Now that I’ve read just about all the blogs which have been uploaded in the last year, I think it’s time to make my first attempt, bear with me.

Hi everyone, my name is Scott Tyre and I’ve just finished my fourth year of study towards a MEng in Aero-mechanical engineering at Strathclyde University. This summer I’m heading out to Houston, Texas to complete an internship with Wood Group. Unlike the five other interns who are also Texas bound, my placement is engineering based and I will be working within Wood Group’s Gas Turbine Services business.

Yesterday I made the trip across the Irish Sea to the US consulate in Belfast, where I finally got my visa sorted. I was really surprised that the process went so smoothly, as I was in and out of the consulate in about half an hour. I’d also recommend it to anyone who doesn’t fancy the trip down to London. Today it’s really started to sink in that I’m going to America to work this summer, I think that you’ll agree that it’s a bit of a step up from Preston last summer (no offence to anyone from Lancashire) and Tesco in Castle Douglas the year before that. Texas sounds like an unbelievable place, with so much going on, and if we even only get to experience that very briefly I’m sure it will be an amazing eight weeks.

With only three weeks left till we head out, the excitement is really starting to build. I still can’t quite believe that I’m being given such a fantastic opportunity and I’m really eager to get out there and start learning from the engineers who I’ll be working around. From my experience of working in industry last summer, I believe that this is one of the best ways to develop the skills which you need to succeed in any job. Although we absorb bucket loads of information (excuse the expression) at university every year, it’s not until you actually complete some relevant work that what you’ve learned begins to click. I’m sure any other interns who have previous work experience will attest to this. After getting a glimpse of how business is conducted in the engineering industry throughout last summer, I’m also looking forward to seeing how the industry operates in the US. I understand that things are done very differently after hearing about business meetings over hot dogs at baseball games and R&R being taken at gun ranges. Only in America!

Anyway, I think I’ve waffled on enough for now, roll on the 10^th of July. I’ll look forward to hearing how everyone else is getting on around the world and seeing everyone again once we get back to Scotland in September. 

Scott