I Attended Google I/O 2018 in Mountain View, California; Here is How It Went
I Attended Google I/O 2018 in Mountain View, California; Here is How It Went
Google I/O is an annual developer conference organized by… well, Google.
I’d always dreamt of attending this conference, but considering that it takes place in Mountain View, California, it was never really an option. Instead, I’d been attending Google I/O extended Sri Lanka event, which is a live I/O keynote viewing party, for years.
Luckily and thanks to the Systers community of AnitaB.org, this year I finally made it for the real deal — Google I/O 2018 at Shoreline Amphitheatre, Mountain View, California.
When I received the email that I was selected for their travel grant and discounted ticket to Google I/O 2018, I was incredibly excited and, at the same time, I was afraid because that meant I’d have to travel alone from Sri Lanka to the United States where I don’t know anyone! But I would soon realize that there was nothing to be afraid of and that I should have directed my energy on planning a longer stay instead.
I arrived in San Francisco 2 days before the conference to spend some time sightseeing; I visited the famous Golden Gate Bridge and Pier 39. And, speaking of planning more and worrying less, when I initially Googled ‘things to do in SFO’, I saw San Francisco bay tours, but I didn’t make reservations for it. On any given day, I would have had to miss it, but I was lucky to catch one of the cruises. Here are some pics from the tour:
Posting a picture near the Golden Gate Bridge on social media was one of the items on my travel bucket list, and I am so happy that I was able to tick it.
San Francisco offers plenty of safe and very efficient transportation options. All you need is a proper internet connection to book a taxi or to view a public transport schedule; also Google Maps is there for you!
I mostly used Uber and Lyft carpooling, which were both affordable.
During the conference, as for the accommodation, I stayed with a friend in a walking distance to a Google-recommended hotel in Sunnyvale with the plan of easily hopping onto Google’s shuttle service which was available from the hotels they recommended. But I used Lyft pooling only for the transportation as we were given a promo code from and to the I/O. I took Caltrain from San Francisco to Sunnyvale and on my way back also I took Caltrain from Sunnyvale to San Francisco as I attended an IEEE Young Professionals meetup before going to the airport. Using Caltrain for long distances was affordable and time efficient as opposed to Uber or other transport methods. But, be sure to be on top of the train schedules as these not as readily available.
Funny, as I write this I’ve just realized that I’ve never traveled alone via train in Sri Lanka, yet there I was going out and about this huge metropolis, travelling as long as 70 km in a single stretch all alone. If I could do it, so can you!
Tips for Making the Most of I/O
Grab your conference batch earlier and show up early to save a seat in a shady area so you can listen to the keynote without the scorching sun on your back. I would suggest you grab your batch the day before the conference. There will be huge traffic on the first day and most probably you will have to get down from your taxi and walk.
If you attend the pre I/O events, you will be able to make new friends and to get some freebies. I attended the Women Techmakers Dinner the day before I/O and I made a few new friends and meet with some old friends, especially the fellow Women Techmakers (I am a Women Techmakers Lead for Sri Lanka chapter) leads.
There were more than 100 sessions throughout the 3 days of the conference including codelabs, meetups, office hours and app reviews. You can view all the sessions at Google I/O on Youtube. Speakers were well diversified including the number of women I’ve seen on the podium really WOWed me.
Most of the developers skip the sessions to attend office hour sessions as they can watch the sessions on Youtube later. Participating in these office hours is a great opportunity to discuss the matters with the experts in the areas like Firebase, Android, Google Cloud.
Also, don’t forget to speak with the person sitting next to you and know what they are doing because that is another opportunity of attending as anyone can view the sessions on Youtube.
There are number of meetups for several groups during I/O. I had a great conversation with Natalie Villalobos — Head of Global Programs for Women Techmakers at a Women Techmakers meetup. I was able to tell her all about what we do at Women Techmakers Sri Lanka.
The Freebies
Attendees usually get freebies at Google I/O. I got a Google Home mini and an Android Things kit. It was quite funny how I got the Android Things Kit: We had to go on a scavenger hunt Everyone was very enthusiastic to complete it even though we knew that we’d get one no matter the outcome.
Afterhour Parties and Trade-Offs
There are many after hour parties the first two days… buuut I didn’t attend them. I am sure these are fantastic, but I chose to spend my time at the Android Lawn, visiting Google campus, attending themed gatherings, visiting nearby attractions — to name a few.
I went to Palo Alto side with a couple of friends to visit the beautiful campus of Stanford University and the Facebook HQ. Since I have seen many people posting pictures in front of the board ‘1 Hacker Way’, why not me! ;)
The third day of the conference, I left early right after lunch and went to see the computer history museum. You shouldn’t miss it! It was a 20 min walk from Shoreline Amphitheater. This was one of the sights I was happy to have visited alone. I was able to fully focus on the display and absorb everything the museum had to offer at my own pace.
Don’t forget the sunscreen!!!
As a parting note, don’t forget to pack a sun block cream, shades, and a jersey! During the day, it is sunny, while the evenings tend to get chilly in Mountain View.
San Francisco was quite windy, so if you are not used to the heavy winds, you will need a jacket. (I forgot to mention that this year I/O freebies included a sunblock cream and shades, btw.)
Attending Google I/O 2018 was an incredible experience I will cherish forever. ! And travelling alone was not nearly as scary as I thought it would be; In fact, it was a wonderful experience I was proud to have had the guts to take. If you have travelled alone and had enjoyed it, you would know what I mean; If not, you need to give it a try!
