4 Oct 2017 

This visit to the University of Lleida was to coordinate with my advisor regarding the schedule and plans for my PhD program.

I took the Renfe high-speed train from Barcelona station to Lleida and arrived at Lleida Pirineus Railway Station.

Since the meeting was scheduled for the next morning, I headed to my hotel first. It was the Nastasi Hotel, located right in front of the ETSEA (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària) building. The price was affordable, and the facilities were great.

The next day, I visited ETSEA (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària) for the meeting. You could say that all the agriculture-related fields at the University of Lleida are gathered here.

The building looked old, but there was something about it that felt like a heavy sense of tradition, which I personally really liked about the school. The meeting went well, and I had the opportunity to meet the PhD students I would be working with and chat with them.

After the meeting, I returned to Lleida Railway Station (Lleida Pirineus Railway Station). Even though it was October, the scorching sun, which felt more like summer, was really impressive.

Feeling hungry, I had a sandwich at the restaurant inside the station before getting back on the Renfe train.

P.S. A month after this meeting, the PhD research funding was finally approved, and I started my PhD program at the University of Lleida on February 1, 2018.

22 Jan 2018 

Today, I had my first day at the University of Lleida’s Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària. The morning of my first day in the new PhD program is very refreshing.

ETSEA (Escola Tècnica Superior d’Enginyeria Agrària) is located just 20 minutes from my home. I’ve always felt that agricultural colleges are truly wonderful places. Since my undergraduate years, I’ve always taken pride in studying agriculture, and that pride only seems to grow over time.

This is the school building where I will be working. Although it’s still January, it already feels like spring in Spain. As the weather gets warmer, the crops will likely grow more vigorously. From that point on, there will probably be a lot of work to do in the fields.

“Crop physiology research is always enjoyable.”

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