1. There are so many rules and ways of doing things that I'm just not used to. I have bad lab habits that are absolutely forbidden in Dr. Kappler's lab. Lab coats can't be worn in certain areas, the right waste containers are hard to keep track of, Dr. Kappler actually checks your lab notebook and makes comments in it, and everything is so sanitary and organized. I'm just not used to any of it, and it's frustrating to be corrected every 2 minutes for doing something wrong again.
2. I've been "practicing" the same experiment for 3 days straight, and I'm still messing it up. It is an anaerobic reaction so if I get the slightest air bubble in the cuvette, I get to start all over again. And that is just one way to mess-up out of many. I'm going on day 4 tomorrow.
I am really afraid that when I get back to America I'm going to mess up driving and walking. I'm getting more used to this left side of the road (and sidewalk) thing everyday.
Sometimes I find myself really hilarious. Picture this: I decided that tonight I would allow myself a Domino's pizza because they have a Tuesday special. The condition was that I would have to walk there (15min max). Anyways, I got my pizza (finally) and I was starving and drooling and I decided that I needed my pizza right then. So I ran home. I probably looked insane. I was running full-speed through the neighborhoods, in the dark, with a pizza box.
Domino's is a little different here. The toppings are weird, a little more elaborate, and they don't have onions at all. Uh, I thought mushroom, onion, sausage pizza was a given for delicious toppings.
Today I saw the entire family are rooster/turkey things hanging out together by my bedroom window.
Today was my first group lab meeting. I found out that I have to present in early July :( oh well. It won't be bad once I understand what I'm doing. Lab meetings are a lot different because there are so many young students, rather than older postdocs and such in the Enemark group meetings. They also have a tradition of bringing chocolates and cookies. I tried these delicious orange cream filled cookies, really good chocolate with hazelnuts, and more pods (cookie/candy thing I mentioned before). This time, the pods were mint (like Andes), and they were soooo yummy. I'm definitely taking several bags back to the US.
You can do it! I know it. Obviously Dr Kappler only believes in the best people which is why you were chosen to go. Keep pushing, you'll make it. Oh, and thanks for the pizza visual. That must have looked very comical.
ReplyDeleteYou should be a writer as well. Papa and I read your blog first thing each morning and just laugh at the funny parts and drool when you speak about the goodies.
ReplyDeleteI know you will get it together in the lab, what a great chance to perfect your skills. Love you Grami
Amanda your creative descriptions are hilarious! thank god you didn't fall down and ruin your pizza!..hehe. Keep your head up, you've only been there 10 days, your work will get easier! xoxo love u
ReplyDeleteEff rules! "Bad lab habits" is just another way of saying "efficient"! B-)
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