I'll Start Blogging More Often....I promise

Since my last post, more than two weeks ago, it seems I haven't caught on about how to be a blogger. I was traveling without internet (a reasonable excuse), but that was only for a week. I'll try to post more regular blogs.

What I've been doing:
1. research (sort of)
2. Italy
3. France



1. Research: I'm still spending days in lab on the internet: blogging, looking at possible weekend destinations, and looking at grad schools. It's a combination of guilt and frustration. Guilt because I'm getting money for being here, doing 'reserach'. Frustration because it's not my fault. My assigned mentor has been 'under-loading' me, which was nice for the first week when I had to move in; otherwise, it's boring. I feel obligated to stay in lab during work hours, but am doing nothing while it's soooooo beautiful outside. I've read the literature and learned the protocols but am doing nothing. Supposedly the latest hold-up is waiting for magnetic beads to isolate dendritic cells. Not happy in this area. But I'd rather have it be research than my living situation, I guess.

2. Italy! I spent a week with my mother and sister exploring Italy. What seems to the most characteristic feature of Italy is the architecture and many statues. 2 days in Rome, 3 days in Tuscany. Naturally, Rome was more high energy 'let's see all the sites', while Tuscany was a more relaxed 'enjoy the scenery' region. I don't need to go back to Rome--I've seen the sites-- but I'd always enjoy going back to Tuscany. The farmhouse we stayed at in Tuscany (Casalore de Libbiano, fantastic) served amazing multi-course dinners, which took away the stress from deciding from a menu.
I also had an unexpected and expensive overnight in Milano, due to my train being an hour late. I therefore have no remaining faith in TreinItalia.

3. This past weekend, I returned to l'Étrat France, where I lived six years ago. It was such a nostalgic visit! Not much had changed as far as buildings, which was nice. We stayed with our host/sister French family. A relaxing weekend with friends. One of the highlights was watching at Laurence scold the cat held at the neck by JF for bringing a dead squirrel into the house.


My current plans/ambitions are to spend an afternoon walking the Lac Léman shoreline (this afternoon), go to the Lausanne museums Saturday (free!), go to Chateau Chillon by boat Sunday, attend Festivale de la Cité next week. After that, I don't want to spend another weekend in Lausanne--I'm going to explore Swizerland!

More blogs, more often....I promise!