I've Graduated, Here's Proof!

Conference video is finally up

Hopefully people enjoy. 

Great opportunities arise if you put yourself out there

This week was pretty amazing. I got to go to an evolution, ecology conference. This was my first conference ever and let me tell you - best experience ever!

The first day I arrived (Thursday) I got my registration folder which contained the schedule, lunch voucher, parking pass... and [best part] a $10 gift card to indigo! Books.. yes please. I've been wanting to buy a North American bird/ amphibian guide (yes nerdy.. whatever) and now I can!
The first day was a bit awkward for the first 30 minutes, because I did not anyone there, and I was actually forced to make friends and talk to humans (preposterous!). I met some great people on the first day that I ended up hanging with for the rest of the weekend.

The rest of the weekend it was all about lectures, my presentation, and a lot of really good food. I met some really interesting researchers and professors. Additionally, I got informed of a Masters project I could get involved in (yay networking).

I don't have that many photos of the actual conference; instead I have selfies. I also made a video for some peoples entertainment, that I hope to put up pretty soon (my internet sucks).

The first picture I took after arriving. Took me a while to find parking.

Poster day!

Movie day with my friend after the last day of the conference. We went to see "The other woman" and it was hilarious! Most definitely recommend. 

Best driving songs: 

Problem - Ariana Grande

Rude - Magic! (I have listened to it 8 times so far.. today only, it may as well stay on repeat)

Lalala - Naughty Boy

Salut!!

So many things happening!

Lets begin with the most exciting news: I AM MOVING TO FRANCE!
Not for a long time, just for 10-11ish months. I will be learning the language and will hopefully become very fluent in the language quickly. I want to blend in with the crowd, rather than stand out like a tourist.

Secondly: I DEFENDED MY THESIS
Now I just have a couple of changes to make on it, submit it one last time, and then hopefully get it published somewhere. I also have the conference in the beginning of May. Which reminds me I better get working on my poster.

Thirdly: I am moving out in less than a week! Next Tuesday to be specific. Back home. Which is somewhat exciting. Meh. I guess it'll be nice to change things up a bit.

Fourth: This:

Our security guard social was this weekend! It was so fancy shmancy, with food, wine, and much later into the night, a keg. 

Lovely time! 

Lastly: My Society for Conservation social was last night. I made a huge oven roast, it was delicious. 

And this Friday I am having a party at my place to say goodbye to the people that are left over in Kingston. It'll probably be sloppy. 

Once I am hope I'll definitely be able to blog more! Promise..

The days of our [Science] lives

So much drama! I thought I left of the drama behind in high school.

People breaking up friendships, tears, anger, and where would we be without people being rude.

Now I am not a part of any of this, but I get vented to, and asked for advice.

I am not a fan of drama myself, but I don't like to see my friends get hurt. So what I do is I bring her tea, chocolates, and just listen. Oh and starting a 9pm throwback dance party in lab! That part was actually a lot of fun.

What I do want to talk about is this whole "rude" thing. I lose complete respect for people when they are assholes, plain and simple. If you are a pompous bastard please stay far away from me.
In my last post I mentioned how the poster awards had to do a lot with "biology politics". Well one of the people who won is in my lab (that's out of 3 people in my lab, 1 won a poster award). Now I am not saying he didn't deserve it, yet.

First, he won because he is a favourited by: my professor, TA's, my professors close colleagues. The only people who don't favourite him are his colleagues (so us, students). Now this isn't because we're jealous, trust me. He is favourited because of his project BUT the project isn't even his!!! My professor started this project and this guy is only CONTINUING it. Unlike my project where I made up my OWN question, my OWN methods, my OWN results, I didn't just get stuff handed to me like he did. So I believe, that because of all of this (and other minor details in this category he won). I again was to stress that this is not because of jealousy, because there are other people in my lab (Master's student) and people outside of the lab that agree with me. And when I told them about how he won, their response was similar to mine: "of course, it was almost predicted that he'd win".

Now this isn't the "drama" part. What happened yesterday was what really irked me. He started a conversation with me about how he has a lot of work, including thesis. One of his projects just happens to be due at the same time as his thesis. Here are his words almost exactly:
"So I think I am just going to go up to Professor ______ and ask for an extension. He should understand thesis comes first. And he obviously knows I am a good work, like I WON THE POSTER AWARD. Clearly he'll give me an extension".
Wow buddy... Clearly you have a complex over the fact that I didn't recognize that you won the poster award and I didn't congratulate you and knelt at your feet like you expect people to.
So this makes me pretty mad. But it gets better.

