Salve tutti!

Just wanted to send another update... A lot has happened since the last email! Work is going very well...I am learning a lot, and using my hands more and more. This week I have been extracting RNA to determine the integrity (RIN: RNA Integrity Number) of the gene marker for colon cancer, assisting in projects with IL4Ralpha (which causes immunosuppression of T-cell response,) and I have been given my own line of cells (lymphoblasts; Sica-EBV... not that I expect you all to know what that means) to follow... simply to practice with... It will not be long before they give me my own project to do :-D

I have been learning a lot about myself as well, as expanding my scientific background. As you all know the beginning was very tough for me, and I had to face and overcome many adversities.
 However, I finally adjusted and have been making friends everyday even though I am in the lab from 8:30am to about 6pm Monday-Friday. Great prep for graduate school!

I am now capable of dealing with bureaucratic nonsense, phone companies (not fun), food shopping and other day to day things.To be honest, the most difficult and scariest thing is probably riding my bicicletta that I just bought and installed a cestino (basket.) It is safe and easy to ride it in the city, but you just need to  be very cautious. The drivers here are pazzissimi (very crazy,) and stop for nothing! But I have been very safe :) Only fell once... getting off the bike. Ma sono tutto bene! Nessuno mi hanno visto.. io penso?  (no one saw me.. i think?)

The thought about staying an extra year, or even for graduate school still crosses my mind. This past week, I started a course in Oncologìa (Oncology,) which is of course ALL in Italian. I was surprised that I could understand just about everything! Looks like my Italian has really improved! However, I am learning the Veneto dialect, and some other expressions... which have dual meanings, so I need to be careful of the context I use them in :-D

Quindi, tutti vanno bene! (Everything is going well)

I am sorry that I have yet to post pictures.... I don't have any of my friends and I yet.. but soon! hopefully by the beginning/middle of November.... (I am now officially on Italian time... so bare with me.) haha.

With love,

PJ