University library.
Public Health New Zealand confirming that I have Covid. I had a really bad night, muscle and joint pain as well as headache and shivers. Advised not to tweet about my result. Work said to rest and not to try to work – which is really helpful. Very quiet day: didn’t go out, despite the lovely weather – didn’t feel strong enough. Muscle pain, aching joints, headache and shivers pretty much all day. Slept on and off after the six phone calls and three visits from Public Health or the Nursing Team – they are really trying to provide the best service possible. Given a red band to wear meaning I had to be accompanied if I go out for a walk.
The following days were spent in bed feeling “really unwell” with symptoms in- cluding nausea, fatigue, chills, headache and joint and muscle pain. On 20 Febru- ary, Wendy’s birthday, Mike is beginning to feel better and three days later he is able to fly to Dunedin after being given the all-clear. Just over four weeks after arriving in New Zealand, Mike finally made it to Dunedin.
Almost a year to the day since his in- terview took place, Mike was able to visit his new office for the first time. After such a drawn out process, Mike was keen to make up for lost time.
40 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
1 March 2021: Monday – First day at work. Lovely 30-minute walk to work, through Dunedin Botanic gardens. Onsite meeting at 9.00 with two senior Library staff, started with coffee at Otago Museum cafe. Library had changed to more social distancing in study environments during Sunday. First day of the teaching year, almost everything was online, but most teaching from tomorrow would be face to face, but with social distancing. Today felt very strange as it was the first time I’d been in a ‘normally operational’ library since late March 2020. Staff very pleased to see me and interested in my experience of getting to Dunedin.
Tuesday –. Library Executive Man- agement Group meeting this morning – my first time in a group face to face meeting since March 2020. Chairing the meeting went well, covering my approach to working together. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) joined for part of the meeting as she is new to her role (which includes line-management of the Library). Short tour of one part of the campus to see where the Univer- sity Executive and meeting rooms are. Lunchtime, walk around the central library – it is a really interesting design. While nearly 20-years-old, it has stood the test of time and has many lovely study spaces.
First day in the office.
Wednesday – Joined my first meeting of my peers with the DVC Academic in the beautiful Clocktower building. Just 30 minutes, but great to start to get to know my colleagues and their remits. The learning curve is steep as it is not just a new institution, but a different Higher Education culture from the UK. My initial impression is of a more relaxed way of doing business, but no less professional or hard working than my UK experience. 20 degrees in March still feels strange. Midnight meeting tonight with Library Directors from other Matariki Collaboration institu- tions. Timing is tricky as the seven insti-
June 2021
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