Getty Center, Venice, Santa Monica

Garden as sculture, Getty Center, LA

Thursday, Friday - Two days to atttune to time zone and accents, and to explore LA. It's a huge, buzzing city, not exactly attractive but fun; people mostly very friendly; nice that there are many more trees than I expected, and mountains on the horizon. It's been quite foggy most of the time - tour guides insist it's 'marine layer' rather than pollution.

Thursday I took a 'combo' tour of the city - four hours at the Getty Center then a drive aroud the city sights. Getty was quite amazing, the architecture and gardens as captivating as the artwok inside. Perfectly proportioned modern/classical buildings of musical travertine limetone laden with fossils; the garden described by its creator as sculpture in the form of a garden to activate all the senses. Hollywood, Beverley Hills pretty much as expected; the Walk of Fame a bit of a let down, a rather grubby pavement and lots of 'stars' names on the pavers that I didn't recognise.  Venice was quirky - great mural of Jim Morrison.

Friday I went to Santa Monica on the Big Blue Bus. About 45 mins ride for 0.75 cents. SM had a suprisingly old fashioned seaside air, with shimps and funfair on the pier. It was a great sailing day, so lots of boats in the bay. I enjoyed a walk along the seafront Pallisade Park and rides on the roller coaster and ferris wheel.

The last few days in LA have been a great prelude to the main adventure. Today, in a couple of hours I head off to Denver, with trepidation and aspiration.

Away to LA

Wattle weather, midwinter in Brisbane

Well, I’m actually here in Los Angeles! Coming off the plane, the ‘Welcome to the United States of America’ sign gave me a jolt of reality. Over the last few weeks I’ve been so busy preparing for my departure, attending to work and personal matters, that I’ve had little chance to think seriously about the reasons and implications of all the busy-ness.

But importantly, amidst all the flurry, David and I had a delightfully peaceful pause over the week-end at Oceanview Estates, a winery with great restaurant and 2 neat cabins http://oceanviewestates.com.au/. The previous week-end we had a lovely family dinner with Peter, Mark and Vanessa, before M and V headed off to NZ for a ski-ing holiday.

Although I’d been making piles of stuff for the US for a couple of weeks on Mark’s bed, I didn’t get round to packing until Tuesday afternoon (day before departure). The plane took off Weds 11 am in perfect Brisbane wattle season weather – sunny, crisp, blue sky. The pilot commented that Moreton Bay looked so beautiful it was almost a shame to leave Queensland and caused me a moment of wistfulness. We landed in LA at 7.30 am, still Weds! Here it was warmer, but quite foggy, so unfortunately there was no view of the landscape. Bizarrely, coming down to land it looked like a snowfields, with mountain tops emerging out of the clouds below the plane.

Traps for unwary scholars! I had some hassles with excess baggage at Brisbane airport and ended up at the last minute jettisoning a pile of academic papers and a novel. (Note: ‘Informed learning’ and ‘Working together’ survived the cull!) Then at LA airport my collection of gifts, including a heap of QUT freebees (pen, rubber wristbands etc) caused some consternation with customs, who thankfully decided I wouldn’t need to pay duty since these things were for educational purposes.

I’m presently staying at a hotel near LAX airport, which is handy with free shuttle to/from airport - a helpful suggestion from Erica :) Clean room, pleasant staff. After sorting myself out, I caught the ocean trolley (an antique bus) to Manhattan Beach – walked along the pier and seafront, enjoying fresh air and exercise after the plane journey; but nearly run over by several skateboarders, until I realised I was on the skaters’ rather than the walkers’ path. For lunch I ate about half of the biggest sandwich I’ve ever encountered – delicious, multilayered, seemed to be about half a loaf of bread. Friendly waiter taught me that ‘jack’ is a kind of cheese and ‘squaw’ a sweetish wholemeal bread.

On my way back from M Beach, the bus dropped me off at a discount store to buy a mobile phone – oops, cell phone. Samsung with camera & charger, free connection to cell network and $10.00 credit all for &19.99. Amazing compared with Aus prices!

By 6.30pm I was really ready for bed – and slept until 7.00 am Thursday morning when the alarm went off. Woke once during the night when the aircon came on with a huge whoosh.

