The first day of work is always nervewracking. You're scared about impressing your new boss, making friends with your coworkers, and being competent... and in my case, not seeming like an idiotic American college student. Eight weeks later, I didn't realize how much I would miss working at my internship until I realized I had to go home.
The last day was great. I got extra copies of every issue that ran while I was there so I could save my bylines, I wrote up a few last minute stories, and had a generally relaxing day. Everyone was so sweet, letting me know how much they'd miss me and what I good job I did (which I really appreciated!). Another reporter was switching jobs, and was having a goodbye party that night at a pub, and they invited me out with them. That night, they all gave me a card they signed and a sweet little present. I also got filled in on all the workplace gossip that we couldn't talk about in the office, which was fun but also a little sad since I would never get to be in the office again.
I learned so much this summer, and I didn't even realize it until I stepped back. I learned so much about the UK financial industry, probably more than I know about the American industry now, and I also learned how to cover stories on topics I knew nothing about. I learned the art of the cold call, and how to ask the tough questions that get you yelled at by scary PR people. I learned how to network with business executives, and how to see past corporate BS to find what's actually going on.
The rest of this trip will be about goodbyes... Luckily I'll see my awesome IU friends in like a month, but now I have to say goodbye to the city I've called home the last eight weeks and the city that got me that much closer to growing up.
Friday, July 2, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Top 10 Things I Love About London
Top 10 Things I Love About London:
1) British accents: The novelty never gets old. You hear so many varieties of accents here, mostly from the UK, everywhere you go. Even the computerized voice on the Tube is British. The funniest thing is when you are walking somewhere and you see someone that looks intimidating, and then the second they open their mouth they just seem awesome to you.
2) Tea: I was not a tea fan before I got here, and I didn't have a proper cup of tea until like a month into my study abroad experience. But it is actually really good and perks you up! The British like to put milk in their tea, which makes it creamer and less bitter, so I think I'll probably start adopting that at home too.
3) The Tube: Public transportation is so easy here once you figure out the map. The Tube is the best place to people watch, because you see some real characters. During rush hour it can get a bit mad, but if you use it during an off hour it's kind of fun as long as it's not too hot underground. Plus, I love hearing people ask me to "mind the gap" every day.
4) Architecture: Everything is beautiful here, even grocery stores, because everything is housed in old buildings. There is a lot of modern architecture too, but I love the historic buildings that have detailed molding and big windows the most. There are so many small, winding streets here. In pretty much every neighborhood, if you wander a little you can find a square with benches and trees that is the perfect place to get a little sun.
5) Groceries: Flats are small here and kitchens are even smaller, so you have to buy your groceries for a few days at a time and carry them home. This can be tiring, but you can buy fresh produce and think meal-by-meal instead of planning menus and buying everything under the kitchen sink. It also stops you from snacking as much!
6) Strongbow and Pimms: two British drinks that I am pretty much in love with. Strongbow is a cider that is sweet and kind of zingy. Pimms is a dark gin that is served with a mixer, like lemonade, and fruit. Both should be enjoyed at a pub with your friends, either watching a World Cup game or having fun.
7) Fashion: There are H & M's on every corner here, and people dress like their lives are catwalks. Someone said that the British dress to stand out instead of to fit in, and I think that's absolutely true. Some common trends: lace tights under shorts, dresses and leggings, rompers ("playsuitProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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22), and oxford shoes. People really dress to impress here, and it makes me be more conscious about how I look. No hoodies and sweatpants here- the uniform is skinny jeans, flats, a cute top and a scarf.
8) Free newspapers: The newspaper industry might be "dying" in the US, but here it's thriving. There are at least 6 major national newspapers. There are also free magazines and newspapers given out by the tube stations. They're not good quality, but at least it's good to see people keeping up with current events!
9) British politics: I came over here knowing very little about British politics, and through my internship have become embroiled in the mess that is the coalition government. Learning about Parliament, political issues and British history is really fascinating- in case you were wondering, Winston Churchill is a beast. The whole royalty thing is really intriguing too, like who is in line for the throne and what the Queen has the power to do. I still think our system of government is a lot better, but this one is pretty cool.
10) So much to do: In the past eight weeks, I have been to the Tower of London, Hyde Park, the British Museum, Westminster, Notting Hill, Abbey Road, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Circus, Soho, the London Eye and more in addition to side trips to Stonehenge, Bath, Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Brighton and Oxford and weekends in Paris and Rome. Can life get any better?
1) British accents: The novelty never gets old. You hear so many varieties of accents here, mostly from the UK, everywhere you go. Even the computerized voice on the Tube is British. The funniest thing is when you are walking somewhere and you see someone that looks intimidating, and then the second they open their mouth they just seem awesome to you.
2) Tea: I was not a tea fan before I got here, and I didn't have a proper cup of tea until like a month into my study abroad experience. But it is actually really good and perks you up! The British like to put milk in their tea, which makes it creamer and less bitter, so I think I'll probably start adopting that at home too.
3) The Tube: Public transportation is so easy here once you figure out the map. The Tube is the best place to people watch, because you see some real characters. During rush hour it can get a bit mad, but if you use it during an off hour it's kind of fun as long as it's not too hot underground. Plus, I love hearing people ask me to "mind the gap" every day.
4) Architecture: Everything is beautiful here, even grocery stores, because everything is housed in old buildings. There is a lot of modern architecture too, but I love the historic buildings that have detailed molding and big windows the most. There are so many small, winding streets here. In pretty much every neighborhood, if you wander a little you can find a square with benches and trees that is the perfect place to get a little sun.
5) Groceries: Flats are small here and kitchens are even smaller, so you have to buy your groceries for a few days at a time and carry them home. This can be tiring, but you can buy fresh produce and think meal-by-meal instead of planning menus and buying everything under the kitchen sink. It also stops you from snacking as much!
6) Strongbow and Pimms: two British drinks that I am pretty much in love with. Strongbow is a cider that is sweet and kind of zingy. Pimms is a dark gin that is served with a mixer, like lemonade, and fruit. Both should be enjoyed at a pub with your friends, either watching a World Cup game or having fun.
7) Fashion: There are H & M's on every corner here, and people dress like their lives are catwalks. Someone said that the British dress to stand out instead of to fit in, and I think that's absolutely true. Some common trends: lace tights under shorts, dresses and leggings, rompers ("playsuitProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0
22), and oxford shoes. People really dress to impress here, and it makes me be more conscious about how I look. No hoodies and sweatpants here- the uniform is skinny jeans, flats, a cute top and a scarf.
8) Free newspapers: The newspaper industry might be "dying" in the US, but here it's thriving. There are at least 6 major national newspapers. There are also free magazines and newspapers given out by the tube stations. They're not good quality, but at least it's good to see people keeping up with current events!
9) British politics: I came over here knowing very little about British politics, and through my internship have become embroiled in the mess that is the coalition government. Learning about Parliament, political issues and British history is really fascinating- in case you were wondering, Winston Churchill is a beast. The whole royalty thing is really intriguing too, like who is in line for the throne and what the Queen has the power to do. I still think our system of government is a lot better, but this one is pretty cool.
10) So much to do: In the past eight weeks, I have been to the Tower of London, Hyde Park, the British Museum, Westminster, Notting Hill, Abbey Road, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Circus, Soho, the London Eye and more in addition to side trips to Stonehenge, Bath, Leeds Castle, Canterbury, Brighton and Oxford and weekends in Paris and Rome. Can life get any better?
Oxford and wrapping up London
It's hard to believe that it is my last week in London! It still feels like I just got here, and here I am, completely adjusted to work and life and not ready to go home. Here's what I've been up to since my last post.
