Geneve

Here I am in Uni Mail, the university building where I'm attending the European Sociological Association conference in Geneva. I've walked over from my friend Marc's apartment - sneaking out early so as not to agitate his shy room-mate. "Its gloriously European here", I think to myself in a North American manner. I walked past gorgeous churches that had been turned into theatres, shops with mysterious opening hours, boulangeries and patisseries. The sky is blue, people are riding bikes and I'm oh-so-pleased to be here. I'm also fully aware that I'm not from here. Last time I was in Geneva was probably 1988 - visiting my parents friends the Wanners. I was twenty one years old and on my grand European rail adventure. At that time, I was really open about where I might make my life. I had European citizenship of course, and so identified as British or Irish from time to time. I wanted to be European because it somehow seemed so much  cooler than being Canadian - especially given the waves of Canadian backpackers roaming around. I wanted to fit in. Anyway, twenty-three years later - I think that die has been cast - at least for the present. Other than two years in the UK, six months in Europe and eight months in Africa, I've lived my life thus far largely in Canada or the US. I have to accept all that baggage cause its made me who I am. Nonetheless - I'm happy to try not to look like a total doofus here. To try to avoid too many errors. I'm still hesitating about speaking french though. French is the main language, but the conference, weirdly, is all in english. This is particularly odd given that probably only 10% of the attendees speak English as a first language. Instead, people speak it as their third or fourth language. But I suppose its the lingua franca and I get to benefit from that. But I will. I will. Try to speak french as I roam about. I know however its meant that I've avoided doing some tasks like finding a laundrymat - 'lavanderie?' and figuring out how to get a pay-as-you-go phone. But in time. yes, in time.

The conference is interesting - especially because I was at the American Sociological Association in Las Vegas so recently. I'll try to do a bit of comparison...

ASA Theme - Conflict


ESA Theme - Turbulence

Similarities
- Best sessions in both have been about how to understand the Arab uprisings, coalition building, violence, and globalization.
- a lot of status games. People trying to impress each other. But this is more so at ASA than ESA

Differences
- Size and participation - ASA is bigger, in a hotel rather than on campus, and has a higher faculty/student ratio than ESA. Its far more junior people here.
- French theory rather than statistical correlations. Obvious difference.
- ESA had a dance last night (although it was in the foyer of a university building). People danced. Although I did go to a great dance party run by NYU in one of the casino clubs in Vegas, ASA never holds dances.
- Performance artists! - At every break in the programme, there are performance artists in the foyer at ESA. This doesn't happen at ASA. Two days ago - during one session on the Arab uprisings, one fellow, topless in a tutu walked into the lecture hall with the intention of making a scene. He was escorted out by police. It was bizarre.
- books - there are fewer book displays at ESA. Boo. It seems academic publishers are in crisis and are relying more and more on the interweb.

Anyway, that was probably not that exciting for most of you. But that's been my life in Europe so far. Oh yes, that and kebab huts. As I've been eating alone in the evenings, I don't really want to spend money in restaurants. There is basically no fast food (other than McD's which I don't do). So I've been eating a lot of falafels. They're pretty good and come with a creamy dill sauce. But they don't use pita bread - they use a roll, which is too heavy for my liking.
later gators...
xo