tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-131206242012-01-29T10:29:59.509-05:00Babies, a PhD and MeThe chronicles of a biologist mom.Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.comBlogger761100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-586753412519825232012-01-17T10:31:00.000-05:002012-01-17T10:31:49.967-05:00A laugh/cry moment
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mso-paginationScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-62120598710222887322011-12-23T11:30:00.000-05:002011-12-23T11:30:30.837-05:00Year in review 2011
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-20711535960169011692011-11-17T09:00:00.000-05:002011-11-17T09:00:37.855-05:00An evening on the Amador Causeway
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mso-paginationScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-58401083677292770362011-10-23T11:46:00.000-04:002011-10-23T11:46:07.036-04:00Most Awesome Family Breakfast
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mso-font-signature:0 0 65536 0 -Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-79943935754639112582011-09-29T09:47:00.001-04:002011-09-29T09:52:40.353-04:00Conferencing to reignite academic fire
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Life is crazy busy. Talks to prepare, job applications to prepare, lab work to do, kids got stomach flu - whew!
So just a short note referring you to a nice trio of letters examining how male and female scientists self-rate their expertise. It seems that there is no difference among high achieving tropical ecologists. But I tend to agree with Dugale et al. that the outcome might have been Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-84297447362594359612011-08-26T15:43:00.001-04:002011-08-26T15:44:05.842-04:00Academic Women sans Babies 2.0In counterpoint to my last post about scientists and babies, here is a link to a second great survey, that assembled a panel of women academics to answer questions on life in academia without mentioning kids or motherhood.
Here are links to the responses of two of my favorite bloggers
CanadianGirlPostdoc
Academic Jungle
Enjoy!Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-85721941914487627992011-08-16T11:09:00.002-04:002011-08-16T11:11:34.120-04:00Scientists and babiesA recent study (see here for a great summary) published by sociologists Elaine Howard Ecklund and Anne E. Lincoln raises a very important point – the pressure-filled road to tenure keeps both women and men from having as many children as they would like. This affects their satisfaction with life, and pushes them to leave science as a career.
Are our babies stressed when we are writing grants?Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-39549628503126623832011-08-13T22:10:00.004-04:002011-08-17T23:35:22.304-04:00Panama Chronicles - First Date
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-49928420620455641542011-08-13T11:16:00.001-04:002011-08-13T11:19:41.048-04:00Busy, still not sleeping much, but generally pretty happy
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-52411357121406585102011-08-03T22:33:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:35:51.091-04:00Panama Chronicles – Tropical sunrises, bugs and giant rodents
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-64910999130080572702011-07-11T09:56:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:36:59.660-04:00Panama Chronicles – Outside the “Zone”, Avenida Central and Portobelo
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-25758692256507159692011-07-01T10:22:00.006-04:002011-08-17T23:37:36.448-04:00Panama Chronicles - First Contact
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Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-87810425820773222052011-06-24T12:53:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:38:14.790-04:00Strengths, skills and chronicles
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mso-pagination:Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-14715340480497334832011-06-13T14:58:00.002-04:002011-06-27T22:04:48.341-04:00Scientist Women Atop Their Fields: How does this make you feel?A friend just sent me this article (and audio interview) in the New York Times. It is an interview with four women scientists at the top of their fields. I am curious about how others felt upon reading (or listening to) this interview.
Did the interview:
A) Inspire you
B) Make you question your decision to be a scientist
C) Produce no strong reaction either way
Also, are you a scientist? Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-83415063626660945362011-06-13T14:25:00.004-04:002011-06-17T13:00:24.621-04:00Saturday MorningI am roused from a deep sleep because someone is kicking my foot. It is Saturday. It is early. Why is hubby kicking my feet?
Image: Louisa Stokes / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
I roll over to look at him as he is rolling over to look at me. “Why are you kicking my feet?” I ask, somewhat annoyed.“I’m not kicking you.” he says, “You are kicking me!”We both look down at our feet and there, at the Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-89528635781665600642011-06-08T15:13:00.002-04:002011-06-17T13:04:40.454-04:00Who needs sleep?My youngest (7.5 months) has decided that sleep is not his main priority at the moment. It may be teething, it may be motor skill development, who know? The point is that sleep for Science Mom has become a limiting resource.
