It has been two weeks since I arrived here. I have been very busy here – already engaged in three projects – but do not yet have any silicoflagellate pictures to show. Much of my time thus far, besides the process of meeting people, bank arrangements and so forth, has been devoted to reviewing the scientific literature as I gear up for my formal work, and preparing samples. The picture here is what my desk looks like as I evaluate the literature on modern silicoflagellates so I can give advice to a graduate student here.