I ran for cover just as big raindrops started splattering on the sidewalk. The guy at the door directed me to the party upstairs, where I found three people sipping drinks at the bar and having a lively conversation about different cultures--and in particular, the late-night habits of people in Lisbon. =) I warmed up to them right away because one of them was talking about his sabbatical--ah, another person wandering outside the ivory tower! So I ordered a softdrink and settled in.

We got around to introductions maybe five minutes into the conversation. They asked me what I did, and I told them I'm taking HCI. Some confusion ensued. They asked me what department that's under. Even more confusion. Turned out it was a small party for people from George Brown College. Heh. I couldn't blame the guy who gave me directions at the door--I looked like a student!

I eventually found the Ryze get-together. The organizer was already there. She pointed out a thick roll of green tickets and described the evening as a business networking event. I nodded--I'd figured out that much from the website--and then she wrapped up with "...and that'll be around $20."

Now _that_ I didn't see on the website.

I did some very quick calculations in my head. Even if the thing included dinner, I didn't feel that $20 was worth cold-call conversations in a crowded bar.

I thanked the organizer politely and chit-chatted with the other early-birds there about social networks. I wanted to get a sense of people's energy levels. You know how there are some people who can make you instantly feel that you know them and they care about you? Well, I didn't really get that off the people there. They were more along the lines of "Hmm, that's interesting. <change topic>"

It was a toss-up that evening between Ryze and the crochet group at Graduate House. The crochet group won. (Okay, there was also meeting up with Calum, but it's a pity that that invite came a bit late...)

I took one last, quick look at the four people standing around the tickets, drained my 7-up, and headed back to the dorm.

Transit fare going there: $ 2.50<br/> Softdrink: $2.50<br/> Transit fare coming back: $ 2.50<br/> Realizing that I'm not into networking for networking's sake: ... =)