Only Med Students
I’ve become frightfully aware of how dorky and obnoxious I am as a medical student. At almost every party we have (“we” as in “my class”), we inevitably turn onto some sort of medical topic. And I know it can be really annoying to friends, partners, or spouses of people in my class. My friend Bory’s partner Yosuke is incredibly polite about it, but I know I’d be annoyed if I was in his shoes. Bory’s always having potlucks, and we always start talking about some anatomy joke, and I can’t help but feel like Yosuke must feel a little left out.
Last night was no better–especially when there’s alcohol involved. I’m not always sure how we *get* onto these topics, but we debated:
* The pH of the vagina (I always like to refer to it as “the hostile environment of the vagina,” and comparing its acidity to that of the blood of Aliens, melting metal). We took bets on it. Turns out it’s normally 3.8-4.5 (that’s between tomato juice and coffee).
* If “crabs” are the same as “head lice.” (No, they are not.)
* If humans are evolving to lose their pinky toe. (No, they are not, although some website of 9th and 10th graders seemed to think so, as well as my classmate Lori.)
We always end up arguing over this stuff, and then eventually deciding we don’t really know (or remember) the answer, so we have to Google it until we find some sort of resolution.
There is nothing wrong with any of that. (Well, except unnecessarily thinking about vaginas.) I’m not in school anymore, or even doing anything related to neuroscience, but every time I find myself in a social situation with another neuroscientist, biologist, or whatever, that’s what we talk about.
Everything from the standard “did you read that paper last week…” bits to the “what’s your favorite receptor” jokes, and once, a re-enactment of the Nerdiest Thing Ive Ever Done: The Neuroscience Drinking Game.
Plus, it’s good practice: someday you’ll need those stories and jokes to survive all 18 holes of boredom.