Man, oh, man, I wish I was with them!
Quoted from http://blogs.msdn.com/alfredth/archive/2009/04/26/fdg-2009-day-one.aspx:
Computer Science Teacher – Thoughts and Information from Alfred Thompson : FDG 2009 Day One
So I am aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship for the Foundations of Digital Games conference.
I went to this last year, and it was the single best experience I had ever had. Because we were fairly isolated in one place, we really interacted, especially between sessions and meals.
We were seated together at each dinner service but in random groups — the first night was assigned. That encouraged us to sit together for other meals. Frequently I’d be in a dining area and a total stranger but "tagged" walked up and joined me. We had fabulous conversations about the topics involved. I even had the courage to sit down with some of the presenters and ask them even MORE questions about their presentations.
It was very empowering. On several different occasions I was complimented by fellow attenders by my good questions — I’ve gotten in a habit because I work for a heavily audited school district to go to conferences and listen intendly for a good question. Then at the end, I ask it, giving those around me a good chance to remember I’m there at the actual session if it comes up. Yeah, sad, but I do think of good questions doing and it helps me be a more active participant. Try it sometime.
I even have several college professions wonder why I stayed at the high scohol level — I have no idea how it works in their part of the world, but I know that in mine, my work environment is more stable and I actually DO make more than most college professors, at least at the master’s level.