So, another week has gone by already, and now it’s June! I’ve been in Bermuda now for almost a month, and it has absolutely flown by. Got some good news yesterday, our crew has been selected to represent GB at the European Universities Rowing Championships in Amsterdam in August which is awesome. However this does mean I have to do as much training whilst here as possible, as I’ll only have two weeks or so to train with the other girls once I get back to the UK. So, in an effort to do as much training as possible, I’ve even started playing football twice a week. I hate football. Actually, I should probably say I’ve started playing soccer twice a week, as the majority of people here are American. The England vs US world cup match next week should be fun..... we’re going to have a beer-drinking contest whilst it’s happening (very American concept right?).
I’ve also been trying to do some more photography whilst I’m here, and have a reasonable amount of spare time on my hands (I go in to work pretty early so I have the late afternoon free too). I bought a new camera in October, and am still getting used to what it can do, and learning how to use it properly. I’ve gradually started uploading photos to Flickr, and it’s a wonderful way to spend time, as there are some beautiful photos up on Flickr. I’ve found a couple of photostreams from people who are obviously born to be behind a camera, and it’s a great opportunity to learn new stuff from groups and photos up on there. One Flickr user that I’ve been looking at is a girl called Rebeca, who has just completed her 365 project. It’s inspired me to have a go myself. I think. I’m going to first of all see if I can just make it a week with having remembered to take a photo every day, and see how it goes from there I think! For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, it’s a photo a day for a whole year. Some people chose to take a random photo every day; some people chose to do self portraits, or specific themes. I haven’t decided what to do for mine yet. I think it might be self portrait, but watch this space. Once I figure out how to stick photos in the blog too you might see some. For now, my photostream can be found here anyway.
Came second in the Swizzle Inn pub quiz last night which was good, although the other team from the research station beat us into first by a single point! Hmph. We still got a slab of beer from it though, so not an entirely wasted evening :)
Super excited today as the boyfriend is flying out for ten days to see me. Hoooooorah! Lots of climbing on the cards as he’s a climbing nut, and there are a few expats here who are super hard. The climbing itself is pretty sketchy here as the rock is a bit grim, but once it gets to this time of year and the water is over 20C, then the majority of it is deep water soloing (DWS), where you just climb routes that overhand the water, and if you fall off, well you just get wet (I mostly just squeal and fall in the water). Fingers crossed for some beautiful weather in the next week or so.
Ok here goes. I’ve never written a blog before, or let’s be honest, even contemplated writing one. For one, it does seem a little weird (perhaps just very English) to write about yourself, hell I even struggled writing my personal statement for university because of this. Secondly, is it not a little bit odd to write about yourself, and then publish it so that complete strangers can see it? Thirdly, why do I feel the need to write this anyway. Perhaps I’d better just stop there and say hi first of all and explain why I am actually doing this.
Well, if any of you reading this know me (who knows, maybe you don’t!), I do love to talk. I can’t help it. It runs in my family, definitely in the genes. So, in order to bore people less with me just rabbiting on about this and that, I thought why not write a blog instead. That way, if people get bored, they can just switch off. Or go and watch something on youTube. Brilliant pastime. Although the whole “strangers reading your blog” idea is a bit strange to me, maybe in some small, unknown way it will amuse/entertain/bore to tears/interest someone, somewhere (I hope?). I also have a fairly hectic schedule for the next few months, so hopefully this will be as good a way as any to keep people updated with what I’m doing, without resorting to updating my facebook status every day (ahem. I might sometimes do that already anyway).
So I begin. A little bit of information about me, myself and I if you please. I’m a postgraduate Marine Biology student, currently around half way through my 3 years of studying for my PhD. I’m already trying to blank out the fact that I have to write a 60,000 word thesis over the next year or so. Maybe writing this will help to write the thesis. I doubt it, but it’s a nice thought.
I’m currently living in Bermuda for three months, as part of my PhD, collecting and analysing data. Bermuda? Isn’t that in the Carribbean? No. And, contrary to popular belief, it’s not always 30 degrees and sunny here. In fact, it hardly ever hits 30 degrees. Having said that, the water is a beautiful azure blue, the skies are (mostly) clear and sunny and there ARE palm trees. Temperature is normally around 25-28 degrees in the summer. Unfortunately there are also ants, cockroaches, and approximately 90% humidity most of the time. The other thing you may not know, is that it is horrifically expensive to live here. Fortunately I’m based at the research institute out here, which is cheaper (I use that word very, very loosely) to live than anywhere else on the island. Food is insanely expensive, and therefore spending any amount of time here on a UK PhD income is the best enforced diet you will ever go on (voluntarily or not).
Whilst I’m not being a scientist (or pretending to be one at any rate), I spend a lot of time doing sports. My mother thinks I’m addicted to exercise. I’m not. Maybe a little. I’ve rowed for my university for the last 6 years (having rowed as a junior for my local town club), and it has become a bit of a way of life. It also provides an instant excuse if you are just feeling too lazy to want to go out on the lash ...... “ guys I’m really sorry, but I can’t. I’ve got an early morning outing tomorrow”. On the flip side of that, if you have an early morning outing, you really can’t go out on the lash the night before (believe me, I’ve tried it. And it wasn’t pretty). Some people can, but I’m a big wimp when it comes to late nights and early mornings. Give me 10 hours of sleep any day!
I think I’ll leave this first entry here. Wouldn’t want you all to be falling asleep in front of your computers now would we? I’ll try and update this reasonably frequently, or just when I get bored / can’t find anyone to listen to my ramblings. Maybe I’ll even stick in a photo or two (another fantastic way to spend time, as I’m quickly learning!).
