The End of an Era

By the time I post this I’ll probably be at London Heathrow, preparing to leave England. I left Southampton on Saturday, made my way to the Holiday Inn at Heathrow and enjoyed not having to rush to the gate and board my plane. The staff here has been wonderful and even gave me a free drink voucher because my room needed 5 more minutes to be ready. Not going to complain about that!

But what’s really going through my head is this emotional tug of war battle. On the one hand, I am overly excited to head back to the US. I have never appreciated what we have more than after living here and learning about what my friends from other countries have. In the least cliche way possible, I am very proud to be an American. I’m also over the moon excited to see my family and friends…and dog. It’s been almost 9 months since I was last home, and a whole year since I started this journey, and I’m looking forward to reuniting with those who supported my decision to pursue a master’s degree.

On the other hand, my heart is breaking. This past year has been one of the most amazing years of my life. Full stop. Period. I have met some of the most interesting, courageous, caring people that will always hold a special place in my heart. They have taught me so many things, both in and out of the classroom and library settings! I can not imagine that this past year would have been as impactful as it was had those people not been a part of it.

While I try to figure out if I’m really happy or not about leaving, I’ve reflected a bit on myself. This year has brought many firsts into my life, including:
-Living in a foreign country for an entire year
-Traveling alone, to places where I don’t speak the language, eating alone, and making myself talk to others in the hostels
-Opening my mind to the world
-Giving football (soccer) a chance, and actually enjoying it
-Not being afraid to put myself out there and live a little

It has also taught me many things, such as:
-Understanding how hard English is for those who do not to speak it as their first language
-Stereotypes are just that – stereotypes. You have to give people a chance no matter who they are or where they come from

And these are just some of the initials things I thought of over my wine and pizza last night. As the days pass, I find a job and move on with my life, I know this past year will play a huge role into my personal and professional development.

So, to my new friends, I love you and miss you already. To my friends and family in the USA, see you all very, very soon!

Why Every American is Now a “Football” Fan

As the World Cup continues, and the US Men’s National Team plays for a chance to move on tonight against Germany, I’ve continually been asked, “Do Americans really like football?” As seen on TV (no, this is not an infomercial!) and the internet, Americans are actively watching the matches, engaging on social media sites and actually acting as though they care about what happens! So where did all of these “fans” come from? In my opinion, there are two kinds of football/soccer fans in the US:

1. The real fans: These are the people who played soccer growing up, follow the MLS and/or actually understand what’s going on. They have an appreciation for the sport outside of the World Cup. Believe me, there ARE real fans in the US.

2. The “I love America” fans: This is where the majority of Americans fall into, myself included. We all sort of understand the rules since we played it in gym class, know yellow and red cards aren’t good and the point of the match is to get the ball in the goal. But that’s pretty much it. Ok, I might be exaggerating a little but not too much. For the most part, you’ll never see soccer on our TVs unless the US is playing.

But the point I’m trying to make…No matter what the sport or event, we’re Americans. We’re known for showing our patriotism. Most of us have something in our closets that has the American flag on it and if we don’t, we’ll get something! We love where we’re from and want to make that known, especially to our athletes playing. Today, it’s soccer. Tomorrow, who knows?! It could be figure skating or archery or whatever. The point is if there are Americans positively representing the country, we stand behind them.

To be honest, I do have a better appreciation for football since living in England. I’ve probably watched more matches in the 9 months I’ve been here than my whole life combined. But that’s the fun part of living in another country. I get to experience different things and gain better appreciations that I wouldn’t have been able to if I’d never left home.

So there you have it! We might not love soccer all year long, but we love our country. Alas, we love the World Cup. With that, good luck to the USA tonight and remember, One Nation One Team.

Time to start blogging again!

It has been far too long since my last post, and since then, so much has happened:

1. I finished my second and final semester of my postgraduate programme:  After Easter break, I turned in a total of 10 different assignments, which was more intense that I had originally anticipated.  Some were individual, others group and all took an excessive amount of effort to finish.  I could calculate approximately how many words I wrote, but I might frighten you.  Second semester turned out to be a bit better than the first, but there were still roadblocks along the way.  If you’re reading this, and considering coming to England to study from another country, just know that the teaching style here will probably be different than what you’re used to.  I’ve spent more hours teaching myself this year than I could have imagined.  While this is not entirely a bad thing, I wasn’t prepared for this, making the entire years a complete learning curve.  But, I did learn a great deal over the past 8 months.  I wouldn’t say I’m an expert in any one subject, but I do have a better understanding about a wide variety of digital marketing areas.

2. I started my dissertation: Just when I thought my days were going to be a little easier…bam!  My proposal was approved, I received a supervisor and was off and rolling.  I’m really enjoying my topic so far and have been told it could really add some new knowledge to the marketing industry.  Who knows, maybe it will! More on my dissertation later, but don’t want to get ahead of myself.  Here’s a little hint…it’s all about hashtags!

3. I spent 17 days traveling around Ireland, England and Scotland:  After handing in my last assignment, I had a few days to relax before catching a 6:50am flight from Southampton to Dublin to meet my parents.  While they had some issues (cancelled flight out of Chicago and unfriendly employees of an airline that will not be named), I made it to one of my favourite cities without any issues.  This trip was a great experience for the three of us, though I think my parents were pretty tuckered out by the time they returned how.  Admittedly, I was too! More posts and pictures to come on this trip in the coming days.

I have no excuses anymore to not blog regularly.  In fact, blogging will probably help me clear my brain of my dissertation research and everything else that is going on.  Be on the lookout for posts about  the rest of my trip to Germany, most recent travels and any other new and exciting adventures I have from now on.

