Tuesday, March 31, 2015

华裔女与美国人恋爱

http://news.creaders.net/us/2015/03/30/1509923.html
华裔女与美国人恋爱:白人的暧昧赤裸裸
http://www.creaders.net  2015-03-30 10:49:31  人民网  [2条评论,查看/发表评论]
  1. 暧昧
  我觉得暧昧这件事,就跟社会主义一样,具有丰富的中国特色。我在美国遇到的男人中,只有一种类型的人喜欢搞暧昧——华人男生。具体一下,就是那种10多岁来美国的男生,不是ABC。
白人搞暧昧吗?
  答案是肯定的。
  但是白人搞暧昧绝对不像我们中国人,折腾几个月或者是一两年。白人的暧昧都是赤裸裸的,而且暧昧时间不超过“三天”。基本上约你出来,就是对你有意思;不约你出来,那就是对你没意思。
  暧昧这件事,我看的很开。中国人常说,一个男人和你暧昧就是没有那么喜欢你。我觉得这还不够准确,应该说,一个男人和你暧昧就是“拿你打发时间,把你当back up,骑驴找马,遇到更好的立马踹了你。”
  我过去的一年约会过的男人超过15个吧,但是正儿八经发展过的好像是5个还是6个。
  至于我的长相,这么说吧,偏上。但是我有软肋,因为漂亮、美丽,奉承我的男人很多,所以我不把他们当回事。这就导致了我容易被那些不是很into我的男人吸引。关于这点,我会放到后面再说。
  继续暧昧的话题。
  我实在不理解那些沉迷于“暧昧”的女生。你这是有多desperate呢?女生最宝贵的是什么啊?是时间!!!大把大把的时间,你不去减肥,不去打扮自己,却浪费在那些不把你当回事的男生身上,你对得起自己的青春吗?
  而且,女人天生多愁善感,心思缜密,这就注定了你在暧昧这件事上玩不过男生。玩着玩着,你就陷了进去,男生可以拍拍屁股走人,却留你在原地。这种“惨案”在华人圈子里见多了。
  女孩们,珍惜自己的时间吧,不要浪费时间在暧昧上了。那个男人只不过想玩玩而已。
  2. 美国人的约会
  在美国,约会就是dinner+movie,而且费用男生全包。基本上,前三次出去约会,男生都要出大头。跟你搞AA制的男生,你可以在第一时间甩掉。
  约你吃lunch——cheap
  约你和咖啡——cheap
  吃饭和你AA制——cheap
  当然了,如果对方只把你当朋友,以上三点还是可以接受的。
  如何判断一个男生是否对你有意思呢?
  在美国,这点很容易判断——如果男方打电话单独约你吃晚餐,99%是想get to know you better.
  我认识一对美国情侣,都约会了6个月,一起出席各种party、聚会等,但是男方从未承认女方是女朋友。
  我和前前男朋友,约会了快6个月的时候,他冷不丁的告诉我,他觉得我们要相处五年以后,才决定要不要结婚。一个星期后,我果断提出分手。5年,你TMD以为自己是谁?想和我约会的人多的是,你算哪根葱?
  分手之后的2个月,前前男朋友一直在求我回到他身边,虽然我有时候会想念他,但是我一想到那5年,就觉得来气。最后,我实在受不了他的短信骚扰,直接摊牌,说5年后结婚这件事很难接受。前前男朋友直接妥协,说“我当时乱说的,说不定我们一年以后就结婚”。
  但是我呢,move on就move on了。
  要问我从这些美国前男朋友身上学到的什么,我想说——及时止损。
  那些美国前男朋友们,教会了我,如果两个人从一开始就不合适,千万不要想着磨合、妥协、受气。如果这个人不是你想要找的那个人,请果断分手。
  现在想一想,过去的一年中,除了ex,我几乎都是在浪费自己的时间。我既浪费了事件,又浪费了感情,如果再给我一次机会,我宁愿把这些事件花在个人兴趣培养以及工作上。一双鞋合不合脚,其实你自己知道。
  如果你的男朋友冷淡你了,如果你的男朋友莫名其妙搞失踪,如果你的男朋友和别的小姑娘暧昧,如果你的男朋友不回你短信,不接你电话,你又何必坚持处在这么无望的relationship里面呢?换位思考一下,如果你不喜欢那个男人了,你是不是也会做同样的事?
  美国前男朋友们教会我,感情变了就是变了,挽不回来的。
  在美国,确定一个男人爱不爱你,喜不喜欢你,方法只有一个——他是否愿意牺牲自己的时间陪你去做你喜欢的事情。
  我觉得,中国男人在这点上做的比较好,其深层次的原因是:中国人喜欢热闹,不喜欢一个人独处。
  但是美国人不同。美国人很自我,非常自我。
  我和ex分手的原因就是因为他没办法把自己的时间分一半给我。交往初期,ex 80%的时间都和我在一起。分手前一个星期,30%。当然了,美国人比较虚伪,都比较会说话,他的分手借口出的潜台词就是“我没有以前那么喜欢你了,我不可能把自己的时间分一半给你”。
  其实ex人算不错了,从约会的第一天开始就exclusive,带我经历了不少事情。可惜我和他价值观、兴趣爱好不同。我需要的是一个强大有力的肩膀能替我顶起一片天,而ex需要的是一个文艺浪漫的女青年,所以他挣扎了一段时间后,果断提出分手。