Image: Dynamite Imagery / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Now, I am in a job where I am paid to think. I like this, because I like to think, and I think I generally do it quite Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-28260738312831203912011-06-07T10:26:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:39:43.485-04:00Finally up to speed with blog tags and photosWell it has been a long time coming, but I have finally gone through and tagged my blog posts. I have also added photos to many of my earlier travel chronicles. It is a first pass and things may change, but I think these tags will help people to navigate this rather eclectic blog. Now if you want to read about my musing in professional issues or work-home balance, you can easily find these Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-73407159295385788332011-05-16T22:02:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:32:22.685-04:00Updating my website is strangely inspiringToday I updated the text on my website. The next step will be updating the website itself ☺. In updating the text I had to rethink where I stand as a scientist and to define my broader interests. I always find this fun. It is enjoyable to remember why I became a scientist and to see how my interests are evolving. It keeps me inspired as a researcher and also reminds me that my scientific Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-44307437407712167832011-03-22T14:24:00.003-04:002011-06-07T09:34:35.616-04:00Success comes at a priceThere seem to be a lot of articles in the media these days about keeping women in science (especially academic fields). I’ve found these articles to be nice summarizes of the gains we’ve made as well as the issues that remain to be tackled.
Today a friend brought my attention to this article in the NY Times. The author raises a lot of good points. Things are certainly much better than they Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-41230995954936107412011-03-14T14:19:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:34:56.322-04:00I love this poemI was sitting in my living room listening to a podcast from the BBC when I heard this poem. I was sitting and working on R code, my brain busy figuring out how multiple variables are related in time and space. My first baby was at daycare and my second was sleeping nearby. I was not thinking at all of my body. And then I heard this poem, and I was filled with gratitude. Indeed, my body is Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-26067195198080819022011-02-08T12:50:00.003-05:002011-06-07T09:35:14.481-04:00Curiosity didn’t kill the cat – diffidence didI found this article on Canadian Girlpostdoc's blog and found it extremely informative - and a bit spine chilling. I think that Kathy Weston has done many up-and-coming scientists a great service for by sharing her experiences (especially woman who might also have confidence issues or be trying to balance work and small children). Although I must admit that balancing kids with a career is a Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-82963950943616329122011-01-29T23:30:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:35:37.113-04:00Losing my (car) virginityWell, I’ve finally done it; I’ve lost my car virginity to a middle-aged Greek guy named Chris. Believe it or not, I was a 30-something car virgin - I had never bought a car before. Sure, I’ve been driving since I was 16 (actually, I learned at 15), but I had never bought my own car. I preferred to spend my money on plane tickets to see the world, and on high rent to live a downtown lifestyle.Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-25807520965051956002010-12-29T16:01:00.002-05:002011-06-07T09:35:59.763-04:00How consumerism stole my ChristmasCaveat: My family and friends (even the grandparents) are generally good at curbing consumerism. If you are someone who gave us a present, we are not blaming you for stealing our Christmas. Overall we had a lovely Christmas. This is just a rant about over consumption in general.
Remember the anticipation that Christmas brought when you were a child? Counting the days until Santa came, Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-35040169434907607572010-12-21T12:26:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:36:26.988-04:00Year in Review 2010I hope 2010 has treated you well. For us it has been a busy and happy year. Here is my annual “year in review” to summarize memories and to keep you up to date.
Personally, the highlight of the year was the birth of our second child, who arrived, much to our delight, in our home. He is a wonderful addition to our family! We remain very happy living in the heart of a big city where we can Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-71230961340571853392010-11-16T11:56:00.003-05:002011-06-07T09:46:38.428-04:00Balancing family, work … and plumbers !?!Does anyone else find it disconcerting that the older one gets the faster time seems to fly by? Today I looked at my newborn and realized that he isn't a newborn anymore. His face has lost that scrunched up look, his cheeks have filled out, and he's about 4 cm longer already. With my first child this newborn stage seemed to last forever. It was a hazy, slow moving, magic time when I Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-84797202683204663782010-10-22T22:23:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:46:53.556-04:00I love newborns!The baby has arrived and it is so wonderful having a newborn around again! I really love this phase (even with the sleep deprivation). I love that I don’t have to focus on anything except this warm cozy being that needs me as much as I need him. I love smelling him, and looking into those newborn eyes, and smiling at those tiny newborn smiles. Even though I am committed to work/home balance –Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-15509819324151000692010-10-16T22:22:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:47:15.523-04:00Balancing Pregnancy and Lab workAlthough this is the first time I’ve mentioned it on this blog, for the last nine months I have been pregnant. Indeed, this is part of the reason why I’ve hardly written anything – hopefully people are still checking this blog and will read this :-).
