For the first time in a long time, the ILC had two cohorts departing for the airport at the same time. Even more coincidental was that both cohorts were on the same plane heading for Chicago. The UChicago cohort, of course, stayed in Chicago while the Vanderbilt cohort grabbed a connector to Nashville.
Also unusual was that their flight departed at 5:30 AM. Normally the earliest flights were closer to 6:30. The earlier departure from Oakland meant that their shuttle would leave El Cerrito HS at 3:45 AM (earlier than normal). This meant that the ILCers had to be at ECHS at 2:15 AM. Ouch!
Aside from it being extremely dark at that hour, it bordered on being chilly. At 53º, common sense says to dress warmly. The problem for these fine young men and women is that it was expected to ‘feel like’ 98º in Chicago and 105º in Nashville. Since they wouldn’t be stopping anywhere to change clothes, what they wore at ECHS would be the same clothes they would be wearing in Chicago/Nashville.
To learn more about the many things I told the ILCers as they prepared, you’ll have to read their blogs but I need to point out that I started off my pre-flight instructions by reminding them all of how proud I am of them. These are a great set of ILCers and I expect great things from all eight of them over the next three weeks (and beyond).
Travel details were provided (both oral and written), simple snacks to keep them dropping from starvation (red vines (which few partook of), Cheez-Its and Wheat Thins), plastic bags to protect their things while traveling and lots of good advice.
Luggage was weighed and the bags were tagged with colored ribbons (so when their luggage got checked in it might end up at the right airport).
Before the shuttle arrived, we took the obligatory group photos (wouldn't be an ILC event without the group photos). [There were more photos than these taken but I’ll leave these for the ILCers to grab and use if they choose.]
The parents were advised that unlike other ILC events, they were not required to stick around. Some people actually have jobs that require them to get at least a little bit of sleep. Showing how smart and savvy they are, every one of them chose to return to their beds before the beds grew cold. Smart people.
The shuttle arrived early and by 3:42 the bus was headed to Oakland International Airport and points east.
Stay tuned each and every night for the blogs from the ILCers as they regale us all with their adventures.
Check out their itineraries to see how packed their trip will be.
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