17th February 2006 - Day 123

I passed my mündliche Prüfung in Stastistische Methoden in Verfahrenstechnik.

Basically, it was really off standards compared to the exams other students are subjected to. I spent my time on mastering the derivations for the 3 chapters which will probably come out and understanding all the trivial stuffs related.

During the exam, the professor asked me to come up with the basic equation for the Normalverteilung, which was unfortunately not in any of the 3 chapters. No big surprise that I could not answer.

The professor proceeded to tell me the answer. Then he asked me something which I read up on Konfidenzintervalle, and I scribbled furiously on a piece of paper while trying to articulate what I was doing.

He asked me another question which I had keine Ahnung.

Sensing that the student had spotted questions for the exams, he said he would like to know more about the second part of Konfidenzintervalle.

This, I answered with ease. Time passes slowly when you're stuck not knowing what to do. But 30 minutes was already up.

I know I'll definitely pass. I had expected that there would be questions on Fehler 1. und 2. Art and Regression. But it was not asked since I had already had problems explaining basic terms and equations.

I was more than zufrieden with the results, though I think I do not deserve it with the amount of basic principles which I did not know.

The professor justified that as there were some points which I was not clear about (actually, I think he meant a lot of points), and that there is inevitably Spracheschwierigkeiten, it was the grade he decided upon together with the Beisitzer.

The Beisitzer said this module is not some Mickey Mouse stuff, not forgetting about the deciphering of the notes. You know, the usual stuffs you'll tell Austauschstudent to encourage them.

Anyway, another exam is over. I do think I've learnt a lot over the past 2 weeks going through the notes over and over again to get the meaning in. Reading a Statistik book in German is not so much of a problem for me now.

As I was walking from the Mensa to the Straßenbahnhaltestelle, there was a young lady on her bicycle coming in my direction. She looked at me, and I briefly glanced at her. A short while after she passed by me, I heard a crash.

She rode into some bushes. I was quite amused. So were the other 2 old ladies nearby.

The hazards of riding bicycles without keeping your eyes on where you're going.

Since it'll be another 5 days or so before my next exam, I went to town just to walk around. It was a pleasant stroll down the familiar streets. I wonder why, but the weather today was exceptionally warm. I think I can leave my coat at the hostel soon.

Cleaning up the room was the next thing to do. The last time I cleared it, it was on the eve of Chinese New Year.

Had some in-room entertainment after dinner. I watched Big Fish and enjoyed it. Facts can sometimes be too far fetched to be believed.

So, some well deserved rest.