Work Life

           As a mentioned many blog posts ago, I am not only taking classes but I am also interning.  Really, the internship is the main purpose of the program.  I guess I should finally give everyone a little insight to what exactly I do for more than 20 hours a week.  Now, the reason I haven’t talked about it until now is not because it is awful and boring, there were just other things that seemed more interesting to write about.  All that has finally changed after this week of work.  My internship is with Quintana Couture, which is a couture design house specializing in evening and bridal wear.  Pretty much, I was taken on as a marketing and PR intern.  They desperately needed to redo the website and improve their appearance on Facebook and Twitter which is mainly where I come in.  I’ve also created marketing materials and on certain days, act as a PA to the designer.  It’s a small company so I really get the opportunity to do a lot of different things for the business. Up until this week, my responsibilities kept me inside the studio, glued to my computer, but on Thursday and Friday, I finally had the opportunity to see what else is needed to run such a high profile, luxury company. 

             In order to advertise themselves, Quintana donated a custom made gown to the Terrence Higgins Trust Auction.  If you have never heard of THT, it is this amazing charity that raises awareness about HIV and AIDS.  If I remember correctly, it is currently the largest charity in Europe.  The auction was held on Thursday and Quintana had three models walk in the auction in order to display our style of clothing.  The winner of this lot would receive a custom made gown appropriate to the amount that was donated at the auction.  Anyways, since we were unaware what kind of photography coverage would be there, Quintana decided to take me along as their pseudo-personal photographer for the evening.  I will admit that I am no amateur with a camera, especially since I now have a DSLR.  For the most part I can hold my own.  On the other hand, besides my projects on the goat farm and Mizzou’s More For Less campaign, I have never been in the situation where others will judge my photos.  As excited as I was for this event, I was terrified because I began doubting everything I ever thought I knew about photography. 

            Once my supervisor and I arrived at the event, I was able to relax and take photos as we waited for the designer, models, makeup artist and jewelry to arrive.  I tried to snap photos of the event space but really I was just trying not to run into anyone.  I seriously felt like I was surrounded by the cast of “Made in Chelsea” and a part of me just wanted to crawl under a table and hide the fact that I was wearing a dress from Target.  Even though of all the professional photographers there, I had the smallest most entry level DSLR, people still tend to respect people that carry around big cameras.  For the most part people either left me alone, unless I stood directly in front of them during the auction.   

            To add to the glamour of the event, Quintana borrowed some exquisite diamond jewelry from Mozafarian for the models to wear during the auction.  My supervisor wanted me to get some shots of the pieces before they were put on the models.  It was pretty easy to move around all the pieces to pose them for photos until I was notified that I was handling £150,000 worth of jewelry.  Let me reiterate that that is in Great British Pounds, so it would be about $275,000.  To say the least, I touched the jewelry a lot less after that. 

            The rest of the event ran pretty smoothly.  I took a lot of fashion photos of the models and for the most part I think everyone was impressed with my photography abilities.  Or maybe they just weren’t disappointed.  I can’t seem to read people anymore. 

            For Friday, we were holding another photo shoot and although this was not the most remarkable experience, it was cool to be on the set.  Actually, that is a total lie.  The photo shoot would have been a really cool experience but then I found out who was taking the photos.  Quintana has a deal with this woman that if she takes photos for us, he will tailor all of her clothing.  Who is this mysterious photographer you may ask? Oh, just Pattie Boyd.  Yes, the Twiggy like model from the 1960s that was married to BOTH George Harrison AND Eric Clapton.  I met her on Friday. I shook her hand on Friday and she complimented me on my laptop case and key cover.  It happened and it was awesome. 

            Although not every week is exciting as the last, this job does have its benefits.  The networking in itself is a huge payoff.  Yes, it is also tedious and stressful but that’s just a welcome sign to the real world.  Not every aspect of every job is going to be perfect.  Life is hard and tedious and sometimes, work is too.  My coworkers are great and I’ve even hung out with them outside of work, so I’d say that things are going pretty well for me at Quintana. 

