Banchory and Inverurie Vocational Days - Ben Doyle

Our time in Banchory was unforgettable! I want to sincerely thank all of our hosts, host clubs, and hospitable friends that we've met along the way. They have truly made this an amazing experience. For my second vocational day, I visited a small network management company called Arrowdawn. I use "small" to describe the number of staff (5-6), however, they provide the network infrastructure and support 100-150 companies, including a major airport! I worked with their technician, Adam, in the morning which was enjoyable to see the daily tasks and issues he encounters. Many were similar to the issues I see at work, and it was interesting to observe the different methods used to troubleshoot and resolve them. In the afternoon, I worked with another technician, Mike, and studied a call management system. This was particularly exciting because I have never had the opportunity previously, and they have always been an area of curiosity. Both technicians and the company's owner, Gordon, were incredibly friendly and helpful!

After leaving Banchory, we arrived in Inverurie and had time to tour some of the surrounding towns. My host, Bill, brought Jim and I to a falconry exhibit, where we were able to feed and interact with hawks, owls, and eagles. Very exciting! On my vocational day, I visited the large company of AMEC. They provide business operations and I.T. support for some of the major oil companies, including BP and Shell. I was given an in-depth look at their web applications and in-house management systems, built and maintained by their engineers/software developers. I was shocked at the level of detail and accountability that they were able to include in their practices. It was a very informative and enthralling day.

Among the castles, Jim, Emily, and I were fortunate enough to see Dunnottar castle, which has been one of the highlights of the trip. Built out on the shores of the North Sea, it was designed for defense. Though some has fallen into rubble in the proceeding years, it is an amazing sight! It stands alone on a cliffside, accessible from a single, narrow staircase, beginning several hundred feet below on the beachfront. This and many, many other experiences have continued to make this the trip of a lifetime!