My students are tapping away at the task I have given them. I know them well enough to know I do not need to wander behind their backs too often to check they are not just using the laptops to check their e‑mail.
Instead I sit here and check mine, update my journal. Odd. The silence is a particular silence, punctuated with tapping keys. It is concentration.
Yesterday was superb. The morning started with great sessions, with Juan-Alejandro telling his story, from his childhood trying to just be who he was and not the girl everyone saw him as, that his parents expected him to be. He was funny and eloquent – and said a bunch of things on the edge of my theories. Other speakers were also incredibly inspiring: Phong from the Ethnic Councils of Victoria got rapturous applause.
Ran off for lunch with Stephan, came back for a powerful plenary. Great conference.
Went home, worked out the marking schema for Assignment 2 and then went to the United We Dance closing party of the conference at The Market. Great fun, lots of music you don’t usually hear at queer clubs: bhanghra and latino house. I felt like I was back in Spain a little bit. Plus there was a sexy Spanish guy with long hair and dirty dancing with Maria and a beautiful, sultry boy bellydancing with a live snake to arabic sounds. What more can you ask for?