For a good part of the weekend and up until yesterday, I was beginning to imagine myself becoming a UK citizen. When I first heard news of the Icelandic volcano, it wasn't anymore than a topic of conversation. As flight cancellations moved from Thursday to Friday and then through Saturday and Sunday, my interest in the random eruption of a volcano turned into serious panic. Don't get me wrong, I love London, but it has served its purpose, and now I'm ready to go home.
I've been checking airport updates religiously and was so relieved to read about the first flight since the disaster to land in Heathrow last night! Things are slowly getting back to normal, and (knock on wood) my arrival in the USA will be Saturday after all!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
They Say Time Flies When You're Having Fun...
With only 9 days, yes I repeat, only 9 days left in the UK, I got to thinking...
WHAT I'LL MISS ABOUT LONDON:
- Being in a HUGE city. The ridiculous size of London means all your desires are right at your fingertips.
- The fabulous shopping. Oxford and Bond Streets, Harrods, and beyond- anything you could ever want is here.
- The tube!! After mastering how to transfer from one line to another, I started to love the tube. It's SO easy to use and can take you anywhere in London.
- My friends :(. One of the coolest things about my program is people came from literally all over the States -- Chicago, L.A., St. Louis, DC, Seattle, and more, so coordinating a reunion somewhere in the middle will be a must!
- The rich history. It seems like there's a story here for every building and every street. Since the USA is so young compared to England, we don't have as much history.
- The fun markets. I loved being able to get up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and explore Portobello or Spitafields, and I still have yet to hit Brick Lane. The markets have such unique things I'll never be able to find anywhere else.
- The ease of traveling to the rest of Europe. Ryan Air, EasyJet, EuroStar-- amazing! To be able to go to Italy, Spain, France, or anywhere in Europe for the weekend in no more than 3 hours for a really cheap price is unbelievable.
- Incredible Nightlife. I wish I had a few months just to dedicate to this! There is something for every mood and event. Want a relaxing night?--Go to one of the million pubs. Want a fist-pumping night?--Go to a Euro-style club like Ministry of Sound or Fabric. Feeling homesick and want to surround yourself with American people/music?--Go to a place like Sports Cafe. Want a place with great music and no cover charge where you can dance the night away?--Go somewhere like the Rocket. You get the idea. I could go on forever!
- How easy it is to hail a taxi in under 5 minutes. Besides the fact that this form of transportation can clear out your wallet in 15 minutes, it was so nice to never have to wait to get home whenever I wanted.
-The impossibility of running out of things to do. I think Bethlehem should be re-named on the map as Boredom, PA. It's going to be a real shock to return from having endless options on any given day to having to search for ways to be entertained.
- Walking EVERYWHERE. Even though public transportation here is awesome, it was also great to walk around and enjoy the sites when I had the time. At home, the only place I'll be able to walk is to the 7-Eleven 5 minutes away from my house.
- The easiest semester I've ever had (up until the end, that is). I did have to commit to waking up early to intern and going to class, but the workload was very light along the way. Since the education system here is different, they don't really ever have homework. I have to say though, I prefer the American system to this one because your final grade depends on your performance all semester rather than one big final project.
- Being able to jump on a red double-decker bus and sitting on the top level :)
It's just fun!
WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT LEAVING IN LONDON:
- The food. Bland and boring I would say is an accurate description. Aside from cultural restaurants like Hi Sushi and Aladin, cuisine is definitely not Britain's forte.
- Bad customer service. Someone please refill my water and bring the check without my having to ask.
- The slow speed...of everything. I didn't realize how quickly I walk until I got here. There's nothing like being stuck behind a slow-walking person, and they all seem to be in London. Also, lines at the grocery store, at an ATM, to get a cup of coffee, etc. move at the speed of the slowest snail on Earth.
- The stupid exchange rate. Wow. This one explains itself, or possibly my bank statement would provide a better description. I'm so over the pound and ready for some dollars!
- All of the obnoxious coins I've accumulated. Give me some $1 bills! The lowest note here is £5, so there are coins for both £1 and £2. This starts to get annoying when I hold up a line because I'm digging around trying to find the right currency!
