Community Service Day

This morning we travelled to the Izmir Technical Institute about 40 minutes south of the city.  We were scheduled to give a series of presentations to a class of about 70 computer science students.  The idea was that each of us would talk for about 5 minutes on a topic we felt would be of use to the students.   Richard had suggested using Prezi as an interesting / different way of delivering the material, so over the last few days each of us provided him with our materials and he merged this into the final presentation.

The full sequence of presentations can be viewed at
Turkey Team 9 Community Service Day
This link allows you to view all of the presentations - and associated videos.  Allow a minute or two for it to load before starting view the detail.

I was up first, after a short video.   My theme was 'continuous professional development' and I tried to convey this by showing that throughout my career I have continuously learned new skills as my role has changed.   I dont know if you can get that from the slides without being able to hear what I said to each one.   The other presentations are also interesting and showcase the diversity that makes up IBM.

And we got some news coverage

haberler.com

stargundem

Workshops

Yesterdays workshop with a group of from the board of the Young Entrepreneurs Council went well.  It generated lots of data.   Today we will repeat the workshop with a groups of students who are members of entrepreneurial societies at various Izmir universities.   If we gather a similar amount of data today then we will busy with analysis for much of next week.

There's no show like a Joe show

OK - Irish readers may find this interesting.

Here is a picture of the table where I sat down to lunch.

Joe Dolan (1939 - 2007) was an Irish entertainer, recording artist and pop singer.   The last place I expected to see his picture was as part of a table display at the Izmir bazaar.

Maybe they want people to eat :-
 More, and more and more .... 

A new experience

On the way home yesterday I was thinking that I need to blog about more than just work and tourist activity.  There has to be something different.  
In Turkey you cannot avoid the shoeshine guys.   There is one on every other corner.   As a child I had to polish my shoes every Saturday night - a task I never enjoyed.   Perhaps that is why I have always had a somewhat idealogical opposition to having my shoes shined.   Well I finally gave in.   In the time it takes to order/collect a Starbucks coffee - and for half the price - I ended up with this ...

Working away

At this point we have a good definition of what we are trying to achieve.  

We have identified what we believe are the key issues some of the questions that need to be answered.  

The last two days were spent gathering some background data and summarising it.

Now we are preparing to host a workshop on Thursday

Ephesus - Sunday

Amazing place

Here are some photos taken with my phone.
Im still trying to figure out what to do with the larger collection from my camera

Wandering around Izmir - Saturday

A bit like home - multiple seasons in a day

Just before lunch
Just after lunch

Karşıyaka, Bostanlı - Friday evening

A group from IZKA (the organisation working with Team 2) took us on the ferry across to Bostanli on the northern side of Izmir bay.   We had super dinner - lots (and lots) for courses.  Sea bass cooked several different ways, octopus, salads - and some raki.     There was a nice view of the Izmir lights from the boat back and we finished off the evening with a convivial drink in a lively city centre.

Settling into a routine

Day 4

Starting to develop a routine now

07:00 Get up and go for a (short, slow) run by they sea
08:00 Breakfast
08:30 Walk to work (10mins)
09:00 At a desk in our assigned office
12:00 Lunch on the top floor of the office (good choice of salads, 2 hot options, dessert)
13:00 Back at the desk
18:00 Walk home to the hotel

19:00 Meet in the lobby before heading out to eat

The project work is progressing well.  Scope is agreed and a high level schedule has been done.  We have invited key stakeholders to a workshop and are research information to prepare.

Day 1

Got up relatively early on Monday morning and went for a (slow) run on the seafront.   There is track for joggers, as well as a cycle track and promenade.

Spent the morning with my subteam updating our work plan based on current understanding of the scope document.   Then another good lunch before going to the EBSO headquarters for introductory meetings and presentations with the host organisations.

Back at the hotel by 5:30 and we sat down as  a subteam to review what we had learned, and review what our priorities for Tuesday and the rest of the week might be.

Planning a 'light' evening meal as I have been eating rather well since my arrival in Turkey.

On the ground in Izmir

Very different from what I remember when I passed through here on holiday in 1989.

Its a 1hr flight from Istanbul and we got to our hotel about 6pm.   Went for dinner as a team.   Its about 2mins walk from the hotel to the seafront which has lots of restaurants with a mouthwatering choice of seabass, calamari, octopus, red mullet etc.

Took a walk after dinner at about 10pm.   It was still warm and pleasant out.  There was a Lamborghini  cruising the seafront road,  as well as 2 Porsche Panoramas.   The Turkish economy must be in a healthy state.

#ibmcsc turkey

Istanbul

Phone photos from Friday night walkabout in Istanbul.  Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque

Istanbul - Saturday

Getting going

Sitting in Dublin airport waiting for my flight to Istanbul. It still doesn't feel like I have started yet - but I expect that will hit me when I land in Turkey.

This week was spent closing off tasks from my "day job". Delegating this, approving that, reporting on the other. I'm not sure why I was worried I might forget something. The team will get on with things, and deal with issues as they arise just like they always do.

Got some vaccinations last night (leave it to the last minute) and then went to a talk at the boys school. An economist, a computer science professor, a green politician and some journalists discussing current thinking in their fields and the potential impact on Irish society.

Meanwhile a THY aircraft has just landed out of the mist. It will be time to move to the gate area soon.