PTSD

Another Take on SmallRegionalMeeting

Nicking the idea from E:

Well, SmallRegionalMeeting is officially over. It was actually rather good fun. The panel E and I were in was hugely useful despite having a fairly small audience. We got excellent comments which I hope to use in my paper.

Getting there, though, was an adventure: Got up just in time to catch the first Metro train to C'town to catch the bus to East Coast City. Turns out the bus to ECC was full. People, with tickets (or paper sheets) were waving them around at the bus driver. Bus driver was supremely unconcerned. Finally, Random Person told us another bus would be leaving from about 5 blocks away. Walk really fast to get there. Or, try to since had high heels on (lesson learnt: do NOT wear high-heeled boots when preferrred mode of transportation is dodgy buses). Finally make it to second bus stop. Yes, bus was full there too. Decide not to ask about any other buses and go to National Bus Company (the one with the dog sign). Bus full again. Wonder if there's something going on in ECC that I don't know of. Give up on buses and wonder if not going to ECC is an option. Realise E would probably kill me. Actually, make that "realise E would kill me". Go to train station. Buy train ticket for next train. Wait. Wait. Wait. Station voice, in its usual incomprehensible way, says train is delayed.

Finally get on train. Train is pretty full. Get a seat. Try to take a nap. Chatty bloke sitting next to me asks where I'm going. Answer. Chatty bloke asks where I'm from. Answer. Chatty bloke speaks perfect local language. Be shocked. Turns out he was in the Peace Corps and had spent time in a monastery (don't they all?). Try ignore chatty bloke by pulling out computer to work on. Realise left computer at home. Don't believe it. Realise, yes, since bag is fairly small, did leave computer at home. Panic. Have powerpoint presentation on computer. Which is at home. Though the cable (which I thought I'd forget) is in the bag. Panic some more.

Finally get to ECC. Follow E's excellent directions of "Get out of train station and walk towards tall buildings". Did so. Reach SmallRegionalMeetingplace. Meet up with E, Anomie and others from TUWSNBN. Worry about not having presentation and then proceed to talk for nearly 30 minutes during presentation. Shock myself again. Is probably most I've ever talked in any presentation. E's was, as usual, to the point.

Thought we did a good job. Become well pleased with ourselves for submitting a joint paper proposal for next year and decide that we may well be methodological geniuses. Refuse to believe anything to the contrary, at least for the next hour or so. Bask in new found joy of being a genius. Realise proposal still not done.

Go to really fun panel on pop culture. Decide to submit paper to that panel for next year. Then, realise already have a "hobby" academic interest (football (soccer) and identity-formations) so can't afford to take on another one. Resolve to tell E we should submit another joint paper anyway.

Go for walk. Come back and sit in bar until E's husband comes gets us. Talk with randomstudents not from TUWSNBN.

Listen to Elvis impersonator at bar. Decide it's definitely time to go. Go out to car park to get E's car (v distinctive car). See guy who is supposed to bring us our car get in it and drive off into the depths of the car park (five floors) to go search for the car. Wonder if he realises he won't find it since he's in it. Anomie sorts everything out. Get in car. Leave for home.

Proceed to talk the entire time in the car. Yes, well, apologies to S since he was driving (after a long day at work).

Get home just before 2am. Get dog out of crate. Hang out with dog and fall asleep on sofa.

posted by Priya @ 9:26 AM