Conferencing

So over the past week I have been at two separate conferences. From last Wednesday through Saturday I was at the ASHE conference in Louisville, KY. I went for the pre-conference policy sessions, which was really good. I was able to make a lot of contacts with people, like all the big names in my research area. I also made some new friends, which was nice.

I presented my paper. I got some nice compliments on it like "it was well written," "I enjoyed reading it." and "Your reference list was so complete I feel I could now teach a class on college choice." But then the reader/discussant said he didn't feel comfortable giving feedback because he was unfamiliar with the panels methodologies... (copout answer if i ever heard one). So I didn't really get any feedback on how to improve my paper. Afterwards there was one person who asked a question and it was totally not a question, just him ranting about lottery scholarship programs. Afterwards the chair of our session asked if we'd like to answer and one woman said... there was no question, just a rant. hahaha it was great. In addition to that I was talked to by the editor of a journal who said i should submit when i finish my dissertation. YAY.

Also, conference men (much like the latins) seem to love me. I had men eating out of my hand left and right and checking me out all the time. I even made a conference boyfriend. It was a great relationship... sadly he has a real life boyfriend so we wont be more than conference boyfriends (let me know if you need this concept explained). But that story is cute. I interrupted he and his friend talking about something to ask where the bar was at a social. He said there was none, but you had to grab it from the waiters when they came by. I looked confused and distraught.... so he offered me a sip of his wine, which i took. And then we introduced ourselves. But we made sure to hang out at some point each day at the conference.

and of course shenanigans ensued at north america's largest gay bar.

In coming days for my catch up: the second conference, this boy flirting with me on the way to work, and more.