- My Thoresby House bed. I think everyone in the house would agree with this one! I'm sending Arcadia bills from my massage therapist and chiropractor.
- The lack of sunshine. I never want to see a rain drop or carry an umbrella ever again. Constant overcast, move over! It's time for REAL spring/summer in the U.S. of A.
- Being surrounded by British accents. I know, I know--I couldn't stop saying how I wanted to return home with an accent before I left to come to London. Now that I've been surrounded, it lost its appeal. I'll take good old American Taylor Lautner over Mr. Pattinson any day :)
WHAT I'LL MISS ABOUT LONDON:
- Being in a HUGE city. The ridiculous size of London means all your desires are right at your fingertips.
- The fabulous shopping. Oxford and Bond Streets, Harrods, and beyond- anything you could ever want is here.
- The tube!! After mastering how to transfer from one line to another, I started to love the tube. It's SO easy to use and can take you anywhere in London.
- My friends :(. One of the coolest things about my program is people came from literally all over the States -- Chicago, L.A., St. Louis, DC, Seattle, and more, so coordinating a reunion somewhere in the middle will be a must!
- The rich history. It seems like there's a story here for every building and every street. Since the USA is so young compared to England, we don't have as much history.
- The fun markets. I loved being able to get up on a Saturday or Sunday morning and explore Portobello or Spitafields, and I still have yet to hit Brick Lane. The markets have such unique things I'll never be able to find anywhere else.
- The ease of traveling to the rest of Europe. Ryan Air, EasyJet, EuroStar-- amazing! To be able to go to Italy, Spain, France, or anywhere in Europe for the weekend in no more than 3 hours for a really cheap price is unbelievable.
- Incredible Nightlife. I wish I had a few months just to dedicate to this! There is something for every mood and event. Want a relaxing night?--Go to one of the million pubs. Want a fist-pumping night?--Go to a Euro-style club like Ministry of Sound or Fabric. Feeling homesick and want to surround yourself with American people/music?--Go to a place like Sports Cafe. Want a place with great music and no cover charge where you can dance the night away?--Go somewhere like the Rocket. You get the idea. I could go on forever!
- How easy it is to hail a taxi in under 5 minutes. Besides the fact that this form of transportation can clear out your wallet in 15 minutes, it was so nice to never have to wait to get home whenever I wanted.
-The impossibility of running out of things to do. I think Bethlehem should be re-named on the map as Boredom, PA. It's going to be a real shock to return from having endless options on any given day to having to search for ways to be entertained.
- Walking EVERYWHERE. Even though public transportation here is awesome, it was also great to walk around and enjoy the sites when I had the time. At home, the only place I'll be able to walk is to the 7-Eleven 5 minutes away from my house.
- The easiest semester I've ever had (up until the end, that is). I did have to commit to waking up early to intern and going to class, but the workload was very light along the way. Since the education system here is different, they don't really ever have homework. I have to say though, I prefer the American system to this one because your final grade depends on your performance all semester rather than one big final project.
- Being able to jump on a red double-decker bus and sitting on the top level :)
It's just fun!
WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT LEAVING IN LONDON:
- The food. Bland and boring I would say is an accurate description. Aside from cultural restaurants like Hi Sushi and Aladin, cuisine is definitely not Britain's forte.
- Bad customer service. Someone please refill my water and bring the check without my having to ask.
- The slow speed...of everything. I didn't realize how quickly I walk until I got here. There's nothing like being stuck behind a slow-walking person, and they all seem to be in London. Also, lines at the grocery store, at an ATM, to get a cup of coffee, etc. move at the speed of the slowest snail on Earth.
- The stupid exchange rate. Wow. This one explains itself, or possibly my bank statement would provide a better description. I'm so over the pound and ready for some dollars!
- All of the obnoxious coins I've accumulated. Give me some $1 bills! The lowest note here is £5, so there are coins for both £1 and £2. This starts to get annoying when I hold up a line because I'm digging around trying to find the right currency!
- My Thoresby House bed. I think everyone in the house would agree with this one! I'm sending Arcadia bills from my massage therapist and chiropractor.
