157 degrees of latitude in 64 days
So on Monday I leave for Svalbard, which is a territory of Norway way up in the Arctic--78 degrees North. I'm doing some sea ice optics research with a colleague of mine, who invited me along after I borrowed some artificial sea ice from her cold lab. It's going to be awesome.
What's the appropriate response when someone says to you, "You're so lucky?" I don't mind them saying it; it's true, I am absurdly fortunate to get opportunities like this, and I would probably say the same thing if our positions were reversed. I usually just say "Yes, I really am," with an attempt to convey my gratitude toward the Universe for throwing these things my way. Or occasionally I'll say "Yes, I am, and also here's a way you could try for [opportunity X] as well, in case you aren't familiar with it" and then point out a way they might be able to do it. E.g., a grad student friend expressed some envy that I got to go to Svalbard, and I told him about the summer school in Longyearbyen that (I hear) is actively recruiting UW students.
I've always felt sort of undeservedly fortunate in all kinds of ways and never been quite sure how to deal with it. Try to express proper gratitude for it all, I guess, and share what I can.
What's the appropriate response when someone says to you, "You're so lucky?" I don't mind them saying it; it's true, I am absurdly fortunate to get opportunities like this, and I would probably say the same thing if our positions were reversed. I usually just say "Yes, I really am," with an attempt to convey my gratitude toward the Universe for throwing these things my way. Or occasionally I'll say "Yes, I am, and also here's a way you could try for [opportunity X] as well, in case you aren't familiar with it" and then point out a way they might be able to do it. E.g., a grad student friend expressed some envy that I got to go to Svalbard, and I told him about the summer school in Longyearbyen that (I hear) is actively recruiting UW students.
I've always felt sort of undeservedly fortunate in all kinds of ways and never been quite sure how to deal with it. Try to express proper gratitude for it all, I guess, and share what I can.