The countdown to the trip.
How did this get started?
One day in December 1998, I was walking out of the reasearch building of the Duke Medical Center with my mentor Bryan Cullen toward the parking lot. We were discussing the exciting progress I made about the nuclear mRNA export factor Tap. Then Bryan suddenly came up with something in his mind. " I just got a leter from the RNA societytoday, they are going to have the 4th annual RNA society meeting in Edinburgh. You should go to that meeting" Bryan said "It's time to see another part of the world again" (hint: I went to Europe for a meeting (and of course sight-seeing by the way) in 97).
The countdown:
* 03/09/99 submit the abstract for the RNA meeting in Edinburgh.
* 03/10/99 submit the application for a conference travel fellowship from Duke graduate school.
* 03/10/99 get a free Student Advantage membership.
* 03/16/99 purchase a direct non-stop frlight ticket from Raleight/Durham International to London Gatwick from American Airline.
* 03/29/99 conference travel fellowship awarded by Duke graduate school.
* 04/01/99 get a visitor visa to UK in the UK consulate general in New York.
* 04/10/99 get a Hostel International membership from Student Advantage.
* 04/12/99 purchase a eight-day UK railpass from the STA travel.
* 04/15/99 get a UK map, and UK travel book from AAA Carolinas.
* 05/05/99 get a US re-entry visa in Shanghai when taking a vacation in China.
* 05/10/99 get confirmation of registration and acceptance of the abstract for the RNA meting.
* 06/08/99 Book one night researvation for the night of June 22nd in the Holland House Youth Hostel in London.
* 06/15/99 Purchase a phone card to call from UK to the US for 10 cents a minute from IDT.
* 06/21/99 Take Off!.
