Mutualism

Yesterday we had breakfast with some friends and then I went off to the lab after whining about work. I didn't get there until 12:30 pm.

There is a student from overseas who just arrived for a year-long visit to our lab. She doesn't have a car and is living in sort of an isolated place, so I took her to get groceries and some things from Target. It took an excruciating three hours, as I'm sure it would have taken me if I were to do the same thing in her country. She didn't recognize a lot of the produce, didn't know what items were at a good price, wasn't sure what to get. I think there were some things she wanted but she wasn't sure if the store had them and she wasn't quite sure how to ask me. In the end she got enough to last a week or more and I'm sure it will be easier next time. Situations like this make me awe the many people who work in a foreign country as well as all the scientists who learn English for work, when I most fortunately get to use my native tongue for everything.

Anyway, the student very graciously offered to help me with the Crummy Tedious samples when we finished shopping. A fair mutualism in my view, although I didn't expect her help. It was good though, because even with a few hours of her service I was there till 10:30 pm.

As much as I would like to vege out on this dreary autumn afternoon, I think I will spend some time working on my manuscript or the two little proposals. Maybe if I get them done quickly I can find some time to work on The Samples in the next week.


UPDATE: I didn't end up doing any work today. I got out my memory stick but didn't even plug it in. Work Fail.
Tomorrow is another day.