Student Bloggers
Pre-Departure Thoughts
Date
May 30, 2017
By Nathaniel Burola, STEM Summer Research Dublin, Ireland
As I write this blog post while resting in Santa Paula, California, I am overwhelmed by the excitement of finally being able to leave to Dublin, Ireland in order to start my summer research program! My flight leaves in a couple of days on May 30th 2017 at 7:30 pm. Most people would despair at the fact that it is a 10 hour flight from LAX to Dublin, however, it is perfect for me in the sense where I can easily fall asleep after watching a couple of movies. My apprehension of choosing what to pack in my suitcase has subsided over the past couple of days surprisingly! I guess I will have to fill out the remaining time and days until my flight leaves by brushing up on my scientific literature that my advisor sent me to be prepared for the fun but challenging summer ahead.
On an unrelated note, a bunch of my colleagues that are also going to Ireland formed a group chat, and they have been talking quite energetically. While my phone buzzes and dings every couple of seconds, it is reassuring to know that the people I will be spending time with for two months are full of life and passion. It sounds as if some of my colleagues are already in Dublin, hopefully they can show me around once I get there!
Nathaniel is a student at California Lutheran University and is blogging from his summer abroad on the STEM Summer Research - Dublin program, in Dublin, Ireland.