At a pet shop

地震

今日の夜大分でも地震があって、震度3程度の軽いものだったけれど、身のすくむような恐怖を感じた。

連日の報道や情報に押しつぶされてしまいそうで、それでも九州では特に変わったこともなく時間が過ぎていっているのがとても変な感じだった。けど、今の地震で急にそれが現実味を帯びてきた。

献血に長蛇の列ができていたこと、何億円ものお金が寄付されていること、ボランティア活動に従事している方々がたくさんいることにはほっとする。海外の友人からも、励ましや心配の言葉をもらって本当に嬉しかった。そんな優しい人に、私もなりたい。

Invitation

The post-doc in my previous lab, who is now my friend, left for the US today to set up a laboratory there. He'll be staying there for two months and he said he would arrange a meeting with professors in there if I come over to his new lab.

It sound like a great, rare, exciting chance to get to know famous professors in the US. I may be able to ask them about taking masters in their university. I don't know how it works, but seeing somebody in person is far better than sending an email if you would like to tell him/her that you are willing to pursue your academic goals. Besides I will have my friend who will introduce me to the researchers. hmm... seems like quite promising journey. but I'm not still sure if I want to take masters or skip master and go to PhD. PhD takes more than 4 years in the states!!

What makes it complicated is that I've already booked tickets to Singapore for this golden week! The cancellation fee is costly and it's very expensive to go to the US during this season... I don't know if it's worth cancelling my trip to Singapore and going to the US instead. Is this a chance in a million? or, like other people do, contacting via email is enough?

I need to do further research on this! What kind of lab, how many people... etc.

Dinner

Delicious adovo! This thick sauce matches with rice very well. yum-yum.

Reality in dream

My teacher in high school appeared in my dream this morning and he scolded me for being so double-minded these days. It's true that I had been having mixed feelings of frustration, regret and envyness, and those obsessed me so much sometimes that I cannot sleep. However, my teacher said that "You have to concentrate on what you are doing now, whatever it is, wherever you are". It's not good to think about something that is not relating to me now, he said, it only unsettles my mind.

It is absolutely true, and I felt like I was hit on the head when I woke up. I must start concentrating now to do whatever possible. Maybe he appeared in my dream because I cannot handle my feelings on my own, and he still has a great influence on my way of thinking. When I start working last year (oh my! It's a yeah ago!), I sent him a card saying that I would start a job soon. Next time when I send him another, I would like to inform him about something better, like achievements or accomplishments.

Holiday plan

Finally reserved airplane tickets to Singapore for next golden week! A lot of friends are waitng there. So happy and excited! This time I want to be like locals, not visitors. Meeting with my friends and eating Singaporean cuisine would be enough~ That trip is now my engine to go through everything...

Hectic February

The continuous arrival of samples finally stopped screwing up my analysis plan! It was the most tiring month ever...I was in the lab from 5 am to 8 twice! Barley samples were sent to us almost every week, before I finish testing the previous batch. It was beyond my capacity and I sometimes asked my colleagues for help. Good thing is they were willing to do what they can. The purchasing negotiation was going on while I was testing the samples so the data had to be updated every day. It was tiring, but after submitting the results, I have the great feeling of achievement. Something was accomplished~~~