we are supposed to write 10 entries...oh boy

Rondo Op.1

Let’s talk science. More specifically, let me gently tune the melody towards international scientific collaboration. As grand as these words sound, particularly when chained together, one curious individual may ask the reasonable question: well, to start at the head-end, what’s the merit for being international? In reply, we will probably exemplify something on the line of a hypothetical borderless community being able to bring forth people from various backgrounds with different ideologies plus methodologies which, when fused together, can collectively amplify intellectual capacity and seal off inadequacies from any single party thus resulting in a cosmic revelation that ultimately propels the ascension of modern science. After a short pause, the same individual (let’s call him Frank after my good friend from Life Sciences) then contested impatiently: but then, how would a national or even district-wise congregation be any inferior since they surely gather people from diverse locations too? Well, we respond in a condescending tone, the longer distance associated with international flocks allows for cultures of greater differences coming together. Ah, so intellectual diversity is the key, the more dissimilar the merrier. We nod in approval. But wait! (Spoke out from behind by one of our own members) Isn’t science based on concreteness instead of subjectivity as are those worthless arts? If every invitee has his own arbitrary notion of how projects should be conducted (the eccentricity of which correlates proportionally with mileage), and all but one, assuming one at all, can be right, deducing further, what then is the meaning for attracting scientists who are most unlikely to agree “scientifically”? A logical brick wall is hit and everybody detects it. Simple!! (Eager faces turned towards the speaker with the authoritative soprano) Being a premium researcher, one shall possess scholastic rationality so objective that it can perfectly discriminate between what is good and what is not, even if, by doing so, displays the person’s own faultiness. The crowd is awe-struck by the delivery from this experienced young mind who is not only the laboratory craftsman at PCR but whose third authorship in a to-be-published article on protein-kinase has drawn deep admiration. What about individual lab roles? Shouted Frank. Wouldn’t personnel management be a pain since no one wants to be the subordinate? Personal ego should not be permitted, answered our prodigy scholar, intelligent people must learn to follow. And characteristic style? Jumped in another heretic. Scientists think differently, act differently, they even express their ideas differently than one another. Analogous to the team-chemistry of a sports club, wouldn’t some arrangement of group dynamic be most suitable depending on the specific participants? How about…? Why does…? What if…? Inquiries started flooding in as the protein-kinase enthusiast gradually disappears into the background.

Next: Theme & Variations

Meeting expectation

It’s been a decade since I’ve last dabbled in reflective essays. When such self-conscious pre-text is established, I, as many similarly poor writers, easily succumb to trivial narratives rather than regenerating the essence of what have passed with considerate scrutiny which only ensuing contemplation may provide. Hence, in order to keep ideas in check, I wish to present my ten entries (as required by our contract) in a few separate parts, semi-rigorously structured under various musical forms. Rest assured however, for the sake of my dear readers, no Gouldian attempt at verbal polyphony will be performed here. Such pretentious exhibitionism (unlike this one) shall wait for a more opportune hour.

Happy 4th of July! Did anyone do anything to celebrate it? Michelle and I were thinking about having french fries and monstrous hamburgers with little American flags sticking out of them, because we were told this is what epitomizes American food. We couldn't find little American flags though and settled for goulash.

BTW: If your blog appears to be in a language that is especially foreign and unmanageable, and you'd rather not spend hours translating with a sketchy online dictionary, then I think I might know how to help. On your homepage, in the right column near the top, there should be a drop down menu. This is probably a list of languages. Whether or not you choose English is up to you. Saman might want to practice his Portuguese for example. I think that should work.

I have nothing to say

Kabat

Tonight Michelle and I went to a Czech rock concert, sort of, and experienced Czech culture, best we could. A local radio station announced that 18,000 tickets had been sold so far for the Kabat concert, a famous Czech rock band that's been around since the early 80s. This number didn't include the crowds of people standing outside of the stadium that didn't pay 350 ($18) crowns to get in. This group included ourselves. Considering that the town has a population of about 100,000 this is pretty huge. We couldn't understand any of the lyrics of course, but upon consideration, we can't understand most English hard rock lyrics. I also got to experience a mildly poisonous plant this evening. My fears of widespread poison oak and a week of itchy rashes were calmed when I was told that I must have stumbled into a plant similar to the marijuana plant except that it's not a drug and stings for a few hours. "You'll be fine in the morning." This said after our supervisor hit me with one of the plants to see if that was the same stinging sensation I was experiencing. Itching put aside, the night was very entertaining, and I can now say that I'm a tried and true fan of Czech head-banging good times rock and roll.