Berliner Dom and Schnitzel

After spending the majority of my day at Museumsinsel, the sun was still out and I had some energy left to keep sightseeing.  Next to Museumsinsel is this beautiful cathedral, the Berliner Dom.

 The exterior of this cathedral is absolutely breathtaking, especially since most of it was not damaged during WWII.  Though there was some fire damage that caused the roof to collapse.

Walking into a cathedral this size is always either a huge disappointment or an eye-opening experience.  Let’s just say my eyes were wide open for a long time.

I was lucky enough to walk in during a rehearsal for Bach’s Matthäuspassion that was to be performed in April.  The beautiful sounds of operatic singing and strings playing filled the dome.  I sat down for at least an hour enjoying this free concert of sorts.

With only a little time left before the cathedral closed I knew I had to motivate and walk around.  One of the most impressive pieces in this cathedral was the pipe organ.

Though I didn’t realise it when I bought the entrance ticket, I had the opportunity to climb up to the top of the cathedral and look upon Berlin.  So I climbed, and climbed and continue climbing until I reached a door and walked outside.  Had it not been cloudy, it would have been absolutely amazing.  But, beggars can’t be choosers, and I enjoyed the views the best I could.

From there I found myself in the crypt.  This was one as I’d never seen before with large coffins lined up and crowns displayed to recognise royalty.

Feeling absolutely famished I made my way over towards Hackerscher Markt to find a bite to eat.  The night before I played it safe with some Italian food but after this day, I wanted a beer and some traditional German food.

I found myself at Restauration 1840.  There were people sitting and eating inside, which is always a good sign, so I made my way in and found a table for one.

The servers were extremely helpful and I ordered a Warsteiner and Schnitzel Weiner Art.  Never having schnitzel before, I was a little skeptical.  You always hear about schnitzel but if you’re like me, ask yourself, “What the heck is a schnitzel?”  Basically, it’s tenderized meat, coated and fried.  Delicious, but extremely filling.  While I didn’t finish the whole thing, I only left a few bites.

A fine end to a great day!

Berlin’s Museumsinsel

A city such as Berlin is bound to have some fantastic museums.  Fortunately, I had the opportunity to visit three of the five museums that make up Museumsinsel.

I started my day at the Pergamon Museum.  Now, the great thing about being a student again is paying half the price of a regular ticket.  Because of its exhibits, the Pergamon ticket is sold separately.  But, for only 3 euros more (at the student price, of course),  I was able to buy an all-museum pass.

After dropping my bags off (all the Museumsinsel museums have lockers because you aren’t allowed to carry backpacks around), I was greeted by The Ishtar Gate and the Processional Way of Babylon.  Story time – back in 2010, my brother, cousins and I went to the British Museum in London.  My brother was so excited to be there and raced around looking for these gates because he believed they were here.  Unfortunately, this is when we learned the gates were in Berlin.  So, in honour of my brother’s determination, I knew I had to go and see the Gates of Babylon just for him, and I’m glad I did!  They were massive, and the most beautiful blue colour.  These sections in the Pergamon Museum are only a small part of the original gate and wall but truly provide a breathtaking perspective.

From there I moved on to the:

Market Gate of Miletus

Pergamon Alter

Many Middle-Eastern pieces

Mshatta Facade

The Pergamon Museum was well worth the visit and I highly encourage anyone going to Berlin to take a few hours check it out.

After the Pergamon Museum I went next door to the Neues Museum.  After being heavily damaged during WWII, this museum reopened in 2009.  While the third floor was closed, I did see the Egyptian and Prehistory and Early History collections.

Wanting to get my money’s worth from the ticket, I decided to grab a quick bite to eat and check out the Bode Museum.  The museum is home to a collection of sculptures and Byzantine art.  When I lived in Rome, Italy during my undergrad, I can honestly say I saw enough religious paintings and marble sculptures to last a lifetime!  But, the Bode Museum’s collection was quite impressive and I’m glad I made time for it.

One observation from Museumsinsel and The British Museum…The Germans and the British have a LOT of precious items that don’t necessarily belong to them.  Now, whether they’re “borrowed” or not is an entirely different question, but this is just an observation, nothing more.

A long, long day of museums but definitely one I won’t forget anytime soon!

Sandmans New Europe Tour – Berlin

On Wednesday, I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed, ready to step out into Berlin and see more of this amazing city. Before arriving, some of my American friends recommended the Sandmans New Europe tours. I’ve been on a few free tours in other European cities with great experiences so I figured I’d try this one too.

On this morning I met my tourguide Rob, an Englishman with a sad love-story-gone-wrong, bringing him to Berlin a few years ago. I met him in the middle of Pariser Platz, or Paris Square, which looks upon the Brandenburger Tor. This square was named after the French capital in honour of the anti-Napoleon Allies’ occupation of Paris in 1814. Basically, Napoleon took the arch, put in near the Louvre, Germany took it back, renamed their square to mean the Victory (which sits on top the Brandenburg Gate) is always watching over Paris (or, the French). Pretty cheeky!

We then learned a little history such as – did you know the word Berlin is Slovak? Or that Germany was once part of the Prussian empire? At one point, Prussia was “enormous” but eventually become part of Germany and Poland. In 1871, Germany unified and, under Prussian leadership, became the German Empire.

Next we came across the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. This memorial was opened 9 years ago on the 60th Anniversary of WWII. It is centrally located, forcing people every day to confront the memorial and what it stands for. This memorial is specifically for 6 million Jewish people murdered during WWII; every other group of people were murdered during this time have their own memorial somewhere in Berlin. Peter Eisenam, the designer of the memorial, has left the meaning behind it up to interpretation for each individual. One interpretation we heard from Rob, was that it represents the rise of anti-Semitism. As you move in towards the middle of the memorial, it becomes deeper, making the stones taller. The memorial looks like a bell-shaped curve – lower on the edges and increase/peaks in the middle. The middle represent Hitler’s rein. This is not just a memorial, but also a warning for what we need to protect. Under the memorial is the Holocaust museum, which I plan to visit before leaving Berlin.