A TA passes our lab and stops to congratulate him on getting the poster award. To which he replies "Oh it really isn't a big deal, it's not like I get anything with it." So when we talk to me we want to be all high and mighty, but with others we're average. Fuck you too.

Please people, don't be egotistical assholes.

Deadline approaches.

I haven't posted in almost 2 weeks. So much for posting at least once a week. But! I havent been to Starbucks to write (it was a blogging atmosphere), I have had lots of work....

a lot of thesis work...

Like I wasn't getting out of the house because I had so much work...

So clearly I wasn't able to blog. 

St. Paddies day was my only day off, I swear.

It really was! The week before I was working on thesis drafts and of course the poster. Everything caused me so much stress, it was overwhelming, ending in a mental breakdown in lab on Sunday afternoon. I'm an emotional person but I have never had a mental breakdown, especially due to stress. But I got over it, got everything done, woke up 6am on St. Patricks Day to get the poster printed (for $50!!), went to work, and then, finally, went out to play.

All the hard work really paid off

Although it really sucks that I didn't win the poster award. Turns out Biology is all about politics and who you know, which pisses me off. 

Sadly, real life isn't any better.

Now I have to finish writing the thesis, final copy. It is due in less than a week now; hopefully I can get it done with no mental breakdowns. 

If anything I have this girl to keep me company:

Relax, take it easy.

Hmm free Starbucks samples. That and free WiFi. The perks of sitting in Starbucks and sipping on heavily overpriced lattes.

Last week was incredibly stressful for me. All day, everyday, I was writing my thesis rough draft. Even though it was a rough draft I still preferred to have as much of it done as I could. Well it was rough. One day my professor says "Give me what you have, don't stress too much". Then on the day it is due, he comes into the office, where it is just me, my thoughts and my thesis and says "I hope your writing is wonderful". Wait.... what?! Yesterday you say one thing and today you want it to be close to perfect?! Well he got what I could do. Whatever.

Right after handing in my thesis I headed off to work. Until 3 am I was staring down drunk people and checking IDs. Coming home, sleeping in until 11am and then heading out to volunteer. **A message to undergraduates in university/college in really any program: volunteer! Volunteer, volunteer, volunteer! Don't be shy to email professors, PhD students, Masters or even your fellow Undergraduates. I did not realize how many people need volunteers until I was surrounded by all these PhD and Masters students who were struggling to find people** Later that night I worked again (money is very helpful in this world). This time it was a Special Event, an Arts and Science Undergraduate Formal. Ladies looked beautiful, men looked handsome. It was a sight to see. Me and my other coworkers would entertain ourselves by pointing out our favourite dresses, some beauty no-nos and of course drunk people (but this was secondary to the fashion of course). I happened to end early (1:30 am) and headed down to join my friends at a pub, made my two guy friends walk me home and safely went to bed. This morning I set up for a Photo Contest that my Conservation Club is hosting which was so lovely. Looking at the pictures made me miss summer so much! I can't wait for all this snow to finally melt away, for the days to grow longer and for the dresses to emerge.

It's cold ok. 

Just a quick flashback to last weekend. A good friend of mine came to town and we had such a wonderful time going to clubs, having lunch and catching up. I pretty much just wanted to put this in because I think the pictures are cute.

We got matching rings because we're high school like that. 

And we're just adorable. 

They Stay Down Deep

Yesterday I called my mom in the morning, as I sometimes do. This time rather than having a regular chat and catching up, she picked up the phone and after the usual exchanges she said "Sergie's mom passed this morning".
Sergie is my stepfather. He is the exact definition of a Russian man. I respect him very much. He keeps our family safe.
I had no idea how to respond to this. I am not very good in these situations, no could I remember what Russians say in cases like this ("I'm sorry for you lose" doesn't sound the same in Russian). I hung up shortly to give them time. Even though I did not know her I was deeply saddened by this news and my day did not get better from here on.
He couldn't even go home for the funeral because they were having it the next day.
Lose is such a big part of our lives. We lose our pets, our friends and our families. It is just what happens, it is nature. We really should celebrate life. As hard as it is at first.

Today was not much better than yesterday.

I am frustrated with my research (statistics specifically), I have due dates coming up and I have already been rejected twice for two programs that I have applied to (where both of my lab mates for into a program). I haven't felt this low in a very long time. I want to give up so badly. I have no idea what to do next, I am lost and I just want to give up.

Sorry this wasn't a very happy-go-lucky blog.
Have a great weekend.

Why?? Why did this have to happen???

So I am not sure whether it is the large change in temperature that my body was just not able to get accustomed to, or the soccer game I played yesterday (stupid exercise!); but I have managed to get sick.
And this isn't the winter sniffles with occasional coughing. No. My body hurts, my joints ache and every time I cough I think my rib cage is going to break. To add, I also have an ongoing headache.

