SUMMER JOURNEY USA June 25 September 2, 2002

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SUMMER JOURNEY USA June 25 September 2, 2002

• By Wen-Chung Chiang

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• Dear friends,
  December, 2002
• Sorry for this annual "form letter" again. But
  it's a greeting from my heart to say "MERRY
  CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR" to you, and also a
  "short" note on what happened to me and Chia-Wei
  in the past year.
• Many of you might have wondered how I spent my
  summer break. I am sorry for not being able to
  write a report on that in time as I have done in
  the past. Well, I visited Michigan State
  University for seven weeks in July and August,
  participating in research in the old Physics
  group where I had been a postdoc during 95-97.
  The visit was quite successful in terms of
  output. My former advisors and co-workers were
  all very nice and helpful to me. It also brought
  me back to the old graduate student lifestyle --
  long hours in laboratory. In order to fight for
  equipment time, I sometimes had to wake up at 2
  AM to perform the measurements. It's kind of fun
  though. During the period, I also paid visits to
  several friends in the mid-Michigan and Detroit
  area whom I hadn't seen for many years. I have to
  give special thanks to my friends Chen Mei-Fen
  and Chien Hual-Te in Chicago who loaned me their
  vehicle for two months. They made my trip much
  easier.

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• Chia-Wei joined me from Taipei in August after I
  had done with the MSU work. We spent a few days
  in Bloomington, Indiana before a one week
  vacation in Colorado. I'll make that part
  separate below so you can skip it if you are not
  interested.
• Things are pretty much the same during the
  regular semester time. Chia-Wei made a brilliant
  recital in Taipei in October. Her performance
  kept improving with time. Both of us are getting
  busier as the finals are approaching. Thus we are
  much expecting the winter break -- when we'll
  take a two-week trip in Italy (Rome, Florence,
  Venice, and one night with a concert in
  Amsterdam). By the way, I am learning Italian
  now!
• Hope your life in the past year is fruitful, and
  is getting even better in 2003. Again, my best
  wishes for a peaceful and joyful holiday season!!
  Tell me something about you if you have time.
• Sincerely yours,
• Wen-Chung

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Chicago is my favorite city in the US, and this
time I chose to land in Chicago again. Top
Orchestra Hall of Chicago. I had spent numerous
evenings in the audience, enjoying great
performances during my 1987-1997 residency in the
States. Right Chicago River and the magnificent
Michigan Avenue
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Red Cedar River (Above) Beaumont Tower (Right),
Michigan State University, East Lansing
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I worked in the physics department of MSU for
seven weeks. These guys have been helpful to my
work. Top Clark Ritz, an REU (Research
Experiences for Undergraduate) student working
with me in summer. Right Dr. Reza Loloee, the
physics instrument specialist.
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A gorgeous tree on Harrison Road, East Lansing
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Law Quadrangle, University of Michigan, Ann
Arbor. Ann Arbor is about one hour drive from
East Lansing. The campus of UM is absolutely
charming, and Law Quadrangle is the most renowned
and attractive place on campus.
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Reading Room of Legal Research Building,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The reading
room is the jewel of the building. Does it remind
you of the Hogwarts Wizard School in the Harry
Potter movie?
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Law Library, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Light rebounds between the limestone panel and
the reflective glass.
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Meijer Garden, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Meijer
Garden is a huge botanical and sculptural garden
in Grand Rapids, about 50-minute drive west of
East Lansing. My friend Steve Steenwyk who lives
in Grand Rapids took me there for a visit.
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Post-MSU Bloomington, Indiana

• Going back to Bloomington is always a great
  pleasure, a retreat for my spirit in a very
  special way. Now I've been back to Bloomington
  three times since 1997, with stays of 3 days to
  two weeks. Friends often questioned what to do
  for days in such a small town. Truth was, every
  time when we left the place, we felt short of
  time. This past return was the only time in
  summer of the three visits. Things were much more
  lively in summer and walking on campus was no
  longer a tolerance in terms of weather. I took a
  walk in the woods behind Swain Hall where I used
  to go for relax between laboratory hours. Believe
  it or not, I actually squatted myself to touch
  the ground to be convinced that I was really
  there. Both Chia-wei and I are still lucky to
  have friends in Bloomington. My Ph.D. advisor had
  just been promoted to the full professorship.
  Best of all, his first daughter was born in
  January. He was in a good mood when I visited. We
  enjoyed a great get-together. I even joined once
  in his group meeting, talking about collaboration
  plans. Chia-Wei's piano teacher had retired from
  the music school for several years, but he lives
  in Bloomington still. We're greeted with hugs
  everytime we saw him. But there're sad things
  too. A few distinguished musicians of IU music
  school passed away in the last couple years.
  Among them, Mr. Franco Gulli, was dearest to us.

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In memory of violinist Franco Gulli (1926 2001)
Mr. Gulli had brought to us so many beautiful
memories with his music, and with his warm
personality. This page is devoted to him to mourn
the great loss of his pass away in November,
2001. Top Mr. Gulli and me in his studio (1999).
U-right Mr. Gullis signature on his CD cover.
L-right Mr. Gullis Christmas card, dated less
than a year before his death.
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IU AuditoriumThe auditorium had been through
major renovation in the past few years. Its all
completed now.
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Library (above) Lilly Library (right)
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The Music School (above) a nearby building
(right)
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The IU logo on the wall of Law School (right)
The graveyard of Beck Chapel (above)
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Monroe County Courthouse (right) Kirkwood
Avenue (above)
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Woodburn Hall (above) Yellowwood State Forest
(right)
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POST-MSU Colorado I

• The three day visit of Bloomington was followed
  by a few days in Chicago with friends, a week in
  the state of Colorado, and two days in San
  Francisco. Driving in Colorado is kind of
  dangerous because the landscape is so beautiful
  that you can't help being distracted while the
  car is moving ahead. The Rocky Mountain National
  Park is only two hour drive from Denver (where we
  landed), forty minutes away from Boulder, where
  the beautiful Colorado University is located, and
  where we were accommodated for two nights. The
  Trail Ridge Road took us into the heart of the
  National Park, traversing a ridge above 12,000 ft
  (3,600 m) in just 10 miles. In summer, tiny
  tundra flowers were seen everywhere in the wide
  open Alpine country, with sweeping vistas of
  towering summits in the background.

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Rocky Mountain National Park
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Rocky Mountain National Park tiny tundra
flowers were seen everywhere in the wide open
Alpine country, with sweeping vistas of towering
summits in the background.
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Rocky Mountain National ParkThe Trail Ridge Road
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Rocky Mountain National Park
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Landscape of Colorado
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A beaver dam in Colorado
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POST-MSU Colorado II

• Masked in shadows, the 2,100-foot-deep Black
  Canyon of the Gunnison is a wild, awesome place.
  Established in 1999, this national park is the
  newest in the States. The park was so quiet on
  the day of our visit that there's hardly any
  visitor except us (even the park ranger station
  was closed). Sheer, steep cliffs challenge any
  hiker even a brief stand at the rim edge left a
  sense of uneasiness.

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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
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Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
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POST-MSU Colorado III

• The scenery of Colorado is also diversified. The
  west part of Colorado exhibits bold, big, and
  brilliantly colored plateau-canyon-mesa type
  geology typical of the American West. Colorado
  National Monument preserves one of the grand
  landscapes of such kind. The Rim Rock Drive in
  the park offers miles of breathtaking views. This
  canyonland with numerous rock formations is a
  delight for the eyes and a stir for the
  imagination.

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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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Colorado National Monument
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• APPENDIX 2002 summer schedule

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