Saturday, June 21, 2008

The Americans go...ice skating?

Yeah...we actually went ice skating this evening! This was my first time skating. It's just not cold enough to go ice skating in the winters in Virginia. We went skating in the basement of the world's second largest mall (it makes the Mall of America in Mpls look tiny!). I ended up spending my time hanging out near the rail as I tried to figure out how to skate without falling on my ass (which I was successful in avoiding). I think the key is staying low, keeping your arms out, and pushing forward on the ice (which I can't do all at the same time!). But I'll get better someday. I think we may go again in a couple weeks. The price wasn't too bad (50 RMB/$7.30 US). I thought it was pretty fun but I need to get better before I can really enjoy it.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

More work

So I attended my group meeting on Sunday night. Everyone has to give presentations on their work and present a summary of an article published in a major journal that is relevant to the group. I'll be doing that this Sunday as well. That sounds fun. This week I am helping Charlie (my grad student) purify his compounds to help him finish his paper. I learned how to isolate the desired product on a TLC plate and scrape off the top layer of the TLC plate. I also learned how to setup column chromatography. Once I remember how to set up the column, I will be in good shape as the rest of it is figuring out where the desired product is by TLC, then using the rotary evaporator to remove the solvent. I also am helping Charlie revise his paper so he can try to publish it in PNAS later this summer. I've been eating lunch with my fellow Americans and eating dinner with Charlie each day.