My perceptions before I left – they are a very well run conference, on the ball; thought they might be a bit more like the Boston/East Coast interpreters that I have met; Baltimore was going to be a scary metropolis to drive through; the hershey tour was going to be just a blip on the radar; flying is a torture to be endured.
The first part of my trip looked grim – the two part flight on midwest was cancelled due to the rain. I stayed in good spirits while waiting for the ticketing agent to print me a new ticket for NWA. Its good to be first in line and kind – the ticket that was slide across the counter to me was a first class ticket. What an experience! Number one, I had never realized just how hard flight attendants work – they’re job is very hard AND they have to do it with a smile; number two, first class is totally the way to travel – flying could be fun!
So arriving in Baltimore, I went to the rental car place and got a fun car – a ford mustang, that just happened to be black, my favorite color. Thankfully it wasn’t too much of a splurge price-wise, but it was really something else to be behind the wheel of a machine like that. (Roar is the word that comes to mind)The drive up to Gettysburg was a little harrowing, as it was 11-12 o’clock at night and VERY dark. The interesting result was that I experienced the change in scenery more by smell than anything else. Baltimore had a hint of salt on the air, and there were many forests that I went through, that smell of the loam on the forest floor. Then the scent of farm country hit me – so like home – horse and cow mostly, soothing known smells. I got into the hotel about 1am and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Saturday morning came bright with opportunity. I checked in with the Conference head and then headed out to Hershey (needed to get chocolate for the shareshop attendees anyways). I figured it would be something small, a cute brief tour and then some free samples. I did not expect the giant complex and beehive of activity. Its a great place to take kids, so long as they can handle the sugar high that is rampantly running through the air. I only had time to see a small portion, but I would definitely return for further exploration.
Drove back and attended another workshop about Technology for Interpreters. Good stuff, I feel I learned quite a bit. Even though I consider myself pretty competent with technology, since I am mostly self taught, there are always things that I miss that would have made my life easier. Came up with an idea that I would like to implement – an anonymous compliment board. (Recently in the latest Update, our MRID publication, there was an article about spreading compliments instead of gossip) Too often we, as interpreters, spend a lot of time tearing each other down – a shared crab-in-the-bucket mentality – instead of taking the time to build each other up.
So the shareshop itself went really well – despite the temperature in the room being a steamy 90 degrees, they stayed with me – they were fantastic participants. Their questions were very insightful and as always, I feel like I learned as much from them as I hope I have given them. They wre great about sharing their stories and talking about the choices that they had made in the past and applying the new terminology and understanding they were given. And as always, when it came time for the samples, they really dug into them and worked as a group analyze them and create a model interpretation. Its such an honor to be around people like this – and have the privilege of witnessing those great minds at work.
Saturday night I was restless and had a hard time falling asleep – too much chocolate maybe?? – so, knowing my hubby would be up, I gave him a call. Just hearing his voice was the soothing I apparently needed to fall asleep – got off the phone and was out like a light. Didn’t even have a chance to put the cell on the nightstand! LOL
Sunday driving back was fun – testing my sense of smell to see if I was right, and for the most part I was. I don’t care what your self-esteem is prior – once you’re behind the wheel of a beautiful mustang you can’t help but feel cool. Add to that some classic rock coming back, and I am reminded just how much I love to drive and the time to be introspective and take in the landscape with appreciation.
The flight back was coach, so it sucked, but I made it home alive and that’s the important thing.
I would definitely present for Pennsylvania again – what a pleasure.
~Kelly
