Hassan II Mosque - simply massive...
Monday, August 07, 2006
More Rocco and Johanna's Burger
I am now back in Oxford after apporx 3 weeks abroad working in the Africa and the Middle East. The first two destinations were Casablanca in Morocco followed by Johannesburg in South Africa.
Nokia put Tim and I up in the Hotel Le Zenith which was basic but fit for the purpose and when not working with the nice people in the Casablanca office, we would enjoy a Casablanca beer while watching the last few matches of the World Cup.
It took quite some time to adjust to Morocco, perhaps the entire time I was there. It is a strange mix of exotic Arabic, French suarve infused with foul smelling body oder. The taxi drivers are extortionists and the roads are devoid of rules making the regular sight of a donkey and cart on the free way an appealing transport option.
My girlfriend Tory made an 11th hour detour on her flight to Dublin via Paris on Friday 6th to come to Casablanca and stay with me for the week. I was a bit stressed out about having her cruising around Morocco solo while I was at the office but after our first weekend of sightseeing we felt comfortable that she would be fine. She even made it as far as Marrakesh for a day trip which is a 45 degree celcius oven at this time of year.
Tory had her birthday on Friday the 14th and it would have been nice to have had the weekend together but sadly I could not avoid having to fly to Joburg via a marathon flight to Madrid on the 13th. Thus she also left for Dublin on the 13th and has been making steady progress settling in there since.
My time in Joburg was less pleasurable because I was alone in a guesthouse (named the 'House of Pharoahs' and yes I feel somewhat entombed there...) and my travel was restricted in Joburg which is still one the world's most dangerous cities. It came as a real eye opener to me. Thankfully friends of friends responded to the call and took me out during the week, first to a fundraiser for sky divers and then to an Irish Pub. I also made it out to a Lion Park on my last weekend in Joburg which was quite good fun.
Nokia offices in Joburg are in the Campus, a vast secure corporate compound in the suburbs (the CBD has been overrun by violent criminal gangs). It looks more like a secondary school or university campus than a business estate and the developer must have been a sports nut because each building is named after a famous Tennis, Cricket, Golf, Football or Rugby venue. Hence I can say that I was working in Roland Garros, adjacent to the Gabba.
The next leg after Joburg was Dubai but I will save that for my next update.
Cheers,
Doug.
Nokia put Tim and I up in the Hotel Le Zenith which was basic but fit for the purpose and when not working with the nice people in the Casablanca office, we would enjoy a Casablanca beer while watching the last few matches of the World Cup.
It took quite some time to adjust to Morocco, perhaps the entire time I was there. It is a strange mix of exotic Arabic, French suarve infused with foul smelling body oder. The taxi drivers are extortionists and the roads are devoid of rules making the regular sight of a donkey and cart on the free way an appealing transport option.
My girlfriend Tory made an 11th hour detour on her flight to Dublin via Paris on Friday 6th to come to Casablanca and stay with me for the week. I was a bit stressed out about having her cruising around Morocco solo while I was at the office but after our first weekend of sightseeing we felt comfortable that she would be fine. She even made it as far as Marrakesh for a day trip which is a 45 degree celcius oven at this time of year.
Tory had her birthday on Friday the 14th and it would have been nice to have had the weekend together but sadly I could not avoid having to fly to Joburg via a marathon flight to Madrid on the 13th. Thus she also left for Dublin on the 13th and has been making steady progress settling in there since.
My time in Joburg was less pleasurable because I was alone in a guesthouse (named the 'House of Pharoahs' and yes I feel somewhat entombed there...) and my travel was restricted in Joburg which is still one the world's most dangerous cities. It came as a real eye opener to me. Thankfully friends of friends responded to the call and took me out during the week, first to a fundraiser for sky divers and then to an Irish Pub. I also made it out to a Lion Park on my last weekend in Joburg which was quite good fun.
Nokia offices in Joburg are in the Campus, a vast secure corporate compound in the suburbs (the CBD has been overrun by violent criminal gangs). It looks more like a secondary school or university campus than a business estate and the developer must have been a sports nut because each building is named after a famous Tennis, Cricket, Golf, Football or Rugby venue. Hence I can say that I was working in Roland Garros, adjacent to the Gabba.
The next leg after Joburg was Dubai but I will save that for my next update.
Cheers,
Doug.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Trinity Term Exams, Lords and Nokia
Just over two weeks have elapsed since I last wrote. This has been a very busy time with exam review in week 9 and exams last week and now I move immediately into my summer consulting project with Nokia flying out to Morocco tomorrow afternoon. The plan at this stage is to stay there for a week before moving to Johannesburg for the following three weeks. Add to this the stress of having my girlfriend finish her work in Brisbane and arrive in Dublin this Friday and I half feel like I have never finished exams.
