Life

Hey there,

I’m just chillin in the British Museum right now. Just got done with work and figured I’d pop by because it’s right next door. Saw the Rosetta Stone! Check. It’s amazing, the same description was written in three different languages, one being hyroglyphics and another in Greek. They were able to decipher because of the cartouches signifying names. Amazing.

There is so much here I think I will have to come back sometime. I’m noticing that all the museums I go to are dedicated or opened by “her majesty the queen.” Always says that somewhere in big letters.

TGIF. Though work has been going really well. I’ve been getting plenty of clips lately – easy when I only have to write 300-500 words for each piece. Today I wrote a story on Tony Hadley and a popular British band called Spandau Ballet. Heard of them? Me neither. Apparently they are big here, there was an article about them in the Times the other day.

The other night was the Plus Awards. Along with running the online magazine, Three’s A Crowd also organizes and runs events. This one was for businesses in the area to give out annual awards for things like “best chairman” or “best accountant of the year” and whatnot.

Everything was done to the nines – immaculate table settings, goodie bags, a champagne reception, and celebrity guests like actor Dougray Scott from Mission Impossible. And Tony Hadley performed his hits from the eighties.

I was invited to come along and help. My only concern was finding something that fit the description “black tie” for I left all my ball gowns at home. Lucky I have Glenna here to help me prepare and I managed to pull it off. Here’s a pic…

So I helped preset and when the champagne reception started and all the men in suits and women in beautiful dresses started pouring in I had the job of selling raffle tickets with another girl named Faith.

I wore a white glove and held a tester bottle of the world’s most expensive perfume in one hand and in the other raffle tickets to sell for charity. It was great – nearly everyone I asked bought a ticket regardless of them being kinda expensive at 10 pounds. I guess these people can afford it.

Plus, if you won – you get a set of the world’s most expensive perfume. It’s by Clive Christian and would cost 1,000 pounds! Wowzers. It permeated everything I wore…to be honest I don’t like the smell, way too strong and I had to scrub it off my arm.

People loved talking to me because of my accent. It’s weird to think I’m the one here who has the accent and not the other way around. I met a few people who had been to the Boston area and I got to complain about how no one here is a Sox fan – there are too many people wearing Yankees paraphanelia. Once Alex pointed it out to me, it’s all I see. Thus far, I’ve only seen two Red Sox hats. It makes me smile.

I ended up selling 415 pounds worth of raffle tickets. We raised 1,150 total for Leuka. To celebrate, we each had a glass of champagne after. Then I was just about to relax and watch the award presentation when one of the girls running the event pointed at me and was like, Anna I have a job for you. So she grabs me and head up to the stage. She points to a box filled with the awards they were about to give out and said, “Well, they are going to need these so you can just hand them out when you get the cue. Sorry to just throw this at you!”

Hahaha. So I got to be Vanna White and hand out the awards to the presenter who would hand it to the company or person that won.

When that ended, Tony Hadley came to perform and I grabbed a free seat at the front of the room. I’ll post a pic of him when I can. I did recognize one of his songs, True, so I wasn’t at a total loss. He’s quite the performer and really got into singing along to the background soundtrack cause there was no band. The women at the tables LOVED him. It was fun to watch.

Overall it was a great experience and I got a chance to get to know the people I work with a bit better. Everyone was yawning in the office the next afternoon.

As far as classes go – I’m taking a British Sociology of Education class every Monday with only two other students in the class. On the plus side, it forces me to do work and pay attention. (I should do at least a little work while I’m in London.) On the downside, it has been very tough to get through sometimes because it can be dry and the class is four hours long. It has been getting better lately.

I don’t think I told you but I moved in with Glenna and Robin because they have a spare guest bedroom – it was getting tough to get sleep in the quad. There is just not enough space for four people. I was getting way too run down from being woken up in the bunkbed every night and living in constant filth that comes from four messy girls with no space. Anyway, what I was going say is that now that I’m getting sleep I can actually get through the class without feeling completely exhausted. I’m getting more out of it now and have a lot to contribute to our debates about education. So, that’s good.

