Still homesick

Almost a month in Oxford now, but I still feel like I just don´t quite belong here... The lab work is getting a bit better, I've learned some new techniques, and I´m able to do my own thing a bit more. Not constantly depending on the free time of other to show me around or assist, really feels a lot better. Unfortunately, some of the other girls are having a bit of a falling out right now, which (ironically) involves another Dutch girl. This has been going on for some time now (before I came), but has now somewhat escalated. Even better, one of the girls confided in me that when they heard I came, I quote "they were curious to see if all Dutch girls were rude like her". Always nice to know people have an opinion against you even before you get there... I have to admit I imagined living abroad in Oxford a little different. Or maybe I just have too much pastel color and rainbow imagination. At least winter hasn't kicked in yet, and the weather has been mild for the last couple of weeks, which is nice when you cycle to the lab everyday. And I found Dutch stroopwafels in Tesco, which is a nice reminder of home. I just can't shake the homesickness! Maybe once I make some (more) friends? Or maybe a nice trip to Primark will do the trick ;)

Hope you had a nice weekend

With love,

Willemijn

p.s. Oh, and I didn't get the PhD position. Not that I even knew, because they didn't have the decency to send an email or anything. My supervisor just told me. Nice to pay 50 pounds for an application, but not get any form of communication whether you got the position or not... She says she still has another option for me to get a PhD position, but to be honest, right now I'm not sure if I event want it or not...