Garden views

It’s a bird…it’s a plane…no, it’s the return of productivity!

Classes have started up again at the university. I’m sure that I was one of very few students who’d been looking forward to the start of the summer session. Recently, I’d been holding out hope—although I have a professor who would knock me for that—that the return of classes would mean the return of activity, and fortunately, I was right. With campus abuzz again, my research is slowly coming back to life as well. I feel that my sense of purpose has returned, and I am grateful for that. I wonder how these final three weeks will go…

The Research

“Seeking participants for a brain study…look at the waves of your brain!”

When I heard that classes would be resuming on campus, I think my eyes were shining with opportunity. I thought to myself, You know what? How about a poster recruitment session? I tested the waters for a couple of hours, and in the end, eight people chose to leave their contact information with me. Combined with the students whose group chats are inexplicably circulating my flyer, plus the alumni whose professors are inexplicably reconnecting over my research, the web is starting to spread. As I write this, I have four EEG sessions scheduled for next week!

With leaps and bounds yet to be made, Jin is my newly designated partner in crime. Assisting with procedures, hanging out at poster displays, redirecting interested participants to my inbox—he is about to become a valuable asset for me. (Thank you, Jin!) If all goes according to plan, we’re going to find ourselves deep in heavy rigor for the rest of the month. I’m expecting things to be hectic, and challenging, but at least there will be someone in my sidecar, helmeted and buckled in.

The Rest

With the return of so much administration, I haven’t ventured very far lately. That said, this week wasn’t without its bite-sized adventures. Thanks to a ride from our favorite barista, her good friend, and her father, Gabriella and I found ourselves in Piñones, Puerto Rico, rife with shallow shores and roadside eateries. I tried some bacalaitos, which are fried cod fritters native to the island—and maybe the whorls have been scorched off my fingers, but that gastronomic experience was certainly worth it. Later in the week, we stopped by the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico for free, where we encountered a lovely little garden and a booming hour of salsa. The atmosphere was wonderful. If time allows, maybe I will go back for the beauty of the exhibits themselves.

📍 Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR