The newest issue of 'This Is London' is out, and while my name isn't on anything, I proofread that entire thing AND I rewrote some of the stories (which are given to us as press releases and we turn into articles).
Check it out! www.til.com :)
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Just An Update!
I know I just posted on Sunday, but I felt like writing. And I probably won't have internet access all weekend, so I suppose I should get it all in now! And a sidenote, I'm practising my British spelling, since I have to use it for the magazine. So Mum, you can proofread my blogs and inform me of my mistakes.
Monday morning we went to Brixton Market, since we are required to visit two or three markets for our British Experience Seminar. Mark, our programme director, lives in Brixton, a neighborhood about 15 minute south of where we live, and told us that the market was very interesting and worth a visit. He was most certainly right about the interesting part. Brixton has a sizable Afro-Carribean population, and is considered to be a very trendy and up-and-coming area. The market stretched across probably three streets, starting just outside the tube station. There were a lot of fruit and veg (the English say veg instead of vegetables) vendors, a few clothing and jewellery stands, and some very interesting stands of which I would consider junk, but I suppose are someone else's treasures. The not so fun part of the market were the meat shops that lined the streets. Chickens hanging with their heads still on, full-sized pigs on display, fish that looked only just dead. That was nearly bad enough, but the smell sent us over the edge. Needless to say, we hurried through that part of the market. Towards the end, the smell of Carribean food and curry took over, which was ten thousand times more appealing. Before heading back to Vandon we stopped at Iceland, a very cheap grocery.
It was properly raining Tuesday morning, and it was so cold. Tuesday was my first real day of work--I felt like such a grown-up Londoner with my trench, black trousers, and black umbrella! Holly and I met Julie and Beth at 10 at Stratford, and then we drove to the 'office.' The office, which is really called the Stour Space, is on Fish Island, and right outside the window is this little canal on which boats sail up and down--it's just such a nice work view. Beth and Julie told us all about press releases, showed us how to do subbings, gave us the proof of the magazine for next week, and much more, all over a cup of tea of course. Then they sent us off to do some very exciting errands and with some writing/editing to do in the afternoon. We first got to go a press viewing of a new exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. It felt so strange to write down my name next to the magazine in order to go to a first showing of something in London. The exhibit is called the Golden Spider Silk, and it's basically these garments that were woven in Madagascar from the silk produced by these rare spiders. The garments were on display, and there was a video explaining the process. It was really cool, but the funny thing was that Julie had told us that they weren't really bothered with the display; they just wanted the magazine's name on record with the museum so they were more likely to buy an ad. So Holly and I pretended to be interested for twenty minutes before quietly slipping out. Then we had to go to Royal Albert Hall in order to pick up an information packet, which is only a quick walk from the museum. I do not want to know how much a ticket to see something there would be. Then we went back to Vandon for some lunch, and then I spent my afternoon editing the magazine proof for next week and rewriting press release articles. Honestly, I was in heaven-I loved every moment of the day. Then to top it off, Beth had gotten us free tickets for that evening to go see The Ladykillers in Piccadilly Circus. It's a show based on an old English comedy film about this little old lady who unknowingly has five robbers staying as boarders in her house. It was quite funny--it was very much British humour though.
