Trip Report:
Two Weeks in South Africa, January 1999
Richard's Version
Day 4
Monday, 1/11-
Awake at 4am this time. Had coffee and a granola bar in our room and caught the first bus to the University. Met Claire and went to make sure that the room for our symposium was ready. We were given a cavernous lecture hall with tiered seating, not the best situation for encouraging discussion. The room was also freezing, and no tech came to set up the AV. While Claire made her opening remarks I was in the AV room setting up, and finished just as she announced the wrong speaker. I had to run up and correct her.
We had more than 20 people in the audience (in addition to the dozen that were presenting) which was really pretty good. The questions and discussion went very well and got quite lively- just what we had hoped (the symposium will hopefully be published if you are interested in more detail). Lunch was provided, and quite tasty, but as usual drinks were not included, and expensive. I had a nice talk with a guy who is interested in doing the archaeology of nuclear test sites. Ground Zero! I'd think you wouldn't find much more than glass. He asked if I knew anyone in Russia doing that sort of thing, but I told him it wasn't likely. After eating I practiced reading the paper I was supposed to read to cover for Nicholas Thomas, who couldn't make it to the meetings.
Then we were cursed. It had been drizzling all morning, but now the sun came out brilliantly, the sky was crystal clear and the views were spectacular! And, of course, everyone took off sightseeing! The afternoon found us with only a few audience members! And I had practiced reading Nicholas Thomas' paper so hard, and read it so well (So said Sabine)! The discussions were still good though, and afterwards we all (about 20 of us) went to Maliblues at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront for dinner (Moroccan chicken, salad, sticky toffee pudding and wine wine wine, 200 Rands each roughly). (We even took our audience with us). We ate well, drank much and had a thoroughly good time. I got to chat mainly with John and Peter van Dommelen, and like them both very much. But, when Louise started pulling up her shirt to show us her tattoo, it was time to call it a night.
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Notes/Resources
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Last Updated 19 February, 1999
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