Holiday writing

I have been working on a writing project over the holiday period while looking after this handsome little man. Housesitting for my friends Jessica and Jay over the holidays means that I have gotten to know Ratdog, who turns out to be an excellent writing companion!

Christmas in New York

My first American Christmas was spent with my good friends. It was so nice to be included and experience the warmth and generosity of the people I have met in the US.

Students bring the festive spirit to dorms

RIT's little Christmas tree outside the Gene Polessini Center

Christmas was spent with my gorgeous coach Vincent and his family

Commuting in a NY winter

When figure skating in Australia I used to arrive at the rink in a t-shirt and a bag full of sweatshirts. My first New York winter has taught me that the opposite can also be true. This is how I need to dress to survive the 5 minute walk to the rink in winter!

GFSC Christmas Show

Genesse Figure Skating Club held its annual holiday show at the Gene Polisseni Center tonight. There were all manner for performances from senior level skaters through to learn to skate children with their helmets clad in Christmas wrapping and bows. The Genesse Synchronized Skating Team also performed our rousing program for the entertainment of our friends and family.

Exploring a wintery campus

The students have all left campus for their winter break so it was time to head out and experience the snow. Standing in thigh high in snow piles, realising that the pond was less frozen than I had thought, successfully making a snow angel and unsuccessfully making a snow man! It was a fun afternoon  exploring our gorgeous campus.

Berries in winter

My first ever snow angel!!

RIT woods in the winter snow

Fulbright Enrichment Seminar in San Diego

I was selected to attend the Fulbright Visiting Scholar Enrichment Seminar “Strengthening Democracy while Protecting Human Rights” to be held in San Diego, California from Sunday, December 11th through Wednesday December 14th, 2016.

All the talks and activities focused on advocacy for individuals and groups who have voices that often cannot or will not be heard. We had a busy and stimulating agenda that included lectures addressing transgender issues, Black Lives Matter, the rights of LBGQT youth, community approaches to addressing radicalization, and surviving torture. As well as a traditional trolley tour of San Diego, a had a tour City Heights where we were introduced to people and initiatives trying to support the most vulnerable citizens of San Diego. We were also able to travel to the US-Mexico border where we spoke with immigration advocates and US Border Patrol officers.

Fulbright Scholars attending the Enrichment Seminar

Visit to San Diego

I have arrived in San Diego a few days ahead of the even I will be attending here. It was a good chance to meet some of the locals and get a feel for the sun and sand of the west coast.

Snow in Rochester before I left for my plane

New hostel friends: Olivia from Sweden (currently nannying in the US mid-West).
We shared a massive entree and went to see the San Diego Symphony Orchestra 

Visiting the locals at San Diego Zoo

Watching some talented surfers at La Jolla Shores

Visiting the seals at La Jolla and enjoying seeing the sun!

ASL I - It's a wrap!

Today was the last day of my ASL I class. It has been a huge learning curve and I have enjoyed the teaching style and friendship of my teacher very much.

Submitting my final expressive ASL exam

Study 2: Complete

Study 2 is now complete. Today the last students completed the typicality and categorisation tasks that we will be spending the next months, transcribing, analysing, and writing up!

Research Group Meeting

Today was the annual meeting of Professor Sharynne McLeod's PhD and postdoctoral students. This year the meeting was held at the Charles Sturt University campus at Sydney Olympic Park. In attendance were PhD students Anna Cronin, Suzanne Hopf, Nicole McGill, and Ben Pham, and postdoctoral colleagues Sarah Masso, Sarah Verdon, and myself. We all presented about our current research projects and progress and shared anecdotes and advice.

This was a great opportunity for me to share my Fulbright experience with the group and reflect on what I have gained and shared so far in this journey.

Sharing Australian Cuisine

We had a dinner for Pep Band tonight and it was time share an important part of Australian culture with my friends and introduce them to Anzac cookies. They were very well received!

Genesse Synchronized Skating Team

Today was my debut US synchronised skating competition with the Genesse Synchronized Skating Team. We drove to Skaneateles in the Finger Lakes region of northern New York for the 26th Annual Skaneateles Figure Skating Invitational. We came away with a silver medal and many good memories.

Study 1: Complete

Our Study 1 examining semantic fluency wrapped up today with the last participant completing tasks this afternoon. Next step is hours and hours and hours of transcription of data from spoken English and ASL (and a little Spanish, Dutch, and Korean too) before we can begin analysis.