The Finite

I was elated to hear that I was accepted to be an Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 301/302) Laboratory TA. I get the chance to dabble in some of the educating others that I’ve been thinking I’m so good at, I get some valuable leadership experience, and it provides much needed resume frosting.

The first meeting was the night before classes started. I was nervous to a degree that even I thought was unreasonable. Don’t ask me why. Regrettably , I visibly and audibly jumped when Brent pointed out the presence of Prof. De at the back of the room. Maybe it’s because I didn’t hear her come in or maybe it’s the caffeine-soaked, anguish-laden, Max Payne-esque tribulations I experienced last year as a direct result of her class. I know I shouldn’t be afraid of her. I no longer have reason to be, but it’s a reflex I guess.

My schedule also lends itself for me to be one of four lecture TAs as well. The professor asked us to stand as she called out our names. Awkward: She didn’t tell us to sit down. I ended up standing for like a minute like an idiot, failing to see that the other TAs behind me had sat down.

So I get to sit with my friends who are actually in this class as well as pretty much everybody else from the learning community last year. The most popular question seems to be what lab section I teach, but I can tell that’s merely a front for a prod at the possibility that I can throw some points their way. Trust me. I can already see that ruthless savagery that lurks in the heart of every Purdue Prepharmacy student. One that would use me for their benefit and discard me just as quickly, like a scintillation vial full of of oxidant or a plastic pipette. They stop only at what would alert the pharmacy admittance committee.

Imagine my surprise when I learned that there were two Hersey ’09 alums in my building, one of them just down the hall from me. I encountered one, as he ascended the stairs, wearing a familiar green Awards shirt emblazoned with Hersey insignia.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t another Hersey alum?”
“Wait, aren’t you… Tommy Tran?”
“Indeed I am.”
“I thought you went to U of I.”

That seems to be the prevailing thought here. It’s only natural. Most of my crew went to Champaign. Oh, well, alas and all that. I console myself by reminding myself that that ellipsis is my reputation preceding me.

The second floor of Cary is a bit of a disappointment. I tried to reserve room 314, but I got bumped. This puts me a little closer to the drunks, and it’s not delightfully esoteric. The new dorm room comes with good and bad, of course. First off, it’s 3 ft narrower than last year’s, but a couple of feet taller. The hallways are wider but at the expense of shorter rooms.

There is only one closet for both of us to share and on top of that, it’s filled with piping that I’m guessing contains the electrical lines for the two rooms directly above as well as the recently installed sprinkler system.

The bedlofts are done by a different company for this building. These lofts are specifically designed for Cary South’s rooms (narrow and tall). Both beds are lofted on the same frame, which is made of 2x4s held together with wing nuts and carriage bolts. Unsanded, unpainted lumber. It’s a little bit… rustic?

Oh, well. I came with sandpaper packed so that I can try to smooth any bumps I encounter.

The lofts are also taller than last year. Final occupant elevation is about 2 feet higher, at 7 feet. This makes the ladder quite necessary. Furthermore, there is no side rail. Rolling off the side of the bed is not only hilarious, it’s also fatal.

There’s more. I’m actually tall enough to use the peephole this year. There are individual dressers as well as a separate desk but no on-the-wall cabinetry like Harrison had.

But this is a newly renovated low-range res hall. Meaning…

there is a goddamn bathtub!

Just a couple of doors down the hall, it has its own stall and a curtain and everything. But I’m a little afraid to use it, mostly because of all the other people that have used it. I’d like the opportunity to pour bleach all over it first ever since I remembered that it has contained the soakings of what could be hundreds of other people.

The rest of the showers are just like those at FAR at UIUC. Except since this is an all male dorm (part of which is solely for the football team), the shower is proportioned differently. It’s really big. The knob is about 6 inches above my eye level and the nozzle is two feet above my head. I have to stand on my tip toes to adjust the spray.

Still, though, this set-up has the same sinks used for hand-washing are used for other general use. As a closet hypochondriac, I shudder in my bed for fear of brushing my teeth in the morning. Something I’ll just have to get used to. Hopefully, this floor won’t have “that guy” who will ruin it for everyone.