Three Weeks Later
I arrived home on the Wednesday, 4th November and worked part of Thursday and Friday.
It was great to be home and to see family and friends.
Three weeks later I have had time to reflect on the course, re-assimilate to New Zealand, work and home.
People ask a few similar questions.
Q. How was it?
A. It was fantastic, a great experience, I worked very hard, but that didn't mean I didn't enjoy myself, the work wasn't stressful, it was enjoyable and I had a ball. It was a privilege to attend.
Q. Did you learn plenty?
A. Can't you tell?
Q. Was it valuable?
A. I learned a lot, the question is can I transfer that to value? Ask me again in 12 months and I will tell you.
Q. What was the best part?
A. The people I met, the learning, the experience of being at Harvard and the opportunity to be self focused for 2 months.
If anyone is wondering was it really worth it, the answer is emphatically yes, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. If it is ever offered up to you grab it with both hands!!!
END
29 November 2009
01 November 2009
Getting Home - San Francisco
Sunday, 1 Nov 2009
I had a great day in the city today. I woke early and was confused as to what time it was, with my iphone and table-side clocks showing different times. I finally worked out that California had finished daylight saving over night and while the iphone was smart enough to work it out, the bedside clock and my wrist watch needed to be adjusted manually. Having ascertained that the correct time was 0700, I extracted myself from bed and went for a walk east along the waterfront for a few kilometers. The bay was majestic as the fog was still clinging onto its position first thing but gradually receded as the sun chased it away.
I did a couple of hours work then went for a look at the shops. I had decided that I was going to buy a new camera as the little Sony I have has been a disappointment. I was very impressed with the Canon G10 that Philippe had on the course so I purchased one of those.
It really was a cracking day with a temperature in the low 20s and very sunny, so I decided I needed to do something rather than just sitting around inside. I hired a push-bike and pedelled my way around the bay over the Golden Gate bridge then onto Sausalito on the north side of the bay a distance of about 13 kilometers. I had a late lunch there then caught the ferry back to town. It was a pleasant and picturesque trip back across which included tracking very close to Alcatraz, and the ride over the bridge was memorable. I didn't realise they had pedestrian/bike access on both sides of the bridge. No wonder it is so easy and convenient to throw yourself off, and it is very high.
:
I had a great day in the city today. I woke early and was confused as to what time it was, with my iphone and table-side clocks showing different times. I finally worked out that California had finished daylight saving over night and while the iphone was smart enough to work it out, the bedside clock and my wrist watch needed to be adjusted manually. Having ascertained that the correct time was 0700, I extracted myself from bed and went for a walk east along the waterfront for a few kilometers. The bay was majestic as the fog was still clinging onto its position first thing but gradually receded as the sun chased it away.
I did a couple of hours work then went for a look at the shops. I had decided that I was going to buy a new camera as the little Sony I have has been a disappointment. I was very impressed with the Canon G10 that Philippe had on the course so I purchased one of those.
It really was a cracking day with a temperature in the low 20s and very sunny, so I decided I needed to do something rather than just sitting around inside. I hired a push-bike and pedelled my way around the bay over the Golden Gate bridge then onto Sausalito on the north side of the bay a distance of about 13 kilometers. I had a late lunch there then caught the ferry back to town. It was a pleasant and picturesque trip back across which included tracking very close to Alcatraz, and the ride over the bridge was memorable. I didn't realise they had pedestrian/bike access on both sides of the bridge. No wonder it is so easy and convenient to throw yourself off, and it is very high.
:
Getting Home - Boston to San Francisco
Saturday, 31 Oct 2009
I caught the 0800 bus from McArthur Hall to Boston Logan for a flight that my itinerary said was 1130. I had considered waiting for the 1000 bus but thought that might be cutting it a bit fine. I ended up as the only person on 0800 so I was chauffeured to the airport in style. The driver was friendly and we had a bit of a chat. Once he had determined my nationality he asked me me "What is the difference between an Australian and a New Zealander?" I looked him straight in the eye and said "We're smarter!". For some reason the flight UA177 was actually scheduled to depart at 1244, so I ended up spending about 4 hours in the United lounge, but it wasn't all bad as there was a reasonably steady flow of AMP participants over the period I was there, so I had the opportunity to chat with them and reflect on the program.
The flight was around 6 hours and I was flying economy and the plane was full. I sat next to a guy that spends his professional life trying to invade the physical and IT infrastructure of firms in the U.S as a way of determining where there are gaps and therefore hopefully allowing patches to be put in place to make the firms more secure. He will attach the IT systems from the outside, he will physically break into buildings by cracking locks or bullshitting the front-desk staff.
My flight arrived about 4pm (San Francisco is 3 hours behind Boston). I caught up with Mark Young and his wife Bev for dinner. Mark and Bev had decided to meet up in San Francisco for a few days and have a bit of a holiday.
Accommodation is once more at the Holiday Inn, Fishermans Wharf.
Oh and the other peice of news is that I think I am going blind. All this reading has meant I am struggling to read small text etc (becoming a bit long-sighted). So I went and bought myslef a set of +1.00 reading glasses. They make a difference and I have become quite found of them.
I caught the 0800 bus from McArthur Hall to Boston Logan for a flight that my itinerary said was 1130. I had considered waiting for the 1000 bus but thought that might be cutting it a bit fine. I ended up as the only person on 0800 so I was chauffeured to the airport in style. The driver was friendly and we had a bit of a chat. Once he had determined my nationality he asked me me "What is the difference between an Australian and a New Zealander?" I looked him straight in the eye and said "We're smarter!". For some reason the flight UA177 was actually scheduled to depart at 1244, so I ended up spending about 4 hours in the United lounge, but it wasn't all bad as there was a reasonably steady flow of AMP participants over the period I was there, so I had the opportunity to chat with them and reflect on the program.
The flight was around 6 hours and I was flying economy and the plane was full. I sat next to a guy that spends his professional life trying to invade the physical and IT infrastructure of firms in the U.S as a way of determining where there are gaps and therefore hopefully allowing patches to be put in place to make the firms more secure. He will attach the IT systems from the outside, he will physically break into buildings by cracking locks or bullshitting the front-desk staff.
My flight arrived about 4pm (San Francisco is 3 hours behind Boston). I caught up with Mark Young and his wife Bev for dinner. Mark and Bev had decided to meet up in San Francisco for a few days and have a bit of a holiday.
Accommodation is once more at the Holiday Inn, Fishermans Wharf.
Oh and the other peice of news is that I think I am going blind. All this reading has meant I am struggling to read small text etc (becoming a bit long-sighted). So I went and bought myslef a set of +1.00 reading glasses. They make a difference and I have become quite found of them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
