It has now been over a month since I've returned home from London. Work has taken over my life, my bank account is very thankful for that. And I've actually been really social this summer, so proud of myself.
Tonight is the start for two things: 1. Insanity 2. Daily Life Video.
Slightly scared to start Insanity... but very excited. Every day till about Sept. 6th my butt will be getting kicked by a set of DVDs... can't wait.
The Daily Life video is just a way for me to get my camera in my hands... the rest will be a surprise. But I'll keep you posted with updates!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
The end,
Woke up with a sore throat and my cough sounding ragged. Which was an awesome way to wake up on our last day. Pretty much everyone is sick (with the same thing) and grinding on each other's last nerves. It is definitely time to return home, our wallets and bank accounts are telling us this too.
Once I convinced myself to get out of bed (after falling asleep again) I made my way to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard. It was cool, kinda boring from the other side of the road but I didn't feel like fighting the crowds to be against the fence (next time). I'm actually almost considering looking into becoming a mounted police officer... I want to do too much with my life. But it was interesting, some decent pictures.
I returned to the flat for lunch and now am trying to convince myself to work on my project... and pack. We leave for the airport around 8:30am for a 12:50pm flight. If everything goes well, we will be landing in Toldeo at 7:50pm... which means I'll get to see my puppies and my bed around 10pm.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. And while London is a great place to explore by yourself, it can be a very lonely town if you are always alone. I'm excited to get home and start working.
iMovie has been giving me problems getting my most recent videos into the project... which is frustrating because I have neither the time nor the money to re-create those experiences. So hopefully I can figure something out... I'm excited to not have to subtract 12 hours... and then sometimes another 5 hours. I have enough trouble with time already.
So it's time for me to shut the book on this experience. I've had a truly marvelous time and I cannot wait to return to this city sometime in the future (sign up lists are starting) =) And while this is the end for this trip, it is just the beginning of another.
Thanks for following along!
Cheers.
Once I convinced myself to get out of bed (after falling asleep again) I made my way to Buckingham Palace to watch the changing of the guard. It was cool, kinda boring from the other side of the road but I didn't feel like fighting the crowds to be against the fence (next time). I'm actually almost considering looking into becoming a mounted police officer... I want to do too much with my life. But it was interesting, some decent pictures.
I returned to the flat for lunch and now am trying to convince myself to work on my project... and pack. We leave for the airport around 8:30am for a 12:50pm flight. If everything goes well, we will be landing in Toldeo at 7:50pm... which means I'll get to see my puppies and my bed around 10pm.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. And while London is a great place to explore by yourself, it can be a very lonely town if you are always alone. I'm excited to get home and start working.
iMovie has been giving me problems getting my most recent videos into the project... which is frustrating because I have neither the time nor the money to re-create those experiences. So hopefully I can figure something out... I'm excited to not have to subtract 12 hours... and then sometimes another 5 hours. I have enough trouble with time already.
So it's time for me to shut the book on this experience. I've had a truly marvelous time and I cannot wait to return to this city sometime in the future (sign up lists are starting) =) And while this is the end for this trip, it is just the beginning of another.
Thanks for following along!
Cheers.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
waitwaitwait--!!!
So, this is it. Tomorrow is our last day here, and while I love London and am already planning a return trip (I'm thinking this would be a good place to stop by after getting done backpacking through Ireland...) I am ready to go home and get a good old US summer started.
I've been pounding out my project (7 blog posts went up today alone) but there's still so much to do... like put up my pictures, finishing the video and finishing all the posts... *deep breath*
CAPA (the international host program) is taking us all out to dinner tonight, as my first real meal in awhile, I'm excited. Though I will be catching the tube during rush hour... which is... well take three cans of sardines and put them into one can. That's kinda the tube during rush hour.
So I best be off!
There are so many stories to tell, and keep checking this blog every once in awhile for video projects I'll be doing throughout the year.
A big thank you to everyone. And please keep us in your thoughts on Saturday, hopefully we won't encounter the drama we had getting to London and we will arrive in the USA safe and sound (I'd say on time too... but I don't really care just as long as we get back.)
See you soon, Cheers!
