2 jobs. 1 Day

Today went great! I was very busy today because I was working in Boots and also NUIM. I wasn't in NUI Maynooth until 12, so I said I may aswell go into Boots for the 3 hours. In Boots, the first thing we do each Wednesday, is unload all the delivery boxes for each section in the shop. What doesn't fit on the shelves goes back into storage. After that, I helped the girls sort out a huge makeup delivery box. We first seal everything with sellotape, so no-one can open/use the products. There was a lot of makeup but I actually really love sorting it out. I also put security tags on some of the electrical items. Then we put the makeup on the shelves. We put all the items on the shelf afterwards. I sorted out the makeup stand and put excess makeup into the drawers beneath each stand. In the drawers are all the makeup that won't fit on the shelf. I put an elastic band around each colour of each brand of makeup. I didn't get to finish all the stands though because I had to go to NUIM. I let the manager know I was leaving and then my mum dropped me straight to NUIM. I went in and put on my attire and then went to my supervisor. I watched the students prepare a gel substance for an experiment on protein and then went with my supervisor to help her put liquid in containers with a pipette. We put them into a vortex machine so that no liquid is stuck in the top of container, so all of the liquid falls to the bottom. We were using less than 1ml of liquid so it's important that all of it is used. We went into the freezer, which is like a walk in freezer so it's massive (and freezing cold hehe :)) We re-did the protein experiment because the results did not turn out as we hoped so we did it again, expecting a more accurate result. Then we checked the cells again and noticed how much it had grown since yesterday. (The incubator is kept at 37 degrees by the way, I don't think I mentioned that before) I prepared equipment for experiments, and then it was lunchtime. After lunch we prepared a protein mix for an experiment we are doing tomorrow. I am really looking forward to tomorrow because I'm really enjoying my week here.

Jail Cells

So the second day is now over. Yesterday was great, so I was really looking forward to today. When I arrived in today, I was less nervous, because I knew where to go and I was more familiar with everything. I went up to the labs and then put on my lab coat and protective glasses etc (your typical image of a scientist, I felt like one too!) When I went in, I started chatting to a couple of students who were in their 4th year, studying for their degree. I asked them about what they like about immunology, what's involved and why they chose the course. We were talking for quite a bit, and then it was time to work. I got to look through the microscope at different cells and it was so fascinating. I watched my supervisor do experiments and she made sure to tell me everything she was doing. Then it was time for me to attend a seminar about skin conditions. The seminar was held by a phD student from Trinity. I enjoyed it very much because it was informative and easy for even a young person to understand. It was very intereseting. An hour later I went back to the labs. Then I was given a job to do. First off I looked at my growing cells in the incubator. All the cells are locked away in there. (Do you get the title of my post now? the CELLS are locked way like in a jail cell) It was so exciting to see how much they had grown in just a day, but they hadn't fully grown yet. I got to put a chemical into the cells. Only very very small amounts are needed in the lab and for experiments, so very accurate pipettes are used. It's very important to keep your gloves clean, so you have to clean them before you touch the cell container. I was then watching an experiment involving protein. I helped get the utensils needed and watched the experiment. Time passed really quickly so before I knew it, it was home time!

A day in the life of a college student...not really

This week I was in NUI Maynooth, in the immunology section of the biology department. Today was my first day. I was supposed to be in at 11, so I arrived about 10 minutes early, just to make sure I wasn't late. I was greeted by my supervisor, who is really nice. Firstly she showed me around the labs, and in the office. I was intorduced to everyone, and then I was given a lab coat and eyeglasses to wear. I also had to wear plastic gloves, which need to be changed every so often because everything needs to be clean when you're dealing with cells etc. The first day was all about learning about how the machines work. In th lab there are quite a few pieces of equipment, such as incubators to keep cells warm and computers that show up certain substances. My supervisor showed me all the different cells they work with in the lab. Obviously you can't see the cells unless you're looking through a microscope, but she showed me the containers the cells are kept in. In the containers, there is a certain amount of liquid which is essentially like a food for the cell to grow. It takes a few days for the cell to fully finish growing. The cells I will be working with throughout the week are human kidney cells although there were many other cell types in the lab. Throughout the day I was helping my supervisor do experiments and I also got to participate in the experiment. I also got to watch what she did as she explained everything she was doing. Today was all about getting used to the equipment and learning about experiments. At 2pm I got to sit into a college lecture about viruses. Obviously it wasn't as simple as it sounds. Most of it was jibberish to me but I really enjoyed the experiencing a college lecture. Having said that, I did understand snippets of it! After that, I was allowed to go home. I reaaallly enjoyed my first day and I can't wait for tomorrow.

