Updates
Well, I am in Washington State now. In the desert. I know because when I was walking home from work today (about a mile) I saw a tumbleweed speeding along in the wind. Classic.
Unfortunately I have not gotten to begin the science-y part of my work yet. I've now spent three days orientating, being "trained" online, and reading up on all the hazards and hazardous processes occuring in the lab - how to deal with any accidents, what the proper processes are to decrease the likelihood of said accidents, and how to properly dispose of hazardous and radioactive waste. Exciting. I can't tell you any more about what I'll be doing, but at least right now that's because I don't have a clue as to what it will be, rather than because "if I told you, I'd have to kill you." Some exciting news I've found out already, though is that I get to go on a tour of the Hanford Site and B Reactor. w00t!
I'm warming to the people in my lab. I share an office with three other female interns who work in the same labs, but two of them have spent several summers here before and one has already been here a couple of weeks. So there's been a bit of a feeling of being out-of-the-group, but that is going away with time. The people in my apartment are great, though. We've been eating dinners together and then doing some sort of activity afterwards; I hope that lasts. Unfortunately, though, none of us have cars, so we shall eventually have to branch out (or figure out how to use the cheap taxi service) in order to keep from getting Cabin Fever.
That's all about that for now - time to go struggle with making some dinner!
Unfortunately I have not gotten to begin the science-y part of my work yet. I've now spent three days orientating, being "trained" online, and reading up on all the hazards and hazardous processes occuring in the lab - how to deal with any accidents, what the proper processes are to decrease the likelihood of said accidents, and how to properly dispose of hazardous and radioactive waste. Exciting. I can't tell you any more about what I'll be doing, but at least right now that's because I don't have a clue as to what it will be, rather than because "if I told you, I'd have to kill you." Some exciting news I've found out already, though is that I get to go on a tour of the Hanford Site and B Reactor. w00t!
I'm warming to the people in my lab. I share an office with three other female interns who work in the same labs, but two of them have spent several summers here before and one has already been here a couple of weeks. So there's been a bit of a feeling of being out-of-the-group, but that is going away with time. The people in my apartment are great, though. We've been eating dinners together and then doing some sort of activity afterwards; I hope that lasts. Unfortunately, though, none of us have cars, so we shall eventually have to branch out (or figure out how to use the cheap taxi service) in order to keep from getting Cabin Fever.
That's all about that for now - time to go struggle with making some dinner!