Needing some advice
Lots going on. No type to update. Just a quick post.
I am a bad decision-maker. Everyone knows this. So you guys have to help me out. I wrote this paper last year about the role of community service sentencing (think picking up litter on the highway, etc.) in transitional justice situations (think Milosevic - ok not really. Think Milosevic's deputy's deputy). It's kind of interesting, and it got picked up for publication in this American University School of International Studies journal, which is coming out in the next few weeks. As a result, I am invited to present my paper (whatever that means) at a symposium with all the other authors at AU in February. Should I go? Before you say "of course"!, consider the following:
1. On the one hand, it's a great opportunity to do this sort of thing, which in principle I think is really cool and something I'd like to do more of. And it's mostly all students presenting, so I (hopefully) won't look like a total idiot or novice at this.
2. On the other hand:
a) It's on a Friday in DC. I have a class I can't miss that ends at 8pm on Thursdays. This means I'd have to either take a really late chinatown bus and get in at like 2am, or try to fly. Flying is expensive, and last time I flew to DC two weeks ago I got stranded at the airport for HOURS in both directions and I swore never to do it again. It was hellish, believe me. Getting in at 2am means I'll be exhausted for the symposium, and also have to wake up whoever I stay with who will then also be exhausted for work in the morning.
b) There's a REALLY cool symposium here in NY that weekend that I would probably have to miss.
c) Going to DC that weekend means I can't really go to DC the previous weekend for the Fletcher DC career trip, which is a really good networking opportunity and also a chance to see lots of Fletcher folks I might otherwise miss in DC (I'm not entirely sure whether I'd go or not anyway, but I was leaning towards it), and more difficult for me to meet the Fletcher girls for our mid-winter getaway to somewhere warm the following weekend or weekend after that.
d) I am REALLY sick of traveling.
e) I'm a HUGE wuss and totally terrified at the thought of having to actually present this paper - what if I get heckled or something? :)
So, I seriously need your advice guys! Thoughts?
I am a bad decision-maker. Everyone knows this. So you guys have to help me out. I wrote this paper last year about the role of community service sentencing (think picking up litter on the highway, etc.) in transitional justice situations (think Milosevic - ok not really. Think Milosevic's deputy's deputy). It's kind of interesting, and it got picked up for publication in this American University School of International Studies journal, which is coming out in the next few weeks. As a result, I am invited to present my paper (whatever that means) at a symposium with all the other authors at AU in February. Should I go? Before you say "of course"!, consider the following:
1. On the one hand, it's a great opportunity to do this sort of thing, which in principle I think is really cool and something I'd like to do more of. And it's mostly all students presenting, so I (hopefully) won't look like a total idiot or novice at this.
2. On the other hand:
a) It's on a Friday in DC. I have a class I can't miss that ends at 8pm on Thursdays. This means I'd have to either take a really late chinatown bus and get in at like 2am, or try to fly. Flying is expensive, and last time I flew to DC two weeks ago I got stranded at the airport for HOURS in both directions and I swore never to do it again. It was hellish, believe me. Getting in at 2am means I'll be exhausted for the symposium, and also have to wake up whoever I stay with who will then also be exhausted for work in the morning.
b) There's a REALLY cool symposium here in NY that weekend that I would probably have to miss.
c) Going to DC that weekend means I can't really go to DC the previous weekend for the Fletcher DC career trip, which is a really good networking opportunity and also a chance to see lots of Fletcher folks I might otherwise miss in DC (I'm not entirely sure whether I'd go or not anyway, but I was leaning towards it), and more difficult for me to meet the Fletcher girls for our mid-winter getaway to somewhere warm the following weekend or weekend after that.
d) I am REALLY sick of traveling.
e) I'm a HUGE wuss and totally terrified at the thought of having to actually present this paper - what if I get heckled or something? :)
So, I seriously need your advice guys! Thoughts?