How I got the chance for a quick take off to Chicago
14/04/08
Annette Heather, a second year Housing diploma student at Southampton Solent University, was offered an opportunity she simply couldn't miss.
'As part of the wider curriculum for housing studies, all students at Southampton Solent University are offered the chance to attend the CIH South East regional conference held in Brighton each March.
Whilst I was attending the conference on 5 March 2008, an opportunity came my way that could not be missed. Bob Keats, Senior Lecturer at Southampton Solent University (and Treasurer for the CIH South East), told a group of students that a place had become available for a CIH student member to travel to Chicago with a party of 35 other housing professionals on a week-long housing study tour. They were leaving that weekend.
Four days after saying 'I can go!', I was in Chicago.
Our host was the Assistant Housing Commissioner of Chicago. The study programme included an architectural tour, seminars on green technology, affordable housing, senior citizens' living accommodation and the American housing crisis.
I am currently writing up my report on the visit which will be available on this website soon.'
Annette Heather
Year 2 Diploma in Housing
Southampton Solent University