We're going tick hunting on Thursday, and then our experiments can finally get on their way.

I think that this should actually work...Well, hello from Copenhagen! It is good to hear from you all. I arrived in Copenhagen about 2 1/2 weeks ago. It has been quite nice so far. I live in a small flat about 3 km outside of the central city. I bike to work every day, which let me tell you, is no easy task. I think that almost every day I have a near death experience on the bike lane and I'm actually surprised that I have incured no injuries thus far. I was talking to people in lab and apparently the street I live on is one of the bussiest in town and most try to avoid it if possisble. Oh well, it certainly wakes me up in the morning. Anyway, things got off to a quick start in lab and I am working independently on my project; however, as of last Thrusday all of my cells became infected with yeast and died. I had to throw everything away and start over. That was quite a bummer. I really enjoy the people I work with, but people rarely seem to talk to one another-and when there is conversation it is often in Danish-which is a crazy sounding language that I cannot understand. I've decided that the people I work with are very nice but they only say what absolutely needs to be said. I've been finding it a bit difficult to meet people and people in the lab don't seem to really socialize with one another. How is everyone else meeting people? Any tips?

Other than that I've been making side trips on the weekends. I think I've figured out public transportation after this weekend. I went up to Skagen, which is the northern most tip of Jutland. I had to take a total of 5 trains to get all the way up there, 4 trains back and when I returned I found my bike had a flat tire and so I took 3 separate busses to get home! Well, I guess that's enough of an update for now. . .
Erin

replies

Hi again,
first of all, to Carol I like to apologize for my occasional slips of less than classy word use (having initially thought that the posts shall solely be read by hot-tempered and rebellious youths). Of course, I'm sure everyone who knows me personally understands that those languages are adopted entirely for the purpose of dramatism. As for my answer to Carol's question, I do think that both tradition and under-funding contribute to the many problems I see. On one hand, here is a notoriously known institution that caters greatly to the aristocrats or, more often now, meritocrats. As one fellow college acquaintance said, being at Oxford is equivalent to being a member of a secret society. Outsiders here are treated as "outsiders", unprivileged to taste the elixir of elitists' luxury, nor, to use the toilets associated with it. On a more financial perspective, the English educators are renowned for their sub-par salary, especially in the science department. Statistically, for the same professional status and work intensity, intellectuals here receive nearly half the reward as their American collaborators. Such monetary disrespect is also reflected on the departments as well. For instance, in zoology the front door security guard is also the academic secretary, in addition, numerous compartments within the building are constantly being shut down due to a lack of resource. Unlike the states, graduates students here can rarely follow their academic pursuit when seeking adviser, instead, their admittance is only considered in research groups of sufficient finance. With contracts drawn for three years (no exceptions), most PhD candidates must either self-support afterwards or sacrifice their results' quality in exchange for a quicker graduation date. Unsurprisingly, many ended up abandoning science as their adolescent passion for it was smothered to nonexistence. Indeed, Dr. Peter Chesson from EEB was quite insightful when he consistently persuaded me to remain in the US for post-graduate education.
Now for a quick reply to Sarah (quick not because of my lack of enthusiasm, but due to a current shortage of elaboration on my answer), I have not gotten the chance to speak with Dawkins as of today, though my mentor is a close friend of his and has promised me to have a get-together anytime I prefer. However, to be completely honest, here also reside the famous theoretical ecologist Lord Robert May and the much accomplished members of group dynamics research team. In comparison with Dawkins whom (with no discourtesy to you Sarah) mainly achieved success (and riches) through popular science writings and have done little research of his own, I much favor the former.
Well, seems like I have written more than I intended once again. Hopefully such dilettantish analyses may prove to be some value after all.
Best wishes, yun

Not exactly a minor contribution!

Yun, That is hardly a minor contribution! But you make some interesting observations. Do you think that the British practice of restricting access to things like the library, laboratory, common areas, is based on tradition, as you suggest, or limited resources? Anyway, hang in there! Carol

whoa

Halo.

