Work Update, etc...

Work has been going relatively the same. Currently I’m researching Extended Polytetraflouroethylen (ePTFE) tubing and it’s compatibility with blood as well as different coatings that can be applied to the material to reduce thrombosis and friction, increase blood compatibility, while keeping it from degrading when there is a chemical compound such as melphalan. I usually get here around 8:45 and shower and then down tons of tea. The morning is spent primarily checking e-mail and whatnot, but also getting stuff done. I notice I’m really getting this research thing down! And I feel I have developed quite the aptitude towards vascular anatomy and physiology. Usually by lunch time, one or two people have asked me what strange thing I have for lunch, but this week I can officially say “normal food.” I’ve also been helping the other interns in their experiments (they have been here since November). Run to the hardware store because I’m doing a strength test of the bonding materials used in the devices. Cool stuff. Though now my time here is starting to wind down. Tomorrow and the last few days next week are going to be spent refining and professionalizing the documents I have created. Aside from that I think I will actually miss this job. It’s just starting to get enjoyable talking to everyone, as well as being trusted with new jbs (though I was thrown into it right in the beginning)
Anyway, I’m still been running to and from work. Finally feeling a little running fit, but I’m starting to get really hungry. We have our presentations tomorrow which are going to be dumb. Ironically my subject is conflict.
Last night turned out to be a really awesome night. I had walked to Macquarie by myself to down a few quick drinks b/c either people were being boring and staying in or they weren’t back from work. Got there and had 2 Wild Wheat’s and a Bavarian. Then made it back to the Meriton by 8:30 and hung out in 704. I persuaded everyone to check out this bar called The Local Brewhouse. It’s a pub that on any given day has 20 beers on tap, from all over the world. They cycle through them on a 1-2 week basis and go through 200 different beers a year. THIS PLACE IS INCREDIBLE! I’m so happy I finally made it here. I tried Hefeweizens, Wit, Stouts, Red Ales, Lagers, ESBs, Pale ales, Pilsners, and many more. It was the most fluctuation in taste my palate has ever experienced! The atmosphere was relaxing and dim, and there weren’t many people there. They import their beer locally and globally, ranging from New Zealand, Germany, France, Austria, U.S. and more!
It was a very culturing experience and I hope to make it back once more before I leave.
Couple things I want to point out:
• I can go almost a week without seeing a single police car
• People here actively talk about their raging nights even at work
• Everyone runs with backpacks and it makes me angry
• People graduate high school at 16 and go to their specialty “college” right away. Not only do they go to college and get their degree, but there isn’t really such a thing as graduate school! Everyone enters the work force immediately. Not fair.
• The best conversations at work are what we would do if we won the lottery.
• People in Australia know more about America than Americans
• The best is watching the morning news and being able to talk about those issues at lunch.
• Not looking forward to leaving…
We plan on heading to kings cross tonight. Hopefully the weather is on our side and people aren’t indecisive and actually go out. Also Neil’s friend from high school is coming tonight, so we’ll have to show him a good time.

Rage on.