Saturday, June 2, 2012

Friends and Farewalls

Friday my next-room-over housemate and good friend Jonathan moved back to his native Malaysia having graduated with a degree in Marine Science a few weeks ago. Since I'm sure he'll read this, I just want to say thanks for being such a great housemate – you were one of the first friends I made when I first came to Hawai‘i, and it's been a blast. I won't forget how readily you were willing to lend me your moped even when you hardly knew me, and I'll try to be worthy of it. Also, your chair is a whole lot more comfy than my old one.

Earlier this week I also learned that my advisor and one of the longest-serving astronomy/physics professors at UHHilo, Dr. Crowe, was killed in a car accident on the mainland last week. He may not always have been the easiest professor, but he was definitely one of the nicest guys on campus, and since he's been around for nearly 40 years it's going to be a huge change with him gone.

Sorry to leave you all with such a depressing post, but with the spectre of the transit of Venus looming on Tuesday I've been running ragged the last few weeks preparing for it, and am somewhat worn, mentally. Being an astronomer or physicist you're usually looking at the grand mysteries of existence and the Universe, so when these personal things hit it can catch you a bit off balance.

Ke Akua pū, a hui hou kākou!

3 comments:

  1. I wake up in the morning and open my room door to find a huge flat screen TV instead of you. It feels weird. Miss you and hope everything is well back in Hilo! When people ask me how am I doing I always answer that I am feeling homesick.

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  2. Every time your door opens I subconsciously expect it to be you, and it's not... miss ya too, buddy! Things are going a bit better now that the transit is over, and hopefully life can get back to a semblance of normality. I hope everything is going well in Malaysia!

    Oh, and thanks again for the chair! It's *so* much more comfy and easier to roll than my old one!

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  3. Sorry to hear about the death of your advisor! It sounds like you learned a lot from him and he will be missed,

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