I am now settled into my new apartment up in Vacaville and enjoying the fresh smell of ... well ... cows! Actually, this town is amazing complete with shopping outlets, mountains (and sunsets!) out my window, and a quick drive to UC Davis. Did I mention you can actually see the stars at night?? This makes me very happy.
Graduate school has been going extremely well. There is a lot of freedom in my program, Biophysics, to study whatever I want to with a handful of friendly teachers, one of which has already beaten me in tennis :( I am only required to take 1-2 classes a quarter, giving me plenty of time to focus on my own research and, of course, sleep (: I am learning a lot of AMAZING things about the science of life and enjoying every minute of it. God has definitely led me to the right place, and the more I learn, the more to Him be the glory.
Currently, I'm finishing up in a lab where I've created a protein that's never been seen before using site-directed mutagenesis, PCR, and EPR. In laymen's terms, I'm mutating a protein in order to determine it's structure. The class of proteins I'm working with are directly involved in the onset of Alzheimer's Disease--a very noble cause. I'll be able to rotate through three more labs before choosing my major professor, gaining some much needed lab skills in this subject they call suspiciously call "biochemistry" (what is that??, says the physicist).
I've been making plenty of friends up here, including some Biola alumni. Pumpkin carving, corn mazes in the dark, taboo, and country line dancing are some of the activities that have been occupying my free time. Many of you have supported me through the years bringing me to where I am now, and for that I am very grateful. To those of my friends in Los Angeles and PA, no one will be able to replace the friendships I've established with many of you. I hope we can continue to keep in touch!
