The spring semester has arrived!

Kia ora!

This week is the first week back for students as we start the spring semester. This is usually after a winter break for many. This means a busy campus full of life, and I love that. It has been relatively quiet the last few weeks as all the classes here have been online, but I am really happy to see so many people here, even the lecturers and professors.

The first day of the spring semester in the main hall (photo by UMASS Boston)

So a little about UMASS Boston. To get here, I take a subway train to JFK UMASS Station and then there are free buses for staff and students to get to the campus. It's also a 10-15 minute walk. Boston State College merged with UMASS Boston in 1982. The weather has been erratic over the last few weeks. The snow has been quite heavy during the last two days, and I've been told it is nothing compared to what will happen in the upcoming weeks.

I decided to come to UMASS Boston, because I loved the idea of coming to a public research university surrounded by many private universities. I love the diversity of the university (third most diverse university in the states) and that it has a strong focus on the domestic population of the state of Massachusetts. There are more than 16,000 students that come here. The beacon is the symbol of the university. There is some history with beacons on hills in Boston. To the point, that a central suburb in Boston is called Beacon Point.

Meet the Visiting Scholar poster in the hallway

Across the road is the JFK Museum and Library, a highlight. I spent nearly 3 hours here looking at the different exhibitions, watching some of his speeches, and seeing how he interacted with international delegations. There was also a substantial piece on his support of the civil rights movement. I did not know too much about JFK before I came to Boston, but I can understand why he was loved by so many.

Inside of the JFK Library and Museum

Today I checked some of the labs associated with the Anthropology department. I am always interested in learning new knowledge, so learning about the different animal bones and the importance of identifying such bones. They can give you more information about the different diet habits of the animals and their environment.

Speaking with a master's student in the lab about her research

These are some of my adventures so far here at UMASS Boston. I am preparing to meet indigenous communities and young Native Americans to interview for my research project here, guided by the academic staff. I am now waiting for my ethics application to be approved (an integral part of research) and after that, I should be set to go.

Take care,

Will

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