Dear all,
Yes, I'm still here! Life and work are busy, so I don't have a lot of time to update this blog...
Work is extremely busy this time of year because of graduate admissions coming in. That means lots of paperwork, a lot of queries from prospective students, and a lot of overtime. Hopefully though by next year the paperwork side of things will be greatly reduced, because of the college going "live" so we can receive applications online, but for now I will still have to type in a lot of stuff that somebody in the university has already typed in somewhere else. Answering queries is normally one of my favourite jobs, but because I'm so busy silly questions do get quite annoying. My favourite one last year was: "Do you think my golf-clubs will fit in my room?". It does keep you amused;)!
A few weeks back I finally received the application form for the AUA Postgraduate Certificate (see below), and I also received news that the college will pay more than 1/3 of the cost of the course, which is of course great news. I was a bit taken aback however, and suddenly felt very insecure about what to do next. Before I had to make the decision I thought I really had made up my mind, but when I really had to sign the form I was suddenly not so sure. Thankfully Derek helped me to have a sensible approach to the decision-making process, and together we came up with a plan. I did some research into the kind of roles I would be interested in pursuing in the future by emailing other members of the AUA and asking them about their working day, I asked for extra information about the course, and I looked at other options I have for the future. In the end I concluded that the course is a good idea after all. Some of the "job-descriptions" I received back were very interesting indeed, and I do now believe there is a good career to be had in HE management, and one that I would actually enjoy pursuing. Preferably I would like to move into student-welfare related roles, and then specifically focusing on international and graduate students, and I would also be interested in doing research for policy development. It seems that there are plenty of challenging roles out there in these areas. In the back of my mind there is still the urge to go and do a PhD, but I just know that a PhD in Scottish Literature at the end of the day will get me nowhere, as unfortunately the number of opportunities available is simply too small, and therefore I would be back at square one after 3.5 years. It is difficult for me, but I have to just be realistic and sensible about these things. The certificate will give me a chance to speed up my career progression into a role with the responsibility and intellectual demands that I crave, and it will teach me a lot of new skills that will come in very handy in my current role too. I know: don't I sound sensible!
Life is busy too, with lots of activities. I am still trying to keep up my review writing, although it is difficult to find the time to read, let alone write; I will be starting as an online 'travel correspondent' (rather a big word!) for www.volkskrantreizen.nl, the travel website of a Dutch newspaper, writing about Cambridge and Glasgow and about any of my travels; I am also still learning to drive (and no, I have not crashed (yet;))!); Derek and me also go to circuit training at our local gym once a week. And so on top of that I will be starting my course hopefully in October, which should take up about 6hrs a week. Maybe I'm mad?!
A few weeks ago Derek and me spent a long weekend in Dublin, which was lovely! I will be writing about that on the Volkskrant website (but in Dutch I'm afraid!), and on Friday we are going to drive up to Fife in Scotland to spend a week there with my parents and brother. Hopefully we are lucky with the summer weather, as that does seem to have finally arrived here in Cambridge. Otherwise I have plenty of books to read, so I will have no problem amusing myself!
Hope you are all well!
Love,
Mariken
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
HELP! Or "Driving for Beginners"
Dear all,
Oh my WORD, I have booked my first ever driving lesson. Next week, on Wednesday to be precise, Laura (my instructor) will try to teach me how to drive. I wish her luck!
Xxx
Oh my WORD, I have booked my first ever driving lesson. Next week, on Wednesday to be precise, Laura (my instructor) will try to teach me how to drive. I wish her luck!
Xxx
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Good news all round
Dear all,
Life is treating me well. Work is enjoyable and life in general is indeed fab too. Some of my future plans are shaping up quite well, which is very exciting!
First of all Derek and I are moving house on the 6th of May (see below post). We're both really looking forward to that. It is going to be great! Lots of wee independent shops to buy our fruit, veg, meat etc from, nice pubs and restaurants to enjoy, Parkers Piece swimming pool only 5 minutes away, work closer by and town too. Does it get better than that?