            Sorry, I’m not posting any photos from the event because I feel they now belong to Quintana.  If you go on the Facebook next week, I will most likely post a bunch of them.  Plus, I don’t need any reason to bring my work to this blog because they would probably read it and realize what a terrible writer I am and that I have a lot of idiot like thoughts.  I can’t have any of that now can I?

Cheers,

Janelle 

London Nightlife

          Yikes, it’s been a really long time since I wrote anything.  Well, after the past two Fridays, I think I’ve found an appropriate subject to blog about.  One of the most common questions I get from my friends back home is, “how is the London nightlife?”  Back in February, I really could not have answered this question.  Last weekend was the first time in four weeks that we had stayed in London for the weekend.  Also, we seemed to run into many tourist traps when it came to clubs back in January.   Well, FINALLY, last weekend we decided to stay in London and find some good London nightlife, and at last we did. 

            One of the best tips I can offer for finding where to go for nightlife anywhere is, ask around.  Find our where people like you go.   If you are just visiting an area this may be difficult, so I can offer you a few tips on how to at least not make the same mistakes we did.

           

-In London, AVOID Leicester Square.  You may think it is where all the nightlife is at it’s best but honestly, it’s just a tourist trap.  Most people at those clubs are not from London, and in many cases, they tend to be a lot older.  The atmosphere is normally very awkward and it makes for a weird night.   Also, at these places, drinks will be highly overpriced and not very good.

-This tip goes along with Leicester Square, but always be weary of guys coming up to a group of girls and trying to bring them into a club.  This is not because you are going to be lured anywhere and murdered (although you should always be weary of that in a big city).  It is just because if someone is begging you to go to their club, it’s probably because it’s not very good to begin with and they are desperate for business.

We definitely were fooled by Leicester Square when we got to London, but after only one night, we learned our lesson.  For this Friday, my coworker recommended this place to me in the Shoreditch area called Hoxton Bar and Grill, and it was AWESOME.  The mean age of the crowd was closer to my own than any other club we had been to previously (excluding Wayne’s Bar).  For that night the music could have been better, but all in all, it was a great night with friendly staff and without the fear of being weirded out by creepers.  Nothing beats a night of going out with friends, and dancing. 

I guess you could say last weekend was pretty exhausting because on Sunday, we also felt obligated to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  Thankfully, we decided to be smart and see the parade in the morning, grab a Guinness and some food for lunch and then not go out in the night.  Although there was a huge celebration in Trafalgar Square, I definitely think St. Paddy’s day is a bigger deal in the states.  I mean American’s love any excuse to drink.  The Brit’s don’t need that because, well, they just drink all the time no matter what day.  It was also another bleak and rainy day, so we were not eager to spend the whole day fighting crowds trying not to get taken out by low standing umbrellas.  I will admit that is was pretty cool to get to spend St. Paddy’s in London and it won’t be the last time I drink Guinness.

With a little taste of what good nightlife is like in London, it’s hard to wait until Friday again to go out.  Lucky for me, there is a magical place called The Roadhouse that I have had my eye on going to for about two months now.  On Mondays and Wednesdays they do this thing called rock-aoke.  It’s like karaoke only with a live band.  They have each band’s set list online and you sign up that night to sing in their competition.  Second prize is a bottle of champagne and first is a £100 bar tab.  Finally, on Wednesday, Nicole and I dragged our selves there and I signed up to sing “Zombie” by the Cranberries. 