  3. 分手后是否还是朋友
  对于我本身来说,分手后是否能做朋友完全取决于分手原因以及他是否做了猥琐的事情。如果两个人对于分手的原因on the same page,自然还能做朋友。如果有一方不甘愿,那就不要做朋友。
  拿ex来说,在我们分手之前,ex从来没有做“不回短信,不接电话”这种猥琐事,更不要说玩失踪了。EX是个文艺青年,内心特别崇高,就算他是因
  为别的女人和我分手,我也知道他肯定会先和我分的干干净净,再去和别人约会。分手的时候,ex给我发了好人卡,希望大家日后还能做朋友,一起hang
  out之类的。我觉得这个能接受。
  ex ex 呢,是我甩了他,而且他一直求我回来,未果。他果断的告诉我,他没有办法和我做朋友。对于我来说,这个手我分定了,你要怎么折腾是你的事,我根本不会care。
  美国年轻人,感觉来的快,消失的也快,而且commitment对他们来说,是极其重要的一件事。所以大部分年轻人,不太轻易做出commitment,it takes time for them to do do.
  这两个例子告诉我们,分手以后,一定不要留恋过去,因为无论你怎么作践自己,变心的那一方根本不会care。你醉生梦死,你痛不欲生,但是变心的那方依然在潇潇洒洒的过自己的生活。这又是何苦呢?
  分手的最初很痛苦,这个我知道。但是你要坚信,时间会fix一切。Everything happens for a reason. 分手以后请move on,不要沉迷于过去了。
  4. 约会和relationship是两码事
  我有一个理论——女人应该同时和多个男生约会。 我这里所说的约会,是指吃吃饭、看看电影、参加各种户外活动等等,不是指滚床单。
  和多个男生约会,最好的结果就是你不会去惦记对方,你不会为“他为什么还没有给我打电话”、“他为什么不给我发短信”、“他为什么不约我出来”这些琐事发愁。
  打个比方,男生 ABCDE。
  A、B是你最喜欢的,也是你最想有结果的;C、D、E显然是你的备胎。那么和A、B约会的时候,你可以时不时和C、D、E出去玩。而且千万记住,A、B约你的时候,不要次次都赴约!!!约5次,去个三次就行了。
  在美国,relationship是一件极其认真的事。2年的relationship以后,除非是经济问题,男方一般都会掏出大钻戒将女方套住。
  女人,人生的目的之一就是找到真爱,可是要怎么找呢?
  我的答案是:你根本不用去找!!!
  如果你之前一直在寻找真爱,请停止这种行为。当你沉迷于自己喜欢的事情的时候,真爱就会出其不意的降临。
  我以前也是找真爱,找的死去活来。当人家问我“你有什么兴趣爱好”的时候,我想了好久都给不出答案。当人家问我,“你有做过这个没”或者“你经历过那个没”,我给出的都是否定的答案。
  你猜结果怎样?我成为了极其boring的一个人
  美国人就不同了。美国人自我,他们很容易沉迷于自己喜欢的事情中。譬如
  ex,他可以一个人去湖边游泳2个小时,他可以一个人开车来回6个小时去渔具店买钓鱼竿,他还学小提琴,还学摄影,他享受这些兴趣爱好带给他的快乐,这些东西将他变成一个有趣、独立的人,同时,他也意识到自己可能不需要女朋友。
  对的,没有兴趣爱好的人生就是无聊的人生。你的人生没有惊喜,人家也不会对你有持久的兴趣,因为一下就看穿了你。
  如果你的生活只剩下了上网、逛街,PPS,可能现在是时候做出改变了。
  5. 分手以后该做的事情
  分手以后你该做什么?
  A.下策:挽留
  其实我当初也不是这么理智,直到我去见了心理医生,和他谈了许久,对分手这回事才豁然开朗。
  我以自己亲身体会告诉你,分手这回事绝对不是一时兴起,而是前后考虑、计划很久的。你们自己也可以想想,在分手之前,分手这个念头是不是在你们的脑海里面盘旋许久?人性是相通的,你的前男朋友们也不是傻子。
  而且分手的理由只有一个——不合适,其他的理由,譬如“我现在不想谈恋爱”、“我爸妈不满意”、“我以事业为重”,都是狗屁。想一想,如果两个人合适,天天在一起都是快乐的,哪来那么多坑爹的理由?
  所以,男方提分手以后,你千万不要是挽留。因为总的来说,无论你们是否和好,分手的理由总在那里。如果你的男朋友是个好男孩,他负了你,你主动消失,他内心多少会有点内疚。如果分手以后,你还不停地纠缠,回忆那些“过往”,每天打电话,每天发短信,质问对方是不是有了新对象,这样只会让对方厌恶你,讨厌你。
  设身处地想一想。如果你对前男朋友没有感觉了,他死缠乱打,你是不是也觉得烦?
  所以,无论你是被甩,还是甩了别人,分了手就分了手,而且记住,你们分手的理由只有一个——不合适。
  B 中策:独自黯然神伤
  我不是文艺女青年,分手以后暗自神伤这种事我做不出来。分手,谁都会伤心,但是只要你忍着不去找他,那个劲一下就过去了。而且,你要想清楚,你这么伤心,是因为你真正的想念他,想要他回来;还是因为你的自尊心受到伤害,你的嫉妒心理在作祟?
