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The Grand Canyon and Final Post



I had the great pleasure of a friend visiting from home recently. Jane and I did our honours degrees in linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington way back in 1989, and have maintained a firm friendship ever since, often going on adventures together, like tramping and canoeing. This time we drove to the Grand Canyon, on the way stopping to see Biosphere 2, now owned by the University of Arizona.  Much of the adventure of the 6 hour drive there and back was me driving on the right hand side for the first time! But all was good with Jane beside me, navigating and reminding me to keep on the right as I turned corners. The tour of the Biosphere was fascinating, learning about the group of people who were sealed in there for two years, and the many experiments being conducted there since, some of which are in partnership with NASA, looking at how food could be grown on Mars, for example. We arrived at the Canyon just after sunset, seeing some elk grazing and crossing the road as we arrived. We spent the whole next day walking along the Southern rim, under blue skies, marveling at the colours and shapes of the canyon. It was rather surreal. We also explored the visitors’ centre and learned a bit about coyotes from a ranger. As we drove out the next day we were excited to see coyotes run across the road ahead of us.

Our trip there and home was through a stunning range of landscapes with skies which were breath taking. It all made me go back to the beautiful picturebook by Evan Turk, You are Home, which takes the reader through all of the National Parks in the USA using stunning pastel illustrations.
This is my last week at the University of Arizona, and things are busy as I complete my last two data collection sessions, deliver a lecture, and clear out my office and the little casita where I have been living these past four months. Even though my friend Jane took books home for me I am still struggling with luggage weight! I leave Arizona with many new friends and colleagues, new books, new ideas, and a tonne of inspiration to develop my teaching and picturebook unit at home.

This Fulbright experience has been everything I had imagined (and I had very high hopes). 
Thank you to Fulbright, thank you to Professor Kathy Short and to the University of Arizona for hosting me so generously.
No reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou kātoa.

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