Alive and well in Cheese-land!
So I have safely made it to Madison and even survived my first weekend here, how about that?! I've actually had an okay time adapting so far. I've spent a bunch of time driving around trying to find different stores to get my many needed essentials and trying to acquaint myself with the city. Its a bit more confusing and seems lots bigger than Lansing and East Lansing, but i'm starting to figure it all out.
My first day at work ended up being like a mini-state tour of Wisconsin. We had to go to the field to do a bunch of field work but on the way had to stop at a couple other research plots on the way. So basically we headed north stopping at Arlington first so I at least knew where my research plots where (I have research plots!! :) ), then we went to the Hancock research center to check out the potato plots, which was kinda fun to check out, and then we finally made it up to Marshfield around 4 hours later, with out the stops the drive is normally only 3. It was really nice, because the countryside here is so gorgeous, rolling hills and so many trees everywhere I looked. I love the country in summer time.
As for this weekend, I was afraid that I would have nothing to do and would be left alone in my apartment to start suffering from the first pains of homesickness. However, the other grad students here in the soils department, being the wonderful people that they are, invited me out! Friday night we went out the the terrace, which is really just a giant patio outside of UW's student union that overlooks the lake and bands play for free. Oh and did I mention, they serve beer at their union and not just any beer, but some kinds that i had never heard of before, couldn't pronounce, and were very yummy. The band that was playing was called Madisalsa, a salsa band that plays around the area frequently. They were very good and a couple of the grad students from Chile and Puerto Rico taught me and my lab neighbor how to salsa and meringue. How fun! Then on Sunday, a grad student from Ag engineering was have a bbq at her new house which is right on the lake here. It was lots of fun, i got to meet many new people, and even learned how to play botchi ball.
Anyway, I've gotta get to work here. I miss you all and hope that everything is going well. And if anyone is ever in the area, or wants to come visit, I have a very comfy futon that you could use free of charge!!
My first day at work ended up being like a mini-state tour of Wisconsin. We had to go to the field to do a bunch of field work but on the way had to stop at a couple other research plots on the way. So basically we headed north stopping at Arlington first so I at least knew where my research plots where (I have research plots!! :) ), then we went to the Hancock research center to check out the potato plots, which was kinda fun to check out, and then we finally made it up to Marshfield around 4 hours later, with out the stops the drive is normally only 3. It was really nice, because the countryside here is so gorgeous, rolling hills and so many trees everywhere I looked. I love the country in summer time.
As for this weekend, I was afraid that I would have nothing to do and would be left alone in my apartment to start suffering from the first pains of homesickness. However, the other grad students here in the soils department, being the wonderful people that they are, invited me out! Friday night we went out the the terrace, which is really just a giant patio outside of UW's student union that overlooks the lake and bands play for free. Oh and did I mention, they serve beer at their union and not just any beer, but some kinds that i had never heard of before, couldn't pronounce, and were very yummy. The band that was playing was called Madisalsa, a salsa band that plays around the area frequently. They were very good and a couple of the grad students from Chile and Puerto Rico taught me and my lab neighbor how to salsa and meringue. How fun! Then on Sunday, a grad student from Ag engineering was have a bbq at her new house which is right on the lake here. It was lots of fun, i got to meet many new people, and even learned how to play botchi ball.
Anyway, I've gotta get to work here. I miss you all and hope that everything is going well. And if anyone is ever in the area, or wants to come visit, I have a very comfy futon that you could use free of charge!!