But still I avoid taking tylenol and ibuprofen with any sort of fancy name (i.e advil). I have tried to stick it out with garlic tablets, vitamin C and tea. Yes, yes, this is probably stupid of me, but I just really want to avoid taking pills for now.

This is also a very inconvenient time to get sick. Not only am I on a "vacation"/ holiday getaway as I like to think of it, in Alberta; but I am also supposed to go skiing in the mountains this weekend.

Stupid cold! I don't even know why!!! I have been so good with bundling up, and wearing several pairs of tights under my pants etc.

Well at least I have my playstation here and I borrowed a bagillion games from my boyfriends friend. First up Last of Us, or perhaps Uncharted 2. Hmm so many choices!!

Hopefully things will get better soon.

Patience is a virtue

If anyone out there would like to be a researcher, the thing you should know: there is no place to be shy. You must always be prepared to talk with you co-researchers, interested colleagues, supervisor, potential networks and of course the public. Just 2 weeks ago I had to present my research, so far, to a class of fellow undergraduate students, graduate students, committee members and supervisor (who actually wasn't able to show). I practiced the ENTIRE week; this is no exaggeration people. I was in a room with a projector every single day that week, including the Friday of my presentation day, just practising. I harassed my friends and lab members to come and listen to me several times to make sure my presentation was perfect. In the end I think it went really well! I was happy with the final presentation and I nailed the question period.

After the seminar I was fini for the year. I had a week to sit and wait until I get to go on a plane and visit my boyfriend for 3 weeks in Alberta, Canada. Now I did do work for that week, research never rests. I also had several performances to part take in:

Ballerina living her dream, doing a piece from the Nutcracker

Singing my heart out. If you'd like to check out my rendition of "Forget you" by CeeLo you can on mu YouTube channel (I hope to post one that is better quality soon!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMhixlsGUrs

After a 5 hour wait in the airport, a 30 minute delay and a 4 hour flight, I finally landed in Alberta. Let me just say it is FREEZING. I went from -2/0 to -24 degree Celsius!

I just spent the entire day alone (my boyfriend works 8-5), so it gets pretty boring. But I am sure I will have some adventures to share soon. 

Oh also because I now have no more frog photos here a picture of me using the "Frog" effect, see what I did there. 

Happy Holidays!

Winter is coming and so are deadlines.

It is hard to believe fall is upon us. Time has gone by so fast since we were in our short shorts and bathing suits travelling in that pick up truck to the beach. Not to mention IT IS FREEZING! Like in the negatives... already. Daylight savings times was just this past Saturday, come on mother nature!

In other news I've been dealing with so many things: friends problems, boyfriend problems, even friends of friends problems (I have no idea why I got dragged into that... awkward). Don't forget about school. Although I feel like I have the best handle on school than anything else. I've finished most of my writing projects way ahead of time. I just have to start planning out my seminar presentation for my thesis. I love presenting, so hopefully nerves won't be my biggest problem.

Masters applications are still going(ish). I've talked to my supervisor about doing research with him. News was mediocre: He wants me; he may not have money to take me. Great, thanks. I've also started looking into jobs in my field I may be able to take as a back up plan in case something falls through with Masters. Still the future scares me, but at the same time it is so interesting to explore the unknown.

This past week(end) was Halloween. I was able to enjoy the day on Thursday, and got to work the rest of the weekend. I did not regret this one bit. Working was fun AND I got no hangover in the morning.

Please tell me people understand that I am a mermaid. Some guy asked if I was Jasmine... *facepalm*

Then this Sunday my friends and I went to a prison museum which was very eery but still so 

fascinating. The stories were very interesting, definitely an experience I am glad I had. 

Reuniting

This month my school hosted "Homecoming". An event where alumni return and pretty much party. Although I worked both weekends, I wasn't working the entire weekend so I got to see everyone in the evenings. It was amazing feeling to see everyone and hang out like old times. Only thing that did not make this weekend, was that my boyfriend was not here, but I don't dwell on the bad stuff.

Literature Review, how I hate thee

Having been doing too much over the past couple weeks. I have my proposal due in about 2 weeks and the Literature review is killing me. It is taking so long to read very similar projects over and over again.

At least this weekend will be a good stress reliever, with so many of my friends coming down. And then next week I get to turn the big 22. I don't want to grow up. Growing up includes responsibilities, papers and of course adulthood. Also I have just realized I am involved in way too many things: dodgeball, volleyball, 4 different clubs, one of which I am on a committee and one which is still pending. Insane! I also realized I really must save money.

