Name: Raquel Lambea

Organisation/Co-ordinator: Becas Faro

Nationality: Spanish

Dates of Visit: 04-04-2005 - 03-10-2005

About why I came:
I had always wanted to go to another country to work or study. So when people from my university talked me about Faro Programme I applied. When they said me I was initially selected I didn’t have any doubt. Come to Scotland was one of my dreams so…what more cold I ask for?
I wanted to improve my English and to be sure that I can live in my own everywhere. The project was about my speciality in my degree (analytical chemistry) and I was very interested in environmental trouble and analysis.

About my project & working at the ERI:
My project was: Monitoring Scottish Wastewater Treatment Plants for the Presence of Pharmaceuticals.

My supervisor was Carolina Nebot and the support team: Stuart Gibb and Kenny Boyd. They supported me in every moment.
Work at the ERI was fantastic. I think environment working at ERI is great and with a high quality.
Everyone is friendly with new people and I didn’t have any problem. It was easy for me to speak to ERI staff

About living in Caithness:
Living in Caithness?.....WONDERFUL!!!! I like living in Caithness. I have been involved in a lot of activities and trips: ceilidhs, live music at Comm, Old Pulteney Distillery, Orkney, Ducansby, Inverness, Whaligoe steps, raft race party, county show, bag pipe band, Dunnet…
For the highlight are people in Caithness. Everyone in Thurso is friendly when someone arrives. They start to talk to you and they ask you about what are you doing and all of that. That is great…the best!!! I have been very happy here (very very happy)

About the future:
….difficult question….Well, I have to think about that because after working at ERI I have realized that I like research, and I like very much Scotland and Thurso too so….I don’t know. I would like to start a PhD in Scotland or UK but I have to think in possibilities in Spain too. I have learnt a lot of things here and I am sure that they will be very useful when I will look for a job.