The Accidental Canuck Experience

PHOTOGRAPHY GALLERY

Memorial Day can only mean one thing for the EducationUSA office and that is NAFSA. The last few months of preparation lead up to this (and the Forum in a few weeks). There are a lot of logistics that go into this event to run smoothly and every year seems to be a learning experience. Our booth was a hit once again this year and topped last year. Now that I am finally back home and my feet no longer throb from standing for 8 hours at a time, I think it is safe to call it a success.

This year was a lot more social for me now that I know a lot more people in our network. I think last year I was just so overwhelmed by the booth itself I didn’t have much brainpower left to socialize. This year I’ve met more people through other events and advisers through training. It was much more fulfilling and I got a TON of feedback to work with for next year.

Although meeting new people is still a bit overwhelming in the booth I went to a lot more of the receptions and found them to be very nice. I like the smaller groups where I can talk to everyone in the room if I were so inclined. I think I have my feet under me on the main points of my job this time around unlike last year where I really was fighting to get things organized and creating a long term plan as multimedia specialist.

This year has really turned into let’s meet as many new people as possible and not just shake some hands. I mean really make connections with the people I work with virtually. I guess it is my adventure into the meat space. I like having one on one connections, everyone benefits so much more from that. And did I mention how awesome my international coworkers are?

One thing that I was not expecting when planning my trip to Vancouver for NAFSA was that the Canucks would be playing for the Stanley Cup! Although I didn’t make it to any of the public jumbo screens to watch the game the city was electrified. Everywhere you looked there was a jersey or a sign including the airport, public transportation, the hotel, etc. I don’t think it helps that the NHL had set up shop in my hotel.

I think it was very exciting that I was in the city to see how Canadians get pumped for hockey. Even Stanley Park sported hockey gear and made sure to document it as best I could in my photographs. Out of the hundreds of photos I took there are a few that stand out to me including Inuksuk and the sunset on English Beach.

All in all It was a great city and I wish I could go back. The city did have one downside that is a big one in my book and that was the price. Vancouver was crazy expensive and I don’t know how long I could deal with that. It also doesn’t help that the USD is so weak. other then that I would totally live there. I also wouldn’t mind the idea of catching a cruise out of Vancouver to Alaska.

Note to self: be careful while venturing onto the trails that branch off of the main roads. When looking for Siwash Rock remember the trek down steep paths also need to be climbed back up. Totally worth it though.