South Africa Part 3: Wrap Up

Wednesday was the South African PhD Meeting, the reason I was sent over there for school.  Basically, the South African PhD Project was created “to build a critical mass of highly educated and skilled South Africans who can contribute to the country’s economic growth and global competitiveness” (Source)

I won’t bore you with the details but we heard a lot of interesting speakers.  Some spoke about how having more advanced degrees in the country would help South Africa compete on a global level.  Other speakers spoke about getting through graduate school.  After lunch, we had “breakout sessions” where the professors would answer students’ questions.

Our group discussion turned more into a political debate but what I found interesting was that a lot of the students there had the same issues that students have in the US: lack of funding (I went to NYU for 1.5 years sans funding), struggling to survive on stipends (its seriously not much money), being able to make more working instead of going to school (yup), finding a job when you graduate (yup).  I spoke to some students afterwards and told them that we deal with some of the same issues (some of them sounded like they thought it was only in South Africa that it was like that).  I just tried to encourage them to keep working toward that advanced degree since it will be worth it in the long run!

This conference really was insightful and I jotted down some notes for myself and my own research.  I also met a lot of very interesting people on the trip, not just from the US (our group in the picture above) but also some people from South Africa.  Even on Friday, we visited a South African laser research facility where I met some more researchers I want to touch base with.  Overall, it was a great networking trip!

So enough of that stuff.  Thursday, we had another free day and we spent it darting around Johannesburg.  I didn’t get to do the things I had planned but at least I got out of the hotel for a few hours with some of the other travellers.  First, we went to the Museum of Africa which had a huge Geology exhibit.

I LOVE rocks and I totally could have been a geologist!  I would have loved doing archeology too.  Physics?  What was I thinking??  I had such a great time in this exhibit and look how huge this Geod was!

I putzed around the rest of the museum but it all seemed kind of new and still in development.  I didn’t take many photos and we cut our visit short because we all got hungry for lunch.  After lunch at a mall, we headed to a craft market where I picked up a few things for my family and then admired the rest.  I wish I had more cash on me that day!  And the view was beautiful outside, right on a river.

Friday, we made our way over to the research center like I said and we couldn’t take photos.  After that, there was just enough time for lunch and then it was time to get on the plane!

So let’s recap… I can’t wait to go back!!!  I didn’t have nearly enough time there to do all the things I wanted to.  The people there were extremely friendly and I had a great time.  The food was fabulous and the weather was perfect.  I know a lot of people don’t think about traveling to South Africa but it is definitely something I would recommend now.  And of course, I have to go back one day just so I can take Rob with me this time!!