# My first week at AIMS

On Monday, I started with the one-year Master's in Mathematical Science Programme (opens new window) at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) (opens new window) in Muizenberg, Cape Town, South Africa.

I quit my software engineering job to pursue this master's for both personal and professional enrichment purposes. Ever since completing my honour's degree in computer science, I have had the desire to return to academia and in particular, to study more mathematics.

I arrived at Muizenberg on Sunday and started with classes on Monday. It's been a busy week of meeting my class mates and lecturers, going to classes and already writing two tests and completing an assignment.

The master's programme is divided into three semesters. The first semester focusses on "skills courses." Each skills course is three weeks long and we have two skills courses at a time.

This week, we have started with the Python and mathematical problem-solving courses.

The Python course has been trivial for me thanks to my software engineering background. However, our lecturer has sent those of us with Python experience machine learning Jupyter notebooks to work through instead.

In the mathematical problem-solving course, we discussed sets, logic and proofs. The material is similar to what I have encountered in my first year of university. However, my first year was more than 10 years ago. So, I have been reviewing and catching up, while at the same time also trying to advance my knowledge.

True to my nerdy nature, I have been thoroughly enjoying reviewing mathematics. It feels like a validation that I made the correct decision to study mathematics again.

Other than the two courses, I've been spending a lot of time with my class mates. We all live in the same buildings and eat all of our meals together. I also often bump into my class mates elsewhere in Muizenberg when I go for a walk.

We've been spending time in the computer lab working on revision and assignments and getting to know each other during meals and breaks.

Other than the fact that we're all doing this unique and intense programme together, something else that is making my interaction with my class mates extra special is that they're the first group of people that are getting to know me without having first known me as a "woman."

Everyone has been using he/him pronouns for me by default, without my prompting. A handful of people have used she/her, but then immediately corrected themselves. No one has asked me anything about my gender and I haven't brought it up either.

So, I think that means I'm essentially being "stealth." It's a funny experience at times. I accidentally misgendered myself once when I said that I feel like a "grandma" for being older than the other students.

I was also confused for a second when a guy asked me if I thought a group of female students were pretty, because in the past people would never just assume that I was interested in women.

I didn't intend to be stealth, but it is nice not being asked intrusive questions about my gender or being met with reluctance to use my pronouns.

It also helps that people are getting to know me without any preconceived judgements they might have of trans people. I'm sure they will eventually find out that I'm trans, but I'm hoping that by then they would've gotten to know me as an individual instead of through the lens of knowing that I'm trans.

We were told that the AIMS programme is intense and fast-paced. I've gotten a taste for this already this week and I'm sure the rest of the year will be even more so. However, I've also gotten a taste of the joy and satisfaction I experience when I learn mathematics, and of the pleasure of getting to know and collaborate with my class mates. I'm looking forward to the rest of this very special year!