Today I start interpreting at the chandlery. Here at Mystic, interpreters are in their site alone. Without help. I am curious to see how it goes. On one hand, I am a good interpreter. I know this, I have been told this, I've had visitors bring me sarsaparilla and ice cream after a good interpretation. Interpreting was the first thing in my life that I knew I rocked at, and boy was that a great feeling.
However; I know very, precious little about maritime history. And the reason I've been in a constant state of near panic for the last week is that interpreting often requires a base of knowledge to fall back on. As far as maritime things go, I don't have that. Despite doing little besides reading the site manual and about anything I could get my hands on,
There is, however, a beacon of hope. This weekend is the Wooden Boat Show, the absolute biggest draw of the museum all season. On one hand that means there will be a large amount of visitors (though it is cloudy, so perhaps fewer today). On the other hand, those visitors already know a lot about maritime everything. And as they are hobbyists, enthusiasts and professional boatbuilders, I have a hunch I can get them to talk about their craft.
So. Plan of attack for today:
1. Engage visitors so THEY tell me what THEY know.
2. Talk about the people behind the shop, rather than the thousands of little maritime objects scattered about.
3. If necessary, steer conversation into non-maritime waters. Pun intended.
4. If all else fails, fall back on the, I'm an intern from Iowa, most boats I've been on are pontoons.
Ready, go!
27 June, 2010
19 June, 2010
One Week Down
Nine to go! I have officially completed my first week as an intern here at Mystic Seaport. It was an intense week, and I am using that as my excuse for having not written in a couple of days. Tuesday through Thursday we joined up with the new interpretive staff for their training, as we are considered new interpreters as well.
One of the biggest highlights of the week for me was getting to speak with the head "roleplayer" here. My experience with interpreting has always been in 3rd person, though in period clothing. Here, most interpreters are also in 3rd person, but in polo shirts and khaki. There are, however, a select number of 1st person interpreters who portray a number of characters from 1876. I can't wait to see them in action. I was very curious as to why they had chosen 1876 as the year to portray. I knew that it was the nation's centennial, and the telephone was invented, but I didn't realize what is probably the best reason. The whaling industry was in its decline by that point, which allows the roleplayers to explain the full breadth of the topic, rather than only specific pieces. I am also very interested to see how visitors react to the roleplayers. It doesn't sound like there is a "mandatory" introduction at the visitors center, and they wander through the grounds. It does seem like they do a really good job of working to make visitors comfortable though.
Yesterday I met with my project manager for our first meeting about my summer project. I get to do an evaluation of their new Tugs! exhibit, as previously mentioned. It is not something I have experience with, but I am really excited to learn. I think this is something that will be very helpful for me as a museum professional, and hopefully for them as they continue to refine the exhibit. If you're in the area at all, I highly recommend it.
The big job for this weekend is to study up on my sites. The Chandlery will be very difficult but at the same time not. The style of interpretation looks to be very similar to what I did in LHF's General Store, except about all things needed for a sailing voyage. That is where it gets tricky. I have no background or knowledge, really, of sailing, so I have a lot of objects to study up on. The big goal with the exhibit will be making it more than just a point and answer about the objects, and showing visitors the stories behind the shop or the things. I am looking forward to the challenge :)
One of the biggest highlights of the week for me was getting to speak with the head "roleplayer" here. My experience with interpreting has always been in 3rd person, though in period clothing. Here, most interpreters are also in 3rd person, but in polo shirts and khaki. There are, however, a select number of 1st person interpreters who portray a number of characters from 1876. I can't wait to see them in action. I was very curious as to why they had chosen 1876 as the year to portray. I knew that it was the nation's centennial, and the telephone was invented, but I didn't realize what is probably the best reason. The whaling industry was in its decline by that point, which allows the roleplayers to explain the full breadth of the topic, rather than only specific pieces. I am also very interested to see how visitors react to the roleplayers. It doesn't sound like there is a "mandatory" introduction at the visitors center, and they wander through the grounds. It does seem like they do a really good job of working to make visitors comfortable though.
Yesterday I met with my project manager for our first meeting about my summer project. I get to do an evaluation of their new Tugs! exhibit, as previously mentioned. It is not something I have experience with, but I am really excited to learn. I think this is something that will be very helpful for me as a museum professional, and hopefully for them as they continue to refine the exhibit. If you're in the area at all, I highly recommend it.
