Every (other) year, I try to make a pilgrimage to one of ‘my’ conferences: International Congress on Medieval Studies at Kalamazoo, International Medieval Congress at Leeds, smaller regional medieval conferences… This year, I’m the ambitious idiot who is hitting up both, presenting at both, and wondering if I have a few screws loose.

Medieval conferences are fantastic fun for me. I get to be an academic geek for four days and have great conversations with my people. My pedagogy and research methodologies are challenged and grow in ways I hadn’t thought of. And, of course, there’s the fun swag, the book room, and the epic mead tasting every other year at K-zoo. And the time I bought that early Anglo-Saxon bucket book that I will never top, because who doesn’t need a book that specific?

I actually showed my students the excursion list for Leeds, and was gratified to see sparks of interest light up several pairs of eyes. Leeds is a first for me, so it’ll be interesting to see the difference between K-zoo and Leeds. Plus, castles. ALL THE CASTLES! (Wait, there are panels at Leeds?)

So while I try to use conferences as a teaching tool, a networking opportunity, and a research trip, I’m also looking forward to reliving my undergrad glory days in the Valley dorms and just having some quiet time. Because the end of the year is always a hectic whirlwind, and I’m so going to be ready for a vacation when I get home.