  和ex分手以后,我伤心了一个星期。伤心的过程中,我渐渐认清了自己的心理:我根本不想要ex回来,因为我们两个不是同一类人,就算和他谈了1年、2年、3年,我们还是会因为“不合适”这个理由分手。我伤心是因为我的嫉妒心理在作怪,我占有欲强,一想到ex那张温柔善良的脸要属于别的女生的时候,我就受不了。当我认识到这一点后,我开始对自己进行心理暗示,暗示自己要淡定,心态要平稳,那张脸属于别人又怎样,反正我和他一点都不compatible,再好看的脸处起来也不开心。
  C上策: 给自己三个月的空窗期,做自己喜欢的事情,调整自己的心态。
  失恋后,你可以换一个新发型,可以报名参加补习班(新东方之类的),让自己的生活有所改变。或者,像我一样,去做自己喜欢的事情。
  失恋后,我开始健身,跑步或者骑自行车,2个星期迅速瘦了10磅,站在镜子面前,自己都觉得自己更美了。我参加了很多音乐节,找到自己喜欢的音乐种类(我喜欢alternative dance music),然后去研究那些乐队。我计划了很多旅行计划,有长有短......
  你的生活必需有schedule,有schedule、自律的人才会强大。我和ex交往初期,其实我有自己固定的一个schedule,譬如我星期一、星期三、星期六、星期日都是有固定活动的。可是,我为了和ex约会,把这些活动全部skip掉,完全按照ex的schedule来生活。这样,我失去了自己的活动中心,生活除了和ex处在一起就是宅在家,话题越来越少,有兴趣的事情越来越少,我和ex的约会变得索然无味。
  你有了自己的schedule,那么男生约你的时候,都会按照你的schedule来,这样投入的就是男方。
  6. XXOO
  交往的六个人中,我只和两个人有过关系。一个是ex,另一个是ex ex,因为我以为我和他们之间会长久。
  你们要记住,只有在两个人确定恋爱关系以后才能XXOO。用英文来说,就是have sex after commitment。中国男生嘴巴甜,有时候没有确定关系,老婆、女朋友喊得欢。但是美国人对这两个词绝对是很serious的,一般情况下不会乱喊。
  有时候,你要看这个男人为了你做了什么,然后再决定你们是否有未来。不要一个男的一追你,你就觉得你们两个私定终身了。
  譬如,ex,追我的第一天,made a reservation in a high classic restaurant and then took me to play mini golf。第二天,和我一起参加了local的北欧电影节,6个小时不间断;晚上,把我介绍给他最好的朋友,然后四个人一起去听 soul music现场。第三天,ex约我去超市,一块购物去他家做饭,租了《赤壁》(他是美国人,特意租了中国的DVD),约我去他家。当时我还**惕,看他准备了红酒没,因为在美国,红酒+电影=我要和你XXOO。结果呢,ex正襟危坐,认认真真和看完了电影,还和我讨论里面的故事情节。晚上10点,开车准时送我回家。 我极其反感约会的第一次就去bar,去lounge之类的。或者是约会的时候动不动就说你要不要来我家吃饭和红酒。这些都是典型的我要和你XXOO的信号。
  记住,一个男的喜欢你,不会push you to have sex with him at all。虽然美国人不像中国人保守,约会1、2年以后再上床;但是他们能等个1、2个月的。 千万不要奢望用sex来拴住男生,这样只会导致对方把你当成sex工具。
  7. 在美国,如何选择男朋友
  其实我本身在这方面做的不好,因为我选来选去,都选到了那种“定不下来”的男人。
  交往的6个人中,三个想定下来,结果我没兴趣;三个定不下来的男人,我除了割舍不下ex,其余的都在预料之中。
  这样吧,你写出一张list,例出你在dating中最看重的10个条件,然后从very important排序到kind of important 到not very important。
  1年前,我的list如下:
  1.帅
  2.有钱
  3.身材好
  4.年轻
  ......
  现在,我的list 如下:
  1. 人品好,诚实守信;
  2. 有一份跟我不相上下的职业以及相同的金钱观;
  3. 身体健康,喜欢运动;
  4. 长相超过6分;
  5. 家庭观重,愿意早早settle down下来;
  我之所以割舍不下ex,就是因为ex符合前4点,可惜他唯独不符合第5点。之前提了又提,说ex是文艺青年,再加上从小生长在富裕家庭,没有怎么吃过苦,学费、生活费都来自父母,所以他不够实际。他幻想自己2年后存够钱,能够去南美洲的某个国家生活2年,边体验生活,边学西班牙语。
  多美好的计划,可惜 I can't picture myself in this way.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

