and made me wish I had scales back home to do it to my own car.
shameless plug for my car waiting for me stateside; if anyone is interested in what I did to it: Flickr of my e30 BMW
About Me
- Payam
- München, Bayern, Germany
- I love all things motorsports and racing. I have an unhealthy addiction to modifying anything mechanical. Brakes and Suspension are my forte and I love driving fast in slow cars. I am in love with math, physics and knowing how things work. But if there's anything I've learned since being here, it's that experiencing a multitude of other cultures, traveling, and seeing tangible history will enrich ones life in ways no book can offer.
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Today I was reminded about the times i'd do my own alignments. Systematically making small changes, and watching how it affects all other components. Today, I took my time corner balancing a car after coilover install. It was therapeutic
and made me wish I had scales back home to do it to my own car.
shameless plug for my car waiting for me stateside; if anyone is interested in what I did to it: Flickr of my e30 BMW
and made me wish I had scales back home to do it to my own car.
shameless plug for my car waiting for me stateside; if anyone is interested in what I did to it: Flickr of my e30 BMW
Monday, 25 July 2011
Narrowing down choices, searching for a third university
This past weekend was a lot of fun. I went to Stuttgart and explored the city and watched the Solitude Revival - Old Timer Rallye and Bosch Boxburg Classic. I got to see many awesome places in Stuttgart and best of all, many awesome BMW's and other vintage/classic cars.
I've been doing more research on universities. I want to apply to at least three in Germany. I cannot assume that TU-Munich is a gauranteed opportunity. However based on the email response I got from the Office of Mechanical Engineering, the application process is fairly straight forward. I just have to do my best this year and bring up my GPA.
Another university (a Technische Hochschule) I have been looking into deeply is RWTH Aachen which is also VERY well known in research/development. I was looking on topuniversities.com for engineering schools which has a list of the top ~300 schools worldwide.
Technische Universität München is ranked 36th (and is the first entry for German universities)
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen comes in at 47th (second in Germany)
Technische Universität Braunschweig, ranked 190th. (hmm....)
I'm truly excited to get this application process under way. I have to start concentrating on the Stipendium/scholarship/financial aid opportunities, due in the Fall, and slowly collect all I need for these University applications due next Spring. While wrapping the last year of my curriculum up in the States, I want to prepare for the Fundamantals of Engineering exam which would be beneficial if I have to take any entrance exams in Germany strengthen my chances. I have an appointment tomorrow with our department head at BMW to ask his opinion on Grad Schools, and possible future praktikum/Master thesis opportunities with the company, should I find myself back in Germany. I hope it goes well.
I've been doing more research on universities. I want to apply to at least three in Germany. I cannot assume that TU-Munich is a gauranteed opportunity. However based on the email response I got from the Office of Mechanical Engineering, the application process is fairly straight forward. I just have to do my best this year and bring up my GPA.
Another university (a Technische Hochschule) I have been looking into deeply is RWTH Aachen which is also VERY well known in research/development. I was looking on topuniversities.com for engineering schools which has a list of the top ~300 schools worldwide.
Technische Universität München is ranked 36th (and is the first entry for German universities)
Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen comes in at 47th (second in Germany)
Technische Universität Braunschweig, ranked 190th. (hmm....)
I'm truly excited to get this application process under way. I have to start concentrating on the Stipendium/scholarship/financial aid opportunities, due in the Fall, and slowly collect all I need for these University applications due next Spring. While wrapping the last year of my curriculum up in the States, I want to prepare for the Fundamantals of Engineering exam which would be beneficial if I have to take any entrance exams in Germany strengthen my chances. I have an appointment tomorrow with our department head at BMW to ask his opinion on Grad Schools, and possible future praktikum/Master thesis opportunities with the company, should I find myself back in Germany. I hope it goes well.
Friday, 22 July 2011
The real countdown begins...
Monday I was able to single handedly track and obtain the part held at a DHL warehouse not far from München; we've been waiting for this part since early last week. I delivered it as needed and helped out (hands on) with the removal of some parts, and helped with the preperation of the car till late Tuesday. Monday I also had coffee with an important contact and friend of the IEP. He gave me excellent advice regarding application for Masters studies and some people to talk to to gain some insight into their experience. We also talked a lot about travels and how fascinating it is to see actual tangible history; something a lot of the U.S. lacks. He made a couple great recommendations of places to see in Italy. I probably won't have very much Gleitzeit to use for small excursions to other countries, before my time is up. But I will definitely make good on those recommendations when I return to Europe.
