You are currently browsing the daily archive for June 20th, 2008.
With Mike visiting, I am really noticing how my approach to research has changed. Even though part of it is that we’re working on slightly different things, in the short time I have been here, I have taken charge of my research. I ask him what lines he thinks would be best to work on, based on the overall project and what we’re looking to find/publish. But after, I know what assays I want to do, and how to do them – and if I don’t, I ask one of the lab members here.
In fact, by asking Anna & Patricia how they ran analysis on two different pathogen assays, I completely rearrange my samples so that I would have enough of each line to get a good amount of data, have enough plants to take samples on and run 2 different assays. On one group of lines and then a division of two other groups of lines for another set of assays. And then I did it, just did it – didn’t have someone checkover my work. Taking control of my research like that felt great.
Google Calendar has also saved my life – and focused it. I’m definitely going to do this on my own work in the lab, because it forces me to do more, and really plan stuff out so that it not only occurs when it has to, but occurs more efficiently, and you know, actually occurs. :-)
It’s funny, but I have yet to feel homesick, and I’ve been here a month – a third of my stay in Europe- which is weird to think about. Life is not quite what it is at home – in large part even though I live in a guest house and share a bathroom, it’s like living on my own. It’s nice, but at the same time, I’ll be happy to have my roommates come fall.
The weather is also a great (in magnitude and attitude) from Tucson. The temperatures have ranged from a UA winter in the high 50s, lows 70s (17-22) and a warm high 70s, low 80s (low 30s). And rain! Sometimes in the morning, sometimes at night. Sometimes with clouds all day, and sometimes out of nowhere. Pouring, drizzling. Hours, minutes. But I will still miss the monsoons, and the smell that we have when it rains there…. hopefully there will be some of the monsoon left for me when I get back.
Everything going so well here is in great part due to the people I work with, and the regulars in the Guest house where I live in are great. So far I’ve had an amazing time partying, bar hopping, watching the EuroCup, eating, talking about serious things and cartoons we used to watch, etc. With the Eurocup I’ve pretty much been going out every other night. It has also helped that Germans are a more friendly people than I imagined – and even heard from other Germans. They’re very helpful and kind, not to mention incredibly fun and funny.
