Pictures from Dubai

Good news y'all! It's 30 minutes of restrictions per day, and this port I'm in now doesn't filter at all! Hooray!

Dumelang bo-rra le bo-mma!

It was a long journey, but it went by really fast. I ended up watching a ridiculous amount of movies on the plane (no judging). The “overnight” layover in Dubai was not really as cool as it seems, although I did end up getting to go on a night tour of the city. Dubai reminded me of Las Vegas, although without the gambling and drinking. The tour was basically a lot of hotels, plus the tallest building on Earth, plus the owner of Emirates Air’s house. Well, it’s actually two houses, because he has two wives, and they’re both covered in streams of fairy lights.

Luckily, I met up with another girl, Claire, who is with our group at LAX before we got on our first plane. We were on the same flights, except for the short one from Johannesburg to Gaborone. Since we got to Gaborone at different times, we had trouble finding the driver who was taking us to the University of Botswana. We went outside to see if we could find someone, and almost immediately two guys who organized the taxis started hitting on us. Record?

We finally found the girl who was supposed to meet us and got to the University, where we met up with Perri (another girl with our group) and Larry (our professor). Perri, Acacia (the 5^th person with us), and I are in a flat at UB because we’re all staying to about the same time- although Acacia and Perri are doing safaris after with their respective families. Larry and Claire are leaving really soon- they’re only staying til the first week of June, although Claire is going on a safari after that as well. Acacia has actually been here since January since this is where she was studying abroad. It’s really nice to have a local with us- she knows Setswana already and where everything is. It’s been really cool to hear about her experience, and still almost makes me wish I had come here for study abroad. I think everything worked out the way it was supposed to though, because I probably would not have chosen to go to Edinburgh on my own.

So the first night, Perri and I just went to get dinner (we’re eating at the Uni’s cafeteria until we get our grocery stipends) and tried to keep each other awake until it was a respectable time to fall asleep. We got up the next day and went around the uni to where our Setswana classroom and lab were going to be. Then we went to a mall to get some things for our flat and took a combi (a van-taxi) to Botswanacraft, a store that sells souvenirs and art. We had our first Setswana lesson today, which Perri and I were SO excited for. We learned a lot of random vocab and greetings. Our teacher is so nice- Phono. After class we had bread and tea and went to an outdoor stall mall- the main mall. I got in trouble, kind of, for taking a picture of the seal on the Parliament/capital building and the guard came over to make me delete it. We also had an afternoon beverage at the Botswana Hotel, which some of you might recognize from the No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series.

I slept almost 12 hours last night, so hopefully my jet lag is gone by now. It’s a little overwhelming to be here, but I think it will get better once I know more Setswana. Our routine of Setswana lesson then lab work will start on Monday, so that will also help. I keep trying to superimpose my Edinburgh experience onto this one, made a little easier by the fact that Botswana was originally colonized by Britain and still carries a lot of British traditions (including tea and driving on the left side of the road!). I keep having dreams about Edinburgh though, which is quite confusing and sad.

One last thing- apparently UB doesn't trust their students, or something, so I might only have 30 minutes of internet that I can use for blogs for the entire trip, and I think they're in 10 minute chunks each time, so I might not be able to blog very often/if at all. I'll try to spread my next couple out, or delete cookies or something. Le sigh.

Bisous!

LeeAnn

Botswana!!

My friends, we meet again. I returned safely to Edinburgh from my amazing ski trip and then returned safely home, although have decided I hate Chicago airport with a passion.

This past semester was amazing- full of new opportunities and adventures. I fell back in love with Scripps and CCBDC, and was sad to see my seniors graduate, although they're all off to bigger and better things!

Some of those new adventures are beginning NOW. I just got back from Catalina Island where I was doing a weeklong summer conference with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a group that I am involved with at school. It was amazing, but also made my schedule a little hectic/ stressful.

So we got back from Catalina on Saturday, had dinner and saw a movie, and then returned to our leader's house for a sleepover. Which is when I realized that I hadn't remembered packing my passport. Which wouldn't have been a big deal, except I'm going to Africa. Today (Monday). So yesterday I went home, searched my entire room, then frantically flew back to Ontario, CA with my mom so we could look in my storage unit. Mission, accomplished, thank God. This meant that we were left in LA overnight, so we drove down to LAX, returned our rental and got a hotel for the night. My mom left at 4 am this morning, but my flight isn't until 4:45 PM tonight, so I've still got lots of time. To spend alone, at the airport :( The worst part is, my mom had a really cool birthday happy hour celebration planned for me :'( Oh well, as she said, I have the rest of my life to drink. I'm mostly sad about not getting to see anyone- I hardly had time with Dad (and it was all stress-filled) and I didn't get to see Malcolm at all... I guess God just wanted to remind me how wonderful of a family I have- everyone was super helpful with tips and organizing everything.