During my last pregnancy I was in the last stages of writing my thesis and I found that to be a wonderful time to be pregnant. The physical Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-86519993275632466712010-05-27T12:32:00.004-04:002011-06-27T22:03:33.349-04:00Likes and DislikesInspired by a post from Girlpostdoc I have written a list of my likes and dislikes about academic science. What a great exercise - I highly recommend it.
Likes
• Intellectual engagement (i.e. time left alone to read, write and learn new things, but also time spent with others pursuing those activities)
• Creative work that is always different
• Flexible hours and duties
• One-on-one and small Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-77323888592975180212010-04-21T21:59:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:48:24.147-04:00A rantPicture this. It is 8 in the evening and your phone rings. You are a young mother with a toddler vying for your attention. As a post-doc you make an OK salary but you have to cut corners to make ends meet since you have a family. It doesn’t help that you are fully taxed on this salary despite being ineligible for benefits such as a pension, unemployment insurance, dental care etc. That is Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-17429922997053259052010-03-30T22:25:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:48:52.417-04:00Seeing the magic in the everyday routineIt has been awhile since I last blogged and I apologize. Life has been good, but lately we seem to have gotten lost in the day-today routine. Both Hubby and I are happy with what we are working at, but I think lately we’ve both been frustrated that things are not progressing as fast as we might like, or that the details are not working as we had planned. It is so easy to get bogged down in Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-53313138517057111022010-01-21T14:48:00.002-05:002011-06-07T09:49:08.570-04:00Student-Professional SocialI did my PhD in a place where PhD students are considered employees - they do not pay tuition and are paid a salary for their research endeavors. Therefore, I thought I had already jumped the mental hurdle between considering myself a student and considering myself a professional. However, this week when I got invited to a Student-Professional Social as a professional rather than a student, I Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-49393101675478892622009-11-12T16:43:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:49:33.090-04:00Balancing the tenure track and family without going crazy – more than just a dream?I ended my last post musing about the idea of a part-time tenure track position. This week, the topic came up during a workshop I attended addressing the prospect of starting a family while a graduate student or post-doc. One of the panelists was a tenured professor who had successfully managed to have two kids as a grad student, and then land a tenure track position when her youngest child wasScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-67053029375404260452009-11-01T21:40:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:49:50.301-04:00I have a life and I’d like to keep itI’m still alive. I’ve just been ignoring my blog. It isn’t that I have nothing to say or no time to say it. Nope, for the past few months, while settling into working full time again, I’ve just been feeling private. But today I read FIA’s blog commenting on Gaby Hinsliff’s article in the Observer, entitled "I had it all, but I didn't have a life". That struck a chord so I’ve decided to weigh Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-15019867512099635532009-08-03T12:46:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:50:19.118-04:00The things that ground meBecause I am just starting a new project, the last few weeks have meant a steep learning curve for me at work. My head has been lost in the world of ideas and concepts as I try to break into a field that is relatively new to me, and is changing at a lightening pace. I’ve also been attending workshops covering an even broader subject base in order to broaden my thinking. At this point in my Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-88758775215615206172009-07-14T22:29:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:50:44.347-04:00I am happyIt occurred to me the other day that I haven’t blogged in awhile and I got to thinking about why. Have I been too busy? In a way yes, but then again I have always made time to write in the past when I felt I had something to write (or rant) about. Nope, these past few weeks (even months) I realize I just don’t have that much to say. But again why? I asked my husband, who is very familiar Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-3689640761555762742009-04-14T22:33:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:51:02.606-04:00Juggling multiple balls - it IS possibleThese days many women (parents really, but often women still bare the brunt of the workload) struggle to balance careers in science with starting a family and raising children. It is a juggling act in the best of times. But many are acting as roles models and showing that it is possible. For me there was an extra ball to juggle – career in science, young child, and a husband for a country Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-18110812462623659752009-04-06T22:29:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:51:17.680-04:00Classical music loverThe other day my toddler did the most fascinating thing. We were listening to the radio and a gorgeous performance of Handel’s Messiah was played. When it started I took note of the beauty of the music. My son was intensely concentrating on his toy, but as the music started, he stopped and looked up. Then he started to sway to the music and he turned his head towards the radio. Finally he Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-31411627765198384972009-03-26T22:28:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:51:36.808-04:00Let’s play ball!My little one is 16 months and has just discovered the joys of playing with a ball. We got him a small inflatable ball which does not hurt at all when it hits you and he loves it! When we throw it to him, it usually bounces off his belly or his arms since his reflexes are still a bit slow to catch it. But if we roll it to him slowly, he scoops it up and tries to throw it back. Sometimes as heScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-3298766546688975832008-12-06T16:17:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:51:54.862-04:00First stepsRecently I reached a couple of career milestones. I successfully defended my thesis, thereby becoming Dr. Science Mom. Then I was invited to my first job interview which, regardless of the outcome, made it clear to me that I am now a professional and no longer a student.
