Adventures & Misadventures

It's been just over two weeks since I touched down in London town and I couldn't be more thrilled to be here (still)! London is everything I love about New York City minus a lot of the things I could do without. The Tube is so much more efficient and easy to navigate, the people are generally more pleasant, and you can find almost anything your little heart desires down any number of hidden side streets. So far, my only big complaint is that so many stores close so early - this American girl is used to her 24-hour access to late night snacks and emergency art supply runs.

It's been quite the experience so far though. Not even two weeks in and I managed to get "chatted up" by a local chap (although I politely declined an invitation to coffee...so you can relax mom and dad) and I had my identity stolen. Actually, two of my best friends and I were all the victims here. Someone scanned our card numbers somehow and went on a little Christian Dior shopping spree. (Let's hope they at least got something good!) Despite not having access to my checking account for a little while, all the money spent has been returned and everything's being taken care of!

Even without access to any sort of real funds, I've been having a wonderful time exploring the area and getting my bearings academically. My mom and stepdad actually took a short holiday in London as well so I got quite a few delicious "free" meals and enjoyed a few drinks with them at the pubs (which is still an idea I'm getting used to). Prior to their arrival I was able to go on a school-sponsored trip to Stonehenge and Salisbury, where we saw an amazing gothic cathedral - my architecturally inspired side went nuts when we saw it!

Interior of Salisbury Cathedral

Freezing my bum off at Stonehenge

I also was able to experience London's famous East End Markets this weekend. Although we only strolled through three, it was exciting to see everything from local produce and flowers to handicrafts and clothing for sale. Plus, it's the only place in London I know of where you can get a punnet of vegetables for only a pound. Being a girl on a college budget, the sound of that price is purely joyful. I'm looking forward to going back to the market this weekend to see more of the amazing street art and to take advantage of the plethora of local goods.

Flower Market in the East End

Delicious Patisserie at the Brick Lane Market

I also went on an open-top bus tour of the various parts of the city and was able to see all of London in a very small amount of time. We drove past parliament and Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Trafalgar Square, and the London Eye. It was nice to travel through the city above ground instead of on the Underground for once. I'm finally starting to realize where things are in relation to one-another.

Academically, this semester is really going to be an interesting and unique challenge. Having an entirely new cast of professors has put me firmly out of my comfort zone which I know will only help me as a designer. Plus, they're encouraging an entirely different way of thinking from what I'm used to back in the states. Right now, we're starting out on a project looking at business and personal ethics and how we can address those issues in a multidisciplinary design project. It's completely abstract and analytical thinking which is both intimidating and exciting. But let's be honest, the majority of my feelings about everything right now comes down to intimidation and excitement (mostly the latter though!)   (:

As if the other pictures weren't enough:

The quintessential "Big Ben" shot.

Street Art near Brick Lane

Brick Lane Markets

Pleasant Notes written in the East End

View of Parliament from the London Eye

Until next time!


U.K. English Word of the Week: "Chatted Up" meaning hit on

London Calling

Greetings dear readers!

It's been just over a week since my last post, and let me tell you, a lot can happen in one week. Last Monday I said goodbye to the states and hello to the UK. After struggling to narrow down four months of existence into one suitcase, waiting painstakingly through numerous flight delays, and (not) sleeping through one six hour haul, I finally made it to London!

Naturally, we were given hardly any time to adjust to extreme jet lag and general disorientation from stepping foot in a foreign country for the first time. Orientation procedures started promptly at 5:30 pm and got us geared up for the weeks to come. Most of the week was spent doing things like this; meeting and greeting, exploring side streets, and desperately searching for a flat to live in for four months.

After finally settling in at the new flat and successfully surviving my first day of classes, I'm loving London even more. Prior to today, I did manage to get some exploring in with some friends. We've stumbled upon a few local coffee shops, a delicious Filipino restaurant, a design & architecture exhibit, and even made our way to St. Paul's Cathedral.

Here are a few shots from our adventures so far!

Classic Telephone Booth Shot

Sculpture Near St. Paul's Cathedral

Design Exhibition in Holborn

St. Paul's Cathedral

& a few shots from the super-cute Dose Espresso near St.Paul's Cathedral:

After just a few days of wandering around various parts of town, I can only imagine what else London's hidden side streets and tucked away neighborhoods will reveal to me. It's not like I'm going to be here for four months or anything (:

Cheers! 

U.K. English Word of the Week: "Cheers" meaning thank you or thanks

Catching Up

With just one week until I take flight and make my way to the UK, it's been quite the...experience getting all my affairs in order. Making sure I have all the necessary documents ready, all my bills and bank accounts taken care of, and just generally my head firmly on my shoulders has been a lot to juggle. On top of that, I've been working on an updated portfolio of my strongest work. Basically, it's been the week for lists on lists on lists.

Trying to update my portfolio has been especially challenging. For obvious reasons, I'm trying to get that done before I leave next Monday. A week is honestly plenty of time to put together a sample portfolio, but it's been difficult for me to weed out what projects have been more successful than the others. Obviously, I'm proud of all the work I've done, but they sure don't say "kill your darlings" for nothin'.

After hours - literally - of thinking about this, I finally narrowed it down to about five projects that I'm SUPER confident showcase my skills without eliminating variety in my portfolio. Now the real challenge is to show those projects in a way that really sells me as a designer. That means, dun dun DUN, more editing...

Fitting my projects in one or two pages maximum has been, truthfully, a pain in the you-know-what. Giving enough context so the viewer understands the project without being a complete overload is a delicate balance I'm still trying to figure out. Hopefully, with a some perseverance and a little bit of luck, I'll get it all together and sent out to a few firms before my little Eurotrip. 

Until Next Time!