So anyways, I'm in my hotel room, all lonely-like, chilling until I have to go back to that awful airport and wait for my flight. I also realized I forgot to pack my Pokemon game in my haste to find my passport :( Now what will I do when I'm listening to TBTL?!

I just realized I've not even said what my flight is for! I'm going to Botswana to do vaccine research at the University of Botswana in Gaborone. I'll be working in the same lab that I worked in after freshman year. Here's a little blurb:

A new method used in this lab for making vaccines for various diseases involves the tobacco plant. Epitope sequences code for the attachments to the virus’s coat proteins that are recognized by the host animal’s antibodies. These sequences can be inserted into the sequence for the coat protein of the tobacco-mosaic virus, which is used as a scaffold to express these antigens, using PCR. This creates a vaccine that presents very few side effects for the host. This process is very inexpensive, fast, and can be done on a large scale. What I worked on in the summer of 2009 was researching epitope sequences for rabies and rift valley virus. I also assisted students in their endeavors to successfully express epitopes on the tobacco-mosaic virus for lumpy skin disease and rotavirus. This summer, I'm continuing this research. Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a bovine disease which is similar to foot-and-mouth disease. This disease is a huge problem in areas like Botswana, where cattle is a main source of wealth, because there is no current treatment for the disease. The Vaccine Development Institute is collaborating with the University of Botswana to develop a new vaccine for LSD to prevent the economic losses caused by it. My project proposal is to design two new epitope sequences that can be used as vaccine candidates for LSD. I would then order the DNA primers necessary for the PCR process in the United States before travelling to Botswana to work with Dr. Sununguko Wata Mpoloka in the University of Botswana’s lab. While in Botswana, I would perform the gene cloning steps of the vaccine development procedure and insert this vaccine into tobacco plants to begin manufacture of the vaccine. Prior to my departure, I expect to be able to extract these vaccines and begin testing their viability as vaccines.

Haha yes, that was taken from one of my applications. At any rate, it's pretty exciting stuff.

I'm not sure what my internet will be like when I get there, but since I am at the University, I think I'll have internet at least part of the time. Au revoir, my friends, and bon voyage til we meet again.

LeeAnn xx

Academics, I vanquish thee.

I just got out of my final final. All of them (Chem, History, and Cell Bio) went decently. I'm pretty sure I'll get As in Chem and Bio but I'm really not sure about History. I know I wrote decent essays for the exam but we'll see. And at this point, who cares?!

I am totally, completely, and utterly brain-dead.

Also, a ski bunny :)

My parents sent me ski gear as part of my Christmas present. There were two envelopes in the box as well, but I think I'll wait until Christmas to open those.

Aggghhh I almost don't even know what to do with myself now that exams are over. I could start packing up, go to the gym, walk around, go shopping, chill at home, go to a coffee house.... The possibilities are endless!

Can't wait for the rest of my vacation here :)

xxx

LeeAnn

LIBRARY

I think I should change my permanent address to the library. I spend all of my time here now...

In fact, there's practically nothing to say because I've done nothing other than revise. Here's the highlights- but are they really lowlights? I'm going to do a round of Awesome Not Awesome for you all. This is a segment from TBTL- if the thing is Awesome, it gets a "RAWR" and if it's Not Awesome, it gets a "C'MON!" Here goes:

Chem final RAWR

could have gone better (the practice tests online were easier than the real tests) but I think I still got an A (which is a pretty easy feat in this grading system for science students, actually)

Working out after Chem final RAWR

Spending 12 hours in the library on Wednesday C'MON!

The beautiful natural light is the only reason I tolerate this place.

Mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception RAWR

Getting a pinched nerve in my thumb from writing so much C'MON!

it's kinda getting better and I'm pretty much done writing for revision. On the plus side, my notes are beautiful- look at the pretty colors!

Skyping yesterday with Tasha, Marissa, and Faith (seperately) RAWR

Inheriting things from Tasha RAWR

I'm getting her fridge, hot water kettle, fuzzy blanket, lamp, and lounge pillow while she's abroad :D

Discovering the leak in our flat did not get fixed C'MON

the security guards came by yesterday and said the flat next door had a leak, which was supposedly fixed last week when they disabled our shower. They are not doing that again-they can wait a gd week until everyone leaves for Christmas break and noone's home.

Christmas episode of Glee RAWR

Snow partially melting C'MON

as much as I'd love to see the snow gone, this leaves a layer of water over the refrozen ice, making walking about a million times more difficult than it was yesterday

Recurring dream about leaving C'MON

in this dream, which I've had 3 times, I find myself at home having left the UK in a hurry. None of my things are packed properly and I've not said goodbye to anyone

Scripps housing crunch C'MON C'MON C'MON C'MON C'MON C'MON

this gets a millions C'MONs. Scripps needs to get their act together. Noone wants to live on south campus Pomona. This whole problem could have been avoided if they stopped admitting so many gd freshman and started using the waitlist more. SERIOUSLY. I had better get a room on Scripps, even if it is a double.