From there we came across a car park. How is this interesting, you might ask? This car park is where Hitler’s Bunker used to be. It is now blank as to not glorify what was once there. It is also the site where Hitler and his wife, Ave, committed suicide in 1945, one day after their marriage.  Didn’t stay here long, as I’m sure you understand why!

Walking down the street in the rain, we came across Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus, which was once a Nazi building. In 1952, this mural was painted on it to “depict” what life in East Germany was like. More than likely, this was not a realistic representation, but more for show to the American and Soviet governments.

Behind Detlev-Rohwedder-Haus is what the Berlin wall looked like in 1961. Its rounded top made it impossible for people to grab hold/climb over. Life in West Berlin was better than the east, and the wall separated many loved ones unexpectedly. In its 28 ½ years existence, only 121 people successfully made it from East Berlin to West Berlin.   This wall is the 7^th version as it’s been torn down/rebuilt since its destruction in 1989.

A quick walk from here brought us to Checkpoint Charlie, the best-known Berlin Wall crossing point during the Cold War and where the United States and Soviet Union met during this time period. Sargent Harper the American soldier pictured, looks towards East Berlin while the other side pictures a Soviet Union soldier, tasked to watch West Berlin.   Again, this is just a replicate, and according to Rob, not a completely accurate one.

The rest of the tour took us through Tolerance Square, past the Dasconcert Haus, Deutsche Oper Berlin, the site of the 1933 Nazi Book Burning, TV Tower and ended on Museumsinsel. We also learner about the Ampelmännchen. This is the symbol shown on the cross walk sign. As one of the few features still in existence from communist East Germany, he has become a popular tourist symbol.

Let’s be honest, I think I learned more about Berlin and Germany during this tour than I ever did in history class. Big shoutout to Rob for being an awesome tour guide, and for providing an educational, entertaining and enjoyable afternoon. Though it rained off and on, I am so glad I decided to go. I already have my Munich reservation so hopefully it’s as good as the Berlin tour!

Berlin the Beautiful

First day and I made it through alive!  Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but let’s just say I navigated the city and made it back to the hostel in one piece.  But, it has definitely been a long day!

Waking up at 2:45am is never easy, and grabbing a 4:30am coach to the airport is that much harder.   But, it beats paying for a night at a Heathrow hotel, which isn’t cheap.  I flew Germanwings from London to Berlin and was pleasantly surprised with the experience.  The flight was a little delayed, but only by 5 minutes.  The flight attendants were friendly and served water, cheese/ham sandwiches and chocolates to everyone onboard.  Better than a pack of peanuts if you ask me!

We touched down at Berlin Tegal and, of course, it began to rain.  It’s like I attract the rain wherever I go these days!  But, not bother.  Passport control was the best I’ve ever experienced.  Literally, walked off the plane, had my passport checked and stamped, and was on my way to baggage.  There were 4 passport checkers right at the end of the tunnel, which was unbelievable.  The bags arrived within 5 minutes of getting of the plane as well.  Kudos Berlin for making my airport experience an A+!

Once out of luggage claim, I easily found the Tourist Information desk to purchase my Berlin Welcome Card.  This card gives me access to all the public transportation as well as discounts at restaurants and museums.  Since I’ll be here 4 nights, it just made sense.  It’s also predicted to rain every day so now I won’t have to worry about getting stuck in it.

Next step…figure out how to get to my hostel, The Wombat.  Now, of course I did all the research I could before leaving home regarding directions, and the hostel provided very helpful directions on my confirmation email.  I took the TXL bus to Alexanderpratz, then the U2 (underground) from Alexanderprats to Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz.  From there, a few quick lefts and I was at my doorstop.

The Wombat staff was super friendly when I arrived and I only had to wait 20 minutes before checking into my room.  During that wait, I was handed a wifi password that’s good for 7 days.  Not bad since most hostels nowadays charge an arm and a leg for wifi.

Now, when I originally booked my room, I could only book two nights in a 6 mixed dorm and two nights in a 6 female dorm.  This meant I would have to check out after two nights and recheck-in.  Fortunately, The Wombat was able to put me into a 6 female dorm for all 4 nights, making my life a whole lot easier!

When I finally got into my room I met Vivian, an exchange student from Hong Kong studying for a semester in Liverpool.   Super friendly and also travelling on her own.

With the sun peaking out from behind the clouds for a bit, I knew I needed to suck up the exhaustion and get out there.  I took the U2 to Potsdamer Platz and found some original pieces of the Berlin Wall on display.  From there I took a quick walk to fine Tiergarten.  Since I’ll probably be dodging rain for the next few days. I took a stroll through the park, taking in its greenness and spring-like smells.

Then, I made a quick peak at the Reichstag building to see its beautiful glass dome and stone sculptures.

On the way there I found the Memorial To The Sinti and Roma of Europe Murdered Under National Socialism.

Next, I went from one side to the other of the Brandenburger Tor.  This city gate was built in the 18^th century and was a symbol of divided Berlin and the Cold War.

With the weather still on my side I walked up Unterden Linden to Schloβplatz for a quick look at Museumsinsel (Museum Island), Fernsehturm (TV Tower) and St. Marienkirche.

