March 27, 2009

last day incident & farm pics!~~

I am back to US, safe but sad as it was expected. The last few days in Argentina were amazing, more food, more time spent with my dear, a lot of progress with research and a not so little incident. What happened was that I mis-calculated my return day so it caused a conflict with my TA duties (I couldn’t teach on Friday) and this made my professor get mad at me, really mad. He not only sent an email telling me that he was very angry with how I managed the thing, he also forwarded the email to the professor who’s in charge of all TA’s which also caused him to send me a formal email warning me that I’ve violated university policy for TA’s and from now on I have to keep clean record, any other incident will make them to take away my founding for next year. Well, you guys can imagine how bad I felt. I am terribly sorry that I didn’t check my schedule better (I was so convinced that I was coming back on Thursday instead of Friday that I told everybody that I’d be back on Thursday). I know that it’s my fault and the professor has all the reason to be mad with me. But still, I’ve never thought that this could get so serious. But what is done is done. I sent email back to both of them to apologize and promise to behave better from now on. I don’t know what else I can do to make thing better. Any advice?
The incident made me feel terrible all Wednesday afternoon. But fortunately Star was with me and we talked a lot. He reminded me that sometimes we just needed to let it go. When things happen, we’d better look for the solution (in this case, have a good attitude to recognize my mistake) instead of regret what is already done. And also take a broad picture, what is this incident in my entire professional life? Nothing at all! I still have the funding, I still get appreciation from my advisors, and so nothing of my original path has changed. Then, why worry so much? This is just a lesson that I have to learn: double check schedule and avoid any conflicts.
I didn’t feel better immediately, but having all these positive thoughts present made the process of letting it go easier and faster. By next day I was already 90% recovered from the “little” incident. Once again, the power of positive thoughts is incredible and positive attitude is The key to face any obstacle in life.
Let me end this post with pics of the day I went to a private farm in Buenos Aires. The farm was from a friend of Star, it was HUGE, like 1000 hectares (2500 acres). They had 300 cows, 50 horses and the rest of it was soy. We spent the afternoon eating ASADO and other yummies, riding horses and just enjoy the wonderful view.
appetizer: cheese + chorizos + toasts
where they cooked the meat
a big salad
desserts: fruit salad + flan + dulce de lecho (typical argentinian sweet milk)
Then, Star's friend showed us the room where they stored all equipment to play polo
he also showed us some moves of polo
ME ready for some riding
Ready
we were a big group.. all families of Jack (Star's friend)
back and happy
I still have pics of some great eats. I'll resume my regular daily posts soon, meanwhile I'll keep posting pics from BA.
I have a long to-do list now... I'd better get moving! Have a great weekend everyone! ^_^

15 comments:

ChocolateCoveredVegan said...

So many great pics! It looks like you're having a great time!

The Purple Carrot said...

Glad you had such a great last few days on your trip ... it must have been so hard to come back!! : ( Espeically to getting "in trouble" about your accidental schedule miscommunication. Buuuuut, stuff like that just happens sometimes, and that's life! Sounds like Star gave you great advice to just let it go. You did all you could do by sincerly apologizing and it will only harm you more to keep holding onto (though I would have felt terrible, too!)

Anyways, those are WONDERFUL pictures, thanks so much for sharing your wonderful trip with us!!! : )

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing the rest of your adventure with us! I'm glad you made it back safely!

The TA stuff will work itself out... I think Star is right!

Krista said...

What a fun time at the farm!!

I think Star gave you some fantastic advice! Mistakes happen and you didn't do this on purpose. Lesson learned, the end. It's great that he was there to talk you through it!

Glad you are back safely! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about the incident with the professor and the TA Schedule. I really don't know what to say, but it does seem a little extreme in how he took it. Don't let it get you down though, what has happened as happened, so stay positive!

Emily said...

Glad your last few days were great!

I'm so sorry about the TA thing. I definitely know how that goes around here and all the pressure about funding and professors who stir themselves silly because they think they own our lives. If I were rich enough, I'd drop funding all-together so they couldn't hold that over me! But I have to live under those restrictions, too, unfortunately. Hang in there!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Yikes so sorry about the incident with the TA stuff - hang in there!!

On a brighter note, so glad that you had a wonderful time!!

Anonymous said...

sounds like you had a great trip!!
i am so sorry about the whole TA issue :\

Pearl said...

Aww coco - what lovely photos - I'm glad you and Star had a wonderful time.

I can only imagine just how much you miss him now, especially after spending so many days with him. When will you two reunite again?

As for the professor - Star is right; you have to let it go. Although I'm sure you already felt guilty for the mistake, the professor's angry e-mail to you most likely didn't help. I know that you e-mailed the professor already, apologizing profusely, and probably are still wondering what you could do. The only thing now is to just let it go - what's happened has happened and you can't go back to Friday and fix it.

If you still feel so guilty, apologize once again face-to-face. Explain that it was an honest mistake and that you will make sure it does not happen again. I'm sure the professor would have calmed down by then and know that you're genuinely sorry and take the TA position very seriously if he can see you in person.

I'm glad you had a safe flight back, Coco! Get some rest :)

Beer Lover said...

The photos makes me feel like going to argentina :)

Becca said...

I'm sorry about the scheduling mishap, I unfortunately don't have any advice. Just hang in there and show 'em what you got!

Meg said...

Looks like you had an amazing time. So sorry about the incident. I kind of had a similar thing happen to me this week. Try to not worry about it.

annie said...

OMG THAT IS RIDICULOUS!! they should look at how well you were doing before and base it on that. i mean if you always called in sick or did a no call no show more than once and you werent a hardworker then the reaction would make sense. but if this is your first time, he went too far! if you're close with the professor i would have a chat with the professor. just to get the miscommunication out of the way. coco you got jipped!

Anonymous said...

Hi Coco!! I'm so sad to hear about that messy situation with the professor, but like Star said, this is one of those "accidents" that happen to EVERYBODY. You can't really change what has already been done, but it's how you make the siatuion BETTER that really counts. You were really great to email your prof to apologize, I'd also go and talk to them in person to let them know how upset you are. They just want to know that you care and that you take your work seriously. Don't worry Coco, we all know you love your work and your research! You jsut have to let them know that too!!! They will soon forget this happened, I promise!!!!

Welcome back to the US girlie!! If you ever need a friend or person to talk to, I'm here in the US TOO!!! :) Always feel free to talk to me!

Wei Tou said...

it's Okay.....at least nothing serious happens, it is just a warning. Let it NOT happen for another time...
remember in the winter, u also messed up the return schedule? I guess you are too obsessed with staying in the paradise:)))))
cheer up!

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