Blogging from Abroad: London

Hey everybody! I just wanted to let you know that the Charleston Daily Mail gave me the opportunity to write about my experiences abroad in a column. You can read it here. I’m super excited they let me do that; it is a huge deal for a student to be able to write a first-person piece, and I am honored I had the chance! Check it out and let me know what you think!

I’ve been home for a couple days now, but I’ve been trying to catch up on sleep and unpack, so I’m sorry this was a little delayed. It’s been so, so wonderful to be home. Luckily my jet lag hasn’t been too severe, but I am still tired from five weeks of constant running around, so I’ve been finding myself fighting off sleep as early as 10:00 each night.

There are times when I get really sad I’m not still in London. It’s crazy to think that every day people wake up there, get on the tube and head to work. They go to Tesco to grab a quick lunch and head to the pubs in the evening to socialize with friends. They might decide to see a show on the West End or check out a festival in Trafalgar Square. The shopping in Covent Garden is still in full-force and the Regent’s Park is still full of screaming kids. Piccadilly Circus is still buzzing, Big Ben is still standing and the double-deckers are still picking people up, and I’m not there.

I’m glad I had the experience of living there because I feel like I learned so much. Most importantly, it helped me recognize that there are other people all over the world who get up every day just like I do. It might sound ignorant, but growing up I always thought that Europe (and Africa and Asia and all kinds of other places for that matter) was so far away, and I couldn’t imagine that everyday life was the same there. After experiencing London firsthand, I realize now that leading a happy, healthy, productive life is a common goal among everyone, and not just an American thing.

I know now that “home” isn’t limited to the confines of where you were born or the country you’re used to, because people find “home” all over the world. It sounds so simple, but just being able to observe life somewhere other than where I grew up was the most enlightening part of my trip.

Since this could be my last post, I wanted to take a minute to thank the people who really helped make my trip worthwhile. My parents, who were so supportive of their only daughter spending her summer over 4,000 miles away, have been phenomenal during this whole experience and I can’t begin to thank them enough for their patience and advice. I hope to one day get them to England so they can see firsthand what a great place they helped me get to. My grandparents also have my appreciation, both for encouraging me to explore my family’s roots and for sharing in the excitement from home. The Klandorfs and Dr. David Stewart from WVU are amazing people who helped me accomplish every single thing I set out to do and then some, and I am happy to say I got to spend time with them abroad. The BritBound team deserve a huge thanks for giving me one of the best working experiences in London. Finally, I have to thank those at the P.I. Reed School of Journalism – particularly Christa Vincent, Brad Robertson and Kimberly Brown – who helped set up this blog and made it possible for me to share my journey with all of you. (Oh, and thank you for reading! The feedback I received has been wonderful; it really helped me feel like my first blogging experience was a success.)

Like I’ve said many times before, I’m confident I will go back. I hope to visit other places, too. The ocean doesn’t seem so big now that I’ve traveled to the other side, and when I head back you guys will be the first to know. Until then, I hope the rest of your summer is smashing. How about you make yourself a pot of tea, whip up some scones and have a little British experience of your own?

Well, I’m finally down to the last day. It’s bittersweet knowing I’m going to leave England tomorrow – part of me is really, really sad because I’ve grown accustomed to life here in the last five weeks and I’ve found things about it that I love, but part of me is really excited to get home to my family, friends, boyfriend and American life. I miss my bed, my dog, Jimmy Johns, having a car, my big kitchen and the Food Network. Even so, there are a lot of things I’ll hate to leave behind tomorrow when I leave.

I’m going to hate riding buses that are only one level, because the top level of a double-decker has the best views. (Riding in the very top front seat and blasting “Live and Let Die” while driving down Bond Street was seriously one of the best experience I’ve had this whole trip.) I’m going to miss Thai food (we need to get a restaurant in Morgantown stat) and being able to get a tomato & mozzarella sandwich whenever I want. I’ll have to re-adjust to looking left when I cross the street, and I’ll have to remember to drive on the right side of the road. (Kidding! I promise I haven’t been that submerged in British culture, so don’t fear if you see me on the road, I still remember how to drive!) I’m definitely going to miss the great food, culture, history and entertainment this city provides.

