NZIFST conference 2008 - Rotorua (24 - 26 June)
Er.. short one la okay?
Got there Monday evening. Just rested a bit before going out for some Thai food, the supermarket and back to the motel to start stressing balls about the next day's presentation. Imagine. 4 people trying to sort out their presentations. There were some nerves alright.
Tuesday, morning spent being excited/nervous. Did my presentation which went quite smoothly and well, glad for it to be over. Had so many questions to answer. Groan. It was quite tough but the questions were all which I could answer. I got some pretty good feedback about my presentation. Feel kinda shy about it but at the same time happy of course :). In the evening, we had a meet and greet session. Took some wine to warm myself up. It was bloody FREEZING!!! (On the coldest night there, I was only wearing my blazer T.T.) Had it on an empty stomach. oh dear, got a tad too tipsy. Met some people. Talked to them.. it was interesting. Had dinner at Fat Dog cafe. A cafe I remember visiting quite a while back, also the one which my sis recommended to me before I went down to Rotorua. Had the venison.. it was good. Couldn't finish it though... So, I took the leftovers back and had it on Thursday morning for breakfast, cause I woke up late on Wednesday and couldn't have it then! Again visited the supermarket for some forgotten items and went back to the motel to rest. Only had about less than 3 hours sleep the previous night as I couldn't sleep. In fact, around close to 3am, I felt quite dizzy, as if something was pushing against me or making me feel a little funny. Danae also couldn't sleep and had the same sensation at about the same time! We have a few theories:
1) There was a slight earthquake/tremor
2) There was a build up of Hydrogen sulphide in our room thus causing us to have that sensation.
3) We were both too exhausted.
Though, funny thing was that the sensation only lasted... a while.
Wednesday, like I mentioned.. woke up late. Blissful 7 hours sleep after all the running around etc... Jet lagged and all before that remember? Heh.. So, went to the conference.. pretty much to 'show face'. Then the four ladies, Roshita, Rachna, Danae and I bailed for the remainder of the morning after the first plenary session. Yuuup.. Roshita and Rachna went off on their own.. while... Danae and I? err.... hahahah.. well, give you a clue what we did.
Haha.. we went on the 'swoop' and tried the 'schweeb'.. yup.. indeed.. Suffice to say, I got a bit sick after the 'swoop'.. Went back to the motel for a wee break and some hot tea to calm my tummy. That having helped, we headed back to the conference centre for lunch and the afternoon sessions!
That evening, there was a student function where we were brought to a small small brewery.. I do seriously mean small okay.. Like, family business small. Then, was meant to uh, go for the nibbles sesssion but somehow ended up at the Awards dinner. I was under-dressed. Wearing jeans at a semi-formal event.. sigh.. I survived though. hehehe.. enjoyed myself too! Ended up going back only at 12 something after dropping Lucy back at her hotel.. Visited her for a bit too.. hehee.. sorry babes for invading!
Thursday was a bit disorganised. We got to the conference late. After sitting in on one session, I left slightly early to go back to the motel to pick Danae up. The girl had gone out with the Fonterra graduates to party. In fact, there were heaps of crazy people from the conference who went partying after the awards dinner. Including older people! Heh.. crazy.. Even at Lucy's hotel, the organising chairperson went to the hotel bar.. there were quite a number of people there too!
Anyway, I get Danae and we go back for the other half of the morning's sessions. They were much more interesting in comparison to the others. Had lunch, listened out for the winners of the student oral and poster presentations (No, I didn't win and yes, I wish I had) then left for Auckland. I drove back as Danae hadn't had much rest.
That, concludes a rough programme of my first big conference! It was fun at times. Quite stressful too.. and definitely a lot of hardwork in terms of having to keep up a good image as I was trying to network and meet people from the industry. Trying to introduce myself into the industry I suppose you could say.
Definitely was exhausted come Wed night. I had been tired already in the evening and was not in the right mood. After getting some food, I felt better and was enjoying myself.. but later, I felt kind of really emotionally drained and I got really upset. Oh well, darling called me even though it was the next day, it still was comforting..