I've been pounding out my project (7 blog posts went up today alone) but there's still so much to do... like put up my pictures, finishing the video and finishing all the posts... *deep breath*
CAPA (the international host program) is taking us all out to dinner tonight, as my first real meal in awhile, I'm excited. Though I will be catching the tube during rush hour... which is... well take three cans of sardines and put them into one can. That's kinda the tube during rush hour.
So I best be off!
There are so many stories to tell, and keep checking this blog every once in awhile for video projects I'll be doing throughout the year.
A big thank you to everyone. And please keep us in your thoughts on Saturday, hopefully we won't encounter the drama we had getting to London and we will arrive in the USA safe and sound (I'd say on time too... but I don't really care just as long as we get back.)
See you soon, Cheers!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Rags to Riches
I feel so lost without my map, not only physically but it was also helping me plan out my days... ah, well. I decided to try to find a vintage clothing shop I had heard about.
I ended up on Brick Lane within in a cluster of graffiti and vintage shops. I never did find the shop I set out to find originally, but I got a lot of great ideas for my project as well as some great browsing among the racks of clothes. It was so cool to see the colorful artwork and storefronts. Each had their own personality that spread across the bricks and metal security gates.
After getting seriously lost (and almost missing the bus I needed) I made my way to Herrod's..... AH-mazing. Absolutely amazing. I spent most of my time strolling through the jewelry and pens (beautiful calligraphy pens). If I'm ever become a millionaire, everyone is getting something from Herrod's-- because I found gifts for everyone.
It was fun strolling through the store, pretending I had even close to the amount of money I needed to get anything...or even someone to point out all the cool things to. Seriously, awesome jewelry designs. Including puzzle rings that could be personalized so each piece was unique to the owner(s). It was awesome (I told the sales lady so).
My feet started to hurt so I decided it was time to hit up United Colors of Benetton (because it's my favorite) before jumping on the packed tube home.
Only three more days left!
I ended up on Brick Lane within in a cluster of graffiti and vintage shops. I never did find the shop I set out to find originally, but I got a lot of great ideas for my project as well as some great browsing among the racks of clothes. It was so cool to see the colorful artwork and storefronts. Each had their own personality that spread across the bricks and metal security gates.
After getting seriously lost (and almost missing the bus I needed) I made my way to Herrod's..... AH-mazing. Absolutely amazing. I spent most of my time strolling through the jewelry and pens (beautiful calligraphy pens). If I'm ever become a millionaire, everyone is getting something from Herrod's-- because I found gifts for everyone.
It was fun strolling through the store, pretending I had even close to the amount of money I needed to get anything...or even someone to point out all the cool things to. Seriously, awesome jewelry designs. Including puzzle rings that could be personalized so each piece was unique to the owner(s). It was awesome (I told the sales lady so).
My feet started to hurt so I decided it was time to hit up United Colors of Benetton (because it's my favorite) before jumping on the packed tube home.
Only three more days left!
Monday, May 28, 2012
5-4-3-2-1-->Summer!
Well, here it is, our last week in London! The time here has flown by (while some of the days seem never ending). Regardless of how time has passed, I have had an amazing experience here. And it has definitely secured my love of traveling, no matter how many obstacles present themselves... and this trip has provided many obstacles.
This week is all about relaxation (yes, even more relaxing than this trip has already been!) Today is project day, starting with some internet time at CAPA (did you notice more pictures went up? No? Scroll through the old entries, I added some visual aids).
Then it's back to the flat for first round of organizing all of my stuff into 2 suitcases... Sarah, I already miss your amazing packing abilities (among other things). As well as writing out blog entries for my project, which I hope to have entirely written out before I leave London so all I have to do when I get home is add pictures and the movie I'm cutting together.
Really the only thing left on my list for this trip is to see the changing of the guard, which will probably happen tomorrow morning.
I was so tired yesterday (so I apologize for the short entry). The game was amazing though. Here's the closest atmosphere I can get to... take a baseball crowd and put them at an (American) football game. I know it's hard to grasp, but that's the best I can get words to describe it. It was truly an awesome experience to gather with a bunch of fans on a lovely Sunday afternoon to watch a good game. Every age was there and enjoying themselves, from young kids to the old men, all of them joined in the... chant(?) at every England try (think touchdown)
This week is all about relaxation (yes, even more relaxing than this trip has already been!) Today is project day, starting with some internet time at CAPA (did you notice more pictures went up? No? Scroll through the old entries, I added some visual aids).