On Sunday, MJ, Chrissy and I took the bus to the college town of Oxford. I didn't realize that there is not one "Oxford University": rather, it is a bunch of smaller colleges and universities in one system. The oldest school was founded in 1249, which puts our college system to shame! We spent most of the day wandering around the streets and looking at the beautiful stone buildings. The streets of Oxford lead down to a river, where people lounge on the banks and rent punting boats. We also stumbled into a beautiful rose garden- I was hesitant to go in at first, but luckily MJ made us, and it was absolutely gorgeous.
This week I have been wrapping things up at work and trying to get some of the last minute souvenirs I meant to buy this whole trip. I also finished my 1,500 research paper last night! The whole thing was quite inconvenient because it took up the time we could have been actually exploring the city, but it's over now and I can finally enjoy a school-free summer. I also have to tame the beast that is packing... I'm not quite sure how I got everything over here in the first place!
I will miss London, but I think I am ready for some actual summer relaxation. No doubt I'll be bored in a week without a large, vibrant city to entertain me, but I'm sure I'll figure things out.
On Sunday, MJ, Chrissy and I took the bus to the college town of Oxford. I didn't realize that there is not one "Oxford University": rather, it is a bunch of smaller colleges and universities in one system. The oldest school was founded in 1249, which puts our college system to shame! We spent most of the day wandering around the streets and looking at the beautiful stone buildings. The streets of Oxford lead down to a river, where people lounge on the banks and rent punting boats. We also stumbled into a beautiful rose garden- I was hesitant to go in at first, but luckily MJ made us, and it was absolutely gorgeous.
This week I have been wrapping things up at work and trying to get some of the last minute souvenirs I meant to buy this whole trip. I also finished my 1,500 research paper last night! The whole thing was quite inconvenient because it took up the time we could have been actually exploring the city, but it's over now and I can finally enjoy a school-free summer. I also have to tame the beast that is packing... I'm not quite sure how I got everything over here in the first place!
I will miss London, but I think I am ready for some actual summer relaxation. No doubt I'll be bored in a week without a large, vibrant city to entertain me, but I'm sure I'll figure things out.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Brighton up your day!
Two very great things have happened this weekend so far. First, on Thursday night a bunch of us went to a random karaoke bar near our flat. We were having a lot of fun being silly singing songs like "Man, I Feel Like a Woman". A woman with a cropped blonde haircut and her friend got up to the mic and started singing "Never Had a Dream Come True", a classic 90's tune by S Club 7. Caitlin remarked that she sounded like... and looked like, Jo from S Club 7! It was like my childhood dream come true. She was nice enough to take a photo with us: proof that we met a semi-celebrity in London.
Today, the J-School took us on a trip to Brighton, a cute beach town on the English Channel. Thankfully it was the warmest day of the year so far! We spent all day lying on the rock beach and soaking up the sun. We also enjoyed fish and chips and drinks on the pier. At about 3:45, high tide came in and the rocks washed away to reveal a sandy beach. Even though the water was cold, we jumped in the waves and acted like little kids. IIt finally felt like summer, not just being in alternative reality.
Tomorrow hopefully we're going to Oxford... here's to hoping we find Hugh Grant!
Today, the J-School took us on a trip to Brighton, a cute beach town on the English Channel. Thankfully it was the warmest day of the year so far! We spent all day lying on the rock beach and soaking up the sun. We also enjoyed fish and chips and drinks on the pier. At about 3:45, high tide came in and the rocks washed away to reveal a sandy beach. Even though the water was cold, we jumped in the waves and acted like little kids. IIt finally felt like summer, not just being in alternative reality.
Tomorrow hopefully we're going to Oxford... here's to hoping we find Hugh Grant!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Get ready for this... I actually like business journalism.
This has been a mad week in the British business world, and I got a front row seat.
On Tuesday, the new coalition government announced its emergency budget. When I got into the office, everyone was abuzz. Reporters were looking for TV cords to get the cable up and running, and editors were brainstorming potential stories that could come out of the announcement. And as the eager intern, it was my job to go stand outside the Treasury to get a copy of the media pack for the publication.
I took the tube to Westminster and lined up outside the building half an hour early with the other journalists. I didn't realize that the data wouldn't be released until the moment the speech ended, so I didn't bring reading material or anything. Luckily, it was a beautiful day in London, and I watched the suit-clad businessmen and government workers and the large student tour groups walk by. At 1:30 on the dot, the speech ended. I was let into the Treasury gates, presented my ID and then got my hands on the all-important press pack. It was madness on the tube, as it was just about lunch hour, and every train seemed to away from the station as I got to the right queue. I fought the crowds and made my way back to the office, bringing the budget information to the news editor. Within seconds, copies were being made and the reporters were hard at work.
Even though I got the lowly intern duty of waiting in the sun for the budget materials, I got to make a trip down to the Treasury and enjoy some time away from the computer. I have also gotten to write loads of great stories about how aspects of the budget will affect the industry and how people organize their finances.
Sometimes I think business reporting can be a little dry, but I didn't anticipate how interesting it can be sometimes. Business is so interconnected with politics, and the decisions that companies make affect how regular people live their lives. Plus, you don't actually have to have an economic background to report, you just have to be able to learn as you go. Future Wall Street reporter? Probably not, but you never know.
On Tuesday, the new coalition government announced its emergency budget. When I got into the office, everyone was abuzz. Reporters were looking for TV cords to get the cable up and running, and editors were brainstorming potential stories that could come out of the announcement. And as the eager intern, it was my job to go stand outside the Treasury to get a copy of the media pack for the publication.
I took the tube to Westminster and lined up outside the building half an hour early with the other journalists. I didn't realize that the data wouldn't be released until the moment the speech ended, so I didn't bring reading material or anything. Luckily, it was a beautiful day in London, and I watched the suit-clad businessmen and government workers and the large student tour groups walk by. At 1:30 on the dot, the speech ended. I was let into the Treasury gates, presented my ID and then got my hands on the all-important press pack. It was madness on the tube, as it was just about lunch hour, and every train seemed to away from the station as I got to the right queue. I fought the crowds and made my way back to the office, bringing the budget information to the news editor. Within seconds, copies were being made and the reporters were hard at work.
Even though I got the lowly intern duty of waiting in the sun for the budget materials, I got to make a trip down to the Treasury and enjoy some time away from the computer. I have also gotten to write loads of great stories about how aspects of the budget will affect the industry and how people organize their finances.
Sometimes I think business reporting can be a little dry, but I didn't anticipate how interesting it can be sometimes. Business is so interconnected with politics, and the decisions that companies make affect how regular people live their lives. Plus, you don't actually have to have an economic background to report, you just have to be able to learn as you go. Future Wall Street reporter? Probably not, but you never know.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Tourism, football and musicals= my kind of weekend
It finally hit me that this trip is starting to come to a close, and I am freaking out. On Friday after class, I went with some girls in my program to the London Eye. Before we got to go on the Eye, we saw a 4D movie that showed the city of London in every season. The special effects were awesome, but watching the movie just made us all feel sad that we wouldn't be here to see the snow or the flowers blooming in spring. Then, we started our "flight" in the Eye. The sky was gray and rain was drizzling, but the experience was still amazing. It was a good idea to visit the Eye late into our trip, because we were all able to look over the landscape and point out landmarks like Big Ben, St. Paul's, and the QE2 conference center that we had visited during our trip.
That day and night we watched the USA vs. Slovenia and England vs. Algeria games and local pubs. Both games were definitely disappointments, especially when the USA was robbed of the goal that could have won them the game! Watching the games in pubs is so much fun because we make American friends wherever we go... I love England, but that little taste of home is great. We went out for drinks and dancing as usual, which was a lot of fun. We even met some British guys at a bus stop who treated us to milkshakes... a night can't get much better than that!
