Hello UFV! This is Emily Pohl-Weary, your writer-in-residence. I’ll be blogging about once a week while I’m here.
I thought I’d use my first post to write about how I abandoned Toronto very early in the morning, on the coldest day of the winter so far. It was snowing—the kind of flakes that are smaller than dandruff and manage to fly right up into your nose. Suffice it to say, when I de-boarded in Vancouver, I was thrilled to see an airport worker prancing around in cargo shorts.
My first view of Abbotsford was that same night, through the fogged-up windows of a Greyhound bus just after dark. I knew we were getting close because the street lights beside the highway had petered out and then disappeared. I strained to catch a glimpse of what Google Maps had told me would be out there: trees, farms, houses, possibly the river.
It felt like I’d traveled very far from home when the lights reappeared. We entered the city and I could see again: houses and stores and green grass and trees. I’d crossed a continent, yet it immediately felt like I was in the right place. My new temporary community would be a home, not just a place to perch for a few months.
So far, my days have been filled with learning about the community, meeting people, doing guest lectures, and participating in events. We have so many exciting plans for the next two months, so check back here for announcements!
It’s weird that, as I write this first post, I’m actually back in Toronto very briefly, celebrating the birth of my poetry collection, Ghost Sick.
It was everything a book launch should be—a night of great readings, good friends, loving family—and best of all, it happened in the neighbourhood the book’s about.
Now, I can’t wait to be back in BC this weekend, enjoying the spring weather… and sharing my new book with you guys!
My Abbotsford launch for Ghost Sick will be a free, public event. Stay tuned for details!
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