Engineering Joy

As I've stated before - I'm the only engineering/science major here; I assumed I would be - this wasn't a surprise.  While I love everyone I've met and enjoy my classes (or at least the subject matter), there has always seemed to be something missing.  As the number essays began to increase, taking everyone's stress level with it, I have found myself wondering more and more if I picked the right study abroad program.

For instance - a few moments of my day today...

A fellow student was looking for his phone, so someone called it.  He hears it ringing to his left, so he turns to the left - hears it again, but now to his right, so he turns to his right.  Meanwhile, I'm sitting behind him and I hear a cell phone tone whiz by my face.  Laughing a little, I informed him that it was in his bag - everyone laughed along... so far so good.  He then, laughing at himself compared himself to a dog chasing his own tail, so to build on the humor, I mentioned the Doppler Effect... fail joke.  Everyone kind of just looked at me - not in a mean way, but it was obvious my joke fell short of humorous.

All this to say, I just really really have been homesick for like-minded people.  Again - I love the people I have met here! They are beautiful and wonderful people.  Each has a unique story and is on a great path in life - I've loved getting to know more and more about people from various lifestyles, colleges, towns, states, etc.  I just really miss hanging out with people who understand me and my passion on a deeper level.  I don't want to live my life in a comfort zone with only like minded people, but it would be nice if there were a few people here and there that would truly appreciate and understand my enthusiasm and passion for engineering.

... which brings me to the title - Engineering Joy.  We got our internship placements the other day, and I'm beyond excited.  I'll be working with a company call Thermax to document the current water usage in Urban Pune, the amount of water than can be recycled from current grey, black, and waste water, and the costs involved in doing so.  Also the company has asked me to create a document compiling of all the regulations in place for the recycling of water in Pune.

ENGINEERING!!!  *explodes from excessive happiness and joy*

So, I very excitedly emailed my academic advisor to tell him about it and ask about getting class credit for it.  Turns out, not only can I get class credit for this amazing opportunity, but my professor is teaching  a business class in which the class competes to develop the best business model for the "other 90%" (aka those living on low incomes).  His group is looking to make a business model around providing recycled water to farmers for irrigation through Reverse Osmosis Systems (RO).  Guess where they're looking for RO systems? Thermax! What are the odds?  So, hopefully I'll be able to hook the group up with a contact at the company and explain the project they are developing.

Another awesome opportunity that has potential is that my advisor is hoping that my paper/research will be good enough to present at regional conferences, and maybe even national!  So, I look forward to that opportunity next year and plan to do my best at this paper in order to make such things possible.

I'm so grateful the staff here took such care in placing my internship, and I look forward to meeting the company and traveling around Pune researching this very imminent issue.