That was a start of my college life. I then developed a habit to come to the exam first in the morning, pass it and then stay there, in front of the doors for the whole day, talking with those who were there preparing, looking through problems, sharing information, making notes. Then, when the last person would come out we all would go for an ice-cream in the park. Power Engineering we studied was a tough industry; most of our people were facing the perspective of working at the power plants. I remember we were eating our ice-cream and prognosticating who would be where in 20 years or so. When it came to me the general thinking was that I would be in some scientific place. But suddenly I said, "I will design the space engines." The group laughed; space designers studied in Moscow, in special institutions and none of us would ever dream of something like that. But In 1995 I remembered that day when I tested a space engine. In another country and using another language but it came to me. The space engine roared for about five seconds but the thrill of it lasted forever.
Thrill is everything for a man. In the dingy chemical lab in Leningrad I did not notice whether it was night or day when the first data was delivered by a precise calorimeter I constructed. Yes, I was ready to kill the numerous co*kroaches by pouring liquid nitrogen on them and jumping around to avoid it myself. Yes, I was ready to eat a pot of rice porridge a day with a piece of bread just to feel that something was happening the way I predicted it would happen. I guess I did not look that good in my chemical suite covered by grease and with my hair full of dust but that was the year I fell in love and married and I'll be damned if that calorimeter did not contribute to my happiness. It was in Leningrad the most beautiful architectural marvel on Earth but I could proudly stay in front of the L'Hermitage and repeat the immortal words of the Russian poet Osssip Mandelshtam:
-The more I looked at you,
O, magnificent Notre- Dame, the more I thought
That I also would create something beautiful from the unkind heaviness..
Equal -to- equal- that's he essence of every skill. You collect those moments whenever you can. They make you a man and build your character. That's the work of a man.
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