miss akay

Biology professor drinks urine, in front of class!

Undoubtedly, this class has been the greatest source of entertainment for me. All during our Osmoregularity and Kidney lecture yesterday, there was a mystery bottle sitting next to Dr. W's computer. Immediately, my fear was that she brought a bottle of urine to class with her. It was the right color. There was no label on the clear, plastic bottle. Asking my classmates around me, we all comforted one another with the hope that it was really apple juice that she brought to quench her throat during lecture. No such luck!

At the end of lecture, Dr. W shared a bet she made with her husband, that she would have their son potty-trained the Chinese way by age 1. He said it was impossible and she agreed that she would drink urine in front of her Biology students if she was wrong. Well, she lost the bet!

Dr W unscrewed the bottle and put it up to her lips. At this point I turned around to see everyone's facial expressions in the lecture hall. PRICELESS! I wish I had a camera. She took three little sips and explained that urine is non-toxic and drinking it is one method to keep yourself hydrated in the desert.

The rest of the day, students were discussing whether she made-up the whole potty-training story, just so she could trick us into thinking she drank urine for us. She is quirky, but not out to impress us by doing crazy things. We decided that if it was anyone other than Dr. W, it would probably be a prank. But, considering the stories we've heard all semester about catching frogs first thing in the morning to feed to the ducks, pulling leeches off their legs after harvesting rice, hanging frozen snakes in their windows as curtains during the winter and loads of other bizarre stories, I am pretty confident that she indeed stood in front of us and in fact, drank urine.

posted by miss akay @ 2:19 PM