Work and Fireworks

Engineering here is an entirely different experience. I apologise if I'm a bit vague in describing my work - it's intentional. I'm trodding a fine line between being informative and getting thrown out of the country for revealing military level secrets.

For one, the work here requires strong academia on an entirely different level. Normally, designing electronics and mechanical systems requires a great deal of practical know-how. In the past I've mainly relied on general knowledge, organisational skills and an uncanny ability to bullshit my way out of most difficult situations. 

Here? Let's just say I'm so amazingly glad that I've got a few 3rd year Maths courses under my belt.

I remember when I went to an Engineering information session in high school, someone described Engineering to me as the bridge between Science and effecting the world. The true meaning of that never really hit me until my supervisor at Thales sat me down, handed me 4 semesters worth of lecture notes of by a very specific German researcher and told me to learn it. Again, without studying Maths for a while, I'd be fairly stuffed. (Incidentally, I am fairly stuffed, not having been at Uni for about 9 months now). 

Also, 1.5 hour lunch breaks at the beach. Here are some photos.

Everyday I sit on the pier...

...eating French bread... 

...enjoying the view. Ladies and Gentlemen, mon travail - Thales, Cannes.

In other news - Cannes holds a fireworks festival every year around this time. Mondays and Saturdays there are fireworks to a set of orchestral pieces with the Firework-launchers competing to see who can set off the best display to suit the music. Sitting on the beach in the French Riviera at 10pm watching fireworks and listening to orchestral music is not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.