Yes, it's conference time again. I am blogging from sunny Orlando, Florida, on a computer in the National Council on Family Relations' "Cyber Cafe," overlooking the hotel tennis court, palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. Yesterday it was 70-something degrees...at one point I went out to the pool and sat on a lounge chair and soaked up as much sun as I possibly could.
Oh, yeah--The conference.
So I'm here for our discipline's annual conference, my fifth one, my third one in a row. Last year I presented two papers at the preconference Theory Construction and Research Methodology Workshop. This year my stomach is persistently settled, my palms are dry, and my nails are unragged and unpicked: I am here to enjoy, network, and learn ONLY.
Another difference this year--I am attending for the first time as a "doctoral candidate." (Didja miss that I passed my oral prelims last Friday? I passed my oral prelims last Friday.) Amazing what that little piece of information can do to your confidence. And others' reactions to you--That info, apparently, is worth a second, genuinely attentive look at your name badge.
This is a wonderful conference. I've just had one full day of sessions so far, but already I have learned so much. I have been able to see some familiar folks, and meet some new ones. My mother came in yesterday. (Didja know my Mom is a graduate student at Texas Women's? My Mom is a graduate student at Texas Women's. See October 14th's entry, "Today, Nothing's Impossible.")
It was hard leaving the Twin Cities--hard to kiss my sobbing children at the airport, hard to put aside all the program-related work I should be doing... But I know that this will be worth it.
Well, off to another session.
Posted by perry032 at November 18, 2004 07:13 AM | TrackBack