Still Standing

So I guess I should have been a little clearer in my last post. There was some confusion about what I was saying, so I'll clear it up here. About a week ago I mentioned how amazing it was meeting and befriending all these other students here with me in France. I also alluded to The Prydain Chronicles, which is a series of books about Taran and his adventures. I love these books, and I can relate to them very well for the most part. However, if you have never read them, the allusion probably wasn't fully understood. I was vague because I didn't want to spoil the ending for anyone who might not have read the books yet. Anyway, the books focus on Taran struggling to learn that there is honor to be found in being an Assistant Pig Keeper. In the end, his role is crucial, but it is not the one of a Hero.

The reason I brought this up was because I can identify with him, rather than the other, more lordly charachters in the book. Toward the end, he looks around and realizes what a priviledge it was simply to befriend the heroes around him. He is amazed at their courage and steadfastness. He does not regret his own position, but rather is awed that he got to play a part in the greater story at all. That is where the comparison lies, in being honored just to have known the Heroes.

That was really the goal of my last post: to verbalize (or whatever you'd call it here: blogalize maybe?) those feelings. I don't feel unimportant or useless, just different. I'm not complaining or throwing a pity party for myself, either. My whole intention was to make everyone who reads this go "wow, those are some pretty incredible people over there." Alright, all together on 3:

1...2...3..."Wow, those are some amazing people over there!"

Great job! That's all for now. More updates later.

Wandering Among Giants

Today was a great day. I visited Leach, where I will do my internship this summer. The visit went well and I found out that the newer Mercedes Benz can do 100 mph quite easily. In addition to that, we had a BBQ at ALOES. Oh, it was so good. There was chicken and hamburgers, Coke, and chips. The fun went on for quite some time. And it was sunny. Quite a rarity for Metz. Everyone was having a good day.

But I digress. The point of this post is my fellow students. I never cease to be amazed at their abilities. They can speak many languages. They can throw good social events. They can comprehend complex engineering concepts. They are athletic. They are kind. They are generous. As I lay on the grass by the lake reading Acoustics: An Introduction to Its Physical Principles and Applications I couldn't get this thought out of my mind. These people, these friends of mine, they are unique. I'm not sure if there is a better collection of people.

I've had this blog entry running through my mind since late afternoon, but now I find that I cannot put proper words around them. I want to tell you how amazed I am at their brilliance. I want to tell you that they wil contribute great things to the world. And in it all, it makes me wonder what I am doing here. How is it that I got caught up in the same group with them? I can see clearly what they have to offer, but what about me? I am wandering among giants. I am like the Assistant Pig Keeper, Taran Wanderer, who always aims for the greatest of tasks but in the end must learn that such things are not for him. He must find honor in being Taran Assistant Pig Keeper. But the focus here is not me; it is the giants among which I stand. Giants like Taliesin, High King Math, and Gwydion. Though our names are different the roles are exactly the same. How amazing. How brilliant.

Hello Again

Hello again, it's been too long
Too long, too long
Hello again
-Hello Again, DMB

So much has happened in the last few weeks. There have been swimming pools and movie stars. Too bad no one discovered oil and moved to Beverly Hills. So, a quick update until finals are over and I can do these events justice. I am drawing near the end of this semester. I have 2 finals on Monday and then all my being will go toward finishing my PFE for ENSAM, which will be due 2 weeks later. After that I start my stage at Leach (hopefully) and everything is downhill from there.

It's not a huge update, but it's better than nothing. I've been waiting for a new Strongbad email for almost 2 weeks now, and THAT is unacceptible. OK, off to do work. Oh yeah, someone remind me to mention the interstellar dust particle project...