Today I had my work placement again. We met with Beth briefly this morning, and she gave us one place to go and a small editing task for the afternoon. We had to go to St. John's Square to pick up some information and then put it in the post to their advertising staff, who is really an 80 year old woman named Ruth, who no one will apparently say no to. Beth told us to get off at Victoria and gave us directions to walk to the square from the station. We didn't get lost, but Victoria was a really, really long ways from where we were going, as in a forty five minute walk, and then a fifteen minute walk back to Vandon. There were probably three other tube stops that would have been closer, but I guess we got to see much more of the city by walking. So I'm not complaining, although my feet are. Tonight we're going to Les Miserables with the programme, which should be good. Tomorrow I actually have class from 9-4, and then I'm taking the train to Jenny's for the weekend.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks in London, and I'm really interested to see how my life here unfolds. It's really odd to me that I really only have things to do three days a week, with my work placement Tuesdays and Wednesdays and classes on Thursdays. The next two weekends Mum will be here, but after that is up for grabs. We have a weekend in Bath with the program in February, and I already know of two weekends in which friends from Wales will be visiting. I'm hoping to go there at least once or twice as well. I'm also hoping to go to Derby, and Paris is the one place that I have to see-I will be heartbroken if it doesn't work out for a second time. Otherwise, I am happy to stay in the UK-everyone else has grand travel plans across Europe, and while it would be nice, I am somewhat trying to save my pennies. Plus, my crazy dream is that I'll find some extremely wealthy British boy who will buy me a proper English cottage in the countryside, I will be a ridiculously good book editor, I'll be able to fly back and forth between the States and England whenever I want, and I'll have holidays in Malta and Thailand all the time. Seriously, that would be the life. I'll let you know how that one works out.
Anyway. I suppose I should have some supper before we go to the theatre. Have a lovely day!
much love
Lucy
Monday morning we went to Brixton Market, since we are required to visit two or three markets for our British Experience Seminar. Mark, our programme director, lives in Brixton, a neighborhood about 15 minute south of where we live, and told us that the market was very interesting and worth a visit. He was most certainly right about the interesting part. Brixton has a sizable Afro-Carribean population, and is considered to be a very trendy and up-and-coming area. The market stretched across probably three streets, starting just outside the tube station. There were a lot of fruit and veg (the English say veg instead of vegetables) vendors, a few clothing and jewellery stands, and some very interesting stands of which I would consider junk, but I suppose are someone else's treasures. The not so fun part of the market were the meat shops that lined the streets. Chickens hanging with their heads still on, full-sized pigs on display, fish that looked only just dead. That was nearly bad enough, but the smell sent us over the edge. Needless to say, we hurried through that part of the market. Towards the end, the smell of Carribean food and curry took over, which was ten thousand times more appealing. Before heading back to Vandon we stopped at Iceland, a very cheap grocery.
It was properly raining Tuesday morning, and it was so cold. Tuesday was my first real day of work--I felt like such a grown-up Londoner with my trench, black trousers, and black umbrella! Holly and I met Julie and Beth at 10 at Stratford, and then we drove to the 'office.' The office, which is really called the Stour Space, is on Fish Island, and right outside the window is this little canal on which boats sail up and down--it's just such a nice work view. Beth and Julie told us all about press releases, showed us how to do subbings, gave us the proof of the magazine for next week, and much more, all over a cup of tea of course. Then they sent us off to do some very exciting errands and with some writing/editing to do in the afternoon. We first got to go a press viewing of a new exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington. It felt so strange to write down my name next to the magazine in order to go to a first showing of something in London. The exhibit is called the Golden Spider Silk, and it's basically these garments that were woven in Madagascar from the silk produced by these rare spiders. The garments were on display, and there was a video explaining the process. It was really cool, but the funny thing was that Julie had told us that they weren't really bothered with the display; they just wanted the magazine's name on record with the museum so they were more likely to buy an ad. So Holly and I pretended to be interested for twenty minutes before quietly slipping out. Then we had to go to Royal Albert Hall in order to pick up an information packet, which is only a quick walk from the museum. I do not want to know how much a ticket to see something there would be. Then we went back to Vandon for some lunch, and then I spent my afternoon editing the magazine proof for next week and rewriting press release articles. Honestly, I was in heaven-I loved every moment of the day. Then to top it off, Beth had gotten us free tickets for that evening to go see The Ladykillers in Piccadilly Circus. It's a show based on an old English comedy film about this little old lady who unknowingly has five robbers staying as boarders in her house. It was quite funny--it was very much British humour though.
