A word about the labs...

The professors back at Emory & Henry might want to take note of this posting regarding the labs. The labs remind me of the labs in the old Gibson (pre M-S days). They are small (maybe 6' x 12') and its not so easy to find stuff. One hood exists in each lab, and many reactions are occurring at the same time in the hood. The ventilation isn't the best (partly because Beijing is so hot and that there's construction going on outside) but they do their best considering the situation. I wonder what chemicals I am inhaling?
As for safety, I am one of the few that wears safety glasses (ones I brought from home). Not everyone wears closed-toe shoes. They wouldn't pass American safety standards (but we aren't in America, are we?). But the labs are safe if everyone follows the general safety rules.

Hanging out in the lab...

I just happened to start working with my grad student right as he was finishing up a project and trying to submit a journal article. So he's been working all week on that. So I'm cleaning glassware and trying to read this huge book about palladium reactions. But next week should be more interesting once the professor gives a new project.
I failed miserably at trying to go to Wal-Mart on Friday afternoon. I got caught in a torrential downpour while wearing my tennis shoes and thus waterlogged them. It's been 24 hrs and they are not quite dry yet. I might go there tomorrow before my lab meeting at 6 pm. Saturday has been pretty boring. I don't think most of us have done anything substantial (except for those who went to work today).

Work!

I've survived the first 3 days in the lab. I followed several grad students in the lab this week watching them conduct different experiments. I haven't been able to figure what exactly is going on from these experiments but the professor is supposed to give us a briefing next week. My mornings don't seem very interesting right now but they will get better. I have enjoyed spending my evenings running samples through the GC. My workdays are approximately 0830 to 2000 depending on traffic and when I decide to take lunch and dinner breaks. We'll see how the rest of the week goes.

More photos

I've posted more photos of things I've done since June 1. This includes eating Peking duck, seeing the Peking Opera, and my trip to Xi'an.
View my pictures here.

Note: most of these pictures are dark because of local restrictions on the use of flash photography at several locations.

Liquid or gel?

I'll be using Chinese toothpaste for the rest of this trip after my toothpaste was seized by the cops at the airport. The sign clearly said "no liquids" but mentioned nothing about gels. But toothpaste doesn't flow like a liquid and adheres like a solid.

So was I wrong for trying to take toothpaste in my carry-on bag?

What I've learned

Ten things I've learned (and things you might want to learn as well):
1. Chinese is hard as hell to learn. The same word can have 4 different tones, and therefore 4 different meanings.
2. Chinese food here is so much different (and better) than the crap they call "Chinese food" back in the U.S.
3. Be prepared to eat a car emissions sandwich every day (although the government has done a good job of keeping the air clean-you can see the mountains on good days!)
4. People on bicycles will run over pedestrians. Same thing applies to taxis and buses. I've had some close calls.
5. Hold on for dear life on the bus. You're in there with about 75 of your closest friends at rush hour.
6. Get used to hanging your laundry out to dry after it gets washed.
7. White people get terrible prices at shops catered to westerners.
8. The labs aren't always ventilated or air conditioned. So be prepared to smell like benzene all summer.
9. Wal-Mart Supercenters in China aren't 24 hours. I found out the hard way.
10. My face turns red after consuming a small amt. of alcohol. So I won't be drinking the rest of this trip.

Xi'an: Sunday

Got a good American breakfast at the hotel this morning. We went off to see a mosque (Muslims actually live in Xi'an). We then went down the Muslim street where people sell their wares. I don't recommend going there. A storekeeper pushed Allison after she touched the pieces on an already opened mahjong set. Daniel prevented the situation from escalating. We then went to a factory that makes silk rugs. We then went on a wild goose chase to find (are you ready?) the Wild Goose Pagoda. The pagoda suffered earthquake damage and leans to one side. After seeing a water show in the public square, we headed back to Beijing.

Our tour guide, Daniel, was excellent! He was very knowledgeable about the city and is a very personable guy. Get him as your tour guide if you go to Xi'an.