This experience has been amazing, including these last few days. Yesterday evening we walked to Abbey Road, which was so cool! There’s all this graffiti outside of the recording studios where people have paid tribute to the Beatles and the work they did there. I tried to take some pictures on the famous crosswalk, but the traffic was awful so it was almost impossible to even cross the street. Today some friends and I went to Portobello Market in Notting Hill for some last-minute souvenir shopping and London exploring. Afterward I went back to the BritBound offices because my coworkers wanted to give me a gift. They gave me the sweetest card, a coffee mug, a picture frame with a photo of us and a calendar. I’m really, really going to miss them!

We didn’t get much sleep last night because of noisy neighbors, so tonight everybody in my flat is hitting the sheets early. We have to be up and on our way to the airport by 7:30 tomorrow morning, and we fly out at noon. I’ll definitely post once I’m back in the states, so don’t give up on my blog just yet!

I’m really going to miss this place. I can’t believe this is my last post ever from London.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t say “ever”. I know I’ll be back, so until next time…

Today was our next-to-last full day in London, so we planned to visit St. Paul’s Cathedral. I woke up early this morning and had tea and cinnamon rolls with my two roommates before meeting the group at 10:30. The tea here is so good, I’m going to miss being able to get a pot of tea whenever I want! Luckily I bought a small teapot yesterday so I’m hoping to have the same experience at my house when I get to Morgantown.

When we arrived at St. Paul’s, a wedding was going on. (Can you imagine having your wedding here!?) To kill time, we visited the Tate Modern Art Gallery. I was really excited because Tate Modern was one of the few places I had wanted to go from day 1 of this trip, and it didn’t disappoint. We saw “Water Lillies” by Monet and works by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock. I’m not an expert on art, but I do love going to art museums because I always feel like I can learn something while looking at things that are so creative. It’s an inspiring feeling for someone who can barely draw a straight line!

After Tate, we grabbed a delicious lunch at Cafe Rouge and then headed to St. Paul’s. The inside of the cathedral was gorgeous, and we hiked all the way up to the top of the rotunda to get a great view of London’s financial district. The inside of the cathedral was so precise; it seemed like every inch of the place probably took a few days to put together because the detailing was so intricate. I will admit though, I don’t think I appreciated it as much as some. I have a friend who is studying architecture who would have loved it, partially because it was designed by the famous architect Christopher Wren. To me it’s just this great building, but I wish I understood more about the structure and science behind putting something like that together. It’d be mind-boggling, I’m sure.

After St. Paul’s I ran to Oxford Circus to make one last run through TopShop, and I found the perfect dress. I was so excited to get it and even more thrilled when I found out I got a 10% discount for being a student. (I always ask if I’m eligible for a discount; it never hurts, right?)

Now I’m home relaxing and starting to pack up. I’m really going to miss this place, but with each passing day I get more excited for a reunion with my big, comfy bed in Morgantown. (This top bunk bed I’ve been sleeping in isn’t exactly comfortable… I keep hitting the rails when I move in my sleep!) I’m heading home in less than two days, so I’ll see you all soon!

Yesterday I gave a presentation at work explaining how to use all the forms of social media I’ve set up for BritBound. I got so much positive feedback from my bosses and my coworkers; everyone seemed like they looked forward to taking over my projects and helping them grow. I’m so glad everyone at BritBound thought I did a good job; I’ll have no hesitation about putting this job on a resume now because I really feel like I did substantial work while I was here!

After I gave my presentation, we all went out to Fifteen, a restaurant started by Jamie Oliver. I was so excited because I love the Food Network and I love watching Jamie Oliver cook, so going to a restaurant he started was amazing! Fifteen is also a great cause as it takes disadvantaged young people and provides them with the opportunity to be chef apprentices, giving them a solid career in the restaurant industry. The food we had was delicious and they even let me keep a copy of the day’s menu. Here we all are about to chow down on our main courses!

