Normally most people experience the feeling of being legal to do something maybe two times in their lives. The first is when they are 18 years old and can finally vote, and the second is at 21 when they can purchase alcohol and gamble. I, however, am lucky enough to have felt this feeling of legality three times in my life, and the third time was this morning when I can became a legal German resident (valid until June 14th 2008). Although not as spectacular as turning 18 or 21, it’s still pretty cool to know that I am allowed to work and live outside of the US. Plus, I now have a kick ass visa in my passport now! To my surprise, my visit to the German immigration office was remarkably painless this morning. Thankfully I had Magali along for help, but aside from not understanding most of what was going on, there were no hang ups or complications with any paper work. Part of that was due, I think, because the woman we were dealing with was actually quite friendly and was doing her best with the mistakes I assuredly made, and also because I had an official Fulbright letter from Berlin that seemed to get everyone’s attention. The funniest thing was that right now Germany is very particular about the photo its citizens use for passports, etc., and I think the same regulations apply for Visas. When the woman saw the photos I had (completely not the correct size or format), she was a bit taken back but said she would see what she could do. After some waiting she came back with my Visa and everything was great. I wish I could fully comprehend all that is written in my letter from Berlin, because that thing seems to work wonders.
This afternoon I helped out a fellow colleague with sampling in the steepest vineyard I have ever set foot in. When I say steep I don’t mean hillside steep or steep for Napa, but mountain steep, like double black diamond you would ski down in Tahoe. I was completely not prepared for this at all and only had on my running shoes. Going up the vineyard was not so bad, and I could find my footing and still sample reasonably well. Coming down, however, was completely different. I found it much harder to find secure footing, let alone count 3 x 25 berry samples in two different bottles. I am still amazed I did not slip, drop my samples, and then slide down the vineyard and up in the Rhein far below. In reality I would have to fall and roll across two train tracks and the autobahn to reach the Rhein, but on the slope that was a very real fear of mine. Did I also mention that it started to rain? Oh yeah that made finding a dry place to step and not slip MUCH easier. I hope to return to this vineyard with better footwear and no rain, so that I can regain the confidence it unfairly took from me today.
Some of you might remember that last June there was a group from KQED in San Francisco that was working a television segment about Napa Valley red wines and the effect of Global Warming. I checked KQED’s website this afternoon and found that the video was completed. I forget the exact address, but you can do a Google search for KQED’s program QUEST and then on the QUEST website search wine. The program interviews the co-owner of Saintsbury as well as some faculty and staff at UC Davis including Dr. Walker, Chik Brenneman, and Bitiya (I don’t know how to spell her name, sorry!!). Although you can’t tell it’s me, I do have a cameo in the video since they filmed me performing parts of the Adams-Harbertson assay to illustrate the color loss of anthocyanins as pH increases (simulating global warming effects). I must say though, my arms and hands look pretty good on camera….must be all that pipetting for my Thesis!!
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