one of the professor’s research so a couple of days ago he said that since the new graduate students do not have teaching assistant duties this year (because we all have a full year fellowship), I could dedicate some time (as much as I am able, he said) to helping him with one of his research project. He fall on me well (a chileanism). I have also asked other students about him and they all think that he is a good professor, and my advisor agrees that helping him would be a good opportunity to see where my research interest lies. The professor also said that the research would involve interaction between theory and experiemnt, which appeals to me. There are still other areas of research that interest me, but right now this seems like a good opportunity.

 One exciting thing that has occurred this week is that I was able to share the gospel with two of the new graduate students (one from China and one from Japan)! The conversation started around soccer. One of the graduate students had invited me earlier to play on a soccer league that plays on Sunday morning. I told him that I would like to play, but on Sundays I go to church. Later, the Japanese student–his name is Hiromichi–asked me if I was going to play on the league. The Chinese student, Dihui (pronounced DEEWHEE), was sitting next to me and he started asking me a lot of questions. He seemed very interested in learning more, and I was able to answer all his questions. Afterwards, I was struck by how much what I have learned from my parents and at Covenant College came into play. Anyway, Dihui said that he wanted to read the Bible in English so I said I would buy him one. I hope to give it to him tomorrow.  He also said that he wished he could have the Holy Spirit so that he could understand the Bible. I told him that he could have the Holy Spirit, but he stilll seemed somewhat hesitant and there a lot of people around, and it didn’t feel right to pressure him. But please, please pray for Dihui and Hiromichi and that Satan would not snatch away the good seed. Oh, I so ardently desire for them to know Christ! But also pray that I would be patient.

 I keep forgetting to take pictures, but when I stop, I will post some to the blog. I love you all!

 Seth