Speaking of exams they went very well. Probably the best yet but that is to be expected when you only have 3 over 5 days as opposed to 6 in 3 days as was this case during Michelmas term. Fewer exams means more assignments so today I not only submitted an individual assignment but also three group assignments. Because of slackers in my groups I found myself carrying the baby on a few of these which was a quite frustrating, but at least I can be confident that the work got done.
During the past couple of weeks I have also found time to enjoy myself in what has been extremely hot summer weather. The pictures below include the Oriel Ball on Friday of 9th week, the Oxford University Australia and New Zealand Society Dinner on the Monday of 10th week and a day in London on Saturday just passed which encompassed the first half of the One Day Cricket Varsity at Lords, the England v Portugal game and Canada Day. The last picture is of the Nokia Consulting Project Team.
This project is going to be a real test of my abilities and will probably be the most challenging component of the MBA as it will test just how much I have learn't over the past 9 months. It will push me into areas that I have been weak in including statistical modelling and analysis. Hopefully, I will make it out the other side. Check the blog in a couple of weeks to find out....
Cheers,
Doug.
Speaking of exams they went very well. Probably the best yet but that is to be expected when you only have 3 over 5 days as opposed to 6 in 3 days as was this case during Michelmas term. Fewer exams means more assignments so today I not only submitted an individual assignment but also three group assignments. Because of slackers in my groups I found myself carrying the baby on a few of these which was a quite frustrating, but at least I can be confident that the work got done.
During the past couple of weeks I have also found time to enjoy myself in what has been extremely hot summer weather. The pictures below include the Oriel Ball on Friday of 9th week, the Oxford University Australia and New Zealand Society Dinner on the Monday of 10th week and a day in London on Saturday just passed which encompassed the first half of the One Day Cricket Varsity at Lords, the England v Portugal game and Canada Day. The last picture is of the Nokia Consulting Project Team.
This project is going to be a real test of my abilities and will probably be the most challenging component of the MBA as it will test just how much I have learn't over the past 9 months. It will push me into areas that I have been weak in including statistical modelling and analysis. Hopefully, I will make it out the other side. Check the blog in a couple of weeks to find out....
Cheers,
Doug.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
No more lectures
Friday saw the last of my lectures at the business school as tomorrow marks the start of week 9 study vacation before Trinity term exams the following week.
The last couple of weeks have presented a few opportunities to say good bye to various non business school people who, given term has now ended and summer holidays have begun, I am unlikely to see again. These were mainly rugby players from OURFC and St Peters College, who I only really got to know vaguely but whose company I enjoyed very much when time permitted.
The focus between now and the commencement of the summer consulting project will be exam study although given it is the height of summer here there are a few outdoor social events to partake of including the OUANZ Society Summer Cocktails at the Cherwell Boathouse, The Oriel College Ball and the One Day Varsity Cricket Match at Lords.
The pictures below a pretty self-explanatory. There are too many stories attached to them to write here and now as I have some assignments to work on. To be honest as much as I will miss being a student in Oxford come September I am very keen to move onto the next phase in my life and break the cycle of lectures, presentations, assignments and exams punctuated by the odd glass of Pimms and lemonade. My girlfriend Tory arrives in Dublin in early July and I am very excited about seeing her and charting a new direction together.
Yesterday I went to London for a BBQ held by ex-QUT law mate Ryan and then the engagement party of Sam, a mate from Brisbane. However, I neglected to take any pictures so you will just have to use your imagination.
Cheerio till next time,
Doug.
The last couple of weeks have presented a few opportunities to say good bye to various non business school people who, given term has now ended and summer holidays have begun, I am unlikely to see again. These were mainly rugby players from OURFC and St Peters College, who I only really got to know vaguely but whose company I enjoyed very much when time permitted.
The focus between now and the commencement of the summer consulting project will be exam study although given it is the height of summer here there are a few outdoor social events to partake of including the OUANZ Society Summer Cocktails at the Cherwell Boathouse, The Oriel College Ball and the One Day Varsity Cricket Match at Lords.
The pictures below a pretty self-explanatory. There are too many stories attached to them to write here and now as I have some assignments to work on. To be honest as much as I will miss being a student in Oxford come September I am very keen to move onto the next phase in my life and break the cycle of lectures, presentations, assignments and exams punctuated by the odd glass of Pimms and lemonade. My girlfriend Tory arrives in Dublin in early July and I am very excited about seeing her and charting a new direction together.
Yesterday I went to London for a BBQ held by ex-QUT law mate Ryan and then the engagement party of Sam, a mate from Brisbane. However, I neglected to take any pictures so you will just have to use your imagination.
Cheerio till next time,
Doug.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
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