受骗的快乐

http://blog.creaders.net/ligongshang/user_blog_diary.php?did=213184

受骗的快乐
                         李公尚
在洛杉矶的一个商业中心,有家中国自助餐厅,导游每天带领大量中国游客前往就餐。旅游旺季,前去就餐的中国游客要排很长的队,在餐厅外候餐。
比尔先生开的化妆品商店,紧靠这家中国餐厅。他注意到:中国游客吃完饭,毫无例外地都爱到周围的各个商店转。甚至中国游客排队候餐时,也只有少数人排队,大多数人都去逛商店。他很奇怪,这周围很多商店,除了一家中国人开的卖化妆品和保健品的商店外,其他都很难做中国游客的生意。
很多商店把无法做中国人的生意,归结为语言不通,但比尔不以为然。中国游客进了他的商店,大都转转看看,最多问问价钱,就推门离去。旁边的中国商店和他卖同样的商品,标价比他商店的高,中国游客却购买踊跃,让他觉得不合情理。为了弄清原因,他经常跟着中国游客,进入中国商店观察。
经过一段时间的调查研究,他发现中国游客看到新奇或名牌商品,总是先问价钱,即便明码标价,也明知故问。一旦听说可以打折,不管有用没用,都抢着买。很多人说自己没用,可以带回去送人。对于早就打算要买的目标商品,找到后看了标价,照样问价,然后讨价还价。如砍价成功,就大量购买。一旦买到了“便宜货”,就向同伴炫耀,显示自己精明。于是一传十,十传百,没买那种商品的人就感觉自己吃亏了,于是也去买。有时那种商品甚至会卖到脱销。
比尔想了很久,终于明白了。中国游客所以这样做,是因为相信在美国买的商品,质量全都合格,所以根本不问质量,只问价格。美国人做不了中国人的生意,是因为中国游客喜爱讨价还价,而美国商店却无权随便打折。
他了解到,中国游客到中国商店去,是因为导游和商店有利益关系,把商店的价格说成全美国最低,而商店却趁机标高价格,当中国游客津津乐道讨价还价时,商店再逐步降低价格。
这是个了不起的发现。比尔惊喜自己想出了吸引中国游客的办法。一天,一位中国游客进门,他热情接待,耐心细致地介绍产品特点和功效。他知道那位游客根本听不懂他的话,只是出于礼貌不好拂袖而去。果然,想尽快离去的游客打断他,指着感兴趣的商品询问价钱。他装作老眼昏花,戴上花镜看了半天,又摘掉花镜,似乎不放心,再戴上,最后拿过计算器,按下数字:63.33元。
游客看了,瞪大眼睛看着他,再看看商品下面的标价,明明写着89.99元。便问商品是不是打折。比尔耸耸肩帮,双手一摊,坚定地表示决不打折。说打折损害厂商和店铺的信誉,行业规定正品不许打折。游客狡诘地指着计算器,比划着手势,用生硬的英语问:“真的?这上面的价格没错?”比尔坚定地点点头。
于是游客立即把那款商品拿到柜台,急急忙忙付款。比尔给他结帐时,他不失时机又尽可能多地去拿一些,一起付款。他出门时,比尔见他沾沾自喜,毫无半点愧疚。
游客走后不久,商店里一下进来好几位中国游客,点名要买这款商品。这几位游客尽自己的最大能量,静悄悄地取了商品,大气不敢出地走到柜台付款。一出门,哈哈大笑,议论纷纷。比尔知道,他们在笑他眼老昏花,自豪于“骗了老外”。
很快,他的商店一下涌进了几十名中国游客。很多顾客在抢购那款商品时,还询问其它商品价格,比尔拿着计算器,有的按出正确价格,有的故意按错。按错价格的商品,多被抢购一空。
那天,最后几位旅客离去时,比尔故意问:“你们为什么喜欢这款商品?”几位顾客听了,互使眼色都不说话。一名想练说英语的游客自以为是地说:“美国人开的商店一般不会骗人。旁边那家中国店卖的东西可能是假货,正品哪有打折的?”比尔问:“既然知道他们卖假货,为什么还买?”游客答:“图个便宜,回去送人。我们从美国商店买的东西,一般都留着自己用。”
比尔的这个小招数,屡试不爽,让他的生意大有起色。一次,他故意离开商店,让他女儿替他照看一会儿。她女儿为游客结帐时,按照标价结帐。几名顾客付款后,发现和前面游客付的钱不一样,就质问为什么多收他们的钱。前面几位付了钱的游客听了,赶紧悄悄离开商店。比尔的女儿拿着标价告诉他们并没有错,让他们把前面那些付了款的人找回来问问。这几名游客知道前面的顾客不会回来,为了面子,他们不好退货,只好悻悻离去。出了商店不久,他们和那些等在门外,取笑奚落他们的游客吵骂起来。
比尔和中国游客从此建立了双赢的情谊,共享骗人和受骗的快乐。看到洋洋自得的中国游客从他的店里乘兴而去,他常对人说:中国人真像一群顽皮的孩子,非常可爱。即便受了骗,也欢天喜地。
                     2015年3月22日
                     于美国加利福尼亚

