Saturday, June 23, 2007

More pictures

Linsly-Chittenden Hall - the place where I have lessons.
I heard Stanley-Milgram experiment was carried out at its basement.
A tower that produces a chime many times a day
I think it was used to indicate time when watches were rare in the past.
Outdoor barbeque on a cold day after attending a talk by Spike Lee, a renowned director
Outdoor concert at the Green.
A symphony band played selected soundtracks from Spike Lee's movies
The atomosphere was great.
The entrance of Sterling Memorial Library

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Moment of Happiness


"We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, Human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. it is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."

Professor Louis Levy in Crimes and Misdemeanors, a great movie. I watched it for my course, Evil.


I am very happy with my life now. I seem to be able to derive happiness from doing simple things like reading, enjoying the breeze, basking in the sunlight and talking under the shade. Somehow, time halts to a standstill. I feel more connected to my soul. It feels like falling in love. I am in love not with a person or a place but rather a moment, a transient entity that consists of everything that I can capture through my senses. More importantly, I have realised that by leaving the suffocating tropics, I have escaped temporarily from the great currents of Progress. By isolating myself from the pursuit of Success, I have gained greater access to my trueself. Maybe that's happiness.

Yet, I am aware that this moment won't last long. The weather will become unbearable one day. The readings might become boring one day. Even love fades away with time. What I can do is to enjoy every moment, feel blessed that I am fortunate to be here and aware that this state can end anytime in this indifferent universe.

The Start of Happy Days - First Week at New Havens

My room at Morse College. The weather reminds me of Cameroon Highlands. It's like staying in a naturally air-conditioned room.
















Entrance B. Something like the block that you stay in the residential college
















Photosynthesising under the sun. The sun is as bright as it is back home. But it's unbelievably cool. The ground is soft and insect-less.
















Inspired to read under the shade at Morse College. The photographer is Jan. We are discussing the anthropology theories. The summer courses, with tons of readings, are very intense. Yet, I love it!

















Jose (second from the left), a Peruvian Yale student, is taking us to Sterling Memorial Library. The library is stunning. It has a Gothic architecture according to Jan (first from right), an architechture student from NUS. Prat (first from left) is a business student from NYU. We are all taking Anthropology of Religion. The class is fairly small. It has only six students.


















The lawn at the library. I am again inspired by the sight to do my readings. The campus seems to be designed to inspire people to learn.