Today is my last day at work, and it’s a bittersweet time. I really liked my job here in London and the people who work in my building are all so great, but I am started to get more excited about going back to the states. I’m going to try to keep in touch with my coworkers as best as I can, and hopefully one day I’ll be back to visit them.

I came to the realization yesterday at work that it’s not possible for me to put together a promotional video for BritBound while I’m in London. Unfortunately the computer I use at work can’t handle Abobe Premiere, and every time I try to edit the program shuts down. I’m disappointed because I know my boss was looking forward to a video and that’s something I love to do anyway. I did decide to email myself all the files I’d need so I can try to make one when I’m back in America. Hopefully I can get something put together for them, so everybody keep your fingers crossed that it works out!

Other than the video situation, I’m just wrapping up things at work. I officially only have two working days left, and I want to leave everything as complete as possible. My boss and coworkers are going to start taking over the Twitter, Facebook and blog, with me helping a little from America. In the month I’ve been here the company has gained around 50 followers on Twitter and the three-week old blog has received over 70 hits on about 5 articles, and I hope the pages continue to grow.

Last night I saw Wicked with the other students from WVU, and it was indescribable. I had chills throughout the entire show. Growing up my parents exposed me to theater often with events like Broadway in Charleston, and we even saw a few shows in New York one spring. I called my mom before and after the show because I really wished she could’ve been here to share in the excitement! I really appreciated having that experience last night, and I’d definitely recommend to anyone coming to West London to see a show.

Today I’m going to eat at chef Jamie Oliver’s restaurant with my bosses and coworkers. I’m too excited – I’m a huge Food Network junkie so I’m thrilled to go! I’ll post this evening and tell you all how things went. Until then, I’ve got to head to work. Have a good day everyone!

I. LOVED. IRELAND!

That’s really the only way to describe how I felt about my weekend! We flew into Dublin Thursday morning and hopped on a bus to our hostel, Paddy’s Palace. It was actually pretty nice, there were a lot of people staying there and everyone was so excited about exploring Ireland! After we got to the hostel we decided to walk around Dublin. We made our way to the Guinness Factory and saw the lease Arthur Guinness signed when he first obtained the property. The lease said he could keep it for 9,000 years, so that place is set for a while! After that we went through medieval Dublin, or “Dublinia”, and explored some of the old buildings. We found a great Mexican place to have dinner. It was a little random to eat Mexican in Ireland, but it was so good because none of us had eaten Mexican in so long!

Friday we went on the best, BEST tour ever to the West Coast of Ireland. We stopped at some castles and some old abbeys, but the highlight of the day was definitely the Cliffs of Moher. It was so beautiful, I’ll let the pictures do the explaining…

After we left the Cliffs, we kept driving down the coastline. I saw so many Bed & Breakfast places that would be perfect for an Irish vacation. (Hint, hint, Mom & Dad!) The mountains there are gorgeous and they looked like they’d be so much fun to climb!

I definitely want to go back there sometime in my life.

Saturday we did a tour that stopped in the Wicklow Mountains, which is where they filmed scenes from P.S. I Love You and Braveheart. The whole area was really pretty and it really reminded me of West Virginia.

After that we made our way to a town called Kilkenny, where we ate a great lunch in a little Irish pub. On the way back we got to see a lot of the Irish countryside, which was breathtaking.

I’m definitely glad we did the tours around Ireland instead of just staying in Dublin. While I like Dublin, it doesn’t compare to London. The countryside and coastline of Ireland had so much more to offer, it was totally worth it to go out and explore those places.

Tomorrow starts my last work week in London, and I have to admit that I’m really sad. I would have loved to have gone on a few more weekend trips to other places, like Barcelona and Rome. Hopefully I’ll get to come back to Europe soon so I can keep exploring these amazing places!

