Spring break ended over a week ago, yet I am having a hard time getting back into the flow of studying, school work, and paperwork. Since I will not have another break until December, I decided that I wouldn't spend any of my break on school, and instead focused on relaxing and taking pictures. Armed with a new camera (a Canon T2i), Wil and I followed the coast and spent 3 days exploring the peninsula. It was a wonderful trip filled with laughter and smiles.
I love the new camera, I am learning a lot, especially in regards with the manual settings. I've never had a camera which allowed me to have total control of every aspect, especially aperture, shutter speed, and exposure. It's both intimidating and liberating. I've also discovered the wonders (and frustrations) of RAW files. It's been an interesting lesson in photo editing. Considering that lighting technique and editing are my two biggest weaknesses, my next big purchase will be Photoshop CS5. I am still a student, so I can get a huge discount on the program.
I'm really interested in street photography and doing portraits of strangers. I've spent the past 3 years of my life studying people on the cellular and molecular level, so I suppose it makes sense that in regards to photography, people capture my attention. However, I am very shy around strangers, making it difficult to ask if I can take their picture. Yesterday I swallowed my shyness and managed to ask not one, but two people if I could take their picture. I have the advantage of being a woman, which are usually viewed as less threatening. As a guy, Wil could come across as creepy by approaching women on the street and asking if he can take their photo. Fortunately he is as gregarious as I am shy. We work well together, each compensating for the other's weakness.
The pink hair helps too; People see the pink hair and they assume that I am an artist. I get some pretty weird looks when I explain that I am actually a scientist. Apparently pink-haired scientists are unusual.
3.21.2011
3.02.2011
California vs. Indiana
It should be noted that I was raised in a home that I would consider culturally Californian. My mom was always very health conscious about the food she made for dinner; meat was always lean, there were always at least two or more types of vegetables, and usually no more than one carb dish.
Needless to say my biggest culture shock wasn't France or Norway or Sweden. My biggest culture shock was Indiana, and the shock was entirely food-based.
Which leads to last night.
Last night Wil generously decided he would cook me dinner so I would have more time to focus on studying for mid-terms. Wil is from Indiana.
The resulting conversation:
Me: "What is this?"
Wil: "Chicken and rice and mashed potatoes."
Me: *looks confused*
Wil: "What? You like my chicken and rice."
Me: "Yes. But why mashed potatoes?"
Wil: "Don't you like mashed potatoes?"
Me: "Yes. But we already have rice. We can't have potatoes AND rice."
Wil: "Why not?"
Me: "Because, that's two carb-based dishes. You can't have two carb-based dishes in one meal. It's unnatural. It's like having more than one type of meat in a meal."
Wil: "See, this is why you had issues in Indiana. In Indiana, potatoes and rice are a perfectly acceptable combination. Only in California would they have any issues."
Me: "But it doesn't make any sense!"
Wil: "Fine. Mix them together; that way you have one carb-based dish."
Me: "That's cheating! Hoosier!"
Wil: "It works. Hippie."
Needless to say my biggest culture shock wasn't France or Norway or Sweden. My biggest culture shock was Indiana, and the shock was entirely food-based.
Which leads to last night.
Last night Wil generously decided he would cook me dinner so I would have more time to focus on studying for mid-terms. Wil is from Indiana.
The resulting conversation:
Me: "What is this?"
Wil: "Chicken and rice and mashed potatoes."
Me: *looks confused*
Wil: "What? You like my chicken and rice."
Me: "Yes. But why mashed potatoes?"
Wil: "Don't you like mashed potatoes?"
Me: "Yes. But we already have rice. We can't have potatoes AND rice."
Wil: "Why not?"
Me: "Because, that's two carb-based dishes. You can't have two carb-based dishes in one meal. It's unnatural. It's like having more than one type of meat in a meal."
Wil: "See, this is why you had issues in Indiana. In Indiana, potatoes and rice are a perfectly acceptable combination. Only in California would they have any issues."
Me: "But it doesn't make any sense!"
Wil: "Fine. Mix them together; that way you have one carb-based dish."
Me: "That's cheating! Hoosier!"
Wil: "It works. Hippie."
Juneau
As of late May, I will be heading to Juneau for the entire summer! I am incredibly excited; Juneau is absolutely beautiful in the summer, and my favorite family members live there. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking, with a glacier, rain forest, and endless hiking. From what I hear, the lab is a little quiet, but hopefully I will get more experience with a busier lab setting when I return in the fall. A quiet lab may give me time to study and learn new aspects about medical lab science.
One thing I need to do is go back to the Treadwell Mine ruins and take pictures. The old buildings make for some amazing photo ops.
(Photo by Deanna Nichols)
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