Yesterday I discovered something new. Based on personal experience, and having come from the United States, I have to say, it is IMPOSSIBLE to drive a right hand drive vehicle without a big smile on your face. I learned how to drive on a standard over 11 years ago (yup, i'm that old) and while I didn't stall, I got the same sensation of having to concentrate on everything I was doing with regards to shifting. The first time I wanted to shift, my right hand went straight into the door...and immediately remembered the shifter is on the left now. I knew the shift pattern was identical, because the transmission configuration is not dependant on which side the steering wheel is on. But in such a short time, I was not able to break the instinct of wanting to mirror the motion of normal shifting, since using left hand. Either way, I took it easy, and while I had to concentrate on what I was doing, the ear to ear smile on my face made it appear as though I just won the lottery.
Another student collegue and I had an appointement at TU Munich. We asked general questions about the masters program and what would be required for enrollment. We were advised to take it up with the Faculty for Mechanical Engineering to see if our Bachelors is adiquate as prerequisite to Masters Studies. I am also looking at other schools, particularly in Aachen because they have excellent research programs. While it is difficult to say which type of university would be better, I feel based on my past experience I fall more into a practical application of study than a lot of theory. I always worked with my hands, and liked to figure things out on something tangable. It's a lot to take into consideration, and I have been asking anyone and everyone, their opinions on the matter. This is also only possible if I qualify for some financial aid. But it's better to plan 6 months ahead, than to be lost at the starting line.
Everyone is posting about how little time they have left. Because I started my internship a month later, I'm here till September 2. Just DAYS before the new semester starts back at URI. I have mixed emotions about this deadline. It would be nice to go back and see my girlfriend and friends, work on my car, visit family...but I can't even begin to fathom the reverse culture shock. I am so comfortable here in Germany, everything falls into order, everything works that needs to. I am entering one of the hardest semesters in my academic career, taking on more course-credits than I have ever had in one semester. Normally I take summer classes to ease the workload during semesters since I had a daily commute to and from University which takes 3 hours. It's going to be very challenging.
Yesterday I discovered something new. Based on personal experience, and having come from the United States, I have to say, it is IMPOSSIBLE to drive a right hand drive vehicle without a big smile on your face. I learned how to drive on a standard over 11 years ago (yup, i'm that old) and while I didn't stall, I got the same sensation of having to concentrate on everything I was doing with regards to shifting. The first time I wanted to shift, my right hand went straight into the door...and immediately remembered the shifter is on the left now. I knew the shift pattern was identical, because the transmission configuration is not dependant on which side the steering wheel is on. But in such a short time, I was not able to break the instinct of wanting to mirror the motion of normal shifting, since using left hand. Either way, I took it easy, and while I had to concentrate on what I was doing, the ear to ear smile on my face made it appear as though I just won the lottery.
Another student collegue and I had an appointement at TU Munich. We asked general questions about the masters program and what would be required for enrollment. We were advised to take it up with the Faculty for Mechanical Engineering to see if our Bachelors is adiquate as prerequisite to Masters Studies. I am also looking at other schools, particularly in Aachen because they have excellent research programs. While it is difficult to say which type of university would be better, I feel based on my past experience I fall more into a practical application of study than a lot of theory. I always worked with my hands, and liked to figure things out on something tangable. It's a lot to take into consideration, and I have been asking anyone and everyone, their opinions on the matter. This is also only possible if I qualify for some financial aid. But it's better to plan 6 months ahead, than to be lost at the starting line.
Everyone is posting about how little time they have left. Because I started my internship a month later, I'm here till September 2. Just DAYS before the new semester starts back at URI. I have mixed emotions about this deadline. It would be nice to go back and see my girlfriend and friends, work on my car, visit family...but I can't even begin to fathom the reverse culture shock. I am so comfortable here in Germany, everything falls into order, everything works that needs to. I am entering one of the hardest semesters in my academic career, taking on more course-credits than I have ever had in one semester. Normally I take summer classes to ease the workload during semesters since I had a daily commute to and from University which takes 3 hours. It's going to be very challenging.
Monday, 18 July 2011
DTM München 2011
DTM was a lot of fun, they had several one-on-one races with various types of cars, a historic race car demo, stunt motorcycling, drift event, and an F1 demonstration.
e46 BMW with a Toyota Supra motor (Drift Car)
e46 BMW with a Toyota Supra motor (Drift Car)
Saturday, 16 July 2011
Stressig
This week has been unbelievably hectic. It also passed by almost too quickly. There is a lot going on to prepare one of the cars and we have been waiting on a part from England. We were all wondering what happened, and I asked a colleague in England if he had any info. Come to find out, DHL refused delivery because of some complication with the address used. They needed a Lieferschein/new delivery note but we were never made aware. So the part just sits in their warehouse. The complication was that the address listed for FIZ cannot be used for delivery, and the central warehouse ON the FIZ campus......has a different address but is not actually located at said address. Oh dear...