Secondly I am going to start another Postgraduate course in October, if all goes well. I have been thinking a lot recently about my personal and professional development and on my investigations I came across this. I have decided that if I want to take a serious shot at a career in HE management this certificate is a great place to start. I have asked Wolfson whether there is a possibility that they will help me with the cost, so fingers crossed.
And thirdly I should really not be writing this as I am currently writing a review of James Robertson's The Testament of Gideon Mack for Laura Hird's website. Unfortunately, for me anyway, not the book or the author!, Robertson's book was featured on Richard and Judy's book club, which meant that the publisher decided not to send me a copy as they probably felt there was enough publicity already. Laura sent me her copy, but because of the delay I just missed the deadline for Issue 17. The next issue is due after June 15th, and I am a bit worried my review will by then be a bit of an afterthought, but I guess it is a good start and good practice for me! I am enjoying reading and writing about what I read very much anyway, and plan to review another book for new issue.
Apart form all this great news summer has arrived very early indeed and I have already been out in shorts (!). Crazy.
Hope you are all happy and healthy too:)!
xxx
Life is treating me well. Work is enjoyable and life in general is indeed fab too. Some of my future plans are shaping up quite well, which is very exciting!
First of all Derek and I are moving house on the 6th of May (see below post). We're both really looking forward to that. It is going to be great! Lots of wee independent shops to buy our fruit, veg, meat etc from, nice pubs and restaurants to enjoy, Parkers Piece swimming pool only 5 minutes away, work closer by and town too. Does it get better than that?
Secondly I am going to start another Postgraduate course in October, if all goes well. I have been thinking a lot recently about my personal and professional development and on my investigations I came across this. I have decided that if I want to take a serious shot at a career in HE management this certificate is a great place to start. I have asked Wolfson whether there is a possibility that they will help me with the cost, so fingers crossed.
And thirdly I should really not be writing this as I am currently writing a review of James Robertson's The Testament of Gideon Mack for Laura Hird's website. Unfortunately, for me anyway, not the book or the author!, Robertson's book was featured on Richard and Judy's book club, which meant that the publisher decided not to send me a copy as they probably felt there was enough publicity already. Laura sent me her copy, but because of the delay I just missed the deadline for Issue 17. The next issue is due after June 15th, and I am a bit worried my review will by then be a bit of an afterthought, but I guess it is a good start and good practice for me! I am enjoying reading and writing about what I read very much anyway, and plan to review another book for new issue.
Apart form all this great news summer has arrived very early indeed and I have already been out in shorts (!). Crazy.
Hope you are all happy and healthy too:)!
xxx
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
New House SOON:) (if all goes to plan)
Dear all,
It looks like Derek and me will be moving into a new house, a 2 bedroom Victorian terrace in the Romsey area of the city:)! We can move in after the 30th of April (hopefully), which is unfortunately just after my brother has been to visit (so he will still have to sleep on a camp bed on the floor in the living room)...
The house has 2 bedrooms (one double one single), a large living/dining room with an open fireplace, a large kitchen, a back garden with shed, central heating, a new bathroom, and it has a cat flap and pets are allowed (but Derek does not want a cat:(... as he might be allergic). It is about 1/2 the distance to Derek's work (from 5 miles down to 2.5) and it is 0.5 mile nearer my work too (from 3 to 2.5 miles). It is in a nice area with lots of wee shops, cafes and pubs, and quite near the centre of town (a five to ten minute cycle). Moreover it is not too much more expensive than our current house!
Exciting times:)! Will update you soon.
Love
It looks like Derek and me will be moving into a new house, a 2 bedroom Victorian terrace in the Romsey area of the city:)! We can move in after the 30th of April (hopefully), which is unfortunately just after my brother has been to visit (so he will still have to sleep on a camp bed on the floor in the living room)...