Visa done, plane booking done!

The last few weeks have been so busy, tidying up things at QUT and preparing for my residency in Denver. Throughout my QUT colleagues,  friends and family have been wonderfully suportive and encouraging. Helping to convince me that this whole thing is do-able. There's been a flurry of emails to and from Mary and other colleagues in the US, setting up a varied program - based in Denver, with possible visits to kindred spirits at Colgate, Rutgers, Illinois. Plus planning wth Christine Bruce for joint workshops and discussions in Denver during week of 9 Aug.

After a quick trip earlier this month to the US Consulate in Sydney I now have a US visa and a flight booked for Aug 4 to Los Angeles. Such a relief to have that sorted, as my program in Denver begins on Aug 9! I've booked a couple of nights in LA to rest and ease my way in to US life, with Getty Museum and Santa Monica top of my visiting list.

Because I've been so busy since first hearing that I'd been accepted, I'm only now beginning to appreciate the opportunity and challenges (eek!) that the residency offers. On a personal level, I'm begining the inevitable round of fond farewells - sad but also a good excuse for lunches, afternoon teas, dinner with special people. 

Celebrating American Independence at the US Embassy in Canberra



The Fulbright is bringing so many unexpected experiences, including the reception on Thursday 1 July at the Residence of the US Ambasssador in Canberra,to celebrate the anniversary of American Independence.  About 900 hundred guests, a ‘formal festive’ garden party with a California Dreamin’ theme. (Ambassador Bleich’s home state is CA). There were old chevies, dodges, kombis, waitresses in 60s hippie gear, baseball, Hollywood (I had my photo taken with a Terminator cut-out), Californian wine & grapes, and lots of finger food. Life-size cut-outs of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama waving to us from the balcony. Activities for the embassy staff’s children – face painting, jumping castle etc. Great to catch up with 4 of my Fulbright cohort and Dr Joe Hlubucek, Executive Director of the Australian- American Fulbright Commission.

Ambassador Bleich and Family

 

Mattew Lee, Elizabeth Jens, me, Dr Joe Hlubucek,
Mark Harris, Krista Clews de Castella

Terminator?!



Making plans for my residency

People keep asking what will I actually be doing during my residency in Denver. A fair question! And one that I'm still getting my head around.

The  media release (Australian Fulbright Commission) says:

Dr Hilary Hughes ... will spend 4 months, from August – December 2010, at the University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver and Metropolitan State College of Denver through a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence Program. The Scholar-in-Residence Program gives U.S. institutions the opportunity to invite Scholars with special expertise to their campuses for a semester.
While she is on her Fulbright, Hilary will advance a tri-institutional project with a strong community outreach component that aims to improve the academic success of both international students, and traditionally underserved students (domestic students of varied cultural heritage)To this end, she will work with Auraria Library Director Dr Mary M. Somerville and colleagues at her host institutions to develop professional development programs on learning and teaching in culturally diverse contexts.

“This project will develop inclusive informed learning strategies and curriculum resources to enhance the educational outcomes of students of varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds. It will enable students to use information critically, and to develop familiarity with academic language and practices. ,” Hilary said. These initiatives will build on the findings and recommendations of Hilary’s PhD thesis (2009) and Prof Christine Bruce’s (2008) work on informed learning.
“We will look at ways to help university educators and public school teachers provide the support that these students need, whilst promoting collaborative campus relationships among cultural diversity offices, faculty development departments, academic colleges faculty, and academic library professionals.”

Hilary will also participate in a variety of learning, teaching, and research seminars at the host institutions, co-teach a School of Education and Human Development course, and present a paper at the regional NAFSA conference (on international education). During her time in the U.S. she will engage with the Denver community (including public schools, Lions Club, Women’s Press Club.


In reality, the plans are still taking shape. I'm liaising with Dr Mary Somerville and other colleagues in the US to work out the details. It looks like being an exciting, challenging and full program. The main focus will of course be to collaborate with colleagues across the 3 Denver institutions mentioned above,  to develop and implement innovative curriculum, pedagogy,  resources and services to improve the academic success of both international students, and traditionally underserved students.   

