Foundation 3D

Jonesy · 26th November 2008, 12:28 PM

I've just managed to find time to get back on this site occasionally in the last few weeks and I hope to be around a little bit more now.

So this is a bit of a "Hi! I'm back." post.

But my main reason for being absent a while is that in late July this year I re-located from London in the UK to here in Nairobi, Kenya. It's a work related move, I'm an animator by trade (traditional & digital, 2D and 3D) and I'm going to be spending the next two years here directing animation on a new kids TV series.

It's not in anyway the sort of place I'd have expected to be working outside the UK, there's not much of an animation industry in East Africa - in fact we've set up a studio from scratch here and are in the process of training local artists. I'd have expected the US maybe, or Canada, or perhaps the Far East but it turns out I've ended up doing animation in Africa. Which is no bad thing it turns out.

There are downsides of course - being away from friends and family obviously, technical problems (still no home internet after five months and little sign of it materialising, internet at the studio that is slow, flakey and horrendously overpriced, power-cuts, water shortages, etc). But I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think it was a fantastic adventurous opportunity and an exciting project - and it is all of those things, and more when you factor in the opportunities for liesure activities outside work.

It occurs to me though, that there must be a fair few people on this forum who have have re-located through work at some point, whether 3D related or not, whether to a different city or to the other side of the world, and I was wondering if some of you'd like to share your thoughts, experiences, excitements, disappointments, etc.

So far I think I've made the right decision for myself right now, the work is tough, but we work hard at our playtime too and the scenery is fantastic... and to be honest I was ready to get out of London for a while as well!

Gordon Robb · 26th November 2008, 12:33 PM

I used to work for IBM - one version of which means I've Been Moved.

Kenya, beautiful place. Spent 10 days in Mombasa. Safari-tastic country.

CharlotteTheHarlot · 26th November 2008, 01:54 PM

Quote:

There are downsides of course - being away from friends and family obviously, technical problems (still no home internet after five months and little sign of it materialising, internet at the studio that is slow, flakey and horrendously overpriced, power-cuts, water shortages, etc).

You sure you're not in Trinidad?

The only place I've relocated to was from a high-priced suburb to the jungle here you'd expect Rambo or a Raptor to jump out of at any minute. But I'd sure like to visit there to see the wildlife.

Rigel · 26th November 2008, 04:35 PM

I am 47 and have lived in more than 50 different places. Don't know a thing about this relocation business you're talking about. Relocating implies that you live in the same place all of the time. What the hey is that? I mean, how could you?

Kenya sounds like a place to visit. Aw heck, who am I kidding? I've got the whole planet Earth on my list of Places To Visit.

Nice to hear from you Jonesy.

Mikala · 26th November 2008, 05:24 PM

Pictures pictures pictures!
Please.

BillS · 26th November 2008, 05:42 PM

Went all over the world with the army but home was always home. I did a little relocate about 500 miles away from home and now can't wait until the opportunity to move back

Belleville isn't quite as exotic as Africa though

Jonesy · 27th November 2008, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordon Robb

I used to work for IBM - one version of which means I've Been Moved.

Kenya, beautiful place. Spent 10 days in Mombasa. Safari-tastic country.

Spent a weekend in Mombasa a few weeks back, and in the Maasai Mara a couple of weekends ago. That's definitely one of the perks, Mombasa is only a 45 minute plane ride away so it's easy to head there for the weekend.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikala

Pictures pictures pictures!
Please.

Definitely!

I'll try & upload some tomorrow. Connection permitting.

The downside of having all this wonderful scenery and wildlife so nearby is that I get distracted from the 3D!
I treated myself to a nice new Macbook before I came out here, bought ZBrush and Photoshop, upgraded my Lightwave to v9 ....and haven't had the chance to really use it yet.

Rigel · 27th November 2008, 06:00 AM

That's okay Jonesy. Sounds like you wouldn't be able to upload your W.I.P.s anyways.

Besides, going out and enjoying that scenery will cause you to live longer.

CharlotteTheHarlot · 27th November 2008, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Besides, going out and enjoying that scenery will cause you to live longer.

Are you kidding? You seen the size of those lions?

Hey, if you manage to see crocodiles take a couple shots, just make sure you're at a safe distance.

Jonesy · 27th November 2008, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlotteTheHarlot

Are you kidding? You seen the size of those lions?

Hey, if you manage to see crocodiles take a couple shots, just make sure you're at a safe distance.

There's a place down the road from our house called "Mamba Village" (Mamba being Swahili for crocodile) - they have crocs there. Next time I'm there I'll take a few pics.

It's not unusual to see baboons and warthogs on the morning drive to work.

CAClark · 27th November 2008, 10:12 AM

I've relocated within the UK more times than I care to recall, and wouldn't do so again unless the opportunity was too good to pass up. I'd like to relocate overseas though having said that, that'd be cool, sounds like yours is a real adventure hehe

Cheers!

CharlotteTheHarlot · 27th November 2008, 10:24 AM

Thanks Jonesy. We have cows (some of them look mad) that walks on the roads and some of them lie right in front of my carport. What I stay away from are those Water Buffaloes. They're mean when they're ready and charge at you like a rhino.

We have some crocs but mostly caimans in the rivers and then they have those dreaded silent killers- anacondas.

Jonesy · 28th November 2008, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikala

Pictures pictures pictures!
Please.

I've put a few pics up in the Photo Corner

http://www.foundation3d.com/forums/s...6110#post76110

I'll try to keep adding to that thread when I can.

CharlotteTheHarlot · 28th November 2008, 04:18 AM

NIce pics there.

