Recap

I haven't had a chance to sit down and write, so I'll try to recap my week. For the most part I just went to work and researched destitution. It's so hard to sit at a desk for 8 hours straight! I try to find reasons to get up and walk around the office. Generally I work through lunch, so twice this week after I ate and finished reading whatever article I was on I went for a walk. Thursday was the first time I actually went out, and when I said I was going for a walk one of my coworkers, Eleanor, suggested that I go to the cemetary. The suggestion sounded odd at first, but when she explained that there are famous authors buried there it made more sense. It's just down the street from the office, but it was a nice little walk. It's called the Bunhill Fields Burial Ground. Some of the people buried there are John Bunyan (Pilgrim's Progress); Daniel Defoe (Robinson Crusoe); Henry and Richard Cromwell (sons of Oliver Cromwell); and William Blake (poet). Lots of people eat lunch in the cemetary -- there are benches by the graves of Bunyan, Defoe, and Blake. It was really interesting. Yesterday for my walk I stopped in some of the shops across from my office building. I get really cold at work, so I picked up a sweater to keep there. There's also a big grocery store and the prices are better than some of the ones I've been to, so now I know that I can pick up a few things on the way back from work.

For my day off on Tuesday I went to a few museums -- which does NOT include the British Museum, for once. My supervisor was shocked! I went to the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, which is amazing. I also went to the Sir John Soane Museum, which is a lot better than I thought it was going to be. John Soane was an architect and he built the house which is now the museum. It's filled with things that he acquired while he was alive: furniture, paintings, artifacts. He had the sarcophogus of Seti I! I plan to go back to both of the museums at some point. The Sir John Soane Museum will take some planning, because it's best to go on a sunny day. The house isn't very well lit. When it gets dark they light some candles, but that doesn't do very much good. There are lots of skylights, so you just have to hope for a clear day when you go. Actually, the Petrie Museum isn't well-lit either ... I had to walk around with a flashlight (although they called it a torch, I'm not sure if that's because in England they call flashlights torches or because it was supposed to add to the atmosphere).

Thursday night I went on the Jack the Ripper walk with Alisha, Amber, Elizabeth, Kim, Liz, Steph, and Tara. The tour guide brought us around the areas of the City of London and East London where the victims of Jack the Ripper were found. It actually wasn't as creepy as we thought it might be, which was nice! Really the only time we were creeped out was when the tour guide said "Even though you don't know it, you've walked in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper. The cobblestone you walked over is the original cobblestone that was here in 1888, which he walked over to kill his victim." I know I had chills up and down my spine when she said that. It wasn't scary, but it was definitely creepy. That was one of the two things that are the same as they were in 1888, for the most part everything else is different. Between making things modern and having to rebuild after the war, there aren't too many things that have survived.

Other than that, I finally joined the gym after figuring out where the building is! The facility is pretty good. It's bigger than the gym at Clark, but smaller than I would have thought for so many students. So far I haven't had to wait for a machine though.

I don't have much planned for the weekend other than writing a paper that's due for my class on Tuesday. I am going on the London Eye today! Very exciting. Pictures in the next entry I write. :)

Busy Week

I can't believe it's already the weekend! I last wrote on Monday, so I'll start with Tuesday to recap. Tuesday is my day off from work since I have my class in the morning. I'm taking Social Psychology, which is really interesting. Turns out I really don't have much outside work for the class. The reading is optional unless you're writing a paper on that week's topic. So after class I went to the British Museum -- again. I saw the Lindow Man, mentioned in about half of the forensic books I've read; the African gallery; the Enlightenment gallery, which is incredible; and other things -- can't remember what I saw Tuesday & what I saw before that. The Enlightenment gallery was fantastic & I went to the hands on desk, where you can actually touch things! Which is good because every time I go to the museum I have the intense urge to touch things, which is a big no-no. My favourite was this little tiny vase from EGYPT! I held something from ancient Egypt! They also have a dinosaur skull on loan.