So, it seems that I've done more than I thought, although I really have been spending all my time at the library.

This is my "Finals Bemuse me Face." I'm off to get a coffee from the library cafe...

Long Time, No Blog

Hello my peoples.

I am very sorry I have been remiss on posting to my blog- so much as been happening! I will try to be better about it from now on.

Sooo- I will be posting a few blog posts all at once, to be found under this one. I know- SO OVERWHELMING.

Here's a recap of the new ones (this list is least recent to most recent but they're posted most recent to least recent, ie "Nat visits" is on the second page- scroll down and click "older posts"). I recommend reading them in the order listed below:

Nat visits

Maria visits/ St.Andrews

Spring at Scripps

Dad visits

Audrey visits

SNOWMG

Revision

Christmas Homesickness

I now invite you to kick back, put on some Christmas music (that's what I'm listening to), perhaps pour a glass of wine or tea, have a seat by the fire, and catch up on my goings-on.

Or you can stay where you are and just skim them, looking at the pretty pictures. It's up to you.

Love,

LeeAnn xxxx

Christmas homesickness

On Friday we had our IFSA-Butler (that's the American program that my school goes through) farewell tea. It was kinda bittersweet because I realized I wasn't going to see most of my casual acquaintances from that program again. It was also bittersweet because everyone kept talking about how soon they're going home.

Most people are leaving by the 18th December because that's when exams end. That was my original plan (Plan A) too, until my mom convinced me to stay overseas for the holiday, since I was going to be there anyways.

Then I thought, why doesn't my oldest cousin come to meet me and we can spend the holidays with our family in Europe? Following Plan B gave me an arrival date in the States of 5th January- still a week and a half at home before semester at Scripps starts on 18th January.

However, Plan B quickly gave way to Plan C at the urging of Sarah, Zoe, and Alice on Halloween. Plan C now involves a ski trip in the French Alps (!), but means I won't get back until 12 January. The obvious problem: I have 3.5 days at home before moving back to Scripps on 16 January.

This would have been fine because my original arrival time was going to be in the early evening (dinnertime), which gave me another half day. But then, after recalling my dad's travel problems, I realized this wasn't going to work. To save money, I booked a round-trip flight from Chicago O'Hare to Edinburgh. My plan was to fly Alaska to and from Chicago. Coming here, I stayed in Chicago for a few nights with my uncle and his family (see wayy below).

However, going back was just going to be a simple layover. I though, nbd- two hours is plenty of time. Until I realized that since my flight reservations weren't connected, AND the international terminal is different than the domestic terminal, it would be a lot harder than originally thought. I would have to clear customs in terminal 5, get my bags from baggage claim, get to terminal 3, re-check my bags at the Alaska counter, get through domestic security (and Chicago is the WORST for getting through security), and get to the Alaska gate. I started to realize that 2 hours from arrival to departure was NOT going to be enough time. Luckily, there's more flights that will get me from Chicago to Seattle that day, preventing an overnight layover. My choices: straight-shot that arrives at 10:20 or via Portland which only saves me an hour. I think I'll end up opting for the straight flight because it gives me more time (2 extra hours in Chicago). I really have no idea how long this switching process is going to take, and I can't think of anything more stressful than running around the airport like a chicken with it's head cut off after traveling cross-Atlantic. Sooo, that means I'm really missing out on the entire evening at home.

When I discovered this in the library, I almost cried. Well, a few tears escaped but I managed to keep it from becoming a full-blown sobfest. To be fair, I think this also had to do with my choice of music: Rascal Flatts is pretty emo for a country band.

Anyways, I'm better now and I have a LOT of things to look forward to: Christmas on Islay with Christy (and a real family!), maybe visiting Robbie on his farm, New Year's in Edinburgh, the ski trip, and a chance to say goodbye to all my uni friends here/my Scripps friends coming for spring semester since I'm leaving after term starts. Even so, exams are putting me off of happy thoughts and making me realize how long I've actually been here- 12.5 weeks. It's a long time to be away from home, and even though I think I talk to my parents more often than when I'm at Scripps, it's unusual that I haven't been home yet for the semester. And there's the entire US and about miles of water separating us.

So, my mood's a bit melancholy at the moment, but I'm almost positive it will pass once I get past exams. Plus, Robbie's taking me to see the Secret Gardens at the Festival Theatre this Sunday. Since he's a bartender there, he gets free tickets to shows. YAY! If it was the Nutcracker, it would be perfect, but this is going to be pretty good as is.

ALSO, today I made a realllly pretty Christmas ornament at the National Museum of Scotland, for FREE. The museum liked mine and my flatmate Giulia's so much that they took our picture with our finished ornaments. Pretty cool, eh? Maybe they'll put me on the website.

Pretty awesome huh? There are 4 sides, but those two are my favorite.

Anyways, mucho love to all of you!

LeeAnn xxxx