Then it's back to the flat for first round of organizing all of my stuff into 2 suitcases... Sarah, I already miss your amazing packing abilities (among other things). As well as writing out blog entries for my project, which I hope to have entirely written out before I leave London so all I have to do when I get home is add pictures and the movie I'm cutting together.
Really the only thing left on my list for this trip is to see the changing of the guard, which will probably happen tomorrow morning.
I was so tired yesterday (so I apologize for the short entry). The game was amazing though. Here's the closest atmosphere I can get to... take a baseball crowd and put them at an (American) football game. I know it's hard to grasp, but that's the best I can get words to describe it. It was truly an awesome experience to gather with a bunch of fans on a lovely Sunday afternoon to watch a good game. Every age was there and enjoying themselves, from young kids to the old men, all of them joined in the... chant(?) at every England try (think touchdown)
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Twickenham: Take 2
Today I made the journey back to Twickenham Stadium to watch the match between England and the Barbarians. It was a great Sunday afternoon. The atmosphere in the stadium was relaxed and at the same time everyone was totally into the game... ok, mostly into the game.
After a few attempts we even got the wave around the entire stadium about 4 times, before England scored again and everyone got distracted.
As we enter the last week here, I find that I have done everything I set out to do (and started a list for a return trip, a sign up list will be passed around for those interested in joining me.... in a couple years). So this next week is for relaxing in the parks, and finishing up my project which you can see my actual project here.
The project itself had to undergo a minor revision due to a... setback.
All media (such as pictures and any video) will go up after I return home this Saturday (give me a couple days for jet-lag) but everything will be all uploaded before the end of June, as that is when the project is due!
Thank you everyone for all of your support and well wishes. This trip has presented me with many challenges and I have come up with some creative ways to solve them.
See you soon, cheers!
After a few attempts we even got the wave around the entire stadium about 4 times, before England scored again and everyone got distracted.
As we enter the last week here, I find that I have done everything I set out to do (and started a list for a return trip, a sign up list will be passed around for those interested in joining me.... in a couple years). So this next week is for relaxing in the parks, and finishing up my project which you can see my actual project here.
The project itself had to undergo a minor revision due to a... setback.
All media (such as pictures and any video) will go up after I return home this Saturday (give me a couple days for jet-lag) but everything will be all uploaded before the end of June, as that is when the project is due!
Thank you everyone for all of your support and well wishes. This trip has presented me with many challenges and I have come up with some creative ways to solve them.
See you soon, cheers!
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Sad Face and Happy Day
Today I lost a dear friend, the map I picked up at the Heathrow airport when we first arrived 2 weeks ago. Needless to say, I was very sad when I made this discovery in an area that I was already lost in... Luckily my tube map has remained faithful and I was able to make it back to the flat.
Other than losing my map, today has been a good day. Lots of boats, walking, and relaxing in the shade. I started my day at 5:34am (involuntarily) but I was able to watch the sun rise out my window. I laid in bed until about 8ish then decided to get up and on my way to Greenwich.
I was lost the moment I stepped off the tube, but did manage to get my bearings relatively quickly. After wandering along the Thames (and finding really cool apartments) I found the Greenwich Yacht Club, it was still pretty early (for a Saturday). So I took a couple of pictures then found a bus station (which was a big adventure).
Getting off the bus, I found myself at the National Maritime Museum. I wandered around the grounds with other early birds until the museum opened at 10am. It was a lot of fun to wander the museum. There weren't a lot of people there so it was nice to linger at exhibits on a Saturday morning. I was able to even try my hand at a legit boat simulator twice, I didn't do too bad either.
After wandering around the Maritime Museum I tried to find an antique market. Instead I stumbled across a small boot sale set up in a parking lot... it was like a huge garage/independent artist sale. It was cool to stroll through. I then retried to find the antique market and came to the conclusion that it has been turned into a construction site... Instead I followed a clump of locals to the Greenwich Markets, which was an even bigger mass of artists collected together. Which was totally awesome. I met some really awesome vendors (and actually saw how the spoon/fork bracelets are made!)
