1st lecture

If the first day of class gives any insight to what the term may be like, there is one word that could describe the upcoming months: surprising.

The first surprise was that the Biochemistry department has a new interim-director: Dr. Davidson. The second surprise came mid-way through his orientation lecture. The Charter Hall fire alarms suddenly went off. What was most amusing was the lack of response the student body and professors in attendance displayed to the extremely loud alarm. There was a shocked gasp in the crowd immediately following the first burst of shrill noise, but after that there was only a moderate level of chatter among the students. We all sat in the lecture hall for approximately 5 minutes, waiting for someone to silence the noise and allow us to resume our lectures. Then Dr. Davidson's voice came across the lecture speakers informing us that we were to evacuate the building as "...we have no idea what is going on." All 400+ students filed out the doors into the steamy midday sun and stood around for the next 15 minutes.

We were allowed back into the lecture hall, Dr. Davidson took up where he left off, and the remainder of the presentation went off without a hitch.

As we were returning to the hall, I did witness Dr. Martin examine one of the fire-alarm pull devices and comment that it lacked a dye pack and say with some humor that any student could come by and set off the alarms without having any way to identify who it was.
(Please note, this posting is not intended to encourage any student to take such actions as the student body would not view such behavior with any favor).

What amused me the most was the total lack of response, fear or alertness most all the students displayed to this fire alarm. Perhaps it is partially due to the nature of such noises on campus. For example, our room in SD 6 can hear fire alarms going off in other rooms at all hours of the day, with great frequency. Perhaps I'll keep a tally some day (or hour) while I'm studying. Then again, perhaps I'll keep my focus on my books.

Restart...

Term 1 classes begin today. However, my first lecture is not until Wednesday afternoon. Unlike last term, I've already met with several classmates and have organized a study group; and we have a plan to power through this term of biochemistry. I am truly looking forward to the opportunity to redeem myself and better understand the material that escaped me last term.

The new countdown timer at the left was my wife's suggestion. I'll add a new "break" timer so I can count down the days until I am home on little breaks. Christmas is the next holiday, and I was happy to find snoopy decorating his house. I imagine I will be doing the same as snoopy shortly after I arrive home. Although, I'm terrified at the pitch of our home's roof. Maybe I'll just put lites on the porch and garage; yeah, that'd be safer.

Warm days

Things are beginning to fall into place. We still lack network and internet in SD 6, but the students still put up at the Grand Anse campus have been cleared to move into their rooms in the newly opened wing of SD 6. The rooms still have the mild smell of fresh paint and grout.
We were also allowed to lock our doors yesterday! This may not seem like that big a deal, but we were just issued our keys. This is a major improvement from the previous day and a half where we and our neighbors were left to use duct tape or some other object to prevent the self-locking doors from closing when we left.

On a more personal note, I have now been cleared to register as a student again. I will only be taking one class, but I will perform well enough to make up for the extra time I will be spending on this island.

Although it is a good thing I am seeking this profession. Today while trying to clean up my haircut with my trimmers, I forgot to adjust the comb height properly. I was painfully aware of this lapse while looking in my mirror at the bright white streak down the side of my scalp. I had no choice but to continue the same height cut all over my head, and I am now left with little more than 1mm of hair. I look like a brand new chia pet... but much more pale.

I will have to wear sunscreen and/or a hat to prevent this from burning under the VERY hot and humid sun here along the equator. Sunsets are still rapid, although it seems to be taking quite a while for them to start. I am sure that will all change once classes start next Wednesday.

Lucky boys....

So, in my note yesterday I may have mentioned that I had no idea as to when I'd be allowed to move into my preassigned room in SD6. Turns out, my roomates and I were VERY fortunate to have been selected for the "A" wing of SD 6. We moved into our "home" on campus last night. We're in. It's done. We have running water, power, A/C, and a fully functioning kitchen. The only thing we're missing is network and internet access from our rooms. However, compared to Grand Anse, this is true luxury.

Apparently, by the time our third member arrived, the RAs on the G.A. campus informed him that they had no more rooms. If we had not been permitted to move in, he and a number of others on his flight would have to have slept on the floor or be put up in a hotel somewhere.

Regardless, it is very comforting to know that I am settled and I will shortly be attending my first course, Parasitology, this morning.

Take care and keep in touch.

Update...

I'm now on campus and looking around there is some noteworthy points. First, Monday 8/11/08 the campus is closed. The housing office is open, Q Store and Pearl's are open on limited hours.

Classes begin tomrrow for term 2. 8am - noon Bell Hall -- Genetics and Parasitology.



Bring your printout full registration form.


I'll try to post images of the notes I got this info from soon.

Good luck!

What's old is still new...

Welcome back everyone. After a beautiful long summer break I have, along with many of my classmates returned to "the rock" Grenada. Our homcoming, however, was not what many of us expected. Those of us scheduled to live in "Super dorm 6" were sent an e-mail last week informing us that the True Blue (think on-campus) campus would not currently be able to accommodate us, and we were to report to Grand Anse (think old-school off campus housing) campus.

As far as we can tell, there is no set time frame for our return to the main campus, and best estimates of completion of our dorm range anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks.


As for the current housing here on Grand Anse, between my roommate and I we have 1 set of keys. But fortunately we can unlock the front door (True Blue automatically lock when closed). My roomate was kind enough to let me borrow his bed sheets (mine being still in storage) when I arrived because the mattresses are not something you would want to lay upon without some covering.




Electricity appears to work, although there are no US style outlets, only British. Lighting seems to be touch-and-go. The overhead lights worked last night, to my roommates amazement; apparently when he arrived 2 days ago, they did not function.

When I walked in and turned on the bathroom light, his jaw dropped as he asked "how'd you do that?"



But we do have an air-conditioner.







As for the city, this is apparently, Carnival and there was a party at the stadium at about 3am last night. We could not hear or see it, but were simply told about the wild events. As such, today is a national holiday and I'm praying I'll be able to find an open grocery store or someplace to grab a bite to eat. I'd hate to sustain myself on my Snyder's Buffalo-hot-wing pretzel bites for the whole day.

Soon, I'll head into the True Blue Campus to try to find out some more information about housing, registration and the like. More postings to follow