Lessons: Learned

Down to the Wire

It’s Monday night. I leave on Thursday. Our flight is at noon. This is so surreal, I can’t believe it. It is going to be such a bittersweet goodbye, but hopefully this isn’t a goodbye. I have accomplished so much over this semester it is sickening and I am beyond excited to go back to Syracuse in the spring to unleash all this new-found newness. 

I have 1 more presentation and a final to get through. I packed today out of just pure boredom and anxiety. It’s funny the amount of stuff you accumulate over a  semester.  Whether it is receipts, class papers, or even maps of the city, all of it holds a different memory and reminds me how much this semester has really been amazing. Sure there are always going to be a few bumps in the road, thats what makes life so interesting. Everyone has a different way of living, a different way of handling stress, we all learn from it and each other. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to sleep in my own bed with my cats and food that will always be in the fridge. Priorities obviously. 

I finished my internship last Wednesday. It was a different environment than what I was expecting and it really secured the fact that I would rather be a part of a big corporation rather than a small one. And by big, I mean more than 6 people in the same office. Everyone that I have ever worked with in my interning time has had something new to offer, I learned something different from each person. It is crazy to think that that was possibly my last internship…ever. WOAH REAL WORKING WORLD MAKE IT STOP. I am just hoping that all of this experience will get me a job I am happy with. And hopefully it will get me on track to my dream career.  

What am I going to miss most about this city? Probably the independence. The fact that I could just go out and explore a new borough, walk to Hyde Park, look at the skyline on Primrose Hill, go shopping on Oxford Street. All of it was just incredibly fun and eye opening. And of course I am going to miss that British accent. Surname, garage, schedule, debut, the list goes on and all of it is humorous. Ahhh I don’t want to leave!!! 

Don’t be afraid if I have a few tears in my eyes as we lift off from Heathrow on Thursday; I know I’ll be back someday. 

Someday Soon We Will Meet Again

Well kids the semester is almost over. I will be home in 11 days. While this has been quite the experience I am more than ready to come home. I have done so much and while I may not have written about every single thing (believe me I am just as disappointed), I am extremely grateful for everything and everyone that has happened since being here. 

It is funny to think that a year ago I was coming back from being in LA as a changed person. London has allowed me to be more free and just live for myself at my own pace. Just call me Buddha. 

I am going to miss it here, I really am. And while I don’t want to say this, I could see myself coming back to live here temporarily. The only reason I want to come back is to see all of my family and friends. 

2 weeks ago someone very special to me came to visit. And it was my favorite 10 days since being here. I was able to teach everything I had learned. I am someone who likes to conquer a city; learn the ins and outs so I can be more aware of my surroundings. We went to Cardiff and Dublin. Two cities I had never thought to go to while here, but I am glad we did. 

This weekend, well for 36 hours of it, Caitlin and I finally made it PARIS!!! Talk about a magical place. And smelly too. While the Eiffel Tower could have been a little bigger, it was big enough. We decided it would be fun to take an elevator all the way up. I am pretty sure I peed myself. I thought my fear of heights had ceased, but nope, that whole can of worms opened right back up as soon as I could see the tiny ants known as people on the ground below. After we warmed up with some pasta we decided to make it over to Disneyland. That’s right, we went to freakin Disneyland! The park itself was closed by the time we got there but we could still go into ‘Downtown Disney.’ It looked just like Disneyland in LA and I pretty much acted like I was 5 the entire time. Eh, ya only live once. 

I can successfully say that I have been to everywhere I wanted to go on my list this semester. While Greece may not have worked out, it was for the better. Now I can say how many other cultures I have experienced. 

So before I sign off, I just want to say thanks! Thanks to my parents, readers, family, loved ones, and friends for dealing with my shenanigans this semester. This isn’t my last post, but I will be bombarded by homework and finals for the next few days and may not be as available. You da best. 

<3 

Today.

My boss told me what a music supervisor does. Not like that is my dream job or anything. 

Guess I just have to look at those homemade lunches for the light in this darkness. 

Music in the Dark

When you lose one of your senses the others become more prominent. Recently I attended a concert for one of my classes that was in the dark. Pitch black. Not even the had in front of my face was visible. I closed my eyes and just let the sounds and scents fill the room. It was something I have never experienced. It took me by surprise, but when the concert ended I just felt so rewarded. It really makes you think about what it is like to cut off a sense let the other four take over. Our professor was not amused by the concert, but I think all of us as students loved it for the fact that it was something different, it forced us to take a look at music in a different light (lol I made a pun).  

