On Attending ASNA Conference

So there I was, driving from Klang to Times Square KL for the past two days in the morning, to attend what seemed like a boring thing to most. I on the other hand, thought it was pretty interesting. What's more with me getting to have our research presented in a poster right? Was in fact anticipating actually. How many chances do we get to attend regional conferences like this while we're still studying right?

I arrived on Wednesday morning, like sooooo damn early in the morning, only to find I'm like, one of the earliest delegates to arrive. Delegate. Sound... not like me. LMAO. Finally saw Ms Bron, who sent me the email the other day. I had the poster mounted, just to find most of the others are still empty. Even the 2 seniors' are not there. Like, what the??!

It was later on that when I saw the supervisor, that he said the seniors would probably only arrive by noon. And I actually didn't need to arrive so early. Tell me about that! I had to like, hang around and walk about not knowing what to do for the whole morning. Day, to be exact. The poster presentation section is like, so DEAD. Like... soooooo.... dead.....

I tried to sneak into the EEG Refresher Course meant for the neurologists, whereby it's actually another registered programme of the conference, I think it cost about a couple of hundreds bucks per head. EEG is like what, erm, the activity of the brain recorded in electrical wave, and to be interpreted to see the normal function of the brain. Or something like that. In layman term lah. Looks difficult to be honest. But I tried really, to try and understand. And finally gave up after one session. After the morning tea, I practically spent my time in Starbucks online. Sinful!

Pharmacoceutical company syposiums were nice however. Not that I actually understand much about the drugs. Or rather, I suppose I haven't really been trying to understand since I won't be needing them in the near future anyways. But at least what the presenter talked about, I understood. A little.

And there's the nice food. Like, you sooooo don't want me to go into that. Just yet. Will do a post about them, with PHOTOS later. *sniggering*

See, the thing about me with the conference or any major events like this, I actually anticipate and get all excited about it at first, but when it comes to the real event, I sorta feel super shy and isolate myself. Same goes to this one, that if it hadn't been for the seniors that arrived later, I think I would've most probably just leave very much earlier. I mean, come on! I can't actually talk to any of them specialists right?

Like...

Me: Hi.
Dr: Hello.
Me: So... erm... Nice tie.

See what I mean? Of course I didn't do that. I just stand at the side away from the crowd. Or I walked in and out in between the crowds.

But I guess I braved through the day, and stayed on for the opening ceremony. One that I didn't regret. Enjoyed it to the last bit to be honest.

Check out the thunderous drums performance!

It's much more grand-er than what I captured. The drums performance shocked the entire conference hall. And you really would wish it's longer. Or at least that's what I wished. Have always been fascinated with live performances anyways. The opening ceremony was followed by the welcoming reception. And I thought it was some cocktail socializing event or things like that. Boy I was wrong to came out from the hall to a feast! Hallelujah!

So day one was spent only with the highlight of the opening ceremony.

Day two on the other hand was totally fabulous. Enjoyed myself to the maximum listening to presentations from prominent speakers in neurology from the region as well as some other countries i.e. Australia and Hong Kong. Was following all those talks on epilepsy, that well, perhaps I might've felt as if I've realised why I was always so fascinated with neurology.

The conference last for 4 days. Friday will be packed with more talks on infections and movement disorders i.e. Parkinson's. And Saturday will definitely be a blast. With all the interesting line-ups of talks on stroke, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's and peripheral neuropathy, I think I might've confused my mum with my excitement.

So yeah, it's going to be another event to be marked down in the memory. April has officially started with a blast.

ps: Come by lah if you're free. I think you can pretend to be a guest of the hotel and walk past the pharmaceutical booths. And perhaps check me out. I mean our posters out. LOL