Jonesy · 28th November 2008, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CharlotteTheHarlot

NIce pics there.

Cheers man!

No crocs yet tho'

CharlotteTheHarlot · 28th November 2008, 07:18 AM

I await the pics of crocs patiently. Take your time. Are they Nile Crocodiles?

26th November 2008, 12:28 PM	#1
Jonesy Premiere Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: London, UK Posts: 163	Relocation, relocation, relocation... I've just managed to find time to get back on this site occasionally in the last few weeks and I hope to be around a little bit more now. So this is a bit of a "Hi! I'm back." post. But my main reason for being absent a while is that in late July this year I re-located from London in the UK to here in Nairobi, Kenya. It's a work related move, I'm an animator by trade (traditional & digital, 2D and 3D) and I'm going to be spending the next two years here directing animation on a new kids TV series. It's not in anyway the sort of place I'd have expected to be working outside the UK, there's not much of an animation industry in East Africa - in fact we've set up a studio from scratch here and are in the process of training local artists. I'd have expected the US maybe, or Canada, or perhaps the Far East but it turns out I've ended up doing animation in Africa. Which is no bad thing it turns out. There are downsides of course - being away from friends and family obviously, technical problems (still no home internet after five months and little sign of it materialising, internet at the studio that is slow, flakey and horrendously overpriced, power-cuts, water shortages, etc). But I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't think it was a fantastic adventurous opportunity and an exciting project - and it is all of those things, and more when you factor in the opportunities for liesure activities outside work. It occurs to me though, that there must be a fair few people on this forum who have have re-located through work at some point, whether 3D related or not, whether to a different city or to the other side of the world, and I was wondering if some of you'd like to share your thoughts, experiences, excitements, disappointments, etc. So far I think I've made the right decision for myself right now, the work is tough, but we work hard at our playtime too and the scenery is fantastic... and to be honest I was ready to get out of London for a while as well!
	__________________ Martyn Jones - Independent Animation Professional "I reject your reality and substitute my own!"

26th November 2008, 04:35 PM	#4
Rigel Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London (the other one, in Canada) Posts: 17,492	I am 47 and have lived in more than 50 different places. Don't know a thing about this relocation business you're talking about. Relocating implies that you live in the same place all of the time. What the hey is that? I mean, how could you? Kenya sounds like a place to visit. Aw heck, who am I kidding? I've got the whole planet Earth on my list of Places To Visit. Nice to hear from you Jonesy.
	__________________ Those who say it can't be done, should stop interrupting those of us who are busy doing it! ------------------------------------------------------------ Other Projects The Universal Joint Beechcraft 2000 airplane LadyBug (Firefly class freighter)

26th November 2008, 05:24 PM	#5
Mikala Premiere Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Vancouver Suburbs...Canada HW North Posts: 8,052	Pictures pictures pictures! Please.
	__________________ PM'S not the smartest place to make veiled threats or derogatory remarks....Just my opinion. I'm a meatitarian. Ya I know...It's a personal choice. A way of life for me.

26th November 2008, 05:42 PM	#6
BillS Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Posts: 10,356	Went all over the world with the army but home was always home. I did a little relocate about 500 miles away from home and now can't wait until the opportunity to move back Belleville isn't quite as exotic as Africa though
	__________________ Bill. aka LemmingDude. aka Ethangar, Ethanger, Ethengar, Ethenger, Ethan, Eth, ehenger, etharger, Ethel, Ehtangar, Ethanfar, hanger, Eclangers, Ethand, ethang, hangar, Ethanol, Ethangix, Ethangod, Eggnog, Ethanprop........ Lemming World

27th November 2008, 06:00 AM	#8
Rigel Moderator Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: London (the other one, in Canada) Posts: 17,492	That's okay Jonesy. Sounds like you wouldn't be able to upload your W.I.P.s anyways. Besides, going out and enjoying that scenery will cause you to live longer.
	__________________ Those who say it can't be done, should stop interrupting those of us who are busy doing it! ------------------------------------------------------------ Other Projects The Universal Joint Beechcraft 2000 airplane LadyBug (Firefly class freighter)

26th November 2008, 12:33 PM	#2
Gordon Robb Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,364	I used to work for IBM - one version of which means I've Been Moved. Kenya, beautiful place. Spent 10 days in Mombasa. Safari-tastic country.

27th November 2008, 10:12 AM	#11
CAClark Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Blackburn, UK Posts: 1,665	I've relocated within the UK more times than I care to recall, and wouldn't do so again unless the opportunity was too good to pass up. I'd like to relocate overseas though having said that, that'd be cool, sounds like yours is a real adventure hehe Cheers!
	__________________ My Website Twitter Facebook

27th November 2008, 10:24 AM	#12
CharlotteTheHarlot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Banana Republic of Trinidad- That's in the Caribbean-duh! Posts: 2,586	Thanks Jonesy. We have cows (some of them look mad) that walks on the roads and some of them lie right in front of my carport. What I stay away from are those Water Buffaloes. They're mean when they're ready and charge at you like a rhino. We have some crocs but mostly caimans in the rivers and then they have those dreaded silent killers- anacondas.

28th November 2008, 04:18 AM	#14
CharlotteTheHarlot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Banana Republic of Trinidad- That's in the Caribbean-duh! Posts: 2,586	NIce pics there.

28th November 2008, 07:18 AM	#16
CharlotteTheHarlot Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: The Banana Republic of Trinidad- That's in the Caribbean-duh! Posts: 2,586	I await the pics of crocs patiently. Take your time. Are they Nile Crocodiles?

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