The house has 2 bedrooms (one double one single), a large living/dining room with an open fireplace, a large kitchen, a back garden with shed, central heating, a new bathroom, and it has a cat flap and pets are allowed (but Derek does not want a cat:(... as he might be allergic). It is about 1/2 the distance to Derek's work (from 5 miles down to 2.5) and it is 0.5 mile nearer my work too (from 3 to 2.5 miles). It is in a nice area with lots of wee shops, cafes and pubs, and quite near the centre of town (a five to ten minute cycle). Moreover it is not too much more expensive than our current house!
Exciting times:)! Will update you soon.
Love
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
New Life Now!
Dear all,
Finally another post from me! Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, but as you will understand I have been busy in my new job and by the time I get home I usually do not want to go back onto the computer. Nearly 6 months it has been now: CRAZY!
The weekend of the 2nd of September I moved all my things out of my room in Glasgow. When we had put it all in the corridor it really looked like it was never ever going to fit in the car, but miraculously it did! We even managed to add some of Derek's leftover stuff on top. It was an emotional goodbye for me; saying goodbye to my friends, Glasgow, and my lovely flat in the West End was not something I was looking forward to.
My arrival in Cambridge was joyous however, and it was lovely to move into the wee house with Derek. The house is in an area of the city called West Chesterton, a new-built estate. All the houses are individual (to a certain extent anyway) however, and it is actually quite a pleasant area that is lovely and quiet. The house is really a flat size-wise, but instead of splitting the house horizontally, these houses are purpose built split vertically. That means that downstairs the front door opens into the living room, with behind it a kitchen, and in the living room you take the stairs up to the bath- and bedroom. Some of the decoration is quite horrible, but we still managed to make it quite homely. It is a bit far from work. so over the past few weeks we have actually been looking at moving somewhere else, but it is proving rather difficult to find somewhere where we get the same or better for not too much extra money. I will keep you posted!
Cambridge is still Cambridge, and I do still miss Glasgow terribly (thankfully we will be visiting coming weekend!). I have however made a conscious effort to enjoy my time here; I have joined the Cambridge University Union Society and I regularly attend their debates, I go to a pub quiz with friends every Tuesday night, we regularly have new people over for dinner, I joined the Welcome International Students Cambridge program and met a very nice Chinese student, we regularly go to the local alternative cinema, we go on trips to different places in the area, we regularly visit London to go to the museum and meet up with friends. All in all I am certainly not bored!
Work is about a million times better than the old job, although I do still manage to complain sometimes. The college is a very nice and friendly place to work and my boss is lovely, working times are flexible if necessary, and work is never terribly stressful. What more might one ask for? In recent times my job has become more clearly defined, after I had spent the first months just doing bits and bobs, as I arrived in the busiest time and there simply was not time to teach me my job as well as keeping the college running smoothly. Now however I really am the Postgraduate Administrator, and I deal with all "my students" from admission to graduation. It is a rewarding job, and although I am still craving more responsibility, I am starting to feel good about it. I guess we all have to start somewhere, and this will definitely give me a good grounding if a career in Higher Education Administration/Management is what I want to do, and that is one of the things I am interested in. The fact that the college has mostly international students, about 75%, moreover will help me if I do decide to look for a role in an International Office one day.
Of course I still dream about either going back to uni to do a PhD, or about working in publishing, but both those dreams are, for the moment, on a bit of a back-burner. The former is not financially viable, or indeed sensible when it comes to future career prospects, while the latter is an extremely competitive world I may not actually want to work in. I have decided however that I ought to actively pursue my much more attainable idea of writing for a local newspaper, and I hope to come up with a proper plan to achieve that in the coming weeks/months. It would be a joy to write a monthly book column. I was looking at my new year's resolutions for last year, and I realised that I also still have not joined a political party. One of the reasons, apart from just being lazy, is that I now live in an area I do not know a lot about and I have little affinity with, which makes me feel less inclined to get involved, but it is another one of these things I might do one day!
Talking about politics; Derek and me are both going to an event at the House of Commons in March. It is a local "Glasgow Alumni from after 1980" get-together organised by Liam Fox MP, and I am really looking forward to it. It is a bit daunting, as most of the people there will probably be established business people and the like, and we were asked to "bring our business cards", but it will be a good place to meet new people and to 'network'!