Today I had my work placement again. We met with Beth briefly this morning, and she gave us one place to go and a small editing task for the afternoon. We had to go to St. John's Square to pick up some information and then put it in the post to their advertising staff, who is really an 80 year old woman named Ruth, who no one will apparently say no to. Beth told us to get off at Victoria and gave us directions to walk to the square from the station. We didn't get lost, but Victoria was a really, really long ways from where we were going, as in a forty five minute walk, and then a fifteen minute walk back to Vandon. There were probably three other tube stops that would have been closer, but I guess we got to see much more of the city by walking. So I'm not complaining, although my feet are. Tonight we're going to Les Miserables with the programme, which should be good. Tomorrow I actually have class from 9-4, and then I'm taking the train to Jenny's for the weekend.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks in London, and I'm really interested to see how my life here unfolds. It's really odd to me that I really only have things to do three days a week, with my work placement Tuesdays and Wednesdays and classes on Thursdays. The next two weekends Mum will be here, but after that is up for grabs. We have a weekend in Bath with the program in February, and I already know of two weekends in which friends from Wales will be visiting. I'm hoping to go there at least once or twice as well. I'm also hoping to go to Derby, and Paris is the one place that I have to see-I will be heartbroken if it doesn't work out for a second time. Otherwise, I am happy to stay in the UK-everyone else has grand travel plans across Europe, and while it would be nice, I am somewhat trying to save my pennies. Plus, my crazy dream is that I'll find some extremely wealthy British boy who will buy me a proper English cottage in the countryside, I will be a ridiculously good book editor, I'll be able to fly back and forth between the States and England whenever I want, and I'll have holidays in Malta and Thailand all the time. Seriously, that would be the life. I'll let you know how that one works out.
Anyway. I suppose I should have some supper before we go to the theatre. Have a lovely day!
much love
Lucy
Sunday, January 22, 2012
City Life
I have officially been at Vandon for a week! Time is already flying by, as I knew it would. So here goes.
Tuesday morning we had an intercultural training session with a woman from Scotland. It...could have been really good. She had some really great points but it lasted so long, and everyone was still so tired. That afternoon I had my advising appointment, and then the programme took us out for pizza and bowling. I thought that seemed a little too American for London, but it turned out to be really fun. Quite a few of us went to a pub afterwards, which was a good way for everyone to relax and finally open up.
Wednesday was my internship interview/meeting/whatever you want to call it. Another girl found out last minute that she is at the same place at me, so we went together. We took the tube to the centre of the new Olympic Park, where the magazine's temporary offices are. We were early, so we wandered around the new shopping centre there and looked around a bit. Then we met Julie, who I guess you could call our boss. She is adorable. The Olympic Park area is currently a restricted area (which apparently means we can't walk around..?) so she drove us to the office. Their office is actually just in a community work space, which is something I learned about in my entrepreneurship class last semester. It's this really hip/trendy renovated industrial building that small businesses and entrepreneurs can pay a daily or monthly fee to use. There was an art gallery and a cafe, where Julie took us for tea. The magazine is actually run by Julie and her daughter Beth (whose real name is actually Lucy Elizabeth--crazy!), who is actually only a year older than I am. And...they write the entire thing. They have a team that does ad sales and a company prints it for them, but the writing and layout is all them, which I think is amazing. It is a small magazine, but it runs once every two weeks. Anyway, Holly (the other girl from Central) and I had a lovely chat with the pair of them. Then they took us into Central London for a couple of errands for the magazine, which included picking up a packet from Wigmore Hall (a major concert hall) and dropping something off at the bank. Then Beth took us to lunch at Pret, a nice sandwich shop, and then she decided she just had to walk us through Selfridges, an extremely high end department store. And that was my day. It was completely not what I had expected, but I'm more than excited to work with them. Holly and I will be doing different things every week, from running errands to going to shows and festivals to writing articles (that will be published!!!). I really am looking forward to it.
Thursday Abby and I took some of the other girls shopping at Oxford Street. Actually, they overslept so we went to Covent Garden first and had lunch. We just sat on the curb, eating our sandwiches, hanging out in Covent Garden like it was no big deal. Then we went to Oxford Street. It was a lot of fun, but so exhausting! That evening one of the boys had this whole big surprise walk planned, so I went just for the fun of it. There were eight of us I think. We ended up getting off at Millennium Bridge, which has a beautiful skyline view of the city. I had my first yay London! moment..finally. The city at night always gets me. Then we went to a couple of historical pubs on the South Bank--it was a good evening.
