So, sometimes you’re at a conference and maybe you don’t make it to a workshop…
All right, so I didn’t attend any sessions on Saturday. It was a family-day. The kids had not seen me much for the past few days. We did bring the kids by the hotel to visit with friends and then we spent the day with them in town. So I wasn’t any “brighter” at the end of the day…maybe I was a little workshopped out, but mostly, I just needed some time with the little ones.
My wife and I did attend the final dinner event though and had a great time. A lot of people don’t like those events, but for me it was a wonderful chance to catch up with many friends dotted all over Asia now, whom I’ve come to know after 15 years working in the region. It was fun to run into an old math colleague and then, together, meet former students who have now become teachers. It turned into a nice debate on who was the “greatest math teacher ever”. Ahhh…how impressionable young minds are … 
Actually, it was terrific to see former students choose international teaching.
One of the added pluses, as well, was that after continually missing each other, Jeff Utecht and I managed to find each other and talk over a beer. He is as engaging in person as he presents himself online and it was great to share experiences and thoughts on change in schools. Shanghai is lucky to have him and I can’t imagine a school that wouldn’t bend over backwards to get him should he ever try to leave (cough, cough, I.S. Bangkok, cough, cough). He works too hard though and, as my wife suggested, he must have a very patient wife.
Earcos was a terrific experience. One that I had been ducking in recent years. It was a good learning weekend, but also it was a great networking event. Touching base with old friends and meeting new ones is an important part of conferences like this. I am glad that I went.
KL in ‘08 or bust!
photo by mattlogelin
Tags: earcos07, thinkingstick
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