London was nice!

Buckingham palace.......

Buckingham garden gate

Fountain in front of the palace

Protecting the queen! Hard work??

Buckingham palace

Let me in, mate! 

Buckingham palace

Meeee

You shouldn't be looking at me, mate!

 Westminister.....

London eye....

 South bank end...

 St Paul's Cathedral.....

Airport Welcome 2011

The University’s welcome week 2011 was a nice experience and most importantly, being part of the Airport welcome/transfer team was particularly interesting. It is my belief that the airport welcome is the most impressionable component of the University’s welcome week activities. This is because the airport welcome/transfer is the first picture of the university seen by the international students on their arrival and this sets the trend of what to expect when they get to the university.

Although this year’s airport welcome/transfer wasn’t without a few hiccups but it was all resolved smoothly, thanks to the immaculate planning of Misbah Haque and was a good improvement over last year. I should know because I was actually part of the new students received last year by the airport welcome team.

I would say this year’s airport welcome/transfer was a success thanks to planning, teamwork and discipline exhibited by the team and the two best bus drivers in the world; Steve and Kenny.

Its was all worth it

September is here, my colleagues and I have only one thing on our minds "dissertation deadline". Its been a long and tasking year, but it all ends with this dissertation and we are almost there. Most of us are already thinking about what comes up next, knowing the prospects has to be worth all the effort that has been put into the last one year. Now when I look back at the beginning, I thank God and tell myself the last one year has been nice to me, really nice.
And as i look forward to being awarded my master's degree in Structural Engineering, I can't help but think of the new students gearing and packing up to face a "nice year" in the University of Salford.  But believe me, even now before being awarded my master's degree, I look back and know, it was all worth it.

Its almost over (1)

Just a few more weeks to go and mission accomplished. This week saw the end of my 50 weeks stay in the university accommodation; John Lester court, I have to move into an alternative accommodation to spend the last few weeks of my master's programme. It was hard saying goodbye to my wonderful hostel-mates, especially my flatmates and the reception desk. I am going to miss my flatmates a lot and the memories of our stay together will linger on.

My stay at the university accomodation was a wonderful and memorable experience, it provided a conducive and hospitable environment and made settling down into the university a lot more easier. I guess we have to leave to make room for new students resuming mid-September.

To all new students, hope your bags are packed.

August Ends Soon

August seems to run fast, this month ends too soon and it feels like there wasn't enough days in the month. Maybe its because there's still a lot of work to be done on my dissertation. I should be printing out results data from my computer simulated model any day now, but this only means am just half way into my dissertation. Gathering information on foundation appraisal of temporary buildings (disaster/relief shelters) for my dissertation is harder than it sounds and I still spend a lot of my time in the school library. The University Clifford Library opens during non-term time (for dissertation students like me). Thanks to my course-mates, its not as boring as you would expect, as we still have group discussions and share ideas on our diverse dissertation topics.

My course-mate Haydar F. Hameed in the library

Well, August ends soon and my dissertation is just half way, but am getting there.

Application approved

Funny, how time flies. Its been exactly a year now that I secured my student visa to study at the University of Salford. This time last year, I was on my way to the visa application office to find out if my visa application was approved, having applied two weeks earlier. I could still remember how anxious I felt and knowing that the decision was going to make a huge difference in my life and a step towards greater things.

Application approved and a year later, I cannot over-stress how much things has changed for me and how much I appreciate the opportunity I was given and the prospects ahead.

And to prospective students just applying for their visas or waiting for the results, I wish you all goodluck.

London on my mind

After spending almost all summer in school working on my dissertation and so much time in Manchester, I think spending a fews days in London won't do any damage. I am planning to take three days off and visit some interesting places in London. Places like Buckingham palace (yep!), Westminister Abbey, London eye and Emirates Stadium. Maybe even No.10, Downing Street! It will be a wonderful time off all my studying.