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Queen's University, Belfast interview

Next week, I'm pleased to receive my second interview in Ireland - this time Northern Ireland. I'll give a presentation at Queen's University, Belfast. I'm excited about the trip to the city, and to visit the famous Seamus Heaney Centre in the English department, to interview for the post of Lecturer in Creative Writing (Prose Fiction). After teaching Creative Writing on the M.A. at Royal Holloway, University of London, I'm excited about the chance to convert my work and publications into a full-time position. Wish me luck!

One of Seamus Heaney's accomplishments is his translation of the earliest Old English epic poem Beowulf. Here we see him holding up an ornate retainer's mask with suitable admiration!

Below is the The Grounds at the university, a suitable place for dreaming and writing great poetry!

A potted history of the university: "Founded by Queen Victoria, the Queen's University in Ireland, was designed to be a non-denominational alternative to Trinity College Dublin which was controlled by the Anglican Church.The University was made up of three Queen's Colleges - in Cork, Galway and Belfast. Although it was the first University in the north of Ireland, Queen's drew on a tradition of learning which goes back to 1810 and the foundation of the Belfast Academical Institution.Its collegiate department, which provided University-style education, closed with the establishment of Queen's and four of its professors and many of its students transferred to the new college.Founded in 1845, Queen's opened in1849 when the first students entered the magnificent new college building designed and built by Charles Lanyon. Since then, the University estate has grown to more than 300 buildings - many of them listed for their architectural importance. The first batch of students numbered 90. Today there are some 24,000."

For more information, see this link.

Interested in visiting Viet Nam?

Who wouldn't be, with a host of destination cities like these? Follow the pics or this link for a new website dedicated to visiting cities a little off the beaten track.

Ruba.com's first featured country is Viet Nam, and as you can see, that could mean any one of the following cities Can Tho, Chau Doc, Da Lat, Da Nang, Hanoi, Hoi An, Hue, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Sa Pa, Saigon and Vung Tau.

Now that's what I call travelling!

Adopt a Monkey!

After much consideration - not wanting to enter into the decision lightly - I have now decided to adopt a monkey. Yes, a monkey. Adopt one. Yes. If you are so inclined to help your fellow tree clown (albeit not quite a primate), you can do the same here.

You may even learn something!

University of Puerto Rico shortlist!

My latest job possibility (for Assistant Professor of English) is at the University of Puerto Rico. Click the pic above the learn the history of the oldest university of Puerto Rico, an American territory (but not a state). The university is run in a similar way to a US state university, offering courses to both Puerto Rican and mainland US students, and I am very excited to have made the shortlist there. Beautiful buildings and palm trees can't be bad!