My experience studying at SAHC
Before I arrived in Guimarães in September, I was feeling a huge mix of emotions. Although I was excited to begin a new journey, I was nervous about my return to university having spent almost two years working in the construction industry as a structural engineer.
However, as I arrived at the quaint city and became acquainted with its windy sloped streets, vernacular architecture, and the surrounding mountains and forest, I felt more at ease.
I won’t lie, the first day or two of visiting Universidade do Minho and being back in an academic environment were a bit of a struggle, and I started to feel like maybe I made the wrong decision.
However, once classes began and I met my fellow SAHC classmates and the professors, I started to feel a sense of relief. It’s like I had forgotten what the course was actually for, and once I became familiar with the other students, I quickly remembered what we are all here for to be future experts in the conservation of historic structures.
Led by skilled and experienced SAHC lecturers through the first module, Historic Construction, and Conservation, I was impressed by the course content and was so glad I had made this choice to come and take on this wonderful challenge.
And a challenge it is, don’t get me wrong!
However, it was an extremely enjoyable challenge with two fascinating site visits so far and fun activities with the group outside the university- and it’s only been 6 weeks!
From standing on the roof of the Porto cathedral observing first hand the stone reparations and roof construction to being face to face with the original gold-painted wooden carved angels suspended at 20 meters in the air at the cathedral altar, and visiting and inspecting a 19th-century gothic style greenhouse, the site visits so far have been more than impressive!
I look forward to what the rest of this year in Guimarães holds.
Going back to college was never really part of my plan until I realized early on in my career that the priority on the conservation of historic buildings in today’s society is sadly not enough.
As a structural engineer, I feel it is my responsibility to develop the skills necessary to safeguard and maintain our built heritage, and I feel that SAHC has given me this opportunity to begin this journey.
SEE ALSO: What is like to be a SAHC student?
