And so 2010′s “Volcano” month has slipped into history, or infamy.  There may yet be a second volcano month this year or in the years to come; at least the next time it does happen, I wont actually think someone is playing a very very late April fools joke.

Aside from that, April brought with it few showers, and instead some pretty decent weather and changes to deal with.    Following weeks of lectures, the beard went.  Next up my laptop for the last 5 years earned itself an upgrade – it’s now sporting Windows 7 and I think come the summer it will return home and possibly become father’s computer.  At the same time as the Windows 7 upgrade, I got myself a new computer with a bit more power and pep behind it.

Another looming change is actually starting to work in August.  Thankfully, the last stretch of the course is 6 weeks of work shadowing of which 3 have now been completed, and all being well starting in August wont be so scary, though the body adjusting to the work hours might be.  Still so far I think all of us working together have enjoyed it, including the random teaching days including a Myres Briggs Personality type indicator…

In this you fall into 1 of 16 personality types.  The instructors stressed it wasn’t about boxing you into a group, and that we can bend and float into the other types, but the one which you come out is your “default” mode.  The exercise following the questions in the book came out with myself being ENTJ, however my computer result came out saying mine was ENFP, but then when we analysed where there were differences between the computer and our on the day assessment I changed again and instead ended up being part of of the ESFJ.  So in a nut-shell does this sound like me?

ESFJs focus on the outside world and assess their experiences subjectively. They largely base their judgments on their belief system and on the effects of actions on people. ESFJs are literal and concrete, trusting the specific, factual information gathered through their physiological senses.

ESFJs project warmth through a genuine interest in the well-being of others. They are often skilled at bringing out the best in people, and they want to understand other points of view. They are serious about their responsibilities, seeing what needs to be done and then doing it. Generally proficient at detailed tasks, they enjoy doing little things that make life easier for others. They value tradition and the security it offers.

Easily hurt, ESFJs seek approval. They take pleasure in other people’s happiness. They give generously but expect appreciation in return. Sensitive to the physical needs of others, they respond by offering practical care. As expert people readers, ESFJs often adapt their manner to meet the expectations of others. However, they may have difficulty recognizing the shortcomings of loved ones.

ESFJs tend to be vocal in expressing their sense of right and wrong. Their value system derives from the external standards defined by their community, as opposed to a personal set of ethics. (This is one of the traits that distinguishes them from their ENFJ counterparts.) ESFJs raised in an environment of high ethical standards tend to display true generosity and kindness. However, those who grow up surrounded by a skewed set of values may develop a false sense of integrity and use their people skills to selfishly manipulate others—particularly if their intuition is poorly developed, leaving them unable to foresee the consequences of their actions.

ESFJs seek structured, controlled environments, and tend to be good at creating a sense of order. They generally feel insecure in an atmosphere of uncertainty. They value the rule of law and expect the same of others. ESFJs may be less interested in understanding the concepts behind the rules, tending to shy away from the abstract and impersonal. (Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESFJ)

That in a nut-shell was April 2010.  There were a few other things like a frisbee tournament, video filming and a few goodbyes said, at least for now.

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