Friday we had our first British Experience seminar at Birkbeck College, which is part of the University of London. They gave us a quick tour of the Student Union, and then we were back to Vandon for our scavenger hunt around the city. I was in a group with two sophomore boys, and it went pretty well. We had to go to Brick Lane in the East End, up to St. Pancras Station, back to St. Paul's Cathedral, down to Hamley's toy shop, over to South Kensington to the Natural History Museum, and back to Vandon House. I am happy to say I got us on all the right trains and to all the right places. The only issue came at the very end, when there was a signal failure at one station that caused two entire tube lines to be shut down. So we detoured back, but only ended up being ten minutes late. And just to brag, MY TEAM WON. That's right. We have a cash prize coming next week and I'm more than a little proud of the three of us! That evening we went out to the pub at the Student Union at the University of London, which was a lot of fun. We had quite the adventure figuring out the bus system on the way back, but we made it safely.
Saturday was a very lazy day; I think Abby and I only left our room to have lunch and to make supper. Today we made lunch and then decided to wander around the parks. We are literally less than five minutes walk from Buckingham Palace, so all of the parks are right there. We walked through St. James Park, had coffee, and then rented bikes and rode all through Hyde Park. It was lovely--and since it's only a pound to rent a bike for the day, I will definitely be going back.
I have one sad note for the week. Mum called me on Saturday to let me know that my Grandad, her dad, had passed away that morning. I was planning on going to see him with Aunt Jenny this weekend, which made it even harder to hear. Jenny said that it was all very peaceful, and it probably was time. He hadn't been well for a long time, and he wasn't going to get better. Still. So Mum will be coming to England this weekend, and the funeral will be sometime that following week. It's definitely not the reason I wanted her to have to come, but it's one of those mixed blessing things.
I'm sorry that this was so long and a lot of information at once, but I'm trying to keep everyone updated on everything. Hope all is well with you, wherever you are in the world :)
much love
Lucy
Tuesday morning we had an intercultural training session with a woman from Scotland. It...could have been really good. She had some really great points but it lasted so long, and everyone was still so tired. That afternoon I had my advising appointment, and then the programme took us out for pizza and bowling. I thought that seemed a little too American for London, but it turned out to be really fun. Quite a few of us went to a pub afterwards, which was a good way for everyone to relax and finally open up.
Wednesday was my internship interview/meeting/whatever you want to call it. Another girl found out last minute that she is at the same place at me, so we went together. We took the tube to the centre of the new Olympic Park, where the magazine's temporary offices are. We were early, so we wandered around the new shopping centre there and looked around a bit. Then we met Julie, who I guess you could call our boss. She is adorable. The Olympic Park area is currently a restricted area (which apparently means we can't walk around..?) so she drove us to the office. Their office is actually just in a community work space, which is something I learned about in my entrepreneurship class last semester. It's this really hip/trendy renovated industrial building that small businesses and entrepreneurs can pay a daily or monthly fee to use. There was an art gallery and a cafe, where Julie took us for tea. The magazine is actually run by Julie and her daughter Beth (whose real name is actually Lucy Elizabeth--crazy!), who is actually only a year older than I am. And...they write the entire thing. They have a team that does ad sales and a company prints it for them, but the writing and layout is all them, which I think is amazing. It is a small magazine, but it runs once every two weeks. Anyway, Holly (the other girl from Central) and I had a lovely chat with the pair of them. Then they took us into Central London for a couple of errands for the magazine, which included picking up a packet from Wigmore Hall (a major concert hall) and dropping something off at the bank. Then Beth took us to lunch at Pret, a nice sandwich shop, and then she decided she just had to walk us through Selfridges, an extremely high end department store. And that was my day. It was completely not what I had expected, but I'm more than excited to work with them. Holly and I will be doing different things every week, from running errands to going to shows and festivals to writing articles (that will be published!!!). I really am looking forward to it.
