I didn't speak english until I was 14 years old and started attending a compulsory class at school once a week.

But then I still feel like a stranger in the UK although I've been here 26 months.

I never said there is anything wrong with it. It sounds medieval and it probably results in a high number of unhappy marriages but if people like to do it that way - why not?

Fair enough.

It's interesting to hear how it's like in other cultures. So you picked the guy out of a catalogue of suggestions? That's more or less what Western people do as well. They know what is available (same league and all that stuff) and then choose. Or they contact a professional dating service and make a selection.

Maybe it's not easy to understand the whole caste thing as a non-Indian.

But from an outside view the whole idea of approved marriages sounds completely ridiculous. Is it not your life rather than that of your parents?

Re the original post: I'm sorry to say this but I'm completely on the side of your supervisor, alicemonty.

First of all, having data does not automatically lead to a publication, your supervisor actually transformed your data into something publishable.

Second, your contribution to the whole publication is probably reflected in your position as the second or third author.

Third, your supervisor was fair enough to include you at all (there are some other cases out there).

And last, you now have a publication 16 months into your PhD, which will facilitate your PhD viva, as other's have already mentioned.

Stop complaining and be happy. but next time just try to publish on your own and don't give your data to your supervisor.

I'm sorry to say this but the minute I pass my viva will be the last day I ever posted on this forum or spend any time reading threads on this forum.

Without this forum I probably would not survive a PhD but when it's over it will be time to move on.

That thread is dead old.

Plus, the weird mutant still hasn't learnt to forget about using too many abbreviations in written texts...

Re Adam: for me personally, the PhD is a very difficult and tough experience. 9-5 doesn't work either, simply because I work as a research assistant and have to teach a bunch of Undergrads all the time (not doing part-time PhD though).

So I think my social life has suffered greatly since I embarked on this hopeless endeavour.

On the bright side, the PhD can be better than sex when things go well sometimes...

Interesting, Bobby. But how do you define "normal" and in which group do you see yourself?

that's correct.

I still got the feeling something weird is going on...

Anybody noticed?

"Danny" appears to be the former DanB

No problem.

Maybe my design/drawing skills are just very limited as people did not stop for my poster and did not seem very interested.. (not that I care much)

good method of communication: not really, depends on the audience and the design of the poster.

they save time: don't think so. In fact, they waste valuable research time and provide no direct advantage for a research project

they allow you to network: completely overrated. If 90% of the audience are in un-related fields, benefits will be close to nil. Plus, networking itself does not help you to complete your PhD faster.

I completely accept other views, these are just mine. IMO, posters became fashionable once, now everybody thinks it's so great but in fact it's a waste of time.

I find posters a waste of time. Not valuable for the research, not usable for the thesis, not helpful for people walking around and asking stupid (always the same) questions about the research. This is just my opinion, but I hate posters and I try to avoid them where I can..