So this is Xmas

Even though everyone always says that the year has gone so fast, it doesn't feel that way to me. It is surprising that I've been here for almost 5 months but I can't say that the year has gone either fast or slow because my time here feels disconnected from my life in Australia, on a different time-line somehow. (When I return it will probably be with some unrealistic expectation of picking up exactly where I left off.)

As you've seen from photos it's a White Christmas here. More snow is forecast for Xmas eve and morning. This makes the holiday fare far more appropriate. Australian families are forced to choose between the traditional Christmas dinner, requiring a hot oven on top of the midday heat, and the more practical cold meats and salad. Here it's a no-brainer, every source of heat helps. (Not that it's ever been much of a choice for me. A cold meal is not a meal - it's a snack. I even toast all my sandwiches!) Luckily, I have two friends who haven't fled Bloomington for the break so I'll be eating Xmas dinner with them.

An American Xmas treat worth mentioning is egg nog. I knew to look for it because in one Xmas episode Homer Simpson buys a fridge full of egg nog instead of milk! Anyway, the supermarket version isn't alcoholic (easily fixed!) and tastes like a thin custard with the spices from the pudding mixed through. Which is good, because I couldn't see any Xmas puddings at the supermarket so nog just might have to substitute.

A Suitable Job for Me

One of the things that attracted me to IU was that, even though I'm a philosopher of science, I like being in the same department as historians of science (I'm looking forward to the history of science class I'll be taking next semester). But back when I left school I wanted nothing more than to be a scientist so I went to UNSW to study chemistry (I continued to like it well enough to work as a chemist for a while between undergrad and starting grad school here).

Now the two loves are coming together as the head of the department, Prof. Bill Newman, has hired me to help him reconstruct Newton's alchemical experiments! Today I had a look around the lab and bought some chemicals for the next experiment. (No, we're not aiming for the Philosopher's Stone just yet. But the Bloomington campus does look a lot like Hogwarts!)

The project looks like a lot of fun. Some of it is just writing experiments for teaching purposes, to provide some history along with the chemistry. But there is a lot in Newton's notes that really can't be understood because he used mystical language. It's hoped that some of his terms can be deciphered by examining what it was he saw, so I will also be trying to reverse-engineer those experiments.

My visa only allows me to work on campus so this really is perfect for me. Also, I'll finally be elegible for a Social Security Number, without which life in Indiana can be very difficult.

A short break from classes

Monday was my last class and yesterday I submitted a paper for my ethics class, which means I'm now on a break. Because it's winter here in the Northern Hemisphere we only get a short break over Xmas -- classes start back 9th January. I do deserve a break, seeing as we only got a long weekend (Wednesday - Sunday) for Thanksgiving. Still, I'm very surprised that it's gone this quickly!

I'm not planning to go travelling anywhere (left it too late, now) but I will have plenty to do: the International Center has activities; I still have a couple of papers I'm working on; and it looks like I'll be starting a part-time job. (I will post more about that after I find out the details Monday.)

Not just dreaming of a White Christmas

Yesterday a serious snow came. It started in the middle of the day and kept falling late into the night. Walking home from my last class around 8 pm there was about 15 cm of snow on the ground. I was a little surprised at how bright it is at night with the snow reflecting light.

Today it's stopped falling and the whole town looks magical, especially the campus with the big old gothic buildings and the enchanted forest. This photo makes me expect to see a faun walk past wearing a red scarf, carrying parcels and an umbrella. (I'm going to see The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe tonight!)

I've taken some more photos of where I live and around campus.

I think I'm pretty well equiped with clothes for cold weather now (I've been buying bits and pieces for the last few weeks). In fact, I'm starting to gain a new appreciation for garments I never cared about before. There's no way I can leave the house without a warm hat, scarf and gloves -- things I never needed in Oz!