I am officially returned and recovered from APHA. A week of APHA was very interesting and also tiring. This was the biggest conference I had ever been to; I felt like a very small girl when entered the Exhibit (Expo) room. The room was so huge and there were like hundred of different exhibit booths from SPH across the nation and companies.

I will post pictures that I have taken throughout the five days conference (You have to be patience with me because I am still trying to figure out how to put them into a picture presentation) Our SPH’s booth was amongst the best, we can see our “M” from the entrance door. We also have two very comfortable couches; the ultimate destination for those tired feet.

I learned a great deal from attending this conference; I also have to admit that I missed a lot of sessions and events that I wish I would have knew before so that I can attend. However, being the first time goer to this tremendously huge conference, I cannot blame myself for missing out things. I walked to most of the booths to collect their brochures and along with their great goodies. I have all the pens that I can use for the next years. I worked at our school booth for 3-4 hours a day and after that I attended different Environmental sessions or walking around to booths. I really enjoyed the scientific sessions because they are very focus on the topic; and also, because the audiences came from all over, the questions gave different perspectives to think about. Along with these sessions, I also enjoyed the poster sessions because I can walk pass and stop at the one that I am interested. I also talked and joined different minority caucuses, but to be honest with you I do not know what I will contribute or vice versa to my career advancement.

On Monday night, our school has an Alumni and Friend Reception at the Grand Hyatt; this was a great event. I met numerous SPH alumni and also those who are currently working in DC. There was super delicious food along with beverages. The room was filled with people laughing and exchanging conversation.

Besides working at our school’s booth, walking around the exhibits, going to scientific sessions and poster sessions, I had a great time in DC and Virginia at night. I spent most of my free time eating at different Vietnamese restaurants in Virginia. There is a Vietnamese community in Falls Church, VA and they have the best Vietnamese restaurants that I know. My most favorite place was the “All you can eat Sushi” I can really feel the urge for Sushi right now as I am writing this memory to you. I would love to go back here again; they have all the best and fresh sushi that you can imagine.

Well, I can write a short novel of my experience to DC, but I am sure you will not want to read my novel. Just to some up some of my lessons that I have learned from this experience for you to take if you are planning to go to APHA next year.

1) Registration – make sure you are correctly registered in the program session that you are interested. I was interested in Environmental and some how I was registered in another session; as the result, I missed the first two days of all the environmental sessions. They usually emailed you the whole program according to your sessions so you know what’s going on. Cheese, I learned this the hard way.

2) Daily Program Booth – make sure you look very detail in the Daily Program Booth, everything important seems to be posted on these tables and trust me, you will not want to be so mad at yourself (I did because I missed so many events that I would love to attend)

3) Good pair of shoes – I am the high heel freak; I only brought on pair of high heel boot with me. I walked around everywhere in that shoes and I was basically death when I got to the hotel. There will be so many people at the conference that I don’t think your potential employer will care what shoes you are going to have on. So, save yourself first.

4) Hotel Map – If you plan to travel around DC, the hotel usually have a very detailed map of the city. You can ask for a copy if you plan to walk around. Taxi is quite reasonable to get around.

5) Food – The food was very expensive in DC. I knew people brought groceries to make sandwiches throughout the five days conference. The Convention center was closed to China Town so it was not that bad to get lunch, but two persons meal was around $35.

Well I think I can stop now and work more on the picture presentation. I apologize for not keeping you posted as I promised; things get so busy and hectic throughout these four days. I neglected to get internet at the hotel because it was too costly. In the meantime, bear with me for the picture presentation. See you all around.