I was hoping to take a trip to Europe this coming summer, but it looks like that won't be happening. I thought it over and I think I would rather not blow all my savings on 2 months of travelling and then end up broke. Instead I am thinking I'll save up and go to Europe later (perhaps after Masters).

Speaking of Masters I have undergone interviews. None of which really intrigue me... I think I may just speak with my supervisor now and end up staying here. As much as I wanted to move away, I feel like staying is the best choice for me: Its research I want to do and with a very prestigious supervisor.

Here is a beautiful picture of my beautiful travels in Banff, Alberta. Such an amazing time. I wish I could go back. I miss my boyfriend, the nature and I really want this constant feeling of loneliness to just stop.

First Day of Classes

School has started for mostly everybody.

As most of my classes are online and I only have thesis "in class" class, I have no class until Friday.
How can do I keep myself busy?

Well interesting question. I will be using this 5th year to its full potential.

I am working (actual paying job)
I am working on school work (I have tons of time to do that so NO EXCUSES when it comes to deadlines!)
I will be joining many dance classes
Joining club(s)
Still continuing my membership in my Acapella group
And many gym visits

Luckily I have a couple of my close friends that stuck around the city/school so I don't get to feel so lonely.

Also my lab is awesome (which is where I spend most of my time), so I get to interact with lovely people every day.

Its different being on campus without everybody that I know. There are unfamiliar faces everywhere. Sometimes I get nostalgic, thinking of all the people I miss..

I am sure it'll just take some time to adapt to these circumstances.

Journey over the land.

I have taken a four hour plane across the country to hopefully begin some sort of future. But oh dear... so much work! And it feels like there is so little time!

Pictures of the adventure hopefully to come soon. So far only seeing old friends from school.

Last Day

Today is my last day of work (Yay!). It isn't even a full day too. And I wasn't in Monday or Tuesday. I really do not have much more to do so I am just sending out Master's applications still trying to set up appointments. It is pretty nerve racking, what if nothing happens? What is no one wants me? Lets hope that is not the case. I am excited for tomorrow to commence and I can start my "vacation" time.

Back to Lab

I've been back in lab for these past few weeks so there really hasn't been much to write about. I've been listening to lots of frog calls which is not so much fun (Thanks to the high frequency of spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer) it results in given me huge headaches at the end of the day). Hopefully I'll be able to get out into the field a couple of times this week. Also work will end for me soon! And I get to fly off to see my engineer boyfriend. Exciting!! Cannot wait! I wish the time would go by faster.

Off to see the city lights

Well not really a city, and there wont be very many lights.

Me and three other of my friends from my field station are heading to the closest town for dinner to celebrate/ say goodbye due to me leaving on Saturday.
Later tonight we shall be having a bonfire which is lovely.

Frog wise:

Lets see. I have been finding some toads (Bufo americanus) in the woods on the trails I take to get to some of my sampling sites! They are quite adorable. Although the very first one I picked up tried to poison me (they have glands on their backs which secrete poison to evade predators).

I definitely do not want to leave this place. This is cottage life, but with lots of frogs! I could not ask for anything better.

But soon I will be back in lab and having to do lots of writing and researching. Doesn't sound as fun as frolicking in the woods looking for frogs but I must do it.

P.S I apologize for my previous post. I am still freaking out just on the inside. I still haven't solved the conflict.... :(

3 Weeks in and Goodbye Froggies

Well not really goodbye, I’ll be back to froggy business on Monday. Instead I am taking a break and going on a road trip to Edmonton, Alberta. So far we’ve been on the road for a day, stayed in a motel for the night and back on the road again. The sights are beautiful! We’re avoiding driving at night due to the abundant numbers of moose that like to venture onto the road. The ride has been quite uneventful to the common bystander, but for me I am having tons of fun. Listening to music, writing, talking. I love road trips. Ontario is huge, but beautiful. We hope to hit Manitoba tomorrow.

We stopped at Iron Bridge for the night and I heard Spring Peepers!!  I haven’t heard them for a week now in at my field station. It was so lovely to hear them again.

P.S. I love looking at the name of some of these cities, one we stopped in was Wawa… The things I find amusing. 

Data, where art thou?

I started my research May 1^st. That’s a problem. Like I mentioned before I work with frogs, female frogs to be exact. Well most frogs start breeding in April (in Ontario), which leaves me with only 2 out of 8 species to work with: the American bullfrog and the Green Frog (Grey tree frogs bred early this year). So my project has been extended to also study the tadpole. Tadpoles are much easier to catch, contain and study than females, you just use a big strainer. Fingers crossed that everything will work out!

I spend most of my days searching for my tadpoles in different marshes and my nights walking transects looking for females, so my entire day is frog-filled.