Then, the wind started picking up and I realised all I ate today was a peanut butter sandwich and a few bites of my cheese sandwich on the airplane.  So I jumped back on the U2 from Alexanderplats (yep, ended up back there) towards the hostel.  Knowing I didn’t want to be too far from my hostel, I grabbed a quick Italian dinner at La Cucina next door.  Tortellini alla panna did the trick and I was back on my feet…and heading for the hostel.

When I first checked in I received a drink coupon, but I don’t think I’ll be using that tonight! Better save it for tomorrow when I can enjoy it. Might even check-out the Photo Booth that’s outside my window then as well.  But for real, there’s a Photo Booth outside.

For not, I think it’s time to head to my room, put on a movie and get ready for my New Europe Tour tomorrow morning!

There’s a First Time for Everything!

Well folks, today’s the day I step WAY out of my comfort zone and take my first solo trip. That’s right, solo, as in alone, by myself, no one accompanying me…you get the idea.

Now, if you know me or have read through my blog posts, you’re probably thinking: “Wait, didn’t you go to ASU for your undergrad not knowing anyone? Didn’t you move to Rome, Italy for 6 months? Don’t you currently live in England?” Yes, yes and yes. But, I wasn’t completely on my own in any of those places as they were all for academic purposes and I knew I’d meet people pretty quickly.

This is different. Today, I’m sitting in London Heathrow T1, enjoying a coffee and muffin from Pret and awaiting my flight to Berlin, Germany.

Germany has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember. Some of my ancestors are German or Prussian. Also, when it comes to history, one of my favourite time periods to study was, and is WWII, which includes the concentration camps and Holocaust.  There are so many memorials and museums dedicated to this time period that it only makes sense that I visit.  Aside from history, I do enjoy a glass, pint or litre of beer from time to time and what better place to experience a proper Beer Hall than in Munich?!

So, over the next 9 days, I’ll travel to Berlin and Munich to experience a brand new culture and way of life. I’m excited, a little nervous, but ready to see what this country throws my way. Stay tuned for updates from my German adventures!

First Football (Soccer) Match

If you didn’t know this about me, I love sports. All sports.  I love watching them, playing them, you name it and I’ll try it.  In my family, if you don’t like sports, well, good luck!  Just filled out my March Madness bracket the other day and like most, it’s already in the toilet.

I grew up a dancer (ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, hip hop, modern, you get the picture) but dabbled with sports in between.  Had my time playing softball – not for me.  I really liked baseball but once I was at a certain level I was asked to leave because I was a “liability”/they were afraid I was going to get hurt by the pitching machine.  In high school I played golf, and still play whenever I can.  When I lived in Arizona, being able to play golf had its bonuses as you can play all year long!

In terms of watching sports, I’ll watch anything.  I like:

Baseball (Go Cubs!)

American Football (Go Pack Go!)

Hockey (Let’s Go Hawks!)

Now Football (or as we silly Americans call it, Soccer) is a sport I didn’t grow up with.  Sure, I went to a few matches in high school and played it in gym class, but it isn’t as popular in the states as it is everywhere else in the world.  So, living in the UK and trying to take in as much culture as possible, I experienced my first football match on 15^th March 2014 – a Barclays Premier League match between Southampton and Norwich.

We arrived at St. Mary’s Stadium on a surprisingly pleasant and sunny Saturday to a sea of red.  It’s nice to see people supporting the Saints through jerseys, t-shirts, scarves and beyond.

We purchased out tickets through the University of Southampton and were seated in one of the corners.  A little worried about these seats, I was happily proven wrong.  The stadium holds a little over 30,000 people so there isn’t a bad seat in the house!  We were early enough to grab a pie, cider and watch warm-ups.

With 20 minutes before the match, more than half the seats were emqpty.  But, as I soon learned, the seats fill up about 5 minutes before the whistle blows.  We contributed this to the fact that you can’t bring alcohols past the concession stands, so everyone drinks before finding their seats.

 

 

 

When the match stated, the atmosphere changed dramatically.  It was a bit hard to understand the chants and cheers of the fans but there was one I did recognize – “When the Saints go Marching In”.  Having gone to a Catholic school for part of my life, and our mascot being the I.C. Saints, this was a familiar tune.  So, I joined in as best as I could.

Southampton beat Norwich that sunny Saturday, 4-2.   Not bad for my first, but definitely not last, Football match!

TFM&A 2014

Last week, I was up and on the coach before sunrise, heading to London for TFM&A 2014.  The Technology for Marketing and Advertising conference is an annual event for professionals in the marketing and advertising industry.  It provides presentations about new and upcoming technologies and innovations, information on products and services and networking opportunities.

Why did I go?  An excellent question!  My main reason for attending was to learn more about the digital marketing industry from a real-life perspective.  While I did work in advertising, it was only for a quick 2 years and I am far from a digital expert.  Also, being back in the classroom only provides a theoretical view of how to understand analytics or design a digital strategy.  The professionals at TFM&A not only understand what has been, they are also the ones predicting what will come in terms of social media trends, the evolution of brands and the next “big thing” in technology.  So, I wanted to surround myself with these people and pick their brains for information.

What did I learn?  More than I can put into one blog post, that’s for sure!  But let me summarise some of they key takeaways I discovered:

1. Social media has changed our lives:  Whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any of the others out there, you can’t ignore them.  Social media outlets aren’t just for posting pictures and keeping in touch with long-lost  high school friends anymore.  They have changed the ways in which consumers consume media and how the media generates and provides information to their consumers.  I attended a keynote given by Anthony Simon, Head of Digital Communications, Prime Minister’s Office & Cabinet Office, who told us how the Prime Minister uses Facebook to provide people with emotional content, such as updates on the current UK Flooding.  A few years back, this information would have most likely been disclosed in a press release but thanks to the evolution of social media, the day of the press release may be coming to an end.  You may not have seen it coming, but how we communicate has, and will continue to, change.

