Our Safety Orientation Included BOMB SHELTERS: Eilat VLOG #1

As part of lab orientation Esra, Kim, and I had to undergo some training via a sophisticated power point. This power point consisted of FOUR chapters and ONE test to prove our proficiency. We all passed and I got to capture some fun moments. Enjoy the photos below and let Kim give you her BOMB safety briefing.

Know the dangers of any chemical you are working with!

Esra loved it!

We all passed the test and Kim got to play her train game (Ticket to Ride! Thanks Tyler and Katy....).

Why do I feel nothing?

Today someone asked me if I was excited to be going to Israel this summer. Truth is, I'm still waiting for this whole "I'm going to Israel for two months" fact to hit me. Even though I'll be in a new country, won't speak the language, and will have to start an ambitious science project, I'm not nervous, excited, or scared about it... What is that about?

Its probably just that I haven't really made much time to sit down and think about how cool this summer is going to be or how fortunate I was for even getting this opportunity. I guess graduate school, classes, grant proposals, presentations, and other projects keep me from dwelling on the future. Although, I'm starting to really look forward to it!


Stephan

I kinda feel like this Raccoon right now. Just chillin'

Who's tickling my legs!

Things are heating up in Santa Cruz! It was 86 degrees F this afternoon. That's 5 degrees less than what is typical for the month of July in Eilat!! Boy are we in for a hot summer.

In Santa Cruz our animals/insects are starting to notice the temperature change too. Our dog Pawesome has shed most of her Husky fur and made some unwanted friends... I'm talking about ticks!

Poor Pawesome! Ticks are rough.... WOOF.

Our housemate found that out the hard way today with a blood curdling scream. One of Pawesome's ticks had made its way up to her neck! Shortly after I felt a tick tickling my leg. Oooooof! Of course as a curious individual I had to take some close up pictures of it!!


Check out the photos below! You should see the tick moving to the top of my paintbrush and holding its first pair of legs out into the air in a position that seems similar to "questing." Questing ticks are waiting for an animal to come by. Once it does they grab on to it and begin the process of finding a place to settle down for a long meal! GROSS!.....

Radiolab did an excellent story on how ticks made people allergic to meat! Check it out here: http://www.radiolab.org/story/alpha-gal/