Thursday Abby and I took some of the other girls shopping at Oxford Street. Actually, they overslept so we went to Covent Garden first and had lunch. We just sat on the curb, eating our sandwiches, hanging out in Covent Garden like it was no big deal. Then we went to Oxford Street. It was a lot of fun, but so exhausting! That evening one of the boys had this whole big surprise walk planned, so I went just for the fun of it. There were eight of us I think. We ended up getting off at Millennium Bridge, which has a beautiful skyline view of the city. I had my first yay London! moment..finally. The city at night always gets me. Then we went to a couple of historical pubs on the South Bank--it was a good evening.
Friday we had our first British Experience seminar at Birkbeck College, which is part of the University of London. They gave us a quick tour of the Student Union, and then we were back to Vandon for our scavenger hunt around the city. I was in a group with two sophomore boys, and it went pretty well. We had to go to Brick Lane in the East End, up to St. Pancras Station, back to St. Paul's Cathedral, down to Hamley's toy shop, over to South Kensington to the Natural History Museum, and back to Vandon House. I am happy to say I got us on all the right trains and to all the right places. The only issue came at the very end, when there was a signal failure at one station that caused two entire tube lines to be shut down. So we detoured back, but only ended up being ten minutes late. And just to brag, MY TEAM WON. That's right. We have a cash prize coming next week and I'm more than a little proud of the three of us! That evening we went out to the pub at the Student Union at the University of London, which was a lot of fun. We had quite the adventure figuring out the bus system on the way back, but we made it safely.
Saturday was a very lazy day; I think Abby and I only left our room to have lunch and to make supper. Today we made lunch and then decided to wander around the parks. We are literally less than five minutes walk from Buckingham Palace, so all of the parks are right there. We walked through St. James Park, had coffee, and then rented bikes and rode all through Hyde Park. It was lovely--and since it's only a pound to rent a bike for the day, I will definitely be going back.
I have one sad note for the week. Mum called me on Saturday to let me know that my Grandad, her dad, had passed away that morning. I was planning on going to see him with Aunt Jenny this weekend, which made it even harder to hear. Jenny said that it was all very peaceful, and it probably was time. He hadn't been well for a long time, and he wasn't going to get better. Still. So Mum will be coming to England this weekend, and the funeral will be sometime that following week. It's definitely not the reason I wanted her to have to come, but it's one of those mixed blessing things.
I'm sorry that this was so long and a lot of information at once, but I'm trying to keep everyone updated on everything. Hope all is well with you, wherever you are in the world :)
much love
Lucy
Monday, January 16, 2012
London Calling
Hello from London!
I arrived safely on Thursday; I had very smooth flights and my Aunt Jenny was right there at the airport to pick me up. We went straight to her house where I had a shower, food, and a nap in that order. I had forgotten how cozy and warm Jenny's house is--she lives in a small village called West Ewell, just south of London. She more than spoiled me with constant cups of tea, good meals, and so much more. She had to work on Friday so I had the day to be lazy and get over my jetlag. That evening we went for a pub meal, and I had sticky toffee pudding which is one of my favorites! And Mum, you'll be happy to know that we watched a lot of the British version of House Hunters...so we were probably having a very similar Friday night to you :) Saturday we went shopping in Epsom (a nearby town) for a few things and then attempted to go to Richmond Park, but all of the carparks were totally full. So instead I got a lovely car tour of the park (it's massive!) and then we walked along the Thames in a little place called Ham. By the way, the weather has been beautiful. It's chilly, but the sun has been shining every single day. Saturday night my uncle and a couple of friends came to Jenny's for the night, as they were going hiking nearby the next day. We had a lazy Sunday morning and then I packed up all of my things (it's amazing how spread out you can become in just a few days) and headed into Central London. We had a bit of a change of plans in order to get there (thank you, British Rail..) but we made it. Jenny's friend Manju came as well, which was so kind of both of them as they helped with my luggage. After we dropped my things off at Vandon House we had tea at a nearby cafe and then they headed back home. I got back to Vandon just in time for our initial orientation and then a pub meal with everyone in the program. We met both of our directors, Jen and Mark, who both seem wonderful so far. There are 34 students in the program, and everyone seems nice so far. Most of them are very young, in fact one girl is only 18, so I feel a little bit old! And, as I've been to England before, I've been asked question after question. I don't mind though--it's nice to share about a place I love. Abby, my roommate here, arrived late Sunday night, so we unpacked and organized our little room. They had us up bright and early today (which was worse for everyone else, since they had just flown in Sunday) for orientation and all of the information they feed you at the beginning. We did have a very entertaining talk from a Metropolitan policeman though. Then they had lunch for us and we headed out for our afternoon walking tour. Mark and Jen took all 34 of us on the tube, which I think was very brave, but it actually went better than I expected. We saw most of the historic sites in Westminster, and a few others that I'd never seen. When we came back, we had a house meeting, and then we were finally free. Abby and I rearranged our room, went to Sainsbury's, made supper, and now I'm just relaxing. Tomorrow I have an advising appointment and we're going bowling in the evening, and Wednesday I have my initial internship visit. I am so excited for it! I found out right before I left that the offices have just moved to the new Olympic Stadium area, and Jen told me that the staff at the magazine is wonderful.
