RAI

I am spending a couple of days this week at the RAI, also known as the Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale. It's the annual meeting of the world's Assyriologists and thus, by default, THE happening place to be in Paris this week. So far we have only been through the opening ceremonies and a few talks, but I am quite enjoying myself. Large conferences are generally a place where the young and eager kiss the hems of the old and badass with varying degrees of success. As a non-Assyriologist, I have no utility whatsoever for networkers, meaning that they have no interest in talking to me. More than once I have seen someone's eyes glide blankly over my name tag before moving on in search of big game. I just take the free food and enjoy the talks! Some of the other students I have met so far are pretty cool people. I do wish that some of the Assyriologists I actually know were here, because they are fun!

I am grateful for my efforts to learn other languages, too. This conference is genuinely trilingual (English, French, German) and, while I am far from total comprehension, I don't feel lost and upset either. Right now I am on lunch break writing this from a net cafe called Milk off of Rue St. Germain. Doesn't look like I will be a repeat customer, however, because the dude at the counter is a jerk! Also I hate French keyboards. On what planet should you have to hit shift to get a period but not to get an exclamation point? And that is only the beginning of the insanity.

Tonight I look forward to a reception and the chance to keep meeting other geeks!