Let me just tell you, despite the American theme, this place is awesome.  Everyone is very supportive of the singers and the atmosphere was just stellar.  I had the biggest adrenaline rush when I sang and it was so cool to see people genuinely rocking out to my voice and my performance.  It didn’t even stop there though.  So many people came up to me afterward saying how awesome I was, and one guy even referred to me as the “Zombie girl”.  Although I did not win, this one guy went up to Nicole and told her, “Your friend should have one.”  After seeing the video of my performance, however; I have to disagree with that statement.  I don’t know if the Iphone has bad sound recording abilities or what, but it just sounds like yelling to me.  No matter, it was a blast and I can’t wait to go back.  Nicole and I have convinced our friends to come with us next time so it should be a good time for all.  If you are in London and looking for great nightlife on a weeknight, go to The Roadhouse in Covent Garden.  I imagine even on nights without rock-aoke, they still have live bands and DJs.  Plus, they have both an early happy hour and a late night happy hour from 9:30-10:30.  How can you go wrong?

Last night, we also discovered the wonder of Camden nightlife, because we were beginning to think that it didn’t exist.  Again, this was just another fun night with great dancing and only a 2-minute walk through the rain to get home. 

            I guess what I am trying to get at is, if my friends ask me about London nightlife, I will finally be able to give them a satisfactory answer.  London nightlife is amazing, whether you want a full on club, dancing to rock music, or just simple drinks with the girls (or guys).   London has it all.  You just may have to do a lot of research and ask around in order to find exactly what you are looking for. 

Cheers,

Janelle

Family Friends

I apologize for not writing about last weekend sooner.  It’s been busy here in London, but now I finally have time to sit down and write about it.  As I mentioned previously, I used to live in England because my dad was stationed here for the Air Force.  We moved here in 1995, when I was three and left in August of 1999.  This is not the first time my mother has lived in England.  In 1958, her parents were stationed in England as well but at an Air Force base that is no longer open.  This is when my grandfather joined a football team and met now-life-long friend, Ray.  For the two years that they lived in England, my grandparents, Dick and Holly socialized with and became very close friends with Ray and Edith.  This has been a friendship that has lasted over a half of century and has stretched across three generations.  When I lived in England as a child, my mother made a point to introduce us to this quant, yet eccentric, English couple, along with their two sons, Barry and Allen.  I’ve often referred to them as my British grandparents growing up, and still sometimes see them that way. 

These are the people I ended up visiting last weekend.  Nicole and I took a train up to Ipswitch, and the plan was to then catch a train into their hometown of Saxmundham.  Unfortunately, trains have a tendency of going slower than anticipated and we missed our second train.  Lucky for us, Allen lives walking distance from the Ipswitch train station and met us there so we didn’t have to wait in the cold for Ray and Edith to pick us up.  I am still in awe that Allen recognized me; maybe I’m even more surprised that I recognized him.  The last time I’ve seen any member of their family was NINE years ago in 2004 when we last visited.  I have a feeling our appearance changes quite a bit from 12 to 21.  No matter, we eventually arrived at their cozy house in Saxmundham and were greeted with a lovely cup of tea, a tray of biscuits and a pleasant amount of nostalgic conversation. 

The thing I love about Ray and Edith is that they are true English.  Saturday, it rained all day long but it really didn’t faze them.  After living in that area for so long, they no longer let the weather decide how their day will go.  We were drug out to about three different beaches throughout the day.  We saw the Southwald Pier and even drove by the “House in the Clouds”.  The highlight for me; however, was getting to see the house my grandparents, mother, and uncles lived in back in 1958.  Despite the rain (which turned to snow), we really had an all around pleasant day.  Later on, they took us to this lovely little inn for fish and chips, a pint, and of course ice cream for dessert. 

Sunday was Mothering Sunday in the UK, and it was purely by accident that we picked that weekend to come.  Still, it meant that I would get to see Barry and his two fairly young sons, Joshua and Oliver.  Unfortunately, other Mother’s Day plans kept us from meeting Barry’s girlfriend or from seeing the boys for very long.  Still, it was nice meeting the newest members to our lengthy line of long-distance friendship.  I should mention that I have never met a little boy with such a witty yet rude disposition as little Oliver.  He’s only four, but from what I’ve heard he is quite a stubborn little bugger.  His brother Joshua is also a cheeky little fellow and I’m positive the both of them will go far once they get older. 