Anyhow at least we know where the part is, and it might be easier to just pick it up as opposed to jumping through hoops to get this delivery note changed.
This weekend is DTM München! I missed out on the discounted tickets for BMW but might go anyway depending. Definitely going to be at the Paddocks. BMW just revealed their new 2012 M3 DTM. It's beautiful.
I just realized that I missed out on one of the IEP Essays. I have to write that quick and see if there's a chance it will still be accepted. The week with Amanda visiting and this busy week, I totally lost track of time. I can't believe I only have 7 weeks left.
Anyhow at least we know where the part is, and it might be easier to just pick it up as opposed to jumping through hoops to get this delivery note changed.
This weekend is DTM München! I missed out on the discounted tickets for BMW but might go anyway depending. Definitely going to be at the Paddocks. BMW just revealed their new 2012 M3 DTM. It's beautiful.
I just realized that I missed out on one of the IEP Essays. I have to write that quick and see if there's a chance it will still be accepted. The week with Amanda visiting and this busy week, I totally lost track of time. I can't believe I only have 7 weeks left.
Tuesday, 12 July 2011
already?
This week flew by fast!
Saturday (July 2nd) a couple friends from Braunschweig came to visit München and we went touristy shopping and hanging out at the Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten. Beer, laughter, good times ensued. Amanda even bought a Dirndl.
Sunday (July 3rd) we went to the Neuburger Schlossfest. Think of a Rennaisance festival, but german, in the middle of a cobblestoned town, and a palace. In any event it was fun seeing everyone in costume, and the food was excellent. There was Käsespätzle (kindof a german mac n' cheese), and Rahmbrot...kinda like a flat bread with melted creamcheese and bacon all over it. It was great.
Monday/Tuesday: Amanda was able to navigate through the Ubahn on her own and saw a lot of sights. We went to Tollwood Festival in the Olympia park and saw many other places around town.
Wednesday: We went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to visit the Zugspitze. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. We had a beer at Germany's highest Biergarten and got a quick bite to eat. I had Spaghetti (though it was fantastic) and she had Käse-Spinat Knödel and it was also delicious. We took the Cog-train (Zahnrad Bahn) up the mountain, followed by a short Cable Car to the summit. But we took the longer Cable Car down towards the Eibsee which was deep blue with a turquoise tint around shallow areas. Excellent view of the mountains. Went back but and prepared for thursday.
Thursday: We took a train to Salzburg and went on the Sound of Music Tour. The tourguide was absolutely hilarious! Unbelievably fun. We saw so many cool places in the Austrian country side, I just wish we had more time to stop and take it all in. But man, I thought Bavaria was gourgous....Austria is amazing in it's own right. My new favorite soft drink is called Almdudler; it's and austrian beverage that tastes like a not so carbonated ginger ale type thing that is a tad bit sweeter. No way to describe it, but it was nice. We ended up back in Salzburg and walked around the city a bit. There was a footpath across a river, and what seemed to be a boat launch area. We walked down it, took our shoes/flip flops off and stood in the crystal blue water. The water was so clear, so clean, so COLD because it was ice melt from the mountains. The water felt quite soft (as in low mineral content) and almost slippery (but not in a contaminated kind of way). They had water fountains of this glacial water in several areas. We filled out water bottles up and it tasted more neutral than any water i've ever had before.
Friday: we just hung around munich, did some shopping and had some good meals. Nice relaxing day.
Saturday: was a sad day, amanda had to fly back to the states . After seeing her off to the airport, I took my camera and some gear over to BMW FIZ and took a 50 minute time lapse. It's my second attempt at a time lapse (the first being Nürburgring, but wasnt really good).
Sunday: I did a lot of nothing. I walked around the city, went to Olympia Park and took yet another time lapse...then headed off for the weekly Sunday German Stammtisch. It started to rain heavily but it was a nice storm. Lots of thunder and lightning. It cooled the air down quite a bit.
Will update with pictures later today...
edit:
Epic beard man
i dont know whats going on here, but i leave it to you to decide
Zugspitze:
Kirche „Maria Heimsuchung"
Amanda looking at the hills
lens envy
Austria:
Maribellaplatz
Schloss Leopoldskron
Sankt Gilgen
Michael Jackson?