Yesterday there was an event at Leicester Square that I couldn't have even dreamed up on my own... West End Live, a free show in the park in which all of the West End musicals presented free performances. It was packed, but getting in wasn't difficult and we could see the musical numbers pretty well. I have loved every show the J-School has treated us to, but getting to see numbers from the shows I didn't have the time or money to see was awesome. We also explored a little bit around Chinatown, and stopped for a photo shoot at the fountain in Trafalgar Square. It has been a very cold weekend in London so we haven't been able to enjoy the weather too much, but hey, it's London.
I think all of us can agree that we're kicking it into high gear now that our time in London is running out. I will probably cry when I have to leave, and will be reminiscing about this summer for a long time, so you may have to bear with me. Or I can just figure out a way to stay and then we won't have this problem? I wish. Oh well, off for another London adventure.
That day and night we watched the USA vs. Slovenia and England vs. Algeria games and local pubs. Both games were definitely disappointments, especially when the USA was robbed of the goal that could have won them the game! Watching the games in pubs is so much fun because we make American friends wherever we go... I love England, but that little taste of home is great. We went out for drinks and dancing as usual, which was a lot of fun. We even met some British guys at a bus stop who treated us to milkshakes... a night can't get much better than that!
Yesterday there was an event at Leicester Square that I couldn't have even dreamed up on my own... West End Live, a free show in the park in which all of the West End musicals presented free performances. It was packed, but getting in wasn't difficult and we could see the musical numbers pretty well. I have loved every show the J-School has treated us to, but getting to see numbers from the shows I didn't have the time or money to see was awesome. We also explored a little bit around Chinatown, and stopped for a photo shoot at the fountain in Trafalgar Square. It has been a very cold weekend in London so we haven't been able to enjoy the weather too much, but hey, it's London.
I think all of us can agree that we're kicking it into high gear now that our time in London is running out. I will probably cry when I have to leave, and will be reminiscing about this summer for a long time, so you may have to bear with me. Or I can just figure out a way to stay and then we won't have this problem? I wish. Oh well, off for another London adventure.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Birthday in London :)
I am officially 20 years old! This was such a great birthday, and I was so excited to spend it in London with so many of my best friends. I can't tell you about today though without telling you about yesterday first.
Yesterday morning, Melissa, Chrissy, Liz and I went to Notting Hill to explore. It was absolutely adorable- I found my future flat, and I think that if I had the means and I ever lived in London I'd want that to be my neighborhood. There were colorful homes lining the streets, and rows and rows of adorable shops and booths. We also found a Mexican cantina, and had our first Mexican food since we'd been here, a welcome taste of home- plus our server looked just like Hugh Grant :)
We were feeling adventurous, so afterwards we decided try to find Abbey Road. We jumped on a city bus (our first double decker bus ride!) and got off at Abbey Road, but we had no idea which crossing was the infamous one depicted on the Beatles' album cover. We walked for about 20 minutes, and then found one that we thought looked pretty close to it, so we decided to take some pictures of us crossing the road like John, Paul, George and Ringo. It turns out, that was definitely the wrong Abbey Road crossing... the correct one was in fact about 30 feet away from us, and there we were stopping traffic and getting strange looks. It was so funny, when we realized our mistake we were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe! We did go to the real Abbey Road crossing and get some pictures. We also ended up people watching for at least half an hour... it was hilarious to see so many tourists stopping traffic and crossing the road awkwardly to imitate the Beatles' strides.
On to today. First, we had a media visit this morning at The Telegraph. Our visit was surprisingly uplifting... the editor who gave us the tour told us that there would definitely be newspapers and jobs for young journalists, we would just have to figure out how to use our technological skills to redefine the industry. Then, we went out and explored Oxford Circus and the Soho neighborhood... I didn't end up buying anything, but I spotted a couple things I might come back to later.
At about 5:30, most of the IU Journalism kids met up at this Portuguese restaurant near the theater for dinner. It was so sweet that everyone came, I felt so loved. I had a great meal and the best sangria I've ever had in my life, and to top it off my roomie bought me dessert :) Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, one of the waiters brought me a little custard topped with a candle and everyone sang to me. I might have teared up just a little bit, it was really sweet! Then, we went to the theater and saw Les Miserables. I had no idea what to expect, and honestly, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I don't think I could listen to the music on loop, but the singing was spectacular and it really was an epic play. I was so upset though- apparently Nick Jonas is starring in the same production starting June 21! Missed it by a week!
It has been such a great weekend, I'm kind of sad it's over! On to another week in Londontown :)
Yesterday morning, Melissa, Chrissy, Liz and I went to Notting Hill to explore. It was absolutely adorable- I found my future flat, and I think that if I had the means and I ever lived in London I'd want that to be my neighborhood. There were colorful homes lining the streets, and rows and rows of adorable shops and booths. We also found a Mexican cantina, and had our first Mexican food since we'd been here, a welcome taste of home- plus our server looked just like Hugh Grant :)
We were feeling adventurous, so afterwards we decided try to find Abbey Road. We jumped on a city bus (our first double decker bus ride!) and got off at Abbey Road, but we had no idea which crossing was the infamous one depicted on the Beatles' album cover. We walked for about 20 minutes, and then found one that we thought looked pretty close to it, so we decided to take some pictures of us crossing the road like John, Paul, George and Ringo. It turns out, that was definitely the wrong Abbey Road crossing... the correct one was in fact about 30 feet away from us, and there we were stopping traffic and getting strange looks. It was so funny, when we realized our mistake we were laughing so hard we couldn't breathe! We did go to the real Abbey Road crossing and get some pictures. We also ended up people watching for at least half an hour... it was hilarious to see so many tourists stopping traffic and crossing the road awkwardly to imitate the Beatles' strides.
On to today. First, we had a media visit this morning at The Telegraph. Our visit was surprisingly uplifting... the editor who gave us the tour told us that there would definitely be newspapers and jobs for young journalists, we would just have to figure out how to use our technological skills to redefine the industry. Then, we went out and explored Oxford Circus and the Soho neighborhood... I didn't end up buying anything, but I spotted a couple things I might come back to later.
At about 5:30, most of the IU Journalism kids met up at this Portuguese restaurant near the theater for dinner. It was so sweet that everyone came, I felt so loved. I had a great meal and the best sangria I've ever had in my life, and to top it off my roomie bought me dessert :) Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, one of the waiters brought me a little custard topped with a candle and everyone sang to me. I might have teared up just a little bit, it was really sweet! Then, we went to the theater and saw Les Miserables. I had no idea what to expect, and honestly, it was one of the best shows I've ever seen. I don't think I could listen to the music on loop, but the singing was spectacular and it really was an epic play. I was so upset though- apparently Nick Jonas is starring in the same production starting June 21! Missed it by a week!
It has been such a great weekend, I'm kind of sad it's over! On to another week in Londontown :)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
USA! USA!
This has been quite possibly my favorite weekend in London so far, and it's not even over. I didn't want to forget anything, so here's what has happened so far:
We had a huge group presentation due in class on Friday, and my group's went really well! Even though the instructor is very critical I think he was impressed... I'm sure our grades won't reflect that though, he is a very harsh grader. To celebrate being finished with everything, a bunch of the girls got dressed up and went out. We went to a great pub in Covent Gardens, and then found a Spanish tapas bar/ dance club nearby. It was so much fun to go dance and relieve all of our stress from the week. My feet were killing me at the end of the night because I was wearing pointy-toed heels, but it was so worth it to go out with my best friends in London.