I guess I just wanted to make the point that it was so nice to be around familiar faces for the first time since I started the program in January.  Yes, I live with all the other people that came here from Mizzou, but it just isn’t the same.  I finally had a weekend when I could talk about something else rather than the random mundane day-to-day ordeals that we go through here in London.  We talked about my parents and grandparents.  They told me all the little dramas happening in their lives and overall we just enjoyed each other’s company.  They also made sure not to deny me a fresh dose of english humour.  I found myself the subject of many of their sarcastic jokes.  I don't mind at all. I love their humour.  Also, they had the single comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in.  Compared to my flat in London, it was like sleeping on cloud surrounded by fluffy, clean puppies.  I haven’t slept so well since I left my Tempepedic mattress back in January. 

Ray and Edith have only been the states a few times and my grandparents have only returned to the UK a couple times since they left; yet they still talk on the phone about once a week.  I do hope my friendships last that long.  Even if we are apart for the majority of our friendship, I know, if the Newsoms and my grandparents can make it work than I don’t see how I can’t with my friends now.  And that’s the lesson.  If you find people who’s company you truly enjoy, than don’t let them go.  Distance may be there but in this day and age we have technology to work around that so NO EXCUSES.  On a similar note, don’t waste your time surrounding yourself with people who don’t make you happy.  That is the first step to making your life pretty miserable.  Sometimes it’s convenient to make friends with those that are close to you, distance wise, but if those people don’t make you happy than it’s completely useless.  Find people that make you feel great and never let them go, but don’t dwell around those who won’t give you the time and day simply because of convenience.  I would never have had the incredible opportunity to sit and have tea with this lovely family if it were not for that mindset.

Cheers,

Janelle

The Beauty of Live Performance

           I have to write this post now because I won't be on this adrenaline kick tomorrow.  Tonight, I attended the Of Monsters and Men concert…by myself.  At first, I was a little nervous going to this alone because of the potential for me to feel overly awkward dancing and singing alone.  Luckily, after rushing from work to my flat and then all the way to the O2 at Shepherd’s Bush I was able to buy myself a beer and stand alone and drink without feeling too out of place.  Also, lucky for me, I did not get off work until 6, so by the time I finally got to the venue, I only had to kill about 20 minutes before the opening act.

            For starters, the opening guy was INCREDIBLE.  Sadly, he had some kind of Scandinavian accent and with everyone talking around me, it was impossible for me to catch his name.  As soon as I get a little more time on my hands, I will be sure to look into it, because he was awesome.  I would have paid good money just to see him. 

            If you don’t listen to Of Monsters and Men, or have never heard of them, let me just give you my rendition of what their music is like.  First off, they are Icelandic, so please imagine yourself sitting on an Icelandic beach.  You can hear the waves of the ocean and hear the wind howl.  Although, the wind is howling, it’s not blowing hard enough for you to not enjoy the breeze.  The air is clean and fresh.  Now, think of your family.  Think of all the people that mean the most to you, and the most spontaneous, happy moments you have spent with those people.  Now imagine, two beautiful voices, one male, one female, singing to you accompanied by a plethora of musical instruments that include guitars, a bass, drums, piano, trumpet, and of course, accordion.  You are now on your way to imagining the splendor that is, Of Monsters and Men.

            I did not stop smiling once during this entire concert.  It is just the kind of music that brings so much joy.  They started off my playing one of my favourite songs, “Dirty Paws”.  It’s not the song I would have picked for the opening, but no matter, it was awesome.  Their second song is what sealed the deal for me.  They play “From Finner.”  In the song, they have this line that goes, “We are far from home, but we’re so happy”.  Now, if that didn’t sum up how I felt tonight, well then hell, I don’t know what would have.  They actually say that line a lot during the song, since it’s in the chorus, and it just kept bringing this huge smile to my face.  How perfect is that to my situation?  Here, I am in London, thousands of miles away from my home, friends, and family, but I am just so happy.  Especially in that moment, surrounded by such great music in such an incredible city, I couldn’t imagine any other place a I would rather be. 