Also, there is more news on the job front! I’ve been trying to send at least a few emails a day out to people I know asking about who’s hiring. After a month of doing this – I’ve found a couple openings. I’ve applied for a paid marketing internship at BU and have an interview scheduled for when I get back to Boston!! ☺ I also applied to be Coordinator of the COM Ambassador Program and have a phone interview on Tuesday. I am DETERMINED to find a job for this summer. All this research and emailing is so I can actually find something that pays that is in my field. I know waitressing is always an option but these jobs can actually go on my resume. And they are in Boston at BU.
Now if I can only get Alex to start looking for jobs…

Also, last weekend I went to visit Paris again. There were still more things on my list that I wanted to see. I’m sure you’ve probably already seen the pictures posted on Facebook, but I should probably share my thoughts too. I think I’ll make a separate post for that to fill you in.

So, what’s on the list for the next week or so?

Monday – Theater to see “Enjoy” and have a school field trip to visit a few academies

Tuesday – Job interview with COM

Friday – Oxford for the Lit Festival for a day with Glenna and Robin

Sunday – Register for classes

Monday 4/6 – 9 months together with Alex

Thursday – GREECE

There is much to look forward to. I come back to Boston on April 24th and my weekends are all booked! It’s crazy how little time left there is, I’ve made a list of the stuff I want to do or see.

Oh yeah, I found out where I’m living next year too. 100 Mountfort Street in South Campus with my friend Liza (from 4th floor frosh year) and Vivian (Daily Free Press friend). We each have our own singles in an apartment. I am very pleased.

Sorry, all my posts are so long. It’s just that there is so much going on! I hope you all aren’t missing me too much. Please comment because it makes me happy!



Much love,
A

Good deed? Check.

You are never gonna believe this but I helped a little old lady cross the street today. It was so cute!

I was walking down Gloucester Road and it was very windy. She flagged me down and asked for help. Adorable. So we crossed the street and I offered to walk with her the rest of the way to her flat arm-in-arm.

Her name is Bernadette and was very impressed that I was from Boston.

"Ooooo where the Kennedys live! It's like the royal family!"

Good deed is done.

Video = Paris

Mom's Visit!

I’d been looking forward to this visit for a very long time. After work I caught the tube to meet mom at the airport as she came out of the gate. To get her attention I yelled “MOM” and of course she comes over starting to tear up. Which gets me to tear up. Hahaha, we are both saps.

And so the visit begins. We headed to Glenna’s to unpack and unwind. Got in around 10:30 which wasn’t bad. Had some nosh and went to bed.

The next morning we got together with her friends to have lunch at a pub and go to see Billy Elliot! The back story of these friends is, Mom has a group of women she met on her study abroad in London who she still keeps in touch with. They go on annual trips and this year it was London.

And yes, I will take credit for this trip because I was the inspiration for everyone to go!

Billy Elliot was amazing. I couldn’t believe the dancing from everyone in the cast. Plus the blocking, costumes, and set was just…so fun to look at. Pieces of the set rise and fall coming out of trap doors in the floor. Mom, care to share your thoughts?

The next day was a trip Anne Donohue (on of my COM profs and Mom’s good friend) planned to tour the BBC.So, we met at the pub and then headed over to the studio. We got special badges and passed through security into where they tape the radio World News broadcast.

It was not what I expected at all! When listening to the BBC, it sounds seamless and flows perfectly. When we were taken inside the studio they were writing the script as they were on air. The producer was squabbling with the other sound people trying to get everything in place.

At one point Owen (what’s his last name) the broadcaster, just started going off talking on his own and one of the ladies was astonished being like – What is he doing?! And the producer said, oh don’t worry about it he’s so good at filling time he just does his own thing. Hahha. Also, a moroccan journalist was in the studio and they just put him in for a quick two minute interview. Jeez, they just seem to throw it together.

So that is was what being a radio journalist is like. Hmmm. I don’t think I could handle it. With print, you are able to go back and check over your work and it’s not as much improvisation.

We truly did get the VIP treatment on the tour because they showed us the building, chatted with some producers of the program and got to actually view the broadcast. At the end, they gave us a goodie bag of cds, books, and pamphlets.