The big job for this weekend is to study up on my sites. The Chandlery will be very difficult but at the same time not. The style of interpretation looks to be very similar to what I did in LHF's General Store, except about all things needed for a sailing voyage. That is where it gets tricky. I have no background or knowledge, really, of sailing, so I have a lot of objects to study up on. The big goal with the exhibit will be making it more than just a point and answer about the objects, and showing visitors the stories behind the shop or the things. I am looking forward to the challenge :)
14 June, 2010
1st Day
Well, today was my first, official day as a Mystic Seaport Internship. I have to say, I am really really really excited about this summer. There are eight other interns, two of whom are going into their senior years of college, the rest working for their masters or doctorate. We started off the day introducing ourselves, getting to know each other a little bit, then Elysa, who is running the program, introduced the topic of material cultures. As she said, there are four things we look at when we examine objects. Its production, its distribution, its use and its meaning. We all went around the room and pulled something from our bags or off of our persons to show and explain. I used my grandmother's cameo ring that I wear. It was a good, quick way to get to know something about each other.
After the brief intro's we were shown around the grounds by Glen Gordinier, who is head of the Munson Institute. The Munson Institute works with the academic side of Mystic Seaport, which offers graduate level classes to students and professors throughout the summer. His tour was amazing, and it was fun to hear some of the Seaport's history from someone who is obviously so passionate about it. Following our tour, we had lunch with Professor Gordinier, as well as a number of senior staff members. We were all asked to introduce ourselves by telling a formative museum memory. I had a really hard time picking, but ended up going with the 6th grade girl who was a part of the summer camp at Living History Farms two years ago. I was interpreting in the broom shop, and she actually stayed with me past the scheduled time to keep asking really deep, insightful questions about life at the times. She even managed to stump me a few times. It just showed me that, one, kids get a lot more out of those experiences than we often give them credit for and two, we can have a huge impact on someone else's life, even if it is just for a few minutes. I have a number of strong memories from my own times as a LHF camper that echoed pretty strong when I met her.
The day finished up with our readings for the next few days being distributed, and with each of us getting a chance to walk around the museum to become more familiar. I teamed up with a couple of other interns and had a good time going through the museum and discussing things we saw. Afterwards, another two interns and I went to a local Mexican place for supper. All in all, it was a really great day. Tomorrow, we start interpreter training with the general staff. I am really interested to see how different of a perspective it is from Living History Farms and the Farmers' Museum. I'll let you know how it goes!
After the brief intro's we were shown around the grounds by Glen Gordinier, who is head of the Munson Institute. The Munson Institute works with the academic side of Mystic Seaport, which offers graduate level classes to students and professors throughout the summer. His tour was amazing, and it was fun to hear some of the Seaport's history from someone who is obviously so passionate about it. Following our tour, we had lunch with Professor Gordinier, as well as a number of senior staff members. We were all asked to introduce ourselves by telling a formative museum memory. I had a really hard time picking, but ended up going with the 6th grade girl who was a part of the summer camp at Living History Farms two years ago. I was interpreting in the broom shop, and she actually stayed with me past the scheduled time to keep asking really deep, insightful questions about life at the times. She even managed to stump me a few times. It just showed me that, one, kids get a lot more out of those experiences than we often give them credit for and two, we can have a huge impact on someone else's life, even if it is just for a few minutes. I have a number of strong memories from my own times as a LHF camper that echoed pretty strong when I met her.
The day finished up with our readings for the next few days being distributed, and with each of us getting a chance to walk around the museum to become more familiar. I teamed up with a couple of other interns and had a good time going through the museum and discussing things we saw. Afterwards, another two interns and I went to a local Mexican place for supper. All in all, it was a really great day. Tomorrow, we start interpreter training with the general staff. I am really interested to see how different of a perspective it is from Living History Farms and the Farmers' Museum. I'll let you know how it goes!
