Now you know most of the background about my project. As a recap:
- I am writing a three-dimensional water quality model.
- I need a working hydrodynamic model to get my water quality model working.
- I have 2 summers worth of data to use to calibrate.
- I want to get my PhD someday and teach.
So, I'm done with my data collection. Now, when I say I am "doing research", it means I am sitting in front of a computer, writing and messing with computer code. Its a learning process and I still do not think I am very good at it. Once I write a piece of code I think will work, I have to 'debug' it. This is the least fun task of my job. It means I have to find my mistakes. Usually this means I placed a j where an i should be or vice-versa. It can take me a full week to find one little mistake. But, once I find a bug, I am oh so happy. Finding the bugs is like solving a puzzle, which I have always enjoyed. Once I have working code, I 'run' the model. Over and over again. It never works properly the first time.
So, if all I do is sit in front of a computer and write, debug and run code, why did I have to come to Spain to do it? The answer is simple: to get hands on help! In Davis, when I run into a problem, I can try and ask another classmate who is doing a similar project (writing, debugging and running a water quality code). Usually, he is pretty helpful. I can tell my adviser about the problem, but in general, he does not have enough knowledge of the model to be helpful. Usually, he tells me to e-mail Pete or Francisco to ask for help. And they are usually helpful, but e-mail to e-mail communication is not always the best way to fix problems with models. So, I came to Spain to work with Francisco. Together, we are trying to get the hydrodynamic model going, so that I can go back to Davis, add my water quality, and move on with my life.
Now that you know why I'm here, I can update you on how its going! Nice. . .
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Who knew that I could miss. . .
- My cat scratching at my bedroom door at 6:02 am.
- My crappy, 100-year old shower
- My tiny bathroom
- My husband's coffee
- My Starbuck's commuter mug
- Begging John to move his car so I can go to work.
- My BIG (by Spain standards) Honda Civic
- Radio commercials
- NPR
- Working 12 hours
- Swimming in the cold and dark.
- Getting home late
- Cooking dinner at 9pm
- Tivo sounds
- Waiting for John
- Falling asleep on the couch
- Chicken
- Black beans
- Tortillas
- Whole wheat pasta
- Cheddar Cheese
- String Cheese
- Crackers
- Peanut Butter
- Chips & Salsa
- Spicy food
- Leftovers for lunch
- Diet Coke
- Yogurt
- Cottage Cheese
- Talking to my parents while driving home from the pool
- Calling my sisters
- Eating waffles
- My Kitchen-Aid (even just looking at it!)
- Packed brown sugar (how is a girl to make choc chip cookies?)
- Muffins
The Stockton DWSC
You have almost learned entirely why on earth I came to Granada. Bear with me, one or two more posts and you'll know it all!
As you may or may not know, when I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in May of 2003, I was heading to Cornell for graduate school. Cornell is in Ithaca, NY aka the middle of nowhere! I went, I tried, I hated, I decided to come home. The DiPalermo girls are just not cut out to living in snowy conditions, just ask Katie who moved to Colorado for a while, or Gina, who tried her hand at a winter in Boston. We come back to California every time. Anyway, when I decided to come back, I still wanted to be a graduate student, so I contacted the professor at UC Davis who I had been in touch with the previous year. I told him I wanted to come back to California, and asked if he had any more projects on Tahoe that needed graduate students. As luck (not sure yet if I would call it luck!) would have it, he needed a graduate student to start in July of 2004 on a new project, but not a Tahoe project. Since Cornell ends in late May, an early July start was perfect. John and I enjoyed another cross country trip and when I got to Davis, I was thrown into this new project. The project was the Stockton project. In August of 2004, and again in August of 2005, month long field studies were conducted in the Stockton DWSC. The data from these studies was meant to calibrate and validate a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model of the Stockton DWSC. The hydrodynamic part, SI3D, was to be completed by Stanford and the water quality part, the creation and calibration, by UC Davis (aka: me!)
After two summers of field work, the calibration was not going anywhere, deadlines loomed. Turns out calibrating the model (using Francisco's model in the Delta where Pete's usually is successful) was harder than we imagined. I was not actively involved in this calibration. I was busy taking classes and earning my masters. But once I was done with my master's research and thesis, I was ready to get going on the creation and calibration of the water quality model. But, here's the trick. It is impossible to write and create and calibrate a water quality model without an accurate description of the hydrodynamics (how the water moves). So, without the calibrated hydrodynamic model, I'm stuck without a project. Not a good thing for a PhD student.