Yesterday was another J-School excursion, this time to Leeds Castle and Canterbury. Leeds Castle was absolutely gorgeous. We had to walk about 15 minutes through these winding paths (and there were animals wandering the grounds, like peacocks!) to get to the castle, which looked like it was straight out of a Disney princess movie. The first floor was decorated with the original owner's things, and the top floor was furnished with the belongings of the last owner, a thoroughly modern Lady. Canterbury was also a cute, but very touristy town. We walked into the city center and saw the medieval church that devoted Catholics used to make their pilgrimages to, and we also went through this attraction that put us in the center of the Canterbury Tales with animatronic figures. It was cute, and I actually learned a lot too.
Last night was the big night, USA v. England in the World Cup! My friends and I wanted to go somewhere where there would be Americans too, so we attempted to go to this American pub called Sports Cafe, but we couldn't get in. We went next door to Planet Hollywood, and watched the game shoulder to shoulder in a room full of England fans! It was kind of intense but so much fun- the England fans yelled so loud and teased us, but we managed to get a few good "USA!" cheers in and met some England fans. We went to Sports Cafe after and ended up meeting some people our age, a first in London.
We had a huge group presentation due in class on Friday, and my group's went really well! Even though the instructor is very critical I think he was impressed... I'm sure our grades won't reflect that though, he is a very harsh grader. To celebrate being finished with everything, a bunch of the girls got dressed up and went out. We went to a great pub in Covent Gardens, and then found a Spanish tapas bar/ dance club nearby. It was so much fun to go dance and relieve all of our stress from the week. My feet were killing me at the end of the night because I was wearing pointy-toed heels, but it was so worth it to go out with my best friends in London.
Yesterday was another J-School excursion, this time to Leeds Castle and Canterbury. Leeds Castle was absolutely gorgeous. We had to walk about 15 minutes through these winding paths (and there were animals wandering the grounds, like peacocks!) to get to the castle, which looked like it was straight out of a Disney princess movie. The first floor was decorated with the original owner's things, and the top floor was furnished with the belongings of the last owner, a thoroughly modern Lady. Canterbury was also a cute, but very touristy town. We walked into the city center and saw the medieval church that devoted Catholics used to make their pilgrimages to, and we also went through this attraction that put us in the center of the Canterbury Tales with animatronic figures. It was cute, and I actually learned a lot too.
Last night was the big night, USA v. England in the World Cup! My friends and I wanted to go somewhere where there would be Americans too, so we attempted to go to this American pub called Sports Cafe, but we couldn't get in. We went next door to Planet Hollywood, and watched the game shoulder to shoulder in a room full of England fans! It was kind of intense but so much fun- the England fans yelled so loud and teased us, but we managed to get a few good "USA!" cheers in and met some England fans. We went to Sports Cafe after and ended up meeting some people our age, a first in London.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thoughts at the halfway point
As of yesterday, I have been in London for 30 days. I can't even believe it! I remember being terrified before I left, and this trip has ended up absolutely amazing so far just like everyone said it would. I didn't realize how attached I was getting to London until I found myself comparing other cities to this one.
I thought I grew up a lot coming to college, but I feel like this experience will make me even more independent and self-sufficient when I come back. I have been cooking for myself, navigating public transportation, working, doing everything you are supposed to do post-college. Some days I do miss having pre-made food handed to you by an RPS kiosk and not having to clean, but overall I love being able to take care of myself.
I have been surprised at the number of times I've had to defend the US. In class one day, for example, our professor made us watch a documentary about 9/11 and pretty much told us Americans were fools for trusting Bush after 9/11, and our class had to argue back that it was a really scary time and even though he ended up sucking, he was our president.
This trip has also made me think a lot about the future. I can't decide if I like the US or being abroad more, but I do know that I want to live and work in a big city where there's a lot of life. I love how there are so many things to do here! I also know that I have been bitten by the travel bug, and that's not going to go away any time soon. Visiting Paris and Rome just made me think about all of the other places in the world I want to see. If I could afford it, the summer after I graduate college I'd love to go backpacking across Europe and see it all. And hopefully I have either a job that lets me travel or a salary high enough to afford vacations!
That's all the reflections I have for now! I will try to get some photos up soon :)
I thought I grew up a lot coming to college, but I feel like this experience will make me even more independent and self-sufficient when I come back. I have been cooking for myself, navigating public transportation, working, doing everything you are supposed to do post-college. Some days I do miss having pre-made food handed to you by an RPS kiosk and not having to clean, but overall I love being able to take care of myself.
I have been surprised at the number of times I've had to defend the US. In class one day, for example, our professor made us watch a documentary about 9/11 and pretty much told us Americans were fools for trusting Bush after 9/11, and our class had to argue back that it was a really scary time and even though he ended up sucking, he was our president.
This trip has also made me think a lot about the future. I can't decide if I like the US or being abroad more, but I do know that I want to live and work in a big city where there's a lot of life. I love how there are so many things to do here! I also know that I have been bitten by the travel bug, and that's not going to go away any time soon. Visiting Paris and Rome just made me think about all of the other places in the world I want to see. If I could afford it, the summer after I graduate college I'd love to go backpacking across Europe and see it all. And hopefully I have either a job that lets me travel or a salary high enough to afford vacations!
That's all the reflections I have for now! I will try to get some photos up soon :)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
When in Rome...
All of us have a picture in our minds of what Italy looks like… tiled roofs, Mediterranean-style buildings, twisting streets and alleys, open plazas with fountains. As it turns out, those stereotypes are all actually based on truth. Rome probably one of the most gorgeous places I have ever been in my life. The weather was warm and breezy when I visited this weekend, and it actually felt like a holiday even though we packed so much into our trip.
My group flew out of Heathrow at 6 am and arrived in Rome early enough to have a full day’s worth of adventures. The first of those was finding our hostel, which ended up being an odd basement room in a large, old building. Five beds were crammed into the tiny, funny room, but we were lucky enough to have our own bathroom and the woman who owned the hostel (and who didn’t speak English) brought us breakfast every morning. Then we visited the Museum of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. There were so many statues dating back to Ancient Rome that it took more than two hours to get through the museum. Then we went to throw coins in the Trevi Fountain, which was my favorite part of Rome. We stayed there for at least half an hour, making wishes and watching a few couples take their wedding photos. Next, we decided to stop by the Coliseum to take a few photos. We were looking for a place to eat dinner, and we stumbled upon a restaurant with a rooftop garden that offered us seating up there with no service charge (in Italy, you have to pay at least £1.50 to eat in a restaurant!). We ended up eating real Italian pizza up there overlooking the Coliseum at sunset, and it was absolutely magical.
The next day, our group first went back to Vatican City to explore the city itself. Everyone I was travelling with was Catholic, so it meant a lot to them to be able to go there. We went inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the gigantic church, and then I hung out and observed while my friends attended mass (it was a very strange experience, but it was educational for sure). Also, all of the popes were buried in these catacombs under the church, so we saw those… kind of creepy, but worth seeing I guess. The highlight of our visit was climbing the 350 steps to the top of the cupola, which is not for the faint of heart (the steps were steep and spiralled!), and seeing the panoramic view of Rome. After leaving Vatican City, we stopped for some quality gelato. That night, we adventured to this beautiful plaza in the center of town that the hostel owner had recommended Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
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r some dinner. The fountain was lit up, street musicians roamed, and the night was buzzing. I ate the absolute best pasta I’ve ever had at this outdoor Italian restaurant, and we split a bottle of Italian wine. Also, because we were students they gave us free lemonciello, which is a liqeur you are supposed to sip to cleanse your palate after dinner. It was insanely sweet and strong, but it definitely quenched our sweet tooths. We also went to an Italian bar, where I had my first, and definitely not my last, Long Island Iced Tea and an awkward, old bartender tried to dance with us. The metro had closed by the time we left, so we made our own way back to the hotel and stopped to look at the monuments lit up on the way back.
