When USAID was being dismantled in February, and the extent of my predicament becoming clearer and deeper, I came across an announcement for the UK Evaluation Society annual conference in Glasgow. I signed up, almost on impulse, thinking that I could reestablish relationships with UK funders and consulting firms that I have had in years past. I was worried about spending money, as I still am, but I’d long wanted to visit a friend in Scotland, and he let me stay with him, reducing costs enormously. Plus, flying in from Madrid would be a fraction of doing so from the U.S. A plan was born.
A cool conference
An auspicious start: walking up to the conference site, I saw that we were being hosted in the Annie Lennox Building of the Glasgow Caledonian University.
I had some contacts before arriving at the event, which helped me feel part of the crowd and meet others. (That’s good counsel for anyone hoping to network right now. My aid people, I see you.) There were good and less-good presenters, as always happens, but the networking was energizing. I left with a lot of hope for future work, renewed contact with former colleagues, and identified a few places to send my CV. Nothing concrete as yet, but these things take time. I’m working on patience and a positive attitude.
Mom always said if I wanted to leave a job, to get a new job first – that we are more appealing when we are not desperate. Of course, when a couple of lunatics steal the rug out from under you, you don’t get a chance to find solid footing. Sometimes I do feel desperate, especially when I balance my expenses at the end of each month. And sometimes during the night when I can’t sleep. Or during the day when I realize I’ve spent hours with nothing to show for it.
Re-starting my engines
I felt a bit desperate, in fact, on the first evening of the conference, which was billed as a Networking Social. (Groans allowed.) My skills for such a thing may have atrophied. But I pushed myself to say hello, to hear other people describe their work, to improve my own self-description with each re-telling, and then to go over to another pair or group and do it again. Reader, it worked. I didn’t light up the night sky with my sparkling wit or emerge with a ten-page list of solid leads. I had a nice evening talking to several people, though, and learned how to use the conference app to share contacts.
Another evening the conference organizers had set up a Ceilidh dance for us, which I assumed (wrongly) was a professional show. No, it was a trio of musicians and a clear dance floor! So I got to dance with other conference-goers, including the head of evaluation at UNICEF! GOOD GRIEF! I wish I had a picture to share. Or maybe I don’t!
I was feeling the Glasglow
I took advantage of Glasgow’s bike sharing service to tootle around the (very!) hilly city center and two nearby parks. I visited the University (which is said to be the model for Hogwarts) and its fantastic science museum. I ate a delicious Sunday roast, tried out all the public transportation options, visited a tenement museum, took endless pictures. I’d heard Glasgow is gritty. Construction fences walled off the pedestrian zone, which made it feel rather unwelcoming, as I zigged and zagged to avoid missing cobbles. But the city grew on me convincingly over my stay.
One reason: I am a sucker for clever shop names. I was completely won over by the silly names people had given their shops. This is just a tiny selection.
Another reason: You all know that graffiti murals get me right here (visualize my fist tapping my chest). Snarling purple raccoon? Check!
And another reason: I do love a bike lane. Renting a bike and tootling around a new place is about the best pastime I can imagine while traveling. There are some VERY hilly parts of town, so I was especially glad to find nothing above “gently rolling” in Queen’s Park. Bike lanes threaded around and seemed to be frequently used – always a good sign.
Reason the fourth: old world architecture. I’m not conversant in the styles and time periods but these building-scapes scream history to me. Gargoyles, man, gargoyles!
And one more reason, as if we needed it: the Highland coo. We in America spell that “cow” but I learned that “coo” is the appropriate way to refer to this big beastie.
Trick question: Who wore it better?
Mentionables
I’ll throw in a picture of my favorite meal in Glasgow (Sunday roast – so much more elegant than *ack* brunch. The whole base of it is the Yorkshire pudding – man, it was delicious!
I also tried an Indian place called Mowgli, and when I got there it was quite full. The host asked me warily, “Would you be willing to sit on a swing?” Would I ever!
And to close out the post, an earthbound gull, a kilt, a giant femur, and a sunset. Sometimes you just want to hit “Publish” without explaining everything – you all understand, I hope! :>