2. Master’s degrees aren’t what they used to be: At one point during the “Panel debate: The future of marketing – have Gen X and Gen Y got what it takes?” keynotes, I started to have second thoughts about pursuing my master’s degree.  One of the Gen X panel members make a comment about how he could care less if a future employee had some “fancy MBA” or other degree.  You can probably imagine my face changing from a smile to one that showed pure horror.  Fortunately, other people on the panel weighed in on the topic and said sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn’t.  But, HR departments still see it as an impressive accomplishment, which can help candidates land an interview.  They also said that a master’s degree is more about the experiences one took to achieve it.  Those experiences are what a future employer wants to hear about in an interview and those experiences are what will set up apart from the rest.

3. Passion outweighs everything:  You can be good, heck, even great at something, but if you don’t have passion for it, you might as well pack your bags.  Passion and curiosity are the key driving forces to becoming a successful marketer.  Without them, you’ll probably be out of a job.  The marketing and advertising industries are progressing before our eyes every day and you need to be ready and willing to evolve with them.  You might not know what the changes are, but that’s OK.  As long as your curiosity drives you to get out of bed every day to do something you’re passionate about, you’re going to make it.

These are just some of the many insights I gained at TFM&A 2014.  I could go on and on about statistics and data I picked up, but in the digital world, that information is probably already out of date.  However, the above takeaways are ideas I can put in my marketing toolkit and use in the coming months as I look for a job, and in my future marketing/advertising career.

Dreaming of a Beach Day

Having been in England since the end of September, 2013, I’ve noticed a trend in the weather.  Most days, it looks something like this:

If you couldn’t tell, I was definitely inside drying off when this picture was taken.  Cold, rainy, windy and miserable.  These are just a few of the words I’d use to describe the past few months.  I spent the last 6 years in the desert state of Arizona, so this much rain is completely out of my comfort zone!

So, when I’m feel “meh”, I think back to a few weekends ago when I went to California.  We spent the day hiking the beach, eating delicious food and celebrating my sister-in-law’s birthday.

We started the day off on Zuma Beach, just a hop, skip and a drive over the mountains from my aunt and uncle’s house.  It was cloudy and a bit cool when we started but nothing compared to the weather I had come from.

 

After a quick 2 mile walk/hike, we arrived at Paradise Cove, a cute little joint tucked away on the beach in Malibu.  Now, when in America, eat like an American!  While I should have gone for some eggs, I splurged on some apple pie pancakes and a mimosa.

And what’s a birthday breakfast without an enormous cake to feed everyone?!  I think she was a bit surprised, but Happy Birthday Lindsay!

After breakfast, the sun came out and we started our journey back up the beach.

 

So if you’re experiencing the winter blues in rainy England, snowy Chicago or wherever else has crummy weather, I hope there is a sunny day in your near future.

 

California Baby Shower

As the wind howls and the rain pours day after day here in England, I am reminded of a weekend that seems like an eternity ago…even though I just returned Tuesday!  Somehow, I had the privilege of flying to California on February 6 for a weekend of celebrations.  The first: a baby shower.

As much as we could, we tried to keep my attendance a secret for my beautiful, pregnant cousin, Laura.  Unfortunately, when she picked me up at the airport, she was only a little surprised, but I think happy to see me.  The two of us and two of my other cousins, Katie and Susie, left LAX and headed for Agoura Hills.  With more family arriving through the day and Friday, it was the perfect mini-reunion.

Friday was preparation day.  We chopped, sliced and assembled food for Saturday’s party while laughing, joking and catching up on one another’s lives.  After that, mani/pedis and Mexican food were in order to relax and keep chatting.  If you have the chance to meet my family, you’ll quickly learn that we’re talkers, so when we’re together, we always have a lot of catching up to do!

Then, came Saturday, where the entire house was awake and in the kitchen by 7:30am.  Grant it, coffee came first for most of us, but we were rolling bright and early.  Without knowing the sex of the baby, and knowing my cousin’s forever love for dinosaurs, my Aunt Deb and cousin Katie decided on a dino-themed shower.  Orange and green filled the house along with dinosaur books, toys and decorations.

Though we had hoped for a sunnier day, it didn’t rain, allowing us to be outside.  Tables were setup and decorated – we even made the napkins look like tiny diapers (adorable is you ask me!).

To go with the orange theme, we made an orange punch which contained: 2 litres Sprite, 2 litres Ginger Ale, 1 Sparkling Cider and a frozen container of orange juice.  Delicious!  Add a little white wine and presto – Mason Jar Spritzers.

Once the guests started to arrive we put out the appetisers: cheese platter, antipasti skewers, mini spinach artichoke dip cups and tiddly winks (or, pigs in the blankets) that looked like swaddled babies.

Then came the games: guess the price of the baby items, Baby Pictionary, and “My Water Broke!”, a game where you freeze mini plastic babies in ice cubes, put one ice cube in each guests’ glass and the first person whose ice cube melts completely yells, “My Water Broke!”.

Lunch was served between the games and consisted of lettuce salads, sandwiches and a fruit salad.

Next, and my favourite part, dessert!  Tiered platters were served to each table with mini French Silk Pies, Petite Bundt’s and “Dirt” in a Jar.

Finally, it was time to open presents.  They sure do make some interesting things for kids these days.  From organic diapers and wipes to the “poop closet” and enough Packers/49ers gear to go around, this little bundle of joy will be well taken care of.

Though I’m already missing the warm, California sun, I couldn’t be more grateful to have had the opportunity to go back to the US for this event.  Can’t wait for this little lovely to be born.  Congratulations Laura and Chandler!

