Codes

Friend   : So, what’s new?

Me        : Uhm nothing much really, busy with coursework.

Friend   : Like what kind of coursework? Projects?

Me        : Yeah, that, and a research paper/presentation too.

Friend   : What’s your project on?

Me        : Mixing two streams of water of different temperature and flowrates to get an output flow of a given temperature and given volume.

Friend   : Hmm so how are you going to control your system? Is it automated?

Me        : Yeah, we’re required to program an Arduino. I have no clue whatsoever what that is and how to do that and how it works though.

Friend   : AN ARDUINO?!  Sounds like a lot of fun! I can help you with it if you want!

Me        : Uhm yeah sure, but I think I will let someone else in my team to do the programming though, I have no prior knowledge in it at all. 

The above conversation happened while we were doing the dishes during one of our Friday lifegroup sessions. I never thought it would progress any further.

Friend   : So how’s your group’s Arduino-programming coming along?

Me        : Nobody is doing it for now. Nobody cares about it at all, they’re all so chill. Pisses me off at times.

Friend   : Well, why not you take it from them and we can have some fun with it?

Me        : But I know nuts about coding.

Friend   : I say, you go get that board kay? It’s easy stuff, I can have a look at it and play with it.

Me        : I don’t see why you would use ‘play’ to describe this. Sounds more like torture to me.

Friend   : Hey, I’m a nerd, it runs in my blood.

It never ended from then on. I can go on with stories of the unique ways he uses to show care, of how he set his own assignments aside to teach and help me, of how he is trying to get me out of my comfort zone when dealing with people, of how he spent hours explaining to me what seems to be common sense to him, of teaching me how having the humility to learn from others in uni life is crucial, of the difference between seeking help and relying on others. Project-related or not, he has been helping me so much these days I don’t know how to thank him.

Birthday buddy or not, I see so much similarities in us. For instance, how we both used to be so selfish. I guess the process of learning to be selfless is part of the journey in life, and the people around me are teaching me so much on this lesson. I am definitely nowhere close to the finish line, but I do hope I am getting somewhere, or at least, headed in the right direction.