Sunday, February 28, 2010

The Results

I rocked the house. At the conference, I mean.

I think my delivery was pretty good. I got a couple of good questions--which I understood and could respond to in an informed way. And I got some seemingly genuine compliments afterward. I felt great! It's possible I was a little too chatty and eager since it was so exciting to receive questions. "You want me to say more about my research? You actually want to know? Do you have a fresh cup of coffee? Is your chair comfortable?" Bring it on!

When I have more time, I might share some thoughts about the conference culture, which, as many of you know, is sort of weird. It's especially weird for someone like me, who is a bit of an outsider since a) I won't be going into the job market when I finish, b) my program is in the UK, and c) I didn't know anyone there. I didn't present until the very last session, during which I was able to make some connections, but before that, it was kind of hard to talk to people. Fortunately, I had the hubster around for some of the meal times, so I didn't really have to talk to people all that much.

Oh, and the eighteenth-century dancing on the last night was super cool and fun. I might have to find an eighteenth-century dancing club. There must be some of those around somewhere, right?

And in other good news, the kids seemed, in general, rather unfazed by our absence, which is bruising to the parental ego but liberating for the parental life.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

*squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee* for your talk.
I get a wee bit excited too when people ask me non-dum-phuck questions. It's a relief from "what's on the test?" and "are there extra points" from stus.
jc

TKW said...

Did I tell ya or did I tell ya? I knew you'd be awesome!

And 18th century dancing? How cool is that? Did you wear a corset?

Dr. No said...

Fu.....F...Frick Yeah! Way to fudging go!

Academic, Hopeful said...

Yay! Nice one, GEW! My older sister calls that sort of eagerness being 'teethy' because you tend to expose too much and many of them.

Have written about the conference experience twice. You sounded energised by yours; I feel tired after the first session.

Well done!

http://academichopeful.blogspot.com/search/label/conference

Momma said...

I'm glad it went so well! Congrats! i am proud of you!

Good Enough Woman said...

JC, Yes, very different from students asking me--for the millionth time--when something is due. And also different from my intro to lit classes in which I ask questions and they stare at me blankly.

TKW, Alas, I did not have a period costume, but our dance instructors did. I would like one.

Dr. No, Thanks! And good job with the language! Way to support "no cussing week"!

Hey, there, AH. So nice to hear from you! And, yes, the sessions WERE tiring. My husband came along for the final plenary session (b/c it came with free dinner). The talk was about 45-60 minutes long, and the hubster said it was the most mentally taxing six hours of his life (and he's a mathematician and an engineer!).

And thanks, Momma 'Em!

Amstr said...

Woohoo! Congratulations! I wish I could have been there to hear the paper, and to see you in your element.

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Hooray!! I knew you'd rock it :) Photos of the eighteenth-century dancing????

M. Paule said...

Belatedly: Well done! After skimming the replies, I realize that it is (or was) No-Cussing week, so I suppose I'll curb my tongue here, but congratulations! It's always heartening to hear of a paper well given.

Huzzah and kudos!

By the bye, my captcha is "taxmyxil." Very strange.

loveskidlit said...

Well done, GEW! (And the response to the awful questions is: "that's a really good question. I'll have to consider it.")

;)

Ink said...

HOORAY for your conference success! (Of course, we all knew you'd ROCK THE HOUSE.)

Definitely want to hear more about 18th century dancing. And your other thoughts on the conference culture, too.

But mostly: CONGRATS!!!

--ginger. said...

High stinking five.