Life in London

Well I'm busier than ever these days in London, and I must say it feels good to be busy. While sadly I haven't been doing too much exploring of the city as of late, and hence don't have any exciting pictures to post, I thought I might as well update the world (... or the few people who read this blog) about my happenings as of late. My internship at the Dulwich Picture Gallery has given me my first experience of a 9 to 5 job and I suppose due to my youthful ignorance I actually quite like it (I'm sure I will look back on this comment and laugh in a few years). A lot of what I do is administrative but I am just trying to learn as much as I can from the experience and hoping to get more involved in all of the aspects of the education department and especially in the community outreach/social inclusion programmes. I immediately felt welcome and excited to be working in the team, and it's a great work atmosphere. In addition to administrative tasks, I've shadowed and assisted with a schools' visit, researched new lighting for some of the visually impaired elderly participants for the Good Times programme, and researched possible community partners for an upcoming urban youth project. While I know it takes time to get my bearings, I am eager to get more involved in all aspects of the department and have a bigger role in the future. So far the new lighting I found arrived, new signs have been made, bookings processed, an invitation designed for a community event, and one of my co-workers left me a lovely box of chocolates for coming in an evening to help her with an event, so it's going well so far!
Classes have started up again and my mind is completely overflowing with a million thoughts a minute- the classes themselves aren't that intense right now, but I have a lot of thinking and planning to do for my final project/dissertation for this summer. I have to present 45 minutes of an art workshop for my class on Wednesday (will be so glad when that's checked off the list!) and my new class on Wednesday afternoons looks like it will be a refreshing change of pace. My professor is from Belfast (I recognized the accent right away- getting pretty good at deciphering accents over her I think!) and does a lot of work in post-conflict situations and has worked in Belfast, Israel and Palestine, Beirut, Zambia etc.. very interesting professor! He's really excited about the course and I think it will be a great experience. Well enough of my ramblings about school... Off to visit the McCauley family next weekend and so ready for Thursday to get here!!!

2011 and the blog is back!

While I enjoyed my relaxing break at home, I know the lack of a blog posting must have been upsetting... so I am back in London and updating the blog! Since my last posting I took a quick weekend trip to Scotland and cooked a lovely Christmas Dinner with Mark, finished up the week of classes, had an interview for an internship, and headed home to South Carolina. I definitely enjoyed my break at home, spending time with my family and the Tobster, going up to Greenville and having a Cuban Pig Roast with wonderful cousins, hanging out with friends including the traditional Alon Family Christmas Party, seeing highschool/college friends, saving joey's dog :P, and a B204 Reunion. We even got some of that ever elusive Carolina snow on Joey's birthday!... complete with a snow woman and snow dog (will try to upload a better picture later... and no, the shrimp is not that tall)

After a wonderful Christmas with my family, I got a quick visit from Mark and his lab friends on their way to research in the keys and prepared for the cutest New Years Date of all time. Ladies be jealous!

I had so much fun playing with and chasing after my favourite godson!! Then, two days later I had another good looking visitor as Mark stayed with us in Columbia for a few days!! It was sad to leave home, but after a lot of travelling and then unpacking, I am back in London and anxious for Mark to get back to the UK as well! I start my internship at the Dulwich Picture Gallery on Monday, so I am excited (and a bit nervous) to hopefully learn a lot from the education and community outreach department at the gallery. Hope everyone had a spendid holiday season!!