            Anyways, they continued with more of their songs, and even did a cover of “Skeletons” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.  Although not my favourite song of the night, I always enjoy when bands do covers because I feel they do so out of respect for the other group.  As a Yeah Yeah Yeahs fan, I can appreciate that.  Also, no concert is complete with a confetti cannon.  I’ve still got a few pieces in my purse for later scrapbook purposes.  Now, this concert will always hold a really special place in my heart, because it’s the first one I got to sing happy birthday.  The co-singer, Raggi, celebrated his birthday today, so the opening guy brought out a cake and we all sang to him.  This may sound so small, but it was cool to be apart of a celebration.  If that wasn’t all enough, yes, they did an encore.  “Sloom” and “Yellow Light” were their final songs and just like the others, they were incredible.  I need to point out “Sloom” just because, again, it has lyrics that stuck out to me for my situation.  They vary from chorus to chorus, but in a few instances, they say, “So love me mother, and love me father, and love my brother, as well.”  Seeing that these three people are the people that have made me the person I am today and the reason I was able to stand at the concert, it seemed fitting to point out.  My parents are the people that have made not only this entire semester possible, but also all the little excursions possible as well.  They are the ones who have set me up with the travel skills that I have, and the people that have made me unafraid to stand on my own.  Without that kind of guidance, I would never have had the courage to go to a concert by myself.  They are simply the best.  My brother has influenced me in a bit of a different way.  For starters, he took me to my first concert ever, Smashing Pumpkins at the Fox Theatre, St. Louis in November 2008. Ever since that concert, I have the live music itch and now I do whatever I can to scratch it.  Also, with Erik being older than me by so much, he has made quite the tough little sister.  He is part of the reason to my stubborn attitude and thick skin.  Again, two things I would not be able to live without while here.

And I got a set list!!!!

            As you can imagine this was quite an emotional concert.  Not only was I thinking about my family and the incredible situation I am in, but also about all the memories that these songs bring up.  I danced at the columns at Mizzou to “Mountain Sound”.  I went for long drives on Columbia back roads listening to “Love Love Love”.  I lied in bed after incredibly rough school days and played “Yellow Light” on repeat.  They all may seem like insignificant moments, but they do hold special places in my heart, just like tonight will.

            You can listen to songs on your itunes all day long, but nothing beats a live show.  It’s so much more emotional and really brings you closer to the music.  It was also nice because this is the first concert since last May that I have been able to simply enjoy and not worry about working.  Seriously, the last four concerts I attended, I have had to work: Ben Kweller, Imagine Dragons, Fun., and Kendrick Lamar.

            I’ve started to realize the kind of things I want to spend my money on and clothing is no longer a top priority.  I’d rather spend my money on live music and travel.  Those are the things I end up getting more out of in the end anyways. 

Cheers,

Janelle 

Trekking Europe

             I apologize for my weeklong absence but last week he had our Midterm Break.  Kerri, Shelby, Nicole and I all packed up for a week and went on a few excursions around Europe.  We visited three cities: Paris, Nice, and Barcelona.  My original intent was to write a post about each location, but after coming back to the London flat I have found that there are some areas that are worth talking about more than others.  Although we ended in Barcelona, I need to get that adventure out of the way because it was the most disappointing part of the trip.  Before we left, everyone said we should do our best to spend the most time in Barcelona because it is just the most amazing place they have ever been. Well… we arrived at night and the next day it down poured all day and had incredibly intense winds.  Every single bin on the streets had at least one umbrella because the wind was just tearing them apart. 

