After our crazy weekend of travel last weekend, I was ecstatic to just chill out around the house this weekend. Last weekend we ventured to Butare, home of the National Museum of Rwanda and the national genocide memorial at Marambi. We travelled by minibus which is exciting and sort of stressful at the same time. Imagine our elation when Enrique's "Hero", Destiny's Child, and Aerosmith played throughout the ride. We were the rowdy Americans singing along as the silent stoic Rwandan's stared. They were completely annoyed but you know what, TIA right! The motto for the summer has now become Africa: Whatever Works. We were exhausted this week and after the stomach illness, it seemed best to take it easy. Friday night we walked to Republika for a dinner out and to say goodbye to Noel and Thomas. Yesterday we made ice cream at a friends house and cooked a feast for our 3 newest interns: Brandon, Erica, and Melissa. Roasted potatoes, fish curry, and tumeric potatoes - its a rough life right? There is quite a crew of us and we are all combining our culinary talents.
Apparently, on of the most Africa things to do is to take a motto. So, I took a motto to the grocery yesterday for 200 RWfr which is about 40 cents. What a steal. The head of our project from emory arrives on friday, Dr. Allen, and we are anxious to share our progress with her.
I had a break through in my project this week which I will attempt to explain in non-technical jargon. I'm here to set up a molecular technique (PCR) which requires expensive machinery and very fragile ingredients ie enzymes that MUST be kept cold and DNA that must be handled very carefully for preservation. When I arrived I was told that several reagents weren't working and the head of the lab had been unable to successfully get any product from these reactions. In a last ditch effort, I ran one more PCR on Thursday and tested it for product on Friday. And.... I got some! this is such a boost of confidence for my skills over here. Its one thing to perform a procedure in the safety of an emory lab with experts all around me, but doing it alone in an african lab where I'm a stranger is a whole other story. So, YEAH!
Hard work week ahead. I'll keep you all posted. By the way, I think we are training for a half marathon of sorts while i'm here. Should be interesting.
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2 comments:
Congrats on the PCR work! I know that can be a huge pain in ANY lab, so to do it with the limited resources you have over there is definitely a big accomplishment. I love you and I am glad you are doing well and enjoying all of your adventures.
Well written article.
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