just when i started to question it...

As some of you may know, my latest challenge has been the 12 month research Masters I'm doing in BioPolymers. Even fewer of you may know, that doing this has made me see clearer than ever that research is not for me, and I cannot wait to get out into industry and manufacturing/production (not to say I don't enjoy what I'm doing, I do). Seeing as I am nearing the end of my time at University and it's all getting intense and academically - thesis-y - insane, a small voice has developed in the back of my mind wondering if I might be a touch delusional with a "grass is greener" mentality. When I get into this so called idyllic industry setting, will I be satisfied with a business/science mix, or will I be business business business?

All has been settled.

I spent a few hours on the beach today reading a paper on oxo-degradable plastics. I am already one to choose biopolymers over plastics made from oils any day, but I still thought that oil-derived materials (eg: polyethylene) with additives that make them "biodegradable" were a heap better than those without the additives. WRONG. I won't go into it too much, but basically the overall impact on the environment is pretty much equal between them, and if it isn't equal, the ones with the pro-degradant additives are worse! It's mainly because the most damaging part is the producing and processing plastics from oil, and when you make them degrade faster they can't be reused or recycled, and usually end up not degrading fully because of environmental conditions.

The discovery of this little fact and my response to it has renewed my faith in a careers in polymers, instead of veering off into other manufacturing areas. So I'm really happy - the chemistry stuff still inspires me.

PS: if anyone knows any Summer places/jobs I could go for near Rotoma, let me know, I'm getting desperate! (Edgecumbe, Kawerau, Te Puke, Whakatane, Rotorua)

HeartBreak in Rotorua

Yes yes, it is true, I am struggling to say goodbye to NZ, to Rotorua, and mostly to Rotoma. It's tough! I know I am coming back but, wow, going to miss these places and these PEOPLE!! Especially those retards without internet access (these people do exist!). The last month or so has been hectic, I seem to have made new friends and become better friends with old friends, have developed a love interest or 2 (or 3), and have just become more attached to everything Kiwi. Dammit! I fly out in exactly 5 days (Saturday night) and I just don't want to leave everyone and everything. One of the said love interests is being a complete idiot and has succeeded in tipping my life upside down in less than 5 days, but I guess I now have 5 days to right-end it and move on. 5 day rule!

Almost everything is sorted, I have a new camera, new laptop, new travel case, new glasses (x 2!!), and various other new things to take with me. Very cool. Have started packing, but really, lets be honest, I'm all about analysing stupid love interest number 3. May need some help in implementing the 5 day rule. Any takers?

Oh, it has been so long...

I pretty much forgot I had a blog. I'm not so much a writer, just a talker. I need to start an audio blog. Anyway, NO RACH YOU GUys weRE'NT awkward to live with! I just got your msg now, but no, no no no. :D

So, I'm living in Rotorua, I turned 23 and had a kiddies party with a scavenger hunt and pass the parcel, I got a job (woohoo!) working as a polymer engineer (woohoo!) for the biopolymer network, based at Scion, and on Thursday I judged science fair. which was awesome. This is the worst written post ever. Today is my dads birthday and I have been sewing a skirt. For me, not him. I leave NZ in THREE weeks today! I had a leaving party and I was sad, but I will be seeing half the people tonight anyway. Life is epic.

The end. (gotta go, there's a party to attend)

Big Changes... Spontaneously.

I keep coming back to this site to see if the owner has posted any news lately. I always experience a few seconds of disappointment before I realise it's my site and I already knew there was no new posts. Idiot.

So, the news is: I'm moving back to Rotorua. In 3 days. THREE DAYS! MOVING! Pretty much, the jobs have dried up here in Wellington, and I would rather be struggling for income in a place where I get to board for free/in exchange for doing the ironing (ie: my parents house). I am so so so gutted to be leaving Wellington though, I have really come to love it here and I don't feel ready to leave at all! A sure sign I will be back someday. Gaz, Jute, Nikki and Han have all been amazing flatmates, I just slotted right in without the awkwardness you get when you live with people for the first time.

I will really miss Gaz saying "f*** it's hot!" every 5 minutes in Summer, and "f*** it's freezing!" all throughout Winter; watching 10 bazillion episodes of House/Grey's Antomy in a row with Nikki; tucking Jute in after a night on the town; hearing someone tell Hannah she knows how to get a drink herself; seeing the 3 different bottles of milk in the fridge (green, blue, organic); Gaz getting into a grump and telling everyone off for no apparent reason; coming home and seeing Jute working on her car; having Chris hog around; hearing the wind at night so hard out I get scared we're in a tornado; convincing Nikki it's a good idea to use her ingredients to make macaroni cheese for dinner if I cook it; Han saying my macaroni cheese is yummy; Gaz putting his gangsta rap on in the lounge really loud, for every one to "enjoy"; my Dad ringing us almost everyday and asking if Juliet is home, when I've told him she works evenings everytime he's called for the last 2 weeks; the girls saying "I'll just get the person you want to talk to" and handing me the phone when a telemarketer or research person calls; the washing machine beeping continuously through the night; the pile of dishes that stack up ridiculously quickly; and yeah, there's more too. It's safe to say, I will miss the people, places, and things in Wellington.

Sob Sob.