Day 19

Finally almost all the papers are done! But I only get my house in the end of November, when I return from California. After that I will start sending invitations to visit Cologne and if you don't come, you can't blame me!!
I spent the past days designing my experiments which is a good way to start but now I am looking forward to actually working and producing my results. I know that time will come soon but sometimes I wish it would be now. The trip to California seemed like a very good idea when I signed up for it. But now that is here, part of me would prefer to stay and finish the paperwork and start decorating my house ... Only time iwll tell if I made the right choice or not ...
Meanwhile, thank you to those that have actually read this and made comments. The rest of you have certainly forgot me by now. I don't blame you.

see you
Lilia

Day 9

I found a new hobby. Its incredibly simple and one may think its rather boring but its not. In the vening, after I leave the lab I walk around the city . Unfortunaqtely by camera is very bad for night pictures so I won't show them here but I discovered very interesting things about the city I might not have otherwise known. There is a Philarmonic Orchestra place (I am affraid I don't know the technical name for it). I passed by there and it was nice to see the locals all dressed up for the show. It was also very cool to see a guy with a xylofone. Not those colored things we all had as kids but a real one. And the guy was very good at it. I passed by him on the way to the river-side where I planned to have dinner. When I returned I wanted to drop him a few coins (which I rarely do) but the guy was already packing up to leave ... so he didn't get my 0.2€. Yesterday I took another walk but this time it was much closer and not-so-interesting (especially because it was raining). But for some reason rain here is not as annoying as rain in Portugal. Perhaps because its more constant. In Portugal we tend to have strong showers that make you totally wet. Here its just that chuva-molha-parvos. Even without an umbrella I managed to walk. But I do have one, a very pink one, I'lll have to take a picture of it sometime.
If nothing else these walks allow me to get to know the city and find my way arround. And before the sun sets I really get to see the city in a new light. The tress in particular are getting these lovely red colors. Of course I know this is a side effect from chlorophyll dying and we get to see the carotenoids

Day 6

Today was just another day. I learned that I have to wait yet another week to have the contract for my house (which is delaying just about every other paper I need) until Monday because the people from the agency had this brilliant idea of sending it to the university's international office, which in turn is on holiday till monday. Great ....
Meanwhile I am continuing to plan my experiments which is what I am here to do anyway. I am doing good progress in that i think, though I won't go to the bench for a while to come still. Now I am going shopping for food (always a small adventure)!

Day of the marathon

Viva a República!

aside from that, it turns out there is/was a marathon this morning in the city but it sounded more like Carnaval outside. People were cheering and making all sorts of noises with all sorts of props. there was even a drum band of some kind in one of the side streets. I was an interesting change of scenario for the day. Other than that I expect a dull Sunday.

Day 4

Today was a slow day, like yesterday. I went for a walk in the city, trying to get a mental picture of the streets here. It is not very difficult and amazingly I didn't get lost. There were a lot of tourists in the center but the city itself was emptier than usual. But of course this is all relative, this city is never empty. I am a long way from Oeiras indeed.

Day of the Re-Unification

I come from the land of holidays and bridges to a country where people actually work. But it turns out that in my very first week there is a holiday ... on a Friday. So here I am talking from an empty room. There are a few more people on the building but no more than those I saw working in a holiday in Portugal.
Yesterday was Kölsch night (as are many nightes here). Its good beer ... but it can leave quite a headache. I was out with some of the people I will work with and others from close groups. It was fun! Unlike in Oeiras or Lisboa for that matter, here when you go out you walk/bike to where you want to go and then walk/bike back home. You don't have to worry about parking and everyone can drink. The only problem is the headache the next day ...

Day 2

Hello friends and comrades,

I know some of you were wondering if I was still alive (the rest that don't care might as well not continue reading). I arrived in the city on the 29th and started "working" yesterday.
So far so good. I am still stuck in paperwork and I still don't have an apartment but things are improving ... slooowwwly. The good news I picked an apartment, I am just waiting for the paperwork from the agency. Meanwhile I am staying at a hostel. Its a cheap and nice place and I get to meet a bunch of different people.
Nevertheless, as you can imagine (and some of you know), it gets lonely here. The faces are not familiar yet and even though they are mostly friendly its not the same as being back home. But I will manage.
I want to hear from all of you. So post replies here and email me. I miss the talks I had, scientific and otherwise and if you want to continue them. Please email me or leave them here. Don't be worried that I won't have time. If I am busy it will just take me a few days to reply but be certain that I will.

New post tomorrow

beijos
Lilia

PS - Distribute this blog address to anyone that asks about me