What the Americans understand by Business

Last week I was in the U.S. for presenting a paper in a conference in Norfolk. While leaving the JFK airport, I had a brief encounter with a customs officer there. He asked me if I was on a Business trip.
I said no. I was on an official trip, but not a business trip.
Then he made me convince that it is a business trip. The sum and substance of what he said is this:
You are a professor and hence it is your business to do research. You are here to present some of your business findings (related to the business). So it is a business trip.

Now I understand what they mean when they say "It is none of your business" better.

My Fast Post after more than a year

For some reason, my earlier blog has been disabled. So I am now going to put all my postings here.