Wanna go to Innsbruck, Austria ? (Part 1 of "The Backpacking Trip")

It was almost the end of October. We were pretty much done with our independent research topic under Mark's guidance. He had already submitted a draft of our work to the registration committee for a conference in Austria. Mark had called VC ( Vicky ) and me ( AK ) to his office at 11am that day to discuss the next steps towards the completion of our independent study.

As VC and I entered Mark's office, he looked all upbeat and excited. 'Guys !! Our paper has been accepted at the conference. Its going to be held in Innsbruck, Austria, in February. I would have loved to go, but am occupied during that time. Would you guys like to go and present our paper ? I think one of you should definitely go !!'

VC and I, were surprised and stunned at the same time. Really didn't know how to respond to Mark right there. There was obviously the cost factor which was weighing in on our minds. The logistics of the travel, the stay and the conference itself, our pre-existing plans, etc. All of these thoughts were going through our minds, as though the vortex of a tornado. But Mark was a very understanding and sensitive advisor. He told us, "its a Friday, give it a thought and lets discuss on Monday. Meanwhile, I'll see, if the Department is willing to sponsor your travel for the conference.".  "OK !", we said and walked out of his office.

Fridays, typically were almost like the start of a weekend for us, grad. students. More so, for those of us, who were in the last semesters of their M.S. programs. We typically, had accepted job offers, or were contemplating between a few of them on hand. Life was good. I was looking forward to my India trip in December. That was going to be one time, when I could probably go on a vacation for more than a month, before I'd join the American corporate world. VC still had one semester to finish, as he was working on his M.S. thesis with his Graphics professor. 

Towards afternoon on that Friday itself, we had already received an email from Mark. The Department was going to fully sponsor the trip for one student with flights, hotel stay from Boston to Austria and back. We were excited as hell. But then we were thinking, which of us should go to present the paper.

That evening, over a drink, VC, always the more adventurous of the two of us, came up with a masterstroke ! 'Hey AK ! anyway the department is going to be sponsoring the trip for one student. Lets both of us go and we'll split the expenses for the other person in half 'n' half.' It was all fine until here. I was already visualising myself travelling to Innsbruck and back. But then after another drink or two, VC really came up with something even more adventurous. Mind you, we weren't drunk, just having a good time, celebrating the success of our paper getting accepted at the conference. VC said, 'AK - why not we fly into Milan, Italy; spend a couple of days, travel to Innsbruck, wrap up the conference in 2 days, then continue on our trip to Italy, we can then travel to Florence, Venice and Rome and then get back to Boston. It'll be the perfect backpacking trip !'. 

The idea seemed amazing, but I needed to discuss this with my parents back home, just so I had their go ahead, as this trip was bound to incur a cost for me and I wanted to make sure with them, that it was ok. VC was sure, he'd be able to convince his Mom and Dad for this trip. I was sure, my parents wouldn't object either, but still wanted to have the discussion with them. On Saturday morning, I spoke to my Mom and Dad and encouraging as always, they were happy for us and also fine with the travel plan. 'Just be careful and plan your trip, logistics, wisely they said !'. 

Since all was ok, we met Mark on Saturday afternoon in his office at the CS Department and said, that we'd agree to present the paper in Innsbruck, Austria. He said, 'Let me know, which of you is going. Prepare your itinerary, book your flights and the Dept. will reimburse you.'. Little did he know, what all VC and I had planned.

The rest of Saturday evening and Sunday, VC and I spent feverishly looking for the cheapest deals on everything. Remember, we were still grad students. So a penny saved, was a penny earned !! So we kept looking for the most economic deals on flights, looking for travel options from Italy to Innsbruck and back to Italy, our accommodations in Italy, Innsbruck and were all upbeat about the upcoming travel. By almost 1am on Monday morning, we had our entire trip planned and we were ready to share our itinerary with Mark in the day.

On Monday morning, we met Mark at his office. 'Ok ! Shoot your plan !' he said. We told him. 'Mark, both of us are going !'. 'You know the Dept. is going to sponsor only one of you right ?'. 'Yes. We'll bear the expenses of the second person amongst ourselves.' we told him. 'Fine ! ' he said. 'What are your travel plans ?'. 'Well !!! we fly out of Boston and land in Milan on Friday and 11 days later we head back to Boston from Rome'. 'Whoa !!! The conference is in Innsbruck, Austria - you guys know that right ?'. 'Yes Mark !' we said. 'We'll travel by train from Milan to Innsbruck on Sunday night. Get our registration done on Monday morning. Present the paper on Tuesday morning. Once thats done, we'll leave Innsbruck for Venice. On Thursday morning, we'll travel to Florence. Reach Rome by Friday evening. Depart for Boston on Monday'. 'That sounds like one wild trip around a technical paper presentation. Take care and have a blast guys !' said Mark.

Mark then told us what we needed to do to get reimbursed for the trip from the Dept. and the other nitty-gritty details about the logistics about registration for the conference and so on. More importantly, what else, we needed to do, to wrap our Independent study with him for our 3rd semester and get done with it.