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

哈佛大学教授 揭“美国梦”最大丑闻

http://news.creaders.net/us/2015/03/23/1507073.html
http://www.creaders.net  2015-03-23 19:17:46  多维  [1条评论,查看/发表评论]

  罗伯特·帕特南(Robert D·Putnam),美国哈佛大学公共政策学教授。曾任哈佛大学肯尼迪政府管理学院院长、美国政治学会主席。他的主要研究领域是政治学理论和社会理论,其代表作有《独自打保龄:美国社会资本的衰落》《使民主运转起来》等。近日,他的新书《我们的孩子:危机中的“美国梦”》(《Our Kids:The American Dream in Crisis》)即将出版。从该书中,可以让我们看到,“美国梦”对于现在的美国人来说,已经遥不可及。
对此,陆媒光明日报发文称“美国梦”正渐行渐远。文章称,自1776年独立以来,世世代代美国人都深信不疑的是,只要通过个人勤奋、勇气、创意和决心,无须依赖于特定的社会阶级和他人的援助,便能获得更好的生活。建国两百多年来,“美国梦”一直激励着世界各地的青年人,来到这片土地实现自己的价值,美国也因此被誉为全球成功人士的摇篮。然而,在美国哈佛大学著名教授罗伯特·帕特南眼中,曾经的“美国梦”如今正在渐行渐远。
  在美国,哪些因素决定了一个人未来的生活?上述决定因素是否会因时间的推移而改变?在帕特南教授今年3月出版的新书《我们的孩子:危机中的“美国梦”》(《Our Kids:The American Dream in Crisis》)中,上述问题有了新答案。
  根据帕特南对美国社会日益扩大的不平等鸿沟的“突破性解释”,之所以当今越来越少的美国人能获得向上发展机会,是因为这里已经不再是一个靠接受良好教育、靠努力工作买得起房子,并进而取得成功的社会,能力和努力不再起决定性作用。现在,“美国梦”似乎不再真实,或者说至少没以前那么真实。
  为深刻反映美国当代社会的问题,帕特南教授在书中提供了大量具体案例以及大量严谨的数据分析,揭示了当代美国生活的一个“最大丑闻”,即决定个人成功的因素已非个人奋斗,取而代之的是其所在的社会阶层。过去半个世纪,美国社会各阶层已经相对固化,对于那些处于社会底层的公民而言,想要进入上层社会已变得相当艰难。
  帕特南教授将研究重点放在个人发展的早期阶段,探讨家庭、学校以及社区在发展过程中的作用。作者写道,父亲纵火入狱、母亲酗酒吸毒,处于这种单亲家庭环境中的“伊利亚”最终的结局是流落街头。而“戴蒙德”则过着截然不同的生活:父母为着力培养他,搬入有良好中小学配套设施的社区,鼓励他努力读书,每天陪伴他成长直到考上一所好的大学。两位年轻人同样生活在南部佐治亚州的亚特兰大市,同为非洲裔美国人。由于父母处于不同的社会阶层,其人生轨迹发生了巨大变化。
  在这里,“‘美国梦’的危机”不是一个社科术语,而是一群年轻美国人在贫穷与暴力中的亲身经历。帕特南认为,他们这一代大多数人比父母生活得更好,但他们的孩子和孩子的孩子却面临着更艰难的生活和更渺茫的前途。他们的后代生活在一个社会和经济日益“极化”的世界。富人成功获得教育和经济机会,穷人尽管努力奋斗,却终归于事无补地贫困下去。
  哈佛大学教育学院院长舒尔茨认为,底层家庭机会越来越少,上层阶级不断蚕食和鲸吞资源。帕特南抓住了美国社会年轻人的动态变化,“对所有关心下一代未来的美国人来说,帕特南的新书不能错过”。
  纽约“哈林区儿童乐园”慈善组织主席说,《我们的孩子:危机中的“美国梦”》十分清楚地表明,“我们需要抛开政治博弈,先解决这个国家应该如何为数以百万计的贫困儿童提供机会的问题”。
  英国《经济学人》杂志称赞道,罗伯特·帕特南学识渊博、充满智慧,文风朴实、风趣,“他透彻地描绘、陈述了其个人对于美国危机的看法和观点,极为权威”。该杂志指出,1959年生于俄亥俄州港口城市克林顿的罗伯特·帕特南与同龄人一样,过上了比自己父母更好的生活,但其子孙的生活前景却要艰难很多。通过讲述全美城市与郊区一些人的生活故事,帕特南告诉人们靠个人奋斗而获得成功的机遇在不断减少。
  《赫芬顿邮报》援引帕特南的话说,“美国梦”危机本质上说是一个道德问题,“而为解决该问题,则需要促进社区与学校建立起伙伴关系,促进青少年发展、家庭和社区生活水准提高”。
  帕特南的观点得到了美国知名民意调查机构的旁证。根据欧维希国际市场研究咨询公司(ORC International)开展的“CNNMoney美国梦民意调查”结果显示,10个被调查人中就有6人认为,“美国梦”已经遥不可及。尽管54%的被调查者表示,自己会比父母生活得更好,但有63%的美国公民表示,他们觉得这一代的美国儿童中,绝大多数不会比他们的父母生活得更好。

Monday, March 16, 2015

He Founded an Engineering Group and Has His Own Research Lab

Vatsal Shah (left) in his lab with his adviser, NJIT Professor Dorairaja Raghu.
http://www.njit.edu/features/alumni/vatsal.php?utm_source=njit&utm_medium=secondlevel&utm_content=inside&utm_campaign=spiff

