So for those that had no idea what I did this summer, want to learn more, or simply are bored and are reading this blog, I dedicate this blog to my summer. During October/November of 2008, I went online and found >200 professors that were doing research at various colleges (Georgetown, Tufts Med, Drexel Med, BU, etc…) and asked them if they had room for a summer intern. I found one that paid well ($10/hour) at Drexel College of Medicine under the chairman of Molecular Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, Brian Wigdahl, in Center City Philadelphia. I worked in his lab on the 18th floor of Hahnemann University Hospital from May 18th, 2009 to August 14th, 2009. The subject of interest was HIV. Paired under a graduate student, Luna Li, I studied a protein and its abilities to increase transcription.
But honestly, that’s all just boring stuff that one puts on a resumé. What I really did this summer? I rented my own apartment at 4247 Locust St. Apt. #813, Philadelphia, PA 19104 and had a blast. My girlfriend, Kinisha, and I were working in the same lab and we were both in Philadelphia for these three months. As you can already tell, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. After work form 9-5 every day, we sought to make full use of our days. For the first month, we tried to eat well and go to the gym. Note the key word, “tried.” After I came back from my vacation to Miami/Bahamas, we basically ate out every other day, for both lunch and dinner. We watched movies. We went to the mall. We went bowling (and I got a turkey!). We ate greasy cart food. We went kayaking. We went to see the Liberty Bell and parts of Historic Philadelphia. We celebrated our two year anniversary during the summmer. Like I said before, we had a blast.
But I don’t think that word really describes it. I mean, two college kids, with a car, getting paid, in a city. That’s only for a recipe for havoc. That’s simply what this summer was. But only in the best way possible.
Anyways, why am I writing this blog? No, not to bore you. I’m writing it because this is my goddamn blog and I’ll write whatever the hell I want to write about, such as the summer of ’09 in Philly that I spent with my girlfriend.
We learned a lot this summer, we learned a lot this summer, and we did a lot this summer.
Even though I grew up near NYC for 18 years, lived near Boston for 1 year, and only stayed in Philly for 3 months, I can definitely say that I know Philadelphia the best. There are these two restaurants that I simply fell in love with. Pietro’s (Italian), located somewhere by Walnut and 17th Street, and El Vez (Mexican…did I really need to tell you that?), located somewhere on 9th street, a couple of blocks south of Walnut. The best place of all, however, was Scoop De’ville, an ice cream parlour, located by the intersection of Chestnut and 18th St. Check that place out. It rocks.
Anyways, let me tell you a little about work. The first day of work, we were designated graduate students who would serve as our mentors. Kinisha’s graduate student couldn’t speak English fluently, and I thought to myself “hah, that’s going to suck for her…” My graduate student was stuck in China for a couple of weeks, so I had a temporary graduate student. When mine came back, I realized karma was out to get me. I could not understand her whatsoever. I mean, she grew up in China so I don’t blame her, and I’ve lived with parents that aren’t fluent in English by any means, but, seriously? How else was I supposed to learn what the hell annealing, primers, transcription factors, and such were without her being able to fully communicate? I eventually was able to glean from her speech and over time learned to understand her.
There are a few crucial words, I learned, to decipher throughout my time in the lab. Ready? ”Shaw,” “urally,” and “tapes.” Their translations: “thaw,” “usually,” and “tips.” Okay, it might not sound as bad when it’s here written out for you but try understanding that for the first time when she tells you to bring the “tapes” while the samples “shaw”, like it’s “urally” done. Meh.
Anyways, I once had a point to this blog. It got lost somewhere along the way. I hope to have an addendum later. Cya, for now.
