Marc & I are already in Chicago, staying at his parent's on the South Side. It was a hectic first 2 days as Marc had just returned from a job interview at UT-Austin on Thursday night and we had to return to the airport early Friday AM to head out to Chicago so that Shuwen could attend a health econometrics workshop downtown that started that morning.
Marc's interview at UT-Austin seemed to have gone well... he had a number of engaging conversations with folks after his presentation. People also must have googled him and learned about some of his running accolades, as that got mentioned a number of times. I've only driven through Austin once, and so do not know much about the city, but everyone tells us it is a great place to go, and certainly that would be the ONLY city in Texas we could possibly see ourselves anyway!
Shuwen's meeting in Chicago was an intimate workshop with some well regarded health econometricians in attendance, so she was lucky to have been able to attend (her advisor was on the organizing committee). For those of you who own Cameron & Trivedi's Microeconometrics textbook, you will understand how surreal it feels to be having dinner with them! They turned out to be really nice and down to earth... we chatted about the fiscal crisis the UC system is under, how all of us having steak (we were at a steakhouse) reminded the only person not having steak (Trivedi, who is Indian and likely Hindu) of a safari he & his wife went on in Tanzania and saw a pride of lions devour an antelope. Marc even got to clarify a question he had about ZIP vs ZINB models and now have an answer for the folks at UT who questioned his models (and can say that it comes with authority!) We got some useful tips about teaching econometrics via the use of simulations and building up understanding of key concepts as well.
On Saturday, we had a lovely dinner at Blackbird before catching Tosca (by Puccini) at the Lyric Opera. Tosca is one dramatic opera ... but the lead lady (who plays Floria Tosca, of course) had a pair of amazing lungs! It was quite a performance. Shuwen was also rather enamored by the stage production and the angles and lighting used to create the illusions of various spaces.
We finally got to slow down a little on Sunday and had a leisurely lunch with family & Marc's uncle... after a little rest, we all went out to exercise on our own, and amazingly all finished near each other. A healthy family we have here in Chicago! This afternoon, Marc, Shuwen & Marc's mom are going to a yoga class (which Marc calls 'bat' yoga as it can involve using ropes on the wall to help support oneselves for inversions)... it will be interesting!
Otherwise, we will work most of the week during the day, have dinner appointments with various friends we hope to catch up with throughout the week, and start gearing ourselves up for the big M on Sunday! Check back in for details next week!
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That sounds like so much fun so far, and you have only been there for a couple days!! Anthony, Janne, Chris and I are going to be having a Chicago marathon party, so we will be cheering you both on as a group!
Enjoy your week of resting, eating and drinking. I hope you get to hang from more bat ropes while doing yoga.
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