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Today was such a funny day.
TTSH and NNI were holding a nationwide exercise on the plans of action the nation will employ in the event of a flu outbreak in singapore.
SO ...in addition to temperature scanners and the like, all staff in NNI including research personnel were requried to don on 'industrial duty' strength face mask from 11am to 3pm today.
alright, so a normal surgical face mask is unbearable enough, just imagine having this bloody mask that fits in a dead fit with a devil of a mechanism to put it on. It was really funny to watch Phd student Zhang shi and Dr. He running around the lab trying to get someone to help them put it on.
And today, finally confirmed my suspicion that Ma lao shi is really mad.
and hilariously funny in his stoic ways. and speech.
As the second in command for this lab, he is the exact opposite of soft spoken, but professional and executive like Dr. Tang our boss, i.e Dr. Ma is LOUD, CRAZY and INFORMAL. But they are both equally very smart.
Here's my evidence for this analysis:
1. At 2pm, one hour to the end of our tenure with the masks, lao Ma comes into the lab and asks if he can get a bigger mask because his mask is just too uncomfortable and he can't bare to wear it any longer.
then at half past two, he has this exchange with shwn chin, our big sister lab tech, the queen of the lab (i.e NOBODY there's go against her. Her word is the rule). This exchange was carried out in madarin but i'll do a translation.
Ma lao shi = MDL vs shwn chin (SC)
MDL: Su ching! I'll pass u my mask at 3pm. Do you want it?''
SC: (eyes him supiciously and looms nearer to MDL who's hunched over his microscope) WHY would I want it?''
MDL: ( not looking away from his slides) Well, if u join two masks together you can use them as .... (pauses and seems to consider the consequences of his actions) ... (turns away from the microscope and .... PLACES HIS MASK OVER HIS CHEST ! ) and starts laughing to himself, me and yongcheng who are washing specimens at the bench start to giggle hysterically.
SC: ............................................ ( picks up a plastic slide holder and starts hitting MDL in the arm )
MDL: (still laughing and not sorry for his actions) what?! In this time of economic instability one must save and recycle whenever they can. I'm helping u to save money!''
SC: ( slams slide holder down and yells ) YOu OLD pervert! how can u say such things to girls!''
MDL : '' eeeeeeeeerrrrrrr...... ( still giggling sheepishly and turns back to his microscope)
2. MDL vs ET ( SC supporting role)
I'm helping him mount his specimens on slides whilst he consecutively checks them to see if the tracer has been injected into the right spot.
So i'm mounting the last two slices and he comes over with the previous slide.
MDL:'' Put the slide in the buffer and let the piece glide to the right spot!''
ET:'' I know I know. ( N.B this is the last slice that is to be fitted in the furthest corner of the slide. and for the record if u soak the rest of the slide into the buffer all ur previously mounted slices will float back into the pot.)
MDL:'' Put it in the buffer its easier to do it that way''
ET: ......................(starting to feel that familiar twitch in the temporal region)
MDL: ( fingers approaching my brush and slide....)
ET:'' .... MA LAO SHI BU YAO ZAI CHAO WO! ( MDL stop disturbing me! )
MDL:'' ( hand quickly withdraws ....starts sniggering to himself) Suching you see."
SC" Good job Esther, if u don't tell him off he will take advantage of us.''
MDL'' (in mock serious tone) Just you wait Esther...one day..I will.."
ET:'' what?! you wanna fight? ok lah, we'll see who wins"
SC:'' Esther, now do you realise what a tiny heart Ma Laoshi has?''
MDL:'' (still in bravado) yah...I'm like that''
ET: ( Finishes the last piece and thrusts it violently into his hands) here take it and blot away the excess buffer yourself."
MDL: ( takes the slide begrudgingly and mumbles ) Esther ah, ni geng wo ji zhu.... ( Just you wait Esther...)
SC:'' Orrrrrhhhh....you're dead esther, you've entered Ma lao shi black books!''
ET:'' ..... i DON'T care"
We laugh and MDL goes away with slide in tow giggling to himself.
This also proves once again to me that MDL just enjoys distrubing people whilst their doing work.
Ok.....I so what's the verdict? To add more proof to my case that this guy is really an eccentric. We're talking about this truly smart guy, postdoctoral fellow and doctor and here he is spouting nonsense.
Ok, but to give him credit, he really is a nice guy who helps out when people request for his help and he doesn't put on airs and lets us kid around with him and make fun of him. And he is a good teacher. He is patient most of the time and explains stuff till he thinks u understand. Though that is usually about 5 minutes after you've already grasped the concept.
I guess that's one of the differences between research and clinical medicine.
In clinical medicine there just seems to be too much emphasis on hierarchy and formality. Everyone has to worship the ground upon which the consultants and surgeons walk upon. Informality and jokin with your superior is almost unheard of, just in case a slip of tongue may cost u that all important promotion.
I'm actually beginning to like this research medicine business. Though I don't know if all this is just because I was fortunate to be guided to such a great lab.
Thank you God.
Right....I just have to end with this bloody hilarious exchange that occurred at the end of the day when the entire ''family'' was back in the 6th floor lab.
As Zhang Si (ZS) ,our resident PhD student, enters the lab after spending the entire day in the animal room just to escape wearing the mask. yong cheng tells him the whole '' let's join 2 masks into a bra'' business. then SC tells us this rather interesting exchange she had with her frens over lunch.
( again this is a translation which kindd kills the edge but it's funny as it is )
Gender ratio in the lab : 2 F : 4 M ( on average )
SC : '' Stop laughing about that joke from this afternoon. Let me tell you something that me and the girls were discussing during the lunch. We figured that in the event of a real flu epidemic and emergency where there is a shortage of mask, the one thing that we may have to do is USE OUR BRAS AS MASKS"
(Entire lab erupts into hysterics )
SC: STOP LAUGHIN! This is true! When the epidemic breaks out there will be a shortage of masks."
MDL:'' Oh no then we are in trouble! This lab has too few girls and too many guys."
ZS: " Su ching! Does that mean we have to line up in front of you?"
(hysterics)
SC:'' STOP LAUGHING! THis is a fact!"
ZS:'' (sobers up a bit) " yah we know. So can we order some stock from you?"
(Hysterics)
SC:'' ZS! Why don't you just go bye some for yourself"
ZS:'' Yah I would like to do that but I think the sales girl at the lingerie section will think I'm weird when I pick up a bra and place it over my mouth to try for size."
( More hysterics. By this time I have to remove my gloves and cover my mouth to stop myself from laughin myself to death )
MDL (comes over to tell me the slide selection) " Esther don't listen to wat we're talking about."
ET:'' MA lao shi....you're voice is SO LOUD I think the whole level heard you."
MDL ( laughs and skips to the lab door and shuts it ) " LEt's close this door so that other people will not hear our professions of love for each other."
hahaha...omoshirou ne, kono kazoku...
professions of love indeed....
Level 6 Lab 1 Epilepsy research Lab. You guys ROCK! In your own eccentric ways....