First afternoon perspectives!

Dr. Xinhua Shu met me at the airport and wisked me away to the shuttle bus to campus. He certainly is a fast walker! After a brief trip through Glasgow, we arrived at the bus depot located across the street from the University. Very convenient! Xinhua took me around campus to the apartments, helped me get signed in and showed me to my room. He insisted that I take a small nap and meet him at 1PM (roughly 8AM Eastern!). I unpacked my suitcase, unpacked the included items, which were numerous (kitchen essentials, bedding, towels, etc.), and attempted to find internet. Unfortunately for me, there is VERY spotty WiFi in here, allowing me to do short, low-bandwidth activities. Fortunately for me, that meant I had little else to do but take the requested nap! I slept for about 2 hours, then got up and readied myself for a full afternoon.

GCU is great! It appears as though every building is attached with a walkway of some kind, allowing students/faculty/staff/general public to pass through any building on campus without being exposed to the elements. Today it has been beautifully sunny, followed by bouts of drizzle, downpours, sleet, and snow! What a wildly variable afternoon of weather! It's currently cloudy again and threatening more rain.. Good time to curl up in bed and read about of fiction to keep myself going until a respectable bedtime! I feel like I pulled an all-nighter (and basically have).

Xinhua showed me around campus and around the shopping district nearby. Looks like I'll be able to buy stuff with absolutely no problem as my bank is also located on campus. Santander always seems to pop up in favorable locations!

After showing me around the labs and introducing me to various folks, Xinhua and I discussed some possible research plans. Before I get started on those, however, I need to have some sort of lung scan? That will take place Monday. Xinhua mentioned why this was a necessity, but I seem to have forgotten the reasons. I'll blame jetlag for that one.

The coordinator of my visit and perhaps self-proclaimed social director of my visit, Dr. Julie Rattray, discussed possible non-work related trips and helped figure out some last details. I received my stipend and am now back in my room waiting for dinner time. I'll likely get something light and crash early. Stories of haggis and whatnot will have to wait for another day. :)