From Print to Digital – A Publication’s Evolutionary Tale

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend an event about how newspapers and magazines are moving from print to digital formats.  Bryan Glick, Editor in Chief of Computer Weekly, graciously took time out of his day to come to the University of Southampton and speak with DigiChamps and WAIS/DTC and Digital Marketing students.  He spoke of how Computer Weekly has moved from a print magazine to a fully digital publication.

Glick started at Computer Weekly in 2009, a time where the United Kingdom and most of the world were in the midst of a recession.  With many print companies going under and closing up shop, Glick took on the challenge of fixing this “broken” publication.  After a few years, Computer Weekly decided to cease printing in 2011.  While many took this as the magazine calling it quits, this was not the case.

There is a common misconception these days when it comes to publications moving from a print format to a digital format.  Digital does not mean dead; Digital means change.  While the tangible product is eliminated, the same quality, if not better, is transferred to a digital form.  From a consumer’s point of view, the largest change is the distribution method.

On the other hand, companies moving from print to digital models have a challenging task to consider– reworking their business structure.  Glick told us, “Digital does not mean digitise,” which, when you think about it, really makes sense.  You can’t take a print business model, replace the platform and except it to keep running smoothly.  Digital strategies require different elements and metrics, and those companies who do not realise this are destined to fail.  So, Glick and his team combined readers’ demographic information with their personal preferences to form a new digital strategy.

With the creation of a new business structure, the role of the journalist changed dramatically.  Journalist were once known to be the experts in their fields, being the first to know of a situation and reporting to inform.  Now, thanks to the Internet, they no longer play the role of the information gatekeeper.  Today, journalists must engage with their readers through social media, blogs and other digital media, in order to discover information and become informed.  Instead of being the first to know, they work to be part of a community of interest in order to learn and react to the world around them.

Overall, the evolution of the web and technology has, and will continue to, change the balance of power.  The news world used to be controlled and managed by the reporters.  Today, more than ever, the consumers hold the reins.  They have the ability to choose how and when they consume their media, whether it be via smartphone, tablet, laptop or whatever technology comes next.

Having worked in the media industry before, I truly appreciated hearing about Computer Weekly’s transition and the challenges they faced.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve had to tell people that print isn’t dying.  Rather, it is evolving and adapting to its changing environment.

A big thanks to Bryan Glick for this very interesting presentation and for teaching us that we can expect even more, drastic changes to come.

A Saturday in Salisbury

Another day, another adventure.  Last Saturday, I ventured a bit north to Salisbury.  Officially a city in 1220, Salisbury has so much history to offer visitors.

Two of my course mates, Shaddy and Bianca, and I set off early Saturday morning for the train station.  After a quick stop in Eastleigh to change trains, we headed through the countryside towards Salisbury.  With the more-than-average rain we’ve been having, the fields and forests contained lush, green life.

Unfortunately, with rain in the forecast for later that day, we knew we’d be lucky to just stay dry under the cold, gray clouds.   As we left the Salisbury train station, we found a few different rivers running through the city.  There are actually 5 rivers come together, or, the confluence (word of the day!) of 5 rivers.

Where there’s a river, there’s a path, which is usually prettier than the main streets.  So we followed and, just like Winchester, the high waters rushed by us.

With a few twists and turns, we came across the Salisbury Cathedral, the main reason for our visit.  Completed in 1258, the Salisbury Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the UK and also an impressive example of early English architecture.

From a distance, the grandness of the cathedral was overwhelming.  Taking a closer look, the amount of detail on the exterior was extraordinary with statues lining the walls.

Walking in, we were blown away by the openness of the cathedral.  We explored the tombs of past bishops and other dignitaries as well as ancient devices such as a working clock dating back to 1386.   Another impressive item was the organ, stretching around the cathedral.

The longer we were in the cathedral, the more the sun started to break through the clouds outside.  To our advantage, we were able to experience the beauty of the stained glass windows from within.

We noticed a sign that said the Queen of England visited Salisbury Cathedral during her Diamond Jubilee in 2012.  This was picture worthy, of course, because I didn’t know the next time I’d be at a place where the Queen had recently been!

Walking out of the cathedral was joyous as we were welcomed by blue skies and sunshine.  Though there were absolutely zero warmth from that big ball of fire in the sky, I’ll take sunshine over clouds any day!   The sunshine gave us a whole different perspective of the cathedral’s exterior, making it even more magnificent than when we first arrived.

From the cathedral, we took a walk around the city.  Since it was Saturday, there was a large open market in the main square, which included produce, meats and cheese, freshly made donuts, clothes and shoes and everything else in-between.

After a bite at a delicious Italian restaurant, we noticed the weather was taking a turn for the worst – dark clouds rolled in and the temperature dropped.  So, we headed back to the train station to make our way back to Southampton.

In 2010, I visited Salisbury on a tour to Stonehenge.  The only site we saw during this tour was the cathedral so it was nice to see a little more of the city.  Though small, Salisbury still had a unique charm to it.

Off to the Isle of Wight

With a week of break ahead of us, a group of my classmates and I decided to take advantage of another sunny day and head to the Isle of Wight.

The Isle of Wight is England’s largest island (which is funny since England is an island itself but, I digress). Queen Victoria chose the Isle of Wight as her summer retreat and would spend periods of time at the Osborne House.  The Beatles even included this island in their song, “When I’m Sixty-Four”.   Also, since it is an island, you can’t forget about its boat making history and dinosaur fossils.  For a small island, it has a lot to offer.

Unfortunately, Mondays in January are not the time to visit the Isle of Wight since most of the museums and shops were closed.  Nevertheless, we took the quick 25-minute ferry ride from Southampton to the city of East Cowes.

