Stevens Admissions: Katie's Blog

Roadtrippppppp

So as my time in California is coming to a end, I figured I need to make the most out of what time I have left here. After my last day of Co-op, I am going to drive up the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to San Francisco. 

I already have a few ideas for the stops I would like to make and the things I want to see, but it is still in the planning phase. I am so excited!!! I am definitely bringing my camera, and I will post pictures every step of the way. As of right now, my plan is this:

Day 1: San Diego to Santa Barbara (with a stop at Venice Beach)

Day 2: Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo

Day 3: San Luis Obispo to Big Sur (Big Sur is a huge rock formationoff the coast)

Day 4: Big Sur to Santa Cruz

Day 5: Santa Cruz to San Francisco

Day 6: San Fransisco

Day 7: San Fransisco to Hartford, CT (I'm flying HOME)

 

This trip is going to be such a great adventure - I can't wait!

Coachella!!!!!!

The Coachella arts and music festival may be the biggest music event in Southern California. Three days, five stages, 150 artists, 30,000 fans, and 100+ degree weather. Couldn't have asked for a more enjoyable weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although this festival takes place in the middle of the desert, where the temperature for the weekend was 104, 107, and 104 respectively, I wouldn't have changed a thing.  Being outside, surrounded by incredible music and great works of art was amazing. Now I can finally come back to Jersey with a tan!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the headliners for this show were Radiohead, the Black Keys, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre (with special guests Eminem, 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa), the Hives, Kendrick Lamar, and so so so many others.  

Carlsbad 5000

Today I ran 'the worlds fastest 5k' in Carlsbad, CA.  It was a HUGE event, and there were actually 7 different 5k events taking place today.  Of those 7, two of them were for the top 25 men and women and were invitation only.  Some of the competitors in those categories were even olympians!  The weather was beautiful and the course was mostly flat.  Couldn't have asked for a better way to kick off April.  (I can't believe that the semester and my co-op term are almost over!!)      

Joshua Trees

Joshua trees are trees native to southwestern North America in California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada.

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They are very cool looking trees which I saw all over the desert towns.  I have a slight obsession with them and point them out to everyone whenever I catch a glimps of one.  They are said to have been what Dr. Seuss modeled the Lorax trees after.  I can definitely see the resemblance - can you?

Rock Climbing

I have gotten to experience so many outdoor activities since I have been out here.  While driving around one day I decided to stop by a big pile of rocks and bring my camera out to capture the scenery.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While out there, we met two families who were actually rock climbing on various parts of the rocks & they let us use their equipment!!  They were so cool and it was really interesting to meet kids who grew up in a desert area.  I am such a city girl - which is one of the reasons I love Stevens so much!  (NOTHING compares to New York City).  Nonetheless, it must be pretty cool to spend your weekends rock-climbing!  Here is a picture of my friend learning how to rock-climb.

 

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Boeing 787 Dreamliner

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner made a stop in San Diego last week as part of its tour.  Since Hamilton Sundstrand was a supplier for the airplane, they let employees take a tour of the airplane!  The 787 is made of one piece barrel construction, which means less weight, less drag, less maintenance and less fuel consumption.  It is a beautiful piece of machinery and it is amazing that my company played a part in making that happen!  Here are some pictures of the plane:

Stevens Alumni

Today at work I ran into a Stevens graduate!  It is such a small world.  He currently works as an electrical engineer at Hamilton Sundstrand as well.  He reminiced on how much he loved Stevens and the campus.  We talked forever about how great of a location Hoboken is and how much he loved (and I love) taking the Path into New York City to go adventuring.  

I have to admit that while I do love it out here - I miss the big city and all it has to offer.  There is no place like New York City!

Natural Hot Springs

California is basically a big desert.  So I figured while I am here I might as well go check one out!  I took a trip up to palm springs and desert hot springs in the hopes of finding a natural hot spring.  I was successful!  We started out on a our adventure to track down these hot springs and got side tracked when we found ostriches!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After hours of driving up a scary dirt road through horribly dry mountains we got out of the car and walked.  After another hour of walking through the desert, we found one!

 

There was a little river (that was FREEZING) we had to wade through.  But once we crossed it - we found the natural hot springs!  There were 3 or 4 pools of naturally 100 degree water.  It felt amazing!  The scenery was gorgeous, and everyone we met out there was so friendly.  We spent the day soaking up some rays and enjoying the natural hot tubs :) 

 

 

Surfing!

San Diego is home to the top (#1 and #2) surfing beaches in the country. But I went to neither of those my first time out. I found a quiet little cove with waves just big enough to learn on. And I loved it! It's SOOO much fun. The water is too cold in the Pacific Ocean to go in without a wetsuit, but once you have one on, you barely notice the temperature. The waves just kept coming at me - I never had to sit around and wait for the perfect chance. Instead, I was continuously jumping back on my board to try and try again. And I did succeed!  I can now officially stand up and surf! Not for very long, and not on very big waves, but I can do it :)  I look forward to many more surfing experiences while I am here on the west coast during my amazing co-op.       

ACE

I have spent the past 2 days in an ACE training session for work.  ACE is the Operating System that Hamilton Sundstrand, as well as the rest of UTC, uses.  It was so much fun.  We spend two days at a hotel running through different types of tools that the company uses to measure metrics and solve problems. 

By the time I leave my co-op job this semester, I will be fully certified as an ACE Associate, which will be GREAT once I start applying for jobs later on :)