Wanderings Lately :: October 2018

This October was unseasonably warm, and it was only in the last 5 days of the month that the temperature really dropped. This month I visited a new country with work at an interesting time; Macedonia had just had a referendum on changing the official name of their country. It was a busy work trip full of meetings and presentations but it felt very worthwhile and as always I love visiting and exploring a new place.

We also said goodbye to one of the girls from our team at work, which was a nice celebration but also sad because she was a great colleague and had been in the team for quite a while.

In other work related activities, we had orientation this month the first I've attended. It differed slightly from farewell but for both it's really quite an experience to have all of the scholars in one room, these are the only two points in the year where they are. The sense of excitement and anticipation at orientation is electric. It's also quite difficult to get over 1,700 people from all different cultures and backgrounds to all be in the right place at the right time. Farewell is the culmination of their year, so it's full more of stories of achievements, reunions between people who may not have seen each other for the entire year, and of promises to stay in touch.

Finally, this month I attended my final wedding of the year - wearing a different outfit than the others! It was nice to be back in Essex for the day, catching up with friends and witnessing the special day of a lovely couple. Bring on 2019 for more weddings...

Work Farewell

Saying a celebratory goodbye to Cat who moves onto a new role after staying at Chevening for the past 4 years. She was a great colleague and has become a great friend. So although it's sad not seeing her every day, it isn't a goodbye forever! Also who can argue with a buck's fizz on a random Tuesday afternoon!

Final Wedding of 2018

Catch up with Essex friends, at a lovely location, with good weather. <3 p="">

Orientation

Meeting the scholars who I had a hand in offering the scholarship to - from Kosovo where I sat on the panel. Meeting other scholars from all over the world, spending a long and tiring Saturday with some of the best colleagues, hanging out on a big red bus in the middle of the Excel Centre. And this is only a 20 minute journey home!

Yes, #knowledgeisgreat.

Western Balkans #2

A marketing work trip took me to Bosnia (Sarajevo and Mostar) and Macedonia (Skopje). I've been to Sarajevo before but Skopje was new and very interesting.

My selected pictures include; The old Railway Station clock which stopped at 5:17am on 26th July 1963 the exact time an earthquake struck Skopje - part of Yugoslavia at the time, the Vardar river which splits the old and new towns, statues from the Women Warrior Park (and an old version of the Macedonian flag), the view over the city from the Kale Fortress and Macedonian Square where this statue of Alexander the Great is referred to as Warrior on a Horse so as not to anger the Greeks.

I had a much shorter time in Bosnia, so managed only a photo by the Bridge in Mostar and in the BE Sarajevo.

:: 'There's lots of good fish in the sea... maybe... but the vast masses seem to be mackerel or herring, and if you're not mackerel or herring yourself you are likely to find very few good fish in the sea' Lady Chatterley's Lover ::