Today I witnessed another milestone, which fills me with an incredible amount of pride and joy - my baby took his first Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-82107746826491697112008-11-27T21:38:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:52:20.418-04:005 things memeI got tagged by Fia and I'm happy to answer the following questions with a few modifications :-)
Things I was doing FIVE years ago:
1. Working in the tropical rain forest
2. Planning a trans-Atlantic move
3. Wondering if starting a PhD is the right thing to do
4. Wondering if leaving the sunny tropics is the right thing to do
5. Accepting the PhD offer and moving anyhow
5 things on my to do Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-90913656757496666432008-11-14T21:35:00.001-05:002011-06-07T09:52:46.285-04:00Travel for Dr. MomWhen my baby was 11 months old I had to leave him for just under two weeks in order to take a trans-Atlantic flight to defend my thesis. Because my husband had to stay home and work, and day care was not available where I was defending, neither my husband nor the baby could come. Given the situation, I decided the best for the baby would be to leave him with my parents. That way my hubby couldScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-22290755271394517952008-10-28T17:53:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:53:11.839-04:00Six Random Things About MeI've been away for a long time, since I still don't have access to daycare. But I've already written about that unfortunate situation in my last post. It's too bad that being a full-time mom by day and working by night doesn't leave much time (or sanity) for blogging.
However, something interesting has happened to me in the blogosphere. I've been tagged. Fia has invited me to write six Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-26203891400217565822008-09-22T21:38:00.002-04:002011-06-07T09:53:41.094-04:00Childcare woes …Now that grant application deadlines are looming I wish that the city I live in had more flexible and affordable childcare. In recent years the quality of childcare has improved in leaps and bounds and there are a wide variety of choices. That’s the good news. The bad news is that waiting lists are very long and part-time care is nearly non-existent. Also for a scientist who is between grantsScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-43326872055252024582008-08-22T21:35:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:54:32.496-04:00Thesis submitted!A few weeks ago, I submitted my PhD thesis. It felt good – really good. It gave me a sense of accomplishment even though I have not defended yet. Submitting the written document convinced me that my four and a half years of work have culminated into a coherent package. Handing in the document gave me a sense of closure, but also a sense of opportunity since I hope this thesis represents not Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-84504252638569215662008-07-24T13:02:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:55:00.946-04:00Making connectionsI have been receiving email updates from friends, stories from all over the world from Toronto to Germany to Africa. They tell of new jobs, adventures, marriages, babies ... I consolidate these stories with my own as I type up the last bits of my thesis and watch my baby grow. It makes me think of how much people’s lives change over time and how people who grew up together, eventually, branch Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-12030118350910912952008-07-16T13:45:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:55:21.717-04:00Slowing down to wonder at milestonesLife is a whirlwind (nay tornado) of activity these days. Although I am very happy, sometimes it feels like I have to remind myself to breathe while trying to write up the final bits of the thesis, interviewing for housing, finding a doctor, looking it to day care etc. etc. etc. Amazingly, amongst all this having a baby has actually helped me to slow down! Every now and then my baby does Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-91273441697537013212007-05-02T10:55:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:21:56.664-04:00Berlin: A historical treasure chestBerlin is Germany’s biggest city, a vibrant metropolis with a stunning past, an exuberant present and a bright future. The first person to lift off into the air did so in Berlin, pictures learnt motion there and no other city in Europe has as many trees as Berlin (about 400,000 of them). Much to my delight Berlin also has the world’s longest underground rail network and an extensive network ofScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1167821960938023832007-01-03T05:58:00.004-05:002011-08-17T23:22:57.812-04:00Mauritania Musings Part 2
Our days in Iwik were busy and my time was divided between sanderling work by day and red knot work by night. It was exhausting at times but especially the sanderling work allowed lots of time to observe local life in Iwik. My first impression of Iwik was of houses that looked thrown together from scraps of metal, wood and bits of refuse. Still, the people looked healthy and happy and there Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1167821901582696842007-01-03T05:54:00.004-05:002011-08-17T23:23:22.520-04:00Mauritania Musings Part 1As the plane flew over the straight of Gibraltar, I got first glimpse of Africa! At first the scenery was mountainous and the valleys were green with irrigation, but as the plane flew further south all signs of mountains and irrigation disappeared and there was nothing but sand dunes as far as the eye could see – the Sahara Desert!
