The last one there is after we moved inside. I decided the light was too low and stopped taking photos, so that's it for me. Hayley has a few more over at her blog, but I'm not aware of anybody who has posted photos of the main ceremony; I think we may have all been too busy clapping and partying. Anyone?
The ceremony had various introductory speeches and so forth, and then the awards, which were certificates given out to all the YSSPers for completing the program. It would have been fun to have awards like best dressed, worst dressed, most likely to be published in Science, etc. etc., but I guess we didn't think of it, and we were probably too busy beforehand to organize it anyhow.
The middle part of the evening was devoted to some fun stuff put together by the YSSPers, though. First were several photo montages by Regina of our experiences over the summer, set to music. They were real tear-jerkers; biking around, having fun in the office, traveling to other cities, parties, etc. It was a bit stunning to see how much we have done in the past three months. Then came a few dance/musical numbers that, to be honest, I don't clearly recall; one was the "this is Africa" song from the World Cup this year, I do remember.
My memory of this bit is blurry because I was getting mentally prepared for my role in the following piece, which also required a bit of physical preparation, to wit: putting on a dress. We did the "So Long, Farewell" number from The Sound of Music. I played Gretl, the youngest daughter, which was great fun since I got to kick off the chain reaction to boot off each of my older siblings in turn. At the end, where Gretl curls up on the stairs and gets gathered up and carried off, I curled up on a chair and the chair got dragged offstage. It went over quite well, although I think Austrians are a bit bemused by the popularity of the Sound of Music; I think we entertained the other YSSPers more than the staff with this number, perhaps.
Finally, there was a guest appearance by Subcomandante Salk. This is the alter ego of Carl Salk, a YSSPer (second photo from the top). Subcomandante Salk is our socialist social planner, particularly involved in organizing our Art Meets Science events earlier in the summer, but also making other random guest appearances. Think of a cross between Che Guevara and Burt Bacharach, and perhaps you won't be too far off. Subcomandante Salk led the room in a rousing performance of his original work, "YSSP" (sung to the tune, of course, of "YMCA"):
Comrades, there's no need to feel lost.
I said, comrades, get yourselves to the Schloss.
I said, comrades, 'cause you're got a new boss
There's no need to be unhappy.
Comrades, there's a place you can go.
I said, comrades, with the bugs in your code.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to make it compile.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
They have everything for comrades to enjoy,
You can try out new modeling toys...
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
You can learn GIS, you can run GAMS with zeal,
You can do whatever you feel...
Comrades, are you listening to me?
I said, comrades, what do you want to eat?
I said, comrades, how ‘bout meat wrapped in meat?
But you got to know this one thing!
The chef shot it all by himself.
I said, comrades, grab your dish off the shelf,
And just go there, to the Schlossrestaurant
I'm sure they can help you believe:
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
They have everything for comrades to enjoy,
You can try out new modeling toys...
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
You can learn GIS, you can run GAMS with zeal,
You can do whatever you feel...
Comrades, I was once in grad school.
I said, comrades, I was down and out with the blues!
I felt science would never meet art.
I felt the whole world would fall apart...
That's when someone came up to us,
And said, hop on the 566 bus.
There's a place there called the y.s.s.p.
They can start you back on your way.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
It's fun to stay at the y-s-s-p.
They have everything for comrades to enjoy,
You can try out new modeling toys...
Y-s-s-p... you'll find it at the y-s-s-p.
Comrades, comrades, there's no need to feel lost.
Comrades, comrades, get yourself to the Schloss.
Y-s-s-p... you'll find it at the y-s-s-p.
Comrades, comrades, there's no need to feel lost.
Comrades, comrades, get yourself off the Schloss.
Y-s-s-p... just go to the y-s-s-p.
Comrades, comrades, are you listening to me?
Comrades, comrades, where do you wanna be?
Just brilliant. I've been singing it to myself ever since. It took Subcomandante Salk a little while to find the connection, but this is, in fact, Art Meets Science. It's too bad we never had a chance to perform it for the singing students in Baden, they would have loved it.
Then we finished the award ceremony (the performances split the ceremony in two, actually), and then dinner, which was a fantastic spread of buffet food the likes of which I haven't seen in quite some time, and then dancing (yours truly could be found chatting at the tables in the cool air outside the restaurant, naturally). A bus chartered by IIASA brought us all back to Vienna at midnight. A wonderful end to the YSSP!
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