Pictures to come.. and more detailed stories I suppose.
Got there Monday evening. Just rested a bit before going out for some Thai food, the supermarket and back to the motel to start stressing balls about the next day's presentation. Imagine. 4 people trying to sort out their presentations. There were some nerves alright.
Tuesday, morning spent being excited/nervous. Did my presentation which went quite smoothly and well, glad for it to be over. Had so many questions to answer. Groan. It was quite tough but the questions were all which I could answer. I got some pretty good feedback about my presentation. Feel kinda shy about it but at the same time happy of course :). In the evening, we had a meet and greet session. Took some wine to warm myself up. It was bloody FREEZING!!! (On the coldest night there, I was only wearing my blazer T.T.) Had it on an empty stomach. oh dear, got a tad too tipsy. Met some people. Talked to them.. it was interesting. Had dinner at Fat Dog cafe. A cafe I remember visiting quite a while back, also the one which my sis recommended to me before I went down to Rotorua. Had the venison.. it was good. Couldn't finish it though... So, I took the leftovers back and had it on Thursday morning for breakfast, cause I woke up late on Wednesday and couldn't have it then! Again visited the supermarket for some forgotten items and went back to the motel to rest. Only had about less than 3 hours sleep the previous night as I couldn't sleep. In fact, around close to 3am, I felt quite dizzy, as if something was pushing against me or making me feel a little funny. Danae also couldn't sleep and had the same sensation at about the same time! We have a few theories:
1) There was a slight earthquake/tremor
2) There was a build up of Hydrogen sulphide in our room thus causing us to have that sensation.
3) We were both too exhausted.
Though, funny thing was that the sensation only lasted... a while.
Wednesday, like I mentioned.. woke up late. Blissful 7 hours sleep after all the running around etc... Jet lagged and all before that remember? Heh.. So, went to the conference.. pretty much to 'show face'. Then the four ladies, Roshita, Rachna, Danae and I bailed for the remainder of the morning after the first plenary session. Yuuup.. Roshita and Rachna went off on their own.. while... Danae and I? err.... hahahah.. well, give you a clue what we did.
Haha.. we went on the 'swoop' and tried the 'schweeb'.. yup.. indeed.. Suffice to say, I got a bit sick after the 'swoop'.. Went back to the motel for a wee break and some hot tea to calm my tummy. That having helped, we headed back to the conference centre for lunch and the afternoon sessions!
That evening, there was a student function where we were brought to a small small brewery.. I do seriously mean small okay.. Like, family business small. Then, was meant to uh, go for the nibbles sesssion but somehow ended up at the Awards dinner. I was under-dressed. Wearing jeans at a semi-formal event.. sigh.. I survived though. hehehe.. enjoyed myself too! Ended up going back only at 12 something after dropping Lucy back at her hotel.. Visited her for a bit too.. hehee.. sorry babes for invading!
Thursday was a bit disorganised. We got to the conference late. After sitting in on one session, I left slightly early to go back to the motel to pick Danae up. The girl had gone out with the Fonterra graduates to party. In fact, there were heaps of crazy people from the conference who went partying after the awards dinner. Including older people! Heh.. crazy.. Even at Lucy's hotel, the organising chairperson went to the hotel bar.. there were quite a number of people there too!
Anyway, I get Danae and we go back for the other half of the morning's sessions. They were much more interesting in comparison to the others. Had lunch, listened out for the winners of the student oral and poster presentations (No, I didn't win and yes, I wish I had) then left for Auckland. I drove back as Danae hadn't had much rest.
That, concludes a rough programme of my first big conference! It was fun at times. Quite stressful too.. and definitely a lot of hardwork in terms of having to keep up a good image as I was trying to network and meet people from the industry. Trying to introduce myself into the industry I suppose you could say.
Definitely was exhausted come Wed night. I had been tired already in the evening and was not in the right mood. After getting some food, I felt better and was enjoying myself.. but later, I felt kind of really emotionally drained and I got really upset. Oh well, darling called me even though it was the next day, it still was comforting..
Pictures to come.. and more detailed stories I suppose.
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