Off to SIGGRAPH

This August I am flying to San Diego, California, to attend SIGGRAPH 2007 — an annual conference and exhibition on computer graphics.

This marks the third year I apply to the Student Volunteer program of SIGGRAPH, and the first time my application was accepted. As a Student Volunteer, I get to join “an elite team of colleagues from universities around the globe at the world’s premiere conference for computer graphics and interactive techniques.” Although I had been waived the conference fees, attending the measly 5 days would cost me a small fortune I can hardly afford!

Getting a Visa for the United States was no less difficult, and far more stressful. Had my Visa been denied, it would not have only been a polite rejection, but rather, a red stamp on my passport. This would have forced me to answer “yes” to every “have you ever been denied a Visa request before” question in any country’s Visa application I fill, which is something I do not long for. It took me many days to prepare for the interview, and apparently, I prepared too well. While waiting for my turn at the embassy, I noticed many who take as long as half an hour in their interview, while in my case, the Counselor granted me the Visa after less than three minutes of chatter.

Keep an eye on this blog — I will be updating it more frequently while there, with all that is “different” I find in these lands.

Posted June 10th, 2007. Filed under: SIGGRAPH 2007, Coverage, Posts.