I'm coming to see my role as a 'catalyst' for exploring concepts and and developing strategies for learning and teaching in culturally diverse contexts. So I'm not so much going to teach, but rather to share ideas, stimulate discusssion and contribute to collaborative projects - through lectures, seminars, online forums, lunchtime conversations, library program development, community of practice for educators at the China campus, etc.

Professor Christine Bruce (my PhD supervisor) and I are currently working on a journal article that explains concepts of informed learning, describes how they informed my research and then how I applied them to teaching 2 groups of international students last semester. Theory into practice! This will be a foundation for developing activities for Denver. And I'm delighted that Christine will be coming to Denver for a week shortly after I get there, to help 'launch' me into my residency.

Meanwhile in Denver, Dr Mary Sommerville is coordinating a complex schedule for me, which will include conferences and visits to other universities around the US - wonderful opportunities to connect with like-minded researchers and educators. So far, plans include:
NAFSA Bi-regional Conference in Omaha, Nebraska    
I've been in touch with a number of eminent Information Literacy proponents and have received a kind invitation to visit to Purdue University to meet Dr Sharon Weiner, Chair of Information Literacy. I'm also looking forward to meeting Dr Alison Head Co-Director and Co-Principal Investigator of Project Information Literacy  at University of Washington, Seattle. And also I hope to catch up agian with Dr Lana Jackman, President of the National Forum on Information Literacy, who I met at the International Lifelong Learning Conference in 2008 (Rockhampton, Queensland).

And just today, I've received an invitation from Clarence Maybee at Colgate University to share  research findings, perhaps thorough a talk and other activities, such as meeting with student groups, lunch with faculty interested in pedagogy and discussion with librarians. This is a particularly welcome opportunity, as I'm familiar with Clarence's interesting work in information literacy. We have a special connection through Mary Somerville (his Masters supervisor) and Christine Bruce and Mandy Lupton (his current doctoral supervisors).  

.... it's all so exciting - and challenging! - bringing the various threads of the residency together.

Queensland reception and QUT talk

Another amazing event! Last week there was a reception for 2010 Queensland Fulbright scholars, hosted by University of Queensland at Customs House (a glorious heritage building and restaurant on the Bris River). And as a nice touch, pre-2001 Fulbright scholars, including QUT's Vice Chancellor  Prof Peter Coaldrake, were 'pinned' (presented with a Fulbright lapel pin).  It was a welcome opportunity to share some of the Fulbright excitement and dinner afterwards, with my QUT supervisors and mentors: Prof Wendy Patton (Dean of Education), Prof Annette Patterson (Head of School of Cultural and Language Studies), Prof Susan Danby and Dr Michael Middleton (PhD supervisors); and also Dr Polly Bjorn Willen, a visiting scholar and friend of Susan's from Sweden.


Earlier in the day Craig Costello and I spoke at a session for prospective QUT applicants for next year's Fulbrights, led by Dr Joe Hlubucek, Executive Director of the Ausatraliam-American Fulbright Commission. Seemed quite strange to be up there encouraging others before we'd even had our own FB experience!

QUT News: Poet, mathematician and educator win Fulbrights

QUT News (22 March 2009) carried the following news story. The 3 Fulbright scholars across such varied disciplines reflect the divsersity of programs offered at QUT.


Poet, mathematician and educator win Fulbrights
QUT has accounted for half of the six Fulbright scholarships awarded to Queenslanders this year.
A total of 25 Australian scholars were named at the Fulbright's 60th anniversary presentation dinner in Melbourne on March 18.
•Sarah Holland-Batt, a poet, critic and QUT lecturer in creative writing and literary studies, will use her two-year scholarship to study for a Master of Fine Arts in poetry at New York University ...
•QUT PhD mathematics student Craig Costello will spend 12 months at the University of California undertaking research into maths-based security techniques for computers and other telecommunication devices ...
•Dr Hilary Hughes, a lecturer with QUT's Faculty of Education, will spend four months as a scholar-in-residence at the University of Colorado, Denver, developing an inclusive approach to online learning for students from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds ...