Mauritania is first and foremost a Saharan country with a Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1161472667127217662006-10-21T19:12:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:23:46.062-04:00Panama and Mexico ChroniclesThe temple before me was a stone pyramid with steep sides and a flat top. Around it was a perfectly manicured lawn, arching palm trees and then in the distance misty mountains. I was in Mexico - but not at the famous pyramids of Teotihuacán as you might think. If I had been there, I would have been surrounded by tourists – but I was alone, in the ruins of Zempoala, 40 km northeast of Veracruz Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1158951956683891522006-09-22T15:04:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:24:07.438-04:00China Chronicles - Last Installment30 June 2006, Day 16: An Early Canada Day in Hong Kong
After a long night on the bus with the driver leaning on his horn 50% of the time, I decided to rest and recuperate on Lamma for much of the day. But that evening despite my fatigue we hopped the ferry to Hong Kong Island where there was a party that two Canadians could not miss – Canada Day (a day early). Yup, it’s true, each year the Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1157541345294472832006-09-06T07:13:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:24:33.979-04:00China Chronicles - Fifth Installment25 June 2006, Day 11: Beijing to Guìlín
The following day I was back on the train for a 27 hour ride south to Guìlín. This time I opted for a hard sleeper on the train. During the ride to Beijing I had found the luxury of the soft sleeper with its closed compartments, lace curtains and velvet roses a bit too rich and isolating for my taste. The hard sleeper with its door-less compartments andScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1155398240016942302006-08-12T11:56:00.001-04:002011-06-07T09:57:50.887-04:00A question of WHYPublished in The Hague/Amsterdam/Rotterdam Times 11 August 2006, page 14 Two lines in last week’s feature “Cabinet collapse: the rise and fall of Balkenedende II “really stood out for me. First, “ … Hirsi Ali got to keep her passport, which had become rather important for Hirsi Ali personally, as she needed it to get a visa to the US.” And second, “If I (Hirsi Ali) would sign the statement, theScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1155398185070417092006-08-12T11:55:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:24:58.659-04:00China Chronicles - Fourth InstallmentDay 9: The Great Wall and the Hutongs, Beijing I left my hostel bright and early and boarded a minibus for the Great Wall of China. Most people think of the Great Wall as a single entity, but there have, in fact, been five major walls all built to defend the Chinese heartland from Mongol and Turkish nomads. It is the Ming Great Wall (built 1368–1640 that tourists visit today. Trying to avoid Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1155398104243312892006-08-02T11:53:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:25:25.680-04:00China Chronicles - Third InstallmentDay 5 and 6: A traditional cafeteria in Northpoint, Victoria Peak and an upper class kindergarten, Hong Kong Island
I spent my next few days playing local in Hong Kong. We dined in a cafeteria above a wet market where live produce is sold by day and workers eat and relax at night. The cafeteria was huge, stark white and reminiscent of a BINGO hall. We were the only Westerners around, Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1155397966377847872006-07-19T11:51:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:25:51.181-04:00China Chronicles - Second InstallmentDay 3: Temple of 10,000 Buddhas, New Territories
My friend had the day off and we headed to the Temple of 10,000 Buddha’s in the New Territories. The path to the temple was flanked by golden Buddha statues in different postures each representing a different aspect of the Buddha. My favorite was a cheery fellow who sat with a serene yet mischievous look on his face while calmly opening his Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1155397840774503262006-07-10T11:50:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:26:12.735-04:00China Chronicles - First InstallmentDay 1: Sheung Wan, the Mid-levels and Central, Hong Kong Island and Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.After 15 hours of travel, including an 11 hour flight, I thought I would need a rest before touring Hong Kong, but I was wrong. I got off the plane and hit the ground running, so inspired by the skyscrapers, the hordes of people and the hot humid air (that reminded me of Panama) that my fatigue evaporated. Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1147639554256633212006-05-14T16:44:00.001-04:002011-06-07T10:00:04.638-04:00A Bridge between Canada and the NetherlandsPublished in The Hague/Amsterdam/Rotterdam Times 12 May 2006 page 14
