Recently, I was at the Calvin Festival of Faith and Writing (which is actually what I did this year instead of #unco12.) Someone tweeted, "Conferences are not for introverts, I need a nap!!"
As much as I understood that person, I thought, does that mean we introverts can't go to conferences or unconferences? NO! It just means you have to plan ahead.
As a veteran conference goer, with two #uncos under my belt (#unco10 and #unco11), I have made a lot of mistakes and a lot of good moves. I've learned a lot more from my failures (ain't that the way?) and figured in writing this post, I could help somebody who has never been to #unco. Because dude, it is overwhelming. I am not going to lie.
Some hints: if you knit, or do any sort of craft, BRING IT ALONG. Because it will be a way for you to be internally focused even if you are sitting in a group. If you have a laptop, an iPad, an iPod touch, an e-reader, bring it along. Because all the cool kids are. This is a very highly technologically centered group. If you don't know how to use any of these, but you have one, bring it along, someone will help you. If you are technologically lost, bring SOMETHING to do with your hands, even if it is just a pack of cards to play solitaire. (But beware, no one will know what a pack of cards is, so you might attract more attention than you desire.)
I'm a librarian. When I go to a conference, there are hundreds, thousands of people, sometimes tens of thousands, and for an introvert, that is actually easier than 50 people. Because there's no way everyone is staying at the same place, eating at the same time, eating at long tables. And you get some alone time walking between hotels to different meetings. #Unco? Is 50-60 people, some of whom know each other from other years, from Twitter, from Facebook. It's overwhelming. It's a bit like the first day of high school.
Last year, it rained. Which pretty much dashed any chances of this introvert getting out and taking a walk. (I think I didn't pack either an umbrella or good rain shoes.)
I'm writing this a year later, so forgive me if you disagree with my memory. But it seemed as if all the social activities were geared to night owls. When I arrived the first day, uber late, because of all my plane delays, the last thing I wanted to do was worship with a bunch of people I'd never met.
Do not plan to go to everything. This will be your biggest temptation and downfall. Go to something, then take some time alone, take a nap, take a walk. The extroverts will be up late playing role playing games, they will be going to every session--do not fall into their habits, you will eventually crash. This is YOUR unconference. Which means you get to choose. You are not getting college credit for this. You are not going to have to pass an exam at the end. No, at the end you are going to have to go home. So you want to not be strung out when you leave.
Take your vitamins, wash your hands. At least 15 people left #unco11 with a cold. It was a nasty nasty cold.
Wear your thick skin. It's NOT personal, it's not PERSONAL, IT'S not personal.
Sign up for the spiritual direction sessions. It will be a chance to be one on one with a person who will really listen. I didn't do this either time, but both times, wish that I had. Sign up early, those sessions will fill up.
I'm sure I left a lot out. I am grateful for my two years at #unco, I met wonderful people that I have continued to connect with on Twitter and in real life. Please leave suggestions that have worked for you in the comment box.
Most of all, take your good time in your pocket. After reading all this, remember, you want to go to this. You have paid good money and taken time out of your life. Have fun.
