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March 12, 2005
Conference time
The Monk is currently in Kentucky where he has been attending a conference and training programme as part of an exchange of tutorial staff on fire and explosion investigation. It has proved very interesting indeed, in a mixed role of student and teacher plus the prospect of returning home with some additional qualifications to show for it.
The hospitality has been terrific and the welcome as warm as anyone could wish for. The host and hostess have been wonderful and the colleagues and students terrific. One thing that the Monk has relearned is that Ten-pin Bowling is not to be undertaken without some limbering up - and perhaps some new joints to fingers and shoulder! Still, it has been fun and will be even more so for another week.
Kentucky has been cold, with alternate snow, rain, wind, and sunshine in this Eastern part nudging up to the back of the Appalachian mountains. Fortuinately, having been warned of this, the Monk was prepared and had his warm woolies with him. It has been something of a contrast to the Qatar warmth and culture, but it is almost like being at home - apart from the accent and the occassional twists in language use. Even so, the fire fighter community is a warm-hearted and welcoming one, and the opportunity to work alongside colleagues at Eastern Kentucky University has been a rewarding one!
I look forward to having the pleasure of hosting my present hosts on the return exchange later this year.
Posted by The Gray Monk at March 12, 2005 08:35 AM