Okay so in a sudden fit of philanthropy, instead of just going to the SD science fair tomorrow I answered one of the desperate pleas for volunteers (the fact that I'm in BMS means that I get a LOT of those emails from the bio booths) and will be working somewhere for at least an hour tomorrow. Shouldn't be too bad, since I've been doing two hours shifts for both FFO and UCD Arboretum during the UCD picnic day for the past two years (and the Arboretum is REALLY popular. I learned to bring a bottle of water with me because I just end up talking that much). In any case, despite of the presentation on Monday (I'm going first this quarter, reverse alphabetical order is such fun), I intend to enjoy myself on Saturday.
Which reminds me to mention that I actually got a letter (well, it's a form letter, but whatever) back from the local animal shelter! After a three month wait. (Clearly expediency is not a concern here.) I've a orientation next weekend and, because I'll be working with either rabbits or cats (or both, they're not very clear on details) and apparently most people prefer to work with dogs so there's a shortage of people for the other animals, I'll get to set my own schedule, which will be awesome. (Because I like having my own schedule for practically everything.) I will therefore have something to do on weekends that will not be directly related to the academia. I wonder what orientation will be like.
Got email back on the May 13th department retreat also (everyone seems to be going -- all of our classes canceled lectures on that day), in which we're told to pick roommates for our stay at Arrowhead. (I keep typing -lake at the end. My brain defaults there now.) This may or may not be a problem, since given my previous experiences at any given social event I tend to end up in bed at least two hours before everyone else. Therefore if I'm lucky I'll be too deeply asleep to notice what's going on two hours in. Well, here's to hoping.
New lab tally so far:
-1 inability to have a conversation with labmate (yesterday's conversation involved hair styling, which apparently can cost up to 300 dollars, and I had nothing to contribute to the discussion)
+1 really good working environment (there's a window! And light!)
+1 really educational lab meetings, the PI is a GREAT teacher (I swear I learned more yesterday than in six weeks of my previous rotation)
+1 PI is a visual learner who likes diagrams(we ended up arguing over targeting vectors in front of a whiteboard using markers), which makes communicating ideas across so much easier. I'm thankful
? I felt smart after the discussion with the PI and the grad student (I'm trying to think of a nicer way to say "ditzy") (in reality she isn't that bad; it's just my standards have gotten higher since fall quarter). If I'm feeling smart, I'm probably not learning that much. On the other hand, constantly feeling stupid also gets old.
-1 the people I'm working with are NEVER HERE. I'm pretty much left on my own to figure out where everything is. There is not much communication between lab members, for such a small lab. Or maybe it's just me. (Actually it probably is just me.)
? I get to go home fairly early each day and don't have to come in on weekends, which is nice. On the other hand the lab pace is slow and it'll probably take waaaay longer for finish a degree here.
(Aaaah the scores are always so close)
I hear neurophysiology is painful. Anna, consider yourself warned for your future endeavors.
1 comment:
At least there is a lake at Arrowhead *g*. Maybe Mike will calm down a bit after you get to see it.
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