The Diary Game (07/09/2026): A Computational Neuroscience Conference, Matching Shirts, and One Very Nigerian Day

Hi everyone, how are we all doing? Welcome to another diary entry session with @creativespark. Thank you for reading.

The day started with matching shirts and a plan that didn't quite survive the morning.

We were supposed to have a seminar presentation that morning before the conference, but, well... things didn't work out that way.

So instead, my course mates and I basically bundled ourselves into the hall for a computational neuroscience conference organized by my supervisor.

And honestly? I'm glad we did.

The whole shirt situation happened quite quickly. Our lecturer met us the previous week and informed us about the conference she'd be hosting, so we paid for the shirts that same day.

Then this morning came, and somehow, we actually had them.

There's something about wearing matching shirts with people you're close to that makes an ordinary academic event feel slightly more special.

We were there together, looking like we'd actually planned everything properly.

We hadn't. But at least the shirts were matching.

The conference itself was really good.

There were interesting presentations and discussions, and I was particularly interested because computational neuroscience is a field I'm only beginning to understand. It was one of those experiences that makes you realize how many different directions there are within science.

But, of course, we couldn't have a completely smooth event.

NEPA had other plans.

At some point, the power went out. Then the network decided to contribute its own problems, interfering with the audio and video.

If you've attended enough events in Nigeria, you already know this particular genre of suffering.

You can prepare everything perfectly, have your speakers ready, have the technology set up...

Then electricity says:

“Let's see about that.”

Still, the organizers managed to keep things moving, and despite the little interruptions, the conference was genuinely worthwhile.

I came away feeling like I'd been exposed to a side of neuroscience I hadn't really considered before.

And considering I'm currently doing my MSc in Anatomy, I think experiences like this are important.

You never really know which random seminar, conference or conversation will introduce you to something that eventually becomes important to you.

After the conference, we weren't done. We still had an impromptu neurobiology class that evening.

At this point, I think most of us were already running on academic autopilot. But somehow we made it through the class.

And then came the final event of the day.

Our department had arranged a football match between the lecturers and postgraduate students.

Naturally, we went to support our department.

Because apparently attending a conference, sitting through a class and surviving Nigerian electricity wasn't enough for one day.

We needed football too.

There was just one small problem.

It was raining. Again.

At this point, I'm beginning to think Port Harcourt and rain have a contractual agreement. Because what do you mean everyday rain??

We had to wait for the rain to reduce to a drizzle before we could even make our way to the cars.

Eventually, we got into the vehicles and started heading to the field.

Except...

The lecturer driving the vehicle I entered didn't really know the way.

And somehow, we got a little lost. LoL...

I don't even remember exactly how long we were trying to figure out where we were going, but I remember that we found the whole situation surprisingly funny.

Maybe it was because we'd already had such a long day. Maybe we were just tired.

Or maybe getting slightly lost with your friends is automatically funnier than getting lost alone.

Either way, we eventually found our way there.

When we arrived, the lecturers and postgraduate students changed into their football gear. And then, somehow, I ended up being put in charge of everyone's belongings.

How? I don't know.

Who appointed me? Also don't know.

But apparently I looked responsible enough to become the unofficial Departmental Property Manager or the DPM for the evening.

So while everyone else went to play or support the players, I was sitting there keeping an eye on bags and other belongings.

Honestly, I didn't mind. It gave me a good view of the match.

And yes... The lecturers won, sadly.

We were supporting the PG students, so naturally I was hoping for our side to win.

But football is football.

And one of the funniest moments for me was watching one of the lecturers fall while trying to go for the ball.

I laughed. I'm sorry. It was just too funny.

When I think about that day now, it feels like one of those days that somehow managed to be fun and stressful at the same time.

We started with matching shirts and a seminar that never happened.

Then came a computational neuroscience conference with the occasional NEPA and network drama.

After that, we had neurobiology class.

Then football. Then rain. Then a slightly lost driver.

Then me becoming responsible for everyone's belongings.

And somewhere in between all of that, there was a lot of laughing.

Nothing about the day was perfectly organized.

But I think that's one of the things I enjoyed about it.

I was surrounded by people I actually enjoy being around.

We figured things out together, waited for the rain together, and laughed when we got lost.

We sat through the technical problems together.

And even when the lecturers beat the postgraduate students, at least we had fun watching it happen.

Sometimes, the memorable days aren't the ones that go exactly according to plan.

They're the messy ones.

The ones where the schedule changes, the electricity goes off, the network starts misbehaving, the rain delays you, someone gets lost on the way to the venue, and you somehow end up carrying everybody's bags.

You look back later and realize:

“Wow. That was actually a really good day.”

And I think that's what today was for me.

A little chaotic, little stressful, coupled with a lot of rain and a whole lot of laughter.

And one more memory added to this strange, interesting chapter of my postgraduate life.

I'd do it again.

Just... maybe with better directions next time.