I spy with my eye and I see many sides.

As most of you would know I work in a research centre. So recently, the centre organized a conference. For me, I did attend some of the talks during the conference, but most of the time I was helping out to make the conference a good experience for others that have paid and walking around making observations about the conference participants and also other colleagues.

Now supposedly, a conference is one where you can brush up your academic knowledge so one should attend as many talks as possible, but for me, most of the topics does not interest me and I have a academic mind but not an academic heart. :) But some of the talks are rather insightful.

Anyway, during the conference, although I did not brush up my academic knowledge, I did gain many many lessons in life and I see different sides of my colleagues. Some of my colleagues set up a booth to promote a e-newsletter that was set up by my research centre, most of the administrative staff are helping out at the secretariat and I have other colleagues who are presenting their research papers. So for me I have to run around during the conference, but I kind of like the exercise that comes with it although I can do without the sweating part. Haha!

Anyway, helping out at the secretariat room, I learnt many lessons in life, for example how people behave, how people can make a joke about themselves without realising it, how to treat people, what things should be done and should not be done, how to handle complaints and many more. I felt I have gained a lot just by being in the secretariat room. :)

Helping out at the booth was nice also, I get to talk to people, brush up my 'sales' skills although there are no money transactions, and I see a different side of my colleagues. There is one colleague, where at normal times, she is a woman of few words, or at least when I am around :P but during the conference I am amazed that she actually did try to approach participants of the conference and do a 'sales' talk. Although, I can see that she is slightly nervous. :) Anyway, the e-newsletter is very good tool for teachers, which is why I tried to help my colleagues to promote it.

As for attending the talk, I want to encourage my fellow colleagues, so I attended their talks to give them moral and physical support. And their talks are rather insightful and give me more ideas about conducting training and education next time. :) And as I walk around during the conference, I tried to form bonds or strengthen the bonds with other colleagues, for those that are close and for those that are distant. But I think during the process, I kind of make myself too prominent, but never mind, I like to network with them, so in the future there might be chances to work together.

Got to stop here, my eyelids are very heavy now. Have been running around, making my brain work overtime to absorb and remember the lessons that I have learnt during these three days. Now is to apply these lessons into my life and store the information I have made during observations of colleagues.

Cheers!