Spot the Differences

(from the series, known by connoisseurs only, "Table Manners").

Mr. Beer Belly

Another episode in our long-running series Table Manners: Frans is demonstrating how one properly enjoys one's beer.

Everyday Etiquette, or "Hoe hoort het eigenlijk?"

You are eating great food, with a wonderful sauce. What is the appropriate way to let your hosts know that you enjoy the meal?

Allow F to demonstrate...

Another day, another dozen or so awkward moments

I am not quite sure where to begin. The closing banquet took place tonight. We were at the professor's table again (why?!?!) The fearless leader was in a better mood, which was promising. Also, there were more utterances than silences, thanks to the addition of a certain scholar from a certain country neighboring our home country.

However, this latter fact turned out to be a bad thing. A very very bad thing. I don't want to say too much because I don't like personal attacks. Also, I don't really want to remember the evening. Suffice it to say that the awkward silences between his monologues felt like a breath of fresh air. It was only thanks to the lovely wife of another visiting professor that there were occasional non-self-absorbed utterances (since obviously, the other people at the table were of the usual taciturn computer scientist type and kept quiet).

And then there was the "60-second-proof" session... I remember that before I joined Cornell, I was always confused and depressed by the completely stupid math jokes made by Frans's Cornell friends.
These days, I am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I like the occasional math joke.
But in computer science circles, they obviously take nerdiness to completely new levels. Apparently the height of fun is to present real or made up proofs in 60 seconds. I am sorry, but I just find that sad.

The good news is that the conference is now over, and we will be spared from having to make social appearances for two weeks. Then a shrewdness of the very very best computer scientists in the world will honor us with their presence, and who knows what new awkwardness that will have in store. Then again, perhaps tomorrow will bring some interesting experiences as well, because Frans will go to an award ceremony to receive his third prize in a photo competition.

Durian!

We celebrated the day after Christmas with a lunch consisting of duck, and durian cookies.

This even gave us the opportunity to post the second episode in the coveted series "Frans xplains Table Manners --- Pictures are worth a thousand words".

Table manners

Frans is illustrating the proper way to eat bread.