Here are a few things you should know about Vatsal Shah.
At age 23, he was one of the youngest persons in New Jersey to be licensed as a professional engineer. 
The American Society of Civil Engineers named him the 2013 “New Face of Civil Engineering.”
He works as project engineer for Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM), where he has helped this global engineering firm create a geotechnical subpractice.
Though he works full-time, he’s also a part-time doctoral candidate at NJIT. He studies civil and environmental engineering, with a focus on geotechnical engineering -- the study of soil behavior.
He has his own laboratory in South Plainfield, where he models landfills and how they behave. Landfills take up valuable urban space and his research could help towns reclaim landfills for other uses. His lab is self-funded.
Sleep? What sleep? He routinely puts in 17-hour days -- long hours of work and study.
In 2014 the NJIT Alumni Association gave him the GeNext Award for Alumni Achievement. It’s an honor bestowed upon young alumni for significant professional accomplishments. He was the first NJIT grad to receive the award.
Despite these achievements, Shah admits he wasn’t always an achiever. When he was in high school, by his own admission, he was unmotivated, doing just enough work to get by. He was smart, but he lacked focus -- often didn’t feel challenged. When he took the SATs, he did exceedingly well but his grades remained mediocre. During his senior year, he realized he wanted to study engineering -- his father and great-grandfather were engineers -- and he found the perfect college for that: the Albert Dorman Honors College.
Shah and his father arranged a time to meet with Joel Bloom, then dean of the college and now president of NJIT. Bloom saw Shah’s potential, so he gave him a challenge: If Shah was to get all A’s during his last year of high school; he’d be admitted into the college. Shah took the challenge and ran with it – acing his last year: He was admitted into the Honors College. Since then, he hasn’t stopped running -- accumulating honors and accolades along the way. 
In this interview, Shah talks about how NJIT put him on the path to professional success and personal fulfillment.
_____________________________________________________________________
How did you get into engineering?
I was always predisposed to engineering. My grandfather was an architect and my father was a civil engineer. My father is known at NJIT for testing the concrete and steel that support buildings throughout the campus, including Laurel Hall, the dorm where I lived, as well as the library, where I really "lived," or spent all my time.   
Can you explain your lab research?
Generally, the purpose of my research is to understand and predict landfill settlement, especially their rates of gas generation. This work helps reclaim land and plan for green energy such as biogas created from the decomposition of the fill. In my lab, I’ve created and simulated mini landfills, and I measure how the organic fill material settles and decomposes with time. 
Why is this work important?
It’s for a combination of environmental and economic reasons. If we test and know how a landfill has  decomposed, then we know how it produces gas and how that gas can be used for green energy. An operator could capture the bio-gas and re-use it to power nearby homes. The tests will also tell us when it’s OK to build on landfills. Being able to predict when the sites could be re-used and how buildings and structures perform on the sites as they settle would allow for better reclamation. That land can then be re-used in valuable ways.
What is unique about your research?
Several methods exist to model landfill settlement, but none consider the rate of gas production and how it decomposes with time. I want to understand the variations caused by those changes and create a standard that can be used not just in N.J. but worldwide. Ultimately I want to create a process others can follow so testing can be performed for landfill settlement, gas production (green energy) and other analyses for engineering performance. My aim is to reclaim the land faster and more productively.
And you really fund the lab by yourself?
