I went to the dentist for the first time in four years yesterday. I came to two realizations whilst I was there.
1) I despise lying in a supine position. Mind you learned this when I went to get a pap smear, but some how it’s worse with dentists.
It’s a bit disconcerting lying with two people dispensing random jargon whilst poking around in your mouth with items resembling medieval torture devices. The person whose mouth is being thoroughly examined is going, “..wha? I thought I had nice/semi-decent/passable teeth!! *cries*
2) I evidently have a high pain tolerance. I evidently managed to acquire my first two cavities ever. Luckily, they were small. Unluckily(?), they had to be filled. They had an opening that day, so I decided to get in done then. They were like, “Well, you don’t really need drugs since they’re so small, but if you want it any time during the procedure…” So, I decided to get it done without drugs. The first few seconds were fine. Then they hit nerves and I was like, *whimper* *raise hand to request drugs*.
Doctor: We’re almost done. But if you want it.
Me: …*internal sigh* *give gesture to keep going*
Doctor goes back to happily drilling. Equating the feeling of some drilling into my mouth as “tickling”. Yeah right.
Then they did it again for the second tooth. Without drugs. >_<
Luckily, mum was there since I was squeezing the life out of her hand…
…Dentists are the sadists of the medical world…
This past semester I took math project lab. It was an interesting experience. The reasons I took the class were two-fold– I needed to fufill my lab GIR and I though it would be interesting to see what research in mathematics was on a smaller scale.
Day one of project lab was somewhat standard. The professor went over the rules and such and mentioned plagiarism, etc. Then they made us fill out a survey on our mathematical background. My background is more oriented towards probability/statistics with exposure to analysis and algebra as opposed to the high concentration of uber-theorectical-ness. Then it got interesting. After we filled out the surveys, the main professor encouraged us to “make friends and form groups.”
One, you’re telling a room full of math majors to socialize. This is inherently a problem. Two, some of the students were going to get kicked out due to the subject being lotteried and oversubscribed. This was mildly problematic since some of the people on the wait list I was interested in working with/knew vaguely. So, I ran into the guy I knew vaguely due to him being in the same acapella group as a friend of mine. We talked briefly, compared our math backgrounds and said “Okay?”. We, then managed to obtain a third person, who happened to be on MIT football team. Group was formed. Project one was picked and all was good. I promptly came down with swine flu a few days later, right before our first group meeting with the prof. I have epic timing.
So, I out of commission for a half a week. Afterwards, they were like “Do the theory part!!”. I was like”…sure??” So, I chug away a problem, make some headway. Realized it fail. Hit head against. Look up papers. Rinse and repeat. Finally, it the due date of the draft. I have written my part and am just waiting for my partners to look over it and comment/critque. Acapella partner is like, “Hey! My laptop is on the fritz. Could you guys come over to my frat, to finish the paper?”. Football (F.B) partner is like “Sure!” I’m like, “…okay?” I catch Saferide to go across the bridge to get to his frat.
I get there first. F.B has not arrived yet. Frat (15-20 people) is having dinner, there’s like 3-4 other girls there as well. I get some food and frat partner sits down next to me since I’m his guest, I guess. Then dessert comes out and it gets interesting and mildly painful.
Evidently, the fraternity has some tradition such that if a brother has dessert before someone says dib or something, the brother is showered. My partner has never been showered and he has been in the fraternity since freshman year and we’re both seniors. To prevent being showered he strips. Which he did. Right next to me. Pants and boxers together first. I promptly turn and face the other direction, some what horrified and scared with frat brothers laughing their bloody asses off over their brothers antics. At this point, I was somewhat offended, terrified and very inclined to go “Screw this. I AM LEAVING!” Instead I was like, “I’m to be professional and stay.” Somedays, I really hate acting professional.
