#juststanfordthings

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Dead Week

Just spent half an hour trying to scrape a black blotch near my mouth until I realized that it was a mole. Obviously, I haven't had time to look at myself in the mirror for so long that I forgot how many moles I have on my face. 

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The first intellectual exercise at Stanford

Stanford, like many almost-as-cool universities in the US, has this awesome three-book program for the incoming freshmen. Over the summer, they sent incoming freshmen three books for free (yes, they paid for the shipping as well), hoping that we would read them and have a meaningful conversation with the authors on campus during NSO. One of the three books this year is “My year of meats” by Ruth Ozeki. Because this book is heavily influenced by "The Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon, we were given an exercise to re-create some of Sei Shonagon’s lists with items of our own.

Here are two examples of lists that Sei Shonagon put in The Pillow Book: 

Things that create the appearance of deep emotion

Are you feeling deep yet?

Things that should be large

Seriously, of all the parts on a man’s body, it’s “eyes” that you came up with? And what’s the deal with large priests?

That same list, but made by a Stanford student. 

I love how Knowledge comes last, behind two different types of animals, and nowhere close to the size of one's dorm room. Just so you see the intellectual vitality and priority of a typical Tree on campus.

More lists by Stanford students.

Things that cannot be compared

- Grass

Things that give one confidence

- When one strolls through the airport security without being stopped under five minutes. (Oh, hello USA)

Rare things

- Walking in flip-flops without making the flippy floppy sounds.

- Easy opening packaging

- Getting into Stanford

Elegant things

- Straight lines

- Zoning out.

Of course, how could anything else in the world be more elegant than straight lines?

Things that should be short

- Waiting in line

- The height of a step

Embarrassing things

- When the automatic toilets don’t flush and you look like a gross person (Just so you know, automatic toilets at Stanford don’t have a manual override mode)

- Snort while laughing

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You don't hate stress In fact, you are all addicted to stress. That's why you are here.

A speaker from CAPS - Counseling and Psychological Services demystifying the Stanford duck syndromes to the incoming freshmen.

[stanforddiary-blog]

Nerd Nation Culture Shocks

Things that just don't happen at home, wherever in the world your home is. Stanford international students share some of the weirdest things they encounter when they first arrive on campus.

People come say "Hey, how's it going?" and never wait for you to answer. They just walk away.

BUI - Biking under influence is actually a thing.

You can't download free stuff on the Internet.

Standard paper is not A4 but letter size.

Everybody knows that feet, miles, yard make no sense yet everybody still uses them.

Toilets flush without anybody pressing any button. It gets creepy at night. 

There are so many trash bins that you need an app to determine which one to use.

No fat people on campus.

Taxes are never included in the bill. 

What's up with tips?

People stop for you to cross the road.

Wall sockets look like they are screaming, begging you not to torture them with those three-leg electronic monsters.

Trees are full of ripe fruits and nobody picks them.

Giant portions of everything.

Everyone is so happy.

Strangers talk to you at red lights, in the parks, while waiting for public restrooms. They even walk backward to continue the conversations.

If only I get one nickel every time somebody says "like", ...

Still can't get used to seeing the moon at noon. It's like having two suns.