Dr Hughes, of Upper Kedron on Brisbane's northside, said her Fulbright scholarship had sprung from her PhD research into how international students at QUT and another Queensland university use online information to learn. She had concluded that rather than the university catering for different cultural groups separately, an inclusive approach would benefit all students, domestic and international.
She said international students often felt disoriented on arriving at a new university but many domestic students felt exactly the same way. "We need to recognise all their different needs and provide enough varied responses so that people's needs will be met, and in a way that people won't be embarrassed to go and ask for help," Dr Hughes said. She said her research at QUT, which boasts 210 nationalities, had found, for example, that some overseas students were reluctant to borrow library books because they thought the sign "loans" meant they had to go into debt to do so. She said Denver also had a lot of international students, as well as a large Latino population and many disadvantaged students. "In Denver I will be working with academics and librarians to develop innovative curriculum, teaching methods and learning resources," Dr Hughes said. Dr Hughes, who has previous experience as an accredited Spanish-English translator, will also teach in the university's ethnic studies program.


For longer Fulbright scholar profiles go to: www.fulbright.com.au
Media contact: QUT media officer Elizabeth Allen on 07 3138 4494 or e1.allen@qut.edu.au
Content sourced from QUT News Web Service.

Fulbright orientation and presentation dinner

Just returned from the orientation and presentation dinner for the 2010 Australian Fulbright scholars in Melbourne. I feel deeply privileged and humbled - and so excited! - to be among this group of 25 amazing people who are featured on the Australian-American Fulbright Commisssion website.

The 2010 cohort includes Senior Scholars, Professional Scholars, Postdoctoral and Postgraduate Scholars - and one Scholar in Residence! 

 My colleagues are all highly talented, fascinating people from a wide range of fields: medicine, public heath, law, idigenous community development, VET, marine ecology, physics, maths, informatics, DNA sequencing, astronautical engineering, sustainable energy, agriculture - with the humanities nicely represented by a poet, a muso and a historian. All were generous in sharing their stories and their richly varied personal, professional and research experiences, their enthusiasms, their hopes for Fulbright and beyond ...

The Fulbright orientation was really inspiring and helpful. Everyone - current and previous scholars, the Fulbright Commission team and board members - are all so friendly and encouraging. I experienced a great sense of mutual respect and support that underpins the notion of the 'Fulbright family'.

The dinner was amazing, at the National Gallery of Victoria under the stained glass ceiling ...

The dinner was attended by heaps of people, including senior academics, previous Fulbright scholars, the US amabassador, and US Fulbright scholars currently based in Aus.
I was delighted that the QUT Vice Chancellor Prof Peter Coldrake was there - he seemed chuffed to have 3 QUT Fulbright scholars this year! Craig Costello (PhD student, cryptography), Sarah Holland-Batt (poet, critic and lecturer in creative writing) and mysef (lecturer/researcher).
It was also lovely to have my son Mark's company at the dinner, representing our family since sadly my husband David was unable to attend ...

During the orientation I came to realise that scholar in residence is a pretty rare breed among Australian Fulbrights. This year I am the only one. It seems that the majority of the 2010 cohort are dedicated researchers, while I'll be focusing on (informed) learning and teaching, whilst hopefully establishing some worthwhile research opportunities. It's nice, if daunting, to be a little different :-)

While in Melbourne I met several people who raved about Denver and the surrounding area. I'm even more excited now!

Fulbright SIR opportunity - unofficially, yes!

On Friday (8 Jan) I was working quietly, productively at home on an article about the findings of my doctoral research. The phone rang, David answered. He said it was for me. A quick exchange: Me: “Who is it?” David: “I don’t know”. So I took the phone guessing it would be a student (or prospective student) with an enquiry about the course that I coordinate.

” Hello, Hilary speaking”
“Hello, my name is Lyndell Wilson, I'm calling from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission.”
Oh my goodness …

I’d been anxiously checking my email inbox every day for the last month, looking for the decision about my application for Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence at University Colorado Denver. As the days passed without news, I was resigning myself to an unsuccessful outcome. Never mind, I was telling myself – life this year will be smoother without the upheaval of relocating and adjusting to US; no need to reorganise my responsibilities at QUT (teaching, research, course coordination); more time for relaxing with family. 2010 could be a year of consolidation, personally and professionally …

So despite the anticipation, I was unprepared for hearing the news in a phone call …

Lindell talked a bit about the Scholar in Residence (SIR) program. Was I aware that University Colorado Denver had submitted a proposal on my behalf. “Yes”.
She explained that the proposal had been approved. Would I be interested in accepting? “Yes, thank you – very much”.
Lyndell explained that she would send me the official paperwork – and an invitation to a presentation and dinner in Melbourne on 18 March for Australian 2010 Fulbright scholars.