Looking back, the day was pretty hilarious.  We were trying to be productive and see the aquarium but we never quite made it.  This is partially due to the fact that we were toward the end of our trip and just exhausted of being tourists.  Being assaulted by the weather did not necessarily help the situation.  Luckily, the next day we made it to the Sagrada Familia and the aquarium.  It was still freezing and our mood was still one of pure exhaustion, but we were still able to be somewhat touristy.  Still, we ended the trip on a high note by taking ourselves to a fancy dinner.  We each had three courses and tried different kinds of sangria at this restaurant that overlooked this beautiful bridge and a port for sail boats.  That dinner included some of the freshest seafood I’ve ever had.  I spent so much money, no regrets. After we got drinks at this little hole in the wall place in the Barceloneta area.  It was just a good place for us to sit and reminisce about our week...

       Now, rewind to Paris.  As soon as we got there, we were overwhelmed.  Luckily, we found our hostel, dropped off our bags and began our first touristy day.  Our first day of site seeing included the Sacre Coeur, the Moulin Rouge, the Eiffel Tower, and it ended with mass at Notre Dame.  I would dwell on those locations more but honestly, it was so cold that we stopped at each location, took some photos and moved on.  I don't want to sound like these places were mundane.  It was incredibly surreal to turn the corner and see the Eiffel Tower just appear out of no where. We just were not prepared for it to be snowing in Paris and mixed with the wind chill, we all just wanted to keep moving.  Now, mass at Notre Dame was the most surreal experience of the Paris portion.  It also helped that we were inside and out of the wind.  I wish I would have taken my Nikon with me that first day because my crappy little point and shoot would not be able to capture just the majesty of the cathedral.  Well, the theme throughout this entire break has been that no amount of photography can ever capture the sensation of being there.  The height of the ceiling itself is just breathtaking.  Also, before the mass, they rang the bells.  To me, nothing screams Notre Dame than the sound of those bells.  It’s the kind of noise that just chills your soul… as cliché as that sounds. 

 

         Moving on…stay with me people. I’ll eventually get to the highlight of the trip.  The next day in Paris, we focused on spending the entire day at the Louvre.  Because we are pushy Americans, we were able to convince the ticket taker that we were students of the UK, even though we did not have proper student identification.  After holding up the line for a while, the lady finally just let us through, so, we got into the Louvre for free.  I think the major works of art in the museum are severely overrated.  Yes, the Mona Lisa is incredible and I am still in awe that I got to see the Venus de Milo, but the atmosphere is really what makes the Louvre so enchanting.  I loved having the ability to just sit in front of a massive painting and just look at it.  You would be amazed how many details artists include in their works; details that on a daily basis just go so unnoticed by the average passerby.  Of course there would never be enough time to decipher every single work of art in the museum, but what I did accomplish made the visit that much more incredible. 

     

            To end our night in Paris, we picked our restaurant for dinner very carefully.  Nicole found one called Polidor and according to many sources, it was a location Ernest Hemingway ate at many times while in Paris.  Being the literary junkies that we are, this seemed like the perfect spot for us to end our day of culture.  Dinner was exquisite and the conversations that occurred during our meal were even better.  Actually, great conversation and discussion was another reoccurring theme of the entire trip.  It’s so bizarre to me to think that we were having these deep meaningful conversations in the same place that Hemingway could have been pondering his next work.  How COOL is that? Well, to add to the awesomeness of the situation, upon leaving the restaurant, we have evidence to believe Woody Allen used the restaurant for a scene in Midnight in Paris.  We are not 100% sure of this, but for now, I’m rolling with it.  

