Google Teacher Academy for Administrators. Time to Review.

I survived my trip to San Antonio.

Sadly (for blogging purposes), nothing out of the ordinary happened.

I don’t mind saying, I felt a little jipped.

No drama.  No “incidents” on the plane.  No random stranger doing something stupid.

Just a Google Conference.

I say just, but it was so much more.

A 12 hour conference (sounds long, but it’s not really that long once you figure in snack time… and I do love my snack time).

The conference was many things.  Mainly it was an overload of information.  But in a good way.

Now that I’ve had a few days to comprehend my experience, here are my thoughts (in no particular order). 

• Conference hotels gouge you.  Bad.  This should be a crime, but instead it’s considered good business.

• The Alamo is still next to the mall (and surprisingly small… The Alamo, not the mall… it’s huge).  If that wasn’t bad enough, The Alamo is now directly across the street from Fuddruckers (I wish I were kidding).

• It came to my attention (in the first 14 seconds) that employees of Google are way smarter than me.  Way smarter.  Way way smarter (and childlike… they looked 12 years old).

• Presenters with a sense of humor interest me.  Your information can be life changing, but after sitting 9 hours straight… I need a laugh.

• Google employees seem to really enjoy their jobs (they seem happier than educators… maybe because, in my mind, they are allowed to take their dogs to work).

• No matter how much you know about Google Docs, Google Calendar, and everything else Google… you know nothing.  Actually you know less than nothing.

• A 3 hour layover doesn’t sound like a long time, but it is.  Time spent in the Atlanta airport is like prison.  Every second lasts hours (and there’s no early release program).

• Ben and Jerry’s serves a fabulous lunch.  I recommend adding a brownie to whatever entree you order.

• Google’s applications are free.  Microsoft’s are not.  You do the math.

• Outdoor heated pools are still cold when the temperature is in the 50’s.

• Google Calendar has a thousand great features.  Unfortunately none of them get me places on time.

• All schools are different.  All schools are the same.

• No matter where you go, there are interesting people.

• Eating Mexican food while wearing a suit almost never turns out well.  Or at least for your tie.

• They sell a lot of jumbo extra large margaritas on The Riverwalk in San Antonio, yet you never see someone fall in (the river).  How is this possible?

• Now that I travel extensively (not), every airport in America looks the same.

• Did I mention Google employees are smart?  I did?  Sorry for repeating myself, but I’m stupid (or at least way less smart than them).

• You can’t decide the long-term direction of your school district after a one day conference.  Even if it’s Google.

• One day soon, there will be a news story about a divorce caused by too much Twittering.  One of the spouses will have had enough.

• Airplane seats in the emergency row are pure gold (so that’s what it feels like to stretch my legs…).  They are First Class (or Business Class) without the free booze.

• Google Docs is free magic.  I would explain it to you, but I’m still trying to process it.

• Every tech nerd in America owns/wants an Android phone (sorry Blackberry… you had a good run).

• If you walk up to me and say “I’ve read every blog you’ve ever written”, you might want to consider getting a job.  Or possibly a date.

• If you recognize me in an elevator, I might want to get a restraining order.

• Microsoft should be worried.  If Google plays their cards right, Word and Excel may eventually disappear from schools.

• How do people taller than 5’10” fit into an airplane bathroom?  Even more confusing, how do they use an airplane bathroom?

• All airplane stewardesses (flight attendants.. whatever) look tired.

That’s my trip.

To summarize, it was an honor and a pleasure.

I’m thrilled to be one of only 2 (?) superintendents in the country to be a Google Certified Teacher.

I now feel like I know so much.  And I feel like I have so much to learn.

Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Google.

Thanks Buddy the Dog.  Without your video, I’m just a creepy guy talking to himself.