It's very informal...no planned big camps the way there are during BM. Personally I liked it almost more than BM because you really get to experience the desert itself, which is pretty amazing. And where we camped was a different playa than where BM is often held, and the winds were not nearly as strong.

All in all, a great experience. Wish I was going again this year :(

Hmmm...I don't have much input on 4th of JuPlaya, but I can tell you that I was going to school all 4 years I've been to Burning Man (2004-07). Yeah, they give you that line about mandatory this and that, but I just contacted all my instructors and handled all the "mandatory" requirements before I left. Of course I didn't tell them WHY I wouldn't be there for orientation or the first day of class, but they probably wouldn't have cared, anyway. Also, I went to State, not Stanford - so maybe that made a difference.

Here - If you're curious, I just found a sample email. I've never had any problems, but I totally understand that you may want to stick around, just to make sure everything goes smoothly. And I do hear that 4th of JuPlaya is lots of fun, less chaotic than the big event, and more intimate.

sample email:

Dear Professor Blah blah,

My name is MoLes and I am currently enrolled in your BUS 101 class for Fall 2007, Monday nights from 7-10p.m. I just wanted to introduce myself, touch base, and let you know that I'm very excited to be taking your course! I graduate at the end of this semester and I'm determined to finish on a high note.

I'd also like to give you advance notice that I will not be able to attend the first class session (August 27). Unfortunately I am out of town that entire week. I'd like to respectfully request that you please do not drop me from the class. I fully intend to be in class for the remainder of the semester. I am a diligent student that enjoys class participation and I hope you will not hold the first day absence against me.

To mitigate the missed class/study time, I was hoping to get a leg up on the schoolwork that will be required. Do you have any suggestions you could pass along? Perhaps fill me in on what reading I could be doing before class starts on the 27th?

I noticed from your web page that the text from the summer session was International Organizational Behavior, 2nd edition, by Francesco and Gold, (2005), NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall. Is that the book we'll be using, as well? I also saw that the first assignment was to read chapters 1 and 2. Please let me know if my assumptions are correct and I will make it a point to read those chapters before I leave town so I can be prepared for the next class. If you'd like, I am available to meet with you any evening prior to the start of class, if necessary.

Thanks for your consideration. I look forward to meeting you soon.

Best Regards,
MoLes