Just to say - I've arrived safely and all is well here! Unfortunately, having a system similar to Cambridge and, I expect, other unis, there is an ongoing delay of a few days until my student ID is ready. Particularly, this means I'll have no internet access until about Friday (or Scholarship access for that matter!)
As such, I've very intermittent access until then, using connected computers when I get the chance. Once everything is set up, I'll be able to put up a bit more detail and some pictures to give you an idea of what's happening!
However, a quick summary: There are a few of us doing postgrad, but most of the SCR (Fellows) living have official college positions. It works out that there are about 10/11 of us regularly eating at High Table in the evenings. Everybody is very friendly and have been very welcoming which has made life a lot easier and great fun! The geography is stunning and Knox is absolutely gorgeous - the inside especially and I've got lots of photos of antique furnished rooms and plasterwork ceilings :)
So, photos and detail when I've a bit more time to post and thank you all for your encouraging and thoughtful messages and I look forward to seeing you at Christmas!
All the best
Phil
Monday, 23 February 2009
Saturday, 14 February 2009
En route
Just a wee update for anybody curious. Left Belfast for Cambridge on Wednesday, spent Thursday and some of Friday in London and am currently back in Corpus, whence I shall remain until leaving for NZ on Tuesday. During this time, I'll (hopefully) have intermittent internet access so FB and GoogleMail messages should still get to me at some point before I head.
Firstly, apologies to those I missed in London yesterday - between not being sure who was there and not organising group meetups better, I had to travel back to Cambridge last night without having even made contact with a number of people I'd love to have seen. Secondly, a big thank you to those I did see at various points on Th&Fr, it was great to catch up, especially not having met up with some of you since graduation a year and a half ago!
Incidentally, to help avoid doing the same again, I'm going to be in Corpus bar this evening and would be keen to see anybody who's about (for those not otherwise occupied!) Especially, since I believe there will be wonderful live blues on :)
Well, lots of generic touristy pictures taken in London and managed to get bustled into the Changing of the Guard at Horseguards Parade, which was very interesting. Still, not quite computational fluid dynamics! Finally feel as if I've seen London and was quite impressed actually - not bad at all. No pictures yet as my camera lead is in my case, safely stored til Tuesday.
Lastly, a practical note, as the main point of this blog is to provide some practical information for anybody studying, New Zealand House is about 3 mins walk from Piccadilly Circus (down Haymarket), very handy. It may, however, just be me but Haymarket numbering is rather confusing, so keep walking down until you hit the large modernish building with a large 'New Zealand' sign on it on the right (from Piccadilly). If you're picking up documents, you don't have to queue - heading to Immigration NZ on the Mezzanine Floor, there is a buzzer and someone will fetch your passport (with visa inside) straight away. While I imagine it may not always be this quick, I was in and out of the building in less than three minutes.
Oh, and, incidentally, check plug connections - Australia, NZ, Fiji and others are on a different pin system to anywhere else in the world. Different travel adaptor required than for US/Europe.
Well, ciao for now, Phil
Firstly, apologies to those I missed in London yesterday - between not being sure who was there and not organising group meetups better, I had to travel back to Cambridge last night without having even made contact with a number of people I'd love to have seen. Secondly, a big thank you to those I did see at various points on Th&Fr, it was great to catch up, especially not having met up with some of you since graduation a year and a half ago!
Incidentally, to help avoid doing the same again, I'm going to be in Corpus bar this evening and would be keen to see anybody who's about (for those not otherwise occupied!) Especially, since I believe there will be wonderful live blues on :)
Well, lots of generic touristy pictures taken in London and managed to get bustled into the Changing of the Guard at Horseguards Parade, which was very interesting. Still, not quite computational fluid dynamics! Finally feel as if I've seen London and was quite impressed actually - not bad at all. No pictures yet as my camera lead is in my case, safely stored til Tuesday.
Lastly, a practical note, as the main point of this blog is to provide some practical information for anybody studying, New Zealand House is about 3 mins walk from Piccadilly Circus (down Haymarket), very handy. It may, however, just be me but Haymarket numbering is rather confusing, so keep walking down until you hit the large modernish building with a large 'New Zealand' sign on it on the right (from Piccadilly). If you're picking up documents, you don't have to queue - heading to Immigration NZ on the Mezzanine Floor, there is a buzzer and someone will fetch your passport (with visa inside) straight away. While I imagine it may not always be this quick, I was in and out of the building in less than three minutes.
Oh, and, incidentally, check plug connections - Australia, NZ, Fiji and others are on a different pin system to anywhere else in the world. Different travel adaptor required than for US/Europe.
Well, ciao for now, Phil
Friday, 6 February 2009
Closing in
All coming together very quickly. At least in theory. Thanks to a very helpful visa officer in Immigration NZ, my visa has been approved in good time. Incidentally, this includes a 'Variation of Conditions' to allow some work (up to 20 hrs per week during term time, full time outside), which can be requested simply by ticking a box on the student visa application form.
Travelling plans are a bit firmer now - leaving Belfast on 11th, spending 12th & 13th in London then the weekend in Cambridge before departing from LHR on 17th. I'm still a bit vague as to who's where and when I'm free, but I'll hopefully be in Corpus bar on Sat and or Sun night and keen to see those who're about.
So, another few photos. At the top, Queens in Belfast (Lanyon building at night). Next is Corpus in Cambridge (New Court) and finally, the Registry Building of Otago. All public domain - thanks to Mathemagier, Dreadnought1906 and Ulrich Lange resp.
Queens Library have kindly agreed to allow me guest access but though it's unlikely that I'll get a chance to make use of it, I'd recommend anybody else with a good reason to need access to ask, even if not a member of a University with a reciprocal arrangement.
PS - Helpful note: if you're changing the title, hitting return when pressing shift publishes your post. Hmm, a little too easy.
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