Today was kinda boring. I woke up earlier than usual (about 9:30am) and I was going to do laundry down the street, but I didn't want to wake my roommates packing up my stuff, so I hung out until it was time to go to class. Class was 2-5, as it is tomorrow, and afterward, I did a bit of shopping before coming home to cook dinner. I had my heart set on doing laundry then, but soon, Laura came home soaked from the newly-fallen rain, and I decided it was just a bad idea.
In other news... today is Jason's Birthday. Happy b-day, Jason! You made my blog!
Jake also makes my blog since I just found out he reads it. Hello, Jake!
Tomorrow HAS to involve: class, laundry, and initial research for my upcoming presentation.
Ok... it's after midnight. I must be getting to bed. I'm sorry there wasn't more interesting info in this blog, but I'm really tired and I think I'm getting sick, so my creative energy is gone. OH! But I did take a tour of Parliament yesterday. More info on that coming up soon!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Monday, February 12, 2007
Saturday, February 10, 2007
pretty bird
Today I learned this: Busking is the practice of doing live performances in public places to entertain people, usually to solicit donations and tips. Those engaging in this practice are called buskers. Busking is a British term used in many areas of the English-speaking world. In the United States the term busking is almost unknown; buskers in the USA are called street performers or street musicians.
See, there are "buskers" at just about every tube stop, and they're really good. I have yet to see/hear a busker who wasn't very talented. They usually sing or play an instrument along with an instrumental track booming from a cd player. Today, I passed a sign in one of the narrow corridors of the tube station that said "No Busking", and since I didn't know what it meant, I wrote it on my hand to look up when I got home.
I visited the Natural History and Science Museums today, which was really dumb of me to think I could enjoy myself in them on a Saturday afternoon. Kids everywhere! Yuck! Then, I took the tube to the Camden markets to find an inexpensive pair of cowboy boots. I didn't find the boots, but I did get a pair of shoes for £10, a purse for £7, a necklace and earrings for £5 (buy one, get one free), and a belt buckle I bargained down to £8. I definitely lucked out!
Fun phrase of the day:
How ya doing; alright?
Ok, now most of us would answer that with, "yeah, I'm alright," or "I'm pretty good" or something like that. Wrong. According to social rules, you don't actually answer this question; it's rhetorical. You reply with, "how ya doin; alright?" That's right. You repeat the question. I haven't gotten the hang of it because, frankly, I feel silly - like a parrot.
Speaking of "birds"... that's what men sometimes call females... especially attractive ones.
That's all for now!
See, there are "buskers" at just about every tube stop, and they're really good. I have yet to see/hear a busker who wasn't very talented. They usually sing or play an instrument along with an instrumental track booming from a cd player. Today, I passed a sign in one of the narrow corridors of the tube station that said "No Busking", and since I didn't know what it meant, I wrote it on my hand to look up when I got home.
I visited the Natural History and Science Museums today, which was really dumb of me to think I could enjoy myself in them on a Saturday afternoon. Kids everywhere! Yuck! Then, I took the tube to the Camden markets to find an inexpensive pair of cowboy boots. I didn't find the boots, but I did get a pair of shoes for £10, a purse for £7, a necklace and earrings for £5 (buy one, get one free), and a belt buckle I bargained down to £8. I definitely lucked out!
Fun phrase of the day:
How ya doing; alright?
Ok, now most of us would answer that with, "yeah, I'm alright," or "I'm pretty good" or something like that. Wrong. According to social rules, you don't actually answer this question; it's rhetorical. You reply with, "how ya doin; alright?" That's right. You repeat the question. I haven't gotten the hang of it because, frankly, I feel silly - like a parrot.
Speaking of "birds"... that's what men sometimes call females... especially attractive ones.
That's all for now!
Friday, February 9, 2007
Some Q's A'd
US: bathroom
EK: toilet
US: X all the boxes
UK: tick all the boxes
US: elevator
UK: lift
US: truck
UK: laurie
US: get along (like each other)
UK: get on
US: try it
UK: have a go at it
US: fries
UK: chips
US: chips
UK: crisps
and the most important one of all
US: soccer
UK: football
US: football
UK: American football
Ok... my internship.
