Internship

My first day was not as exciting as I'd hoped it would be. In actuality, it was quite boring and monotonous. I am working in a laboratory with three other students, one from High Tech High, and the other two from International. In the lab, we don't so much test as we do preparations. We use samples taken from multiple beaches and bays along the San Diego coastline that are very heavy in bioluminescent bacteria called Dino Flaggelates. With those samples we count the number of Dino Flaggelates in a 1mL sample. This is done to find the number of bacteria per 'x-amount' sample. After that, we used different samples taken, yet again, from beaches and bays along the San Diego coastline and do various tests on them. We use a refractometer to check the solidity of the water and we simultaneously test for pH levels in the water. Sound familiar? After that, we take the samples and add water fleas to them to eat up all the other bacteria for further testing of which I cannot remember was for.

I got to my internship through public transportation. My route is the 28 westbound, then I transfer to the 84 westbound to the Submarine Station. I get off at the front gate for SPAWAR and show the security guards my visitor badge and school ID for reference. I got home a similar way, yet slightly different. While at internship today, I made friends with the two of the three other students there (the other intern was absent) and one of them, Emily from International, offered me a ride to the Old Town trolley station. From there, I took the trolley home.

As for lunch, I did the same thing I normally do: eat at Vons with Rodrigo!

All in all, my first day at internship can be labeled as a success!