Yes, my lab is self-funded.  It’s essentially a small office with a large attached garage space. I pay for it by living at home, working full time at Hatch Mott, saving every penny and begging for any scholarship I can find. Ask me next about my nonexistent social life!  It is uncommon for a grad student to have his own lab- but some of the greats all started in garages -- think of Edison, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs -- so I’m just keeping with tradition!
Who are your academic advisers?
My adviser is Professor Dorairaja Raghu, who has been doing pioneering research on landfills since the 1980s. My co-adviser is Professor Taha Marhaba, the chairman of the civil and environmental engineering department at NJIT. Actually, my entire doctoral committee is brilliant – they have experience in industry and academia -- so I have great advice.  
Can you talk about your job?
I’m currently a project engineer with HMM, which is headquartered in Iselin, N.J. The firm is a strong supporter of NJIT alums -- we have more than 85 employees who are NJIT alums -- so it’s a great feeling to walk around and see all the NJIT pride. I've been working there full-time since 2008, immediately after graduating from NJIT with a degree in civil engineering.  I also earned a master’s degree from NJIT in 2009 while going to school at night. Through the years I learned that I have a passion for geotechnical engineering, and HMM has been extremely supportive of both my education as well as building my capabilities as a geotechnical engineer.
So you helped build the company's geotechnical capabilities?
Yes. Four years ago I created a geotechnical sub-practice within HMM’s environmental subdivision based in NJ. I manage a four-person team that focuses on geotechnical support for a large mix of projects for HMM.  I’ve noticed most people who start a new business practice or even manage are much older, but I was 23 when I started the group. I’ve been told it’s a remarkable feat for someone my age, but I think it shows even more the support of a great company. It’s been quite a challenge but at the same time it’s been a tremendous learning experience. I’ve pulled more all-nighters at work than during school, which I hate to admit, but it’s rewarding work, which is what matters most in life. 
What kind of projects does your group work on?
Engineering is ever-present, which is what I truly enjoy about this profession. We’ve worked on everything from bridges and tunnels, to schools and water treatment plans.
When a sinkhole opened up in Hackettstown this year and swallowed up a driveway and 500 feet of road, we were on the job to investigate the cause and design repairs to make it safe to pass again. Another project right now is designing a large school campus in Passaic for almost 3,000 students. Try designing multiple four-story school buildings on a site that used to be a lake with a thick, soft bottom and had been an old industrial complex and a hospital at different times! It’s great to be involved in the design of foundations and to understand the ground beneath these large, tall, and important structures -- and then to see your work in person.
How do you manage to both work and study?
With great family, friends and a sense of humor!  But I’m in what’s called an industry doctoral student: I work full time and go to school part-time while also doing research. There’s only a few of us in industry program, but it’s a perfect program for me and I’m grateful to NJIT for offering the program.
You’ve come a long way since Joel Bloom challenged you to get all A’s?
I enrolled in NJIT’s Albert Dorman’s Honors College in 2005 after President Bloom, then dean of the college, personally challenged me to find my best self.  A few months, ago I invited President Bloom to my lab and I gave him a presentation of my research. I also invited the president and CEO of Hatch Mott, Nicholas DeNichilo, as well as my colleagues and mentors. Both NJIT and HMM have believed in me and supported my research from the start, so I wanted to give them a special presentation of my work. I had lunch catered and we had a good time.  And, as fate would have it, a few years ago I had the pleasure of bumping into Albert Dorman of the Honors College while I was receiving my award from the American Society of Civil Engineers in Washington, D.C. He was shocked but pleasantly surprised to see one of his own at the ceremony.  I guess that means I’ve come full circle in life.

