"Every wall is a door." Ralph Waldo Emerson.
HippieHusband and I have moved into our new apartment sans furniture but who cares, I'm happy to sleep on the floor. It's so nice not to be in a hotel anymore. Plus we've been exploring our hip new neighbourhood with all its restaurants, cafes, shops, etc.
I'm sitting in an industrial chic coffee shop, peppered with people from different cultural backgrounds, working away on their laptops or writing that great American novel. The walls are covered in photography largely taken by local artists and it has a unisex bathroom. The cultural, racial and gender diversity of the city makes me feel like I've finally returned home.
And once things settle down for me here, I will post the third and last in the series on Slow Science, "The Death of the Sniper Scientist." I've been writing bits and pieces when I get a chance, but things have been so incredibly crazy and exciting. While we were packing up our apartment and getting ready to move out of SmallTown, something incredible happened for my career. And as much as I would love to write about it, it would reveal too much about who I am. And for the time being, I'd like to remain pseudoanonymous.
But I am thinking about refocusing the blog to be a discussion of science related issues, rather than the more sociological or personal stories that I have been writing about. This idea came about because I've been watching a Canadian comedy/drama show that my sister, Fortune, suggested I watch. It's called Being Erica. Although it has that homemade feel, as most Canadian TV shows do, it's actually pretty good. The show is about a 32 year old woman who is incapable of holding down a job or a relationship. Because of her circumstances, she lives in regret of her past. This regret leads her to some very unusual therapy, which allows Erica to go back and relive/redo those regrets. It's the Canadian answer to Sex in the City without the sex, slick language and expensive shoes, but don't hold that it against it. Like anything it gets better with age!
And so that leads me to think about the future of this blog. There are many bloggers who write about their lives and while I know that it's important to have a diversity of perspectives, I'm not sure that another one is necessary. Plus I think there is a need for people with scientific expertise to write about cool plant research. Plus it wouldn't hurt if I got to read more research!
I'm interested in the opinion of those that read this blog. Do you prefer the personal stories? Do you want more science? Or would you be interested in some combination of the two? I would appreciate any feedback!!!
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I just finished reading an engaging article in The New Yorker, called " The Truth Wears Off. " The author Jonah Lehrer talks abou... -
[These ideas on Slow Science are a work-in-progress a first draft of sorts. With some help from those of you who read this post, via a chal... -
Okay peeps, I know that many of you are lurkers at this website (according to the visits from the sitemeter stats). But I want you to come ...
11 comments:
Hi dear Canadian Girl Postdoc
I'm a graduate student in a big Canadian university (on the opposite side of yours, I guess), and in the midst of transferring from PhD to masters to get rid of a bully and then join another lab for my PhD. Long story that I have to write once I'm clear of him...
I love your blog due to the mixture of science and personal topics that you wrote on. The frustrations of your husband, medical issues and loss of a parent all happened to me while in bully's lab and I always looked up on you to see how you guys survived. I think in the end its your decision to choose the direction of your blog, but I most certainly like the female Canadian perspective in your posts.
best of luck in your new position,
BioinfoGal
I really like your personal stories. Wherever you live sounds AMAZING.
First of all, congratulations on the exciting development in your career!! I am truly happy for you.
In regards to the blog, like BioInfoGirl, I have both enjoyed and gained inspiration from your personal stories. However, I do understand what you mean about the number of bloggers writing their personal stories. And learning about plants would be cool. I've enjoyed your slow science series and am sure I would enjoy your other science type posts. I guess I'm voting a combination blog:))
I vote with the others and also like a combination. I did a postdoc in a BigYummy US city and can relate to some of the stories you've told from your previous lab. I'm not sure why, but I find them reassuring that my reactions to some of those experiences are not crazy. Or maybe it's just misery loves company. :)
My favorite science blogs are always a combination of the science and the personal stories. But in the end, you have to blog about what you want to.
New city sounds awesome! We just moved out of the suburbs into the city. It's fan-fricking-tastic!
Dear Canadian GirlPostdoc,
I have enjoyed reading the blog for both your personal journey as well as the science focus.
Good luck with the new position,
Stace
I enjoy both types of blogs, but at the end of the day, you should blog about what makes you happy or most interested. If your undecided, maybe just start blogging about one or the other and then the direction of the blog will work itself out. However, I don't think that you should quite blogging about personal stories just because there are already multiple blogs of similar content. Your point of view is unique and therefore, different enough to have it's own place in the blogosphere. Hope that wasn't too after school special sounding. :)
I'd say do whatever calls out to you when you sit down to blog. It may turn out to be a mixture of both or just one. You can always change your mind later.
I like reading personal stories about science or related stuff. Things that make you think and ponder, are interestng to me. I have to say, the last couple of posts about post docing and lab work have been very intersting, and I look forward reading about the exit stuff ^^
Both, as all the others have written in the comments, write aobut what you like - and the readers will like reading it :)
I'm new to your blog but have enjoyed reading it recently. I'm having the same decision troubles with my own blog. I personally enjoy a mix of both and prefer personal stories that offer some sort of advice to others who might be going through the same thing. Good luck in your new city and I look forward to reading more posts whichever direction you choose!
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