Past memories
 

Considering my team is a rookie one I was hoping that every one would share their past at nationals to see what my team is looking forward to.

You are so lucky. We are a third year team and have yet to go to nationals. Hopefully next year. We did make it to a second regional though.

I don't know if any of the teams previous experiences because it's not at Disney like previous years. So this is going to be a new experience for the rookies and the veterans.

I just hope I don't get lost (like when I went to Nat's in Fl. the first time :P) And finally...I don't have to point things out to all the new kids on the team...hehe...they'll know as much as me.

Last year in Nationals... It was pouring and you couldnt see 2 feet... I had 200 buttons on and running around in the pouring rain with lightening striking every 3 seconds lol....

Yeah I don't know anything about that rainstorm. I was in DisneyQuest the whole time. I went in before it and came out after it and the whole place was soaked and we were all clueless.

Yeah it rained pretty bad...

I was in a japanese restaurant when the storm hit.

As for past memories? Don't expect anyone to be able to describe what the nationals are like and do it any form of justice.
Wait and see. I guarentee nationals will not disappoint.

Me and three others ran to a Japanese restaurant during the storm...

In 2001 when it rained soo hard on practice day it started to flood the pits because all they do is lay down this matting. so u would be sitting there working on ur bot when all of a sudden ur butt gets wet and there is a pool of standing water ur sittting in. But dont worry guys, u will be at the astrodome with a roof, and its a REAL BUILDING!


Have fun guys, too bad i cant be there...

Bad

Last time i went to natinals i was a freshmen... one thing that really stood out in my mind was in epcot they had the International Coke tasting building. one day some kids from my team (461) went there and we had a coke drinking contest. i don't remember which country the coke came from, but it was THE WORST!!! well anyway some kid drank like 20 some small dixie cups of this before he threw up out side... it was a good chuckle and i really miss that place:(

Well, I wish i could, but in all 3 of my past years with FIRST, i have never been able to go to Disney, so this is a total first for me.

You'll love every minute of it. Unfortunately, Disney was great. If Texas is half of what Disney was, it shall be awesome.

As my advisor once said (and got spotlighted for), and I AM adlibbing now:

FIRST is great because of the people- we shall make it a party no matter where we hold it.

That soda taste tester was horrible...

Excitement
 

I have had some great times at the nationals in my past two years in FIRST. A few are as follows: hailing "King Nut"(the Epcot Ball) on top of the fountain in front of it, playing frissbee from 10 stories up in the Orlando airort hotel when our flight got cancelled and we had to stay an extra night, and not to forget the excitement. Someone said it earlier that if anyone tried to describe nationals, they would not be able to do them justice. But I'm gonna try anyway. The best way i can describe nationals would be using one word: excitement. From being an operator on Einstein Field, or being a spectator from the stands, excitement is all around you. Looking around, you don't focus on how many people are there watching you or who is out in the crowd, but you feed of the excitement everyone is giving off. Looking around, instead of seeing people, i saw the excitement in everyone i looked at. not one person had a bad disposition. Nationals is simply an amazing feeling that evryone should feel at least once in their life.
-Andy-

Well put Andy...

Thanks Dave