Originally Posted by
been
“But you said you finished this before coming here?”
There followed an extensive tutorial on how LaTeX (a scientific word processor) automatically adjusts the date.
“You say your background is in physics, but now you say you have a job in computer science. What courses in computer science did you take?”
“None, I taught myself.”
“But how could you be hired if you have no training?”
I fumbled this one and they kept coming back to it. Eventually, I told them I was smart and we moved on.
“Can you explain the connection between physics and computer science?”
Oh, boy, you betcha… they had to cut off my answer.
Originally Posted by
been
“What is your job function?”
“I do research.”
“What does that mean?”
“I prove theorems and write papers.”
“Who tells you what to prove?”
“Um… it doesn’t work like that.”
Is it me or does this more sound like Jenna is more accostomed to the "formal training --> boss --> job in area of training" and "command-control" models of employment? I mean how many people are in the computer field with no formal training? How many people are in a job that they have no formal training in? (Oh my heavens no! I'm not talking about my boss...
) And how many people have jobs where they determine their own workflow?
Originally Posted by
Dovster
A similar situation happened about two years ago, when we had a Meet of FlyerTalkers in Tel Aviv. They all flew here on different planes, and from different parts of the world. I expected that some would run into problems when they said they were going to Tel Aviv just to spend some time with people they knew from the internet. That story, too, sounds odd.
Originally Posted by
Dovster
Anything out of the usual raises questions. That is why El Al verified Traveller's story but did not call me about those who flew directly here from their home countries or who had simply made a connection in Europe.
(Indeed, if Traveller had just said that she was doing some touring and wanted to visit both Turkey and Israel, there probably would have been no problem. Throwing in the FlyerTalk Meet was just enough to put it over the edge.)
It is not a question of what is or is not relevant. It is simply a matter of what stands out from the crowd.
But the world has changed. It used to be that the only reasons people traveled such long distances were: business (meetings, contract deals, conventions etc), family (birth, death, illness) or pure tourism (see the pyramids, Leaning Tower etc). Add religious pilgrim travel for Israel.
But nowadays people will travel for no other reason than wanting to find that perfect cup of coffee! That's not "odd" any more. Used to be people only met significant others' and spouses via family, friends, work and maybe the occasional bar. But now people hook-up via AOL, MySpace, Match.com, Craigslist all the time. I know a girl who moved from Delaware to London because she met a guy on AOL. They got married--and divorced. She lives in London and works for Virgin Atlantic, he lives in NYC and works for a German bank.
Having a bunch of Internet friends fly from all over the world (from wherever) just to have lunch isn't odd any more. How many FTers over on the Gay forum are planning to meet at DisneyWorld for Gay Days or travel to Palm Springs for some gay festival? How many FTers have taken some "wacky" itineraries just for a mileage run? Granted one or two have been questioned by da Man because two back-to-back trips to London with no hotel stay was "odd" in their eyes.
After seeing MTV's Sweet Sixteen show where the brat flew to Paris--on a whim--to find a party dress, I don't think of any travel plans as "odd" any more.