Amadou and Mariam are both blind musicians who perform all over the world. They are great at what they do and have a story to share. It was one of the best concerts I ever sat through and such a great concept to bring in to a venue. 

Travel Fein.

Yes this has been the first time I have been able to sit down and actually collect my thoughts from mid-semester break. There really are not enough words that can describe those 8 days of non-stop traveling. It was just so amazing. So rewarding. So exhausting. 

So where do I begin?

We started in Edinburgh Scotland. I have to say every time we landed in each country I had a slight hatred towards it. Them Scottish people were quite rude and had no patience in giving us directions. Sorry, but if you are going to advertise your city for something spectacular, then you better be expecting some tourists. But enough of the selfishness. We checked in at the cutest hostel I’ve ever seen. Well this was the first hostel I ever stayed in, but there was 2 kitchens, a little sitting area, a living room and then upstairs was where all the bedrooms were. Caitlin and I stayed in a 2 bed room. It was quant and I was sad we only had one day there. We walked the entire perimeter of the city, walked up this huge hill to overlook the city and North Sea. A little too chilly for swimming, but it was just so pretty. You had the people playing bagpips, wearing kilts, the whole nine-yards. And the nightlife. These people know how to party. We just chose a bar to sit outside of and people watched as we saw groups of people in costume, groups of people dancing down the street, it was just crazy!

Our next stop was Geneva Switzerland. Why Switzerland? I have no idea. I wanted to go somewhere different from the usual Spain and Italy folk. Little did we know that Switzerland was going to be the most expensive and only country around that doesnt use the Euro. I BigMac at McDonalds was 11 francs!! Francs are almost equivalent to US Dollars!!! And that was the cheapest food we found!!!! But besides the food, Geneva was beautiful, I looked out of the plane window before we landed and just saw Swiss Alps. Everywhere. It was the most breathtaking moment. I was happy that those Geneva people spoke french even though mine is a little rusty. Our hostel was very close to the lake so we walked around there every night. The people were so happy everywhere we went. We saw the UN and even had a little experience with riding in a bus up one of the mountains. Not too extreme, but when you can look out the window at all of the shining lights from the city below the chills begin creeping up your spine. I am definitely putting this on the list of places I want to come back to. I think I want to go to Interlaken to see some real Swiss Alps and maybe try my hand at skiing. I live in the winter season for 8 months out of the year and I don’t know how to ski. This is changing. 

So we boarded another plane to Rome, Italy. I have to say I was not in love with this city at first glance. It is dirty. And the people, well the people trying to sell you gizmos and gadgets along the street are just annoying. And it didn’t help that when we arrived at our hole-in-the-wall hostel the person running it didn’t speak a word of english. I mean it was all fine and good once we got the keys to our room so we could lock everything we owned away. Exploring Rome was an experience. I think we got to see everything on the to-do list except for the Vatican Museum. But Rome taught me how to relax and just go where my feet lead me. We experienced the Italian happy hour ‘Aperitivo.’ That pretty much made the trip for me. We bought a glass of wine and then we could indulge in all the food we wanted. There was pasta and salads and dips and dessert. It definitely beat the banana chips we had the night before. And the gelato. Don’t even get me started on the deliciousness. I do have to say I would have been so lost without my travel book. While I am all for the going wherever my feet take me, I like a little schedule for the day. I was sad to leave. My feet were ready, but I was just getting used to the italian phrases.

Then began the journey home. LAWLZ. This can only be described in a few words. Ibiza, Spain: I will never return to you. Talk about a dirty city that doesnt have anything to offer. After taking 3 buses we found a beach. We were the only people on the beach which was nice. I can add the Mediterranean Sea to my bodies of water I have seen. The sights off the coast were beautiful, but I am still confused as to how people vacation here. Nonetheless the last leg of our journey was to Glasgow. After missing the last train to the next Glasgow airport, we took a taxi which was a lot better than expected. We had a great driver who put on some great music as we drove through the city. I almost felt like I was in a movie. We reached the Glasgow Airport, put our bags down and took a 6 hour nap. Oh right, forgot to mention that whole spending a night in the airport deal. I am pretty sure I can recite what one should do before they go through security. But we eventually made it home! Funny how I can call London my home.

