I think that much of the public forgets that scientists, including physicists, are people, too. Partly, this is because of the myth of the scientist – the recluse, the weirdo, the hubris. Partly, this is because often the most outspoken scientists are, indeed, the reclusive, weirdo, snobs. It’s the greater part of the scientific body, the students and the postdocs and the young faculty, and their families, that people never get to see. Collaborations of any size function because of the good will of the people in them, the camaraderie and the collegiality.
Tonight, Xinjie’s wife, Hannah, cooked for all of us who are here to work on CDMS (or to be spouses of people who work on CDMS, like me). She made heaping bowls of homemade Chinese food – pork and chicken and steamed egg and meatballs. Delicious, all of it. There was good conversation and laughter, and beer for some of us. This was a perfect way to start winding down this part of the vacation, surrounded by new friends and great food.