The destination from there was Greenwich, the old stomping ground of Mom and her friends. It’s small with lots of cozy shops and has a HUGE green park with an observatory at the top of the hill that we walked up. We saw the prime meridian line. Kinda cool

At their old home, the door was locked but the dining hall was next door and a construction worker let us into the house. I was the photographer during the duration of this trip because at every corner there was a landmark or something they had to get photos of. ;)

Afterward, we grabbed a drink at the King’s Arms and got a few little things at the marketplace. I got a couple colorful rings and mom got a card that had a map of Greenwich on it.

On the ride home we decided where to go to dinner, it was a place on High Street Kensington but now I forget the name. Anyway, it was the feast for the gods, with candlelighting a huge woodentable and very english dishes of lamb and breadpudding. I was absolutely stuffed and everyone was in tears laughing by the end of the night.

Since it was Mom’s friends’ last night in town we headed back to their hotel to see the slideshow Anne had made of all their trips over the years. She put it to music, and despite all the disclaimers, it was fabulous! A great end to their visit.

We got home at midnight. I’m glad mom got in such a full day of activity here. That’s what you do – rally!

The next morning I slept in while Mom and Glenna went out for a walk. The mornings here in London are so sunny and beautiful – I’d say it’s when it’s the warmest out. Sometimes I just can’t seem to pull myself out of bed though.

During the afternoon we went to the John Soane museum that is right down the street from where I work. It’s like the Stuart Gardener museum – it is his house and every inch of it is filled with art. There are sculptures everywhere, you can get up close, and it is fun to wander.

The next day we went out walking around town. The first stop was Tower of London. See pics for more. I’ll have to ellaborate on this visit when I have more energy. It was the most fun tour I’ve taken on study abroad thus far, and I want to do it justice in my writing.

Afterward we searched for Blackfriars pub without luck, got coffee, and headed to Trafalgar Sq to the National Gallery. Beautfiul Monets, Van Goghs, Reniors…I am going to go back soon. Plus I bought a Renoir print to bring home. ☺

Monday – class. Wah wah. Before hand, Mom and Glenna helped me move my stuff out of the flat at Lexham and into Glenna’s house. I’m making it my homebase just because it’s more comfortable and I can get better sleep there. The cramped quad was starting to get to me a bit.

So now I’m all settled and feel extremely relaxed. It’s a good feeling. We got sushi at this place in South Ken that has a conveyor belt with all the dishes that go around the tables. You pay by the color of the dish. It was fun!

Later that evening we also went out to dinner to celebrate Mom’s last night here in London. Glenna and Robin are members of a country club down the road and we walked there. It was so nice out and very quiet. We crossed a bridge over a brook and went through a winding path up to the facility. They were closed for dinner but we had a drink in the menagerie! So fancy! It’s like greenhouse with chairs.

Then we went to a nice chinese place down the road. It’s getting me hungry just thinking about it.

The next day we spent the morning together. Mom gave me a haircut outside like old times. ☺ Such a relaxing visit. We got to see just enough. I feel refreshed now and like my experience here has changed for the better.

<3 A

Tower of London Video

I'M SO BEHIND!

DISCLAIMER:

The following entries were written so late because I have been in a state of nonstop activity and hosting. Also, I know I can write better and in more descriptive detail, but this is the best I can do for now just to get everything down chronologically before it's too late and I forget. Pictures and video are still to come. Thanks for your patience.


Hey Everybody,

SO MUCH has happened since my last post. Everyday I've been saying how I NEED to blog because I've been out seeing so much art and theater and having so many adventures. It's time to share.

LIZA AND MARTIN'S VISIT -

Two weekends ago my friends from school Liza and Martin came to stay with me in London at the flat. Martin got in late thursday evening after a hiccup of a tube signal failure that took me two hours to meet him at the airport. UGH. We got home to find my roomates at a dinner party so we grabbed some cider and a bottle of wine to relax.