Amsterdam is pretty much the coolest city ever. It is absolutely gorgeous. The weather is perfect (sometimes it rains), and like the other northern European countries, the sunset is around 22-23pm. I love working in the lab here. Everyone is nice, and the post-doc I work with has been teaching me new techniques and analyses, it is pretty intense. The night life never dies, and I often find myself...nevermind, haha. I live really close to the lab, and I bought a bike so I can zip back and forth quickly. Carol advised me to wear a helmet, but I refuse because I will be the outcast of society. Anyway, I hope everyone is having fun, and please feel free to come visit. I have a two bedroom flat, so everyone should work out just fine. Let me know!

minor contribution

As many of you have enthusiastically shared your ongoing voyages, as a fellow member who perhaps left the country the earliest, I also feel an obligation to contribute or satisfy however little I may to everyone's entertainment and curiosity. For my first 2 weeks in the UK, I had extensive hours for various journalistic entries, poorly written and sent home solely for the cheap thrills of a few friends. As such moments are now nearly extinct due to an onset of laboratory duties, I shall simply cut and insert selected snipets of my past scribbles, hoping that despite much contextual censorship (thus preventing self-humilliation), they may still prove to be marginally delightful.

May 14, London
... Anyways, England here has been raining nonstop since my arrival (Tucson's weather gradually seems better over time). The hostel which I live in is clean and tiny, but quite ghetto overall and has no hot water available. So far, my traveling has been limited to the more general tourists' program: bridges, museums, architectures and etc. Perhaps due to my misfortune of having been in majors cities as NY and Shanghai, the grandeur of London has not impressed me
as previously expected. It is odd how everywhere I go I'm reminded of former visit to similar locations (just today I have walked through the renowned Natural History Museum and Victoria & Albert Museum which both seem like replicas of the American Museum of Natural History and Metropolitan Art Museum at NYC. Additionally, the transportation system resembles Shanghai's in an uncanny manner). Well, without the exoticism anymore present, my transition to this culture will then be much quicker, which from a productivity standpoint is of course a very good thing.
....

May 16, London
... For yesterday and today, I have boarded on the two prigrimmages which I intended for since childhood: 221 Baker Street (Sherlock Holmes' Museum) and Down House (one where Charles Darwin wrote his Origin of Species). Not much can be said (or sufficiently portrayed) of these holy sites except one has my strongest recommendation to visit in person. However, what is to be noted is that, apparrently, over a bit of chit-chat with Dr. Watson, who is somewhat a worldly man, he favors the oriental ladies and is a bit grumpy about not having enough time (after diagonosis or role-playing I'm not sure) to read the newspaper at "such a wicked time in the world."
....

May 19, Cardiff
... I am currently in Cardiff, just arrived from a tiresome trip in London. Next stop: some remote bay area by the mountains and shores of the northern tip of Wales, Snowdonia, I believe it's called.
....

May 21, Caernarfon
... Three days later, I will then take an 8-hrs train back to London and go to Oxford. As for my living condition, I have already spent an unbelievable amount of money due to England's ridiculously high prices (plus I now also need a new pair of shoes as my current one has been so worn due to excessive walking). With hotel fees, train fares, museum tickets, and food (even Burger King costs over $10 each meal), I have already used up £600 so far within 8 days of time (despite my effort of trying to eat cheap)
....

May 24, Oxford
[to foreign mentor]
... As of noon time today I arrived at Prombroke College. The room is absolutely wonderful and I appreciate tremendously for your kind effort in booking it for me. So far, I have taken a quick tour of the campus and done enough amount of being "utterly lost" that, wherever our next meeting place shall be, I may have no problem finding it.
....

May 25, Oxford
...So I was entering the Oxford Park yesterday and this man in expensive black suite completely cut in front of me (well, he wasn't technically cutting me off, but it sure sounds more dramatic this way) and guess who it is, god damn (in a quite literal way) Richard Dawkins. [referring to Dawkins' book "The God Delusion" which, to my amusement, evokes much anger from religious circles]
....