Hey everyone, I can’t write a long post because I’m on my hostel’s only computer but I wanted to let all of you know that I absolutely love Ireland! Dublin is okay, I don’t like it as much as London though. Yesterday we took a tour to the West Coast of Ireland and saw the Cliffs of Moher and all sorts of other beautiful sights. I really couldn’t believe I was looking at something so breathtaking, I loved it so much. I’ll definitely post pictures tomorrow after I get back to London.

Today we’re going on a tour around Kilkenny and some other historic places in Ireland. I’ll let you know how it goes when I can!

Hi all! The past two days have been pretty calm compared to the rest of the trip. I went to work on Tuesday and got to sit in on a few job interviews, which was pretty cool. Later that night a bunch of my flatmates and I went out for dessert at a cafe near Marble Arch. Today, I went to work and started on a video for BritBound. Tonight we’re hoping to go see Abbey Road, which I’m so excited about. I’m a huge Beatles fan and that crosswalk is iconic, so of course I’m going to take a million pictures!

I’ve been thinking over the last few days about how much I’ve learned here. While I’m no expert on getting around the city, I have picked up a few tricks for blending in with the London crowd…

• Learn to love public transportation. There have been days where my feet and legs have literally throbbed because I’ve walked so much. At home I hate taking the bus, but here it’s so helpful, I’m always thankful to get in a seat, sit back and watch the city go by on my way home.
• When in doubt, stay to the left. I still struggle with bumping into people because of my tendency to walk on the right. In some places the crowd veers right, but most often the flow of people traffic leans to the left.
• Do a little light reading. Everybody here reads all the time, even if they’re just going one or two tube stops. Don’t be surprised to see men stashing novels in their cargo pants pockets or for women to have them in their handbags, and if you really want to look like a Londoner, carry one yourself.
• Layer your clothes. Despite the rainy stereotype, England’s weather is constantly changing. The mornings can be cool and the afternoons can be brutally hot, so wearing layers that can be easily removed is helpful.
• Watch out for kids. They are everywhere here. It’s easy to get mixed up in a crowd of children, so being mindful of your surroundings is a must for getting around easily!
• Remember it’s crowded. It’s easy to get frustrated with people constantly jostling you, but just remember to be patient. Think before you speak and give people the benefit of the doubt, it’ll make traveling through the city a lot more pleasant.

You may not be hearing from me for the next few days because I’m heading to Dublin for the weekend. I’m so excited to explore Ireland, I’m sure I’ll be telling you guys about it as soon as I get back!

The weather in London is finally cooling down, after three straight weeks of sunshine and heat. I’m thankful we’ve had such great weather on this trip because it’s made the experience even better than I thought it’d be.

Today at work I continued to update the company’s Twitter, Facebook and blog. I’m trying to download a free trial of some video editing software, so you guys might be seeing a BritBound video by me soon! I’m also really excited because my bosses were nice enough to help me get our group tickets to see Wicked on Monday. That’s what I love about my job here – I work really hard, and though I’m not getting paid my bosses are quick to help me when I want to do something “touristy” because they know the ins-and-outs of the city and where to get the best deals. They’ve been so helpful with everything from the Wicked tickets to telling me which Tube to take to get to the different markets and attractions around the city. I won’t be able to thank them enough when I leave next week.

Tonight I went for a run and got truly lost for the first time since I’ve been here. I had to ask two different people how to get back to Warwick Avenue. Fortunately we live in a really nice neighborhood (or “neighbourhood” as they would spell it) so I wasn’t worried, I was just tired of running for that long! Luckily I made it back in time for our weekly group meeting… Believe me, I was very relieved to get there.

Tomorrow I’m working again, and I’m thinking of going to Covent Garden after to watch street performers and eat an English pasty. I hate that the trip is winding down so quickly, I want to do anything I can to soak up the city before I head home. If any of you have suggestions for places I should visit before I leave, let me know in the comments!