Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers! It was a strange Thanksgiving, just because it wasn't really Thanksgiving at all. I had class as usual, and had to call it an early night because I had work today. One of my flatmates parents is in town, though, and they cooked us dinner while we were at class. It was wonderful to come home to a fully home-cooked Thanksgiving meal. It was nice to have family around, even if it wasn't my family. I'm really excited to see my mom, dad, and brothers in a few weeks. (Speaking of which, my middle brother just got into Harvard Law...can't believe it!)
As is customary this time of year, I like to share what I'm thankful for. I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity to travel as much as I have the past few months. I'm really thankful that I go to such a good school that has a well-established London program, and I'm really thankful to the city of London for being a great host this semester.
And today marks the first Black Friday in a while that I've missed, which to me is almost as upsetting as missing Thanksgiving. I LOVE the madness that surrounds Black Friday (even though three years ago I had to work the electronics department at Target at 5am on Black Friday...not fun.) If I were in the states, I would be shopping all day. Today was just another normal day.
What are you thankful for?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Average Day at Work
So yesterday I walk into work and I get handed a really cool task. The company I work for has been designing a large banner and some other promotional materials for use at conferences, events, etc. I've been helping out, and they take my feedback seriously, which as an intern is really cool. Seeing as how their main target market is American & Canadian students, they listen to what I have to say (especially when it comes to things like Facebook and stuff like that.)
I got handed a camera and told that they needed a picture of London for the banner. I had a few hours to run around the city and snap as many pictures as I could. I was given a few specifications (horizontal, colorful, something depicting "iconic London.") I don't think I've ever been more excited about a work project, so far. I'm not a master of photography, so I was challenged to actually take a quality picture (the four photo majors that I live with would laugh pretty hard at some of the ones I took.)
I felt like a contestant on a reality show. I had a simple point-and-shoot camera, a few hours, and the limited knowledge of London that I've gained in a few months here. I had a deadline to meet: my boss wanted to send the banner to the printer that afternoon. PRESSURE! Of course, I wanted lots of options to turn in, so I BOOKED IT around the city. I'm a pretty fast walker, I can navigate the tube well, and I consider myself pretty good at weaving in and out of traffic (people, bikes, busses, cars...I only almost got hit once!)
So I basically spent the whole day running from place to place taking pictures like a tourist. I went back to a few places that I had been before that I think of when I think "London." When I went to Buckingham Palace it was actually almost time for the changing of the guards, which I hadn't seen yet. I stuck around, and it is actually a much bigger ordeal than I expected. Got a few pictures there, and then it was back to pounding the pavement.
It was a beautiful November day in London: sunny, and not too cold. I wanted to share a few of the pictures I took.
Changing of the guard
I like the Eye peaking out...
This one took some work. Had to position myself properly, wait for a bus, and hope I timed it right. A few tries later, and once enough people gave me funny looks for squatting, I got the shot!
I got handed a camera and told that they needed a picture of London for the banner. I had a few hours to run around the city and snap as many pictures as I could. I was given a few specifications (horizontal, colorful, something depicting "iconic London.") I don't think I've ever been more excited about a work project, so far. I'm not a master of photography, so I was challenged to actually take a quality picture (the four photo majors that I live with would laugh pretty hard at some of the ones I took.)
I felt like a contestant on a reality show. I had a simple point-and-shoot camera, a few hours, and the limited knowledge of London that I've gained in a few months here. I had a deadline to meet: my boss wanted to send the banner to the printer that afternoon. PRESSURE! Of course, I wanted lots of options to turn in, so I BOOKED IT around the city. I'm a pretty fast walker, I can navigate the tube well, and I consider myself pretty good at weaving in and out of traffic (people, bikes, busses, cars...I only almost got hit once!)
So I basically spent the whole day running from place to place taking pictures like a tourist. I went back to a few places that I had been before that I think of when I think "London." When I went to Buckingham Palace it was actually almost time for the changing of the guards, which I hadn't seen yet. I stuck around, and it is actually a much bigger ordeal than I expected. Got a few pictures there, and then it was back to pounding the pavement.
It was a beautiful November day in London: sunny, and not too cold. I wanted to share a few of the pictures I took.
Changing of the guard
I like the Eye peaking out...
This one took some work. Had to position myself properly, wait for a bus, and hope I timed it right. A few tries later, and once enough people gave me funny looks for squatting, I got the shot!
Monday, November 15, 2010
I Amsterdam
This weekend I went to Amsterdam with all of my flatmates. We were all really excited for this trip, mainly because it was the first thing we booked, but we booked it really far in advance. It has been staring back at us from our calendar for months. Finally, the weekend came! As soon as I got into the city I realized that my camera was dead, so I had to rely on my friends' cameras. I'll post a few of my favorite pictures once they upload their pics, but for now, I have nothing to show from my trip.