The last day, we went to the Coliseum. It felt surreal to be walking among Roman ruins! There were also some really cool exhibits about gladiators and what the site was probably like during Roman times. Our ticket also granted us admission to see the ruins of the Forum and Venus’ Temple. It was amazing to be able to just stroll through the site and look at the history around us. After that, it was time to head back to London. Our journey back was long, as our flight got delayed, and we arrived back at midnight.
It was a whirlwind weekend, but a great one! The group I traveled with was so much fun, and Italy was beautiful. I hope I can get some rest this week!
My group flew out of Heathrow at 6 am and arrived in Rome early enough to have a full day’s worth of adventures. The first of those was finding our hostel, which ended up being an odd basement room in a large, old building. Five beds were crammed into the tiny, funny room, but we were lucky enough to have our own bathroom and the woman who owned the hostel (and who didn’t speak English) brought us breakfast every morning. Then we visited the Museum of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. There were so many statues dating back to Ancient Rome that it took more than two hours to get through the museum. Then we went to throw coins in the Trevi Fountain, which was my favorite part of Rome. We stayed there for at least half an hour, making wishes and watching a few couples take their wedding photos. Next, we decided to stop by the Coliseum to take a few photos. We were looking for a place to eat dinner, and we stumbled upon a restaurant with a rooftop garden that offered us seating up there with no service charge (in Italy, you have to pay at least £1.50 to eat in a restaurant!). We ended up eating real Italian pizza up there overlooking the Coliseum at sunset, and it was absolutely magical.
The next day, our group first went back to Vatican City to explore the city itself. Everyone I was travelling with was Catholic, so it meant a lot to them to be able to go there. We went inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the gigantic church, and then I hung out and observed while my friends attended mass (it was a very strange experience, but it was educational for sure). Also, all of the popes were buried in these catacombs under the church, so we saw those… kind of creepy, but worth seeing I guess. The highlight of our visit was climbing the 350 steps to the top of the cupola, which is not for the faint of heart (the steps were steep and spiralled!), and seeing the panoramic view of Rome. After leaving Vatican City, we stopped for some quality gelato. That night, we adventured to this beautiful plaza in the center of town that the hostel owner had recommended Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0
r some dinner. The fountain was lit up, street musicians roamed, and the night was buzzing. I ate the absolute best pasta I’ve ever had at this outdoor Italian restaurant, and we split a bottle of Italian wine. Also, because we were students they gave us free lemonciello, which is a liqeur you are supposed to sip to cleanse your palate after dinner. It was insanely sweet and strong, but it definitely quenched our sweet tooths. We also went to an Italian bar, where I had my first, and definitely not my last, Long Island Iced Tea and an awkward, old bartender tried to dance with us. The metro had closed by the time we left, so we made our own way back to the hotel and stopped to look at the monuments lit up on the way back.
The last day, we went to the Coliseum. It felt surreal to be walking among Roman ruins! There were also some really cool exhibits about gladiators and what the site was probably like during Roman times. Our ticket also granted us admission to see the ruins of the Forum and Venus’ Temple. It was amazing to be able to just stroll through the site and look at the history around us. After that, it was time to head back to London. Our journey back was long, as our flight got delayed, and we arrived back at midnight.
It was a whirlwind weekend, but a great one! The group I traveled with was so much fun, and Italy was beautiful. I hope I can get some rest this week!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Paris, je t'aime!
Here is a LONG OVERDUE blog post… thought it would be important to write about Paris before heading off to Rome!
Paris was absolutely amazing. The weather was disgusting and the tour company we used was terrible, but the trip ended up being a lot of fun anyways. I was really excited to be able to put my five years of French to use, even if it was only to order food and ask directions!
On Saturday, we did a guided bus tour of the major sites in Paris like the Bastille, Les Invalides, the Madeline, and L’Opera Garnier. We were supposed to be able to get out of the bus and take photos, but because of our travel delays we zipped by and barely got any pictures. That night, Danielle, Caitlin, Liz and I ate our weight in crepes (FYI, banana and Nutella crepes are heavenly) and then went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was sunset as we headed up the elevators, and by the time we made it to the top of the tower it was dark and the city was illuminated with lights. It was absolutely gorgeous.
Sunday our group started off at Montmartre. We hiked the 150 steps to the top of Sacre Coeur, the beautiful white limestone chapel, to see a panoramic view of the city and to explore the winding side streets. We also stopped at the Place du Tertre, the artists’ square, and the Moulin Rouge. Then we went to Notre Dame, which was absolutely beautiful. Gypsies assaulted us for food before we went into the massive church. It was actually my first time in a Catholic church, let alone one so ominous and beautiful. We accidentally got swept into the procession after the service! We had the afternoon free to explore, and we must have walked miles… we stopped at a street market at Bastille and I bartered successfully, we visited the Arc d’Triomphe, and we just explored the city streets.
That night, all ten of the girls on the trip and Lesa ate an extravagant French dinner at a bistro by the Eiffel Tower. It was more than I had ever paid for a meal, but it was so much fun. Our waiter looked and acted just like Steve from Sex and the City, the food was amazing, and we had loud and hilarious conversations.
Monday we visited the Louvre. It was so crowded that we only had time to hit the highlights before the 10 hour bus trip back home.
It was a fun trip, but I still don’t think we have recovered fully. Work was pretty good this week, I got 5 bylines in the latest issue! Also, our bathroom in the flat flooded last night. I was really not happy because I wasn’t feeling wellProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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nd my ankle was swollen and purple, and I really had just wanted to take a nap. Hopefully that will be taken care of soon!
One more day of classes until Rome! I am so excited! Look on my Facebook for photos from Paris and the rest of my trip!
Paris was absolutely amazing. The weather was disgusting and the tour company we used was terrible, but the trip ended up being a lot of fun anyways. I was really excited to be able to put my five years of French to use, even if it was only to order food and ask directions!
On Saturday, we did a guided bus tour of the major sites in Paris like the Bastille, Les Invalides, the Madeline, and L’Opera Garnier. We were supposed to be able to get out of the bus and take photos, but because of our travel delays we zipped by and barely got any pictures. That night, Danielle, Caitlin, Liz and I ate our weight in crepes (FYI, banana and Nutella crepes are heavenly) and then went to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was sunset as we headed up the elevators, and by the time we made it to the top of the tower it was dark and the city was illuminated with lights. It was absolutely gorgeous.
Sunday our group started off at Montmartre. We hiked the 150 steps to the top of Sacre Coeur, the beautiful white limestone chapel, to see a panoramic view of the city and to explore the winding side streets. We also stopped at the Place du Tertre, the artists’ square, and the Moulin Rouge. Then we went to Notre Dame, which was absolutely beautiful. Gypsies assaulted us for food before we went into the massive church. It was actually my first time in a Catholic church, let alone one so ominous and beautiful. We accidentally got swept into the procession after the service! We had the afternoon free to explore, and we must have walked miles… we stopped at a street market at Bastille and I bartered successfully, we visited the Arc d’Triomphe, and we just explored the city streets.
That night, all ten of the girls on the trip and Lesa ate an extravagant French dinner at a bistro by the Eiffel Tower. It was more than I had ever paid for a meal, but it was so much fun. Our waiter looked and acted just like Steve from Sex and the City, the food was amazing, and we had loud and hilarious conversations.
Monday we visited the Louvre. It was so crowded that we only had time to hit the highlights before the 10 hour bus trip back home.