I have been trying to organise a reunion with my friends from my exchange year in Glasgow, so hopefully that will soon go ahead. I have not seen some of them in years, so it is a very exciting prospect. It looks like it will take place in Paris, as two of them already live there, and it is easier to get to than Glasgow.
Much too long a post from me! Hope you are all well!
Lots of love, Mariken
Finally another post from me! Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, but as you will understand I have been busy in my new job and by the time I get home I usually do not want to go back onto the computer. Nearly 6 months it has been now: CRAZY!
The weekend of the 2nd of September I moved all my things out of my room in Glasgow. When we had put it all in the corridor it really looked like it was never ever going to fit in the car, but miraculously it did! We even managed to add some of Derek's leftover stuff on top. It was an emotional goodbye for me; saying goodbye to my friends, Glasgow, and my lovely flat in the West End was not something I was looking forward to.
My arrival in Cambridge was joyous however, and it was lovely to move into the wee house with Derek. The house is in an area of the city called West Chesterton, a new-built estate. All the houses are individual (to a certain extent anyway) however, and it is actually quite a pleasant area that is lovely and quiet. The house is really a flat size-wise, but instead of splitting the house horizontally, these houses are purpose built split vertically. That means that downstairs the front door opens into the living room, with behind it a kitchen, and in the living room you take the stairs up to the bath- and bedroom. Some of the decoration is quite horrible, but we still managed to make it quite homely. It is a bit far from work. so over the past few weeks we have actually been looking at moving somewhere else, but it is proving rather difficult to find somewhere where we get the same or better for not too much extra money. I will keep you posted!
Cambridge is still Cambridge, and I do still miss Glasgow terribly (thankfully we will be visiting coming weekend!). I have however made a conscious effort to enjoy my time here; I have joined the Cambridge University Union Society and I regularly attend their debates, I go to a pub quiz with friends every Tuesday night, we regularly have new people over for dinner, I joined the Welcome International Students Cambridge program and met a very nice Chinese student, we regularly go to the local alternative cinema, we go on trips to different places in the area, we regularly visit London to go to the museum and meet up with friends. All in all I am certainly not bored!
Work is about a million times better than the old job, although I do still manage to complain sometimes. The college is a very nice and friendly place to work and my boss is lovely, working times are flexible if necessary, and work is never terribly stressful. What more might one ask for? In recent times my job has become more clearly defined, after I had spent the first months just doing bits and bobs, as I arrived in the busiest time and there simply was not time to teach me my job as well as keeping the college running smoothly. Now however I really am the Postgraduate Administrator, and I deal with all "my students" from admission to graduation. It is a rewarding job, and although I am still craving more responsibility, I am starting to feel good about it. I guess we all have to start somewhere, and this will definitely give me a good grounding if a career in Higher Education Administration/Management is what I want to do, and that is one of the things I am interested in. The fact that the college has mostly international students, about 75%, moreover will help me if I do decide to look for a role in an International Office one day.
Of course I still dream about either going back to uni to do a PhD, or about working in publishing, but both those dreams are, for the moment, on a bit of a back-burner. The former is not financially viable, or indeed sensible when it comes to future career prospects, while the latter is an extremely competitive world I may not actually want to work in. I have decided however that I ought to actively pursue my much more attainable idea of writing for a local newspaper, and I hope to come up with a proper plan to achieve that in the coming weeks/months. It would be a joy to write a monthly book column. I was looking at my new year's resolutions for last year, and I realised that I also still have not joined a political party. One of the reasons, apart from just being lazy, is that I now live in an area I do not know a lot about and I have little affinity with, which makes me feel less inclined to get involved, but it is another one of these things I might do one day!
Talking about politics; Derek and me are both going to an event at the House of Commons in March. It is a local "Glasgow Alumni from after 1980" get-together organised by Liam Fox MP, and I am really looking forward to it. It is a bit daunting, as most of the people there will probably be established business people and the like, and we were asked to "bring our business cards", but it will be a good place to meet new people and to 'network'!
