I didn't mean that to sound quite as pseudo-profound as it probably does. What I mean is I am a Myers-Briggs introvert. Which is not to say I can't be chatty or confident with people. Rather it is to say that I find being with people draining and I need time alone to re-energise.

Which may be one reason why, three weeks into my time here I feel exhausted. There've been a lot of people to meet in those three weeks. Which is a good thing and much better than the alternative of feeling lonely, unwelcome or isolated.

I wonder how many of the PhD students are also I's. I would guess that there'd be very few extreme E's (extraverts) since people like that would be unlikely to contemplate two or three years spent in independent research. But a preponderance of I's in a room doesn't necessarily mean there'll be no interaction, just that the group is unlikely to be off down the pub together afterwards.

Actually I did go to the pub this evening. The Glenside Pub, it's called. Although it's not really a pub in the way any British person would use the term. It's quite a pleasant place to eat however, and it was a nice evening.

On the tables there were laminated cards with a picture of the US flag, the oath of allegiance and the words 'Pray and Remember'. I assume that this was to do with September 11th, but it still felt slightly odd.