Burg Salzburg
Stiftskirche zum Heiligen Michael, Mondsee
Saturday (July 2nd) a couple friends from Braunschweig came to visit München and we went touristy shopping and hanging out at the Chinesischer Turm in the Englischer Garten. Beer, laughter, good times ensued. Amanda even bought a Dirndl.
Sunday (July 3rd) we went to the Neuburger Schlossfest. Think of a Rennaisance festival, but german, in the middle of a cobblestoned town, and a palace. In any event it was fun seeing everyone in costume, and the food was excellent. There was Käsespätzle (kindof a german mac n' cheese), and Rahmbrot...kinda like a flat bread with melted creamcheese and bacon all over it. It was great.
Monday/Tuesday: Amanda was able to navigate through the Ubahn on her own and saw a lot of sights. We went to Tollwood Festival in the Olympia park and saw many other places around town.
Wednesday: We went to Garmisch-Partenkirchen to visit the Zugspitze. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. We had a beer at Germany's highest Biergarten and got a quick bite to eat. I had Spaghetti (though it was fantastic) and she had Käse-Spinat Knödel and it was also delicious. We took the Cog-train (Zahnrad Bahn) up the mountain, followed by a short Cable Car to the summit. But we took the longer Cable Car down towards the Eibsee which was deep blue with a turquoise tint around shallow areas. Excellent view of the mountains. Went back but and prepared for thursday.
Thursday: We took a train to Salzburg and went on the Sound of Music Tour. The tourguide was absolutely hilarious! Unbelievably fun. We saw so many cool places in the Austrian country side, I just wish we had more time to stop and take it all in. But man, I thought Bavaria was gourgous....Austria is amazing in it's own right. My new favorite soft drink is called Almdudler; it's and austrian beverage that tastes like a not so carbonated ginger ale type thing that is a tad bit sweeter. No way to describe it, but it was nice. We ended up back in Salzburg and walked around the city a bit. There was a footpath across a river, and what seemed to be a boat launch area. We walked down it, took our shoes/flip flops off and stood in the crystal blue water. The water was so clear, so clean, so COLD because it was ice melt from the mountains. The water felt quite soft (as in low mineral content) and almost slippery (but not in a contaminated kind of way). They had water fountains of this glacial water in several areas. We filled out water bottles up and it tasted more neutral than any water i've ever had before.
Friday: we just hung around munich, did some shopping and had some good meals. Nice relaxing day.
Saturday: was a sad day, amanda had to fly back to the states . After seeing her off to the airport, I took my camera and some gear over to BMW FIZ and took a 50 minute time lapse. It's my second attempt at a time lapse (the first being Nürburgring, but wasnt really good).
Sunday: I did a lot of nothing. I walked around the city, went to Olympia Park and took yet another time lapse...then headed off for the weekly Sunday German Stammtisch. It started to rain heavily but it was a nice storm. Lots of thunder and lightning. It cooled the air down quite a bit.
Will update with pictures later today...
edit:
Epic beard man
Neuburger Schlossfest
Tollwood festival
Zugspitze:
Kirche „Maria Heimsuchung"
Amanda looking at the hills
lens envy
Austria:
Maribellaplatz
Schloss Leopoldskron
Sankt Gilgen
Michael Jackson?
Burg Salzburg
Stiftskirche zum Heiligen Michael, Mondsee
Saturday, 2 July 2011
work was pretty slow this week. I have been in contact with a couple wheel manufacturers like Rays Engineering/Volk Racing, BBS, and Team Dynamics to find a set of wheels. Rays seems to have a great selection of products that might fit the bill.
Other than that, not much to really report. BMW M3 GT #1 was ripping around by the Mobile Tradition, and it sounded beautiful. Surely celebrating it's pole position victory from Nürburgring.
I visited the research side of BMW ///M today in Garching while carrying out an assignment. The contact there who I had to speak with was very very friendly and it was amazing to see the garage with so many beautiful ///M cars. When i retire, I will buy a 1-series M.
thats about it!
My girlfriend is coming today to visit for a week! I am excited to show her this beautiful city during the summer season. I have to work Monday and Tuesday,and my supervisor was nice to let me take wednesday through friday off. I am not sure what we will do as i'm a bit strapped on cash, but day trips here and there might fit the bill. Or just relax in the city as Amanda's been under some pressure lately. either way, it's going to be great spending time with her with so many festivities that go on in München on a weekly basis. There's the open air theater at the olympic park, concert at BMW Museum, and more.
__________________
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)