This weekend I traveled to Ottawa (Canada’s capital) for the Fulbright Canada and Killam 2010 Fall Orientation. About seventy extraordinary students, researchers, and professors received these fellowships this year and almost all attended the event. The group was incredibly diverse - there were representatives of all disciplines, originating from all parts of the U.S. and Canada, in all stages of their careers.
The orientation was a spectacular experience – I was thoroughly spoiled and boy, did they keep us busy! We hit the ground running on Thursday evening, attending the Fulbright Canada 20th Anniversary Gala at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. Crossing a red carpet, four hundred guests composed of sponsors, alumni, and current Fulbrights and Killams gathered together for a sparkling (as we were instructed to dress, haha) evening of mingling, speeches, and a delicious, multi-course supper.
On the Red Carpet (credit: Rebecca Dixon)
The Three Mt. A/AU Killams
Friday started out a bit less formally. We received information on our exchange, listened to a panel on Canada-U.S. relations, and were introduced to Canadian culture and identity (check out the story, "The Hockey Sweater"). In the afternoon we toured the Museum of Civilization, literally walking through Canadian history. I saw a First Nations long house; recreations of early settlements; and segments of villages, towns, and cities illustrating Canada’s development.
Ottawa River and Parliament Hill
In Ottawa on the way to the Museum of Civilization
Totem Pole at Museum of Civilization
Try giving him a high-five!
This sculpture is on Canada's $20 bill.
In the evening, we dressed up once again and were bused out to the residence of U.S. Ambassador David Jacobson. He lives in an opulent home on a rolling green lawn nestled in a lush, forested neighborhood that overlooks a scenic river below. Needless to say, it was quite impressive. For about an hour we sampled gourmet hors'dourves, mingled amongst ourselves and with embassy staff, and explored the Ambassador’s residence. Interestingly, one of the men working for the embassy went through his foreign service training with my former high school government teacher, Brent LaRosa, who is now stationed (I believe) in Ghana. This world keeps getting smaller! After the Ambassador’s we capped the night off with another bountiful meal at Le Café.
On Saturday the coordinators put us to work, dividing everyone into several groups focusing on academic and current issues (mine was cultural interpretations of sustainability). I was struck by just how interdisciplinary the topic of sustainability is and how it relates to research in economics, public health, communications, environment, geography, aboriginal cultures, anthropology, human rights, science, justice...the list goes on. It was also really valuable to hear about other research projects, particularly those of the Fulbrights, to get an idea of what could lay ahead after I finish my undergraduate work. After group presentations and an interesting discussion we scarfed lunch and walked over to the Parliament of Canada.
Centre Block of Parliament Hill
House of Commons
Library...the higher levels have frosted glass floors!
Senate Chamber
East Block of Parliament Hill
After seeing Parliament, we made our way over to the National Gallery of Canada. My tour's guide was the museum curator of the Canadian art section. This man talked 100 miles a minute, nonstop for an hour and a half about hundreds of paintings. My favorite artists included Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, Emily Carr, and David Milne.
Our final event of the weekend was the most downright fun - HOCKEY! In the Carlton University Ice House we played the Fulbright Canada Annual Hockey Game. After taking a bit of time to get back in the swing of skating, I found a helmet, Killam jersey, stick, and puck and got to it! I spent a good deal of time practicing, getting the hang of multi-tasking on ice. After an hour of free skating everyone assembled and we were split into more or less evenly matched teams. The group was given lyrics to "O Canada" and "The Star Spangled Banner" (depending on nationality) and tried, somewhat pathetically, to sing both before the start. During the game, I managed to first fall flat on my bum and then redeem myself later by scoring one of my team's two goals (unfortunately we lost). We topped off the orientation with a well-deserved supper of pizza and beer. IT WAS A BLAST!
Learning to play hockey (credit: Rebecca Dixon)
Playing hockey! (credit: Rebecca Dixon)
The 2010-2011 Killams after the hockey game.
Silly moose Killams.
For more pictures, check out Fulbright Canada's Flickr stream:
This weekend was the Sackville Fall Fair! Last year I really wanted to participate in festive autumn activities; however, it was too hard to get to any farms from DC. This year made up for that and then some!
