I had quite a full schedule in DC on friday. Wake-up at 5 am e.s.t. to get ready for an early morning photo session and an orientation/briefing at the D.O.E. headquarters. Business attire was required (it seems mostly because we are taking photos). We also had to check out of our hotel rooms since the orientation will run until after check-out time, so we each had to stash our luggage, check-out and be down in the lobby by 6:45.

The orientation featured the D.O.E., N.S.F., N.I.H., O.R.A.U. and Mars, Inc. talking about their causes (so that we can answer appropriate questions as their representatives). This was followed by a brief introduction to the Nobel prizes, Germany, and what to expect. At this point we were given lunch and instructed to go to the luggage storage room to change and get on the chartered bus to Dulles airport.

Also, that morning I received an email that I need to go to the US/Russian embassy in San Francisco to receive my Visa for passage into Russia. This was quite unfortunate, seeing as I was in Washington DC. So I emailed our Russian collaborators and watched as my travel there imploded. All the better, my flight back to the U.S. was already booked, and would cost $5,000.00 to change. So now it appears as though I will take a trip through Italy and Paris, France. It should be an interesting experience, and a great adventure!