My husband and I decided to move to the Netherlands in part because we felt that the Dutch were more open minded and liberal than North Americans and we wanted to learn from Dutch society. My husband is from Panama, and a year-long battle with immigration for a Canadian visitor visa taught us that intolerance is alive and wellScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1142791577933070152006-02-19T13:03:00.004-05:002011-08-17T23:26:29.453-04:00Barcelona beckons: A paradise of art and culture even in the winterIn Barcelona art and culture seem to spill from the galleries into the streets, and there is an infectious passion for living that radiates from the city’s inhabitants. People who are not ashamed to enjoy excellent paella with red wine at an hour many consider bedtime, followed by cervezas and mouth watering tapas several hours later. People who creatively showed their opposition to their Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-90296427045975629152005-12-20T12:19:00.002-05:002011-08-17T23:26:45.705-04:00Belgium: Well worth stopping for a visitAfter passing through or flying over Belgium many times, I finally decided to stop and take a look around this small country with a long medieval history and an inviting contemporary mix of French and Flemish.
I began in Brussels, a true cultural hub and the capital of both the Flemish and French parts of Belgium, as well as the capital of the European Union. Brussels is a cosmopolitan city, Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1130850614270099682005-11-01T08:07:00.002-05:002011-06-07T10:02:49.362-04:00Full CircleLife over the past few months has been busy – very busy. Between running a long-term experiment, commuting back and forth across a country (albeit a small one), and attending a conference in Ireland, I have pretty much kept my nose to the grindstone, with blinders firmly attached against all distractions from the real world. But a few small titbits of world news have broken through my defences.Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1124727943434934102005-08-22T12:23:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:27:46.378-04:00Nordens Ark, Aby Fiord, Sweden22 August 2005
This month I've decided that pictures really are worth thousands of words. So rather than trying to describe the beauty of the area around the Aby Fiord, about one and a half hours north of Gothenburg, Sweden. I'll let you see for yourselves. In the following post pictures 1 - 6 show a misty sunrise over the Aby Fiord, and pictures 7 - 9 show sunset over the rocky shores near the Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1124727065750228452005-08-22T12:02:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:28:08.675-04:00Nordens Ark, Aby Fiord - PicturesScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1122572518695580922005-07-28T13:32:00.001-04:002011-06-07T10:04:31.031-04:00ReminiscingIt has been a crazy month in the world. The G8 met to discuss saving the world’s environment and saving Africa (with little on the agenda about the war on terrorism, much to George W’s dismay) and then London, and later Egypt, were bombed and terrorism once again came to the forefront of the political agenda. I listen to the news a lot these days, it keeps me sane as I work in the lab, but Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1119482509192637892005-06-22T19:19:00.002-04:002011-08-17T23:28:27.402-04:00Craving some romance?My husband and I needed an escape. We were sick of the countryside and wanted to be somewhere else to celebrate our first five years as a couple. We had moved to Europe in part for its romance, but romance seemed altogether lacking. We were craving a city. And not just any city, but a city that sparkles, a city with elegance and flare, a city of artists, intellectuals, and above all romance – Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1116884772184620232005-05-23T17:44:00.003-04:002011-08-17T23:28:47.091-04:00Isn’t it ironicOriginally sent as an email chronicle 1 May 2005