There were a few months during this year (I would say February through June) when I was basically done with my masters that I was close to just throwing in the towel. My PhD research was going no where. In addition, my adviser was very busy with other projects. He is the director of the Tahoe Research Center, and spends half his time in Tahoe, and spends most of his time writing grants and trying to get money. He does very little actual research, the research he does do is at Tahoe, not for the Stockton project. But, he is the "Principal Investigator" for this project, meaning, to the funding agency, he is in charge. If the project doesn't get done, its his name that will be associated with the project. I was tempted to start a whole new project if thats what it would take for me to earn my PhD.
I do not plan to spend my career doing research. Really, I want to teach. My dream job would be at Santa Clara University, but another teaching university where I would have the opportunity to do small research projects and some consulting is my goal. I think that right now, with the knowledge I have, I could teach many engineering courses. But, to get a job at SCU, or LMU or Seattle U, or another Jesuit University or state school, I need a PhD. I was not willing to give up that dream over the stupid Stockton DWSC.
Another thing you should know is that there is a consulting firm in New Jersey that did a similar project to what I am attempting to do. Also, in the meantime, a dissolved oxygen aeration system has been placed in the DWSC. This system pumps pure oxygen into the channel. Will it fix the problem? I'm not convinced, but policy makers and politicians are. Its the easy solution. So, I'm climbing an uphill battle. My adviser, funding agencies and other scientists really have changed their focus from the problem in the Stockton DWSC. They have bigger battles to fight, like Delta Smelt and water shortages and fires. I don't blame them, but I am too invested in the Stockton project to abandon it. Oh, and by the way, Stanford decided to abandon too. Of course, this makes me feel like I've won a small battle. I'm doing something even Standford scientists couldn't handle. ha!
As you may or may not know, when I graduated from Loyola Marymount University in May of 2003, I was heading to Cornell for graduate school. Cornell is in Ithaca, NY aka the middle of nowhere! I went, I tried, I hated, I decided to come home. The DiPalermo girls are just not cut out to living in snowy conditions, just ask Katie who moved to Colorado for a while, or Gina, who tried her hand at a winter in Boston. We come back to California every time. Anyway, when I decided to come back, I still wanted to be a graduate student, so I contacted the professor at UC Davis who I had been in touch with the previous year. I told him I wanted to come back to California, and asked if he had any more projects on Tahoe that needed graduate students. As luck (not sure yet if I would call it luck!) would have it, he needed a graduate student to start in July of 2004 on a new project, but not a Tahoe project. Since Cornell ends in late May, an early July start was perfect. John and I enjoyed another cross country trip and when I got to Davis, I was thrown into this new project. The project was the Stockton project. In August of 2004, and again in August of 2005, month long field studies were conducted in the Stockton DWSC. The data from these studies was meant to calibrate and validate a three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model of the Stockton DWSC. The hydrodynamic part, SI3D, was to be completed by Stanford and the water quality part, the creation and calibration, by UC Davis (aka: me!)
After two summers of field work, the calibration was not going anywhere, deadlines loomed. Turns out calibrating the model (using Francisco's model in the Delta where Pete's usually is successful) was harder than we imagined. I was not actively involved in this calibration. I was busy taking classes and earning my masters. But once I was done with my master's research and thesis, I was ready to get going on the creation and calibration of the water quality model. But, here's the trick. It is impossible to write and create and calibrate a water quality model without an accurate description of the hydrodynamics (how the water moves). So, without the calibrated hydrodynamic model, I'm stuck without a project. Not a good thing for a PhD student.
There were a few months during this year (I would say February through June) when I was basically done with my masters that I was close to just throwing in the towel. My PhD research was going no where. In addition, my adviser was very busy with other projects. He is the director of the Tahoe Research Center, and spends half his time in Tahoe, and spends most of his time writing grants and trying to get money. He does very little actual research, the research he does do is at Tahoe, not for the Stockton project. But, he is the "Principal Investigator" for this project, meaning, to the funding agency, he is in charge. If the project doesn't get done, its his name that will be associated with the project. I was tempted to start a whole new project if thats what it would take for me to earn my PhD.
I do not plan to spend my career doing research. Really, I want to teach. My dream job would be at Santa Clara University, but another teaching university where I would have the opportunity to do small research projects and some consulting is my goal. I think that right now, with the knowledge I have, I could teach many engineering courses. But, to get a job at SCU, or LMU or Seattle U, or another Jesuit University or state school, I need a PhD. I was not willing to give up that dream over the stupid Stockton DWSC.
