Well, this is it... NASA awaits.

[compilerbitch]

It's all happening. Really quickly.

After months and months of paperwork wrangling, I finally got my visa last week. NASA booked the plane tickets on Friday. I am leaving on Sunday at 10.05 from Heathrow, and will arrive before late afternoon local time.

It's quite scary.

I start work on Monday in the automated software engineering group at NASA Ames lab. I'm going to be there for 10 weeks, then I'm going to two back-to-back conferences in Italy, and will finally get back to the UK in September.

It will be a long time to be away from friends, and of course from doseybat, but it's really quite an amazing opportunity, so I have to do it really. Well, I am, so it's a moot point realistically.

I'm quite nervous about going somewhere that far away for that long, not really knowing people locally. I know there are one or two LJ friends list people somewhere near, so take this as an Official Announcement:

I would like to meet up with people. :-)

I should still have net access while I'm there, so I'll be posting more about my experiences as the weeks go by.

Oh, I'll be working here:


The big building (which is enormous, apparently) is the world's largest wind tunnel. More specifically, it's the air intake!

Comments

[redcountess]

Wow, what a fantastic opportunity. I know you've posted about it before, but I don't think it really hit me that it was NASA! Good luck!

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yerrrrs, I know. It's quite something to have this chance. It's been a childhood dream, ever since my mother sat me down, aged maybe 2 or something, and made me watch the first moon landing live on our 405 line valve black & white TV set. The thought that I'll actually be starting work there NEXT MONDAY (!) is quite something.

[redcountess]

You can't be only two years younger than me??? First moon landing was in '69 and we watched it on our big old b&w! I bet you loved the movie "Space Camp" as well :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was born in September 1967. People seem to think I'm younger than that usually (which is nice), but I'm not.

[redcountess]

You're only seven months younger than reddragdiva then (and four months younger than my brother) :-)

Cool, I like knowing people my own age :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

Yes, we oldies should stick together.

The younger generation today...

... well in my day, they certanly didn't put up with the kinds of thing that go on now, I can tell you...

[redcountess]

*grin*

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

And yes, I did love space camp, although my favourite related film is 'The Dish', which always makes me cry at the end.

[redcountess]

I know I must sound horribly unpatriotic, but I still haven't seen The Dish, although I have heard it is very heartwarming.

I cried when Challenger blew up though :-(

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

I *heart* The Dish. Have fun over there.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

:-)

[lsur.livejournal.com]

Looks incredible! Enjoy yourself!