Semester Break... What Sem Break?!

If you have been reading my blog dutifully, you would know I have been working part-time in the lab for my "favourite-est" senior of all, Yong. Anyhow, if you have been reading lately, you would also know that I have been working in the lab during the semester break. So basically, to sum it up, I basically didn't really have a break. Due to that, I think I am a little fatigued. I honestly don't know how these lab technicians do it! There's so much stress, so much to do and deal with that I'm surprised that they don't all have white hair.

 

Anyway, I have a 2.5K word essay due this coming Monday and honestly, I'm kind of freaking out a bit. I have don't half of it, but I personally don't think it's great work. If you know me well, I take pride in writing a great essay. With the sem break more or less gone with the wind, I am pressed for time to finish this essay. Lucky for me, Yong doesn't need me to work weekends, which would SUCK!

 

My mum and youngest brother will be going back this Sunday so tomorrow is the last day for me to spend the whole day with them. I have been busy the whole week ma. Anyways, I really have to start getting rid of my "Gen essay writers block" so I can relax a little tomorrow. Wish me luck in finishing this!

I am such a Stooopid Doofus

I am a big dumb doofus. I feel like bashing my head in at this very moment. URGH!

 

To summarise the "Doofus moment" I did something that is akin to asking a newly widowed woman where her husband is. As I stated in my earlier post, I am an assistant to Yong in the labs. He needed a helping hand as his lab tech colleague was on emergency leave. Well, the lady (let's called her Z) came back today. It was kind of awkward initially, but if you know me well, I'm always a bit unsure about myself when I meet new people. Anyways, after a while, engrossed with work, we kind of settled into doing our own thing...

 

Now, the "Doofus moment". This horrible moment occurred after lunch and the safety meeting. I was working alone in the lab and I was asking Z a few questions on what reagents to use and what not. I can't recall exactly how the conversation trailed to more relaxed topics, like if I was still studying and how I found working in the lab. I then asked Z how she was due to her very long medical leave. When Z answered me, I think I bore the expression of one that accidentally stepped on shit. In other words, my jaw dropped, eyes widened and I began to apologise.

 

Feeling shitty about it at the mo.

 

She didn't seem too offended about the question (innocent one I suppose), but I feel like crap. Damn it...

 

I mean like, we all were guessing the reasons. And the answer she gave me was one of the probabilities, but not one that any of us would openly say. Not the best scenario... anyhow, I'm feeling downright lousy. Crap. Should have figured and known better than to ask... me and my stupid big mouth.

Azide Girl, Gossiping and Freshmen...

Not long ago, Yong called me up to ask me if I needed a job to fill up the huge gaps in my timetable. Apparently, the lab tech in his lab had taken ill and he needed a replacement as fast as possible. I of course, jumped at the offer. I was pretty bored, sitting around doing nothing... working in the lab has been fun for the past 2 weeks. A little bit stressful, but fun, none the less. I suppose the main reason for this is that instead of working in an entirely new environment, I have a friend with me that's showing me the ropes. Luckily, said friend has been patient enough to teach me. Thanks ah, Yong! :P

 

After about a week of helping Yong in the lab, Eileen came to help us too. Eileen ar, she's damn funny. That girl has so many stories and is really a bubbly person to work with. Work is never a dull moment with her around. Working in the lab, I have made a couple of new friends, and learnt more about the people that work behind the scenes. I've seen the pressure that the lab techs have when preparing for lab sessions, I've seen the amount of dedication it requires.

 

But I suppose the best thing about working in the lab is seeing things from the other side of the fence. I'm helping out in the preparation for the freshmen BIO 1011 and BIO 1022. Trust me when I say there are moments that make me wonder if I was as innocent and incapable as the freshmen this sem. Things have changed though. In the new campus, the freshmen are given mostly everything and facilities are wonderful. The equipment are mostly new and solutions are mostly freshly prepared. Some students ask the most ridiculous questions and some make me stare in disbelief. There are incidents where many "stupid moments" could have been avoided if they had read the instructions clearly and double checked everything that they did instead of asking the demo/ professor/ lab techs. For instance, "Azide girl" was silly enough not to use her gloves when handling the sodium azide, a VERY toxic solution. She asked us how toxic it was. I explained that if it deactivates enzymes, what did she think? Anyhow, the silly girl, if she's reading this, hopefully has learnt her lesson and ALWAYS wear gloves in the lab when handling ANY chemical.

 

Working is fun in the lab with Eileen gossiping to me about all sorts of things. She has stories about lecturers, research students and other lab techs. Hahah! Yong would listen and at times join us, but being the guy that he is, he's usually not very interested. Oh well. The only down side to this job is I realise it's taking up quite a bit of my personal time. I suppose it's just a taste of working life though. Once I start working full time, things would be like this anyways.

 

Ps..

 

I am aware I haven't been blogging as of late, or posting any pictures of my "new" hairstyle.

I'm going to collect all the money I earned and put it away in my "New Phone" fund! :P