It was a fun trip, but I still don’t think we have recovered fully. Work was pretty good this week, I got 5 bylines in the latest issue! Also, our bathroom in the flat flooded last night. I was really not happy because I wasn’t feeling wellProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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nd my ankle was swollen and purple, and I really had just wanted to take a nap. Hopefully that will be taken care of soon!
One more day of classes until Rome! I am so excited! Look on my Facebook for photos from Paris and the rest of my trip!
Friday, May 28, 2010
Still a klutz- even in London
Ladies and gentlemen, my klutzy ways have officially followed me overseas.
Yesterday, I wore heels to work to balance out the fact that my internship lets me wear jeans. Unfortunately, when I was walking home down Oxford Street where the sidewalk is uneven, I twisted my ankle. It is now swollen, and I am pretty sure they don't sell ACE bandages in England.
Also, a few minutes ago my computer fell off my bed and hit me in the face, and the bridge of my nose is now cut and bleeding. I wish this were a lie, but it is unfortunately so true.
Combine this with my normal spilling and falling tendencies, and you have a recipe for disaster. Here's to hoping I don't die walking to class today! More later :)
Yesterday, I wore heels to work to balance out the fact that my internship lets me wear jeans. Unfortunately, when I was walking home down Oxford Street where the sidewalk is uneven, I twisted my ankle. It is now swollen, and I am pretty sure they don't sell ACE bandages in England.
Also, a few minutes ago my computer fell off my bed and hit me in the face, and the bridge of my nose is now cut and bleeding. I wish this were a lie, but it is unfortunately so true.
Combine this with my normal spilling and falling tendencies, and you have a recipe for disaster. Here's to hoping I don't die walking to class today! More later :)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Another week in paradise
London has been hit by a heat wave.
Temperatures were up to the high 80's on Monday, which coincided perfectly with our group's marathon day of class, media visits and theater excursions. Despite a great day, everyone in our group was tired and agitated from a long day of running around London in heavy dress clothes. It was definitely worth the trouble though. In the morning, we visited the BBC and got a private tour of the world's largest newsroom. Even though I know places like the BBC are news agencies just like every other one, it still feels like a privilege and a surreal experience. We also got to speak with the director of the BBC's Olympic news coverage, and got a sneak peek on how the BBC intends to cover the Games on its home turf.
That night, we journeyed down to the theater district to see Wicked. Other than the jarring nature of hearing random phrases in British accents, the play was great and the actress playing Elphaba was phenomenal. I also ate my first real meal in about two weeks- we stopped at a small Italian restaurant and enjoyed pasta and vegetables with gelato. A nice quiet dinner in a classy, air conditioned place made the night so much better. It was deathly hot underground taking the tube back, so we were all exhausted and ready to sleep.
Another long week at work... two bylines in the next issue! I am also feeling more confident in my interview ability- It's very hard to ask questions and write stories on a topic you don't yet fully understand, but I'm getting closer. One more day of work and one day of classes, and it's off to Paris!!
As promised, here's some pictures...
All the girls at the Covent Gardens Market
Amy and I being touristy in a phone booth
The Millennium Bridge... yes I walked on it, yes I have been to a scene in the HP films :)
Melissa and I at Tower Bridge
Temperatures were up to the high 80's on Monday, which coincided perfectly with our group's marathon day of class, media visits and theater excursions. Despite a great day, everyone in our group was tired and agitated from a long day of running around London in heavy dress clothes. It was definitely worth the trouble though. In the morning, we visited the BBC and got a private tour of the world's largest newsroom. Even though I know places like the BBC are news agencies just like every other one, it still feels like a privilege and a surreal experience. We also got to speak with the director of the BBC's Olympic news coverage, and got a sneak peek on how the BBC intends to cover the Games on its home turf.
That night, we journeyed down to the theater district to see Wicked. Other than the jarring nature of hearing random phrases in British accents, the play was great and the actress playing Elphaba was phenomenal. I also ate my first real meal in about two weeks- we stopped at a small Italian restaurant and enjoyed pasta and vegetables with gelato. A nice quiet dinner in a classy, air conditioned place made the night so much better. It was deathly hot underground taking the tube back, so we were all exhausted and ready to sleep.
Another long week at work... two bylines in the next issue! I am also feeling more confident in my interview ability- It's very hard to ask questions and write stories on a topic you don't yet fully understand, but I'm getting closer. One more day of work and one day of classes, and it's off to Paris!!
As promised, here's some pictures...
All the girls at the Covent Gardens Market
Amy and I being touristy in a phone booth
The Millennium Bridge... yes I walked on it, yes I have been to a scene in the HP films :)
Melissa and I at Tower Bridge
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Excursion #1
Yesterday the J-School took the group on our first trip outside London, to Stonehenge and Bath. Our whole group has been busy with work and exploring the city in smaller groups, so it was really great to see everyone again!
Stonehenge was about a 2 hour drive from London. I woke up from my nap just in time to see the rock formation out the window, and I must say I was unimpressed at first. It just looked like a bunch of rocks in a circle. When we were admitted to the site, we were given headsets to walk us through a tour. Some of the folklore surrounding Stonehenge was quite humorous, and the weather was beautiful- perfect for photo opps! There is also a huge field of sheep right next to Stonehenge, and we had fun watching them run around.
Bath was our second stop, and it was absolutely spectacular. The buildings in the city are all made of this honey colored stone, and the whole town sits on the river. We had a few hours to explore the city, so we walked around and saw the shops and attempted to go to the Fashion Museum. Somewhere in that time, I thought I had lost my wallet. My friends calmed me down and helped me focus on the day until the bus got back, and thank god it was in my seat. Needless to say, I will be much more careful about my wallet. Then we took a tour of the Roman baths, which was awesome! Archaeologists preserved the sites of a Roman temple and gathering place, so we got to walk through those and see things found at the site. The baths were fully restored, and we walked around and talked to actors in character about the history.
It was a fun day, and now it's work time. We have a paper due for our class tomorrow, so I am hanging out with some people at a cafe and trying to get as much done as I can. Wish me luck!
Stonehenge was about a 2 hour drive from London. I woke up from my nap just in time to see the rock formation out the window, and I must say I was unimpressed at first. It just looked like a bunch of rocks in a circle. When we were admitted to the site, we were given headsets to walk us through a tour. Some of the folklore surrounding Stonehenge was quite humorous, and the weather was beautiful- perfect for photo opps! There is also a huge field of sheep right next to Stonehenge, and we had fun watching them run around.
Bath was our second stop, and it was absolutely spectacular. The buildings in the city are all made of this honey colored stone, and the whole town sits on the river. We had a few hours to explore the city, so we walked around and saw the shops and attempted to go to the Fashion Museum. Somewhere in that time, I thought I had lost my wallet. My friends calmed me down and helped me focus on the day until the bus got back, and thank god it was in my seat. Needless to say, I will be much more careful about my wallet. Then we took a tour of the Roman baths, which was awesome! Archaeologists preserved the sites of a Roman temple and gathering place, so we got to walk through those and see things found at the site. The baths were fully restored, and we walked around and talked to actors in character about the history.
It was a fun day, and now it's work time. We have a paper due for our class tomorrow, so I am hanging out with some people at a cafe and trying to get as much done as I can. Wish me luck!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Kensington Gardens and Oliver
Yet another excellent day in London.
This morning, I went with some girls to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park to explore. It was beautiful... we walked probably 5 miles at least across the acres of grass and trees. We stopped at the lake and watched the swans, we saw puppies frolicking, and we found (and took way too many photos with) the Peter Pan statue and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. The park was so tranquil and peaceful.
I feel like people here are so much healthier than in the States because of the lifestyle. You walk everywhere, you buy food from meal to meal, you don't eat fast food, and you never sit still. I feel like I never want to stay in the flat because I don't want to miss a thing in this city. And even though it's annoying to go to the market like every day, it makes you so much more conscious about your food choices and the money you spend. I feel like this is the kind of life I want to have after college, living in a big city like London.
