The majority of graduate school students I met when I was one experienced the same semi-starvation existence that I went through. That is especially the case with those of us who were working toward doctorate degrees because in most disciplines getting a Ph.D. is a long and grinding five to seven year marathon, at least in the social sciences. Before CO-VID 19 put an end to most live events, presenting a paper at conference held out the benefit of eating well at a conference. The deal at most universities had been if you present a paper on a panel at an academic conference, your institution would cover your fees including a food per diem for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The first time I presented at a conference was in 1997 Guadalajara, Mexico at the annual meeting of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA). This is a city whose food scene I came to know well because it’s where I lived while learning Spanish.
