The Social Caterpillar

Just back from dinner with one of my new labs. (I'm split between two labs, did I mention that?)

So full of food. So tired of smiling.

I hate forced social interaction. In fact I hate social interaction in general. Maybe that's why I've left my human neurobiology lab and chosen instead to work in molecular biology laboratory where I don't have to deal with people on a day to day basis.

Tonight I reflected on the differences between my new lab versus old.

First of all, my old lab would never have a random dinner date just to be social. Now that I think about that, that's probably because I was the Research Assistant and so was in charge of organising such things. Result, no lab dinners.

I exaggerate of course. Recently we all went to an Indian place to try the 'hottest curry in the world', apparently. Unlike the generic 'the best coffee in the world' advertisement obviously overstating what can be on offer from a grotty curb-side dairy, at the very least this was 'the most toxic curry in the world.' At least two people vomited.

Tonight I nibbled on a thin slice of organic vegetarian pizza and observed the lack of jeans and sneakers wearers at the table. I mentally brushed the crumbs from the hippy pants that I wished I was wearing instead of the more conservative black tights, boots and skirt option that I'd gone for.

Nobody made an inappropriate sex joke, said something excessively nerdy, or for that matter particularly challenging.

My new lab seems much more... normal. Conservative. Generic. Cool.

Intimidating.

I'm not sure I belong.