Champagne Day/Coast Guard Day/Pie Day (Minnesota)
2006-08-04 @ 10:08 p.m.

Was in camp just long enough to take a couple of specialists for their practical test (and that was already two too many). Then I changed and left for TSPC 2006. Was kind of lost for a bit, and I couldn't bring myself to ask someone where exactly it was I should be, which is a very huge problem for me, so much that I sometimes think I'm a bit socially retarded. Anyway, after standing around for a while with someone whom I'd say I consider to be somewhere between acquaintance and friend, all of us were finally led off for our briefing on mingling with VVIPs. (Doesn't that double V strike you as being so pretentious?) The actual presentation of certificates was the worst part of the whole event, because it dragged on forever. There were 300-plus receipients! The only funny thing about it was watching the minister take the certificates from the lady handing them to him. He was operating totally on autopilot. He didn't even look at her as he was taking the certificates! We checked. Was sitting behind Matthias and between Astee and Chong Lin, so at least there were people for me to whisper to when things got boring. I thought the skit performed by the overseas scholars was trite, but movingly so, if that's actually possible. Mingling with the VVIPs was okay, although my group spent the entire time talking to someone other than our intended VVIP. Haha! Met and spoke to Mrs D'Cruz, Mrs Koh, Ms Lim and Mr Purvis, in that order. I'm glad I'm going to become a teacher. Incidentally, I now think New Zealand Natural is fabulous! Had one of the smoothies for lunch.