Wednesday, July 11, 2012

I Have Arrived

16 hours late, but I have arrived in Portland (technically Vancouver, Washington, but who's counting). The flights out here were pretty smooth with the exception of one portion going over the Continental Divide And I got a nice view of Mount Hood upon arrival in the Rose City. Unfortunately, my mind is still on Eastern Time and I woke up at 6:30 this morning. Jet lag problems. So, the Portland part of my project begins today. The plan is to take the MAX Light Rail from Delta Park Station (just over the Columbia River from Vancouver) into Downtown Portland to start getting the lay of the land for this project. I will also head on over to the Portland Archives & Records Center, which apparently has a massive collection of old photographs and maps that should be of great use to me in this project. Day 1 will certainly not be a waste of time. It just feels like the afternoon right now though and it's only 10:30 (like I said, jet lag problems).

Friday, July 6, 2012

Oh Indiana...

You know what I love? Returning from a 3 mile run on humid morning and end up dripping with sweat and anger! Oh, wait, I really don't love that at all. In fact, that sounds more like torture. So I basically experienced torture this morning. But I am in Indiana after a bit of an uncomfortable flight (in which heat drafts make you feel like you're riding a fishing boat in a hurricane instead of a plane) and sort of a full nights rest. At least I have A/C...

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Welcome and Intro and Such

For those of you are reading this for the first time and have no idea who I am or why I'm doing this, allow me to do a bit of introduction. My name is Chris Henchey, I am from Melrose, Mass, and I am a rising junior at Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU for short). I am a geography major with an intended minor in German Studies, and a 3-season runner (cross country, indoor, and outdoor track; I basically never stop). Now normally, when one sees that a college student is going to the West Coast during the summer, they assume "Oh, ok, going for some fun on the beach, looking to meet some nice guys or girls (depending on your preference), I see what you're doing." Well, it won't be all fun and games while I'm out there for 4 weeks. Through the school, I have received what's called a "Theory to Practice Grant", which is basically taking what you learn in the classroom and applying to field research in a subject of your choice (as long as it's reasonably well thought out). So, I'm headed to Portland and Seattle for 17 and 11 days, respectfully, to study the effects of public transportation (light rail, streetcars, commuter rail, Amtrak, etc.) on urban growth and development through a process called rephotography (which is using an old photograph and taking a new photograph in the same location to assess change). So 80% of this trip will be dedicated to this research project, the shooting, the processing, the riding of all those trains, the analysis, ok you get the point. But is this all work and no play? That's no fun. Not one bit. Of course there's going to be touristy crap I'm going to participate in. Well, maybe not those bus tours or tours that go in water as well as on land...yeah not a big fan of those.
So, this is the location for an informal take on all my project progress while on the West Coast, as well as any other random thoughts that might pop into my mind. Tomorrow (which is now today) well, I start to make my way west, but I won't even make it halfway across the country. I'm only going to reach Indianapolis, which is home to a good friend of mine. And I will proceed to chill in his basement for 5 days and eat food and watch Red Sox-Yankees. Oh, right, and his grad party is on Sunday. That's all I have for this evening. Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow (or so).

(Note - The author likes the use of parenthesis. A lot.)