Japan - Days 53-56

The past few days have been mixed, but fairly good on the whole
Monday was the usual 9am start, with my tutor giving his Monday morning presentation; it was something about viruses so I was sort of interested, though again, as it was all in Japanese I had no hope of understanding it. After this, I began my Western blot. Last week, I had planned out my schedule to ensure that I'd have enough time to fit in the Western blot, go to classes and go to kaiwa club. Well, you know what they say, "the best laid plans of mice and men go oft awry". I made my stacking and running gels, poured them into the casing, and by the time I needed to go to class, the stacking gel still hadn't set. After checking with a couple of the people in my lab, it turns out that a.) I hadn't mixed the running (bottom) gel correctly, as the density was different in different places, b.) There was still water between the layers, meaning the protein wouldn't have been able to pass through properly anyway, and c.) I hadn't put a layer of water on top of the stacking gel, so the air had stopped it from setting properly. So, in the interest of still being able to go to kaiwa club, I opted to skip Japanese class. I knew that there were no tests on the day, so I just texted my friend in the class and got him to send my apologies. In addition, when I went to the common room to input some data to the PC, I discovered that some of the guys in my lab had brought their DSes with them again and were playing together on Pokémon, but I'd once again left my DS in my room. After being supervised by a guy in the lab, I got my gel set okay. As he found out I wanted to leave for kaiwa club at 6.30, though, he helped me out by setting the gel on a faster run setting and letting me leave it a stage early to sit overnight, even though I said I was willing to miss kaiwai club in favour of completing the experiment, trying to show I was committed. However, they didn't seem to have any qualms with it, so I got out and away to kaiwa club on time :-) After sitting talking for a while, we went along to a place just off of campus. As one of my friends couldn't decide what to have, I went for the kara-age and she went for the spicy meatballs, so that if she didn't like the meatballs, we'd switch. As it transpired, she wasn't very hungry anyway so a bunch of us on the table ended up sharing hers anyway XD Once the meal was over, we all stood outside the restaurant talking for about an hour before everyone finally dispersed. Two of my friends and I decided to head off and retrieve my friend's bike once and for all, and so, with one friend riding on my back rack and the other riding her borrowed bicycle, we made it to the bar and retrieved both her bike AND the key she lost, so I'd say the night was a success :-D
Tuesday wasn't too bad a day either. Although, as far as the experiments were concerned, it was a bit of a failure. I finished off the Western blot, and stained the membrane and everything, but I got no results. In the end, I was told to leave the film in the case overnight to get maximum development. I managed to make it to Japanese class; nothing exciting there, although we did stop in the combini on the way back and I bought a delicious mochi :-D In the evening, one of my friends was meant to have dinner with her tutor, but as her tutor bailed, she invited a bunch of us to eat at a Chinese place near the 100 yen store. I had originally planned to go buy myself a bookshelf, but socialising seemed like a much better option :-) A few of us turned up, including a couple of Japanese guys we knew. I had a delicious ramen set, and even ended up finishing some of my friends' food too (I always feel greedy eating with my friends ^^'). Afterwards, we went along to the 100 yen store and grabbed a few things, and then stood outside for a while chatting. A few more gaijin were stood out there, including the guy who runs the local bar, who recently returned from India. A few weeks ago, when I posted my birthday party event on Facebook, he offered free champagne if I went to his bar on my birthday, but when he met me on Tuesday, he formally introduced himself and finally worked out who I actually was. Then we were all invited back to his bar for a free drink on the house. I had a long island ice tea, as did everyone, and even though I dislike the taste, I managed to finish mine off before everyone else, and still didn't feel drunk (maybe I'm building up a tolerance). As I had to be in the lab the next morning, I left around 11.30 (my friend also had to be in the lab at 9am, but she stayed out until 3am XD)
Wednesday was a rather bum day. Once again, I tried running detections on my membrane from Western blot, but to no avail, and my PCRs didn't work either. Kanji class was alright, though we have a test next week to prepare for and we were given more homework. Japanese class was pretty standard, although it was our last until Monday, as all ISC classes are cancelled for entrance exams, I believe. I thought I was going to be able to get out of the lab early, so I texted a couple of friends about going shopping once I got out. As it transpired, my photography of the gel kept failing, until it was too late for me to do anything, so I had to cancel, and felt really pissed off at letting my friend down. I couldn't get the development to work, so I just left at about 8pm, once the person supervising me had gone. On the way home, I met my friends cycling the other way, on their way to hang out at the combini, but I had the report from last week's transgenics lecture to complete for Thursday and I was in a foul mood from having to stay in the lab so late, so I decided to head back. As it transpires, they hung out on the Oikoshi grass until about 2am, and it was good fun, but as I say, I was busy. Very busy, as it transpires. I'd been lent some answers to last year's report from a friend, but not only were a lot of the questions different, the answers that were written were in such bad handwriting that I couldn't make them out. I was really stressed out by this point, and thought I was going to have a bit of a breakdown, but as it happens, I managed to hold it pretty much together. To make matters worse, though, once I realised I could copy the text into my computer and search phrases on Google, my internet died when I was still only half done (about 4-5 hours after starting). As it was about 2am, however, I decided to call it a night, setting an alarm for 6am to get a good blast at the essay
And at 6am I awoke. As it transpired, with the internet once again at my disposal, I was able to finish the rest of the report in about an hour, leaving me with some time to chill before heading to class, submitting the report on the way. For some reason, I was in not only a much better mood than the previous night, but a slightly hyperactive mood despite the lack of sleep. I decided to start from scratch with the Western blot as it just wasn't working out right, and the PCR and gel that I ran, using the protocol my supervisor showed me, gave a few more, clearer results, so at least that's a start. I was also informed that on Friday and Saturday I would be preparing to breed mice, and check them for having been impregnated, as well as practicing killing them in order to extract embryos. This saddened me a little, but I guess I need to learn. As there are no Japanese classes today or on Friday, I got out a bit early for lunch and ate with my friend again. A friend then texted to say that some people were going to the Korean place, so I tried to get out early again. I made it, but only just. I was aiming for 6 (meet-up was at 7) so I could shower beforehand, but first off, I'd put my gel in the case the wrong way for a start, which slowed me down by 90 minutes; then there wasn't enough buffer in the tank so the gel didn't run, setting me back another 50 or so minutes, and then I had to make up both transfer buffer AND the transfer buffer premix, as well as refilling the methanol bottle (I've now experimented with (hydrochloric) acid and meth(anol) XD). In order to leave on time, I finished one step early, pushing my experiment back an hour or so tomorrow, and even then I only left at about 6.30. Arriving in plenty of time (and realising there is SOME wireless at Hirasuna Community Centre), I waited for a bit before the rest of the people arrived - 6 of us in total - before we headed off to the restaurant. I had bibimbap this time, to compare with the ishiyaki (I think the Korean is 'dolsot' - stone pot) bibimbap I've had the last two times. This one had a major advantage - not only were side dishes refillable, but so was my rice. I ate my bibimbap, two bowls of rice, a little bowl of soup, and some sides. Then, as the girls in our group were light-weights, I ate half of another dish, two more soups, and some more sides in order to finish them off. By the end, I felt just about ready to burst. However, as it was a bit of an expensive meal, I'm glad I got my money's worth
And so here I am, with a bit of a stomach ache and feeling very tired. It's about 12.30 now, so I'll sleep very soon. Until next time, good night :-)