By Eilidh MacDonald, PhD student, University of the West of Scotland
My trip to Canada started with a visit to Niagara Falls where I had a tremendous experience walking under, flying over, and boating up to the falls. As one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country it was incredible to visit this attraction.
This visit also solidified my friendship with Laura Calder who would become my roommate for the majority of the trip. We then travelled onwards to Toronto where we took in the sights of the biggest city in Canada. Having a glorious sunset dinner in the CN tower after an educational wander through the aquarium.
Following our sightseeing tour, we landed in London. Hosted by Western University Ontario, I was thrown headfirst into the complex world of qualitative research focussed on sports mega events. As a primarily quantitative researcher I definitely learned a lot. The first two weeks were packed full of super interesting presentations with a kind and supportive group at all stages of their careers. As a final year PhD, I did my best to share my knowledge and expertise with some of those beginning their PhD journey and learned a lot from those already settled in their careers. The group was fantastic, and all formed a very close bond with informal lunches and dinners in which the chat continued debating the “best” qualitative methods. Friendships were cemented during the group trip to Toronto to visit MLSEFoundation a community project based on activity, education and nutrition funded by profits form the professional teams and idea that defiantly could be expanded to other cities across the world. We then watched Canada’s efforts at football (soccer) unfortunately ending in a nil-nil draw for Toronto FC. Shout out to Professor Laura Misener for hosting a BBQ where we celebrated Victoria Day as a group. This is a major holiday in Canada with shops and stored closing so to be invited to celebrate with her family was special. Learning new skills with a friendly game of Kubb. At the end of the two weeks, I presented the findings of my final two research chapters of my thesis. My work focuses on physical activity, sleep, and cognition in people with MS and I’m sure the group were super excited to hear me ramble on about numbers and stats. It was also an opportunity for me to share my expertise on MS and show how invisible disabilities can go unnoticed by the general public. Also, highlight the achievements of athletes with the disease in both the Olympics and Paralympics
After a sprint finish to complete my statistical analysis for my presentation I used the following two weeks as a writing retreat. Managing to complete half a chapter. This time was also super useful as two of the Eventrights friends I made throughout the trip kindly read my qualitative chapter. Realising my errors and “method” was basic and confusing Dr Angela Beggan and Dr Conor Wilson kindly offered me support and advice which I am truly grateful for. I will now reanalyse my data using content analysis a term new to me but with their guidance and resources I’m sure I will be an honorary qualitative researcher in no time. This may be the single most important thing realised and achieved and without this trip I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to connect with these people and improve my research.
Now for the fun. Thankfully we planned this trip at the perfect time! As a big sports fan we were super lucky and grateful that two London teams made the playoffs. This allowed us to see an ice hockey game as a group which was tremendous. Also, we witnessed the basketball team win the league and lift the trophy! Two surreal experiences I’m grateful to have witnessed. With the seasons over for the Knights and Lightening it was time for the summer spots to start. A trip (or two) to the world oldest baseball stadium Labatt Park and my first experience of the game helpfully explained by the Americans in the group. As an avid sports fan this mobility helped me learn and reflect on everything that goes into putting on sports events, minor or major. Its not just athletes and coaches but all the behind-the-scenes work, including political and environmental factors.
So, thanks to Eventrights and University of West of Scotland for allowing me to come on this once in a lifetime trip! If you ever get a chance to travel during your academic career, I promise you won’t regret it.
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