I started my day with some shopping at the Bridge Street Farmer's Market (every Saturday). I got a load of yummy vegetables and fresh bread.
Mmmm multigrain...my favorite!
My next stop was Agricultural Field Day at the Doncaster Farm. There were hay rides, a corn maize (I'm embarrassed by how long I was lost in it), all sorts of animals -- I milked a cow! -- among many other really neat exhibitions.
Doncaster Farm
I milked that cow!
Trapped in the corn maize...
Embarrassingly lost, I decided to amuse myself and take some pictures in the corn maize. The distraction lasted about 2 minutes.
View of the farm from within the corn maize...so close and yet so far.
It took so long, but I was stubborn and didn't cheat.
Hi everybody! I realize it's been a bit since I last wrote. As you probably surmised, classes, clubs, events, and friends are keeping me happily busy. I've gotten to do a bunch of really cool things this week and here's a few of them:
On Monday, for my first Seminar in Environmental Issues we took a field trip to a biodynamic farm run by a spry, elderly dowser named Charles Hubbard. Luckily for me, I'm happy to learn about anything and sometimes the more out-there an idea is, the more fun it is to hear. However, Charles's philosophy took it a bit farther than even my open mind could handle. Using concepts of sacred geometry, power circles, dowsing for energy lines, building pyramids, and walking labyrinths Charles has created a lovely, productive farm. I was even part of a dowsing demonstration, to show how a person's aura changes in size when you are feeling neutral, emitting negative thoughts, and emitting positive ones (apparently my natural aura extends slightly beyond my fingertips when my arm is outstretched). By the end of the class, Charles started talking about time windows, other dimensions, and portals. Needless to say, no one, including the professor, realized what we were getting into. Also, if you need to know how to bend a coat hanger into a shape that will neutralize potentially cancer-causing energy lines running through your house, give me a call.
For more info and pictures, look into:
http://www.centralnovascotia.com/members/shinimicasrogationcentre/
http://www.sacredstewardship.net/id3.html
I spent Tuesday evening at a more down-to-earth, but equally interesting event. I attended the first of three workshops for the regional Tantramar 2040 initiative. This project is attempting to mitigate the effects of climate change on the Tantramar region (Sackville, Port Elgin, Memramcook, Dorchester, and surrounding rural areas) by creating a pro-active sustainability plan integrating community collaboration. The event was partially coordinated by EOS Eco-Energy, a local non-profit for which I will be volunteering this semester.
The workshop had a strong turnout, the dinner highlighting local food was delicious, community members contributed enthusiastically, and the open structure of the event created a comfortable space to express concerns and suggest solutions. I also wrote an article summarizing the event for Mt. Allison's newspaper, The Argosy, so I'll let you know if it gets published!
Check out:
http://www.eosecoenergy.com/
Wednesday was a bit more low-key. I'm joining a running club. Our first event, the Terry Fox Run, is this Sunday. We are running 4 kilometers on the Confederation Bridge that connects New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. According to its website, "The curved, 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, and a decade after its construction, it endures as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century."
See:
http://www.terryfox.org/ConfederationBridge.html
http://www.confederationbridge.com/en/our_story.php
So that leaves today, Thursday. Before classes I met with EOS Eco-Energy, learned more about the organization's projects, shared my background, and set up volunteering for the semester. Tonight I attended the New Brunswick Provincial Election - Candidates Debate at Mt. A. The candidates did not disappoint! It was really neat to attend this event and compare it to American politics. There are four parties running in the Tantramar riding: Green candidate Margaret Tusz-King, Liberal candidate Beth Barczyk, New Democratic Party candidate Bill Evans (who was particularly hilarious), and Progressive Conservative candidate Mike Olscamp. Members of the community drove the agenda, asking questions about their interests. Many of the questions posed tonight have a different focus from concerns at home, though some are the same: bushes, bridges, pot holes (hm...sounds familiar in DC), fair prices for fishermen, supporting local farmers, electoral reform, decentralization of decision-making, government deficits, seniors, health-care, and energy.
Go to:
http://www.electionalmanac.com/canada/newbrunswick/
And this doesn't even cover the fun social stuff I did...anyways, I'm having a blast here and send love to everyone at home!
