Category Archives: Contempary Scholar Conference

Sunday 10th March

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Sunday morning started with introduction of the contemporary scholars, using PowerPoint presentation. We each had three minutes to explain who we are, something about our family and home towns and our study topic. Remembering people’s presentations proved very hard as we listen to some 64 presentations. All I can say is, when sitting in a room full of people with achievements like they have, you wonder how you are in the same room.

 

Sunday afternoon was a group bonding session with an “AgMazing race”. This involved taking photos around the University of Guelph of things related to Canada and Agriculture.

Guelph agriculture student. Check out the jacket.
Otto drove the bus.
You can never get enough of Bag pipes.
Actual curling. Bullseye.
Beer Fridge

Sunday night was something different. I had see curling on the tv before but had never experienced it. To me it was just someone sweeping the floor infront of a rock. However after having the rules explained I now think it is lawn bowls on ice with someone sweeping infront of it. It is a big thing in Canada and after playing it for a night I can see why they enjoy it. It did remind me of the movie “Crackerjack” with Ladies and Gentlemen playing the game and no doubt a swear jar. The best part of Curling is you don’t need a separate fridge for the drinks you just leave them on the side of the rink. Sorry if I have offended any Canadians. These are my views and not that of Nuffield 13.

Saturday 9th March

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Boys from the hood.
The CN tower
View of Lake Ontorio
Looking down

Saturday was a free morning so we organise to go into Toronto. Our local guide and fellow Canadian scholar, Blake Vince, had organised with the Global focus group to have a look at the local sites in town.  Because we were on a tight schedule they decided we should check out the CN Tower and get a look over Toronto. After hiring two black chrysler wagons, making us look like an official entourage, we heading into town. They say the trip getting there is half the fun, and this proved the case.  After not seeing each other for a couple of months and getting to know some of the international scholars, jokes were flying everywhere. Ed Green showed off some impressive driving to keep up with the local and managed to get us to the tower in one piece.

Some interesting facts about the tower:

The CN tower’s 102m broadcasting antenna strecthes high above the Sky Pod. It was constructed with the help of a Erikson Skycrane, used in Australia to fight fires (Elvis). Today the antenna not only broadcasts TV abd radio signals across southern Ontario, it makes for the second tallest building on the planet.

With a quick visit, we all headed back to Geulph to catch a local ice hockey game. On arrival back at the hotel we were presented with ice hockey jersey’s which had the Canadian Maple leaf on the front and Nuffield 13 on the back. At least we looked the part, even if we did understand all the rules. The game was exciting and thoroughly enteraintaining and as we had it explained to us later, “we went to a fight and a ice hockey game broke out.” After the game we continued networking at a local tavern.

Friday 8th March

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After flying in from Melbourne to Sydney with Peter Kaylock and Terry Hehir, we caught up with other Australian 2013 Scholars. Well the flight out of Sydney proved to be a event in itself, with the plane getting halfway down the runway before aborting the takeoff due to a fire alarm. After the aircraft engineers checked the plane we were able to take off some two hours later. This was followed by a thirteen hour flight into LA where we arrived only to have the sky ramp not work, meaning another hour on the plane. We then transferred to another gate over the other side of the airport and flew onto Toronto. Another hour on a bus after arriving in Canada we got to check into the Delta Hotel in Guelph. With somewhat tired and exhausted Australians ready for a good night sleep, we find out we are not booked into the hotel for the night. Being Nuffield scholars, we take control of the situation and start organising ourselves and check ourselves into any available rooms. Ahh bed.