Day 67 - A Musical and Philosophical Evening

I woke up slightly early this morning to go to the front gate and meet Eli, my family's guide. I got in his van just as he was getting through the gate; evidently he didn't need my help with that. We drove to San Martin, where I helped my family get their luggage down to the van and such for a few minutes before I had to head to work.

After dropping my stuff off in the lab and grabbing my samples, I headed to the TEM for our last session with Talmon. Patro and I had gotten a taste of working on the microscope last session with alignment procedures, but this time, with supervision, Patro basically did the entire procedure. He took some images, then turned the machine over to me to do the same. Talmon told me just after this that I was ready to operate the TEM without supervision!!!

Just before lunchtime I found myself grabbing my final forms and heading to the library for a signature (the department secretary's I had gotten first, and I had miraculously happened to run into Nissim after hours for his, so the librarian's was the last I needed). I then went straight to Cafe Madaa to meet Tamara and Dan for sandwiches. Tamara and I split a piece of cake that was chocolate and spiky and wonderful.

During the afternoon I managed to finish a draft of my abstract, as well as work on my presentation and write-up of my summer. I worked straight until 6, when I left and headed to Clore for an event arranged by Greta. We sat around and watched as she spread out some snacks and food, then at 6:30 went into the music room for a musical evening put on by the Russian summer students, Anya, Marina, and Andre. They made programs listing the songs we'd be hearing, and played the piano and violin (Anya on violin, the others on piano) for almost an hour! All of them were amazing, and the music room was packed, with summer students and Weizmann students from Clore.

Marina and Andrew each played an encore before we all headed back out to the lobby for snacks, fruit, and ice cream homemade by Greta, which was delicious. I couldn't hold back, and ate a few helpings of it. Then Daniela, Rachel and I headed out for dinner to the science park. Once there, we looked at menus at a few restaurants before finally settling on Papardella, an Italian (and Kosher) restaurant. Both Daniela and I ordered gnocci, with different sauces, and Rachel, who had had a craving for corn, had brought her own can of it, so semi-secretly ate it when our meals arrived. The restaurant was nice, although it didn't have its own bathroom on the premises (there was one labeled with the restaurant's name around the corner). Also, as is shown below, the cute ambiance of the terrace was overshadowed by a towering sign for the neighboring gas station.

After eating, we just sat and talked for a couple of hours, about religion, which always seems to come up when Rachel is present. The interesting thing is that Judaism was only a part this time. Daniela shared some really interesting experiences from her year in Africa, and as it turns out, she's rather spiritual. We also talked about reincarnation, and how it's mentioned in Judaism not just in arcane texts but in the daily prayer to be said before bed. The weather was actually rather cool, so it was a pleasant evening to just sit and chat.

After the walk back, we said goodbye to Daniela outside Clore and headed in. Rachel and I ate a bit of ice cream and chatted with physics Dan in the kitchen. I retired once my eyes wouldn't stay open.

Here are a few pictures from this evening:

The program:

Marina playing

Anya on violin, Andre on piano

The Entertainer (piano, four hands)

What a crowd!

Me, Daniela, and Rachel under the Sonol sign