Conferences

I think I am finally back in working order post-ASA. Phewf, that conference really took it out of me–that’s alotta days to be on all the time. Nonetheless, I have to say, overall, a good sociological time was had by all. I think I got everything out of this conference you should–meeting new people, reconnecting with people you’ve met before, hearing some good talks, hearing some iffy talks that make you feel good about your talk, not getting lost and locked out of your hotel room.* I know there’s lots of debate about the usefulness of the Employment Service interviews, but I definitely recommend doing it–a brutal but effective education in learning how to describe your work and how to connect quickly and effectively with different personality types, scholarly backgrounds, etc. I got kind of sad about how worried some of the other grad students waiting for interviews seemed. I found my true hippie nature coming through: Hey, everything is going to be fine, it usually is, you gotta stay positive there’s a long haul ahead. As Dean would say, you gotta womanifest the best.

In other, technical matters: Anyone having trouble (or success?) subscribing to The Skinny Malinky through an RSS feed? I hear reports of trouble in cyberspace.

*See International Association for Science, Technology and Society Annual Meeting, Baltimore, 2006.

Members of the undergraduate honors program: Business skirts, high heels, oxfords, pants, suit jackets, ties, button-downs, brief-cases.

Grad students doing employment service: Pants, skirts, ties, shirts, sports coats, suits, khakis.

First & second year grad students: T-shirts with slogans, sneakers, hoodies, no deodorant.

Just graduated assistant profs: Cute going-out outfits.

Assistant profs: Shirts, no ties, dresses, khakis.

Recently tenured: Shorts, t-shirts.

Associate profs and up: Hiking hear, printed scarves, buggies with grand-children, loose & comfortable.

I’m in Boston, at ASA. Arrived yesterday. The rough start to my ASA adventure included: waking up yesterday with a nauseating migraine; a bus driver who got lost leaving NYC and entering Boston, making us late and unable to attend the panel we were arriving for; a panic that I might puke on the bus; a near-accident that involved the bus-driver slamming on the brakes and swerving into another lane. I don’t know if you have ever been on a bus that has had its brakes slammed on, but it doesn’t slow the bus down much. Upon arrival in Boston, I discovered there had been a mystery flood in the bus luggage compartment, and my bag and all of its contents were soaking wet. My precious interview outfits! A few loads of laundry and beers later, I calmed down, and dragged Greg and Rachel to the Scatterparty. We made a few new friends, speculated on the identity of various anonymous bloggers, and had a nice chat with one of my favorite soc bloggers.

Today has been much smoother. My talk went fine, I’ve done a few interviews that were fun and not scary, and I’m feeling pretty good. The conference is in several hotels, but they are all connected by a gigantic mall! I am heading to the food court now.