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

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

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

If "people" includes me, let me know... I have a car and within a week I should hopefully be able to drive it :-)

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

'People' certainly would include you, of course!

I'm 2 blocks from the train station, so I can get around to an extent, but if you want to visit me you (and anyone you might want to bring of course) would be most welcome.

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Either way, then... fortunately for you, the train now runs on weekends (it didn't until a week ago). So, just let me know when you're free. My weekends/evenings are generally open.

[compilerbitch.livejournal.com]

I'll drop you a line when I've arrived and found my way around, etc. I'm thinking probably/maybe something on the 19th/20th weekend?

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Sounds good!