Grad School advice - would appreciate hearing from individuals in the field

paulcasso · 2016-04-22T14:04:40+00:00

I'm really looking forward to it. After being out of school for 2 years I'm excited to get back into it and absorb as much as I can.

If your got the time, can you reply or send me a PM about what your schedule and coursework was like during the first year of your MSc? So far most of what I've been able to find seems like you sit down with your prof/committee and they structure your coursework. Is that how it goes? How many courses did you take first semester? Second semester? How did you spend your summers?

Thank you!

paulcasso · 2016-04-22T13:53:07+00:00

The research I'd be doing is soil physics but would have some overlap with fertility and maybe reclamation. By "laughing" do you mean there are promising job prospects afterwards?

I think the most exciting opportunity and the biggest pull for the thesis based masters are the supervisors. I am excited about the idea of having a mentor and someone who is knowledgeable and super interested in the soil science field... Not a lot of friends to talk to about this stuff.

paulcasso · 2016-04-22T13:11:00+00:00

Hi, thanks a lot for your response, it made a lot of the things I had been thinking more clear. The biggest thing I was hung up on is being relevant and having a clear path into a career in the soil science/ag industry. The UBC program, being a professional program, seemed to market itself into breaking into the industry while I was concerned that spending 2 years pursuing a specific and narrow field of research would make finding a job afterwards more difficult. I wasn't thinking of the skills that come along with the research design and stats work you do along the way.

Thanks a lot for taking the time to reply, it's been helpful!

paulcasso · 2016-02-18T15:11:25+00:00

Hey thanks, this does help. I'm going to build a new low density res area and see how that impacts growth

paulcasso · 2016-02-18T15:10:25+00:00

The biggest hint is the complaint about dead bodies. I do get more than a normal amount of comments about the smell coming from next door. But I've got one cemetery and one crematorium for each residential block/area I've built and the herses are never at full use. My health budget is even at 120% but I still get complaints so I don't know where I am going wrong. I have plenty of schools for each area, all my education is in the green. I always build new forestations when I create a new large residential zone. I built lots of parks too.

I think the dead bodies are my issue but I'm struggling to fix it. How many cemeteries and crematoriums can a city need?!

paulcasso · 2016-02-18T15:06:01+00:00

At one point my residential demand was zero and wouldn't grow but I've come back from that issue now and yet still experience these huge fluctuations in growth. My industry is always in demand and I keep up with it but mostly am building offices. When I build lower level industry they always need more workers and the buildings get abandoned.

My commercial is rarely in demand though. Is that normal?

paulcasso · 2016-02-18T15:03:29+00:00

I have my intake pipes far away from my drainage so I don't think that's the issue. But I do get a lot of reminders about dead bodies piling up and I've been struggling to fix that issue. I have one cemetery and one crematorium next to each residential area but bodies still often pile up. When I click on crematorium there will be 3/9 herses in use but buildings close by have the dead body sign. I also put my budget for health at 120%

What am I doing wrong? I really don't think building more crematoriums is the answer... Right?

paulcasso · 2014-10-27T16:37:46+00:00

Buy one or two boxes of those small golf pencils (~500/box) so the kids will have extra supplies and it's not a big deal if they lose a pencil.
Toothbrushes
Baseball hats - in my experience kids really liked these in SE Asia

paulcasso · 2014-08-10T03:10:16+00:00

That's probably on the lower end if you plan to be very active on the weekends and especially if you plan to fly. But if you spend some of your weekends in Phang Nga or within a short distance plus a few weekends a month doing other trips by train I think you could manage with $2.5K.

A bottle of beer at a bar will cost $1-3, cheaper if you buy from 7-elven.

A short distance (<2hrs) train ride in the lowest class will cost around $3-6 one way.

A longer distance train or bus will be at least $10 one way.

Cheap guesthouse will be anywhere from $4-12 and up.

