This will be my fourth time attending the Grace Hopper
Celebration and I get just as excited as the first time I attended. There are so many things to see and do but to
have the best experience possible, you need to prepare before you go. Here is my essential list of tips on travel
and what to bring.
What to Bring
Comfortable Shoes
Pack two pair of shoes – one casual pair and one
professional pair. DON’T PACK
HEELS! GHC is huge. Do yourself a favor and pack the most
comfortable shoes you have. Your Fitbit
will shower you with accolades halfway through each day because of the amount
of walking you will do.
A Portable Charger
Listen, there are 18,000 of us coming together for GHC. EIGHTEEN THOUSAND. And I would venture to say that we will all
have at least two devices that will need charging sometime during the day. There will be places to charge your devices
but it will be easier to get to every activity on time if you bring a portable
battery charger so you can charge on the go.
Plus, I always feel a little bit sad when I see a group of women huddled around an outlet, waiting to get enough charge on their devices so they can rejoin the celebration. So let’s resolve that we will have no downtime at GHC due to drained devices, m'kay?
Business cards
I know I just mentioned it, but there will be EIGHTEEN
THOUSAND people at GHC this year. That
is an incredible network of industry and academic professionals, executives,
and students waiting to connect with you!
Make sure you have business cards (and a pen) on hand. Exchange cards and jot down tidbits about the
conversation you had on the person’s card so that you can easily follow up with
them via email later (e.g. Hello Rosalind, it was wonderful speaking with you
during the Women of Color luncheon about research opportunities at your AI
lab).
Printed resume
Step 2 is to bring printed copies of your resume to the
Career Fair, even if you have secured an interview with an organization prior
to attending. Did I mention that there
will be EIGHTEEN THOUSAND people in attendance this year? Recruiters will generally ask for your resume
so they can jot down their impressions of you and notes about your conversation
for later review. Again, make sure to
have a pen on hand to jot down the name of the person with whom you spoke and
any pertinent information they may provide.
You can even ask a recruiter if she minds if you snap a picture of her
and her badge. It’s nice to be able to
put a face with your notes later. A
career fair program will be one of the items provided in your GHC bag so you
can make notes near the description of the organization.
Refillable Water Bottle
There will be plenty to eat and drink during GHC. However, I always bring a refillable water
bottle to make it easy to stay hydrated throughout the day. This is especially important for those who
are not acclimated to very warm and humid climates.
Indoor and Outdoor Weather-Appropriate Garments
I lived in Orlando several years ago, and I must say that
October is usually the best month as far as weather is concerned. It is less humid but still warm and sunny. However, the daily afternoon rain showers may
still occur (it’s a Florida thing), so you should be prepared with a pocket
umbrella. Also, the sessions can get a
bit chilly, so pack a thin sweater or wrap.
I personally carry an infinity scarf; it can be worn around the neck or
around the shoulders but it folds up into a small package.
A Sturdy Bag
You’ll be provided with a bag at check-in, but they have
varied in capacity and storage capabilities (i.e. number of compartments) over
the years. I would advise bringing a bag
that you will feel comfortable carrying around all day, just in case. Some people carry book bags; others carry a
large purse. Just make sure that it is something
that allows you to be comfortable while keeping your hands free.
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| Me my first time at GHC |
Leave Space!
This is one that I learned the hard way my first year at
GHC. The shear amount of swag that you
will be offered at GHC is incredible.
Save room in your luggage for swag - especially if you are flying. I generally use one of the canvas bags you
will undoubtedly be given as swag to store my other swag in so I can carry it
on the plane. Just be mindful of FAA
regulations regarding the types and sizes of items that can be brought onto
domestic and international flights.
There is nothing worse than a TSA agent confiscating your really cool
swag items.
How to Get Around
Ok, now that you know what to bring to GHC, let's focus on getting there and getting around. Here are my best travel tips:
MCO or OIA?
First, let’s clear up what is always a bit of confusion for
newcomers to Orlando. Don’t panic if
your Uber driver asks if you’re going to OIA but your itinerary says MCO. It’s the same place. You will hear people call the Orlando
International Airport by its abbreviation, OIA.
But you will see its callsign written as MCO. It turns out that McCoy Air Base occupied
that location before OIA was built, so the callsign MCO remains. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is the airport
most people use, but it is by no means the only one in the area. There is also Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) if
you don’t mind a bit of a drive and Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) if you plan
to take a private jet or a helicopter (I’d like to ride with you if you plan to
take a private jet or a helicopter).
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| How I imagine the shuttle to heaven looks |
Once you are in town, you have several options for ground
transportation. Uber and Lyft were just
recently given permission to pick up and drop off at OIA. Check with others about arrival times and
departure times so that you can share a ride.
Taxis and hotel shuttles are also available. The MEARS shuttle service can bring you to
International Drive (I-Drive to locals) where GHC17 will be held. Once you’re on I-Drive, you can catch the
I-Drive Trolley to the attractions. And
don’t forget that GHC is providing shuttles between the GHC hotels from the
venue.
Toll Roads
Orlando has a system of toll roads that lead into and around
the city. If you’re a Floridian, you may
have a SunPass (E-Pass in Orlando) that will allow you to zoom through the toll
areas without slowing down. If not, be
prepared to throw change at a toll booth if you plan to drive. Florida’s Turnpike is a toll road that
connects to I-75 and leads into the city. There are also several toll roads
around Orlando such as the East-West Expressway that can get you across town relatively
quickly. GHC is being held in venues on
I-Drive and there are plenty of places to shop, restaurants, and attractions
in that area, so you may decide not to venture out into the city. But I hope you do because there are some
fantastic local places like Lake Eola and Waterford Lakes Town Center that are
great ways to spend an afternoon. Just
know that the traffic on city streets can get heavy during rush hour, which is
why the toll roads are convenient.
sidenote: Yes, Rosalind Ave is named after me. No, no it really isn’t but I like to pretend
that it is.
One last note…
Orlando is a relatively safe and fun place, but the constant
influx of tourists does make it a thieves' paradise. Be sure to secure your belongings while out
and about – don’t leave your purse/bag/shopping bags hanging on the back of
your chair. Some attractions have
trained security who will actually take such items when you are not looking in
order to highlight how easily things can go missing.
Ok, go get packed! GHC is almost here! And don’t hesitate to say hi if you see me wandering around; we'll exchange business cards!
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| Rosalind loves her dog and the beach in that order. |
