Back at Home

On Wednesday, August 10th, I boarded a plane in Melbourne, Australia bound for Los Angeles, California. My research travels had come to an end and my circumnavigation of the globe was nearly complete. After the 15 hour flight to LA and an extended 10 hour layover in LA due to canceled connection flights, I took my final plane ride of the summer and traveled from LA back to Phoenix, Arizona, where my circumnavigation journey had begun three months ago.

Sitting at my computer in my newly setup apartment, I reflect on the experiences that I have had this summer in awe. All the places that I have visited, all the people that I have met and all of the adventures that I have undertaken have changed me. My perspective have been broadened, my knowledge has been deepened and my ability to solve problems has been exercised and enhanced. My mind is swimming with all that I have learned about the global solar energy technology industry during my travels, and I look forward to compiling this information into my research paper in the coming months.

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Circumnavigators Club and its member for making this unforgettable and life changing summer trip possible for me. Thank you so very much. I look forward to my continued involvement with the Circumnavigators Club and to the further travels that I am sure my future will hold. Although one might think that my wanderlust would have been satiated by the travels of this summer, I have found just the opposite to be the case. My travels have only intensified my desire to explore the many different areas of this globe, meeting people and engaging in the never-ending quest for greater understanding.

In Australia,

I visited Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. In Sydney, I enjoyed a tour of the University of New South Wales School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering and a meeting with its director, Dr. Richard Corkish. I desired to visit the University of New South Wales because it is a world renowned institution in the field of solar energy technology, having offered the first specialized degree in that area and having set a number of world records with its technology. My time there was very informative and provided insight into the history and current state of solar energy technology research in Australia. Additionally, in Sydney, I took time to explore the famous architecture, coastline and wildlife of the area, visiting such places as the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach and Featherdale Wildlife Park.

In Canberra, I visited the Australian National University Solar Energy Research group and met with its director, Dr. Andrew Blakers. Additionally, to learn a little bit about Australian history and culture, I visited the Australian War Memorial, the National Film and Sound Archive, and the Canberra Museum and Gallery. The honorary installations and informative exhibition of the Australian War Memorial were particularly moving.

Finally, in Melbourne, I enjoyed a few days of beach walks and city excursions with travelers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and Sweden before packing up my things for the last time in order to fly back home. The evening before I was to leave, the hostel I was staying at hosted an Open Mic Night. Having seen me carrying around my trumpet case, the staff asked if I would be interested in opening up the event with a song. Plugging my iPhone into the speaker system and turning on the rhythm section accompaniment, I hopped up on stage and performed Clifford Brown's composition "Joy Spring", a jazz standard off of the 1955 album Clifford Brown and Max Roach. The many assembled travelers and hostel staff seemed to enjoy the performance very much. I was honored to be given the opportunity to finish off my travels and start off their evening with a performance of one of my favorite pieces.