The Oxford Africa conference, which I helped organize was staged three weeks ago at the Said Business School... dad spoke on two of the panels, about SME's and agriculture, and all in all, was a great success. It was a full day event, with dinner at St. Anthony's in the evening, and much learn't about investment and business in Africa, and contracts made all round... Africa has huge potential as a frontier market, and I hope to be involved in the game one day...
Went with dad to the Hart's farm for lunch in Oxford on the Saturday... Such hospitable people, and lovely, sunny English day spent sipping pimm's and braaing..
Thursday 10 June 2010
Finished Oxford Brookes University
Well, I have now finished at Brookes... Graduation on 24th June... what awaits now? Well, for the time being, the feeling hasnt really sunk in yet, although I feel a tinge of despair occasionally, when I get a break from BMW, thinking, that.... the work life has now started!! No more lazy lie in's, or parties that go on all night, and doesnt matter if you late for lectures (or wreaking of alcohol!!
But, I think Brookes has prepared me well... Not just academically, but I feel I have become more worldly, more purposeful, and perhaps, more resourceful... Time will tell though... For now, am just enjoying the brilliance of Oxford... Attending talks by world leading professors, trying to plan my travels, and arranging final drinks with some people, who sadly, may not see for a long time yet...
I will write the first of my essays 'on leaving university' in the next couple of months...
But, I think Brookes has prepared me well... Not just academically, but I feel I have become more worldly, more purposeful, and perhaps, more resourceful... Time will tell though... For now, am just enjoying the brilliance of Oxford... Attending talks by world leading professors, trying to plan my travels, and arranging final drinks with some people, who sadly, may not see for a long time yet...
I will write the first of my essays 'on leaving university' in the next couple of months...
Poverty sucks...
It really does...
With almost zero balances in the account, rents to pay, bills to pay, food to buy, etc. etc, it is pretty hard to sustain a 'student lifestyle' that I have had for the past few years... I started a job at BMW doing temp work and it is certainly the worst job I have had. The pay is good though... Rising at 5am (not since rowing days have I risen so early), clock in by 6am and work through till 5pm! Even Aristotle would be proud of that... The people are incredibly different to any other 'profile' of people that I have met whilst being in the UK. Your typical working class... They all read the tabloids such as the sun (ironic as it's a conservative paper), covered top down in tatoos, chat about the footy, buy BMW's on 'company schemes', or rather rent them out from the company, and 'init, init, init'... But, they are a cheerful bunch nonetheless... I just cannot see how they live like that for years on end. Rise, go to work, put a light or something on 400 cars per day, go home, sleep. And watch the footy on the weekend with the lads, and also, drive to the footy, in the new, roofless BMW... I think the worst thing about it is one, the lost freedom, where one has to be constantly working-there is no time to read an interesting article, or a book or something, or even to go outside and soak in some sun... Also, the environment I find prison like, with the unforgiving sirens that start and stop work, dead on time, and some of the managers prowing around looking for any mishaps going on... It must be better than Foxconn though...
With almost zero balances in the account, rents to pay, bills to pay, food to buy, etc. etc, it is pretty hard to sustain a 'student lifestyle' that I have had for the past few years... I started a job at BMW doing temp work and it is certainly the worst job I have had. The pay is good though... Rising at 5am (not since rowing days have I risen so early), clock in by 6am and work through till 5pm! Even Aristotle would be proud of that... The people are incredibly different to any other 'profile' of people that I have met whilst being in the UK. Your typical working class... They all read the tabloids such as the sun (ironic as it's a conservative paper), covered top down in tatoos, chat about the footy, buy BMW's on 'company schemes', or rather rent them out from the company, and 'init, init, init'... But, they are a cheerful bunch nonetheless... I just cannot see how they live like that for years on end. Rise, go to work, put a light or something on 400 cars per day, go home, sleep. And watch the footy on the weekend with the lads, and also, drive to the footy, in the new, roofless BMW... I think the worst thing about it is one, the lost freedom, where one has to be constantly working-there is no time to read an interesting article, or a book or something, or even to go outside and soak in some sun... Also, the environment I find prison like, with the unforgiving sirens that start and stop work, dead on time, and some of the managers prowing around looking for any mishaps going on... It must be better than Foxconn though...
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