DAY 307/308

Jul 5 & 6

1) So I'm slowly but surely settling in to my new environment. Not just my new home, but also the new academic building! It's so convenient to pop by the library after work, and make a cup of coffee/tea before lazing into one of those oh-so-comfortable chairs...

2) And just like that, it's been more than a month since my research started. Yesterday, we confirmed by mass spectrometry that my tenth experiment, had finally produced the ester product that we were looking for. This can then be used as the starting point for our reactions with various bismuth compounds to form novel complexes. At least that's the plan...

3) Which is exactly what we did today. Dr. Griffith came himself to carry out the reactions with me and Donal. It is the first time that I've handled liquid nitrogen with my own hands, and it was fascinating to watch all the insulating nitrogen gas envelope the reaction vessel as we poured it out. We carried out two new experiments today, before leaving it to continue stirring overnight.

4) That sums up the past two days, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Have a great day, cheers!

RCSI Academic Building at night ^^

The €52.00 for 30-day LUAS (tram) tickets are such good value!

Mixing things up a little: Full Irish breakfast at AK. Henry's

DAY 305/306

Jul 3 & 4

1) On Monday, the new academic building finally opened its doors for us! Admittedly, only two floors were officially open while the rest are to be public only once the next school term starts (in September). Of course, that didn't stop me and many of my friends from snooping around haha. We went up and down all floors, marvelling at how new and fresh everything looks. For starters, the building is massive; five floors up and another four down.

2) The top two floors are used for surgical training (RCSI houses the National Surgical Training Centre), while the next two floors contain the library and computer room. The Ground Floor contains the aptly named "Dispensary" - which provides complimentary Nescafe/tea for the next couple months or so. Also on this floor is the lounge, where visitors can gather to converse and socialise over a cuppa. A floor down and we reach the auditorium, which can house up to 540 students. I just wonder if we'll have many (if any at all) lectures here next semester.

3) The second level below Ground Floor acts as a backstage to the auditorium, for props and stagehands I presume. One level further down and it's the gym - complete with rows of weights and gym machines. There's even a separate Women's Only Gym right beside. Lastly, the fourth level underground. This contains the sports complex, the size of four badminton courts and/ or a full basketball court. After spending some time there, we were kindly ushered out by a security guard as the place was off-limits...

4) My personal opinion of the new academic building is that it's wonderful! Finally, we have something tangible (physical) to showcase to visitors, to complement our academic prowess haha. Jokes aside, the space available has been very well utilised, and the facilities are top notch to say the least. There's more than ample space to take a break, and the environment is thoroughly conducive for studying. Perhaps a little too conducive...

5) Up till today, we've done ten experiments in the lab, with more to come. I'll finish my research by the end of this month, however, and after that I'll be expected to summarise my research in the form of an abstract. The prospect of presenting my research findings sounds very exciting to me, and I'm looking forward to it. Anyway, that is the end of my blog update, and a big thank you for visiting. Have a lovely day, cheers!

Hanging out with my friends at the new "Dispensary" on the Ground Floor!

(l-r: Echin, Me, Cass, Charmi, Raymond, SianWon)

Everything looks so fresh and updated <3 <3

The stairs to the auditorium

One could almost sleep here XD

The auditorium at level -1

Look at all the gym equipment!

The basketball court

Complimentary beverage at the Dispensary

Me, Zi Yan, Joshua hanging out for a cuppa

The first floor of the library

National Surgical & Clinical Skills Centre

The equipment looks familiar haha

Spiral staircase

Nobel Peace Prize...

Or bilateral trade?

Tripartite then :)

It wasn't an easy picture to take... ^^

For when you need motivation when doing squats...

DAY 302/303/304

Jun 30, Jul 1 & 2

1) So finally, I've shifted house! From 48 Leeson St Lower, Dublin 2 - all the way to 11 Sweetmount Drive, Dundrum 14. From sharing a room at a student apartment, to living with a host family for the next half a year. It's been a completely new experience for me, packing and bringing all my stuff with me to my new home.

2) The only experience I have had prior to moving in was coming to Dundrum for buffet with my friends. So at the very least, I was familiar with the location of the LUAS station (not to mention the very reasonably priced and highly rated Global Cuisine Buffet). There is also the Dundrum Town Centre - the largest shopping centre in Ireland! Yesterday, I tried the buffet again, as it was just as good as I remembered it.

3) Today, I did some walking at the shopping centre, before having lunch at Subway (at the Food Hall). It really is a lovely walk, with lots of outlets and beautiful design layouts. After touring around the mall, I walked to Lidl, a German global discount supermarket chain (somewhat similar to the convenience stores we have back home). Everything is just so convenient around here, and all within walking distance. There's even an Apache Pizza, which opens until 5am everyday of the week! Not to mention home delivery for extra.

4) My host family has been very welcoming and accommodating of my stay so far. I'm living with Mrs. Fallon, who lives here with her two daughters. Mrs. Fallon was very interested in knowing where I came from, so I pointed to the appropriate location on the map in my room. We spent some time talking about Malaysia and Southeast Asia in general, and she recounted her stories with past tenants. Then I excused myself to unpack my belongings. Speaking of my room, it is very well furnished, with study lamp and many cabinets and dividers to organise my things.

5) I've to get used to a different schedule from the next week onwards. This is because I need to take the LUAS (Irish tram service) to RCSI everyday from now on, including the summer break as I am working there in the labs. It is really convenient, though, that the last stop for the LUAS is right in front of RCSI, hence it is nigh impossible to get off at the wrong stop haha. (Here's hoping it never happens). Anyway, that is the end of my narrative, and I hope you enjoyed reading about it. Thanks very much for visiting my blog, and have a nice day. Cheers!

My house is the one on the left ^^

My room

Plus all the cabinets to put my belongings

The bridge is the iconic landmark for the LUAS station 

(less than 10 minutes' walk away from home)

Came back to Leeson to take the last of my belongings, and to say goodbye )':

The walkway to the main shopping centre

Having buffet lunch at Dundrum Shopping Centre

A stunning angle (imho) of the Food Hall, 

located at the top floor of Dundrum Shopping Centre