[random] in which the clueless chemist marks her first month here

[mierin_lanfear]

One month down, 59 more to go.

It seems impossible, but yes, I'm here in Leuven for a month now.  On my own.

It feels weird to think about that little fact, that without realizing it, time has flown and this is where I am right now--a quiet, little university town with amazing buildings and rich history.  The place which I am in love (for now...but maybe when I get my dose of reality-check, I'll look on Leuven with a tired, jaded eye, but I hope not!), a 60-month love affair that hopefully will culminate with a hood and a diploma.

What has transpired, what has happened and what have I learned in my first month here?

1. Leuven is a "walking town". It's actually circular in layout, that if you walk along the diameter of the town, you can pretty much cover everything in 30-45 minutes.
2. It is easy to get lost in the side-streets.  Happened to me once, but that's one way to learn the lay of the land. :D The official KULeuven map/bus route pamphlet is the best weapon to have on hand.
3. Buses are Belgium's version of our local jeeps. Except that they're spacious, with effective ventilation and heater/cooler, with very disciplined drivers.  You just have to remember the location of the important bus stops and the routes, or else you'll end up in a different place altogether. This, thank goodness, hasn't happened to me.  And don't lose your student bus pass, or else you'll have to shell out 1.60 EUR...
4. You won't get run over by any vehicle.  That's how nice Belgian drivers are.  Except that you'll get run over by bikes instead.
5. Trying to convert everything from EUR to PHP will drive you crazy. Just believe me that anything over 4 EUR is expensive (for food), 20 EUR (for blouses/tops), 60 EUR (for boots). My favorite coffee-vending machine in the ALMA charges 0.60 EUR for a cafe mocha...which is unheard of in terms of PHP.  And bus fare in Leuven costs 1.60 EUR.
6. As much as possible, greet people first in English. Or else, they will speak to you first in Dutch.
7. It is easy to read Dutch. But not to speak.  Beware of tongue-twisters like "Bondgenotenlaan", "Kapucinenvoer" (street-names).  Knowing Deutsch helps in reading, but do NOT attempt to pronounce nouns and verbs in German...guarantees weird looks.
8. Filipino ingredients are easy to find. And quite affordable too.
9. Nothing happens on Sundays. Better be ready to be bored. Or schedule important housekeeping chores.  But it's best to attend Sunday Mass to begin the week. *cough*
10. Always wear a good coat. It's autumn, and very windy here.
11. Predicting the weather is at best a futile attempt. Temperatures here can swing from comfortably cool (think NMR Room at NCIC) to outright cold (think refrigerators). It's better to overlayer than to go with one layer less.
12. Keep your hands warm. By sticking them in your coat-pockets. :D Gloves are for winter.  Or...have someone warm your hands for you.

Work-wise, what have I learned...

1. Fishcare.  Zebrafish need a buffered pH environment of around 7.5.  This is done by refreshing the aquarium water everyday with a solution of bicarbonate and calcium/magnesium salts.  And these fish eat Artemia, or brine shrimps.
2. Sorting fish eggs. Yes, fertilized eggs are harvested from the aquariums everyday.  It takes a good microscope and a good pair of eyes to figure out which are the dysmorphic embryos that need to be disposed.
3. Antiepileptic assay. Involves torturing 7-day-old zebrafish larvae with a convulsant like pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and measuring their length of movement as they seize.
4. Toxicity diagnosis.  Check fish larva's heart under the microscope and time the heartbeat.
5. The NMR subject here for Pharmaceutical Sciences is the toughest one. But was able to help a lab groupmate pass her oral exam by tutoring her in 3 days. :D
6. It is nothing unusual to work in the lab without a lab coat, for now. Even if you're handling interesting reagents like PTZ...just wear nitrile gloves. T_T My lab coat won't arrive until after 2 weeks from now!
7. Chemistry is the central science. A lot of the basic problems in the lab are chem-lab related issues.  Steric hindrances, isomerisms...and basic maintenance of the analytical balance.  Please, the one and only analytical balance in the lab is so battered...making our ABs in Schmitt Hall look brand-new.

That's that, I suppose.  There are still a lot of things I want to learn here, lab-wise and social-wise. :D