When my boss rants for 10 minutes about how there's something wrong with my generation, at least in this country, I want to ask how he'd survive if his wife had a job. And remind him that the parable of hard work that he holds up to me has moved half-a-country away while his wife postpones her PhD to look after their 4-month-old. When he tells me he will no longer accept american students, because the foreigners that visit here work so much harder, I wanted to mention that when I was a visiting student in another lab I worked 20-hour-days and slept on the floor of the lab. By those standards, your foregin students are slackers.
I also want to mention that every day my husband comes home telling me about the 30-year-old that died today. Unexpectedly, or perhaps expectantly, though only expected for the last 6 months. Yes, sir, you're lucky you didn't die at 30. Or 40. I'm lucky I didn't die at 20. Neither of us, yet. But it could happen any day, and I don't want to miss the opportunity to kiss my child good night for a few extra data points in the lab.
But instead I smiled and nodded empathetically. And secretly wanted to stay late to collect a few more data points.
One time my advisor yelled at me for about 45 minutes because I was going to leave for three days to go to my little brother's high school graduation in a different state. Told me I didn't understand what it meant to be a graduate student. Apparently he didn't understand what it meant to be a good sibling...
ReplyDeleteAh Academia. You are a fickle foe.
OK, I had a thought about your post, then I just got distracted by the fabulous picture by your Complete Profile. That is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteWhat a gayrod. It is people like that who make me want to be my own boss. How can people be so ignorant yet so capable of obtaining high-ranking job positions?
ReplyDeleteFor reals. Sometimes peoples' expectations are a little outrageous. A+ for keeping your job. It's hard to conntain yourself in the face of such complete and utter craptastic-ness (b/c that's a word, right?)
ReplyDeletePS: Your talk of data points sometimes scares me. It sounds very complicated and smarty-pants.
Also, I haven't forgotten about you being so wonderful and nominating me for the Sunshine Award. I just had mommy brain for a few days...I will def mention you and your smarty-pants blog soon! Thanks again! ;)