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Posts Tagged ‘travel’


There and Back Again

In Reflections on December 8, 2011 at 2:35 pm


My “break” came a little early this year… or a few years late depending on how you look at it. The truth of the matter is probably somewhere in between. Convocation in early November followed by one last outstanding piece of academic work before I could treat myself to a few weeks of not worrying about any deadlines kept me on my toes. And then, I woke up one morning, and it was time to head off on a trip where there would be no technology; just me, nature, a new place, and lots of exploring to do.

There were many first on this trip: plants, animals, landscapes, waters. Even the skies were different. My brain got a total reset, and my mental space was freed up by a total disconnection with any kind of digital media. It’s definitely motivation to draw better boundaries between work and life, in order to enjoy both to the fullest. Engaging in one while worry that the other is being neglected is completely counter-productive, and all it takes to shift the energy is a little mental adjustments. Admittedly, relaxing is not exactly my forté, but you know what they say, practice makes perfect. I better enjoy this before I suddenly find 2012 magically filled up with things to do!

Here’s wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday (whatever it is that you may be celebrating). I hope 2012 will be good to you. See you in the new year!

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Is this the writing bug?

In Reflections on September 1, 2011 at 1:11 pm


When a paper I submitted to a special issue of OCLC Systems and Services on Music Information Retrieval and Library Issues was accepted, it was right around my birthday and a wonderful surprise. It was a particularly welcomed piece of good news as I was in the early stages of thesis writing, and fretting about having to produce the largest document I have ever written to date.

I’ve never thought of myself as a particular good writer, but I realize I love the process of research and writing. Am I a writer? Researcher? Librarian? I don’t know. I like connecting people with each other, and introducing hidden gems of ideas to a wider audience. I have benefited from such interactions, and the trajectory I’d like to embark on is shaped by a desire to help people make those connections. Part of that, I have a feeling, is going to involve writing that is directed to more than just me and a handful of immediate collaborators and colleagues. While I figure out what that will ultimately mean, here’s a little update on what’s coming up as fall approaches.

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ICTM 2011

In My Work on July 13, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Greetings from St. John’s, Newfoundland, the eastern-most city in Canada. I’ve been here since Sunday, but I haven’t had a chance to write a post at all. The trip has already been full of interests: had fun conversations with an urban planner on my way in and we ended up splitting a cab downtown, met an aspiring-ethnomusicologist who was working the booth of a boat tour, briefly met a librarian working in Ottawa over breakfast at my B&B, and walked until I had no more legs. While here I also had a call with my second reader who gave me her feedback on my thesis, and I should be receiving a written report from my external any time this week now.

Today was the official start of the conference, and there are some very colourful people around in all sense of the word. It’s fascinating to me to see the way scholars from different parts of the world present their work, and their approaches to music research from a variety of perspectives. The folks at MUN have also done a great job organizing everything. Aside from things they can’t control like last minute cancellations of paper presentations and the drizzly weather, they seem to taking care of the 500 attendees (from 55 countries!) very well.

I’ll write up more thoughts later. Time to put those last minute touches on my presentation tomorrow. Wish me luck!

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