NAATE - Travel Day

7/6/17
Fast Forward and It is time to go to NAATE!

So all the Kansas City people left out of KCI airport to head to Chicago for our first leg of the trip then onto Hartford from there. I have flown a few times, but it is still a relative new experience for me. I get through security, I board the plane and realize there are not a lot of seats left. Since we flew southwest, there is no assigned seating, so most of the aisle and windows were taken. So I'm in the back row of the plan sandwiched between two strangers. A gentlemen on my left who said absolutely nothing to me, but fell asleep on me during the flight. On my right was a lady who happened to be a Principal from Bellevue, Nebraska. Her husband and two small girls were in the row in front of us. Naturally we had a lot to talk about, I told her about where we were going and we talked a lot about education of course. Landing time - man was that a rough landing.

So we say our farewell and leave the plane. My colleague and I have about an hour before we board the next plane. We walk about 50 paces and we are at our gate for the next plane. We grab a snack, stand and talk. We get in line to board our plane, we meet several others traveling to NAATE. I met someone else from KC and we talked the entire flight (probably my fault, at one point he wrapped up his headphones like - well she isn't going to shut up lol) It was interesting to discuss education with someone else not from KC originally and who has had very different experiences than me.

We arrive in Hartford and most of our group is together, we are looking for our ride to New Haven. One person is missing luggage and our plane landed early. We begin to get to know each other a little bit and a gentleman (not at all gentle) walks in and yells. And I mean bone chilling yell... "CHERYL, Where are you? Get the fuck off your phone and answer it!" After all of that which could be heard through the entire baggage claim area and beyond.... a worker says, "Sir, you can't be yelling in here"

Our ride arrives, Benz Buses at that, and I'm thinking dang this is very fancy. It is about a 45 minute ride to New Haven with traffic. It was quiet at first, but then we see a lobster sandwich advertisement from McDonalds on a billboard. This sparks our hunger and begin discussing different places. I learn about some different food "fads" from different regions. I begin to ask if people like Runza...It's a Nebraska thing and I also briefly speak on Chili and Cinnamon Rolls. Another person in the front row says, "Are you talking about Nebraska? I heard Chili and Cinnamon Rolls." And of course everyone is weirded out by it and I'm stuck thinking, what is wrong with this?

We arrive at the Omni and the street we are on reminds me of like the strip in Lincoln, near campus, but a bit more of an urban feel. The Hotel is quite tall, we get checked into our rooms, recieve our welcome packs and assigned homework (I was really hoping for none on the first day, but come on, it's only 10 days, you should have thought again!) I go to my room, check out my 12th floor view, head back down stairs and go eat with a colleague. I returned to my room and spent 2 hours reading. I tossed and turn for hours and finally fell into sleep around 2:30am.