May 25, Oxford (later that day)
A concise narrative of a series of events encountered at Oxford University
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Upon entering the main campus, I walked towards a palace-looking structure at the side of the road.
"Sorry Sir, this is for college affiliates only"
I told the doorman my residency at Pembroke.
"Sorry, you must be a member of this particular college to enter."
Well, what can you do. Instead, I decided to browse my favorite place of all, the libraries.
"Do you have a readers card?" I was stopped again at the entrance.
"Uh..well..." I awkwardly explained my status as a summer visiting student/researcher.
"You need a reader card to get in. I'm afraid this is not for public access."
Shit.
As I attempted entrance into other libraries, the same problem occurred.
Well, guess my only choice now is to go in my lab early. At least this encourages productivity.
Expecting the metal rotating bars to turn smoothly as I push against it, I almost had internal bleeding when it jammed against my stomach.
"Sir, this is for official personnels only."
Once again, I elucidated my situation and the expectancy of my arrival. It was only until many minutes later after some phone calls and my presentation of numerous documentations that the doorman very reluctantly allow me to enter.
At least I got in somewhere. Now, having done a whole day of traversing I really need a drink. Luckily, ten feet away are three department vending machines. As I was fumbling coins inside my pocket, I saw a piece of metal barred against the slot. Next to it reads a sign "please swipe your Darwin Card (I shit you not) to insert coin"
Fucking fuck.
I guess here in England the people are accustomed to the concept of privileges, although I never thought it goes so far...
In comparison, despite my fear of admitting it, the American philosophy of (whether applied in practice or not) "opportunities for all" for higher education appeals much more to my liking. Speaking of that, the new Chemistry building has the most comfortable couches. I'm thinking about taking daily nap there when the semester start. Who's with me?

June 6, Oxford
...So today I got my ass kicked by a crow, yeah, a fucking crow when I'm feeding it for my work. bird on a stick anyone? [referring to a typical snack sold on the streets in China]
....

End note:
So despite many's perception (from the above segments) that my experience here is less than ideal, the reality is quite the contrary. Complain as I may (thereby becoming more local by the seconds), my participation in numerous clubs and encounters with many peers have been trully enjoyable. In one week, I will be representing Oxford on a 3-day korfball tourament (similiar to basketball) at Cambridge. As for now, my effort of exceeding expectation and working up the latter continues.
Good luck to you all.

YT

Barcelona is a great city! I have been here 2 weeks thus far and I find the people to be nice too. I take a metro train to lab everyday. The people in the lab are very nice! However, the project is going slow and we are having a lot of problems :( I never realized how easy it is to obtain supplies and anything we needed in the states. I have also been site seeing and the architecture here is amazing. There are so many artists such as Gaudi and Picasso that lived here and influenced the city. I hope everyone is enjoying their respective countries and research experiences!

Writing in the dark

Against advice from Nikita and Michelle, I blew out the power in my room with my 1800watt hair dryer. I'm not sure when I'll get my power back, might have to wait until next Monday. Right now I have all my blinds open to get the last bit of sunlight, at 1opm. Ceske Budejovice, where I'm studying with Michelle, is a very pretty city (I think most European cities are). The oldest buildings are from the Middle Ages, with others from the Renaissance and so on. There's also a lot of architecture that reflects the communist regime of a few decades past. We're on the outside of town, surrounded by grasses and forests. The same grasses and forests where we will be collecting ticks soon. Woohoo!

Getting our research projects started is slooooow...

hei hei from Norway

Hello fellow BRAVO! students. I'm currently conducting my research on implicit language learning with Jessica at the University of Bergen in Norway. Everything is going very well at the moment despite a rough start. Bergen is absolutely beautiful. All the buildings were built during the viking era, but the community has worked hard to keep things renovated. It's like an old town with new paint! The city is cradled by 5 mountains and stretches down to the coastline. All of the flowers are in bloom at the moment (bright yellow, orange, fushia, and deep purple) and jasmine grows on the roadside. The weather has been wonderful this week (sunny and about 80 degrees) and, oh yes, the sun doesn't set until midnight! I think this blog is a great idea and I'd like to hear about different experiences you're having and what it's like where you're staying. Hope your research is running smoothly!

hello?

hahahaaha I have no idea what is going on, I don't even know why I am typing anything

Welcome!

Well, this is the little blog that I put together. I hope that it will turn into a useful and interesting tool.

For now, best wishes from the Czech Republic.