August 30th

Hello, how are you? Things here are still going swimmingly.

As yesterday was a Bank Holiday, I spent the day at the climbing centre and could not write you a blog. So to compensate, here is a super-duper entry.

After entertaining certain members of the office with the picture in my passport, I got down to some serious work.

Rhys and I were interviewed for a podcast talking about issues likely to affect new students. I tend to get very nervous when expected to talk in front of a camera or digital recorder so not one of my fondest activities. I followed Rhys’s lead. We answered questions on what to look out for on arrival to a new institution, how to get involved in new communities and who to approach in times of need (look out for that going live on our website).

This week I sat down with Ben to discuss the year ahead in greater detail. From time lines, how I’m going to fit everyone in, to who I need to start approaching for further details, and what should ideally be done in what order.
This information then filtered into the team meeting where we all compared diaries and set out the initial two months ahead. This morning, Ben described ourselves as going up the Log Flume in the theme park: we’ve jumped on the ride; we know something’s going to begin and go very fast, but were just waiting for the point it all starts.

The student guide is coming along nicely and should be finished at the end of this week. I had a meeting with Greg, the Research and Equivalency Officer, who was an international research student from Taiwan. With his input, Rhys and I are hoping the Student Guide will give a more rounded perspective with direct use to international students as well as home studying on our courses.
Alongside completing the student Guide, I am making contact with the Collaborative centres and Alliance Institutions to come and visit you, the student, directly.

See you next week.

Hattie.