Another thing you should know is that there is a consulting firm in New Jersey that did a similar project to what I am attempting to do. Also, in the meantime, a dissolved oxygen aeration system has been placed in the DWSC. This system pumps pure oxygen into the channel. Will it fix the problem? I'm not convinced, but policy makers and politicians are. Its the easy solution. So, I'm climbing an uphill battle. My adviser, funding agencies and other scientists really have changed their focus from the problem in the Stockton DWSC. They have bigger battles to fight, like Delta Smelt and water shortages and fires. I don't blame them, but I am too invested in the Stockton project to abandon it. Oh, and by the way, Stanford decided to abandon too. Of course, this makes me feel like I've won a small battle. I'm doing something even Standford scientists couldn't handle. ha!
Spain's "Target"
Yesterday, I discovered a store that reminds me of a Super-Target and a Macy's smooshed together. It is called Hipercor, but apparently the store El Corte Ingles that everyone keeps telling me to go to is the same. I only browsed the first floor of this mega-huge store. When I walked in, I browsed the designer purse and accessory and make-up sections. Not super-high end stuff, but they had Fossil watches, Tommy Hilfiger purses, etc. Then, I entered the Target-ish area. Here I browsed the cheap clothes and shoes, then the aisles of the food section. Much better than the Mercadona I went to last week. Today, I might take a break during the middle of the day and go to El Corte Ingles, grocery shop, bring my food to the house, then come back down. I'm excited!
My annoying housemate is having people over for dinner, serving couscous with veggies YET AGAIN! Blech, I would prefer the frozen burritos John has been eating from Trader Joes. So, I plan to stay at work mega-late today. . .
Oh, and I'm going to buy some pashminas today! How exciting.
My annoying housemate is having people over for dinner, serving couscous with veggies YET AGAIN! Blech, I would prefer the frozen burritos John has been eating from Trader Joes. So, I plan to stay at work mega-late today. . .
Oh, and I'm going to buy some pashminas today! How exciting.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
My run in with the gypsies (just for Joe)
Joe,
I ran into some gypsies yesterday. The tried to give me rosemary. That's their thing. The stand around (mind you, they don't look like your typical gypsy, they are just old ladies) near tourist areas (the Alhambra, the Cathedral) and try to give you a piece of rosemary. They stick it in your face, and try to stick it in you hand, and go so far as to walk with you as you try and rush past them. Then, if you take the rosemary, apparently they will try and read your palm, then ask for money. When they ask for money, you take out your wallet and take some, and their partner steals the rest. I kept my head down, walked quickly, kept my hands in my pockets and said "No, gracias". I saw some tourists pulling out a 10 euro bill today to give to them. . . I hope the gypsies didn't steal the rest! I'll try to take a pic, but then they might steal my camera.
I ran into some gypsies yesterday. The tried to give me rosemary. That's their thing. The stand around (mind you, they don't look like your typical gypsy, they are just old ladies) near tourist areas (the Alhambra, the Cathedral) and try to give you a piece of rosemary. They stick it in your face, and try to stick it in you hand, and go so far as to walk with you as you try and rush past them. Then, if you take the rosemary, apparently they will try and read your palm, then ask for money. When they ask for money, you take out your wallet and take some, and their partner steals the rest. I kept my head down, walked quickly, kept my hands in my pockets and said "No, gracias". I saw some tourists pulling out a 10 euro bill today to give to them. . . I hope the gypsies didn't steal the rest! I'll try to take a pic, but then they might steal my camera.
Need a pashmina?
Not sure why, but there are pashminas for sale everywhere! And they are cheap. 3 euros for one or 2 for 5 euros. So, if you need a pashmina or 2, let me know and I will try to find one for you. They have all colors, and some fancy design ones too. I plan to bring home quite a few for myself. . .
Pics from home.
I was so happy to come to work today and find John had sent me some pictures of Boba. Amazing how much I can miss a fuzzy little animal. I think part of it is because I'm not so sure she misses me. I know John misses me, I know my parents miss talking to me. But, Boba still gets fed and played with. Heck, John misses me so much he lets the cat sleep in the bedroom with him. That never happens when I'm home!
In case you all might have thought John kicked the cat out of the house, here's proof she's alive and well! Not so sure about John, though, since he didn't send me any pics of him. Hopefully he is still in one piece after his rugby tournament yesterday. . .
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