I’ve received a few emails from y’all mentioning that I haven’t sent a chronicle in quite some time so I figured I should send some news. I’ve been pretty busy lately with my research here in the Netherlands. I’ve started an experiment on captive Red Knots (my study species) that is taking all of my time. Hubby and I live in a town in the Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1116884214312800072005-05-23T17:32:00.002-04:002011-06-07T10:14:55.746-04:00Culture and all thatOriginally emailed as an email chronicle November 17, 2004
Recently I’ve been involved in a lively email discussion with friends about the joys and stumbling blocks of moving to a new country. Although I have relocated before (to Panama) that move was benign compared to moving to the Netherlands. There are several reasons for that, most notably that in Panama I had a local (Hubby) to show me Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127129194433824622004-09-25T07:25:00.004-04:002011-08-17T23:29:13.450-04:00Wadden Sea, Netherlands (July 2004)This place is for the birdsDeborah M. Buehler – Travel Chronicle I recently moved to the Netherlands and a few weeks ago I had my first Dutch bicycle accident. It was a typically rainy afternoon and a pigeon that had obviously had enough of the Dutch weather decided to attempt suicide by jumping under my front tire. My bike jack-knifed and I was catapulted forward and slid across the wet Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127129114462889632004-08-06T07:24:00.004-04:002011-08-17T23:29:39.492-04:00Switzerland – Mountains and moreDeborah M. Buehler – Travel Chronicle
Switzerland is known as a land of unsurpassed natural beauty and evokes images of snow capped mountains, pristine glacial lakes, precise watches and decadent chocolates. It is a land of extremes with climates ranging from the snowy heights of the Alps to the Mediterranean warmth of the south; a land where four different languages are widely spoken and a Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127129009772034792004-03-06T07:22:00.003-05:002011-08-17T23:30:10.109-04:00Peru – Land of the Incas and much more Deborah M. Buehler – Travel Chronicle My heart sank as I rounded the bend and was faced with yet another bank of steep Inca steps. I had been trekking for hours and still the trail climbed upward. With every turn I imagined the camp around the corner. Then just as I thought I could hike no more, I saw tents in the distance – I had survived Day 1 of the Inca Trail! Before me lay a stunning Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127128885955180642004-02-15T07:17:00.003-05:002011-08-17T23:30:32.359-04:00Experience Ecuador – El Mitad del MundoD. M. Buehler. 2004. Roof-top perch is a rail travel adventure. The Toronto Star. January 29, 2004.At 8:30 pm on my first day of travel in Ecuador, I found myself seated in Quito’s glorious Iglesia de La Compañia de Jesús watching the Andean Instrument Orchestra play Bach on quenas, charangos and pan flutes. As the orchestra switched to the haunting tones of a traditional Andean ballad, I sat Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127127902917132852003-11-19T06:23:00.005-05:002011-08-17T23:30:49.075-04:00I left a piece of my heart in PanamaLose Your Heart to Panama’s Beauty D. M. Buehler. 2003. Lose your heart to Panama’s Beauty. The Toronto Star. October 4, 2003. It is said that the word Panama stems from in an indigenous word meaning “the abundance of fish”, or “the abundance of butterflies”, or even “the abundance of a certain species of tree” – for me Panama simply means “abundance”.
I got my first peek at Panama’s “abundanceScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127128380633908592002-07-03T07:11:00.006-04:002011-08-17T23:31:14.809-04:00Arctic Adventures (May and June 2002)Deborah M. Buehler – Travel Chronicle The trip began May 30th with a very short flight to Montreal where I was to meet the rest of the shorebird team: a big boss from the Shorebird Conservation Plan, a grad student at the University of Alberta, and a grad student at Simon Fraser University. The purpose of the expedition was to get information on shorebird breeding densities in arctic Quebec (Science Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13120624.post-1127128041508527972001-12-19T07:05:00.002-05:002011-08-17T23:31:35.610-04:00Tierra del Fuego Tales (November 2001)Deborah M. Buehler – Travel Chronicle
I started the trip off in style thanks to my supervisor’s Elite Aeroplan status. With his card we through first class check-in and then into the Air Canada Elite members lounge. It was very posh with complimentary drinks, snacks and reading material. It certainly made the wait for boarding the aircraft more enjoyable.The flight from Toronto to São PauloScience Momhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13686165859104823908noreply@blogger.com0