It was Danielle's birthday, so tonight we went for dinner at this place called Yo Sushi (it's a London chain I think?). The restaurant has a conveyor belt that wraps around the booths, and you take what you want off the belt to eat. It was kind of scary at first because I had no idea what I was eating, but it ended up being pretty fun. Tonight was another theater night for our group: Oliver! It was SO GOOD. I didn't realize how many of the songs I remembered from my childhood. It was a great show.
Off to work tomorrow! Good night everyone :)
This morning, I went with some girls to Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park to explore. It was beautiful... we walked probably 5 miles at least across the acres of grass and trees. We stopped at the lake and watched the swans, we saw puppies frolicking, and we found (and took way too many photos with) the Peter Pan statue and the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain. The park was so tranquil and peaceful.
I feel like people here are so much healthier than in the States because of the lifestyle. You walk everywhere, you buy food from meal to meal, you don't eat fast food, and you never sit still. I feel like I never want to stay in the flat because I don't want to miss a thing in this city. And even though it's annoying to go to the market like every day, it makes you so much more conscious about your food choices and the money you spend. I feel like this is the kind of life I want to have after college, living in a big city like London.
It was Danielle's birthday, so tonight we went for dinner at this place called Yo Sushi (it's a London chain I think?). The restaurant has a conveyor belt that wraps around the booths, and you take what you want off the belt to eat. It was kind of scary at first because I had no idea what I was eating, but it ended up being pretty fun. Tonight was another theater night for our group: Oliver! It was SO GOOD. I didn't realize how many of the songs I remembered from my childhood. It was a great show.
Off to work tomorrow! Good night everyone :)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Catch up
So I promised to blog every day, and that's not working out too well... but if it's because I am so busy having fun, I'm okay with that. Here's a little catch up on what I've been up to since Thursday:
1) Thursday: I went to cover an event for work, and ended up getting lost in London. I made it to the event a minute before it started and my editor was understanding, so it all worked out. I also wrote my first real story... look for it online next week!
2) Friday: We had our first class, International Reporting. Our instructor is a 20 year vet of the BBC and he seems great. We have a lot of big projects for the class, including an article, a group presentation, a research paper and a multimedia project. I am kind of bummed because I had wanted to spend most of my time this summer learning by exploring the city, but oh well. Friday night we went to a pub in the financial district, and got hit on by 40 year old men. It was really bizarre, people are so open here with PDA and blatant flirting... something to get used to?
3) Saturday: I went to the Tate Modern with my flat mates and LOVED it. It was so cool to see art from all my favorite artists... Monet, Picasso, Miro, Mondrian... aahh I was geeking out so much. I took some awesome pictures, look for them soon! We also walked over the Millennium Bridge and explored downtown London. We also spontaneously bought tickets to see Third Eye Blind perform in a theater in the suburbs of London, and it ended up being a lot of fun! It turns out that the British LOVE Third Eye Blind and sing the lyrics very loudly and off key. The only issue was that the map made the venue look a lot closer to our flat, but it was actually an hour's walk. Next time, we take the tube for sure!
4) Today: We went to Covent Gardens, to the street market. There were so many cute vendors and the streets were winding and so packed. Unfortunately, we made a rookie mistake: we didn't bring an umbrella, so we got absolutely soaked to the bone walking home. I won't do that again!
I love London and am having a great time. This week flew by... I hope the rest of this trip doesn't go by so fast!!
1) Thursday: I went to cover an event for work, and ended up getting lost in London. I made it to the event a minute before it started and my editor was understanding, so it all worked out. I also wrote my first real story... look for it online next week!
2) Friday: We had our first class, International Reporting. Our instructor is a 20 year vet of the BBC and he seems great. We have a lot of big projects for the class, including an article, a group presentation, a research paper and a multimedia project. I am kind of bummed because I had wanted to spend most of my time this summer learning by exploring the city, but oh well. Friday night we went to a pub in the financial district, and got hit on by 40 year old men. It was really bizarre, people are so open here with PDA and blatant flirting... something to get used to?
3) Saturday: I went to the Tate Modern with my flat mates and LOVED it. It was so cool to see art from all my favorite artists... Monet, Picasso, Miro, Mondrian... aahh I was geeking out so much. I took some awesome pictures, look for them soon! We also walked over the Millennium Bridge and explored downtown London. We also spontaneously bought tickets to see Third Eye Blind perform in a theater in the suburbs of London, and it ended up being a lot of fun! It turns out that the British LOVE Third Eye Blind and sing the lyrics very loudly and off key. The only issue was that the map made the venue look a lot closer to our flat, but it was actually an hour's walk. Next time, we take the tube for sure!
4) Today: We went to Covent Gardens, to the street market. There were so many cute vendors and the streets were winding and so packed. Unfortunately, we made a rookie mistake: we didn't bring an umbrella, so we got absolutely soaked to the bone walking home. I won't do that again!
I love London and am having a great time. This week flew by... I hope the rest of this trip doesn't go by so fast!!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
All grown up
Today was probably the best day I've had since I've been here.
1) Work was great. I am finally hitting it off with my coworkers, and I got to write some legit stories.
2) In England, beats are called patches and they say brilliant and cheers all the time.
3) I am covering my first event tomorrow!
4) There is a Hare Krishna center outside my office building, and they have a parade every day.
5) I cooked for myself. Stir fry. And it wasn't delicious, but for a first meal it was pretty darn good.
6) We wandered around London and found new parts of town and didn't get lost.
7) I went to a real British pub and had a blast.
I am very tired and probably could write this more eloquently if I weren't still jet lagged, but I was doing so good writing every day that I knew I had to keep it up. I LOVE London.
1) Work was great. I am finally hitting it off with my coworkers, and I got to write some legit stories.
2) In England, beats are called patches and they say brilliant and cheers all the time.
3) I am covering my first event tomorrow!
4) There is a Hare Krishna center outside my office building, and they have a parade every day.
5) I cooked for myself. Stir fry. And it wasn't delicious, but for a first meal it was pretty darn good.
6) We wandered around London and found new parts of town and didn't get lost.
7) I went to a real British pub and had a blast.
I am very tired and probably could write this more eloquently if I weren't still jet lagged, but I was doing so good writing every day that I knew I had to keep it up. I LOVE London.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
1 day down...
I was so nervous getting to my internship this morning. I headed out the door this morning knowing only that I needed to get to Oxford Circus on the tube, and get on at the Farringdon station if I could find it. I had to stop and ask for directions more than a few times, and then when I finally made it to my stop, I had to take a gamble on which way my street would be and wander around the shopping district for awhile until I found it. But once I found my office building, and it looked just like the image I saw on Google Maps, I was so proud of myself for getting there.
I can't disclose where I'm interning online because I don't want to get in trouble, but I can tell you that it's a finance magazine. Most of you are probably laughing imagining me dealing with numbers all day. The people at my office were brilliant, as the British like to say, but I had to keep a running word document of all the terms I needed to learn during my internship. It was chaos in the office because it was their publishing day, and I am still jet lagged, so it was a long day. But I did get to experience a day working in the British media, and I got to write up a few briefs and a small story, so not too bad for Day 1.
After work, a few friends and I wandered downtown and ended up eating dinner at a cute hole in the wall Middle Eastern joint- delicious, and probably the cheapest food we'll find around here. Everything is so expensive! Then we went grocery shopping, and I felt so grown up and awesome when I got ID'd buying a bottle of wine. It's amazing how laid back everything is here. Two days in London, and I'm already loving it here.
