I was a carpool driver and a judge at a speech event. In the UC Berkeley campus for an inter state invitational Speech and Debate meet for high school kids. UC sits between hills to the east and a homeless encampment to the west.
We, which included a gaggle of HS kids, set out in the early morning to arrive at the UC campus. Parking was tricky. Always is. Part of the mismanagement of the logistics by the kids involved in planning the affair. I guess the only excuse might be many are volunteer kids but not for paid contingent of staff from representative schools along with the host?
Any rate we parked and made our way to our forum time table allocation desk. Kids went off in myriad directions using Google to guide them in an unknown campus. I parked myself to begin what would be a series of inexorable waits.
The first session timetable got texted to me and I too worked my way into a classroom. One thing you realize - Berkeley is an old campus and it shows. I suppose the state government has not been able to find funds to fund another critical area - the upkeep of their esteemed colleges.
Period buildings - some even containing stone slabs from ancient Greece - adds to the charm but what of efficiency and ergonomics?
But back to the topic at hand. I judged a group of smart kids who had something to say about issues of the day from bullying to race and gender stereotyping and urging fellow man to be more accepting of one another. Something our leaders can learn from.
I filled my wait between judge rounds by venturing around. Got 8 miles on the meter - not bad for a paunch that is out of control.
Below are a few sights I saw... including a sports arena and the third tallest clock tower in the country (courtesy of donations from some rich but dead people).
The campus is buzzing with many activities on any given day.
There was a TEDx conference at Zellerbach Hall.
There was the CAL Stanford Basketball game at Haas Pavilion followed by their respective bands doing a face off.
There was the inter school speech and debate in many buildings..
There was also some medical symposium happening somewhere...
All that coupled with the smells of homelessness (they wander the open to all campus with glee) which included pot pourri of weed, beer, urine and who knows what.
But everyone seemed to be in good spirit.. running with what they had going on ... I guess that is the true nature of a happy place.
We, which included a gaggle of HS kids, set out in the early morning to arrive at the UC campus. Parking was tricky. Always is. Part of the mismanagement of the logistics by the kids involved in planning the affair. I guess the only excuse might be many are volunteer kids but not for paid contingent of staff from representative schools along with the host?
Any rate we parked and made our way to our forum time table allocation desk. Kids went off in myriad directions using Google to guide them in an unknown campus. I parked myself to begin what would be a series of inexorable waits.
The first session timetable got texted to me and I too worked my way into a classroom. One thing you realize - Berkeley is an old campus and it shows. I suppose the state government has not been able to find funds to fund another critical area - the upkeep of their esteemed colleges.
Period buildings - some even containing stone slabs from ancient Greece - adds to the charm but what of efficiency and ergonomics?
But back to the topic at hand. I judged a group of smart kids who had something to say about issues of the day from bullying to race and gender stereotyping and urging fellow man to be more accepting of one another. Something our leaders can learn from.
I filled my wait between judge rounds by venturing around. Got 8 miles on the meter - not bad for a paunch that is out of control.
Below are a few sights I saw... including a sports arena and the third tallest clock tower in the country (courtesy of donations from some rich but dead people).
 |
| Shingle Style Unitarian church |
 |
| Sather Clock Tower |
 |
| Sports complex named for CEO of Levi Strauss and company |
The campus is buzzing with many activities on any given day.
There was a TEDx conference at Zellerbach Hall.
There was the CAL Stanford Basketball game at Haas Pavilion followed by their respective bands doing a face off.
There was the inter school speech and debate in many buildings..
There was also some medical symposium happening somewhere...
All that coupled with the smells of homelessness (they wander the open to all campus with glee) which included pot pourri of weed, beer, urine and who knows what.
But everyone seemed to be in good spirit.. running with what they had going on ... I guess that is the true nature of a happy place.
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