Perfume, perfume, perfume!

Today, I was a lot more busy, but I like being busy! I arrived in at 10 to 9, and immediately started helping one of the workers unload all the christmas items from the boxes and putting them on shelves. There was a lot of boxes so it took about an hour. After that I had to put perfumes into their boxes. There is empty boxes on show, to avoid people stealing them. All the perfumes were in different drawers, so I had to get the key and open all the drawers, take all the perfumes out and then lock the drawers again. The perfumes were all in the same type of bag, so I had to check the bar code for each perfume. There was about 60 bottles of perfume that needed to put into boxes so it took a while, but I actually enjoyed doing it! . I did this up until lunch time, and then I had to finish it off after. I did most of it before lunch so I didn't have much to do after. Then after everything was on the shelf, me and a couple of other workers had to put a security tag on all of them. It took me a little while to get used to it, but after a while, I was flying at it! The tags had to be really tight, because thieves could easily take them off otherwise. Then we also put tags on the electrical appliances because they are quite dear, and the shop can't afford for them to be stolen. Security tags are only put onto items that cost over about €40. By then, it was nearly time to go home so I just tidied all the isles because there is always something out of place. Time really goes by quickly when you're working, because before I knew it was home time!

El seguno dia

First off, don't ask me why the title is in Spanish, just trying to mix it up and my titles are very unoriginal.
So I arrived at Boots at the usual time, and went upstairs to put my stuff in my locker. When I came back down, I was greeted by the girls from the beauty counter again. We started off by sorting out the delivery box again, and putting everything onto the shelves. I then sorted out all the makeup, and filled up the shelves if they needed to be filled up. After that I had to go upstairs to talk to the manager about safety rules. I watched a short DVD about shop theft and how to deal with anyone who looks sketchy in the store. Then I had to read the health and safety manual and sign a document. I had to read through a few more rules and then the manager gave me an official tour of the place. On my first day I was shown around by one of the girls on beauty but it was just a quick tour. After he showed my around, I went back to work, basically doing what I was doing last week. I also get to help customers if they ask me for help which is great! The day goes by very quickly and before I knew it it was time to for lunch. When I came back I was back at the beauty section for the rest of the day.

The First Day

So my first week of work experience is over, and I'm really happy with how it went. I arrived at Boots in Maynooth at about 8.45, as I was due in at 9am. I got up earlier than usual that day because I was quite nervous and I didn't want to be late, especially on my first day! My mum dropped me in, because the buses are never reliable these days! I felt really awkward in my uniform, which was a white blouse, black slacks and black pumps. I don't think it suited me that well! But I did feel really businessy, mind you. I went in, and had butterflies in my stomach. I had talked to the manager before and he was really nice to me, which is always a plus! When I walked in, everyone was sooooo friendly and welcoming. My nerves went away after I had greeted everybody. First I was told all the rules, and health and safety. I was also given a tour of the building and was showed where everything was. After that I was assigned to the beauty section and I was introduced to the beauty girls, Lauren and Carla, who were reaaaaalllly really nice to me. First off we sorted all the boxes from delivery. We then packed what need to be packed onto the shelves. I was quite busy putting things on shelves, sorting items out and also helping customers who asked me where things were in the shop. ( I was honored to be asked, I felt like an actual employee) The at 12, I got my break, so I popped into McDonalds for my lunch. (Love a bitta Maccy D's!) I returned back, refreshed from my meal and then it was back to work. After lunch I was putting All the makeup brands on the shelves and cleaning up the stands, because a lot of people don't bother putting things back where they found it. You don't realise how annoying it is until you are actually working, and you have to clean up everyone's mess. MORAL OF THE DAY: Put items you don't want back where you found them and don't just leave it anywhere, because it's people like us that have to clean it up! I think this job is quite well suited for me though because I am quite the perfectionist, so I kind of like tidying things up! Time flew by, and before I knew it, it was time to go home! I had a really great day and I look forward to going back next week!