Well, I work for a record label that owns a night club. Most of the work I do is for the club. I make sure that our listing that we send out to people is up to date with the latest lineup and price, and from that, I make sure that all our shows have tickets for sale with three seperate outlets. I also look up descriptions of bands to add to the listing. Gradually, I've started to do a bit more, like researching certain types of companies who pick out music for advertising, tv, and film and other various tasks. I work from 1-7 and usually get something to eat mid-afternoon from the sandwhich shop on the corner, for which I get a weekly allowance of £20 (not bad at all). There are only three of us in the office, which is typical for a small indie company, but we have quite a bit going on. Since I've expressed interest in working with label-specific things, Paul is going to have me help with licensing contracts next week perhaps. I'm really looking forward to that because I'll get to learn a bit more about licensing and contracts, both in which I'm very interested.
Is the experience what I expected or hoped for? Not entirely. I hoped to work for a larger organization with more weight in the marketplace. Am I enjoying myself? Yes. My internship experience is what I make of it, so I'm asking lots of questions, doing any task thrown at me, no matter how menial, and soaking up as much info as possible. Even if I don't figure out what my dream job is, this will help narrow things down, and that's valuable knowledge.
More Paris pictures to come soon.
EK: toilet
US: X all the boxes
UK: tick all the boxes
US: elevator
UK: lift
US: truck
UK: laurie
US: get along (like each other)
UK: get on
US: try it
UK: have a go at it
US: fries
UK: chips
US: chips
UK: crisps
and the most important one of all
US: soccer
UK: football
US: football
UK: American football
Ok... my internship.
Well, I work for a record label that owns a night club. Most of the work I do is for the club. I make sure that our listing that we send out to people is up to date with the latest lineup and price, and from that, I make sure that all our shows have tickets for sale with three seperate outlets. I also look up descriptions of bands to add to the listing. Gradually, I've started to do a bit more, like researching certain types of companies who pick out music for advertising, tv, and film and other various tasks. I work from 1-7 and usually get something to eat mid-afternoon from the sandwhich shop on the corner, for which I get a weekly allowance of £20 (not bad at all). There are only three of us in the office, which is typical for a small indie company, but we have quite a bit going on. Since I've expressed interest in working with label-specific things, Paul is going to have me help with licensing contracts next week perhaps. I'm really looking forward to that because I'll get to learn a bit more about licensing and contracts, both in which I'm very interested.
Is the experience what I expected or hoped for? Not entirely. I hoped to work for a larger organization with more weight in the marketplace. Am I enjoying myself? Yes. My internship experience is what I make of it, so I'm asking lots of questions, doing any task thrown at me, no matter how menial, and soaking up as much info as possible. Even if I don't figure out what my dream job is, this will help narrow things down, and that's valuable knowledge.
More Paris pictures to come soon.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Pear-ee
On Friday morning, Becky, George, and I left our residence at 5:45 and took off for the bus pick-up point. Front there, we took a 2-hour ride to Dover, where we caught our ferry.
The ferry was HUGE. It had a full cafeteria, 2 cafes, a bar, an arcade, 2 stores (tax free), and more.
The most exciting part about the ferry, though, was that everyone loaded their cars/vans/busses right on the boat and took it over to France. There had to be at least 60 cars loaded (maybe a lot more), not to mention about 5 busses, several big rigs, campers, etc. On a boat!
The ride was about 1 hour 20 min (not long at all), and then we docked in Calais, France, got back on the bus, and began our 3-hour journey to Paris.
Our first stop in Paris was for a boat tour on the Seine ("sen") River.
The Eiffel Tower!
I'm not sure what I expected it to be like... but whatever that was, it was different in real life.
(Becky and George)This is all I have time for right now. I'll try to add some more pictures after I get home from my internship.
<3
Sunday, February 4, 2007
Je ne parle pas frances!!!
Bonjour!
I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe, sound, and back in London. Unfortunately, I am not out watching the super bowl (there ARE places showing it), but I will keep up to date via the internet. Until my brain returns from its state of overload, here's a picture to hold you. It was taken under the Eiffel Tower. There are LOTS more to come! (In fact, I'll have to make a few different entries to cover everything or I'd be sitting at the computer all night.)
I wanted to let everyone know that I am safe, sound, and back in London. Unfortunately, I am not out watching the super bowl (there ARE places showing it), but I will keep up to date via the internet. Until my brain returns from its state of overload, here's a picture to hold you. It was taken under the Eiffel Tower. There are LOTS more to come! (In fact, I'll have to make a few different entries to cover everything or I'd be sitting at the computer all night.)
Au revoir!
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