Monday, July 2, 2012

Daily Life in Graz

Yesterday we moved into our new dorm, which is a huge step up from the last place!  Each suite shares a bathroom and kitchen, but we each have our own room.  The building also only about two blocks from TU Graz, and a more central location in general, which will mean a lot less riding the tram.  I like the trams, but I'm glad to have more things within walking distance.  Speaking of walking, unless there is a pedestrian signal, you can just walk out into any crosswalk and cars will stop.  And there are surprisingly few jaywalkers at the places that do have lights.  Right-of-way is just not intuitive for me here, but it seems to work for everyone else (we did once see a car pull out of its parking spot and right into our tram...) and luckily I have no need to drive.
New room!  So much space!
Most trams look like this...
...but not all!
Graz is very bike-friendly.  I wish I could stay longer so it'd be worth investing in one.  But again, bikes have their own whole set of rules of the road.  
At the new dorm, we're even close enough to walk to our favorite kebap vendor.  Kebaps are one of the most delicious (and cheap!) foods I've had here so far.  Shaved meat with cabbage, lettuce, tomato, onion, spicy sauce, and really good bread.  Also can get them with sheep cheese, falafel, and maybe zucchini?
Pamukkale Kebap.  Can't stop going back here.  
NOM. 
Every week we get a little more independent in the lab.  Shannon and I are working under two post-docs, and we alternate between them, so we work in a couple different labs on the fifth floor.  Today we weren't able to do much because the cooling water system was broken, but we've synthesized quite a few compounds by now.
The fifth floor - Chemistry and Technology of Materials. 
View from the office we share with three grad students who are under the same professor.
This is the lab where we spend most of our time.  "Lauge" means Base.  
We have our own hood, the closest one in this picture.  
We spend a good bit of time doing this: mixing chemicals and then testing the reaction progress on TLC plates.  
Front of TU Graz again.  This city is such a wonderful mix of old and new.  
In other news, it's ridiculously hot here.  And it takes a while to cool down in the evenings because it stays light so late.  My German is coming along, slowly but surely.  And this is not exactly "daily life," but last week we visited a huge chocolate factory called Zotter, where we were able to eat as much chocolate as we wanted, everything from 100% cocoa to mango chocolate milk to chocolate with hemp or cornflowers.  Then we got to see a castle called Reigersburg.  And finally, dinner at an "edible zoo," which was an awesome organic farm.  They get all of their energy (and then some!) from a few huge rotating solar panels, and they supply the restaurant there from their own home-grown meats and veggies.  

Cocoa beans from various countries.  This part reminded me of learning about the processing of coffee in Chiapas.  
Chocolate fountains!  This one was 50% cocoa.  
Reigersburg is at the very top of a huge hill, which served well to defend it from the Turks.  

View from the top of the hill.  



Almost every room had a painted or inlaid ceiling.  Beautiful!  
Lettuce growing in the flowerbeds at the edible zoo!  :)
Our whole meal was from the farm.  And it was delicious!