NJIT - Engineering Student of the Year

The Newark College of Engineering recently named Pedro Santos the Outstanding Senior of the Year.
http://www.njit.edu/features/student/pedro-santos.php

Pedro Santos is not innately intelligent, he says. Rather, he considers himself a hard worker. 
If anything -- if any one characteristic -- sets him apart from his peers it’s hard work, an ethic he inherited from his parents.
“My parents immigrated from Portugal and both worked hard in America to buy a nice house in a nice suburb,” says Pedro, a senior who is soft-spoken, humble and quick to smile. “My father is a diesel mechanic and my mother works cleaning houses. We are a really close family.  I saw how hard they worked and knew I had to work just as hard on my studies.”  
Pedro’s studiousness is beginning to bear fruit. The Newark College of Engineering (NCE) recently named him the Outstanding Senior of the Year, as well as the Outstanding Senior in his major – civil and environmental engineering.  Academically, he has a 4.0 GPA and is ranked first in his senior class. He holds seven scholarships and belongs to four honor societies. He attends the Albert Dorman Honors College and worked as an NJIT tutor for two years, where he helped hundreds of students improve in chemistry, physics and statistics.  
Though he majors in engineering, he has a minor in business, and belonged to a student team that competed in a Global Investment Research Challenge. The team had to develop a report for a stock recommendation and present it before a panel of Wall Street experts. He was the only engineering student chosen by the School of Management to participate in the contest. This past summer, he also worked as a summer intern at Langan Engineering and Environmental Services. 
In this interview, Pedro talks about his interest in engineering, his family and his career plans.
________________________________________________________________
How’d you get interested in engineering?
I was always good in math and science in high school, and I was surrounded by engineering.  My older brother, Diogo, studied civil engineering at NJIT. He graduated eighth years ago and he teaches here part time as an adjunct professor. He has a good job working for Petry Engineering. His wife, Stephanie Santos, is also a university lecturer of civil engineering here at NJIT.  My father is a diesel mechanic who works on trucks and the work he does is similar to engineering.  He used to talk to me about his work.  My parents also encouraged me to study something that would lead to a good career, and that was engineering.
Why did you come to NJIT?
It was close to home (North Arlington), it had a good engineering program and I received a full scholarship.  Also my brother is an NJIT grad and liked it here.
Have you enjoyed studying civil engineering?
I’ve had some great professors of civil engineering who’ve been super helpful.  The major is a great mix of hands on-learning, applied engineering and theory.  Many of the civil professors also have field experience that enhances their teaching and our learning.
What part of civil engineering do you like best?
My interest is in site development and planning.  I like to evaluate a piece of property and design it to serve the developer’s needs. Where is the storm water going to go?  Will it run off the land or be captured?  I enjoy designing land development projects where the parking, grading slopes and building locations all come together to provide an efficient and cost-effective solution for clients. I did some of this work during my internship at Langan and really enjoyed it. 
What do you do outside of school?
I am heavily involved in my church (Church Alive), where I’m a team leader. I volunteer about 10 hours a week. The church has 350 members and I lead a church team that performs 20 tasks a week, helping facilitate service flow and aiding with any other needs.  I am also currently helping lead a youth outreach program.  Outside of school and church, I enjoy swimming, playing soccer, and basketball.
What are your plans for after you graduate?
My ultimate career goal is to be in a position where I can combine the quantitative skills I’ve obtained in my engineering degree with the business sense cultivated through my business-finance classes.  My plan is to use the combination of those skills to eventually either become a CEO of a large engineering firm, where I can influence strategy and build relationships with clients, or become CEO of my own firm where I can do the same.

By Robert Florida