He put his clothes back and on and took me to his room. Then he had to leave to take a phone call or something. I promptly text my neighbor on my floor asking her to call me in an hour. F.B. still hasn’t shown up. He finally shows up around 9. I consequently find out that while my partners have lots of data neither of my partners have written anything. I consider screaming my head off at this point. I refrain from this action.
After convincing my partners that emailing the prof with the paper with a FAKE timestamp is a VERY BAD idea, we finally finish for the most part at 2:50am. In which I run like hell with F.B. to catch Saferide, so I can get back to my dorm. Am mildly twitchy during the whole experience.
I feel mildly sick in the aftermath. I throw up for a few days. Yay, mental state affecting physical state! We start on the second project. I tell my advisor what happened, asking if I’m overreacting. She promptly tells me “No.” and sends me to the course administrator to talk about it. She tells me the same thing and gives me options from mediation to Committee on Disciplinary action. I don’t want to cause trouble and turn down the latter option and go to S^3. S^3 == similar advice + talk to FSILG. Consequently, during this period, I barely check my email. I barely respond to email and I don’t verbally contact my parents for at least a month. They were somewhat worried, but I couldn’t get the nerve to tell them let alone tell my partner that I found his actions out of line. I finally email my partner about the issue. He apologizes. Kind of. I think he’s sincere. Till I realize near the end of the second project that he’s a jerk.
Neither of my partners seemed to understand the meaning of on time. 4 out of 5 times we had to meet they both chose the time, which was usually not optimal for me and then show up at least an hour later. I found this a bit… insulting. This came to a head when the stripping partner went away for a weekend and came back with 7 pages of material. Our page limit is 12 max. He then spent the rest of the project gripping about how much work he did and belittling F.B. and my work. We had to do a presentation we only met as a complete group once. In spite of the fact that, met 3 times. Both times they showed up late/ didn’t email the other two until much later. One of them got sick, which I understand but still…email is amazing technology. Use it. The presentation was a significant portion of our grade. I was livid at this point.
I finally talk to my professor about the utter lack of group dynamic. She gave me some options, but since it was almost the end of the second project and there’s only three in the class, there weren’t many. She gave me until the second project draft deadline to think about it. I told her due to the lack of options that didn’t involve hindering an already functioning group I would just stay. Evidently, the profs had been talking to the stripping partner (who evidently was known for not being a team player) as well and broke up the group anyway. Stripping partner by himself, F.B. with me. This was a mild improvement. F.B. still didn’t understand the meaning of on time but it was less awkward. I was somewhat annoyed when he came down with pneumonia and didn’t think to mention this till 20 minutes before our meeting and went home for Thanksgiving break on Friday and didn’t mention it till a few days later. At this point my professor was annoyed as well.
Project three was turned in on time (+/- hour). The class finally ended. I was thrilled that it was over.
I’m not doing this again…..
Hello everyone…. Quick update list.
1) Fall semester is OVER!!
2) I’m finally going to blog in detail about my… interesting semester. Mainly.
A) Harassment by my partner in project lab. ^_^
B) Keiko Matsui concert. <—-I’ve been waiting for this for 10 years.
C) Post-graduation plans…
D) IAP + Spring semester plans.
So, which do people want to hear first?
My mum called me this morning. At 6:30/40 am. This is not unusual during the term…but term is essential over now. I was mildly confused and not coherent. Then, in the verbal form of an ice bucket, she asked, can you get ready for a flight at 2:30 pm today?
*blink*
*blink*
“Wha…????”
“It’s going to be storming down here and the road may be closed tomorrow. So, will 2:30 pm work?”
DONE WITH FINALS.
W00T!!
https://www.buynecky.com/flare/next
Yes, I have resorted to posting infomercials.
Yes, I will have an actually post as soon as I finish outlining my essays/taking my final.
>_<
I just realized I walked 4 miles yesterday in 30 degree weather…
Went out eating today.
Also walked across the bridge 3.25 times today.
It was… interesting.
Bina’s leaving tomorrow morning… T_T
Must bring webcam home with me…
I’m excited.
^_^
