I just got back from my very first conference and being internet deprived the entire week, here’s a recap of the events that took place.
Day 1:
The drive to Queenstown was probably one of the toughest ride ever (comparable to the Picton road). Though I wasn't the driver, but being in the passenger seat was a different story. Our journey began at 6am with many stops along the highway. Boss was kind enough to stop the car whenever I needed to recover from the discomfort of car-sickness, wind down the window for oxygen flow, adjusting the car-seat in the middle of the highway and driving more smoothly along the winding bends of the highway. The road authorities should have just blasted the hills so that instead of going around them, we could have gone THROUGH the hills. As always, the shortest distance between me and Queenstown is a straight line. Throughout the trip, we talked about goals and aspirations, motivations for a scientific career. I must say it was truly a good bonding session. I mean, besides getting career advice from the Prof A., no one else had ever given me such beneficial advice, not even my parents. Gaining insights from boss certainly helped in personal development.
So, with great discomfort.. we finally arrived in Queenstown after a gruelling 4 ½ hours drive. I’m sure it was more tiring for the driver and for that, I thank him. To add on, we drove past the bungy jump place. I had wanted to so badly do some adventure to challenge my limits and to come out of my comfort zone. I had even signed a contract with boss the previous day. At the end of the day, my limits were not challenged.
After checking into our respective motels, we headed down to town to fill our hungry stomachs before heading down to Patagonia for desserts. An absolutely splendid place by the lakefront and an absolutely must-go for anyone visiting Queenstown. Day 1 was the opening ceremony, some talks and a welcome reception. Following that, we adjourned for the neuroendocrine group pizza night and beer party.
Day 2:
Could not wake up in time for the keynote speaker’s speech which apparently was VERY GOOD. Techniques used will potentially shift the frontiers of science. I do regret not going for that talk, hopefully we’ll get the opportunity for collaboration and possibly a chance to head to Kyoto. The afternoon saw many student speeches from our neuroendocrine group which I do admit is of excellent standard. Next, it was time to present my hard work from the year in the form of a poster presentation. There were drinks, alcohol and snacks. So, armed with a glass of Sauvignon in one hand, I presented. After a short time at the poster session, we ran off to have dinner at the Speights Ale House. Given that the waiters messed up our orders, we were given mugs of the famous Speights Summer Ale. Food finally came (after a long wait) but was certainly satisfying nonetheless. The girls went to party but those without identification just had to return back.
Day 3:
Day 3 was a pretty full-on day. Woke up in time for the 8.45am talk and dragged ourselves to the talk. Keeping those eye-lids open was indeed no easy task. But this was one talk I found extremely interesting. The boss was speaking today. I thought his speech was also a splendid one. There was also an invited speaker from Malaysia and his talk was just fascinating. Good opportunity to head over there to learn from the expert in the field given that neuroendocrine field in the home country hasn’t been established or isn’t that good. Might head over early next year to tour the lab and establish some connections since collaboration is imminent in the very near future.
Lunch was in town at a Japanese restaurant. It served the freshest sashimi I had ever tasted in NZealand, with thick mouth-watering cuts or chunks of salmon, whatever you call it. Then I got a call from boss asking me to go for the conference dinner that very night. Formal dinners were never my kind of thing, so naturally I would prefer not to attend such functions. Besides I had already planned to hang out with the physiology people that night. But when you get a call like this from your superior saying that he paid the ticket for you (costing a whopping 90 bucks), it was really hard to decline the kind offer. He must have persuaded me for a really long time. Eventually, I caved.
That very evening, I still hung out with the physiology people for about an hour by the lakefront having seafood before heading to the conference dinner. Fine dining with the bosses ain’t something you get to do everyday. There was endless science talk at dinner but with the wine and the magnificent view, I couldn’t complain. It was fascinating to see lecturers outside of work hours. The amount of alcohol some of them drink is clearly phenomenal. It is not everyday that you see them drunk.
It was not until the prize ceremony that I knew why boss had wanted me to come for the dinner so badly. The poster prize was very unexpected. I remember turning to look at him but he said he wasn’t supposed to tell me. I was taken by surprise because if you were to remember, I was drinking while presenting. Clearly, it was the wine doing the trick. The judges all had wine in their hands too. (See the correlation now) Anyway, my other supervisor came over to our table congratulating me but I guess more importantly reminding me of the 10% tax for every prize won. Hahaaaa….. It’s all part of being a scientist eh, we do not win alone! :)
So we had the longest dinner ever lasting more than 4 hours. Returning to the motel close to midnight, the students of the neuroendocrine group were having a party again and I joined in. Tired as I was, it was great fun overall.
Day 4:
Last day of the conference. We did not attend any of the seminars that day because boss wanted to begin the long drive back to Dunedin early. After a hearty breakfast of croissants and coffee, we bid goodbye to the beautiful “holiday”. The ride back was a good one because I was asleep most of the journey. During the short part of the journey that I was awake, we talked again about life this time. About what age was good for marriage, starting up a family, about how the smarter people are marrying smart people but not reproducing in turn reducing the number “quality” of babies and how this was going to be a social problem in future.
When I got up, I remember asking if we have passed the winding roads yet. He just laughed and pointed to the sign which read ‘23km left to Dunedin’ (bearing in mind that the entire journey was approximately 220-250km long). That was hilarious but was just glad I wasn’t car-sick.
Headed back to the university to meet up with the rest of the lab people before returning home to pen my little adventures down.
So it goes --- my first conference. Though short, the interaction I had with the academics and splendid scenery at Queenstown was well worth all the car-sickness. What better way to unwind after a year of slogging than a trip to Queenstown. I am certain the next conference with the lab mates would be all the more wonderful! I am looking forward to Chicago next year. :)
