Those who know me well know I am a girly-girl. And as a child, I despised dirt. I momentarily appreciated the chore of using the riding lawn mower to cut our 1/4 acre. But I was uncomfortable with weeding, dirt, and bugs. I have tried hard to change. While I still have an odd fear or hatred of lizards (which I'm trying to get over), I have learned to appreciate the dirt involved with gardening and weeding. After all, they get me out in the fresh air and provide a bit of exercise--two very important things for sustained quality of life.
Paul's boss, see above knows the best way to keep her team (all men) together. Feed them! However, she also knows that they are all talented and smart. And from the photos and stories, I'd say they had plenty of opportunity to practice cooking for themselves during their lives. The department Christmas party consisted of a buffet with each person contributing ingredients or the entire dish. I understand the experience was quite fun.