Once off the ferry, we started exploring the town.  As most of the shops were closed, we stayed close to the shoreline.

We ran into a few quick rain showers but it eventually cleared up and the rest of the day consisted of sunshine and steady temperatures.

From East Cowes we grabbed the 1 bus and headed to the main city on the island – Newport.  Here, we found the action – people out and about working, shopping and going about their day-to-day business.  I must say I was quite surprised to see so many people.  On a map, the island looks pretty small.  But, in reality, looks can be deceiving!

After wondering the streets and finding a beautiful church, we settled on some pizza and pasta before grabbing the 7 bus and heading to Alum Bay on the far west side of the island.

From our estimation, it should have taken about an hour from Newport to Alum Bay.  Unfortunately, this didn’t happen.  At one point, the bus driver came over the intercom to say our bus wasn’t working properly and she’d have to shut it off.  A few minutes later she had it going again and we proceed…but only for a few more minutes.  Like any island, there are very few main roads and when one is under construction, all are affected.  We sat at a standstill for a good 20 minutes waiting for our turn to pass.  Thankfully, we found ways to entertain ourselves.

After a few more detours, we finally reached Alum Bay but only to be told that the bus we were getting off of was the last bus on the night.  Not what you want to hear when it’s getting dark and the next town with bus services is at least a 20 minute walk up the road.  As a group, we decided to take our chances and raced to The Needles to catch a glimpse of the final moments of the sunset.

After the sun set, we were trying to come up with a plan for getting back to the ferry.  Out of nowhere, we noticed a bus coming towards us.  Guess there was one more bus after all!  I raced towards it to make sure he saw us and didn’t leave without us.  Pause for a moment – I hate running, so for me to run for anything is a big deal!  Thankfully, we made the bus and were able to grab a ferry back to Southampton.

Another great day trip!  Though many of the attractions were closed, we still had a great day.  Can’t wait to go back in the spring or summer and experience more of the Isle of Wight!

Walking Through Winchester

My first semester of grad school has come to a close and I couldn’t be more relieved!  A full report on the semester will come soon but for now, let’s focus on Sunday’s adventure – a trip to Winchester, England.

The former capital city of England, Winchester is only a quick 20 minutes train ride from Southampton.  With exams behind us, and a week of relaxing to look forward to, some of my friends and I decided to take advantage of the sunny day and head to this enchanting town. 

 

Our first stop was to be The Great Hall to check out King Arthurs’ Round Table but unfortunately, it was closed.  And remains closed until the middle of February 2014.  If you’re reading this and plan to visit Winchester in the next few weeks, I highly recommend you reconsider. 

Fortunately, this little setback didn’t keep us down for long.  We made our way down the main street on the search of some breakfast.  Coming into the  downtown area, I felt like I’d just walked into Diagon Alley!  For all you non-Harry Potter nerds out there, Diagon Alley is where the witches and wizards of Hogwarts go to shop for their books, owls and other necessary school supplies. 

 

The houses were old and slanted with moss growing out of every nook and cranny.  Each house was different from the next, making it hard to decide on a favourite.

Moving forward, we came across a statue of King Alfred the Great.  After a little research, I discovered he was the king from 849-899, defended his kingdom against the Viking and when he died, was the only English monarchto be accorded the epithet “the Great.”  In short, a pretty important person.

 Past King Alfred the Great is the River Itchen.  Due to the massive amounts of rain we’ve had, the river roared and took over part of the walking path.  Nevertheless, we walked on, enchanted by the sounds of the river and marveling at the houses that lined it. 

As we made our way towards the Winchester Cathedral, we walked under an ancient wall and came across the cutest little bookstore.  Though it being closed on Sundays, passer-byers could still leave money for any of the books outside it.

 At last, we came upon the main attraction – the Winchester Cathedral.  Built in 1079, it is one the largest cathedrals in England.  As we walked in, we were greeted by the angelic voices from the Sunday choir as mass came to an end.

 

Walking through the cathedral, we came across burial sites for English Bishops as well as the final resting place of Jane Austen. 

Walking up to the alter was an experience in itself.  The wall behind the alter consisted of stone carvings of Jesus and other biblical icons.  The details throughout the cathedral were extraordinary and quite impressive.    

Leaving the Cathedral, we walked back to the main street where people had emerged from their homes to enjoy this sunny Sunday – a rare occasion in England during January!  While I was a bit disappointed about The Great Hall being closed, it just means I’ll have to take another quick train ride to Winchester sometime soon.

A True Lambeau Field Experience

Isn’t that the most beautiful picture you’ve ever seen?  Well, maybe not EVER, but it sure is pretty.  These are the tickets my brother got me for Christmas to my first Packers game in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Now, I’m from Illinois, so it would be assumed that I’m a Bears fan.  And for a while, when I look back at pictures of myself as a child, my parents dressed me in Bears outfits.  Fortunately, my brother and I spent many summers with our cousin John, a fellow Packers fan, in Wisconsin.  Our Grandma and Grandpa Neshek are from Northern Wisconsin and still have a cottage up there.  We spent many warm summers and cold winters swimming, jet skiing, snowmobiling, eating cheese, drinking beer and and becoming honorary Wisconsinites.  Alas, our love for the Packers grew every time we drove over the Leo Frigo Bridge and saw Lambeau in the distance.

When my brother said he bought tickets for Sunday’s Steelers vs. Packers game, I went and found some essential Packers gear.

 

We almost didn’t make the 2 1/2 hour drive from Kenosha, WI to Green Bay due to the snow.  Fortunately, the state of Wisconsin did an excellent job of clearing the roads,  making our journey possible.  My sister-in-law was called off work on Sunday and was able to join us too!

