The past three days have been really great. Friday, I got my first experience with collecting oocytes. Jessy went to Bean Station after our Therio class and brought back a bunch of ovaries. I got to practice slicing, which is the process by which we collect the oocytes from the ovaries. Unfortunately, my experience ended with the four-letter-word that is not to be used in the lab...CLOT. When you're slicing ovaries, you are slicing the follicles (which contain the eggs). If you slice one that is too large, they tend to release clotting factors. If this happens, all of your oocytes will instantly poof into this mucous-like glob, which will not go through the filter, and therefore you cannot use them. Needless to say, I did not get to search for my own oocytes. Hopefully I will not do that anymore! For practice, I searched Becca's plate once she was finished with it. Searching happens after you filter the oocytes and put them in a gridded dish. This dish has a checkerboard pattern on it, which allows for easy and thorough scanning for oocytes. This is all done under a microscope.
The means by which we remove the oocytes from the plate is mouth-pipetting. This is a very tricky method, but with practice, gives you the most control and accuracy. Basically, you have a glass pipette attached to a long tube that you wear as a necklace. On the other end, there is a small plastic piece that has a hole in it. This piece goes in your mouth, clenched between your teeth. You have to use your mouth to draw the liquid (and oocyte) up into the pipette and then hold your tongue over the hole to keep it in there. You also have to realize that it is extremely difficult to maneuver microliters of liquid with your mouth. It takes a lot of practice and patience, but I got much better as time went on. It will also take practice to be able to identify every oocyte, as they come in MANY different shapes and sizes. While I was practicing, I got to watch Kim doing various other things to the oocytes. I watched how she denuded them (taking the cumulus off from around the egg itself) and then got to see the before and after of Pronasing, the removal of the zona pellucida. This was all very interesting and made the time in the lab go by quickly.
Saturday was pure relaxation. I slept in until 9:00 AM and then did a thorough cleaning of my apartment. I scrubbed, vacuumed, wiped, and straightened. I really enjoy cleaning (especially vacuuming) and it always brings a sense of accomplishment once I have finished. After my cleaning, I watched the last half of Stomp the Yard and all of The Prince and Me while doing some scrapbooking and crafty things. I ran an errand to JoAnn's and found a 5 for $1 scrapbook paper sale. I bought 15 sheets! :) Dinner was Buddy's BBQ...pulled chicken, baked beans, green beans, and hush puppies. If you ever come to Tennessee and like bbq, you MUST go there! Saturday evening, I spent a few hours on skype talking mostly to Justin, but a little bit to my parents. I love the technology these days!
Today was also quite relaxing. I went to church this morning where we started our Fall Festival of Faith. This morning's Sunday School class was very good, thought-provoking, and uplifting. I bought the book we are studying and am really enjoying it so far! I have decided to join the small group study for college students on Tuesdays at 9:00 PM that goes along with what we are studying in Sunday School. I think this will be a great way for me to meet some people my age and really dive head first into this book. I truly believe God led me to this church because I feel so warmly welcomed every time I am there. I have not met anyone that was not genuinely glad to meet me, interested in my story, and incredibly kind.
Although I still miss home, Justin, family, friends, Ivan, etc...things around here are beginning to feel comfortable. I am starting to feel like this is my life, like I belong here. I am getting excited about what I will be studying, what my research will be like, and learning everything I can in the lab. My "lab family" are all very supportive, helpful, and understanding. They know what it is like to be in my shoes and are always willing to answer my questions and teach me the proper techniques. The classes I am taking this Fall are going to be great. I told Justin earlier tonight how nice it is to be taking classes in only the things I need to be studying. I have no physics, literature, or history to trudge through like in undergrad. I am only taking classes pertinent to my research, and I love it!
The days go by slowly, but the weeks are fairly quick. This is good news, especially since I get to see Justin, my parents, grandparents, and future in-laws in less than two weeks for Labor Day!!!!!!!
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