Kind of shoddy and abbreviated with these things. I think messaging to get to know each other better and ultimately meeting up is the only way to make new friends and something more, but here it goes:

I grew up in another bay area, what I like to call the bay area of the east coast along the Chesapeake Bay in the Baltimore suburbs. Growing up in the "America in Miniature" state definitely had its perks: 4 full seasons, mountains to the west, beaches and ocean to the east, vibrant cities in between, and family.

However, I decided it was time for a fresh start and change of scenery after college, so I accepted the offer from Berkeley and
moved out to the bay area to follow in the footsteps of Enrico Fermi and J. Robert Oppenheimer and become a nuclear scientist. I think I'm finally starting to feel at home here after 1.5 years, but I could use someone caring, intelligent, down-to-earth, yet fun-seeking with a "wild side" that would be up for going on spontaneous trips to spend my time exploring the bay area with.

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Just in case you're a sports fanatic like I am:

I've played baseball basically ever since I could walk. My grandfather would pitch be balls in his backyard a few times a week and my dad would have me pitch to him so I ended up playing P and 1B batting 3rd to 5th most of the time. I'm a fan of the hometown Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles. I hate the New York Yankees, LA Angels, and Philadelphia Phillies!

As far as football goes I root for the Baltimore Ravens. I used to go to their training camp each summer and get a few signatures. I hate the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and New York Giants!

But the most exciting sport to watch live is definitely ice hockey! Fans are so passionate! There's something special about having a few cold brews at the rink and getting in touch with my Canadian roots! (My great-grandfather grew up in Toronto.) The Washington Capitals and San Jose Sharks are my teams (hopefully the Maple Leafs get better too!) I despise the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

I'm a second year grad student in the nuclear engineering PhD program at Cal Berkeley. My research is focused on developing standards for small scale mechanical testing of radioactive materials. Basically, I make lots of micro-sized metal pillars, crush them, and analyze how they break. It's pretty fun!

I also just published a paper on the identification of U-238, Th-232, and Np-237 by gamma ray spectroscopy.

I'd like to eventually work in a national lab like LLNL, industry (maybe down in San Diego), or in Washington D.C. (maybe for the NRC), but I'm not exactly sure yet.

I wouldn't be opposed to traveling around a bit or working somewhere outside of the U.S. for a few years to get the experience, but wherever I ultimately live, it needs to be a few hours drive from the coast because I love the water, beaches, etc.

listening before I speak
noticing small details others might overlook
keeping an open mind/balanced opinion/analyzing both sides of an argument
Giving practical advice
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tennis: I play 2 or 3 times a week at various courts around Berkeley. Not exactly pro status but getting better.

basketball: I have a pretty good mid-range game. My friends nicknamed me "white thunder" in undergrad. haha

bowling: I have a 144 average, but I guarantee you will laugh at the way I bowl.

Settlers of Catan
Scrabble
Scattergories
Rummy
The Card game Pitch

Cooking beer battered catfish, steak fajitas, and rum cake

Homebrewing

Crabbing: Love going out on the Chesapeake Bay on the boat and catching a bushel of fresh MD blue crabs. It's a peaceful oasis out there; I've been doing it for 18 years now.

Fantasy Football
Fantasy Hockey

My smile

My fitted hat collection. I have over 100 hats, and I usually wear one of them. haha

Books: The Old Man and the Sea, The Great Gatsby, The Brothers Karamazov, The Stranger, The Metamorphosis, Lord of the Rings, Dante's Inferno, The Caine Mutiny, Angels and Demons, The Bible (Honestly, I haven't read much outside of scientific papers, textbooks, and sports magazines lately, so suggest a good novel for me to read!)

Movies: Pulp Fiction, Shawshank Redemption, Inception, Cheech and Chong, Anchorman, Fight Club, Good Fellas, Reservoir Dogs, Avengers, Ironman, Kill Bill, Inglorious Bastards, Rocky, Mean Girls, Beverly Hills Cop, Star Wars, Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, The Blind Side, Forrest Gump, The Blues Brothers, Airplane, Lord of the Rings, Rolling Kansas, Batman, Talledega Nights (I enjoy me some Quentin Tarantino from time to time as you can see. ;) )

Shows: Chapelle Show, Family Guy, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, How I Met Your Mother, Baseball Tonight, The Soup, Scrubs, Hockey Night in Canada,

Kids Shows: Kenan and Kel, Hey Arnold, Rocket Power, Doug

Music: I'm a music junkie, and I like a bit of everything. I love to discuss music!!!
For example: The Blues Brothers, BB King, Boston, Ballyhoo!, Blink 182, Walk off the Earth, Sarah Blackwood, 311, Elvis Presley, Hootie and the Blowfish, The Eagles, Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, Rebelution, Rush, Judas Priest, Asher Roth, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Alkaline Trio, Sum 41, Cage the Elephant, Kings of Leon, Dave Matthews, The Police, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cream, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, .38 Special, ZZ Top, Nirvana, Green Day, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Can't Hang, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Chicago, Hall and Oates, Huey Lewis and the News, Wings, The Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Sugar Ray, and literally 100s of others

Food: Steamed Maryland Blue Crabs, Catfish, Cream of Crab and Maryland Crab Soup, Oysters Rockafeller, Kalamari, Sushi, Chicken Parmesean, Ribs, Cheeseboard and Jupiters pizza, Mexican food in the Mission, Philly Cheesesteaks, Bacon, Crepes, Italian, Chinese...There's lots of great food out there!

Friends
Family
Sports
The Beach
The Man Upstairs
Music

what God has in store for me next; my research; planning fun, spontaneous nights, trips to the beach, trips to So Cal, spots to go explore outdoors or in Oakland and SF

playing tennis, shooting billiards at Thalassa, out in SF or Oakland maybe at Beer Rev or The Trappist, throwing a house party once a semester, sometimes just chilling and watching sports or a movie at the house if I'm worn out from the work week.

I watched Laguna Beach, The Hills, and The City pretty much in their entirety quasi ironically.

you're a genuine, fun-loving person and want to know more :)

and/or

you want to go grab a bite to eat or a drink in Berkeley, Oakland, or SF; want to catch an A's, Giants, Raiders, or Sharks game; want to watch a game; want to play some tennis or b-ball; want to go to a cool concert or art show; want to spend a day outdoors/at the beach