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Unread 12-12-2005, 16:03
Eugenia Gabrielov's Avatar
Eugenia Gabrielov Eugenia Gabrielov is offline
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FRC #0461 (Westside Boiler Invasion)
Team Role: Alumni
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Rookie Year: 2004
Location: West Lafayette
Posts: 1,470
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Re: Questions about the WORLD championship, so far.

I know that if you are active in the forums like many of us are, you will have people to meet and things to see. However, I'd like to speak for a moment from the point of view of the average not-CD team member when I give this advice.

There are a few things you need to get done at Champs, but in my opinion the team always comes first. Make sure you set aside enough time each evening for your drive crews to meet with your scouts or however you arrange this. ATL is a big place, and the Georgia Dome is an awesome but colossal venue. There is a lot to do, but more important than which transport you use is when you meet as a team in the evening to go back to your hotel.

Set a time. Be persistent. Know where everybody is, because if you're about to get on a plane and suddenly little Johnny and Susie are missing, you have a problem, and the plane won't wait too long.

Fro the past few years, Team 461 has travelled from Indianapolis, IN to Championships by plane. This year, we will embark from the bursting metropolis of West Lafayette, IN by bus. A lot of people have been really apprehensive, but for the sake of money it can be very helpful, especially if you have a particularly large team.

Here are a few bus-travelling tips that I have learned from travelling to regionals as well as on band trips:

1) Recommend that people bring pillows. Really. Unless you have a super-compliant neighbor, bring a pillow.

2) Aisles are kind of like beds, in that they're flat and you can stretch out. Use the said aisles if necessary.

3) Please don't use the bathroom unless it's an emergency. For the sake of your team...

4) Bring ample snacks, and lots of water. Whether or not you've noticed, travelling is very exhausting, and dehydration is something that a lot of people forget about. They try to justify tiredness the next day with "lack of sleep", but lack of water can play a big role.

5) Keep in mind that you'll be eating a lot of fast food on your trip, which isn't always going to give you what you need nutrition-wise. I'm not your mother, but I'm a healthy eater. Apples are tasty. Bring one, or two, or three...

With those tips in mind, I will now speak from the view of the average team member who will get very annoyed with their CDified teammates for not wanting to go on tours or go see stuff. I've been guilty of this..."but I want to meet my friends!".

Not your entire team is in touch with the community. Sure, sucks for them, but try to make sure the team comes first. If you're a lone attender, that doesn't apply.

Good luck, and have a safe trip.
Oh, and I support the trailer thing. We take one too.

- Genia
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McCormick School of Engineering 2010
Computer Science

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