Return to the Office

The English Building, home of the Political Science Department, reopened for business Monday morning. It is great to be back in my office.

View from my Office

 

 

 

 

 

This is what my office looked like when I opened the door on Monday morning. The quake moved the desks slightly and sent some of the items stored on the shelf to the floor. Overall, it was in great shape.

Pictures from Christchurch's Red Zone and the Surrounding Areas

When I restarted my blog last week, I decided  that I was not going to have a quake-centric blog. I don't want each entry of my blog filled with pictures of something that was destroyed in the quake, examples of liquefaction, or raised sidewalks. I prefer to focus on the brighter side of my second home and the rebuilding of the garden city. However, after my walk around the red zone, I thought I would share a few pictures. I consider myself very lucky that all my friends in Christchurch are well and unscathed by the quake and its devastation.

Anna, Sarah, Snowy (Anna's dog), and I took a long walk around the parameter of the red  zone with a few detours down adjacent streets this past Saturday. It was striking how much area the red zone covers. The task of rebuilding Christchurch is monumental.

Before rebuilding begins, over 900 buildings must be demolished in the Central Business District. On Friday, 13 May, The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority, CERA, gave notice to owners of dangerous buildings announcing they had 10 days to submit a demolition plan. If the owners do not respond within that time frame, CERA will take over the demolition and bill the property owners.

 One of Many Red-stickered Buildings

 Apartments on Kilmore Street

Croyden House B&B

 View of Downtown from Check Point

 Remnants of the Methodist Church Next to the Methodist Mission

 Previous Reinforcement

Council Buildings with Scaffolding from Rebuild After September's Quake

One of Many Check Points Along the Parameters of the Red Zone

 Demolition in Progress

 Demolition in Progress

Colombo St - Memorial for People Lost in the Quake

Colombo Street

 Manchester Street

 

Demolition in Progress

 High Street

 

Catholic Basilica

Autumn in Ilam Gardens

I had a bit of time at the end of work today. During that time I took a walk around my favorite place on campus, Ilam Gardens. The gardens are known for their azaleas and rhododendrons. As it is autumn the plants are not in bloom Despite the lack of blooms, it is still a gorgeous place. Below are some pictures I took.

The tallest tree in this picture is a California Redwood.

Our poor, munted Staff Club

Some More Pictures from Campus

 Path Near the Music Building

Old Registry Buidling

Okeover Building

 

Autumn Leaves

Around Campus

Construction seems to be going well on campus. The tents will be down shortly. Luckily, I have a lecture theater instead of a tent.Below are some pictures I took on a walk after class. 

 

 The English Building (My 2nd Home)

 

The Front Entrance of the English Building

 

  

James Hight Library

 

James Hight Library and the largest amount of scaffolding I have seen in my life.

 

Temporary Office

Intentcity Cafe

  

Tent Classroom #12

Autumn in New Zealand

Casa on Thornton Street

I haven't written in this blog for quite some time, as you may have noticed. My mid-year resolution is to post a picture a day. As there are plenty of lovely and interesting things to capture with my camera, I shouldn't have a problem keeping my resolution.

It is autumn in Christchurch. I am happy to report I am back in my old room at Dave and Kirsten's. Being here has made the transition back to Christchurch very easy. Things are very different from when I left. Many places I used to go are closed due to earthquake damage, not that I'm complaining. I don't want to sound like the annoying people on this evening's news who complained there was nothing to do in Christchurch. There is still plenty to do! I would love to tell those people who are bored to go help someone clean up their garden or remove silt from their driveway and walkway.

I am teaching the second half of a modern stateless warfare course this term. So far, it seems to be going well. The students seemed to like the Isle of Ted Simulation we did last week. Tomorrow, we start our module on terrorism - so it should be a fun class.

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