- The lack of sunshine. I never want to see a rain drop or carry an umbrella ever again. Constant overcast, move over! It's time for REAL spring/summer in the U.S. of A.
- Being surrounded by British accents. I know, I know--I couldn't stop saying how I wanted to return home with an accent before I left to come to London. Now that I've been surrounded, it lost its appeal. I'll take good old American Taylor Lautner over Mr. Pattinson any day :)
Monday, April 12, 2010
8 Reasons Barcelona is the Perfect Spring Getaway:
1. The weather is absolutely gorgeous (it was around 75 degrees--maybe even higher--the whole time we were there).
2. The beach is very easily accessible and is on the Mediterranean Sea, which is very blue and beautiful. :)
3. There are loads of restaurants that have outside seating, making a delicious meal of tappas and endless pitchers of Sangria even more amazing.
4. The city center is an easy-to-get-to locale, so no matter where you stay (even if, like us, it's in a hostel at the complete edge of the city), a much needed vacation of relaxation is not altered by inconvenient travel.
5. You can return from the trip with a healthy looking summer glow before everyone else :) (or like me, with a nice reddish tint and awkward tan lines).
6. You can visit the Dow Jones bar, where the prices of drinks fluctuate just like the stock market. When it crashes, everything gets really cheap, so run to the bar and order as many drinks in as little time as possible before the market begins to redeem itself!
7. See a view of the whole city in all its glory from the top of a huge hill. The climb for us was really enjoyable due to the great weather/need to work off the calories from stopping at countless eateries all weekend.
8. Experience the height of football season (a.k.a. soccer if you're from America!). We happened to be there for the game of age-old rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid. Barca won, and the city went crazy!!
2. The beach is very easily accessible and is on the Mediterranean Sea, which is very blue and beautiful. :)
3. There are loads of restaurants that have outside seating, making a delicious meal of tappas and endless pitchers of Sangria even more amazing.
4. The city center is an easy-to-get-to locale, so no matter where you stay (even if, like us, it's in a hostel at the complete edge of the city), a much needed vacation of relaxation is not altered by inconvenient travel.
5. You can return from the trip with a healthy looking summer glow before everyone else :) (or like me, with a nice reddish tint and awkward tan lines).
6. You can visit the Dow Jones bar, where the prices of drinks fluctuate just like the stock market. When it crashes, everything gets really cheap, so run to the bar and order as many drinks in as little time as possible before the market begins to redeem itself!
7. See a view of the whole city in all its glory from the top of a huge hill. The climb for us was really enjoyable due to the great weather/need to work off the calories from stopping at countless eateries all weekend.
8. Experience the height of football season (a.k.a. soccer if you're from America!). We happened to be there for the game of age-old rivalry between Barcelona and Madrid. Barca won, and the city went crazy!!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Detour in Priorities
In an effort to take a break and do something more interesting than writing my 15-page research paper, I decided to turn to my never-ending summer internship search. These are the times when I wish I were a business major, so I would have had a secured position before I left to go across the world in January(except not really, because I might consider dropping out of college altogether if I ever had to take another accounting class).
Optimism, a quality I'd like to think is woven into my biology, is slowly declining. The downer is, I've lost count of how many resumes, cover letters, and writing samples I've sent and can very easily come up with a number for how many responses I've received in return. Everyone knows the job/internship market is tougher than ever, but I didn't think it would be this impossible!
Hoping to eventually hear some good news, I've been trying to stay on top of my game through updating my social media websites and reading about the latest trends in PR.
Become a follower on Twitter!
Become a connnection on LinkedIn!
I started the semester with the thought that by this point, I would already know where I would be for the summer. Now I'm just hoping to hear back by the beginning of June! Although it's SO frustrating, I can't give up yet; I just have to figure a way to make myself stand out!
Optimism, a quality I'd like to think is woven into my biology, is slowly declining. The downer is, I've lost count of how many resumes, cover letters, and writing samples I've sent and can very easily come up with a number for how many responses I've received in return. Everyone knows the job/internship market is tougher than ever, but I didn't think it would be this impossible!
