DAY 666

June 29

1) Today we've been ever so busy in the labs. It's the first time I've gone for lunch and dinner with my new lab friends (in the biology lab), and it is a great opportunity to get to know everyone better. One thing I really appreciate is how patient everyone is with me, especially when trying to explain difficult scientific concepts. Even if it were in English it would still take me time to digest, yet they will search all available resources (i.e. their translation app) to translate the terms from Mandarin.

2) After getting to know everyone better, I'm surprised to learn that many of them are not just postgraduate students - they are actually working professionals. Doctors in fact! One of them has been working for 10 years while the other a staggering 15! Personally, after a decade of working I would probably not go for pursuing higher education, rather I would focus on improving my career prospects in whatever I'm doing. Perhaps this is what they are doing; I've got to ask them soon! Everyone has a different reason for joining the lab, and yet we are all here doing pretty much the same thing haha.

3) One thing that has also caught my attention is that everyone specialises at what they do. They may need to know how to manipulate different machines and use different analytical techniques, but there is a set number of those and once they perfect them then it is only a matter of repetition and getting really really good at it. I've seen this is both the Medicinal Chemical Biology Lab and the Molecular Cancer Research Lab. All of them are really fast and efficient at what they do, but after a while I'm noticing they repeat the same techniques. I can only hope that some day I will have the mastery over my chosen field of medicine...

4) The rest of the day has been mostly the same - trying my hand out at new experiments in the lab, and working till late evening before walking back home. That is the gist of my day, and hopefully you enjoyed reading about it. Thanks very much for visiting, and have a great weekend. Cheers! :D

Group pic with everyone from Prof. Zhang's Biology Laboratory (3F)

My first try of "xiang guo" (香锅) or stir-fry hotpot

(Add rice for no extra charge yeay :))

It is really good :^)

Analysis of results from Fluoroskan Ascent machine

As you can see from the pics below, the chef is literally stretching the dough (to make the noodles) by hand. It is really exciting to watch him at his work :)

It's almost as if he knows I'm taking a pic of him XD

And voila! The finished product :))

DAY 661 & 662

June 24 & 25

1) It was a terribly hot day today, and I was drenched after my usual walk to the school. On this day, Niamh and I went out for lunch with Nina, who brought us to a nice restaurant in Wenxing Square. You're given a bowl and are allowed to pick as many vegetables or meats that you want, with noodles an optional extra. Get the bowl weighed, pay, and wait for everything to be cooked and served piping hot.

2) It is a different way of ordering food, but absolutely delicious in the end - as you can garnish your bowl with a variety of condiments. Mine cost more expensive than my friends as I had the most meat, but it honestly came to only €3.00, which is a steal for me. And what better way to cool down on a hot day, than a trip to "Cuo Nei Village" for some lovely bubble milk tea! Afterwards, Nina brought us to a supermarket which we didn't know existed in the square.

3) Niamh got her fair share of nuts (and some bananas) while Nina got some bananas and a packet of milk. Then, we walked all the way back to the lab, where I continued with work as usual. That has been my day, and thanks as usual for visiting. Have a lovely week ahead, cheers! :D

"Malatang" - minus the spiciness as I had just recovered and didn't want to provoke another allergic reaction :)

Niamh and her huge box of nuts :)

(If I had to guess I'd say they're all gone by now...)

Zhajiangmian from Family Mart :)

Malatang (without any spice added)

Oh the nostalgia here is real...

(My dad and I used to get loads of this for munching on at night, to have along with our milk tea... :)

Red bean soup (with glutinous balls)

Reading material for research ^^

Bubble milk tea at "Cuo Nei Village" Cafe

DAY 617-619

May 11-13

1) Now it's post-exam season, and immediately boredom has started to set in. No more getting up in the wee hours of the morning to study; no more studying in the freezing auditorium the night before an important exam. All gone; replaced by a lack of purpose or direction, an endless supply of YouTube videos to catch up on, and bright sunny Irish weather (!)

2) But all that's about to change. On Friday, I made yet another trip to the main campus. I met up with Dr. Sarah O'Neill (Director of the International Summer Research Programme), Niamh (who'll be participating in the same summer research programme in China), and Claire (who participated in last year's iteration and was there to give advice). After some slight delay, we met up at the Dispensary of the New Academic Building, where Dr. O'Neill briefed us on what to expect. The duration of the research would be 8 weeks, from 6th June to 3rd August. Two topics had been set for us, one on cancer and the other on Parkinson's disease research. Although I'm fine with both, I would personally prefer the research on cancer.  ; )
                                                             
3) That wasn't the only reason I went to town. I still needed a haircut, and where better to do so than Grafton Barber. The well-dressed gentleman who did my hair was extraordinarily friendly, and we talked about my nationality, where I was studying including what prompted me to come here, and what specialty I was interested in. In turn, I found out that he was the only one in the family practising as a barber, that he had practising for more than 60 years, and that he had a stent inserted for a coronary problem many years ago. It was quite an interesting haircut overall.

4) I'm well aware that this 13th of May is Mother's Day. It would be the most special one yet, as it would be the first time in two years that I would physically meet up with my parents! My host mother, Emma, was extremely kind by offering to drive me to the airport, while I nervously waited for my parents to show up. We found out that a sandstorm had delayed their flight by a while, so I was there slightly longer than expected.

5) In the end, I saw the familiar sight of my parents pushing the luggage cart, and my heart leapt. My mom certainly looked thinner, but other than that, two years had done nothing to change my parents. They looked and acted just as they did before, which made me feel very much at home. After introducing my parents to Emma, we all returned home. Emma went upstairs, leaving us to catch up on two year's worth of chat XD. I showed my parents around and talked for what felt like ages, until around midnight. Then it dawned on us that our flight would be very early the next morning.

6) Indeed, my parents had promised to take me on a week-long holiday trip, to Lisbon and around Naples. As I'm writing this, we are well into our holidays, but due to the really hectic schedule, I will need more time to write about them (I'll do so in a future post). But for now, I'm just elated to be reunited with my parents, and to listen to all their stories and share my own. Here's looking forward to the rest of the trip. Thanks for tuning in, and have an enjoyable week ahead. Cheers! :D

Two long years... :')

Nothing has changed over the past two years - except my face has gotten wider and rounder XD

Mother's Day Card ^^

Bilingual because I think my mum would appreciate it :))

Meet up with Dr. O'Neill, Claire, and Niamh

(at the Dispensary, No.26 ;D)

My new haircut