Author: Chris Bae, Email: baeh5@unlv.nevada.edu
Date Last Modified: 10/21/2024

I visited the Art District located north of Las Vegas because I had heard there were many vintage clothing stores, and there happened to be a flea market going on as well. There was so much to see, and I enjoyed browsing through the beautiful clothes. It felt different from the area near my school, where most shops are in plazas that are hard to access without a car. The downtown area reminded me of Los Angeles. I was happy to discover such a charming part of the city unexpectedly, and I want to visit again.

On the way to the Art District, I met a taxi driver who was really interested in mechanical engineering. He told me he’s currently working on a remotely operated submarine but is trying to figure out how to handle communication underwater. He even asked for my opinion on the problem. It was clear he genuinely loved what he was doing, and I really respected how deeply he was thinking about his project. Talking with him made me realize that if I develop a similar passion for my own work, I could probably achieve much better results.

This week, I noticed how much people in Las Vegas depend on cars, especially around my school. Most stores are in plazas that are hard to visit without a car. It showed me that American cities, especially suburban areas, are built in a way that makes driving very important for everyday life. This is different from places where you can walk or use public transportation more easily.

Lately, I’ve been having dreams where I speak in English, especially when I’m talking to friends I made in the U.S. in those dreams. I think this shows that I’m getting more comfortable with English. I never had dreams in English before, but being in an environment where I use English all day seems to be helping me get used to it without even realizing it.

I’ve been revising the design for a motor linear test bench multiple times, and through this process, I realized how many details need to be considered when turning a design into reality. Things like bolt diameters and bolting locations, which I didn’t think about before, needed a lot of adjustments. I’ve also started studying machine learning, but I find it quite difficult so far, and I think I’ll need to put in a lot more effort to understand it better.