This trip gave me a new appreciation on life. Just go out and do what you want to do. You have a life to live, no one needs to live it for you. I have four weeks left here and so much to accomplish and the best part is the love of my life is coming to visit very shortly. It will surely be the best four weeks I have lived yet.    

Take That Athens!

So thanks to Athens being all up in a riot, Caitlin and I have decided to rebook our entire mid-semester break. In the course of 12 hours. I’m exhausted. But here is the final tally of where will be for the next 8 days!

Edinburgh
Geneva
Rome
Ibizia
Glasgow

That my friends, is how to make the most of this break where I was hoping to get some rest, but will have to wait until I retire.  

Blame it on the Girls

They are:

too fat
too skinny
too pretty
too ugly
too smart
too dumb
too awkward
too demanding
too protective
too romantic
too annoying
too funny
too sarcastic
too clean
too dirty
too flirty

Do you get it? Girls are my least favorite people on this planet. When something doesn’t go their way they just complain and whine and get a little too angry. Of course you may be wondering why I am saying all these things about girls when I am one. Funny you should ask and I will most certainly tell you!

I am not one to have a lot of ‘girlfriends.’ I maybe have a handful of females in my life that I call my ‘friends.’ I can only handle them for so long. I mean don’t get me wrong I love a good retail therapy session and do enjoy my thrill of reality television (Real housewives of Beverly Hills are my fav), but I can only handle so much of estrogen in the room at one time. So I tend to gravitate towards the males. Not sure why. Maybe it is because they are all down to earth and don’t have all this drama in their lives. OH and they tell you when something is wrong. To your face. Yeah, that is a biggie. 

It is probably the least attractive thing I find about our sex. We have this gene where if we have a problem with someone we go out of our way to not tell them. We just sit there and gossip about it behind their backs no matter what it is. Lyke oh em gee she did not just wear those shoes with that dress! Now wouldn’t it be such a better world if just all told each other why we hated each other? I thought so too…

So to all my bitches out there, this one is for you. 

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie…

…he will live under your bed. Yeah. That happened. Have I mentioned how much I dislike my landlord? I knew I should have taken the pre-arraigned housing. 

In other news I have to give an idea of what my plans are for after graduation. Again, this week just keeps getting better and it is only Monday.

Sorry for all the emo posts lately, I am just ready for this semester to be over, or have a week off. Good thing that is happening in 10 days. Greece has never sounded so good riots and all. 

Weekly Update on Life

This week. Where do I begin? 

Monday was probably one of the worst days of my stay in London. It wasn’t so much awful as it was disappointing. My internship was becoming uncomfortable and our trip to Greece was starting to take a toll on my bank account. Not to mention that I received an email saying I basically had a week to figure out what ideas I had for after graduation. Now if that didn’t make me stressed I was overly exhausted from going to bed super late and waking up in the middle of the afternoon and the fact that our bug and now mice problem was getting worse.  

So what do I do to combat with the stress? Paint my nails. All the concentration I put into painting my nails just forces me to forget everything going on around me. It is something that I have been doing a lot since I have been here. I usually give myself pedicures as well as manicures, but since the weather here isn’t exactly sandal weather, I decided to change it up and give my nails a little more attention than normal.  

And now I am feeling so much better about my future and more confident in what I want to do. Looks like a couple of applications to grad school close to home while looking for jobs just in case is going to be my plan. And I am more than okay with that. 

Oh and it helps when you have someone to talk to that can listen and give great advice. Guess this week really has turned out for the better. <3

City Life

I’ve had a lot of realizations this week. It all started when I saw everyone booking their trips to Italy and Germany. I just couldn’t handle it. I needed to get out of here. 

Here’s the thing about London. I love it. I have absolutely fallen in love with the city. But I know I don’t want to stay in a city for the rest of my life. Now while this may not seem like a big deal, it kind of is. I have had this preconceived notion that I have wanted to move to NYC and live in a nice apartment when I graduate. Now I don’t think I can do it. I just can’t handle the hustle and bustle of a city day after day without an escape point. Now I am living in a very busy area, and yeah there are quieter areas to live in so you don’t have to feel like you are living in a city, but I just can’t stand not being able to see the horizon or grass. 

We went to Dover Castle today and I just felt like I was home. We could over look the English Channel and breathe in fresh air. After our trip there I came home and booked my tickets to Greece for Mid-Semester break. Take that city life! I am going island hopping for 9 days.