7 Conference Time

CHAPTER SEVEN Conference Time Conference (noun). Scientists and other professionals attend conferences in order to keep up with the latest findings in their field. It's like a giant professional birthday party, only usually there aren't presents. Instead there are presenters, who speak at the conference. "I HAVE SOME BAD NEWS and good news," said Dad. "Can you give me the good news first?" I pleaded. "Sure. I've been asked to give a talk in Detroit. On the benefits of mindfulness." Dad's a psychologist, so he goes to a conference every few months. He says he does it to keep up with the industry. Dr. Caroline, my favorite chemist on YouTube, does the same thing. Only she goes to chemistry conferences. "That's great, Dad," I said. "About the conference." I had a feeling that him giving a talk wasn't going to be all that great when it came to the aquarium.

第七章会议时间会议（名词）。 科学家和其他专业人士参加会议是为了跟上他们领域的最新发现。 这就像一个巨大的职业生日派对，只是通常没有礼物。 取而代之的是演讲者，他们在会议上发言。 “我有一些坏消息和好消息，”爸爸说。 “你能先告诉我好消息吗？”我承认。 “当然。有人请我去底特律做演讲。 正念的好处。” 爸爸是心理学家，所以他每隔几个月就去参加一次会议。 他说他这样做是为了跟上行业的步伐。 我在YouTube上最喜欢的化学家卡洛琳博士也是这么做的。 只有她去参加化学会议。 “太好了，爸爸，”我说。 “关于会议。”我有一种感觉，他的演讲在水族馆里就不会那么好了。

"Usually when I go to conferences, it's to get continuing education credits to keep my license current so I can still talk to patients. I haven't done one in a while, and I'm excited about it. But my talk is on the first day of the conference—January 28. And I'll also be on a panel in the morning, which I'm not too thrilled about because I'll have to improvise." "That's awesome, Dad," I said. "About the talk and the panel." But inside I really wasn't feeling so great. More like lumpier than the mashed potatoes on my plate. From across the table, Mom was beaming. "I'm so proud of your dad. It's going to be livestreamed, so I'll be able to catch a little bit of it." "Dad needs a license for his job?" asked Liam. "I thought that was to drive a car." "It's a different kind of license," said Dad. "It's to be a psychologist. Just like I need a card that says I can drive, I need one that says I can do my job. Teachers need them too. And doctors." "Oh." Liam patted Mr. Penguin. "How about kids? And penguins? Do they need licenses too?" "None that I've heard of," said Dad. "But that is a good business idea." Even though Dad loves his work, he jokes he'll make a bundle one day due to some business idea, retire, and then spend the rest of his time reading books and traveling the world.

“通常我去参加会议是为了获得继续教育学分，以保持我的执照有效，这样我就可以和病人交谈。 我有段时间没做了，我很兴奋。 但我的演讲是在会议的第一天，1月28日。 早上我还会参加一个小组讨论，我不是很兴奋，因为我必须即兴发挥。” “太棒了，爸爸，”我说。 “关于这次谈话和小组讨论。” 但我内心真的感觉不太好。 比我盘子里的土豆泥还硬。 隔着桌子，妈妈喜气洋洋。 “我真为你爸爸感到骄傲。 它将被直播，所以我可以捕捉到一点。” “爸爸工作需要执照吗？”利亚姆问。 “我还以为是开车呢。” “这是一种不同的许可证，”爸爸说。 “我想成为一名心理学家。 就像我需要一张能让我开车的卡一样，我也需要一张能让我胜任工作的卡。 教师也需要他们。和医生。” “哦。”利亚姆拍了拍企鹅先生。 “孩子呢？”和企鹅吗? 他们也需要执照吗？”“我没听说过，”爸爸说。 “但这是一个很好的商业想法。” 尽管爸爸很喜欢他的工作，但他开玩笑说，总有一天他会因为某个商业想法赚一大笔钱，然后退休，然后用剩下的时间读书和周游世界。

"I guess you don't need to give me the bad news," I murmured. "Since I can tell you're going to be busy that day." "Katie Lane, I'm sorry." Katie Lane is my nickname, in honor of Lois Lane from Superman. My dad came up with it because I was super curious as a little kid, just like Lois Lane. "I really wish I could go," Dad continued. "I love aquariums. But I agree with Mom. We'll go to the Shedd as a family this summer. And I don't have any conferences coming up this spring, so hit me up for the next field trip. Okay?" Dad folded his hands together and paused. "Honestly, I'm disappointed I can't go with you." "It's no big deal," I said. "I'm sure plenty of other parents can go. Like Elijah's. It'll be fine." "I figured," said Dad. "I certainly hope so," said Mom softly. A little part of me worried that maybe I wouldn't get my penguin shirt at all. But that was just being silly.

“我想你不需要告诉我这个坏消息。”我喃喃地说。 “因为我知道你那天会很忙。” “凯蒂·莱恩，对不起。”凯蒂·莱恩是我的昵称，为了纪念《超人》里的露易丝·莱恩。 我爸爸想到这个是因为我小时候非常好奇，就像露易丝·莱恩一样。 “我真希望我能去，”爸爸继续说。 “我喜欢水族馆。但是我同意妈妈的观点。 今年夏天我们全家一起去谢德。 今年春天我没有任何会议，所以下次实地考察时请联系我。 没事吧?”爸爸双手合十，停了下来。 “老实说，我很失望，我不能和你一起去。” “没什么大不了的，”我说。 “我相信很多家长都能去。 像以利亚。会没事的。” “我猜到了，”爸爸说。“我当然希望如此，”妈妈轻声说。 我有点担心，也许我根本拿不到我的企鹅衫。 但那只是犯傻。