One day...

A Few Pictures of Cork

5 Down

Well, I have come to the end of yet another week here.  Classes are going strong and the work load is starting to pick up a bit.  I had my second anatomy cadaver laboratory this week.  Things were a bit better then the first time around.  I think it was because we were dealing with an easier topic and had some idea of how to conduct ourselves in the lab.  Supervision and direction were still missing from the staff in the lab, but I think we are adapting to the situation.  My other classes are moving along as well.  They are still primarily lecture classes with associated readings that we discuss after each lecture.  They are still very much in the theory and ethics realm of study and less of the practical realm.  As much as I dislike theory and ethics, it is fundamental to any Master's and/ or PhD dissertation.  I will have at least one chapter of my dissertation devoted to theory so I best just suck it up.  I am going to begin writing my first paper for the course later this week or early next week.  The paper must relate to the course 'Biocultural Approaches to Human Osteoarchaeology.'  Sounds like fun, huh?  I am planning on writing about the relationship between individual vs population based studies of human skeletal systems.  I am hoping to knock out two birds with a single stone by writing a paper now that I will then be able to use, with only slight modification, in my final dissertation.  One of the theoretical approaches I am going to be using and criticizing is the bases of individual vs population based studies.  So if all goes well, I should have a jump start on the theoretical background section of my master's dissertation before I even begin on it.

In other news, I am still working towards getting my green card.  I am hoping that by the end of the month everything will be sorted out and I will no longer have to deal with the Irish government for a while.  I have adjusted to life pretty well now.  I am still getting used to the slow pace of things.  I have made a few friends.  Everyone in the Master's program is getting along very well.  The other archaeology Master's program (Master's in Archaeological Excavation)  and our group have also been getting together so I have met a few more people there.  I also joined the UCC Archaeology Society as a means by which to become a little more involved and meet more people.

So that's pretty much the summary of this last week.  I have a busy week ahead of me.  Lots and lots of reading to be finished by Thursday.  I am hoping to have a meeting with my adviser to discuss my project and decide on a good skeletal population for me to work with.  Also, I need to start inquiring about access to a CT scanner.  I think I have figured out a way to incorporate some CT images into my master's thesis.  This way I stay connected to my original research ideas while pursuing a different course of application.

I have added several photographs from my first month in Ireland to Facebook.  I am going to try and add a slideshow or image gallery to this webpage as well, just have to figure out the easiest way to do that.  But for now, just check them out on Facebook.

It's Getting Cold

Went for my evening run tonight.  This being Ireland, I first had to wait for the rain to stop.  Within 3 nanoseconds after stepping outside I realized what a grave error I had made.  It was freezing cold, still slightly raining, and windy.  I, being well prepared for this type of weather, was in soccer shorts.  Luckily, I had a long sleeve Under Armour type shirt on.  It did nothing!  I was only able to run a few miles before I couldn't feel my toes.  But, I could feel every bit of metal in my knee.  I never even developed a sweat, the increase in body temperature was barely keeping me warm enough.  On the way back home, my iPod died.  I think it passed due to hypothermia.  Once home, I quickly changed into warm clothes and checked the temperature on my computer.  40 degrees Fahrenheit!  That's not counting the mist and the wind.  I know that's not very cold, but its been a while since I have been in the cold.  Missing So Cal weather right about now (just not those 90+ days).

 So, conclusions from tonight's run:

1.  No more running in the evenings.  Must now run in the mornings or better yet mid day
2. Check out on campus gym facilities for indoor aerobic machines
3.  Need to invest in long running pants
4. Buy sweater for the iPod

People are saying its going to be a bad winter this year.  I don't know what that means.  I am slightly nervous.