From Minneapolis to Charlotte
The flight from MN was an all American style experience. We left the Holiday Inn motel with snow just starting to fall, we had to laugh at each other as we look as though we had both caught a bad case of dandruff whilst walking the streets of MN.
We arrived at the airport to find our plane delayed because of the snow and a storm in Chicago (all Chicago flights were cancelled causing chaos in the airport).
We boarded our plane and sat in the run way queue of 10 planes waiting for a second runway to be open.
As we departed from the ground thunder and lighting began.
We looked at each other and said "goodbye cruel world".
Well we made it to St Louis missing our flight by half an hour. The next plane to Charlotte was 6.30pm, then a delay, then another delay and then oh my God! We were not leaving until 9.30 pm.
Arriving at 2.30pm and not leaving until 9.30 that is alot of waiting around and no decent shopping and we had let the laptop go flat the night before.....crazy times.
We eventually arrived in Charlotte around 11.30pm wide eyed and weary travellers ......
Our first day at PLCMC
Tuesday was our first day and we had a 9.30 am coffee "meet and greet" with staff from around the County.
Must I say we were very popular!
We meet more people than most can pack into a lifetime...remember names, now that is the challenge, there are two Jane's!
It was great to be greeted and made to feel so welcome, we have alot of opportunities over here and networking and sharing is in overdrive!
ImaginOn and the Main Library
A tour of ImaginOn and the Main Library was our first tour for the day
Pictures of this incredible library and theatre can be viewed from here
A lunch at a local regular hang-out was also held and we meet Mark and Kim who are coming to Yarra Plenty in September on the exchange for 5 weeks, we are already making plans for this.
Wednesday. A visit to Morrison and Freedom Libraries
On Wednesday we managed to walk from Mint Street (where our hotel is) to Tryon Street and Martin Luther King Street.
Staff are surprised that we walk this far every morning (it amounts to a 5 minute walk and add in a stop at one of the many coffee shops along the way Carribau Coffee shop is our favorite ....yeaph named after the moose).
Patrice took us around to two regional libraries, one called Morrision (named after the family who donated the money) the other Freedom (a combined school and public library).
Both were very impressive but had oversize reference desks.
More pics of Freedom Regional
In our drive around we discovered, much to our disbelief, drive thru ATMs. Crazy I know however quite common place and well used.
What will they think of next you wonder.... they also have drive thru wakes where you can drive thru and view the body....YUCK OH!
The afternoon enabled us to talk to the web development team and the Outreach team where we learned how these tow departments function.
In the evening we headed to a basketball game and Mark got us court side tickets. The local team playing was called the Bobcats, so we cheered them on and wanted them to win, alas they lost. Lynette and I got our picture taken with the local mascot!
Thursday
Thursday we headed to the library thru the sky walk network, which we were shown thru at lunchtime yesterday. We can walk to the library on the outside in the street (which most people here do not do) or we can walk thru all the main buildings and connecting enclosed bridges (known as sky walks and well heated). It is any wonder people are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency as the way the city is set up you can chose never to walk out in the open. However we were very grateful for this concept tonight as we walked home (back to the hotel) and it was raining.
Today we spent some time at the Main Library and then headed out to South County Library
In our drive around we discovered, much to our disbelief, drive thru ATMs. Crazy I know however quite common place and well used.
What will they think of next you wonder.... they also have drive thru wakes where you can drive thru and view the body....YUCK OH!
The afternoon enabled us to talk to the web development team and the Outreach team where we learned how these tow departments function.
In the evening we headed to a basketball game and Mark got us court side tickets. The local team playing was called the Bobcats, so we cheered them on and wanted them to win, alas they lost. Lynette and I got our picture taken with the local mascot!
Thursday
Thursday we headed to the library thru the sky walk network, which we were shown thru at lunchtime yesterday. We can walk to the library on the outside in the street (which most people here do not do) or we can walk thru all the main buildings and connecting enclosed bridges (known as sky walks and well heated). It is any wonder people are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency as the way the city is set up you can chose never to walk out in the open. However we were very grateful for this concept tonight as we walked home (back to the hotel) and it was raining.
Today we spent some time at the Main Library and then headed out to South County Library
We sat in on an an induction training session conducted by Lori Reed to observed the way PLCMC conduct sessions for new staff
lunch with trainer Lori Reed
We spent Thursday evening at the CentraslPiedmont Community College listening to a selection of jazz, choral and gospel music. It was a great way to end the day
lunch with trainer Lori ReedWe spent Thursday evening at the CentraslPiedmont Community College listening to a selection of jazz, choral and gospel music. It was a great way to end the day
VOX : friends showcase at the CPCC
2 comments:
Welcome, Lynnette and Jane - I work at the Mint Hill Library and hope to meet you during your stay.
We are a very busy branch and our staff is made up of all ladies. I enjoyed reading about your experiences in Charlotte.
Stop by, Ok?
Your pictures are not showing in this blog.
Wowee ladies, it sounds like you are seeing loads of new stuff - can you see the sky bridge stuff taking off in Melbourne? Do you feel like Buck Rogers? I can't wait to hear more - and see the slide night pics!
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