NIH Here I Come! February 18, 2009

Well,  I didn’t post much about the decision making process because, well, there wasn’t much to post.  It was kind of obvious to the both of us that DC was the more appealing place for us to move to and start our family/my career.   Hubby feels as though the job market is a bit more promising around DC, they actually just laid off a bunch of teachers in Boston, so those teachers will probably be moving out towards Worcester looking for jobs.  It was also very interesting that in Worcester we didn’t see a lot of diversity.  That would definately be a drawback if we are going to be adopting from another country, and there is no lack of diversity in the DC area.  We are very excited about our move, and I will keep you all updated on the progress we make towards our moving day.

I am really excited about the lab that I will be moving to.  Right now I work with bacteria, but in my new lab I will be working on fertilization.  It is a huge leap to a new field, but one that I am ready to make.  I had once regretted not going into a reproductive biology program, but now that is behind me because I will be in a reproductive biology lab after all!  The project that interests me the most as of right now is working on fertilization more from the sperm side of things, as well as figuring out how only one sperm is allowed to fertilize an egg.  So cool!

I am trying to really buckle down now and get my dissertation moving.  I have to have successfully defended by May 1st to qualify for May graduation, which I suppose isn’t a huge deal as long as I am done in time to leave here by July.   Everyone has been super supportive of me while making this decision, and I really appreciate it.  I promise to remember you all when I am famous! :-0

Trip to DC January 28, 2009

It wasn’t exactly a vacation, but hubby and I did have a chance to go down to DC and walk around for an afternoon. We walked all around National Mall and the White House. Was hoping to see Obama, no luck but I blew him kisses anyhow. It is amazing walking through the streets to see so many different people from so many different countries there to see our nation’s capital.

I love DC. This was only my second time, but it is just so inspiring being there. Our nation was being run while we were walking around taking pictures. Not only that, but the monuments are awe-inspiring. To be at the Lincoln memorial and think about one man struggling not only to free a people from slavery but also trying to hold a crumbling country together by its seams. Reading quotes from Thomas Jefferson about how our country was founded on the inalienable right to freedom from oppression. Despite our founding fathers’ faith in Christianity they believed in the freedom of religion. They believed in the ability of a person to fulfill their destiny through hard work and perseverance, not through entitlement. If only people of today’s America would embrace the fact that we are not the world’s greatest nation just because, we are the world’s greatest nation because people dreamed of a country where they had opportunity to become whomever they wanted. And people fought and died to protect the right to strive for success through effort and intelligence, not through money and privilege.

Anyhoo, my interview at the NIH went well. I loved the campus and facilities, and the lab itself was pretty great. The people seemed very nice and I felt a good vibe while there. They even liked my talk! Hubby and I are going to UMass next weekend for a visit, then we will have to sit down and make our decision. Anyway we call it, we will be on the East Coast this summer. I am very excited, but also a bit nervous about being so far from family. Well, we all have to leave the nest sometime, right?