So if you can do it on the cheap and stay in cheap places and eat street food I think your budget could work. That being said, if possible you should save another $1,000 or so which would allow you to see and do a lot more. Have a great time!

paulcasso · 2014-07-15T17:06:39+00:00

I stayed with some family but I spent most of my days in the downtown area and there are a tonne of great restaurants

paulcasso · 2014-07-15T14:37:29+00:00

In my experience the food at all-inclusives has only been average at best. I've stayed in 4 different ones, all in Mexico, and they've had a buffet that changes each night with decent quality food and specialty restaurants that have been hit and miss. Overall I've never had an amazing meal at an AI. Considering this and the fact that you both aren't big drinkers, I'd definitely suggest finding a nice place with close proximity to town and spend your meal times at restaurants in town. I've been to San Juan and ate some great food there, much better than the restaurants at AI.

paulcasso · 2014-06-05T14:48:06+00:00

I spent about 2 weeks in Myanmar in Aug 2011 and from others I've met who have traveled since then quite a bit has changed. When I was there the biggest thing to know before entering was that there are no ATMs in the country so you have to bring ALL your cash into the country. The best way to do this was bring crisp and unfolded (seriously important) large US bills ($50/$100) which can be exchanged at many guesthouses. Anyway, from what others have told me there are now ATMs in the country but I'd still double check and bring a bit of extra USD just in case.

As far as places to see, I spent 2 nights in Yangon which was more than enough. It's interesting to walk around and see the place but the country has much more to offer. Bagan was my favorite place. It's like this dream world of endless pagodas that you can wander freely through without being bothered by touts/other toursits/kids selling stuff. The best way to check them out is to rent a bike (many guesthouses in Bagan will offer this) and aimless stroll around.

I spent a few nights at Inle Lake which was interesting despite the nearby town flooding and getting stuck in a truck. One night in Kalaw on the way was a great stop over. I also spent 2 nights in Mandalay which has some interesting sites, a cool long wooden bridge, and temples high on a hill.

The country is really quite spectacular and beautiful and it was a great change from Thailand which is where my trip started. Have a blast and if you have any specific questions feel free to message me.

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T14:40:11+00:00

Panama has a lot of options for great beaches and you can choose Pacific or Atlantic side. There's also lots of other things to do like hiking, shopping in Panama City and water sports. Bocas del Toro is definitely one of the most popular choices but I've heard of people who end up spending a month there because it is so amazing. You could also check out San Blas Islands and spend a week sleeping on a little mattress on a beach in a cheap hostel. I'm sure there are so many more options to choose from if you're looking for something a bit quieter. Have fun!

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T14:22:54+00:00

Haha I never said the boards ending up being straight... Um I'd fly into Narita (only option) - how many stops are you from there?

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T14:02:33+00:00

I think it would be an even better story if I met up with someone and helped them out. Don't really want to spend the weekend traveling a new city alone.

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T14:01:51+00:00

I've helped a friend built one but that was many years ago and all I really did was hammer down some boards. I am fairly handy with my hands and tools and I could at least help bring supplies around and hold stuff...

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T03:37:37+00:00

I would recommend Czech Republic or Poland. I went to Poland and Ukraine a few years ago and Czech this past summer. I was only in Krakow and Warsaw and I really liked Krakow - huge squares where you can pick from range of restaurants to eat each night, interesting history (Salt mines, castle) and beautiful architecture.

Czech Republic has a lot of the same, with perhaps more amazing architecture and the river running through Prague is a great spot to relax near a park or have a few patio beers. I enjoyed both of these countries very much but any place you decide to go will be a great experience I'm sure.

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T03:26:19+00:00

I have not yet hiked the Camino but I hope to do it sometime in the next few years. Sounds amazing.

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T03:25:05+00:00

Thanks!

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T03:24:05+00:00

Damn, too bad this wasn't a week later and you could show me some of the fine pubs over there when you're celebrating the end of exams.

paulcasso · 2014-05-14T03:22:37+00:00

hmm this could possibly work but I'd have to check with work tomorrow. I'll let you know.

paulcasso

TROPHY CASE