Yesterday morning, we had a presentation by some students at Oxford University. They did pretty much the same things that you would normally see at a science fair or in some classrooms, so most of us were less than impressed. Following their presentations, my working group went to ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) where they get 6 weeks of lead ions collisions per year to do research with.
For lunch, we were going to eat at ALICE's restaurant (because you can get anything you want), but it was closed, so we had an ALICE picnic.
Then came working groups and a video conference call, followed by a quick nap and supper.
Last evening, we had our International Night. That's when each of the participants brings something unique to their home country. What that really means is snacks and hard liquor from each country, some folk dancing, and then a sing along after everyone is loosened up. Some of what we drank was a step DOWN from paint thinner. Our American contribution: Doritos and Jack Daniels.
There were 21 countries represented, with some unique foods.
Haggis....
When you mix a group of people and that much alcohol, there are certain predictible results, but it was a really fun night. After getting in at 2 am, this morning's workshop came pretty early.
Today we are working with a couple of people from the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics from Waterloo, Ontario. I've really enjoyed what we've done so far. They have a summer institute that I may need to check into for next year!
Tonight....laundry and down time. Tomorrow is another busy day with a picnic up the Col de la Faucille, and I'm sure another late night.
I forgot in my last post to tell the story of the guy behind me in line to get into the castle gardens in Yvoire. We had to wait in line for a short time, and (as seems usual for things around here) when you pay someone gives you some information about the place and what you should expect to see. A man behind me in line kept yelling up to "get moving up there" and other comments. By the time I got up to pay, I was fumbling my money trying to hurry up, and I quickly took my money and stepped forward. He handed the cashier a $100 bill and said for 4 people. The cashier started to get his change out and give her prepared talk and he told her to "f***ing give me my money." She looked at him and said "aren't you on holiday?" He reached across the cash register, grabbed the money out of her hands, and shouted "F*** you!" It was really at odds with the serene gardens, or with decency in general.
I forgot in my last post to tell the story of the guy behind me in line to get into the castle gardens in Yvoire. We had to wait in line for a short time, and (as seems usual for things around here) when you pay someone gives you some information about the place and what you should expect to see. A man behind me in line kept yelling up to "get moving up there" and other comments. By the time I got up to pay, I was fumbling my money trying to hurry up, and I quickly took my money and stepped forward. He handed the cashier a $100 bill and said for 4 people. The cashier started to get his change out and give her prepared talk and he told her to "f***ing give me my money." She looked at him and said "aren't you on holiday?" He reached across the cash register, grabbed the money out of her hands, and shouted "F*** you!" It was really at odds with the serene gardens, or with decency in general.
Lunch is over....back to Quantum Reality.
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