Other than that I worked all week. It's so weird getting back to the flat & not having anything to do. I'm not used to having any free time, I pretty much had none last semester, so I don't know what to do with myself! Luckily on Wednesday I didn't have to worry about that because as part of the programs we got tickets to see The Sound of Music! It was incredible! I've seen a few operas, but I had never seen a real musical/play -- just school productions. And I haven't seen the movie in a while, I forgot how much I love it! If anyone wants to get me a homecoming present in April, The Sound of Music on dvd & the soundtrack would be a pretty good bet! :P

Tonight there was a wine & cheese party for everyone on the program over at the flat next door. I have a group of firends already, which is nice, but it was good to see other people too. I don't drink, but I figured it would be rude not to have a glass of wine ... but then when I hated it like I should have anticipated, I had to trade glasses with Alisha. The cheese was good though! We wound up taking some cheese & grapes back with us. We watched the last episode of Grey's Anatomy online & I started some laundry ... I think I've already compalined about how ridiculously long laundry takes.

Tomorrow we're going to celebrate Elizabeth's birthday, which is on Monday. In the late morning we're going to go sight seeing for a while then we're going to this place called Roadhouse for dinner & dancing. It's smart-causual, but we were planning on getting dressed up anyways.

So there's the very abridged version of my week. Highlights: British Museum (as usual), The Sound of Music.

National AIDS Trust

First off, somehow I forgot to write about the guided walk of the Thames that we did Friday night. It was so nice. The tour guide was great & very knowledgable. There was a lot of Shakespeare stuff as well as the millenium projects & the London Bridge -- which is actually quite the let down. Apparently Tower Bridge is the exciting one, so I'm going to have to see that sometime. A few of us were going to go see it right after the walk, but couldn't figure out how to get there. Yesterday I went to Camden Market with a few of the girls. It was crazy & fantastic. I bought some cheap things, mostly scarves.

Today was my first day on the job. I'm working at National AIDS Trust. Even though there are only 16 staff members, it's one of the most important HIV organizations doing policy work. I'm on the policy & campaigns team & I'll be working on immigration & asylum. Basically I'll be doing lots of research, because they don't have much information on the subject. I'll specifically be looking at the right to housing & the right to work, how they influence HIV, etc. The two big projects I have are (1) generating a document for internal use & presenting information to the team on that as well as suggesting a course of actiong, be it publishing something for public use, holding a conference, whatever; (2) putting stuff up on the website about immigration & asylum. So you'll be able to see some of my work eventually.

I'll also be picking up smaller tasks. Today I started on a project that my supervisor's supervisor gave me. A few months back another HIV organization folded & didn't get around to creating/publishing a report or holding a conference that they had on tab. Another HIV organization took the conference & NAT took the report. Eleanor created the report & now it's ready to be send out, but the organization, for whatever reason, didn't have contact information for the 50 or so organizations the repord had to go out to. So today I looked up the contact information for them all & sent out the report. There are a handful of organizations that are tricky & I'll have to call around on Wednesday, but Joe was surprised that I pretty much finished it before the end of the day. I think it was supposed to be for the better part of the week. Now I'll be starting my research when I go back on Wednesday.

Tomorrow I have the day off since I have class in the morning. I have some errands to run before & after class, then I'll probably hit up a museum. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the British Museum again. There are other museums I want to see, but I'll probably save them for weekends since they aren't just around the corner! Plus it's supposed to be gross out -- up to 3 inches of rain & really windy. I'd rather be close by & not trekking around the city.

My Job & Cambridge

What a week it's been! Yesterday I had my job "interview" -- really an introductory meeting. Another girl from Clark had her interview before mine & close by, so we went together to meet Elizabeth Watkins, the woman who runs the international internship program & arranged our jobs. She thought I had been to London before since I knew my way around, so I took that as a compliment! She's an interesting woman, she's posh & has a lovely accent & voice.

