This is a guest post from Tim Falconer.
As I write this, I’m flying home from Squeakfest USA. Sitting here, staring at my laptop, I’m completely unable to find appropriate words to describe the magic and friendship of the last few weeks. So many passionate talks, so many stirring examples, so many last minute details and surprises.
As for the presentations, workshops, and hallway talks, there’s just too much to say. With dozens of sessions between the two Squeakfests, my mind’s a blur with memories of enthusiasm and insight, along with strengthened motivation to support and expand our vibrant Etoys community. Rather than summarize my recollections, I’ll instead point you to the video on the Squeakland website:
- Videos of both Squeakfests | Fabiana Marella of Uruguay (with audio in Español/English)
Scroll down to Squeakfest Brasil and Squeakfest USA. We managed to capture nearly all of Squeakfest USA on our live webcast feed, though we lost the first half of the presentation from South Korea. Also, the final roundtable wasn’t posted at the request of one of the participants. The sound gets better after the first morning. We will post better video in the future, particularly of the children’s workshop.
I’m tired. Blame it on three conferences in four weeks and roughly fifteen thousand miles of travel in between. Were it not for my many Squeaker traveling companions, I’d have curled up to hibernate long ago. The best part of the last month has been the company I’ve kept: Rita, Yoshiki, Marta, Kim, Scott, Alex, Bert, Ted, Bill, Randy, both Kathleens, Avigail, and Milan. Sharing the adventure with people of such talent and humor has truly been an embarrassment of riches.
Special thanks to Rita Freudenberg, our education director. She flew a total of more than 40,000 kilometers, effectively circling the globe for Squeakland in the last month. Her insight, passion, and hard work in the last eight months were instrumental in both Squeakfests. As with her husband Bert, her continuing efforts on behalf of the Etoys community are unparalleled.  Thanks are also due to Marta, Bruno, Kim, and Kathryn for tending to the many details of both conferences, and to everyone at Viewpoints Research Institute for their time and talent in the last year. Your guidance has greatly helped Squeakland Foundation as we take and carry the Etoys torch into the future.