Today’s Friday funny hit me when I entered our department kitchen the other day and was overwhelmed by the sweet nostalgic aroma of Ramen noodles (chicken flavored, I believe). It got me thinking about the funniest parts of being a graduate student and how we know when they’re back for good:
- office doors suddenly have lots of cartoons on them and you have to study 16th century Spain to understand them (or other historical niche)
- conversations of “oh my god, and no one talked … at all” can be heard after sections let out
- live bodies actually come by my office and talk to me as I matter somehow
- no food remains from any event
- popcorn smell hits floor and exclamations of “popcorn, that’s such a good idea” are heard cascading down the hall
- Foucault mentioned at least 1x per day, usually not positively
Any others to add???
Beer is always the logical follow-up to complicated discussions.
* mangy beards start appearing, against most people’s better judgement.
* the cascading emotions of the semester are felt more intensely.
* I get asked to write numerous letters of recommendation (it’s fall!)
* the TAs union begins renegotiating its contract (pay them already!)