Ireland, conference and Jasmine
Mon, 20th April
Long day of travelling. Everybody commented about new haircut. Left for airport after lunch. Fiddled with self check-in machine, "mon premiere fois de jouer avec la systeme". Flight landed early, though had to take bus to Heuston statio. Made friendly chat with English woman living in central Ireland. Group of french tourists sitting beside. Family, here to visit daughter. She recounted her experience with english in Ireland. Family was fascinated. Strange to hear a familiar language in a foreign land, where the language of english is so foreign to me. Should have taken a flight to Cork. I still prefer Swiss trains. I'm jitterish about this conferenc,e about what Dieter said to me last week. Hope I'll perform. Have to rest my nerves.
Thurs, 23rd April
The conference just finished yesterday. Quite disppointed that my project didn't really interest anyone on this side of the continent. Perhaps I didn't sell my work well enough. Perhaps the problem lies with AMB. People need to know. I need to revise my poster. It is not legible and reader-friendly enough. Maybe to omit methods, point form, concentrate on AMB and the players involved. Didn't see Dow, O'Gara only appeared for prize presentation. Didn't get chance to speak to Williams (P). Imperial group consisted of Cate, Robern, Dan the drinker, Mohair Tim and the girl, what's her name? Just couldn't really fit in. They're not very open, not very worldly, and talked mainly about alcohol. We had 15 eur pizze for first day. Dan talked about getting drunk to 'relax'. Now it hits home to me. Ended up with the Germans fro mthe same B & B, Andre, Ramiro and Marina. There was also Christin who works in Graz. Ramiro knows Edith. Much more comfortable company.
Sat, 26th April
Parted rather reluctantly with the German group after looking around Cork in the morning. Lunched at the Old English market where Andre gave a comment about the burnt sausage. Headed to Blarney castle after we parted, and there met Romeo. Rather touristy. I have yet to send an email to him. The three of us looked around the castle and its grounds, there was an Aussie girl here in Europe to attend a wedding. Can't remember names. I didn't kiss the Blarney stone, it didn't look very clean. Rather liked the garden, although the house wasn't open for visiting. Parted again in Cork, and I took a three-hour train to Dublin to meet Jasmine. Dont know if it was strange for her. I felt altogether comfortable in her presence, although we haven't known each other for long. I miss asian food. They've got some good restaurants in Dublin. You just need to know where to eat. Was lucky with the rooms at the hostel, although location wasn't great. Ireland was on the whole cold, dark and rainy until I left on saturday. Miniature London, not exactly my place to be.
