Seminar

Why do people bring their four-course breakfast to the seminar?


09:04 Sitting in a gripping seminar on retention-in-care after HIV testing. A rustling noise to my left. She is reaching into her sack. Rustle rustle, rustle rustle. Rustle rustle rustle rustle. It wont stop.

09:06 Pungent odor of fried oil. To my left: in her hand a half-open ball of foil. Munching noises. Munch. Munch. I look discretely in-between slides. Some yellow, some brown - must be bacon and eggs. Damn. Its not like there is an excuse, they are serving cute little pastries in bite-sized pieces at this seminar.

09:10 Munch Munch - gulp. Crinkle crinkle munch. Crinkle. Crinkle. The crumpled up foil ball is now in the sack. The storm is over.

09:13 Slurp. Sluuuuuuuuurp. Slrp. Sluuuuuuuuuurp. Blow. Slrp. Sllllllllllluuuuuuuuuuuuurp. Blow blow. Slurpaaaaaaah. Gulp. Slurp Gulp. Slurrrrp. The slide changes before I get to read the regression results. Dammet. Slrp. Slp. Gulpaaah. Slurrrrrrrrp. ClosedMouthBurp. I look around me - no one is taking notice. Am I the crazy one?

09:15 peace and presentation of correlates of drop-out after initial positive rapid test.

09:17 crinkle crinkle. Crinkle. What?. Another sandwich? yes - with white in the middle - no odor detected. Crinkle munch. Munch munch munch munch gulp. Gulp gulp. Crinkle munch. Munch crinkle.

09:25 Crinkle Crinkle rustle rustle. Back in the sack.

09:30 rustle rustle. Rustle. Rustle. Shift in seat. Shift shift rustle. Rustle rustle. Out comes an orange. Sigh - Really? an orange? lady... Bite. Insert thumb. Peel. Peeeeeeeel. Peeel. Pungent orange fumes. Every where. Peeel peeel. Pl. Peeeeel.

09:32 Squish munch. Chew chew. Gulp. Squish munch gulp. Gulp. Smackaaaaah squish munch. Gulp smack. Gulpaaaaah.

09:45 peace and question and answer session.