12 of 12: A day in September 2024

It’s the 12th of the month again.

1/12: Since our family holidays in Sardines, I try to keep the habit of eating a big plate of fruit. Because I need to be at the Institute early today, I prepare the fruit for eating it at the office.
2/12: While I get ready for the office, I listen to music that I can add to the playlist of the upcoming Spanish-Latino themed Institute summer party.
3/12: Thoughts are running through my head while I travel by metro to the Institute. Should I stop my volunteer work for the project that sucks so much of my energy?
4/12: The first task in the morning is to take a photo of the biggest electron microscope of the Institute. I need it for a poster I design to explain how electron microscopy works to visitors of the upcoming Frankfurt Science Festival.
5/12: It’s always relaxing to have lunch with my nice Andalusien colleagues ❤️.
6/12: Today is a photo day. I have several appointments for taking photos of my new and old colleagues. In order to reduce the tension people feel when they are in front of the camera, I chat with them, which is also a great way to connect with them. While the following selecting and retouching isn’t my most favoured work, I love how I contribute to their visibility by taking and publishing a nice photo of them on our website. Many use it also on their posters, social media accounts and job applications.
7/12: I pack the goodie bags for the new cohort of our grad school students. Even after 3 years, I still like the visual brand I have designed for the programme, which consists of “fake” protein structures in the shape of the programme’s initials. Good design is sustainable and lasts for years!
8/12: For the Science Festival I ask my design intern Louise Düver to design a balloon arch in a molecular shape of a protein called “smc 5/6”. It’s a protein located in the cell’s nucleus that helps to organise the DNA. It’s great to have Louise, who’s is very skilled in drawing and doing 3D animations!
9/12: There’s still a lot to prepare for our grad school’s symposium next week. I totally forgot to take care of the promotion of the symposium, because I was so consumed by the preparations for the Science Festival. I collect the information of the symposium’s programme and add it – nicely formatted – to the Institute’s website.
10/12: I finally leave the office. It rains a bit. It’s always a joy to see a rainbow ❤️.
11/12: I participate in my water sports club’s board meeting. We discuss several projects on how to improve the club house, the number of members etc. I present the name proposal for our new dinghy. I was asked to come up with a Chinese name. Since my Chinese skills aren’t good enough, I have asked my mother for help.
12/12: I finally reach home. Before I go to sleep, I soak my hands in warm water to improve the blood flow of my fingers. Since months my fingers feel stiff and numb when I wake up in the morning. Hence, my mother, a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, recommended me to give my hands regular warm baths.

What a long day! How was yours? Are you busy, too, these days? Let me know!

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Categorised as Review

By Shau Chung Shin

I am a designer, businesswoman and founder of HAHAHA Global and Gesund in MeinerStadt. I develop solutions and products that encourage an open and positive approach to taboos. In doing so, I contribute to a healthier and more peaceful world.