Hoping to eventually hear some good news, I've been trying to stay on top of my game through updating my social media websites and reading about the latest trends in PR.
Become a follower on Twitter!
Become a connnection on LinkedIn!
I started the semester with the thought that by this point, I would already know where I would be for the summer. Now I'm just hoping to hear back by the beginning of June! Although it's SO frustrating, I can't give up yet; I just have to figure a way to make myself stand out!
Forgot the "Study" part of Study Abroad
I have been attending my classes and internship on a regular basis and completing weekly assignments for my online class, but I didn't expect all these final project deadlines to creep up so quickly. In a scramble to complete as much work as possible before leaving for Barcelona, I am wishing I would have worked ahead just a little. My justification: almost 3 months of purely enjoying London is worth 2 weeks of torture...let's see if I'm right.
More Visitors!!
All semester, I had been looking forward to a visit from my family. Both my Mom and Aunt Kara had a planned visit for the last weekend in March and for all the waiting I did, their visit flew by in what felt like no time!
While I relied on the Easy Bus to meet my friends at Stansted and Gatwick, I breathed a sigh of relief that I could just hop on the tube to meet my fam at Heathrow. I guess I should have left earlier because there were delays on the Piccadilly line, which caused my mother to panic and send a page over the intercom throughout the entire airport--good start right?
We had so much fun for the four days they were here. We hit all the same spots as when Marie, Kenny, and Jen were in London and added a few extras along the way. One of my favorites was going to see Abbey Road and reenacting The Beatles' famous album cover (the pictures turned out to be pretty entertaining, if I do say so myself).
With the age gaps between the three of us (we're each 13 years apart), the choice of what to do at night was...interesting. We ended up taking a taxi to Leicester Square after dinner to find a place suitable for all of us. This was harder than it sounds, but the bouncers ouside one place insisted inside was a decent mix of people, so we settled (and mostly did a lot of convincing of my mom). It actually ended up to be a lot of fun!
The last night of their visit, we went to Aladin, an Indian restaurant on Brick Lane. The atmosphere was very cool, and the food was really good too! In celebration of Mom's birthday (which is actually today :]), we asked the waiter if they had a typical birthday dessert. When the lights in the restaurant turned off, we expected a cake, but they instead brought out this crazy contraption with candles that opened and closed and sang Happy Birthday--different but definitely cool, and my mom even got to take it home with her!
The visit was much needed, and I never stopped laughing the whole time they were here. It made me miss the rest of my family. I don't want to wish away the rest of my time in Europe, but it's a good thing home isn't too far away.
While I relied on the Easy Bus to meet my friends at Stansted and Gatwick, I breathed a sigh of relief that I could just hop on the tube to meet my fam at Heathrow. I guess I should have left earlier because there were delays on the Piccadilly line, which caused my mother to panic and send a page over the intercom throughout the entire airport--good start right?
We had so much fun for the four days they were here. We hit all the same spots as when Marie, Kenny, and Jen were in London and added a few extras along the way. One of my favorites was going to see Abbey Road and reenacting The Beatles' famous album cover (the pictures turned out to be pretty entertaining, if I do say so myself).
With the age gaps between the three of us (we're each 13 years apart), the choice of what to do at night was...interesting. We ended up taking a taxi to Leicester Square after dinner to find a place suitable for all of us. This was harder than it sounds, but the bouncers ouside one place insisted inside was a decent mix of people, so we settled (and mostly did a lot of convincing of my mom). It actually ended up to be a lot of fun!
The last night of their visit, we went to Aladin, an Indian restaurant on Brick Lane. The atmosphere was very cool, and the food was really good too! In celebration of Mom's birthday (which is actually today :]), we asked the waiter if they had a typical birthday dessert. When the lights in the restaurant turned off, we expected a cake, but they instead brought out this crazy contraption with candles that opened and closed and sang Happy Birthday--different but definitely cool, and my mom even got to take it home with her!
The visit was much needed, and I never stopped laughing the whole time they were here. It made me miss the rest of my family. I don't want to wish away the rest of my time in Europe, but it's a good thing home isn't too far away.
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