Wise Counsel

Isis Magid gets a call from the head of the department of Biology,
Dr. Ashford. He called to "inquire" how things were going, with
her preparations to go abroad. With a "last minute pitch", he tries
to persuade one of the first-rate students in his department to "stay on".

Isis, fairly disappointed to be leaving, restated that the year
abroad would not only benefit her future work, but the university
abroad did offer her a full scholarship, "all expenses paid" package.
An opportunity she didn't want to miss.

Dr. Ashford, also "fairly disappointed", advises her to get in touch
with a certain professor at the university, the moment she gets to
Latin America. Dr. Octavian Catalin, he goes on to tell her, is doing
"private research" and if she can mention him as a "reference"
on her resume, she would virtually be "guaranteed employment",
anywhere in the world.

Dr. Ashford went ahead and gave Ms. Majid the contact particulars of
Dr. Catalin and said he would also forward a letter of introduction
to further smooth her transition abroad.

This call to Isis took place in the presence of Dr. Egan Driscol.