Recently, I’ve encountered several challenges while conducting material-related experiments. At the same time, I’ve been learning machine learning and trying to apply it to my project which is something I hadn’t initially planned for. This made me think about what it truly means for a project to be interdisciplinary and why we feel the need to categorize everything in our lives.

Last night, I received a Valentine-themed video in Arabic from a colleague. Although I couldn’t understand the lyrics, I caught the words “إيميلي إيميلي” at the end, which means “Emily, Emily.” I was deeply moved, not just by the song but by the warmth of having such a thoughtful colleague and friend. However, this friend has been separated from his wife for nearly two years due to circumstances beyond their control. The thought of their situation brought tears to my eyes as I drifted off to sleep. 😢

Public transportation in China is incredibly affordable. For instance, taking the subway in Shanghai typically costs only 4 to 6 RMB (approximately €0.5 to €0.8). That’s pocket change! 🤑 As someone used to this cost-efficiency, traveling in Belgium, or any other European country, feels like public transport is reaching directly into my wallet! 😂💸

This month, I attended the 21st International Conference on Embedded Wireless Systems and Networks (EWSN'24) in Abu Dhabi. It was quite an eventful experience for several reasons: