Feels like just yesterday that Kristel walked me and my luggage to the bus stop in Dublin, I took the bus to the airport, and I finally got on a plane home.

This week my dear and crrrrrrrrazy friend Olivera moved to New Zealand. She has been dreaming about this moment for a long time and now it’s finally here. Olivera has been accepted into a PhD program at the University of Waikato and I am so proud of her! Both of us look forward to working together and engaging in international research. We’ll find a way to make it work!

Last week I had my first day of school at UVic. After worrying about transportation, accommodation, and being a student again, everything turned out sooo well:

My mom and I brought our bikes on the ferry and then cycled to Victoria.

We slept in the Empress hotel because my mom can book hotels through work.

And we even visited with Kerstin, John, and the kids who were near Victoria for a family event!

I was at UVic on Monday and Tuesday morning. On Monday I met with my supervisor Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw and another student who is taking a summer course with me. We’re the only students in this class and we’ll be able to shape the course content. On Tuesday I met with other graduate students that Veronica supervises and we started preparing for a conference that will happen later in September.

I love my new life, but did I ever miss my IMEC friends on my first day of school.