An update

Well so far it has been a real adventure. I have done so many things so far and found so much out about myself and who I want to be… its a truly enlightening experience being out here and working with such great people in great surroundings and the most amazing environment I have ever been in.

When I first arrived I felt alone, then I felt overwhelmed and now I just feel calm and in control. 

The projects I have done so far mostly relate to specific systems of the Large Hadron Collider, specifically the Accelerator Testing program and the Beam Interlock System as well as more specific units such as FECs (Front End Controllers) CIBM/CIBX and BICs (Beam Interlock Controllers). So far I have learned a good deal about testing, software patterns, refactoring and a little about C++ and working with large projects.

The thing I enjoy most about working here so far is the simple fact that it makes me want to improve… it challenges me and I want to meet those challenges and do the very best that I can. Money has not entered my mind for the first time in my life and it is such a pleasant feeling to be able to finally be free and independent and to practice the things I have often preached… money does not equate happiness, your state of mind does.

 

Week 1 completed

Hi all,

I am now at the end of my first week of work with CERN and its… its a lot to take in so far! The place is freaking huge and there is so much to see and do!

I am now living at the foot of the Jura mountains in a small village called Sergy, it is really a beautiful place with lots of places to walk around and explore… absolutely love it and the people I am currently living with are really great. Time of my life so far!

Only downside so far… the sun… holy crap the sun! I can feel the cells in my skin screaming out trying to comprehend and understand this new torment shining onto them but alas…. they cannot.

Okay so work… CERN… what is it like? So far it is interesting but I haven’t really started the proper work, it has mostly just been bringing me up to speed so far on what I will be doing eventually one day once the real work kicks off for me. I have been tasked with looking into enhancing or adding to a DSL which is being created for the purposes of my group and so far the task is very interesting though the requirements for it are vague… it is difficult to determine which packages can actually meet our requirements seeing as our requirements aren’t all that clear!

I am going to try and put up more frequent updates after this, particularly once I am more involved in the sprint process and can actually comment on the job that I will really be doing.

May the winds guide you!

Damien

One Month to go

Bonjour and hello!

Well today is the one month to go mark and things are starting to look a bit hairy, nerves are kicking in and excitement is wanting to burst out.

One month from now I will be living in a completely different country, meeting new people, taking on a dream job and missing home like crazy. Will I be able to afford it all? Will I enjoy it? I have no idea, the only thing I know right now is how much I will miss the people I will be temporarily leaving behind.

So far I have a fair amount of money to last me the first month and I have been allowed to work as many hours as I want at work so I can earn a bit more hopefully before I go. I also won a competition at uni which netted me £125, all values in the right direction!

So why do I feel so frustrated atm? No idea, I’m sure it will work out eventually.

Signing out for now, I am sure I will feel better tomorrow, got a great girlfriend who is cheering me up and even though shes a bit ill she is taking the time to be nice to me, I am very lucky indeed 🙂

May the winds guide you.

First Post

Well hello there and I might as well explain what the blog is for.

I am a computer science student at the University of Strathclyde and as part of my degree I have to take a one year placement in industry. I have been lucky enough to be accepted for a placement in Geneva, Switzerland working with CERN. Working at somewhere like CERN has been a dream of mine since I was a kid. To be part of something so big and so important as a research institute to extend the knowledge of the human species. A dramatic statement but I am extremely excited about this opportunity and I cant help but slip into drama from time to time!

Well that’s enough for a first post I suppose. Once things start to happen I shall post more often. July the 1st roll on!