I will start my PhD in April and as of yet have not started working at the department. I was kindly offered to voluntarily join on a work trip next week. Picture a school trip that only happens 1-2 times a year and that I would just miss. This is a nice opportunity to get to know some people already and receive tips before I get started.
Well, this week I was asked to help prepare materials – and in the end found that they wanted me to prepare an entire session. People are asking me questions I can not yet answer because I haven't started researching my topic. They are giving me introductions that I'd be grateful for a month from now but right now I want to enjoy my well deserved break. While typing this I got another email asking if I wanted to do a presentation at the end of the month -when I'm still not working.
How do I politely tell everyone that I want to do minimal work before I actually start? I don't want to get on their bad side because I do want them to give me these explanations and materials once I start.