Greetings from Guelph, Ontario
I always worry that I'm addicted to the Internet, because I spend so much time on it for work or leisure. But I have to say the period of withdrawal for most of this week has been quite happy. Presently, my access is limited to wireless available in the stairwell of the building in which the conference sessions are taking place. So I thought I would spend a few minutes to tell you where I am.
Guelph must be the quintessential Ontario market town or at least was the quintessential market town. There is still a farmer's market, but it isn't particularly large. There is still a grange somewhere, too. Its population is approximately that of Pasadena but is spread much more thinly. My Roman Catholic readers might be interested in passing through if they're ever in the neighborhood, since the most imposing architectural feature is the multispired parish church of Our Lady Immaculate built on top of the largest hill, the probable legacy of local Jacobite wealth. I can't say it's the most exciting place to be, but since most of my time is taken up in conference sessions, it really doesn't matter.
The University of Guelph reminds me strongly of the University of Connecticut, which is no coincidence. The University was formed in the 1960s from the union of four colleges, three of which were both of much older origin and of agricultural and veterinary bent originally in union with the University of Toronto. I'm staying in a dormitory room even more poorly ventilated than the Shoreland, so I'm glad to get sleep at night.
The conference is interesting. It brings together researchers from geology, meteorology, and applied physics with overlapping research interests in sand and dust transport. I just wish that I had submitted an abstract.
ESA(20060727.1)
I always worry that I'm addicted to the Internet, because I spend so much time on it for work or leisure. But I have to say the period of withdrawal for most of this week has been quite happy. Presently, my access is limited to wireless available in the stairwell of the building in which the conference sessions are taking place. So I thought I would spend a few minutes to tell you where I am.
Guelph must be the quintessential Ontario market town or at least was the quintessential market town. There is still a farmer's market, but it isn't particularly large. There is still a grange somewhere, too. Its population is approximately that of Pasadena but is spread much more thinly. My Roman Catholic readers might be interested in passing through if they're ever in the neighborhood, since the most imposing architectural feature is the multispired parish church of Our Lady Immaculate built on top of the largest hill, the probable legacy of local Jacobite wealth. I can't say it's the most exciting place to be, but since most of my time is taken up in conference sessions, it really doesn't matter.
The University of Guelph reminds me strongly of the University of Connecticut, which is no coincidence. The University was formed in the 1960s from the union of four colleges, three of which were both of much older origin and of agricultural and veterinary bent originally in union with the University of Toronto. I'm staying in a dormitory room even more poorly ventilated than the Shoreland, so I'm glad to get sleep at night.
The conference is interesting. It brings together researchers from geology, meteorology, and applied physics with overlapping research interests in sand and dust transport. I just wish that I had submitted an abstract.
ESA(20060727.1)
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home