Anyway. I will have more as well as some pictures soon--I must admit I wasn't very good at taking pictures today. Soon though!
I arrived safely on Thursday; I had very smooth flights and my Aunt Jenny was right there at the airport to pick me up. We went straight to her house where I had a shower, food, and a nap in that order. I had forgotten how cozy and warm Jenny's house is--she lives in a small village called West Ewell, just south of London. She more than spoiled me with constant cups of tea, good meals, and so much more. She had to work on Friday so I had the day to be lazy and get over my jetlag. That evening we went for a pub meal, and I had sticky toffee pudding which is one of my favorites! And Mum, you'll be happy to know that we watched a lot of the British version of House Hunters...so we were probably having a very similar Friday night to you :) Saturday we went shopping in Epsom (a nearby town) for a few things and then attempted to go to Richmond Park, but all of the carparks were totally full. So instead I got a lovely car tour of the park (it's massive!) and then we walked along the Thames in a little place called Ham. By the way, the weather has been beautiful. It's chilly, but the sun has been shining every single day. Saturday night my uncle and a couple of friends came to Jenny's for the night, as they were going hiking nearby the next day. We had a lazy Sunday morning and then I packed up all of my things (it's amazing how spread out you can become in just a few days) and headed into Central London. We had a bit of a change of plans in order to get there (thank you, British Rail..) but we made it. Jenny's friend Manju came as well, which was so kind of both of them as they helped with my luggage. After we dropped my things off at Vandon House we had tea at a nearby cafe and then they headed back home. I got back to Vandon just in time for our initial orientation and then a pub meal with everyone in the program. We met both of our directors, Jen and Mark, who both seem wonderful so far. There are 34 students in the program, and everyone seems nice so far. Most of them are very young, in fact one girl is only 18, so I feel a little bit old! And, as I've been to England before, I've been asked question after question. I don't mind though--it's nice to share about a place I love. Abby, my roommate here, arrived late Sunday night, so we unpacked and organized our little room. They had us up bright and early today (which was worse for everyone else, since they had just flown in Sunday) for orientation and all of the information they feed you at the beginning. We did have a very entertaining talk from a Metropolitan policeman though. Then they had lunch for us and we headed out for our afternoon walking tour. Mark and Jen took all 34 of us on the tube, which I think was very brave, but it actually went better than I expected. We saw most of the historic sites in Westminster, and a few others that I'd never seen. When we came back, we had a house meeting, and then we were finally free. Abby and I rearranged our room, went to Sainsbury's, made supper, and now I'm just relaxing. Tomorrow I have an advising appointment and we're going bowling in the evening, and Wednesday I have my initial internship visit. I am so excited for it! I found out right before I left that the offices have just moved to the new Olympic Stadium area, and Jen told me that the staff at the magazine is wonderful.
Anyway. I will have more as well as some pictures soon--I must admit I wasn't very good at taking pictures today. Soon though!
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