Year Review of Li Chen

Monthly Review

The new year of 2022 starts with the exciting news that my ordered SUV arrived earlier than expected (although still waited for 3 months). The chip shortage led to crazy market that I contacted nearly every dealer in WA and MA to find one who is willing to accept my invoice price offer. This is my first car and I am glad to find out this Subaru Forester is much capable in all road conditions. After 3 months since I joined Philips, I finally go to the office. COVID restrictions are still there (reservation required and limit of 25% capacity), and nearly no one is in the office yet. But it is so good to have an alternative place for work (tired of being at home for work). Luckily the office is brand new, easy to commute and with good views. Winter is cold and dry, but on sunny days (more often than Seattle), I am exploring this new city (North bridge, Freedom trail, MIT, ski resorts in northeast).

Storms are more astonishing than expected. Glad that I have a garage to park my car. However, the heavy snow does not translate to good ski conditions. Temperatures go up and down, meaning the surface soon becomes icy and hard to ski. But it is always good to meet old and new friends in Boston (sometimes through skiing). As there are not many things to do outdoor in cold winters.

Soon I realize the only way to ensure quality ski is to fly out. After watching weather forecast for months (dry everywhere this year), finally I made it to Colorado mountains and enjoyed at least two days of powder in mid-March. Somehow, I feel less guilty using paid time off with a fixed quota than the previous “flexible vacation” before graduation. Also in March during a trip to the nearby Salem “Witch” town, I met with buddies who later on travel with me a lot and have fun for the rest of the year.

Spring is coming in April. It is so pleasant to run on the trail along the Charles River without snow covering. With flowers blooming and grass turning green, Boston gives a completely different look to me. I bought a new phone with much better cameras, which adds the beaty of this city even more. COVID is gradually being forgotten and the business returns to normal. As a consequence, seems there is a job shortage in any companies and many of my colleagues found better positions and left.

Warmer weather encourages me to explore more. With new or old friends, we visited more colleges, good restaurants, nice towns, museums, a badminton court, etc. Also I have a new paddleboard to explore the waterways in Boston. During the Memorial day holidays, we went to Miami and key west, popular destinations on the east coast but I have never visited. Allegators there seem friendly, but not the mosquitos.

The long-delayed graduation ceremony finally held in person this year. I along with three years of graduates came back to the campus for this grand event. It is so great to meet my advisors and old friends after half of year. And finally my student life ended. After back to work, I notice more colleagues are coming back to office and more in-person happy-hour drinks without masks after work. Unfortunately, I got COVID in one of the events. Interestingly, no other people I had contact with were infected, which makes me wonder how many people in the US have been infected without notice.

I am having weaker symptoms than the side effect after the booster shot half a year ago. Coughing lasted more than a week, but overall I was fine. Interestingly, till three weeks after infection I was still positive by PCR tests, which means a longer period of quarantine. Living alone without contacts in person is not fun. During weekends I went to several trails and parks to enjoy sunshine in summer. Like I felt in 2018 when I first visited Boston, Boston is really a nice place to live in summer. Weirdly, maybe it is the side effect of getting COVID, I no longer felt hot in summer.

I found a music practicing room in Boston, and after 4 years play saxophone again. Gladly I still remember how to play. Since then, I practice there every Friday evening. No cherry picking this year (seems no cherries near Boston), but I went to a blueberry farm and harvested some high-quality blueberries. I went to New York for a weekend. Really some new changes in recent years since my last visit in 2018. New attractions are added to the city like the Vessel, High Line, Little Island. Subway system seems better? I also went hiking to the highest mountain in northeast (Mt Washington). The trail is badly maintained (almost dangerous in some part) but the view is worth the hike (maybe next time take the train). Meanwhile, I can feel the inflation everywhere. Filling the tank costs more than $70, bottle water increases 50% in price, eggs become expensive and hard to buy. Sadly, no increase in salary and our company’s stock plunged 80% this year due to the safety recall and supply-clain issues.

During labor’s day holiday, we went to Virginia, the starting point of America’s culture. Williamsburg is an interesting town to experience the life in early colonial days. Norfolk is the Navy’s main harbor on the east coast. Also the Wisconsin battleship, now a museum is there for visit (similar to the aircraft carriers in San Diego and New York). During these months, illegal immigrants are sent to large cities and politician’s vacation destinations to show dissents from the Republican border states. Martha’s vineyard in MA is one of those destinations, which I am interested to explore. Summer fun is always short. Autumn is coming in October with leaves turning red. In northeast, leaf watching is a big event, causing traffic jams in popular destinations. We went to the only National Park in northeast (Arcadia) and found many amazing views despite the long driving. We also had a freezingly cold dinner with authentic Boston lobster from Maine.

Interestingly, more people in our company are leaving. About one year since I join, all my five layers of managers left or switched roles. Hope we can get out of trouble with the new leadership soon. In the later half of November, I spent 11 days traveling to Puerto Rico (again) and US virgin island. It is a stupid rule to drive on the left in the US territory, and not surprisingly, we got hit by passing vehicle due to mis-calculation of passable distance. But the beautiful beaches and underwater scenery are beyond expectations. Natural environment is well preserved especially in St John Island where not many options for lodging, as a result, few tourists are willing to come due to many troubles. Coral reefs here are diversified and healthy. It is easy to spot sea turtles peacefully eating sea grass.

December is also short. After Christmas potluck and parties, work comes to a pause. Meanwhile I am busy finalizing I140 and begging unknown professors to write recommendation letters to support my application. Finally the hundreds of pages of documents become the summary of all my research. When people in US are forgetting about COVID, the Chinese government finally looses control on COVID restrictions partly due to the pressure from the people, but seems neither the government nor the people are adequately prepared for this delayed disaster. Hospitals are soon packed and it quickly becomes hard to find someone who is still negative just after several weeks. I spent the last week of 2022 in Salt Lake City for skiing (only a handful of passengers are still wearing masks now). Some days were pretty good in snow conditions, but the miserable 3-hour snow digging to escape the stupid rear-drive Ford Explorer was really the worst of all.

Year Remark

This is the first year I live on the east coast with a lot to explore, new cities, new environments, new friends, new excitements and funs etc. Impact from COVID is fading, although I got positive in the middle of the year (mild symptom, just consider it as another booster). From remote working to optional hybrid working to finally compulsory 3 day a week on-site working, many industries are following this return-to-normal path but give more flexibility. I am getting on the track for my first job. In addition to taking more responsibilities for the projects, I have mentored a summer intern and served as the buddy for a new hire, although not so lucky for publications.

This year is also chaotic in some aspects. The economic costs from the COVID relief policies are revealing. Staggering CPIs are hard to control, even the interest rates are already quite high. The consequences are phenomenal, stock markets had the worst performance since 2008, many companies are laying off, housing market changed from extreme hot to extreme cold in one year, costs of living are raising more rapidly than salaries, etc. Maybe the worst economic crisis hasn’t arrived yet. Perhaps there are more pains to take in the near future.

Glad that I am adjusting to a new pattern of life with work life balance. Gym Monday/Tuesday night, music practicing Friday night and movie Saturday night, plus two running sessions every week when possible.

With a Mi body composition scale, I am closely monitoring body weight and body fat this year. Interestingly each time I went back from a trip, there is a drop of weight and fat. Seems I found a good way to lose weight.

New Year Wishes

COVID comes to an end (finally co-exists with human unsurprisingly, but hope no more casualties and impacts on life).

Keep learning new things.

Meet new and old friends.