no title ...yet

Finally an internet connection! But in the three days' interim I've gathered too many impressions and reflections on being "home-home" for the first time in several years to form a coherent post -- by the time I am back in Gothenburg tomorrow night I'll have sorted out my paradoxical identity. Until then, here's brother and sister!

A regular workday

It started with two hours of interviews for our identity research project, included a guest lecture for masters' students, and ended with a professorial gathering. I could get used to this kind of life!

Woodilla, Narayanswamy, Johansson, Sköldberg

Toursits for the afternoon

The weather forecast was good, with sunshine this afternoon, so we became “real tourists” and took the canal tour. The forecast was accurate in that the sun came out for 5 minutes, but otherwise it was overcast and windy. Not the best for a waster tour! We went under numerous bridges down to the river, saw working and former shipyards, and the Fisherman’s Wife statue from the water. I’d like to take the tour again on a summer day!

Down the canal

Into the river

Past a working dry-dock and former shipyard (now a side canal and residential area)

with different views of the city

Afterwards we walked through the Garden Society’s gardens – there were many nice groupings of plants and the rose garden was fragrant even in late September. Unfortunately the impressive-looking greenhouses were closed this afternoon.

So now you know that I don’t work all the time!

Books!

I've been surrounded with books most of the day. This morning I went first to the Economics Library to renew my library card and inquire about the whereabouts of a couple of books I had located through the online catalog and knew they were on reserve - in the "Undergraduate and newspaper" library. That was across the street, and the first librarian kindly called ahead so the books were waiting at the circulation desk when I walked in. I read them in the Reading Room (no phones, laptops, food or even water allowed) for a while, and then tried to find out how long before my next visit I should request them so that they would be available to take out when "On site." I was instructed to phone and make my request known -- for Visiting Professors lots of nice things happen!

This afternoon Jack and I went to the Gothenburg Book Fair -- and annual event where all Swedish publishers have their new releases (and other books) and many authors are present to

give readings, interviews, book signings and whatever. It was held in a huge convention hall and was absolutely packed -- both with books and with people! Not too many books were in English, but if we stopped to inquire about something the staff at the booth could explain it in English. I did purchase a graphic novel (in English) at the Engeleksa Mobelhuset.

On our way home we took a detour on tram 3 to the Sjofartmuseet-Akvariet (Maritime Museum and aquarium) located by the famous statue of the Fisherman's Wife who is forever staring out to sea waiting for her husband to return. Both the museum and aquarium part had excellent exhibits on the local history and marine environment with very good information in English. I even learned about Lasse Dahlquist's use of "Swenglish" in his songs -- bust can't find any references is to it through Google!

Friday - end of workweek

Today was quiet, with time for me to create a conceptual network among the various learning and research situations I have encountered during the past week, and to try to find an "interesting angle" that I can develop further. The connection between ethnomethodological ways of understanding everyday actions and designerly ways of thinking/acting intrigue me, so I will follow up on that. A day -- or at least an hour or two -- in the library of "real books" is called for.

A day without some sort of social gathering does not seem to happen here. Today was the farewell reception for Rolf, Wolff, the exiting Dean of the School of Business, Economics and Law. I couldn't understand the speeches in Swedish, but I'm sure they were much like other Dean-farewells I have attended. I'm always surprised how many people I either know or recognize me at such gatherings!

TGIF! Tomorrow the weekend!

Thursday walkabouts

I seem to have no time to think, let alone reflect for my blog. What is happening to my personal re-design? Have I become sedimented as someone who chases from the Business School to the Design School (about half a mile) and back several times a day like a dog chasing its own tail?

Today started at the Business & Design Lab Offices to do some printing, then headed for the Business School for a morning-long meeting on AACSB. Head back to BDL, then off to the School of Design and Crafts for a lunch-time seminar. Connect with Pascal, the graphic designer, about the final copy for the Hot Pot book.

Pop into the Design Museum on my way back to the Business School to catch an exhibition of master's in textile design thesis work by students from Boras University. Stop in BDL to pick up computer, down to Business School to try to get help with my mobile internet stick (as I thought the code does not belong to the stick -- and the person who can give me a new one wasn't there.

Back to the BDL,

coordinate schedules for tomorrow with Ulla, home to change, off to Town Hall for a reception for international

students, researchers and professors visiting Gothenburg University and Chalmers Institute of Technology (we did go there by tram). Home again and I'm glad to sit and do nothing.

In all of this I cannot recollect a single thought about design management or design thinking, or -- heaven forbid! -- a frame for my graphic novel! I've already forgotten yesterday which was spent in a seminar with PhD students on close readings of design management texts, learning about research into brand recognition in large Turkish companies by a visiting PhD student from Istanbul, and the Reality Studios project in Kismo, Keyna from Professor Maria Nordstrum of HDK. Tomorrow I'll shut the office door and out the pieces together!

Tuesday workday

This morning was spent preparing for the afternoon doctoral seminar. Ulla and I presented two of our papers - they were well received and generated a lot of discussion. I opted out of the evening activities and instead navigated the supermarket and prepared an evening meal "at home." For those of you curious about our home base, here are some photos. I'm certain the decor is identical with the SHU Luxembourg flat!

Street door

Courtyard

"Stair-tower"

Stairs to the third floor

Living area

Kitchen

Bedroom