...Where I Have Not Been Before...

I have never been to New Orleans before today. I was and am excited to be here, but while I am looking forward to a great time seeing the sights and the tourist attractions around here (and Essence Fest!), I also found myself drawn to see how the city has rebuilt itself in the years after Hurricane Katrina.

My day began in church, and it happened to be Youth Sunday, so the young people were up front today. I was treated to a liturgical dance, the choir, a step team, and a brass ensemble (it wouldn't be New Orleans without horns, trust me). After church, we came back home and got something to eat and had a great conversation. I made it known that I wanted to find a good spot to watch the fireworks on the 4th of July, and I also wanted to see how Katrina affected the region (and continues to do so).

First of all, we saw, to our great surprise this morning, that right across from our subdivision was the remains of a Six Flags amusement park. Before Katina, this area was bustling and brimming during the summer with thousands of visitors and thrill-seekers. After Katrina, they decided not to rebuild, so the park stands abandoned. My hosts told me that all they do with that area now is come to shoot movies. So the next time you see movie characters killing zombies in an amusement park, they probably shot that scene here in New Orleans.

We drove on to St. Bernard Parish, all the way out to the bay. We caught a ferry across the river to the other side. Another friend of mine suggested that that was a great place to watch the fireworks on the 4th. I have never ridden a ferry that could hold my car at the same time. I've seen things like this in movies like "Deja Vu", but this is the first time that I have done so. I know a lot of people would consider such a thing mundane, but I found it to be fun!

Well, we finally found a great spot to watch the show, and the favor of a nice man who lives in the apartments across the bay from downtown New Orleans. I can't wait to get to that spot for the show! Then my friends took me to the Ninth Ward, where they grew up. It was a different view altogether. Now, there are houses that have been rebuilt, and one or two that somehow survived, but the flood that came through when the levee failed at Lake Ponchatrain destroyed EVERYTHING. They showed me places where the only thing that was left was the foundation of the house that stood there. They showed me an open field that once held their high school, and across from it, another open field that held an elementary school. Everywhere I looked I saw great overgrowths, and in each of those lots, there was a house that was destroyed by the flooding. It's been eight years, but the evidence of the devastation, at least in the Ninth Ward, remains telling. There were people living in these neighborhoods. But there are so many more who USED to live here. That part of the tour was pretty overwhelming.

Well, one of the main reasons I went on this vacation was to get some much needed rest! That will mainly be tomorrow, when my hosts will be working. But on Tuesday and Wednesday, I intend to visit the French Quarter, and see the places my friends have recommended that I see, and EAT the foods that have been described to me. I can't wait! So, until the next post, au revoir from New Orleans East!

You are cordially invited to change the world...

...was one of the last things I heard at the 2013 ISTE Conference held here in San Antonio, TX.

And it was awesome.

Today was the final day of the ISTE Conference. It wasn't as heavily attended as the previous two days, as one might expect. Many hundreds have already returned to their various destinations around the globe (and I mean that literally). In fact, it appeared that many of the people whom I saw today were attending last minute presentations for the latest educational gadgetry, trying to win stuff in the raffles (as I was), or waiting for the afternoon's closing keynote address, which would be delivered today by the renowned Adam Bellow.

I found Mr. Bellow's presentation to be nothing short of mesmerizing. He used google glass, a device I had never seen before. And his timings for his slides was spot on perfect. At times funny, entertaining, instructive, inspirational, emotional, riveting, and driven, his message had all the fire and passion of a church revival, coupled with all the emotion and enthusiasm that we true educators bring to our craft every day. I'll give you one point to illustrate: he asked the pointed question, "Why is it that the school outlaws facebook for the students but then will turn around and create a facebook page for themselves?" Excellent point. Now, being an educator in the trenches, I can tell you that I have legitimate concerns about the potential for distraction and misuse that social media and other forms of internet access can provide. But I also see the potential for these entities to transform the quality of education everywhere, and the need to balance them. Our kids see us use the tech everyday, and they use it each day themselves, especially when they get away from the school. The trick for us is to find that balance, help them discover what they can do, and then get them to do it.

Like many of us said today, I find myself exhilarated and energized and wiped out and exhausted at the same time. I can't wait to try some of the ideas I've learned out here, but at the same time, I'm gonna need a few days to rest, reflect and process. (Do I need a vacation from my vacation? Hmm...)

The good news is that next year, the ISTE Conference will be held in Atlanta, GA, so if I get to go, I can drive there and stay with my family in the area. The BAD news is that I'll probably have to pay for the next one out of pocket. Guess I better start saving up my pennies now, eh?

I truly had a blast. But now I'm ready to get back home, back to my family, back to my life. Farewell, ISTE, and thank you VERY much, San Antonio. Hope to see you again next year!

Cranking It Up Again...

Good Morning! If you've read my infrequent posts, you know I haven't done this too often before now. But today, I have a different motivation... I'm in San Antonio, TX for the 2013 ISTE Conference! They have an app where you can "register your blog", soooo, I figured this would be a great way to document my experiences, weigh in on what I'll see over the next several days, comment on the topics presented, and maybe make a few friends along the way. I'll let you know how it turns out.

I've only been to San Antonio once before now. It was 1999, and my trip to Texas back then was my mother's graduation gift to me for attaining my Master's Degree. Now she lived in Houston at the time, which is 290 miles to the east. But my wife Marie had a friend here in TX whom she hadn't seen for a while. That friend's husband was in the Army and stationed at a nearby post (Ft. Hood?). Anyway, the two of them agreed to meet while we were on vacation and San Antonio was the agreed upon rendezvous. We had lunch on San Antonio's famous Riverwalk, chatted for a couple of hours and returned to our respective destinations. In and out. I didn't get a REALLY close look at the city, but I WAS here before (smile).

Well, for the conference this year, I'm smack in the middle of downtown SA. A block or so from the convention center. Three blocks from the Alamo. Right in the middle of the Riverwalk. Last night, as I walked around, the city was still abuzz, with literally hundreds of people still enjoying the club, restaurant, hotel and party scene (me, I just wanted to go get something to eat). All over the city, hanging from just about every large structure, "GO SPURS GO" banners fluttered (how did that work out for you guys, by the way? JUST KIDDING!) One thing I enjoying while I was outside was that the notorious Texas heat was tempered greatly by a steady but gentle breeze. That made my walk very pleasant.

I'm here with two other colleagues from the school where I teach (East Columbus Magnet Academy, Columbus, GA - GO KNIGHTS!!!), and perhaps they'll take a picture or two with me while we're here. There are also about 12 other educators from the Columbus, GA area in attendance here (according to the conference attendee rolls that I researched from the iste 2013 mobile app (shameless plug, I know; I want extra points, lol). There are thousands of educators here from all over the country and the world, and two of my favorite things, teaching and technology, will be the highlight of the visit this week. So, from the heart of San Antonio, greetings and salutations! Feel free to post a comment below, and I'll hopefully see you soon!

"The Words of the Preacher are ended..."