When she took me to National AIDS Trust, my organization, we met with my supervisor (Joe) & the head of the office (Deborah). We talked about when I'll be working, what I'll be doing, & an overview of NAT. I'm working on relatively new territory, immigration & asylum. I'll be doing research on destitution, the right to work, access to treatment, & that sort of thing. I'll be developing documents which the organization will use & organizing something to go up on the website. Elizabeth W. left & then Joe introduced me around the office, which consists of 16 staff members, & showed me where everything is. I have my own desk, computer, & phone! After we sat down & chatted for a bit, about where I'm from, some of my volunteer work, what I had done so far in London & my upcoming plans. He's actually American, from Seattle, but has a bit of an accent sometimes since he's been living here. He's also young, it seems a lot of poeple in the office are. They go out sometimes after work, so that will be a great way for me to socialize with Brits! He gave me his mobile number & told me I can text or ring him if I have questions about anything & want an American perspective. I also had him show me on the bus map the most direct route to/from my flat & work. It's only a mile away, so I plan to walk as much as I can instead of taking the bus or tube. He said the bus takes about 10 min, but I have to walk a little from each stop, & the tube took about 20 minutes. Walking took about 20 minutes & is free! I walked back to the flat after my meeting. I'm sure when it's pouring though I'll be taking the bus, which is cheaper than the tube. I'm very excited to start on Monday!

Today we went to Cambridge, which took about an hour & a half by bus. First we had a bus tour, which was full of historical information but very quick & fast-paced. After that we went to one of the colleges which is part of Cambridge University for lunch. It definitely reminded us of Harry Potter -- there were long tables in the hall & a long table at the front which was on a platform for the important people to sit at. The buildings are all gorgeous. I think we all would love to transfer! We walked around King's College, then went to the market. We were supposed to go punting (boating, similar to gondolas), but the river was too high. I bought a scarf for 3 pounds & love it. That was all I got though since tomorrow we're planning on going to Camden market.

Cheers!

Sight Seeing

Today I went sight seeing/walking with Rachel (one of my roommates), Liz, and some of the girls who live next door: Elizabeth, Amber, and Tara. We went to Buckingham Palace and saw the changing of the guard. We walked through a park and saw LOTS of birds! Two palace guards walked by and we were going to ask to take a picture with them, but they were giving someone directions or something like that. We saw Big Ben and then walked down Parliament Street and saw the outside of the Calvary Museum. We walked by the National Gallery then stopped for lunch. Alisha joined us after her internship meeting and we went to the National Portraits Gallery. Kim met up with us a bit later as well. We just did one floor of the Gallery before Rachel and I left. They have a room with pictures of Princess Diana that was put up for the 10th anniversary of her death.

I'm including some photos in this post. Please let me know if you would like to see more photos of anything and I can e-mail them to you!

Also, as a general notice, I'm unfortunately not going to be able to use Skype. :( My computer is terrible and at first I thought I just wouldn't be able to do the webcam myself, then I thought I wouldn't be able to see other people's webcams either, now it seems that I can't even do mic-to-mic. I'm pretty bummed about that. But I can still use the messaging on Skype, so if you have it please let me know your user name so I an add you to my list. I also have AIM, so let me know if you have that (if I don't already know).

Feeling at Home

I'm already feeling at home here in London. The flat is nice, I've figured my way around a bit, and who wouldn't love being just around the corner from the British Museum!

Today I set up my local bank account and then went to the British Museum. I was so giddy about going, I could hardly contain myself! It's so big and wonderful. I did the Egypt galleries (first on my own then the free tour), the Rosetta Stone & Egypt sculptures, and the Elgin marble. Those are the things I really wanted to see, so I did them first. Now I'm going to figure out what else is there and probably see everything before I leave. I plan on going back to the Egypt galleries & sculptures as well, because that's what I'm really interested in. I also want to see the Reading Room, but it's closed until 6 April because that's where they have the terra cotta warriors on loan from China. Luckily I will be here until the 21st and will be able to see the Reading Room once that exhibit is gone.

