SRCD 2013, Seattle

Can't believe that it's been 2 year's time since I last wrote on this blog.
Many significant events happend in the past two years- the most significant one probably being the completion of my PhD degree, and then the following move from Cambridge to Taipei for my job.
It took me quite a long time to readjust to the living pace and circumstances in Taipei, but in general I'm doing well. :)

Fortunate enough that my job also provides opportunities for me to travel for academic purposes (once a year), so I took the opportunity to go attend SRCD again this time, which took place in Seattle- a place where I have a long and strong connection to.

Well, let me start with my connection with Seattle. :)
I first visited Seattle in the summer of 2001 for a 3-week home stay summer programme. It was the very first time for me to be so far away from home, and for such a long period of time. I enjoyed it very much and felt very loved and welcome by my host family- mama, three host-sisters (one older and two younger ones), and one host-brother. I enjoyed the strolling around the woods, jumping on the trampoline, berry-picking in the wilderness, and talking in the living room around the fireplace with them. (Shame that I am not touch with them any longer :( otherwise I could have met them again there!)
Also, that was when I decided that I will study abroad.
So, that summer in Seattle really had a strong and long lasting impact on me-it opened my eyes and my heart.

The second time I stopped over Seattle on my way from New York back to Taipei. It was only 2 or 3 hours waiting time in the middle of the night in the summer of 2002. So a mid-night stopped over at the airport. Not the most pleasant experience, I suppose.

The third time, it was last week, 16-22 April, 2013. I decided that I want to come to Seattle for the SRCD conference after attending it last time in Montreal. And there I was, in Seattle two years after the conference in Montreal.
Again, I enjoyed the conference and felt very inspired and intellectually stimulated by it. Also met many people who have similar interests in research as mine. Hopefully in the future we can somehow take the connection to build up collaborations. :)

Besides the conference, my friend and I also took some time walking around downtown Seattle, enjoyed some nice cup of coffee and delicious food, and immersed ourselves in the wonderful coffee culture of Seattle. I even had my first coffee cupping experience when I was there.

I really enjoyed my days in Seattle, although it felt a bit too short and rushed. (Given that I had to spend 10.5 + 12.5 hours for the flight, and I only stayed in Seattle for 5 full days + 1 evening)
And I didn't even see Mountain Rainier this time... well, I guess that means I'll have to come back another time then! :)

There were some other valuable encounters in my (although short) trip to Seattle, which I will write in the next article. Now it's bed time for me, good night, Seattle. I'll come back to you later! :)