Clothes on the floor of the “Urban Outfitters” shop in Oxford Street, in the aftermath of the Boxing Day Sale. We’ve reached the conclusion that if the end of the world would be tomorrow, people would still rush to buy useless things if a sale was on. Our civilization is just amazing.

2kg morcovi, 1.5kg cartofi, 20-25 castraveti murati, 10 gogosari murati, 3 bucati de piept de pui, 600-700gr maioneza, 4 ore libere; se fierb cartofii, morcovii si puiul; se taie tot cat mai marunt; se amesteca cu maioneza; se decoreaza dupa gust; satisfactie maxima garantata :)

PS: gramajele nu sunt exacte. cantitatea obtinuta de noi e suficienta pentru 8-10 persoane, sau pentru 2 mancaciosi timp de 2-3 zile :P

Elsewhere:

Quit your job and go to Tignes, now! :) The trip was great. There was a 50cm-1m snowfall in the first 2 days, which raised the risk of avalanches to a maximum level of 5 on a scale of 5, which meant that we couldn’t snowboard for half a day on Monday. After several hours and numerous controlled explosions one slope opened up. Things got better in the following days, with more and more slopes opening. By the end of the week most of the Espace Killy ski domain was open. The only “downside” was that we didn’t want to leave anymore, or at least stay another week :P One week seems just a teaser with so many slopes to cover.

In terms of accommodation, if you don’t mind a small room (4 beds in general) definitely give UCPA a try. They offer very good food and an overall extremely good value package at a low price.

Will be back next Sunday.

Suntem salvați. Not :P

iPhone shots; don’t ask me about the onions, I would do about anything to get rid of a nasty cough that’s been haunting me for the past 2 months.

Daca ai terminat un BA, MA sau PhD in UK in ultimul an, ai dreptul sa aplici pentru drept de munca in UK pe o perioada nelimitata. La acest link exista o sectiune care spune asa:

“To apply for a registration certificate as a highly skilled person you should use form BR2, which you can download from the right side of this page. You will need to demonstrate that you meet certain requirements in order to obtain a registration certificate on this basis.”

Formularul BR2, disponibil aici la data scrierii acestui articol, detaliaza ce acte iti sunt necesare pentru a aplica:

- 2 fotografii de pasaport
- pasaportul sau cartea de identitate in original
- diploma in original / scrisoare care sa dovedeasca faptul ca ati absolvit, daca inca nu sunteti in posesia diplomei

Vei aplica sub schema “Qualification Awarded in England, Wales or Northern Ireland” (caz in care vei completa doar sectiunea 9 a BR2) sau, dupa caz, “Qualification awarded in Scotland” (caz in care vei completa doar sectiunea 10 a BR2). Precizez ca Highly Skilled Migrant Programme nu are nici o legatura cu schema despre care vorbesc eu, ignora toata informatiile din formular despre aceasta schema (NU e nevoie sa completezi nici una din sectiunile 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 sau 8).

Nu trebuie sa platesti nimic sau sa trimiti alte documente. Vei primi drept de munca pe o perioada nelimitata. Important de retinut e ca schema despre care vorbesc eu e diferita de IGS (International Graduate Scheme), care da candidatului drept de munca pe un an si care are conditii de aplicare mai stricte + nu e gratis.

Informatia de mai sus e verificata pe propria persoana, trecand cu succes prin aceste etape in urma cu cateva luni. Initial eram foarte sceptic, fiind convins ca nu poate fi atat de usor, insa totul s-a dovedit a fi adevarat. A durat aproape 2 luni sa primesc documentele inapoi, insa s-ar putea sa fie posibil sa faceti aplicatia in persoana si sa primiti raspunsul in aceeasi zi.

In speranta ca informatiile va vor fi de ajutor, inchei aici, dar promit sa revin cu informatii suplimentare daca cineva are nelamuriri.

Having a fry up with the guys :P

Lucian Marin, “intergalactic explorer” and a very good friend of mine, stops in Nepal, Istanbul and Bangkok.
Check this flickr set for over 200 photos from his trip.