This week, I had the opportunity to travel to Boston for my first ACPA national convention. It was a few days filled with new experiences, good professional development, and the opportunity to explore a new city. A recap of my trip, by day-
FRIDAY:
Had an afternoon flight, but left the house early in order to get lunch and a new cane tip. Ate at Potbelly, where I had never been. Quite good, I think they beat Erbert and Gerberts. Thankfully had time to come back to the house to grab an extra sweater just in case. Discovered, to my dismay, that Walgreens does not stock tips even though they sell canes–stupid–thankfully we found them at CVS and I made it to the airport with perfect timing. Uneventful flight.
Arrived in Boston to discover that my colleague and roommate’s luggage had not made it on to our plane–good job Delta. Dinner with him and another colleague at California Pizza Kitchen near our hotel–while we have CPK here in MN, I had also never eaten there.
SATURDAY:
We decided first that we’d go check in at the convention center, get our programs and etc. It was then I realized that I would be doing a lot of walking. To get there from our hotel, one had to walk through a long skyway and then through a shopping center–later estimated to be a quarter mile or more each way. We checked in, got our name badges and 130 page programs and then perused them before the walk back to the hotel.
It was a gorgeous day, about 70 and sunny, so we decided to explore the city by taking a trolley tour recommended to me by my program director. It was a nice way to see different parts of the city, which is beautiful, and so full of character, charm and history. Lots of neat old buildings. Had brunch in Beacon Hill, one of the oldest neighborhoods.
After a short rest back at the hotel, I went to a reception and then met up with Andy (roomie) and a couple of other UMN folks and we went to dinner at a local restaurant. They followed it up with a trip to a local bar, but I was exhausted and called it a night.
SUNDAY:
Slept in late. Went to Cambridge with Andy and Jess to see the Harvard campus. We figured, being higher ed folk, that we ought to see America’s oldest university. Opening keynote was in the evening–ABC’s John Quinones. Good speech and an inspiring story.
MONDAY:
Full day of convention. Went to four program sessions, and did lunch in a restaurant atop the 52 story Prudential Center. While at MCPA’s Showcase table, ran into a young woman who participated in MASC’s summer conference with me in 2001–that’s nearly nine years ago and she still remembered me–Wow.
TUESDAY:
Another full day, three program slots plus the unification discussion. Lunch at a nice bar and grill in the shopping center. And what I had waited for all trip–a fabulous fresh seafood dinner at the Atlantic Fish Company. Yum!
WEDNESDAY:
Slept in and checked out of hotel. Went to closing session and then bummed around until it was time to head to the airport. Got there plenty early thinking it would take time to navigate security, which was actually faster to get through than in Minneapolis. Was at the gate so early the flight before me had not even left yet, but that gave me the chance to have a chat with three folks from Wright State who were on that flight and waiting.
It was a great trip, and definitely a worthwhile experience. I look forward to more conferences like it in the future.
Posted by Berne 
