Quick trip to Texas

Originally I had intended to use my blog for more than just traveling; that clearly hasn't worked thus far.  To continue with my travel blog it would only be fitting to write about my recent trip to Texas.

As I had to explain to many people, I do research with the College of Ed designing biology curriculum for 5th, 7th and 9th grade genetics units.  One of the school districts we work with is in Cedar Hill, Texas and we are hosting an event where the national level senator as well as many other politicians come to see the 5th grade work showcased.

Simplified version: I was in Texas for a work trip.

As an undergrad I didn't expect to travel with my job, or at least not anywhere farther than East Lansing Schools.  Everyone on the project was flown down to Texas for PD in the summer but I had a minor schedule conflict of being on a different continent.  After a similar event of hosting Senator Stabenow at a school in East Lansing, the Dean of the College of Ed offered to pay for 4 people to go to Texas for the senator visit there.

I was exchanging e-mails with my boss about a letter of rec when she told me to call her since I was still awake.  It was 11:30pm and I was getting ready for bed so I was offered a spot on the trip to Texas while I was standing in my bathroom attempting to continue my nighttime routine one-handed.  After getting permission to fly out separate on Monday morning (my birthday was on that Sunday and I already had plans) I was good to go to Texas!

Sunrise at Detroit Metro Airport

I landed in Texas at 10am local time and was picked up by the 2 people that had flown in the day before.  I had had layovers at two different airports in Texas but had never actually been to Texas.  I stepped out of the airport to sunshine and 70's; much different from the 3 degrees it was when I left Michigan.

I have a habit of spreading out, not helped by having my own room.

I spent most of the time I was there at the various schools we work with but did have time for wonderful food including Cajun, Chic-fil-a, and authentic Mexican.  We even had a chance to go shopping the first afternoon I was there and I bought a dress.  It's much easier to buy dresses when you have some hope of wearing them in that weather (and when your per-diam is $71 a day and there was no way you are spending that much on food).

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson talking at the school

The event at the school was Wednesday morning.  Everything went great!  The students did a great job of explaining what they were learning and interacting with the guest.  It was a bit interesting to be thrown into the politics of Texas but there is nothing wrong with interesting I guess.

The students explaining their work to the guests

Our flight wasn't until Wednesday evening so we went to a mall in Dallas where they had an indoor ice rink.  I finally got ice cream which I had been wanting all trip (again, easier when it's in the mid 60's than below 0).

Ice rink in a Dallas Mall

The only downfall of all of this was I had a cold that started Monday morning when I left and continued my entire trip.  Anyone who has flown knows there is always one person around you that you get kinda annoyed with and that person was me this time.  For the flight back I had at stolen the box of tissues from the hotel so I'm sure the guy sitting next to me loved that (and let me tell you; heavenly soft tissues are neither heavenly or soft).

This trip brought my state count up to 33!  I think I'm doing pretty well turning 22 the day before I left.  In 2 days I will be leaving for Kentucky for spring break.  I am looking forward to a wonderful time working with Christian Appalachian Project there.  We will see when I get around to blogging about that trip though.  I should at least get around to packing sometime soon...