 

We made it to Lambeau field and started the layering process.  It was FREEZING but we made sure to wear long underwear, jeans, shirts, sweatshirts, snow pants, jackets, hats, gloves and scarves.  After grabbing a few drinks, we set out from the car to the main tailgating parking lot.  On the way, we ran into some true Wisconsin people in their orange camouflage and head-to-toe Packers gear.

When we finally made it inside we grabbed a Miller Lite, found our seats and chanted “GO PACK GO” with the 77,999 screaming fans.

While a win would have been great, the experience was still amazing and one I won’t forget.  Definitely one of the best Christmas presents I’ve ever received!

 

Learning to Make Baklava

Now, let me start with…I don’t have a hint of Greek in me.  I’m born and raised American with Polish, Prussian, German, French-Canadian and Native American ancestors.  Quite a mix, but no Greek to be found.

Nevertheless, yesterday I learned to make a very traditional Greek treat, Baklava.

My mom’s friend Trudy comes from a Greek background and has been making Baklava for years.  As a child, she learned from her Yaya and has kept the tradition alive since.  She came to our house on Monday morning with a bag of materials and the recipe stored safely in her head.  This baffled me, as I almost never bake without a set recipe in front of me.  Trudy, on the other hand, goes off of what feels right and the motto, “this is how Yaya made it!”

To start, we needed: walnuts, sugar, cloves, cinnamon, butter (LOTS of butter!), lemon peel and honey.

We started by grinding the walnuts with a nut grind.  I’d never seen one of these before but apparently you can buy them at any home goods store.  By using a hand-powered nut grinder, you get just the right ratio of walnut pieces to walnut powder as well as more consistently sized walnut chunks.

 Sugar, cinnamon and ground cloves were then added to the walnut mixture and set aside.

Next, a pound, yes, a POUND of butter was melted in a microwave-safe bowl.

From there, the layering began!  To save time, we used premade Phyllo, or Filo, dough that was cut and ready to go.  We buttered the pan and added 6-8 layers of Phyllo dough with, of course, butter between each layer.

Then, sprinkled the nut mixture evenly and added two more layers of dough.  Nuts, Phyllo, butter, nuts Phyllo, butter…repeated until the nut mixture ran out.  Then it was on to alternating Phyllo and butter until the Phyllo was gone.

 Baklava must be evenly cut before it’s baked.  We used a flexible ruler to cut diamond-shaped pieces.  Why diamonds?  As Trudy told us, “that’s just how you cut baklava.”

 We baked the baklava, “until it looks right.”  This meant a golden brown top with the dough baking away from the sides of the pan.

As the baklava baked we created the simple syrup for the top and between the layers.  While water, 4 cups of sugar and cinnamon sticks boiled on the stove, we took whole cloves and stuck them into lemon peels.  This eliminated the problem of fishing the cloves from the mixture later.

After the syrup came to a boil, it had to reach 220°F before adding in the honey.

Once the baklava came out of the oven, we poured the honey mixture on top to fill in all the crevices.  Unfortunately, this sweet treat has to sit overnight so the pastry could thoroughly absorb the honey mixture.

So, we had baklava for breakfast today, which was totally worth the wait!  The sweetness of the honey mixture with the spiced nuts and flaky dough was the perfect way to start this cold, December day.

Thank you Trudy, for sharing your family recipe with us during this holiday season!

Le Petit Parisien in Dublin, Ireland

Ireland.  The land St. Patrick’s Day, Guinness, green grass and….French pastries?  Yes, French pastries.  Le Petit Parisien is a quaint coffee shop/bakery/cafe located in the heart of Dublin.  My aunt, uncle and cousin stumbled upon it the day before I arrived and, not knowing we were in the same place the next day, we stumbled upon it again.  With the rain starting to come down harder, and a very enticing window display, it was the perfect excuse to take cover for some breakfast.

But not just any breakfast.  Sitting in a cozy window seat surrounded by Christmas music and holiday spirit, we started out with one of the best cappuccinos I’ve had.  Now, I spent 6 months in Italy back in 2010, so I’ve had my fair share of cappuccinos, and this one is hard to beat!

My cousin, who is not a fan of coffees or cappuccinos, opted for a hot chocolate instead.  They served it to him in a glass where the first 3/4 was milk and the bottom was filled with chocolate, allowing him to mix it himself.

With hot drinks in our hands, we were served pastry after pastry after pastry.  While my uncle ordered porridge, my cousin and I ordered fruit scones with homemade strawberry jam.

My aunt, having had a scone the day before, went big and ordered the  vanilla cream pastry that caught her eye from the window.

Seeing as it’s the holiday season, and I’ve seen mince pies everywhere for weeks, we decided to try one.  A mince pie is a fruit-based mincemeat sweet pie served during the Christmas season.  Having no idea what it was going to taste like, I was pleasantly surprised with its sweet, spiced flavour and flaky crust.

If you’re in Dublin, and looking for an amazing breakfast with a cozy atmosphere, I highly recommend you check out Le Petit Parisien.  For more information, check out their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LPPCafe.

An American/British/Faroese Thanksgiving

Well, another Thanksgiving has come and gone, but it will be one I’ll always remember.

As we sat at lunch on 28 November before a 4 hour lecture, one of my friends asked me, “will this be your first Thanksgiving without family?” At that point, I truly realised how far away I was from my family. Boom, just like that, total shut down. Let’s just say sitting through that lecture was not a pleasant experience.

Fortunately, I had something to look forward to after class. Thanks to the hospitality of some amazing friends, we feasted like…Americans! There was turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole and the best homemade gravy I’ve ever had.

Great food, Call of Duty, and some amazing friends made this year’s Thanksgiving in England a memorable one.