I can't disclose where I'm interning online because I don't want to get in trouble, but I can tell you that it's a finance magazine. Most of you are probably laughing imagining me dealing with numbers all day. The people at my office were brilliant, as the British like to say, but I had to keep a running word document of all the terms I needed to learn during my internship. It was chaos in the office because it was their publishing day, and I am still jet lagged, so it was a long day. But I did get to experience a day working in the British media, and I got to write up a few briefs and a small story, so not too bad for Day 1.
After work, a few friends and I wandered downtown and ended up eating dinner at a cute hole in the wall Middle Eastern joint- delicious, and probably the cheapest food we'll find around here. Everything is so expensive! Then we went grocery shopping, and I felt so grown up and awesome when I got ID'd buying a bottle of wine. It's amazing how laid back everything is here. Two days in London, and I'm already loving it here.
Monday, May 10, 2010
First day in London!!
Today was my first full day in London and wow... I already wish I could stay here forever. My adjustment process has not been totally seamless: I'm still learning to navigate the British pounds, and I learned that you do NOT buy organic milk at the corner market. But other than a few minor speed bumps, I love it here.
Today we took a bus tour around all of the major sites in London- Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Bridge, etc. While taking photos at all the major sites, it hit me that I'm really here. It was so amazing to take in the sites, but to know that I had the next 8 weeks to come back and see everything at my own pace. The historic buildings and monuments are absolutely gorgeous, and I love that random parks pop up in the middle of metropolitan areas. We also stopped and ate fish and chips at a pub downtown- we're really British now :)
After our tour and an orientation session at Anglo-American, the IU School of Journalism hit the tube for our first adventure. Getting my oyster card and navigating the stops during rush hour was kind of insane at first, but I feel like with practice it will become second nature after awhile. We also saw The Phantom of the Opera in the theater district, and it was amazing!! The singers were great, the costumes and set were incredible... you guys know how much I love musicals, so I was in heaven. Apparently we get to see shows every Monday, which will be great!
I'm starting my internship tomorrow, and I am excited but nervous. I always get nervous about my employers liking me, and I feel even more nervous that it's British people with different standards and a sense of humor. I am also nervous about how to get there... I've planned which tube stops to take, but after that it's all luck and the kindness of strangers. Wish me luck tomorrow! Hopefully I'll have some good stories to tell.
Today we took a bus tour around all of the major sites in London- Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, London Bridge, etc. While taking photos at all the major sites, it hit me that I'm really here. It was so amazing to take in the sites, but to know that I had the next 8 weeks to come back and see everything at my own pace. The historic buildings and monuments are absolutely gorgeous, and I love that random parks pop up in the middle of metropolitan areas. We also stopped and ate fish and chips at a pub downtown- we're really British now :)
After our tour and an orientation session at Anglo-American, the IU School of Journalism hit the tube for our first adventure. Getting my oyster card and navigating the stops during rush hour was kind of insane at first, but I feel like with practice it will become second nature after awhile. We also saw The Phantom of the Opera in the theater district, and it was amazing!! The singers were great, the costumes and set were incredible... you guys know how much I love musicals, so I was in heaven. Apparently we get to see shows every Monday, which will be great!
I'm starting my internship tomorrow, and I am excited but nervous. I always get nervous about my employers liking me, and I feel even more nervous that it's British people with different standards and a sense of humor. I am also nervous about how to get there... I've planned which tube stops to take, but after that it's all luck and the kindness of strangers. Wish me luck tomorrow! Hopefully I'll have some good stories to tell.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
I'm here!
I am writing this blog entry from my flat in London! We just got here not too long ago, and we're just putting our feet up before we head out into the city to buy phones and essentials for the flat. It is insane that I'm actually here!!
Our apartment is small, but it's really adorable and modern. And the location can't be beat... we're a short walk away from the Thames and the London Eye! Anyways, just wanted to let you all know I'm here safe. The adventure begins now :)
Our apartment is small, but it's really adorable and modern. And the location can't be beat... we're a short walk away from the Thames and the London Eye! Anyways, just wanted to let you all know I'm here safe. The adventure begins now :)
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thoughts from the airport
I am sitting in the Indianapolis Airport waiting for our 3:30 flight. It's hard to believe that this trip is finally here!! My parents came up yesterday to help me pack. I was surprisingly good about being able to choose what to pack and what to leave behind, but my bags are still so heavy that I can barely pull them. I also bought the wrong size carry on bag and I had to pay $50 to check it. Oops...
As long as I make it there safely and my bags make it there too, I don't think much else can bring me down right now. Finals week was a nightmare, and I have spent so much of the last week running around preparing for this trip. I am not used to being able to sit here without residents to deal with, exams to study for or articles to write... it's relaxing, but I kind of don't know what to do with myself. I downloaded every season of the West Wing, have 10 magazines I stole from the MMM in Eigenmann, and a bunch of new music, so that's a start.
I am ready for 8 weeks of fun and adventure in London, and wherever else this trip takes me. Bon voyage everybody! Next time I write it will be from Londontown :)
As long as I make it there safely and my bags make it there too, I don't think much else can bring me down right now. Finals week was a nightmare, and I have spent so much of the last week running around preparing for this trip. I am not used to being able to sit here without residents to deal with, exams to study for or articles to write... it's relaxing, but I kind of don't know what to do with myself. I downloaded every season of the West Wing, have 10 magazines I stole from the MMM in Eigenmann, and a bunch of new music, so that's a start.
I am ready for 8 weeks of fun and adventure in London, and wherever else this trip takes me. Bon voyage everybody! Next time I write it will be from Londontown :)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
T minus 10 days!
When I was five or six years old, I had a book called "Look Out London!" that had illustrated maps and descriptions of all the major must see attractions in London. I've kept that book all of these years, and I have it on my couch next to me in my college dorm room as I write this post. It's funny how things come full circle, and you never see it coming.
I can't believe I am leaving for London in ten days. This trip has been planned since I decided to come to IU, and it was always an abstract, distant thing that motivated me through all nighters and final exams. But here I am buying suitcases, ordering a visa and a passport, and wondering where my summer will take me. I am so excited to be in such a thriving, amazing city, but I am overwhelmed thinking about all of the things I want to do while I'm there. The museums, the castles and historic buildings, the trendy neighborhoods, the markets... I want to see it all. And I want to do it without seeming like an awkward, lost American tourist, but knowing my sense of direction that may be impossible to avoid.
My Internet access will be limited this summer, and I hope to be spending so much time running around the city that I don't have time to waste hours on Facebook like usual. I am terrible at keeping diaries (check my bedside drawer, there are at least ten diaries with five or six pages written in), but I hope that this blog will force me to write down every detail of this experience. I can't wait to make amazing memories this summer, and I can't wait to share them all with you. Look out London, here I come!
I can't believe I am leaving for London in ten days. This trip has been planned since I decided to come to IU, and it was always an abstract, distant thing that motivated me through all nighters and final exams. But here I am buying suitcases, ordering a visa and a passport, and wondering where my summer will take me. I am so excited to be in such a thriving, amazing city, but I am overwhelmed thinking about all of the things I want to do while I'm there. The museums, the castles and historic buildings, the trendy neighborhoods, the markets... I want to see it all. And I want to do it without seeming like an awkward, lost American tourist, but knowing my sense of direction that may be impossible to avoid.
My Internet access will be limited this summer, and I hope to be spending so much time running around the city that I don't have time to waste hours on Facebook like usual. I am terrible at keeping diaries (check my bedside drawer, there are at least ten diaries with five or six pages written in), but I hope that this blog will force me to write down every detail of this experience. I can't wait to make amazing memories this summer, and I can't wait to share them all with you. Look out London, here I come!
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