Monday, July 29, 2024
By:
Dear reader. This week was fantastic. Let's start with an adventure to an iconic restaurant in DC, Ben’s Chili Bowl, with my fellow interns, Kaden, Jaden, and Johnny. For a long time, I didn't know what chili really was. I always associated it with the pepper and avoided ordering it because I don't like spicy food. Interestingly, I've read that peppers evolved to become spicy to ward off predators, yet here we are, enjoying them. Personally, I don't enjoy spicy food because I never understood the appeal of making your taste buds scream in pain and convincing your brain you're enjoying it. Despite 'chili' being in the restaurant's name, I decided to try something new, and Ben’s Chili Bowl did not disappoint. Although the half-smoke hot dog was slightly spicy, I enjoyed every bite. If you ever find yourself in DC, I highly recommend visiting Ben’s Chili Bowl.
On Friday, the interns had the incredible opportunity to tour NASA Goddard (a big thanks to Charles for organizing it). I have to admit, the experience was truly remarkable. As a young boy growing up in Kenya, I was fascinated by space and dreamt of becoming an astronaut, like many kids do. I was captivated by the mysteries of the universe. However, as I grew older, I faced discouragement, especially from one of my aunts, which led me to abandon that dream. Instead, I developed a deep love for physics, particularly at the microscopic level. Yet, the idea of exploring space never fully left my mind.
Now, while astrophysics isn't my primary focus, I still hold a great appreciation for it. Visiting NASA, now for the second time after my earlier visit to the Pasadena branch, left me in awe of the immense logistics involved in their missions. The vast unknowns of the universe are staggering, a feeling intensified by the Hubble Deep Field image and the anticipated achievements of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. The question of whether we are alone in the universe is profound. Considering statistics and probability, it seems unlikely, but it’s a mystery that will take a long time to unravel.
The intern Olympics were an absolute blast. My team, which included Charles, Reidyn, and me, finished in second place. While our performance in the Winter Olympics (indoor tournaments) was less than stellar, we excelled in the Summer Olympics, dominating outdoor sports like the relay race, soccer, and spike ball. It was an incredibly fun experience, and I particularly enjoyed playing soccer after such a long hiatus. These memories will stay with me forever. Special shoutout to Maia for being an outstanding defender!
Regarding work, it's unfortunate that I have limited time left to complete all my goals. However, I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far. I plan to continue writing instructions for the next intern who will take over my project, even after my internship ends, because I am deeply invested in this project. I love the automation progress I've made. Now, I need to finish (or rather, start) my presentation, but I’m confident it will be a breeze (fingers crossed). See you in the final blog installment!
Collins Kariuki