Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources

This past February and March, I had the extreme pleasure of living and working in Kyoto, accompanied by my husband Andrew and our two little girls - Kitsuné and Obi. Funded by a scholarship from the University of Oslo, I travelled to Kyoto to work with Dr. Timothy L. Karr (Tim) at the Department of Drosophila Genomics and Genetic Resources (DGGR, Kyoto Institute of Technology). The aim of my stay was to learn about the field of proteomics, with a particular focus on proteomic bioinformatics and the analysis of a sperm proteome dataset. Acquiring these new skills and applying them to data of our own was incredibly satisfying, though it was not without some challenges. Each day was filled with mistakes and breakthroughs, but ultimately the time I spent with Tim learning this new field was amazingly exciting, rewarding and productive.

During my time at DGGR, I was made to feel incredibly welcome and many people went out of their way to help me find my feet in a new work environment and an unfamiliar city. In particular, I found myself being grateful to Maaya and Yamamoto almost each and every day for the help they provided me. From helping me find a hello kitty birthday cake for my littlest daughter's (Obi) birthday, to tracking down specific clothes for my oldest daughter Kitsuné, my trip would not have been the same without their help. Maaya and Yamamoto - arigato gozaimasu.

I also could not have asked for a better city to spend time in. Kyoto was so beautiful and filled with so many new experiences and things to see and do. I loved the combination of history and modernity. I loved the food - the ramen, the bento, takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and the Taiyaki...yum! I loved taking the Randen line each day from Kitano-Hakubaichō station, walking past Kitano tenmangu early in the morning and getting off at Arashiyama to have coffee along the banks of the Hozu River looking at the famed Togetsu-kyo Bridge. Other highlights included the Higashiyama Hanatorou, the shrine markets at Kitano and Toji Temple, the monkey park at Arashiyama (my girls were delighted by the monkeys),

strolling through the Nishiki market, lunch at the hello kitty café,
decorating cookies with Maaya, visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha with my daughter Kitsuné (yes, she is named after the fox),

the Kyoto Aquarium, and playing in the sunshine with my daughters at the playground near Nijō Castle.

Finally, we were lucky enough to see the cherry blossoms. I will forever cherish the time I spent in Kyoto, and wish for a time when I can return.
Thank you to all of you at DGGR that made my stay possible.
ありがとうございます