So, the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing is in about a week.
I first attended the conference two years ago, the year the free bookbags were tan-brown canvas, bright poster graphic plastered over the front, black adjustable strap, not enough pockets.
The appearance of the bag is important.
You see, last year, I missed the conference because I was studying abroad in Australia. On a friend's recommendation, my GHC bookbag was the bag I'd taken with me down under for carting notes and texts across campus. My friend said, maybe it'll work as a conversation starter!
The scene: Day Two of international student orientation. The crowd of 18 to 24-year-olds, hailing from every country you can name and probably a few you can't, was in mass exodus from a lecture hall to a large space in the Wentworth building, intrigued by the notion of morning tea. As I was walking across the footbridge to Wentworth, a young woman came up to me.
"Were you in Colorado for the conference this past year?" She pointed to my bag. I couldn't help but grin, of course: there I was, halfway around the globe, and I had a pre-made connection to someone! It turned out we were in the same Number Theory & Cryptography course, too; it was thanks to our six-hour-a-day study marathons that I vanquished the final exam.
A conversation starter, indeed.
Needless to say, I'm looking forward to this year's conference!
Sonia said:
Was that me? I don’t remember …
Sept. 19, 2010, 4:33 p.m.
Jacqueline said:
That was you! I was trying to decide which bookbag to take with me, comparing relative amount of pockets and other exciting bag features, and you suggested the GHC bag for its superior networking properties.
Sept. 19, 2010, 4:56 p.m.
Sonia said:
It’s definitely a great conversation starter, what can I say! I have used it to start many a conversation of I imagine a quite different caliber than the one you got going here. ;o)
Sept. 20, 2010, 1:43 p.m.