The Vanilla Bean Truck

Earlier this summer my adviser at the University of Illinois announced that he will be taking a job at the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle. Senior members of his lab were given the option to either stay in Illinois and finish their PhD in Illinois or move with him to Seattle. Since I only have 1-2 years left I asked him if he would be ok with me working remotely from Somerville, and make frequent trips to Seattle to stay in touch with the lab and perform any needed experiments. After a bit of discussion to make sure we both understood how this would work, he agreed that should work.  I am not only excited to be able to move into the new house with David, but I am excited to be able to spend time at one of the leading Systems Biology institutions and get to know the Seattle area a bit! This fall should bring lots of really exciting changes. 

I posted my condo on Craigslist not long after Nathan made the announcement, worried that it would take months to rent and wanting to move out when Nathan left in August.  To my surprise, I had an interested couple after only a few weeks who wanted to move in June 20th! I made some speedy arrangements to have the place cleaned, packed up my stuff (in only 2 days!) and piled it into a Penske truck (more accurately, my friends James and Rasche piled it into the truck...and were rewarded with pizza and beer later that night). My dad and sister Alex graciously flew out to Illinois to pilot the truck home to Somerville. After a canceled flight they hopped on one of the shuttles from O'hare and arrived just in time to finish packing the truck and cleaning out my garage. After we finished packing we enjoyed dinner and dessert at mine and Dad's favorite cafe, and Dad and Alex set out on their 1000 mile trip. Since I was sad the truck only accommodated two people, Alex took pictures along the way to keep me updated: 

The "Vanilla Bean Truck", so named by Dad

Dad was very disappointed to find out that the truck was white, and not the traditional yellow Penske color. 

Dad, the driver

I think he still had fun, even if the truck was white.

Cruising with the big rigs

Driving through a monsoon on the last day

A little wet after a bathroom and snack stop

After a few flight delays due to a near tornado at the O'hare airport, I arrived back in Boston. My mom, Tommy, my dad, Alex, Christine and Anika had the truck all unpacked (which took hours, thanks!!!). My furniture has been squeezed into the 4 bedroom apartment (a temporary arrangement, since the 1 bedroom is still rented), and my boxes are in the basement of the house. I spent the next couple of days intermittently working, cleaning and organizing. Then Christine and I left for our week vacation in Maine, and David joined us for the last couple of days.

I am still living in Illinois as my adviser does not move to Seattle until the middle of August. I am staying with my friend Khush. Each night I sleep on her futon in the living room, and my stuff has its own little corner off the kitchen and living area. I have consolidated my things into one small dresser, a small stack of plastic drawers, a plastic crate, and a laundry hamper. All of the stuff that remains in Illinois fits into my car, which I will drive back to Somerville sometime in August for my final move into mine and David's apartment (the 1 bedroom)! Woopee! I'm really excited to be able to spend more time with David, as well as to see my family more often and begin life on the east coast. I will begin making trips to Seattle sometime in September, and will stay with other members of my lab when I visit.