Where to begin?... The University of Leicester has the best-stocked bookstore that I have ever seen in my area. I thought I would have to compile a massive wish list to take home with me because there is no way I can trundle a pile of books through Europe for the rest of my sabbatical. When the head of school heard of my concern, he gave me a large box and offered to ship it home for me at the university's expense. Now my challenge is deciding how best to fill it. (I like those kinds of challenges...)
Wednesday I gave my first presentation here, with several faculty and the head of school in attendance. It went very well, and I am looking forward to other teaching opportunities, including a class on Tuesday.
Thursday was the fieldtrip to Sheffield, which is about an hour and a half north of Leicester. When our chartered double-decker bus arrived, everyone laughed as I rushed to find a window seat upstairs, declaring, "I can't wait to see all the scenery." Well, there wasn't much, so I later rode home with the faculty--and cake! We visited a very interesting local museum that has throughly incorporated the community into what it does. Although its holdings are diverse--art, history, natural history, etc.--the most popular destination in the museum is Arctic World and Snowy, pictured here. The entire gallery was designed in consultation with school children, and it shows in the lay-out, with many exhibits at knee level. Yesterday I went to a session where students debriefed their experiences at the museum. It was interesting seeing them try to determine if there should be a line between the educational rols of museums and the entertainment factor of Disney World. (A current exhibition on food offered children the opportunity to dress up as their favorite fruits...)
Last evening, a colleague who lives nearby invited me for dinner. I walked over through wind and rain and was thrilled to enter her home and find it HEATED. "Aaaah!" We had a delicious meal of mussels and pasta before moving to a cozy room for tea, clementines, and excellent conversation. Viv is in my academic area, and her husband David is a retired art teacher, so we have much in common. They also have a cat, Timmy, who looks just like Milly. When Viv kindly offered to drive me back, I tried to get in on the wrong side of the car, to her great amusement. At home, I dove into bed, trying to retain the accumulated warmth.
I have some work to do today, but I may head off on my own fieldtrip tomorrow. Happy weekend, and thanks for reading.
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