Day 9: Real Live Science!

Morning started far too early for my liking. I woke up at 8am to get ready for the day, shower, and use my last breakfast coupon from BASE. Once I was ready I went back to my room, grabbed all my stuff and headed down to check out of my hostel. My lovely, happy, hostel. BUT, that also meant that I was headed toward my own happy apartment. The first obstacle was trudging through the city with my two very full very heavy suitcases. Normally walking from my hostel to my apt would take about 10 minutes. With the luggage it took about 30 and even that was only because I was going as fast as I could just to get it over with. By the time I got there I was drenched in sweat and my muscles and hands were not happy. But who cares, right?! I was there! I walked in and met two of the three male flatmates who I hadn't met yet, said hello to Yalin my roomie, dropped my bags, and rushed off to work. Work, however turned out worth rushing too! The morning started off a little slow running around the museum trying to get me my own online sign-in and grabbing some display cases. But, at about 11 we sat down and did some real science! Together Dr. Mitchell and I started a batch of 12 DNA extractions from moths. He did everything first, showing me the steps on about 3 of the specimen and then he would let me take over with the rest. First, we removed legs (for their DNA) from the moths (don't worry people, they've been dead and on display for about 5 years). Then, we mixed a solution of two compounds that I got to pipet into their individual test tubes. After, we put them in a warming machine and will be leaving them there overnight to break down the DNA. It was really really cool going through the process. I felt all science-y and happy that he trusted me working on his stuff. After, I grabbed lunch at a local sushi place where a lot of Museum employees eat and spent an hour or so enjoying the semi-rainy semi-warm weather. Because the specimen test tubes require overnight heating that's about all we were able to do on them for the day. So, after lunch we set up all the necessary equipment to photograph the various moths the next day and that was about it for the day. I headed back to my apartment, taking a slightly scenic route and even stopped to watch some lightning shoot off in the distance. I dropped in a convenience store on my way back to buy some ramen, bread, PB, and jelly so I would have some basic food in the apartment so I didn't have to eat out every night. When I got back I met the third male flatmate and he helped me figure out where everything was located. I successfully unpacked, and boy-o-boy did I have so much space unused. I was unable to fill even half the drawers and shelves I had in my room, but it was good to know I have space to expand ;) hahaa. The rest of the evening was spent being lazy, making myself some ramen, chattin' online, and reading some more books. I'm burning through them, and at this rate I will have read through 100 books by the time I'm back in the states! Thus far the apartment seems cool. The people are nice, the room is definitely fine, and Yalin and I share a good sized bathroom. It's a little strange living with 4 strangers that all know each other. I feel a little like and invader, or like I'm in people's way, but I keep reminding myself that I'm paying rent, so I shouldn't be meek. I also learned today why everything is so damn expensive in Syndey. Their minimum wage is like 16 dollars or something ridiculous. So no wonder the cheapest meal is like 10! I've been thinking maybe of getting a part time job in the evenings just for fun, so we'll see what happens with that.