1 Week, 2 Conferences, 3 Founders, & 4 Quesadillas...

What a week! Adam and I attended the NAFSA region XI conference in New Haven, followed by a weekend of Abroad101 strategizing in Manhattan with Mark and the NAFSA region X conference in Brooklyn. The NAFSA conferences always provide a wonderful opportunity to meet such a diverse range of people in the study abroad field, and both regionals this year included excellent networking and even a chocolate fountain!

Me and Penny Presenting "Web 2.0 is Your Friend: Using Social Media to Connect, Inform, and Promote"
Adam working away in Brooklyn to constantly improve the website

Thanks to all of you who attended my Web 2.0 Social Media sessions in New Haven and Brooklyn. I get so excited about the potential for bringing technology to study abroad, and the sessions were a lot of fun. Penny Schouten, my co-presenter, also has a lot of experience in social media and with our powers combined we hope that you can utilize a lot of the resources in your everyday lives.

The Exposition Hall in Brooklyn
Some Bridge in Brooklyn (apparently it's famous)

Some other highlights of the week:

- Viewing the election results at The Playwright Bar in New Haven
- Sharing Ethiopian food with 15 other Region XI members
- Hearing 5 languages spoken at this dinner (international education = fun multi-lingual dining)
- Single-handedly supporting the restaurant at the Brooklyn Marriott through our repeat-order of the chicken quesadillas
- Adam fixing the TV in said restaurant, after being told by the waitress that it would be "impossible"
- Having people say, "Oh, Abroad101, I've heard of that!"

We look forward to seeing our new and old friends alike in the upcoming months, and hopefully we can reconvene at the May conference in LA!

Until next time,

Mike, Adam, and Mark