What an exciting week this turns out to be. Science as a never-ending roller coaster ride. Only a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was not very busy at that moment. But this week, on Monday, my collaborators and I found out that we have some serious competition on the subject we are preparing a manuscript on. Leading us to set ourselves on a serious deadline for next Thursday.

Fortunately I I moved yesterday and I can focus on finishing this manuscript now.
My new apartment is a blast and I think I will have a great time there. The previous tenants were a couple from Germany, and I think it is big enough to live there with two people comfortably. Perhaps it is time for me to also find that other person. I have certainly enjoyed the pleasures of bachelor life until now, but slowly I start feeling the need to settle down a little bit. (Of course writing these things here is a big risk since previous and future lovers are likely to read these lines too. But I figure that honesty and sincerity are important, so I’d write them here anyway.) I do not really know why I feel that need to settle down but the fact that I see people around me having babies, getting married, having real jobs certainly does not help. Fortunately I have many bachelor friends to drag me along for obscene parties and binge drinking nights too

Given the variety of people here, there is also a variety of beliefs. Jews from Israel, Hindu’s from India, Muslims from Turkey and Iran, Budhists from China, Christians from the US. Most remarkable to me is the number of Jewish people. Growing up in a rural area in the Netherlands I did not come across Jews until I moved to Rotterdam at age 27 and even in Rotterdam there are very few.

The great thing about meeting with all religions is that it creates a common understanding. Myself, being a scientist, I believe in science. When I die there will be nothing and no, there is nothing more then what we see and feel. I respect other peoples religions and expect them to respect my atheism. Many scientists in the US are religious. I have a hard time understanding how believing in a God (or multiple Gods ) does not interfere with your work, especially in medical biology. One of the best known examples of a religious scientist is Francis Collins, a very respectable scientist with whom I have had the honor to work in the TCGA project. He clearly shows that combining science and religion is entirely possible (NB he recently resigned as head of NHCRI for personal reasons).
Working in science has the side effect of making you cynical. This is due to the fact that many studies are controversial and even dogma’s can be taken down in a matter of months (such as the various estimations of how many genes there are in the human genome). In other words: it is typically not easy to see what the ‘truth’ is.
Sometimes I’d like to be a little less cynical and to be able to believe in something. Atheism comes with a great deal of responsibility. But that is too much of a prize to pay for the liberty gained by it, I guess.

The slow season has started. Even though America does not have as much holidays as the old Continent, there is definitely a holiday season. I believe the employees of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, my current employer, have 23 holidays per annum - rather a lot for the area. My corporate friends often have ten or fifteen. With my visits to Singapore and West-Papua earlier this year, and my visit to Singapore and Europe early July, I have had enough time off for now.

Of course, since I have a KWF Fellowship, I could theoretically take as much holidays as I like. And I really should take some time of to do sight seeing within the United States or plan a trip to the Caribbean, which is relatively close by. Maybe in the fall, when the weather gets colder here.
Work is also slow for a second reason. My main project has entered the final phase, we are writing a manuscript and currently there is not too much that can be done for it. Perhaps my planning has not been very effective, and there are some days that I wonder what to do. We have follow up projects in mind, but to start these I am dependent on my supervisor. Who is enjoying a holiday in France, I think. So what can you do? Take it easy for a while. Enjoy the season. Prepare for my move in a few weeks. Buy a car. Tough life!

Although the weather has been pretty shitty the last weeks, this summer is turning out to be a good one. Importantly, I completed my drivers license by passing the driving test on Friday. The test was simple and took no more then 15 minutes. In which I had to do some three point turns and parallel parking, but I never saw any serious traffic or highways.

My license will allow me to explore more then the few square miles around Central Square, that make up my current habitat.
Hence, this summer will be known as the summer I received a drivers license for the second time. The summer shall also be known as the summer of the different nationalities. Last Sunday, like most Sundays, I played football with Spaniards, Argentineans and French. On that same day I went to the beach with a Iranian friend. Later that week, I attended the Boston French party where I ran into an Austrian friend. She invited me to her house warming party on Friday. I went to that party with a friend from Switzerland and talked with people from Germany, Spain and Croatia (amongst others). On Saturday I took the bus to greatest melting pot of them all - New York. In the evening we shared dinner with people from the States, Spain and Ireland. And yesterday I spend a great day on a 50 feet sailing boat with people from Colombia, Spain, France, the Netherlands and the US.
And this was just last week. The most remarkable thing about meeting all these nationalities is that on a deeper level, it does not matter where you come from. You can have fun with anyone regardless there cultural background. World peace, please!

For the second time in my life I passed a theory traffic exam, mandatory for everyone trying to obtain a drivers license. My Dutch license expired in January of this year, and since I am not registered in any Dutch city extension is not possible.

Annoying, but since a Massachusetts license is required to buy a car in Boston I wanted to apply for a Massachusetts license anyway. So last week I took the theory exam. 20 Questions, none about traffic situations, the majority tested knowledge about fines and regulations. For example: what is the fine for driving while drinking from an open container of alcohol? A. $20 B. $100 C. $250 D. $500 (the answer is at the end of this blog).
The driving test follows this week. That is something else then the Netherlands, being able to take both exams within a week (6-8 weeks in the Netherlands). An another aspect is the costs involved - about $90 for both exams (EUR350-400 in the Netherlands). To take the practical test, a sponsor is required. This is somebody who has a car and a MA license for more than a year. My friend David (visit his music blog through the link on the right side of this page) has agreed to go with me. Passing the test should be no problem, but I have to be careful. A friend of mine failed because his sponsor, sitting in the back seat, did not buckle up. I guess examiners can be universally difficult.
_{The answer is D. $500,-.}