When I decided to move on, I followed the small (but steady) crowd along the street and ended up at the Cutty Sark, which was gorgeous. I spent the next few hours exploring the area, and relaxing in the shade when I felt like it. After a couple hours of that, I decided to find the foot tunnel to the other side of the river, which was 8 flights of stairs down, and a very long (I walked fast) way across, before more stairs up the other side. It was cool, but at the same time I couldn't really think about where I was or I was going to start freaking out (I kept thinking, "Ok, what would I do if the walls suddenly gave away?"...Mom, you would not have liked it-- at all. I barely did it.)
But once on the other side (and thankful that I didn't have to swim my way there) I wandered through Mill Wall Park before making my way to.... a park that I can't remember the name of... Mudchute! haha, I found myself wandering around Mudchute City Farm, and very much missing horseback riding (they had stables and bridle paths).
After Mudchute Farm, I kept wandering until I ran into a pond with a ton of sailboats on it, I FOUND BOATS! haha, I was so happy.... that I apparently forgot to keep track of my map =( so after watching sailboats and wandering around the quiet little city, I decided to go back to the flat.
I ended up getting on a bus going the wrong direction than I originally wanted, but it ended up going past where I had been earlier so I got off, hopped onto the tube and was on my way.
Now me and the only other flatmate who didn't go to Paris (or Ireland) this weekend are watching movies on tv (up now is Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers).
Only 6 more days here!
Other than losing my map, today has been a good day. Lots of boats, walking, and relaxing in the shade. I started my day at 5:34am (involuntarily) but I was able to watch the sun rise out my window. I laid in bed until about 8ish then decided to get up and on my way to Greenwich.
I was lost the moment I stepped off the tube, but did manage to get my bearings relatively quickly. After wandering along the Thames (and finding really cool apartments) I found the Greenwich Yacht Club, it was still pretty early (for a Saturday). So I took a couple of pictures then found a bus station (which was a big adventure).
Getting off the bus, I found myself at the National Maritime Museum. I wandered around the grounds with other early birds until the museum opened at 10am. It was a lot of fun to wander the museum. There weren't a lot of people there so it was nice to linger at exhibits on a Saturday morning. I was able to even try my hand at a legit boat simulator twice, I didn't do too bad either.
After wandering around the Maritime Museum I tried to find an antique market. Instead I stumbled across a small boot sale set up in a parking lot... it was like a huge garage/independent artist sale. It was cool to stroll through. I then retried to find the antique market and came to the conclusion that it has been turned into a construction site... Instead I followed a clump of locals to the Greenwich Markets, which was an even bigger mass of artists collected together. Which was totally awesome. I met some really awesome vendors (and actually saw how the spoon/fork bracelets are made!)
When I decided to move on, I followed the small (but steady) crowd along the street and ended up at the Cutty Sark, which was gorgeous. I spent the next few hours exploring the area, and relaxing in the shade when I felt like it. After a couple hours of that, I decided to find the foot tunnel to the other side of the river, which was 8 flights of stairs down, and a very long (I walked fast) way across, before more stairs up the other side. It was cool, but at the same time I couldn't really think about where I was or I was going to start freaking out (I kept thinking, "Ok, what would I do if the walls suddenly gave away?"...Mom, you would not have liked it-- at all. I barely did it.)
But once on the other side (and thankful that I didn't have to swim my way there) I wandered through Mill Wall Park before making my way to.... a park that I can't remember the name of... Mudchute! haha, I found myself wandering around Mudchute City Farm, and very much missing horseback riding (they had stables and bridle paths).
After Mudchute Farm, I kept wandering until I ran into a pond with a ton of sailboats on it, I FOUND BOATS! haha, I was so happy.... that I apparently forgot to keep track of my map =( so after watching sailboats and wandering around the quiet little city, I decided to go back to the flat.
I ended up getting on a bus going the wrong direction than I originally wanted, but it ended up going past where I had been earlier so I got off, hopped onto the tube and was on my way.
Now me and the only other flatmate who didn't go to Paris (or Ireland) this weekend are watching movies on tv (up now is Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers).
Only 6 more days here!
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