13 June, 2010
Whaling
So tomorrow I start my internship, and I can't wait. Today I caught up on sleep, unpacked, and made a trip to the grocery store. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your perspective, its a two mile walk to the store. I've never bought groceries based on weight before, but I made it back in one piece. On my way I passed some fun things, like a voting hall, a late 1600's burial ground, and this interesting ice cream/seafood shop. Maybe this is the little Midwest girl in me, but I don't see ice cream and clams as complementary.
This afternoon I had the chance to get into the museum and walk around for a bit. I decided to stick with their 19th century village, and really had a great time. I only really stopped in a couple of buildings, but had really great conversations with the staff. It sounds like they are all really excited for the interns to arrive. While I was there, a demonstration was taking place about whaling boats. It was really fascinating to see, especially after having just read about the Essex and how her crew lived in boats that size after it was wrecked. Hard to imagine. The demonstration itself was extremely well done and I enjoyed it a great deal. I also got a hold of some brooms (groan, I know) and turns out some of them are from the Farmer's Museum! Small world.
It all starts for real tomorrow morning with an introduction, a tour of the museum, lunch with the senior staff and getting all of our reading materials. I can't wait!
This afternoon I had the chance to get into the museum and walk around for a bit. I decided to stick with their 19th century village, and really had a great time. I only really stopped in a couple of buildings, but had really great conversations with the staff. It sounds like they are all really excited for the interns to arrive. While I was there, a demonstration was taking place about whaling boats. It was really fascinating to see, especially after having just read about the Essex and how her crew lived in boats that size after it was wrecked. Hard to imagine. The demonstration itself was extremely well done and I enjoyed it a great deal. I also got a hold of some brooms (groan, I know) and turns out some of them are from the Farmer's Museum! Small world.
It all starts for real tomorrow morning with an introduction, a tour of the museum, lunch with the senior staff and getting all of our reading materials. I can't wait!
Internship
Hello friends. Long time no write! Sorry to just jump right back into it, but I figure that's better than nothing. Tomorrow, I start my internship at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, Connecticut. I took the train in last night, and can't wait to get started. My big project for the summer will be to examine the museum's newly opened Tugs! exhibit. I will be evaluating the exhibit, observing visitors, and helping determine if and where changes need to be made to help improve the visitors' experiences. It is a different direction than my interpretation past, but I am really excited to do something new. Two days a week I will be working with the public, one of which I'll be in the Tugs! exhibit and the second we're not sure about yet. Two other days will be spent in seminars with the other interns and the final day will be field trips. Our first trip will be to Boston!
I took the train out, which was definitely an experience. My first train was running three hours behind, but I was still able to make my next train with about ten minutes to spare. I met some interesting people, including a girl from Scotland who I had a really good discussion about artifact repatriation with. Other than that, it was a good chance to read, and I managed to start and finish In the Heart of the Sea by Nathan Philbrick. It is about the whaling ship Essex, which was attacked by a sperm whale. The story was Herman Melville's inspiration for Moby Dick. It was a really interesting read, and I learned some interesting things about whaling and ships in general.
I got into Mystic last night at around 10:00pm. One of the museum staff members, Lisa, came and picked me up at the station and drove me to my house, which is right next to the museum. Unfortunately, a frequent museum goer who suffers from epilepsy had a seizure, so she had leave quickly after dropping me off, but I was glad for the ride! I can't wait until Monday to get started! The picture below is of the tugboat at the entrance of the museum. My house is the brown building there behind it. Yay for proximity!
I took the train out, which was definitely an experience. My first train was running three hours behind, but I was still able to make my next train with about ten minutes to spare. I met some interesting people, including a girl from Scotland who I had a really good discussion about artifact repatriation with. Other than that, it was a good chance to read, and I managed to start and finish In the Heart of the Sea by Nathan Philbrick. It is about the whaling ship Essex, which was attacked by a sperm whale. The story was Herman Melville's inspiration for Moby Dick. It was a really interesting read, and I learned some interesting things about whaling and ships in general.
I got into Mystic last night at around 10:00pm. One of the museum staff members, Lisa, came and picked me up at the station and drove me to my house, which is right next to the museum. Unfortunately, a frequent museum goer who suffers from epilepsy had a seizure, so she had leave quickly after dropping me off, but I was glad for the ride! I can't wait until Monday to get started! The picture below is of the tugboat at the entrance of the museum. My house is the brown building there behind it. Yay for proximity!
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