So today was my first day at work - the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living (ISEAL), Victoria University. I was meeting with my placement supervisor - David Bishop at 11am, so made sure I left early enough to ensure I wasn't late on my first day! I got to Footscray campus with about 35 mins to spare. I know it's good to be early on your first day but god does it make you more apprehensive hanging around, I was pretty nervous as it was. The campus was lovely, it is small, very modern and new, with a friendly sort of atmosphere about it and in a way reminds me a bit of Bath.
It wasn't long before I met David Bishop and he was very friendly and immediately made me feel very welcome. Firstly he gave me a tour of the new, $68 million building I would be working in and the equipment I would be assisting with/using over the next year. The facilities were just amazing (and that's just the physiology equipment and facilities), with multiple physiology labs, consisting of different testing/training bikes, treadmills and strength testing equipment. They have an environmental room in which the temperature, altitude and humidity can be adjusted, whilst also being big enough to have 10 participants in there at one time and also a heat chamber which has a wider range of adjustment in temperature and humidity. Additionally within their facilities they have an altitude hotel comprising of bedrooms, living area, kitchen (food is brought to them so they don't have to leave) and bathroom so athletes/participants can go and live in there 24/7 to find the effect of altitude on performance variables. A research project may be conducted soon using the altitude hotel which would be brilliant and very interesting to get involved with - not sure if you'd be saying the same if you were stuck inside for a couple of weeks! They also have a biochemistry lab which I may do a bit of work in. David told me the first few days and weeks may seem a bit quiet (settling in period), however will really quickly pick up and become busy with multiple projects going on constantly throughout the year.
So you're probably wondering what I am actually going to be up to while I am here at ISEAL and out in Aus for the year, because yes I am here to work and it's not just a long holiday!!! Well my role is a research assistant, where I will be assisting David, other researchers and PHD students with the research they are conducting. I am going to be getting involved in a range of studies, but most focusing on the effects of training and a variable on performance and the muscles, which is hopefully going to not only improve my lab skills in returning to final year but help improve my physiology knowledge and assist with pursuing a physio masters, I mean I may even change my mind following this year and want to become a sport and exercise physiologist and complete a PHD (who knows!). I am also hoping it might give me an insight into a topic for my final year dissertation (which I am currently clueless on).
The day went fairly quickly and before I knew it I was heading back to the city to do 2 quick viewings of apartments before shooting off to netball. The apartments were both alright but not somewhere that felt homey and just not for me. I had a bit of a mare after viewing the apartments because I was on 10% battery and I needed to ring Sue to find out what the plan was and where I needed to get the train to. It was so lucky I took the time to write her number down on my hand because typical my phone died before I got to make the call. I ended up just jumping on a train anyway to start heading in the direction of home and embarrassingly had to ask someone on the train if I could borrow their phone to make a call! All I can say is thank god I wrote the number down because I would be circling round god knows where right now on a train!
Anyway after the stress and mad rush to make netball on time we had a really good game and the my first win in Aus. I played WA, 2 quarters at GD (my new position I recon) and finished at GA. I actually managed to get 2 clean intercepts at GD (I'd usually be lucky to get 2 tips in a game) and infact played much better there than when I went into GA for the last quarter!
Time to go home, shower, dinner, watch big brother Australia (Sue and Hannah now have me hooked, oh and the fact it involves watching Ed for an hour haha) and crash, I have an even earlier start tomorrow!
Night all xxx
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