I was able to go into Philadelphia and check out the historic sites last week. Our tourist industry can learn a lot from the way things are done here. They really maximise the historic heritage of this area. Even have a purple bus that cost a dollar a ride and runs in a loop around the historic areas of the city. They also have a another bus, called a trolley that is more the guided tour thing. They of course target the family as it is summer here and of course the foreign tourist also will benefit from this.
Last week we managed to give CS a surprise party for her retirement from BMSI. We each got black t-shirts with yellow print. I surmise that yellow was the colour of her class when she was at BM. Lots of pictures were taken and old faculty and alum of BMSI were here.
Last week we had a 30's table, which I found extremely valuable and I was able to ask questions and talk about some of the things that I have been experiencing, which was echoed around the table. This was affirming.
This weekend I was able to go off to the South Eastern Cherokee celebration on the GP on PL. I got some contemporary NA music. I think that art is a way of taking some of the people and the culture of a place with you. Of course I also added to my personal collection of items that I collect in different places.
Being a university town there are two bookstores in the area and I have been able to get a few titles that I have been waiting for for ages back home.
This week really bring to a conclusion the professional development that was running through as a theme in the curriculum. I am inspired and have tons of ideas again. But also focussed in obtaining really specific things.
This week, as part of IE, we are looking at finances, fundraising, budgeting etc. It is extremely useful and valuable and I have some ideas that I hope to use when I get back home.
We are meeting the President of BM, tomorrow. It's been really great that they have been able to collect together in one week- AE- so many HE presidents, and the opportunity to speak with them first hand about many things.
A note: There are 3 BM graduates amongst the participants. BM being women's only HE institute, I think there is a correlation between these women being in leadership positions and having graduated from an all women's HEI.
Therefore, I think the same can be said about the BMSI being all female as with HSAA; that the value in the all female is the role model on unconscious level that is set, which is something that males do not have a problem with because society is patriachal and have many male figures in leadership positions. Hence, little boys have from a very early role models in leadership positions, and do not need the re-socialization to realise their full potential as leaders.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Saturday, July 09, 2005
First two weeks an attempt at a description
Okay I know that I have not posted regularly.
The days are packed. Breakfast is at seven in the AM, we have post dinner session that end 20:30 to 21:00.
SI is organised into 4 sections: External, academic and institutional environment, with personal development following through all of them. Next week we will be spending a lot of time with personnel development excercises. It is also a hectic week, but we will not be spending a lot of time in sessions in the auditorium. We will be in different parallel session all over campus which will no doubt result in confusion.
BM is as I have already set, picture perfect. It is also perfect because the main Library is set in the middle of the campus. Just as it should be. There is also a student caf. in the library called the "Lusty cup" We met with FG, associate CIO and director of the library, and graduate of BMSI today, and yesterday we had a presentation by NA, who is at DU, and she gave a very interesting and gripping presentation, but as always the rest of HE does just not always get librarians, or all of it.
Dorm life is interesting. In me previous student life I commuted, so this is very different. The rooms are located in clusters of 3 in the corners of the building. We share bathroom - yes it has more than one toilet and showers -2 but one bath. All the dorms in H have a lounge with TV and piano. It also has a little kitchen area. It also has an ironing board which is in a linen cupboard on the second floor. I am on the first floor, hence creased clothing to class. My window looks out to the street which is partly concealed by a tree in which mossie-like birds chirp early in the morning. Both tree and bird unknown names at the moment. In the early evening there are fire-flies to be seen fying across the green lawns here. Enchanting.
Some peculiarities of this place, the number of the rooms increase from right to left, so if you come from the middle-east you would fit right in. The names on our post boxes is above the box and not below, as one would expect.
Today is a uncharacteristically wet and cold day in the middle of the PA summer. We are apparently catching the tale end of hurricane Cindy.
I have learnt from others here that the first week of BMSI is notoriously difficult, focussing on the ee. The second week started with group work in the morning. They actually want you to think first thing in the morning! This of course is just plain outrageous for the owl that I am.
Interestingly, the owl is on all the buildings here, and is used as BM logo. I feel at home for that reason.
I hope to post more meatier things soon. I really need to, in order to process.
The days are packed. Breakfast is at seven in the AM, we have post dinner session that end 20:30 to 21:00.
SI is organised into 4 sections: External, academic and institutional environment, with personal development following through all of them. Next week we will be spending a lot of time with personnel development excercises. It is also a hectic week, but we will not be spending a lot of time in sessions in the auditorium. We will be in different parallel session all over campus which will no doubt result in confusion.
BM is as I have already set, picture perfect. It is also perfect because the main Library is set in the middle of the campus. Just as it should be. There is also a student caf. in the library called the "Lusty cup" We met with FG, associate CIO and director of the library, and graduate of BMSI today, and yesterday we had a presentation by NA, who is at DU, and she gave a very interesting and gripping presentation, but as always the rest of HE does just not always get librarians, or all of it.
Dorm life is interesting. In me previous student life I commuted, so this is very different. The rooms are located in clusters of 3 in the corners of the building. We share bathroom - yes it has more than one toilet and showers -2 but one bath. All the dorms in H have a lounge with TV and piano. It also has a little kitchen area. It also has an ironing board which is in a linen cupboard on the second floor. I am on the first floor, hence creased clothing to class. My window looks out to the street which is partly concealed by a tree in which mossie-like birds chirp early in the morning. Both tree and bird unknown names at the moment. In the early evening there are fire-flies to be seen fying across the green lawns here. Enchanting.
Some peculiarities of this place, the number of the rooms increase from right to left, so if you come from the middle-east you would fit right in. The names on our post boxes is above the box and not below, as one would expect.
Today is a uncharacteristically wet and cold day in the middle of the PA summer. We are apparently catching the tale end of hurricane Cindy.
I have learnt from others here that the first week of BMSI is notoriously difficult, focussing on the ee. The second week started with group work in the morning. They actually want you to think first thing in the morning! This of course is just plain outrageous for the owl that I am.
Interestingly, the owl is on all the buildings here, and is used as BM logo. I feel at home for that reason.
I hope to post more meatier things soon. I really need to, in order to process.
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