#emily papp

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Art 138, The Poetry of Photography, Fall 2017

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Arriving in Austin

Posted by Emily Papp

I'm beyond excited to announce that after weeks of patient waiting, I've finally arrived in Austin, Texas for South By Southwest Interactive!

Along with five other UO advertising students, I spent the past week frantically wrapping up loose ends in school and at work before beginning the trek to Texas last night. We spent nearly 20 hours traveling and I've slept a grand total of eight hours out of the last 72, but all that matters is that we're finally here in Austin among thousands of other SXSWers, preparing to kickoff the Interactive festival tomorrow morning. Though I'm figuratively running on fumes, I'm absolutely enthused about the countless opportunities and experiences that lie ahead. Here's what I've got planned for tomorrow:

In the early morning, Holly Schnackenberg and I are planning a quick trip to Kinkos to print materials for a new side project we'll be launching shortly (hold tight!), followed by a luncheon sponsored in part by GOOD called Idea(COMM).

At 2:00, Holly and I will join Rachelle DiGregorio for our first official SXSW presentation. Called "Being Young and Rocking It," the talk focuses on ways that younger generations can thrive in today's new media landscape.

At 3:30, I plan to attend "Folkways These Days: Crafty Knowledge in Digital Networks," a panel presentation focused on how traditional folkways are being altered by crafters who distribute and promote their creations using the latest technologies.

And at 5:00, we'll scramble to squeeze in a dual presentation about Google Doodles and a book reading by David Sherwin, the author of Creative Workshop: 80 Challenges to Sharpen Your Design Skills.

Our evening plans aren't fully hatched yet, but we hope to swing by one or two of the many networking parties hosted in the area. First on our list is "The Tweet House," a celebration of Twitter and a meet-and-greet for interested social media creators and users.

While tomorrow (and the subsequent four days) will be jam-packed with networking opportunities, panel presentations, informal workshops and cultural events, today was much more relaxed. We landed in Austin around 2:00pm and made our way to the Radisson Hotel, where we quickly got situated before setting out to explore the Austin Convention Center. Once we entered the ACC, the first item on our to-do list was to pick up our badges:

My SXSWi badge and all-access pass to everything Interactive.

Afterward, we grabbed dinner at a local mongolian barbecue restaurant and headed back to the ACC for some extended exploring. Now, here we sit in the hotel lobby—catching up on social media, blogging our hearts out and preparing for a restful night of sleep before the madness of SXSWi ensues tomorrow.

Check back often for personal updates on my time here in Austin, read about the collective adventures of the entire group of UO students here at SXSWi and track our experiences on Twitter.

Until next time!