The proximity of anonymity

There are a lot of people in the world (I am far too lazy to look up the exact number). Most of the time, I never think about the lives of the billions (trillions?) of other humans on the planet. Instead I only focus on the lives of those around me.

But sometimes, the lives of the strangers around me impacts me. It usually happens when I hear them talk. Not necessarily in an eavesdropping way; I may only hear a sentence. But for those few moments, that person is no longer anonymous. They are no longer part of an ever-changing background; they have a body, a pulse, a voice, a soul. They are real, just like I am. Hearing that person often startles me. I am taken away from my small insignificant world and thrown into theirs, most of the time without them realizing it. It brings up so many questions for me. Who are they? Why are they here? Where are they going? What do they do? What is their name?

I feel...hurt that I will never know the answers to those questions. That I will never get to know that stranger. That despite the number of people I know, there will still be someone who I was around, but never even spoke to.

I'm a BIG kid now

Exciting adventure of the day: buying groceries.

Today was the first time I bought groceries. Not going to the store with my parents or picking up a few specific items that I needed. I had to buy the most basic things: milk, bread, cereal, etc. Stuff I have grown accustomed to always having around. It was an interesting experience. With the knowledge I have literally nothing to eat back in my room, I tried to think of what I needed. So many questions arose. Will I actually eat this, or let it sit around? What is reasonably healthy? Is this within my price range? What portion size should I buy? Can I make more than one dish with this? Is there enough space in the fridge for this?

It was exciting. And eye-opening. I always take the presense of food for granted. I frequently buy snacks, but never basic food. I really never think about where it comes from or the fact that it is replaced or that it costs money. I now understand why people get those super market reward cards and take the time to clip coupons and make grocery lists beforehand. It's a rather simple task, but to have to do it for yourself can be incredibly difficult.

Alcohol and lab meetings

Exciting adventure of the last two days: meeting my PI and the post-doc I'm working with.

My lab environment is very relaxed. People play music, make jokes, go to happy hour. Everyone is on a first name basis. The projects are all very exploratory, rather than results based. The biggest shock for me has been the lab meeting. The presentation was silly, but informative (there were Care Bears involved). There were donuts and beer. The PI made jokes with the presenter. Even when people criticized part of the research, it was a friendly "you ought to try this" sort of criticism.

This is in such stark contrast to my previous lab experience. Lab meetings were where you presented your research while the PI glared at you. Him saying nothng meant you did a great job. There was no noise except for the presenter. Even in the lab, this tense environment continued. People weren't really friends with each other. Everyone worked on their own project in their own corner. The only sounds were the low hum of running equipment, the quiet clalking of keys and occasional whispers between people.

I am quite excited for the summer. Even if my research sucks, at least I'll have a good time.

I can read a map?

Exciting adventure of the day: going from my lab to my dorm and not getting lost. I found the place where the shuttle goes, got on the right one and was able to figure out where my dorm was once I got back on campus. I am pleased with how quickly I am learning where things are.

Reading = <3

Exciting adventure of the day (for yesterday): going to the library. Well, one of MIT's multiple libraries.

The library I went to was AMAZING. Not that the library itself looks particularly outstanding besides its sheer number of books. But, the availability of books that appealed to me was amazing. Within two minutes of getting on the floor, I found a book I liked. Ten minutes later, I found another one of interest. After reading both of these for a while, I decided I wanted a murder mystery book. But this library knew what I was looking for long before I even got there. Instead of just wandering around blindly for hours on end then finally succumbing to the need to ask a librarian for help, I found an entire row of murder mysteries just 15 feet away from where I had originally started! I had barely explored that floor of the library and I found 4 books that appealed to every aspect of my personality. If I wasn't going out to dinner later that night, I would have stayed in that library for hours. And checked out even more books.

My love of reading has been renewed. I am taken back to the days of my middle school years, when I would read 2 or 3 books a week. Mostly due to the fact the school bus didn't stop near my house, so I had to wait at the library until my parents picked me up a couple of hours later (I finally discovered that I could ride the Metro bus for free in high school). After being reprimanded multiple times by the librarians for playing cards, I invested my time at the library into reading (it never really crossed my mind to do my homework).

Now this makes me wonder why UMBC's library doesn't appeal to my love of reading. I have spent a year there and checked out only one book for leisure. And even then, I knew the title of the book beforehand. I didn't have that experience of walking into the library and searching until something piqued my interest. Maybe its the covers of the books (books are like food - if it doesn't look appealing, I will not eat it, no matter how tasty/healthy it may actually be). Or the organization of the library (the library I went to had more open space on each floor; lots of chairs and couches and windows). But I have hope! Now that my love for reading is back, maybe I'll be able to find some fantastic books at UMBC. I already have a few new authors to check out.

My reading list:

Thank God for Evolution - a book of how science and religion do not have to be opposing forces, but can instead work together. Written for both the atheist who thinks religion is for people that are mentally unstable because they talk to the air, expecting something to happen and the devout Christian (and other people of faith) that thinks evolution was a hoax created by Satan to turn people away from God. And for people like me, the religious scientist who feels a little uncomfortable in both the scientific and the religious world. And everyone in-between!

The PMS Murder - lighthearted murder novel. I have realized it is one of a series, so if I find nothing else of interest to read this summer, I always have this author.

Biotechnology is Murder - murder novel. I haven't gotten very far in this yet, so this is my entire summary. The title is definitely interesting. Also part of a series.

The Woman Who Can't Forget - a memoir of a woman suffering from hyperthymestic syndrome (she remembers everything that's ever happened to her). Quite interesting; her memory isn't exactly what I expected. And she discusses other cases of people with super memory and how their memory is drastically different from hers.

My first day

I have fallen in love with Cambridge. Maybe it was the gorgeous weather, my gigantic room (not really, but very spacious for a single) or just all the stuff there is to do. But I love this city! It's so...alive. Vibrant. People everywhere, but not in an overcrowded sort of way. Being here stirs my inner explorer. If it wasn't for the harsh winters, I would very seriously consider moving here.

Exciting adventure of the day: first time eating at an Indian restaurant.