While in the city, we just walked around and explored. It's a fairly small city, so it wasn't a problem to get to where we wanted to be. We played on the well-known "I Amsterdam" sign, which is great for pictures. We also toured the Anne Frank house, which was bigger than I expected. It was unfurnished, so I bet when there were eight people and some furniture in there it quickly got a lot smaller. We also planned on touring the Heineken brewery, but we were a little slow getting there and that plan fell through. So we basically spent the rest of the day exploring the Red Light District (which is exactly how you would picture it) and some other well known areas in the city.
The next morning we woke up in time to catch part of the Christmas festivities that were going on that day. Santa came in on a boat, and there were a LOT of people there to see it. I was shocked at the number of people that were dressed up; both kids and adults. It was really cool. Anyway, Amsterdam was a lot of fun. I wouldn't say it was my favorite European city that I've been to, simply because there just isn't as much to do there. But all in all, I still had a great weekend.
The main thing I was excited about was getting the stamp in my passport. I've had layovers in Amsterdam before, but I've only left the airport for short periods of time. This was my first real visit of the city, so the first time I actually counted the passport stamp. This one is significant because it brings my count of countries I've visited up to ten. (United States, Canada, South Africa, Mozambique, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Netherlands) I can't believe that I am only 20 years old and I have been to ten countries across three continents. I count myself very grateful for the opportunities that have given me the ability to travel as much as I have at such a young age. With that said, I'm aiming for 20 countries by the time I am 25.
Countries I'd like to visit: (in no particular order)
-China
-Japan
-Australia
-Spain
-Brazil
-India
-Thailand
-New Zealand
-Costa Rica
-Morocco
-Germany
-Denmark
And basically everywhere else in the world.
While in the city, we just walked around and explored. It's a fairly small city, so it wasn't a problem to get to where we wanted to be. We played on the well-known "I Amsterdam" sign, which is great for pictures. We also toured the Anne Frank house, which was bigger than I expected. It was unfurnished, so I bet when there were eight people and some furniture in there it quickly got a lot smaller. We also planned on touring the Heineken brewery, but we were a little slow getting there and that plan fell through. So we basically spent the rest of the day exploring the Red Light District (which is exactly how you would picture it) and some other well known areas in the city.
The next morning we woke up in time to catch part of the Christmas festivities that were going on that day. Santa came in on a boat, and there were a LOT of people there to see it. I was shocked at the number of people that were dressed up; both kids and adults. It was really cool. Anyway, Amsterdam was a lot of fun. I wouldn't say it was my favorite European city that I've been to, simply because there just isn't as much to do there. But all in all, I still had a great weekend.
The main thing I was excited about was getting the stamp in my passport. I've had layovers in Amsterdam before, but I've only left the airport for short periods of time. This was my first real visit of the city, so the first time I actually counted the passport stamp. This one is significant because it brings my count of countries I've visited up to ten. (United States, Canada, South Africa, Mozambique, Ireland, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Netherlands) I can't believe that I am only 20 years old and I have been to ten countries across three continents. I count myself very grateful for the opportunities that have given me the ability to travel as much as I have at such a young age. With that said, I'm aiming for 20 countries by the time I am 25.
Countries I'd like to visit: (in no particular order)
-China
-Japan
-Australia
-Spain
-Brazil
-India
-Thailand
-New Zealand
-Costa Rica
-Morocco
-Germany
-Denmark
And basically everywhere else in the world.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Sometimes I Play "Grown-Up"
It's weird being back from Fall Break. But after being in London again, I think "you know, this whole London thing is working for me." I enjoy taking the tube to class, despite the frequent strikes. I enjoy always having something to do, or just hanging out in my flat. Before I got to London I played with the idea of coming back at some point; I already knew I would love it. Now that I am here, I do love it, and I have been seriously looking into graduate programs here. I had already researched a few before getting here, and I've actually even toured a couple and talked with admissions counselors. I really think that if I keep at it and keep in the direction I am going, graduate school in London can be a much more real possibility.
Speaking of grown up things, I haven't really spoken about my internship placement, mainly because getting it wasn't as smooth as an administrative task as I was hoping it would be. Anyway, I am happy to say that I'm an intern at a student resource company for academic, volunteer, and internship placements around the globe. I handle a variety of marketing tasks including restructuring their Facebook presence, which is really cool, and some other neat stuff. I even get to write on their blog from time to time, and they just published my first post!
I want this opportunity again. I want to come back to London on another level, not just as an undergrad student for one semester. The other day, one of my professors here asked me how I was finding London. All I said was "I want to come back," and she said "all the good ones do." I really took that seriously.
Speaking of grown up things, I haven't really spoken about my internship placement, mainly because getting it wasn't as smooth as an administrative task as I was hoping it would be. Anyway, I am happy to say that I'm an intern at a student resource company for academic, volunteer, and internship placements around the globe. I handle a variety of marketing tasks including restructuring their Facebook presence, which is really cool, and some other neat stuff. I even get to write on their blog from time to time, and they just published my first post!
I want this opportunity again. I want to come back to London on another level, not just as an undergrad student for one semester. The other day, one of my professors here asked me how I was finding London. All I said was "I want to come back," and she said "all the good ones do." I really took that seriously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)