I have been trying to organise a reunion with my friends from my exchange year in Glasgow, so hopefully that will soon go ahead. I have not seen some of them in years, so it is a very exciting prospect. It looks like it will take place in Paris, as two of them already live there, and it is easier to get to than Glasgow.
Much too long a post from me! Hope you are all well!
Lots of love, Mariken
Monday, August 28, 2006
New Life Sooooooooooon
Thought I'd treat you to a cute (old) picture of Derek & me:) I've started packing my stuff... There is quite a lot of it... I've taken all the pictures from the walls, so my room now looks like I've just moved in. How on EARTH is all my stuff going to fit in a Fiesta...? Fingers crossed! I can't wait:).
I was hoping that I could tell you that I spent the past weekend partying, but I didn't... Instead I slept, cleaned, washed, packed. No one had time to party with me apparently:'(. Was really disappointed, but managed not to get angry with anyone. I did meet up with my cousin Ivy and her boyfriend Maurice on Saturday, which was great! They had been on a road-trip through Scotland and were in Glasgow for a day and night. We went for dinner at Cottiers, which was ok, though the food was slightly disappointing. I actually wanted to go to The Bothy or Stravaigin 2, but both, and another 4 restaurants, were fully booked...
Apart from that I did nothing much. I started in Women in Love by DH Lawrence, and that was about it really.
Tonight it's my last book club meeting. We read Trumpet by Jackie Kay, which I highly recommend to everybody. It is about a black trumpet player from Glasgow, Joss Moody, who, after his death, turns out to be a woman. He lived like a man, and his adopted son thought all this time that he was a man, as did everybody else (apart from his wife). The book is about how his son, wife, close friends and also the authorities deal with the news. This might sound like a very odd plot, that could potentially be very controversial, but it's not. What the book is really about is love, and that in the face of love all the above doesn't matter. The book doesn't attempt to explain why Joss lived like a man; the book and the characters in the book, simply move to accept it. I loved the voices in the book, the way it made the story seem totally believable, and its compassion. I miss it since I finished:'(. Give it a go: it will touch you.
Hope you're all well. I will keep you updated on my adventures in Cambridge:)!
Love,
Monday, July 31, 2006
NEW JOB
Dear all,
I will be starting my new career as an Assistant Registrar at Wolfson College, one of Cambridge University's colleges, in September. Only 1 month to go!!!
I went for 3 interviews and got offered the above role. It is great: great college, great pay (I wont say how much, but it is nearly 5000 pounds a year more than I currently make;)!), great benefits, great responsibility, great opportunities:). I will be cycling into work, and I will have access to a free gym: I am going to be mega-fit;). This might however be somewhat counteracted by the fact that Derek and me love cooking and eating, drinking, and eating out...
I spent the past few days in Cambridge with Derek. It was lovely:). The wee house is fab, and Cambridge is just lovely too. The whole quintessentialy English surroundings and atmosphere take some getting used to, but you can hardly complain that it is "too pretty", or that there are "too many flower-baskets and punts", can you? Cycling along the river is something I look forward to, and maybe learning how to punt also.
Hope you are all happy and well:).
Love,
I will be starting my new career as an Assistant Registrar at Wolfson College, one of Cambridge University's colleges, in September. Only 1 month to go!!!
I went for 3 interviews and got offered the above role. It is great: great college, great pay (I wont say how much, but it is nearly 5000 pounds a year more than I currently make;)!), great benefits, great responsibility, great opportunities:). I will be cycling into work, and I will have access to a free gym: I am going to be mega-fit;). This might however be somewhat counteracted by the fact that Derek and me love cooking and eating, drinking, and eating out...
I spent the past few days in Cambridge with Derek. It was lovely:). The wee house is fab, and Cambridge is just lovely too. The whole quintessentialy English surroundings and atmosphere take some getting used to, but you can hardly complain that it is "too pretty", or that there are "too many flower-baskets and punts", can you? Cycling along the river is something I look forward to, and maybe learning how to punt also.
Hope you are all happy and well:).
Love,
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