7th July 2008

These days the only thing I am thinking about is my dissertation project. There is a lot to do, and I know that two months will not be enough if I don´t work hard. Although I am studying Software Engineering, I chose a project from the Information Studies department. Some of my friends were surprised by my choice, but actually the first time that I talked to my supervisor to discuss the project, it seemed very interesting to me. Also, the reason this project was offered to Computer Science students was that it involved programming skills. So, I found it suitable for myself.

The title of my project is "Improving OPACS (Open Public Access Catalogues) using web technologies". So, basically we were looking for ways to represent university library books to students and staff in an easier way using the web. Finally, after two months of reading academic publications and books to gather background information about the topic in order to get to know more details on current research on it, (this is called literature survey), we came up with the idea of integrating library results to Google search, and use Amazon reviews, table of contents and etc of Google book search, and many more in order to make an application that provides better results upon user´s search. Seems interesting, doesn´t it?

My supervisor believes if we could finish the project and have something working and tested; we could prove that this Google results augmentation will provide satisfactory results. I hope everything goes well and I can carry on the project in the best way possible.

In these last two weeks I have been just struggling to work with the technologies that I am using for my project and I still have not been able to overcome some of the problems I have faced. Sometimes I get very disappointed, but I guess having a good plan and my supervisor´s help the project can end up really nice.

Oh, my mind has been so busy with my project that I forgot to tell you the good news that I have got a job here in SHEFFIELD which starts after submission of my project :D, I was really surprised when the manager of the company called me to say that I have got the job. It was my first application and I was thinking that I would have to make loads of them to get a job, but now with not much effort applying I have got it. It is not always like this – I have been lucky! I have heard that the company is a really nice place to work in, and they have many offices all around the UK. I will be working as a software developer in a team. The software which we will be working on is called EBS, educational software for universities and colleges, in C#.net. I think I will gain lots of experience in this job, and actually I am really glad that I will stay in Sheffield :).

Ok, I think I have to finish this part of my diary now, and go back struggling with my project :) , actually computers always come with errors and bugs, but I like it when after all you can make things work properly and enjoy it.

4th June 2008

Finally after one month of hard work I am finished for the second semester and the only thing I am thinking about these days is how to plan my holidays :D , However it is sad that the course is finished and I will not see my friends at university so much as all of them are going back home during summer.
I have already bought tickets from the university union to go to Whitby and Scarborough. Whitby is a nice place with picturesque houses and harbour, and Scarborough, a traditional east coast seaside resort with two sandy bays separated by a 12th century castle. I have heard that they are really nice places.
I am also going out with friends more often. We go shopping, to the cinema and for lunch or dinner. There are also many parties this weekend which I am looking forward to :D. However, I cannot continue like this after the end of this week as I have to start working on my dissertation project and apply for jobs.
I have to go now, and will write for you after my day trip this weekend :D

1st May 2008

Hi everyone :), I haven´t had time to write my diary last week, actually I had a lot of work to do, so I was just working, working, working. But, I am happy that I have already submitted one of my assignments.
Though I was very busy, I went to watch the Iranian movie `Santoori´ last Saturday in the University union. I took some friends of mine too. It was so nice that I could watch this film in here: D. although the film was very sad, I liked it. After the movie, my friends and I went to a restaurant for dinner. It was a relaxing night for me.
Yesterday, I participated in a job fair which was organized by the University career service. It was really surprising for me that there were lots of companies interested to employ International students. After the fair, I just decided to update my CV, and start applying for some of the jobs which I really liked yesterday.
I have to go now, coz I have a class in an hour, but I am going to write for you soon.
Have a nice weekend: D

16th April 2008

If you are waiting for me to start talking about the plans I was hoping for last week, I am afraid I have to say that last weekend I had to work on my assignments. However, I went to a Mexican social party on Friday which was nice : D I always enjoy going to these parties, as I can meet new international people. Anyway, studying is going well these days and I have started to go to the library to study. I used to study in my room as it is so comfortable for me, but as nowadays I can´t concentrate when I am studying in my room, I decided to go to the library. Actually, I found it so nice. It is so comfortable and when I see the entire study atmosphere I feel like I enjoy studying more. Anyway, apart from this, I am thinking what to do this Friday as I am invited to two different parties and I have to manage to go to both of them. Also, there is a cultural evening this Saturday in the University Students Union that should be a great fun. I know that there are different plays and dances from different societies. Hopefully, I could go to this party and have a lot to tell you next week ;)
Take care, see you soon

9th April 2008

After a very nice vacation in Iran, I came back to Sheffield again :). To some extent I was sad leaving home and I didn´t want my holidays to be finished. But, anyway I had to come back and start studying again. At this time of the year I have a lot of work to do. So, I have to concentrate on my assignments. After a day that I felt I have missed home, I felt so happy that I saw my friends in Sheffield again.
From the beginning of this week, I have been so busy with my work, but hopefully I have some good plans for the weekend :)
As I wasn´t here in the last three weeks, I am going to talk about my holidays in Iran a little bit. Unfortunately, my flight to Iran was so exhausting, but I had very good time in Iran. I enjoyed the good weather very much. And, being around my family and my friends was the best part. Happily, I didn´t have to work for my course during Easter vacation, so I could enjoy my vacation without thinking about work I have to do. I stayed in Iran for more than two weeks and finally came back to Sheffield last Friday, relaxed for two days and started going to my lectures from Monday.
That´s everything for now, but I will write for you next week.

12th March 2008

From now on I am going to write a web diary, so you will get to know how a student life could be in Sheffield.

Last Saturday I went to Oxford with one of the trips that the student union arranges. My friends and I walked in the city, visiting different places for 6 hours, and when we came back home we were so tired that we just had dinner and went to bed.

Easter holidays will start on 17th of March, and it is the last week I am going to be in university in March. So, obviously I have a lot of work to do before vacation starts. Except some time that I spent with my friends to have a coffee or watch a movie, I was concentrating on my assignments most of the time this week. But, as I am so enthusiastic that I am going back to Iran during the vacation, I don´t care about the hard work. However, I guess spending Easter here should be nice too. As it is the first Easter since I am in the UK I don´t know what it is like. When I go to the city centre, I see there are chocolate eggs in many stores, and I am so curious to know what people do at Easter.

Anyway, I have to go now because it is one of my friend´s birthdays today and they have a small party. So, I have to go and get ready for that. As I am going back to Iran for nearly three weeks I can not write for you till I come back. But I will update my diary as soon as I come back to Sheffield.

Have a nice time: D