Wednesday 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm NAAS Board Meeting
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm AJAS Chaperone/Committee Meeting
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm NAAS/AJAS Registration
7:00 pm – 11:00 pm NAAS/AJAS Reception and Opening Ceremonies
on the USS Midway
I woke up this morning very, very groggy. However, when I grasped that I was going to San Diego, I grew very pumped and moved very fast. My mom helped me with packing, and then my Uncle drove me to the airport. I almost felt sick with excitement. Since my flight was so early, I woke up around 3:30 to leave the house around 4:45, arriving at the airport around 5:10.
My flight wasn't until 7:00, except due to airport security and other various things, I didn't arrive at the gate until 6:00. On the flight, I just ended up sleeping.
I arrived around 9:45. I took a bus from the airport to the hotel. Once there, I tried to check in, but apparently you had to put down a $200 fee on a credit card for insurance? I was thinking that after it was registration time, AJAS would take care of that insurance, so I just checked in my bags in the hotel, and went to the local shopping mall. After that, I wandered around Seaport Village; which was really nice and sunny. I ended up taking a nap in the grass.
Around 4:00, I headed back to the hotel, and found my way up to the fourth floor of the hotel to register. I headed toward my room, where I met my room mate from Massachusetts. From there, we headed toward the other Massachusetts' girls' room, and we hung out in Seaport Village.
After that, we headed toward the USS Midway, where I met some new people, went on tours, and went on the simulators. There, I met with Dr. Bates. He was kind enough to give and pass on a happy birthday card from WSAS. It was really nice. :) Unfortunately, the card didn't fit in my purse, so I had to fold it.
The first thing I did on the USS Midway was go on a simulator. I went on the non-movement one. I thought it was interesting. It would have been far more interesting if I had actual things to shoot at, but it felt pretty real. When I got into the simulator, it felt like I was actually mentally turning in circles. After that, my friends and I went to go eat mashed potatoes in a martini glass. Quite odd, but rather tasty. We went on the large simulator afterward, which fit 10 people, and then onto the two person simulator, which we could actually drive and shoot with. I was supposed to be partners with Kelly on that simulator, but she chickened out, and so I went with Abhi. He ended up making us hang upsidown most of the time.
After the simulators, we went on the tour for the interior of the ship. Not that we weren't inside the ship; I mean the part with the pipes, the dinning hall, etc. It was interesting to learn how many people were crammed into the boat, as well as how much the boat weighed [It gained weight over time!] We saw many different elevators. As well as see some ancient Coke vending machines [joking, but there were vending machines here and there for the current day visitors.] The sick bay was interesting. Not only did it fit several dozens of people, but there were the records of the patients still there. Thousands of files... all in a couple of folders. Not only that, there was enough room for operation table, quarantine... I can't even imagine how long this whole ship took to build. It was so expansive, there were many parts we couldn't see...
After that tour, my friends and I went to the very top of the boat, where we were able to enter some of the aircraft and explore it. Most of all, we got to see the view. The view was absolutely gorgeous; we were able to see so much of the city. After that, we headed downstairs to listen to the opening ceremony.
We excitingly listened to the opening ceremonies. Dr. Broglie told us about the events we would be participating in, and I was excited to hear that Francis Collins from the Genome Project was coming. After the opening ceremonies, I was called to the front of the podium. I more officially met with my chaperon there; I had briefly spoken with her earlier, but here we were able to chat. Also, Dr. Bates was able to meet my chaperon. After a small discussion, we dispersed back to the hotel, where I found my room mates exhausted and ready for bed.
The first thing I did on the USS Midway was go on a simulator. I went on the non-movement one. I thought it was interesting. It would have been far more interesting if I had actual things to shoot at, but it felt pretty real. When I got into the simulator, it felt like I was actually mentally turning in circles. After that, my friends and I went to go eat mashed potatoes in a martini glass. Quite odd, but rather tasty. We went on the large simulator afterward, which fit 10 people, and then onto the two person simulator, which we could actually drive and shoot with. I was supposed to be partners with Kelly on that simulator, but she chickened out, and so I went with Abhi. He ended up making us hang upsidown most of the time.
After the simulators, we went on the tour for the interior of the ship. Not that we weren't inside the ship; I mean the part with the pipes, the dinning hall, etc. It was interesting to learn how many people were crammed into the boat, as well as how much the boat weighed [It gained weight over time!] We saw many different elevators. As well as see some ancient Coke vending machines [joking, but there were vending machines here and there for the current day visitors.] The sick bay was interesting. Not only did it fit several dozens of people, but there were the records of the patients still there. Thousands of files... all in a couple of folders. Not only that, there was enough room for operation table, quarantine... I can't even imagine how long this whole ship took to build. It was so expansive, there were many parts we couldn't see...
After that tour, my friends and I went to the very top of the boat, where we were able to enter some of the aircraft and explore it. Most of all, we got to see the view. The view was absolutely gorgeous; we were able to see so much of the city. After that, we headed downstairs to listen to the opening ceremony.
We excitingly listened to the opening ceremonies. Dr. Broglie told us about the events we would be participating in, and I was excited to hear that Francis Collins from the Genome Project was coming. After the opening ceremonies, I was called to the front of the podium. I more officially met with my chaperon there; I had briefly spoken with her earlier, but here we were able to chat. Also, Dr. Bates was able to meet my chaperon. After a small discussion, we dispersed back to the hotel, where I found my room mates exhausted and ready for bed.
0 comments:
Post a Comment