All of a sudden my plans for 2010 were shifting – and I was shaking. Amazement, excitement, terror …

I wondered if anyone would decline such an opportunity? And then – eek! - I wondered if I could possibility live up to the expectations that the proposal represented?

I had an urge to immediately tell the world about this amazing good fortune, but the offer was still unofficial. Despite my excitement, I had to show some professional decorum and not blow the whole thing before it had even started. So, I shared the news with family (David, Peter, Mark, Vanessa and Judy) and a few close colleagues, cautioning them to keep it under their hats for the time being.
David and Peter were at home at the time to share the excitement. The others sent email messages:

Mark: “Wow!! Go Dr Mum”.
Judy: "Brilliant! What an opportunity Big Boot!" (she's Little Boot - for some unknown reason!) 

My Head of School:  "This is fabulous news! Open the champers"
The Dean of Education: "This is absolutely wonderful news" 
Assistant Dean of Education (Teaching and Learning): "Wow! Fantastic! Congratulations!"
My Principal PhD supervisor: "Well done, well done. What a fabulous way to start the year"
My Associate PhD supervisor: "That is fabulous news! I am so delighted to hear this"
The Dean of Faculty of Science and Technology: "Congratulations Hilary! I hope you have a wonderful time in Denver"


PhD supervsior to Information Studies research colleagues: "We are very proud that Dr Hilary Hughes, member of our Information Studies Research group from F Ed has been accepted as Fulbright Scholar in Residence for 2010 at the University of Denver. No media announcements are allowed until the ceremonies in March, however we thought you would like to be privy to this exciting news. Hilary is a lecturer in the Faculty of Education and has been part of our research group for some years. She completed her PhD with us last year and I have had the pleasure of being her MCAD mentor as we have gone through this Fulbright Process".

Raylee: “Full steam ahead!” 
Helen: “Hooray!!” 
Mandy: "YEE HA!!!! You-Go-Girlfriend!!!!" 
Kerry: "Congratulations and a big hug"  
Guy: "Congratulations Hilary! A life-changing experience no doubt! A tribute to the Information Studies Research Program as well. Enjoy Denver".
Deb: Congratulations ... I am delighted for you ... I think you are more than entitled to a glass (or two) of very good Australian champagne"
Jo: "How absolutely fantastic and well-deserved"
Anita: "You are brilliant! Full of joy and bright so well deserved"
Beryl: "Hilary, what a dream come true!! Well done, ten out of ten for this one....enjoy"
Robyn: "Congratulations on your very well deserved award". Inger: Oh Hilary, I am so delighted for you. What a wonderful opportunity and a very fitting recognition of your thesis ... Congratulations! I do hope you have plenty of warm clothing as I imagine it would be a little chilly in the Fall"
Cushla: "Warmest and best congratulations. Wow! What an opportunity"
Annah: "Wonderful news Hilary – congratulations indeed!"
Anne: "Warmest congrats on this brilliant achievement! All the best for this exciting year!"
Lyn: "Congratulations: that’s fantastic news!"
Margaret: "A huge congratulations. What a wonderful thing to look forward to"

Their warm and encouraging responses went some way to reassuring me that the SIR would be something worthwhile, something that I could realistically tackle.

I emailed Dr Mary Somerville at University Colorado Denver, who had initiated and prepared the SIR proposal. She replied that she hadn't yet been notified about acceptance of the proposal:  "This is thrilling news! It is truly marvelous that you will join us in the fall semester".

The Fall … sounds so American to a British-Australian! An early indication of the transition challenges that I will experience as scholar-in-residence in Denver. I’ve researched and written a lot about international students’ experiences of living and learning in an unfamiliar cultural-linguistic-educational environment – and now I’ll be gaining my own real life insights as an ‘international scholar’ and learner.