I study here mostly because Ananya moves to UCLA. I have no expectation of how the planning school is, but all I think about was I want to learn about poverty from her. I heard that she has the most exciting way to see World-Class city, to see slums, and to see poverty. I also want to learn political ecology with one of the other female professors. I thought that I will get her as my thesis advisor. I will join a planning studio in a developing country. I will do my research, and that is it. Pretty simple right?
Well, when I first arrived, I never thought that this school is in the quarter, not in a semester system. Which is a pretty big deal for the students. Honestly, I was shocked. Well, I have never plan much and do not have much expectation in the first quarter. I just let things go by. Interestingly, when you do not expect much, you find many interesting things and things that you expect the most are the things that slipped away.
First, the professors are so accommodative. They have office hours so that you can discuss with them. They are also available through email. One professor of my, he is available by phone call and text, which is weird, but hey, it works for him. I also like that UCLA is really a place to learn. The professor will engage with your discussion in the class. You can also ask without being judged by the professors and your classmates. The professor keeps renewing the teaching materials like every time new articles or journal publish they are going to update the course. The same level of support also given by our TAs.
One of the examples is my female professors. My cohort friends are entirely starstruck for Ibu. Hahaha. I still am. It is easy to like someone who is wholly dedicated to teaching like her. She just gives all that she got. Everything that she knows, she will pass it to the students. She introduces us to the primary concept in academia that does not give a parochial view of planning. She radically challenges it all. She also fixes the perception of the planning teaching all this time. Well, not everyone agrees to all of her ideas, but we are still blown away by her competence as a scholar and a teacher. She has also updated her teaching. Every time there is a new thing, she will give it all. Even the research that she hasnāt started yet. Is this part of Derridaās unconditional hospitality?
Though I have different research interests than Ibu. I am glad that she taught me once. She expands my views on the lifetime question that I have never got the answer if she is not drilled us. So does two other Bapak(s?). Well, I still have my political ecology class in winter, planning studio next spring quarter, and my summer fieldwork.
Second, the librarian. My favorite library might be the Young Research Library. It is not loaded with books, but I like the library because the librarian is not only the librarian and archiver. Well, UCLA itself has a degree for the librarian. I have met some of the digital archivers, and their method are very robust. They also your research consultation resources. The professor, researcher, and the student at UCLA use their resources to teach or consult on research software like Excel, Stata, or GIS. They can be more fluent than us to use the software.
Third, I find pride in the University of California network because UC has values. It protects the safety of the students who are undocumented migrants from federal violence. It also supports the students in need by giving them RA-ship, TA-ship, Fellowship. They also give me (the student in need. lol.) food for the Thanksgiving and winter holiday. I know most of my friends are not coming from a wealthy background, and I know that UC schools care about their students well being.
Fourth, the writing TA, the graduate writing center, and the Ashe Center (the hospital, the clinic, the lab, the optics, counseling center, my primary care physician, my primary nurse, etc.).Ā How can I not thankful for you all :D