We Went to Texas Again, Y'all!
If there is one thing about me that everyone seems to know, it is that I love Texas. After my first trip to Dallas in September and my first trip to San Antonio in December, I have become enamoured with the Lone Star State.
Can you imagine my utter body-shaking excitement over going again in April, this time to both cities? *faint*
Allison Stakiw, an Account Executive, and I headed south on April 11, leaving the sudden snowstorm that hit Saskatchewan behind us. Clutching our sandals, we anxiously awaited our descent into San Antonio. We were not to be disappointed. The Texan weather was beautiful and we could gleefully leave our socks in the hotel room...for now.
It was a short trip to Alamo City, as we were scheduled for two sessions with Agents and Brokers on the 12th, then flying out to Dallas that evening. We definitely made the most of it, talking with and educating SABOR members, meeting new people, and doing a whirlwind tour of the historic Alamo, taking in the Riverwalk, and locating some scrumptious Blue Bell ice cream!
Bidding farewell to San Antonio, we continued on our journey to the Dallas area, where we would spend the remainder of the week. For anyone who hasn't been there, it is a sprawling settlement that encompasses a number of smaller cities. You'll be in one city, then cross the street and be in another. As much as the cities melt along the edges, each has its own personality and vibe. That's what makes them so interesting!
On Tuesday, we met NTREIS members in Richardson, Denton, and Lewisville. Having never been to any of these cities before, there were a lot of new things to see! We also met many members who were unable to make it to other presentations, some of whom drove several hours to meet us and learn more about the listing syndication being provided to them.
Allison acutely felt Denton's charm, with its outdoor patios, easy-going vibe, and unique little shops, some of which baffled us with the random items in the window. It was also a great place to check out one of the state's oldest courthouses.
Wednesday took us to Fort Worth and Duncanville. I had been to Fort Worth on the last trip, although it was Allison's first time. Luckily, we had some time to drive around and take in some of the local sites, check out some of the houses for sale, and feel the cowboy/wild west vibe of Cow Town. Everyone was incredibly friendly and I loved hearing the strong accents (although everyone said the same thing "aboot" our Canadian accents!).
On our last day of sessions, we headed back to Arlington (our GPS took us through there every day that week), our heads filled with the scent of bluebonnets. It was great to see the familiar faces of previous acquaintances in Arlington, as well as be greeted with so much excitement and enthusiasm on a Thursday morning!
After configuring our GPS to take the quickest route, rather than the shortest route (which would have saved us some time earlier in the week!), we arrived in Grapevine with some extra time to check out the city. After seeing Scott's Landing, the houses around that area, and the quaint downtown district, I have fallen in love with Grapevine. It's gorgeous!
Heading back into "the city", we finished up our sessions for the day at the Dallas office. Friday morning saw us catching an early plane to head back to Canada, hoping with every fibre of our being that the snow had melted. Luckily, it had. Spring has apparently arrived in Saskatoon!
On a personal note, this trip was full of "first time" experiences for me:
Catfish
Crawfish
Texas Fried Pickles
Driving in Texas
Biscuits and gravy
While biscuits have never been a personal favourite, I really enjoyed the catfish and crawfish, and the fried pickles were nothing short of fabulous! Since I make homemade pickles every summer, I'll be sure to dig out a few jars and try to recreate them for the Education Team. Hopefully it goes better than the debacle that was my "southern gravy" I recreated after the last trip (hey, who says success has to come on the first attempt?).
It was another great trip, and a huge thanks goes out to everyone we met while there. Allison and I have done nothing but share our great experiences with everyone at Point2.
We'll be back. In the meantime, we wear our bling longhorn necklaces with pride! :)
~ Tanya Spilchak, Education Coordinator