The next morning I had work so Martin went to the British Museum to walk around and explore. Afterward, I met Liza at the train station and we headed back to the flat. I felt bad, but that night I really needed to plan my trip to Greece with the guys upstairs so while I did that they went out to get some british fish and chips down the road.

SO it's booked! I am officially going to Greece April 9th-13th. It's a three day CRUISE through the islands. The first day we fly into Athens, spend the night and the next morning we catch the cruise and head to Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos, and then Kusadasi, Turkey!! It really is a trip of a lifetime. The weather here had been so warm lately, I can't imagine what it'll be like in Greece in April. I'm very happy I decided to book even though it is a bit expensive when compared to other weekend trip destinations.

After finally booking we went out to celebrate with Martin and headed to Picadilly Circus to Sports Cafe. It was meh, danced a bit and got to hang out.

The next day we walked all over London. Started at the Burough Market which is my new favorite spot. I've been going there Saturday mornings because it is HUGE and has all these vendors with everything from fresh fish, cheese, bread, jams, etc. And many stands have free samples. When we went it was mobbed with people. Afterward we had the opportunity to see St. Paul's Cathedral, and walk down the wobbly bridge to the Tate Modern and Globe Theater. From there we walked down the river (got a vanilla softserve) to London Bridge. I kinda wanted to see if we could go inside the Gurkin (spelling?) - it's the egg shaped building London is famous for. It was closed when we got up to it but we were still able to take some pics close up. From there we walked down Tower Bride to the state house building.

It's free to explore the walkway at the top, and it has beautiful views of the river and the bridge. We asked a nice old spanish man to take a photo of us but he must have never used a camera before because he held it backwards and then upside down.

By this point my feet were killing me and I was about to crash from staying up late and then walking around all day so I headed back to the flat to nap and cook some dinner while Martin, Liza, and Jon went out shopping. We had a nice meal of greek chicken - my new favorite dish to make from the cookbook mom wrote down for me for xmas. I've made it at least three times now!

That night Martin read off the list of options for going out and we decided on a place called Village Soho. Martin described it as a chill place to go before heading out to the real party. Turns out this place was pretty crazy - good experience for my first gay bar. The makeup on some of those boys...wow.

On Sunday I had already been signed up for a social program trip to Oxford and Blenheim Palace for the day. Both Liza and Martin went off into the city to explore and do their own things.

Blenheim Palace was unbelievable. It is the only privately owned palace and is where Winston Churchill was born. It is home to the Duke of Marlborough who actually lives there even though the other half the the palace is used for tours. It is where the movie Young Victoria (just released here starring Emma Blunt) was filmed instead of Buckingham Palace. On wednesday I saw the movie with Martin and recognized everything! I was just there! The palace gardens are probably my favorite part, but it was raining when me and Katie were out there exploring. We still got some good pictures out of it though! I'll post them.

Oxford is half an hour away from the palace so that's where we headed next on the coach bus. Our tour guide explained to us the history as we drove. So many prime ministers have attended university there...

It is absolutely beautiful. The whole town looks like a castle. It's like Harry Potter. And speaking of, Katie and I decided it was worth it to spend a couple pounds to enter Christ Church to see the courtyard and great hall where the HP movies were filmed. Walking around it was amazing because the sun came out and we even saw a rainbow. On the way back we stopped at the Eagle and Child for a pint. It's the pub where CS Lewis and Toilken met to discuss their books together. I loved it!

On the bus ride home I read through the Greece travel books I took out from the library. It was a very good day.

That night we went out to Tiger Tiger because it is free on sundays. It was probably the most fun I've had out at a club in a very long time. Tons of ridiculous dancing and Britney music, it really doesn't get much better than that.

Monday Liza and I work up early to walk around Hyde Park in the sunshine. We got a chance to talk and relax before her trip home on the train and before I had class.

Tuesday - work...can't remember what else...

Wednesday - went shopping with Martin at High Street Kensington and saw Young Victoria. Then I packed at met mom at the airport!


<3 A

More Video from Alex's Visit

Sorry, I never posted this - but it makes me laugh every time. I'll add more videos to this post later.

Here's Alex feeding the birds at Hyde Park.