Great surprise today to receive the First Colloquium Schedules. Really hate the venues. I wonder why those ivory tower guys always find such weird location for colloquiums? First one will be held in Pretoria. Kinda dangerous. What if I met the pirates of Somalia? Granted that I have to go via Air, but still a very remote possibility . Asked my beloved supervisor, can I be exempted and I strongly suggest Sentosa, given that our National Pride the IRs are springing up next year. But no change was allowed despite me selling Singapore better than any STB representatives.

Ok, first try fail, can I don’t attend this colloquium? Not compulsory right? Answer was Not compulsory but just mandatory! Might as well don’t say! Firstly never heard of any famous dishes from South Africa. Secondly really quite a unique place I prefer not visiting. But that will give them an excuse to send me the Famed Termination Letter……..

Well I still have some time left to think of some reasons, any reasons…..the rest of the places are exotic, but I rather give Pretoria a skip……

Pretoria Church Square

I guess I have to start looking for any gourmet enticement that may attract me enough to be there…..

As a Fellow, they can’t terminate me that easily but it is worth the trip to shake hands with the Who’s Who’s there. All the best journals you read come from them. But hope they don’t have anything against Pigs. What if they considered me non Halal and implement Apartheid specially for me? Hard to say….they can do it with Blacks, Pigs may not be spared.

Making it a point to read a journal a day, no it has nothing to do with the doctor or any famous saying like “An apple a day….blah blah blah”. Just that journals from the same research area are useful even though they are not directly related to your research, you can see their approach and their ways of solving. More importantly, you need to be in touch constantly with the research going on.