Week two is now over and it has flown by just as fast as before. Monday saw me attempting to work out the 7am shuttle bus to Framingham, and then a second internal shuttle bus to my building that I will be working at for the next coming weeks. It was an interesting experience at such an early hour but I made it there in the end to be greeted by my supervisor, Martin, who introduced me to everybody in the lab and showed me around. By the end of my first hour there, every member of the lab had come over and introduced themselves to me, which made me instantly feel so welcome. Generally this week I have been doing more training and reading specific 'standard operating procedures' for the work that I will be doing, and shadowing various people in areas such as plate streaking and plate counting. I have also been sharing the workload of another intern, Kate, (not from saltire) and she has been really helpful in helping me learn where everything belongs in the lab! I have already made some really good friends at work and I will be very sad if the next six weeks run away as fast as the first two have. After a chat with my manager Michael on Friday afternoon it seems that I will continuining training and shadowing next week, and possibly be doing some real practice towards the end of the next week, which is a little daunting! He also mentioned that once I am fully trained they are planning a four week side project for me, which will be challenging but I am very excited for it. 

As for outside work this week has been busy busy busy. My parents flew out for a holiday on Monday, so there have been lots of nice dinners and showing them around, however they seem to have picked up what's what in Boston more than I have! They love it here in Harvard Square where we are living, and showing them around made me really appreciate just how lovely it is here and how lucky we are! On Friday night we made some friends that go to Harvard and went along to meet everybody, they were all really friendly, and they all worked in Biology so naturally i was overexcited to speak to them. Yesterday myself and Christine hit the shops and then swam in the pool at my parents hotel, which could have been a much needed rest until we decided to swim 50 lengths..it took ages. Last night saw a lovely dinner at the hotel before an early night to catch up on all those early 6am rises that I am only just getting used to! Today we are off to Salem in the car, which is all about what they used to do to the witches here, so I am excited to see that. I have just realised there is no food/water/milk in the house, so I'm hoping the parents can come to the rescue with that as well..

Steph x