On schedule for tomorrow is a trip to Camden Town to go to the market with the girls in the flat next door. They went the other day and loved it, so we want to go now! They found cheap scarves that we all want to get and hopefully I can find a cheap set of sheets, since we weren't given a top sheet for our beds. I also have errands to run, like going to Birkbeck to, among other things, find out about joining the gym. So far there has been a lot of errand running! The refrigerator is so small and most things aren't sold in large packages, so it requires lots of trips to get groceries. There are tons of grocery stores though, all very close. On the way to the bank this morning we saw a stand selling fresh fruit and vegetables at very reasonable prices, so on the way back to the flat I picked up some strawberries. Finding deals like that is great, so hopefully I can find some more! I still haven't gotten used to the expense of everything. It's terrible. I'll most certainly be broke by the time I get back to the States! But so far it's well worth it.

Cheers.

PS -- Please do comment on these posts. It would be nice to know someone is reading them. :)

Safe & Sound

I'm in London! I already love it!

It's been an interesting few days. Saturday I met up with Alisha at the airport. There wound up being 4 other Clarkies on the flight, so we talked with most of them before boarding the plane. The flight was smooth for the most part, but the landing was a little rougher than I'm used to. I caught a cold last week, so my ears got blocked. We had a two hour layover in Iceland (I have the passport stamps to prove it!) and we just found couches & crashed for a bit. I didn't get my ears to pop until right before we took off for London. That flight was fine, but my ears got blocked again. :/ It was much easier to pop them the second time though.

Once we got to London, we went through immigration. After that we just collected our luggage & met someone from the program in the terminal. There was a problem with the bus that was supposed to be waiting for us -- it wasn't there -- so we had to wait a while for that. I called my mom VERY briefly from a payphone to let her know I was alive.

Taking the bus was nice because we got to see some of London. However, I was so tired because I have a hard time falling asleep on planes & got no sleep. My eyes kept closing even though I wanted to see everything. We were dropped off at 11 Bedford Place & they let us wickly go to our flats to drop off our luggage. I live at 12 Bedford Place, so I didn't have far to go. We had an orientation meeting and then were able to go back to our flats. They're huge! Well, the ones on Bedford Place are. We have a living room, eating area, and kitchen upstairs, then the bedrooms and bathrooms down a set of stairs. There's also a ton of storage space, which is great for our suitcases, etc. I've actually taken some pictures of the flat, so I'll get those up once I get them on my computer.

I put most of my stuff away -- we each have a closet & set of drawers -- but they only gave us a dozen hangers, so some of my stuff is still in a suitcase waiting to be put away once we get more hangers. We each have a cork board, but no tacks. I actually saw one on the board in the hall right when you come in the first door of the flat, so I took it because I only need one to hang up my calendar. I brought a board from home with ribbons to put pictures, etc. in, so I already have all my pictures and letters up from home. :)

Classes start this week, unlike what I thought. Mine is on Tuesdays, so it starts tomorrow. Alisha's class is at the same time, so we're going to walk over together. We were at Birkbeck today & it's very close. The building our classes are in was actually Virginia Woolf's house! I'm looking forward to my class. We're planning on going to get our Oyster cards for the Tube afterwards & looking for the A-Z guide of street maps, which has been quite hard to find. Today we already got our mobile phones and went grocery shopping.

I'm starting to settle in a little more, especially now that the internet is working (it wasn't until a few hours ago) and I have a way to get power to my computer! Long story. I don't really have my bearings yet directions wise, but I do know how to get to a few places. Yesterday I was so tired & it hadn't really sunk in that I'm in London. Today, walking around and seeing so many people, it's crazy!

The weather is actually nice. It rained last night & it raining for a few minutes today, and now it's raining again. Other than that, the temperature is very nice. Feels more like maybe late October in Massachusetts. There are a lot of parks -- one on each side of the block (Bloomsbury Square and Russell Square), and one by the building my class is in on Gordon Street.

I'm so sorry that I didn't get to call some of you before I left! Things were crazy because I was only home for two and a half weeks and had so much to do. I'll make it up to you. :)