       Ok, thanks for sticking around this long because now I can tell you about the most incredible part of the trip.  Honestly, Barcelona could have been 60 and sunny and it still would have been disappointing compared to Nice.  It was actually perfect in every single aspect.  For starters, Nice is just beautiful.  Our hostel was located close to the Old Town where all the shopping is located, and only a block away from the Nice Carnival venue.  On our first full day, we went on a walking tour with a guy that worked at the Hostel.  He took us to some of the most beautiful locations I have ever seen.  We walked up to this location on a hill and the view was absolutely breathtaking. It just amazes me that I was able to see the Mediterranean Sea and with a simple turn of my head I could see the French Alps.  I cannot even begin to express how incredible this view was.  Again, photos do not do it justice. 

Nice Fruit and Flower Market

       I think the other reason I enjoyed Nice so much compared to the other cities was the fact that there was a social aspect that the other cities did not offer.  I loved the girls I was traveling with, but I am always eager to talk to other people who are in a similar circumstance as myself.  The walking tour provided me with an opportunity to start talking to others staying at our hostel, and after the tour we even dragged one of them to the carnival (which can only be described as a colourful and unique experience).  Back at the hostel, I socialized with even more people from all areas.  I got drinks with a few girls from the states, a group of guys from Wales, and eventually we all ended up playing beer pong with some Belgians.  The entire hostel atmosphere was just very welcoming and friendly.  Most people who know me may not automatically think of me as a social butterfly, but my desire to get to know others really brought me out of my comfort zone and in the end, it was totally worth it. 

Nice and Mediterranean 

         If you ever find yourself in Nice here are my recommendations: Stay at Villa Saint Exupery.  Go on the walking tour with James.  Participate in the hostel’s happy hour from 6 to 8 and make friends while doing so.  Go to Wayne’s Bar and have an incredible time.  You are now on your way to having a wonderful time in Nice. 

          I do have to note that Wayne’s Bar is the kind of place that I just want to copy and paste into London and Columbia. It is really popular among English speaking visitors, and before you judge me of staying close to the familiar just let me explain.  This is the bar that all the young people from the hostels come to.  The bands cover songs, but not the generic top 40 crap, but actual good rock music.  Yes, when we walked in they were playing “We are Young”, but they also played The Killers, The Strokes and other great bands that you could just dance too.  Also, there is no dance floor.  The tops of banquet tables are what serve as the dance floor.  For a last bonus, since all the people there are just looking for a good time in a different country, the dancing is fun, not dirty and creepy.  The entire atmosphere was just so positive.  I know this seems like a lot to write about on a little bar in Nice, but trust me.  You would understand if you’d been there.  

The start to the most terrifyingly
interesting parade I have
ever seen (Nice Carnival)

       Our final day in Nice actually occurred by a stroke of luck.  When planning our week, we all thought it would be best to travel in the morning and get to our next destination late morning.  Thanks to EasyJet, the cheapest flight we could get leaving Nice was at 6:15 pm.  This gave us the ability to explore the first half of the day.  We ended up going to this amazing place recommended by our walking tour guide, James.  For the moment the name escapes me, but it’s just this beautiful area where you walk on the edge of sea along this old castle like building.  This final day, we were able to shed our coats and just enjoy the sun.  The water was sparkling and the sky was blue.  We ate lunch outside at this little café where we could see the sea.  It was such a perfect scenario that we never wanted to leave.  Looking back, it feels like a dream.  I feel like I was never in the south of France, like I only imagined it. Everything about that moment was so ideal that it feels too amazing to be real. 

         My mind is already working out elaborate schemes of how I can make and save enough money to get back to Nice this summer.  It doesn’t look likely but I can dream can’t I?

        I’ve been learning a lot about myself while in London, but I also discovered a lot about myself over this trip.  Although using WiFi to figure things out made things easier at time, I now know that I don’t need the Internet to survive in a new city.  Give me a map and I am set. This is kind of a big deal to me in this day and age where WiFi seems to be everywhere.  

      I guess I also discovered that I'm not as much of an introvert as I've thought myself to be.  This is an idea that I have been coming back to for the past few years now but I really think my hard anti-social shell is starting to break a little.  To me this trip was so much more than just a trek across a few European cities to see the cites, to me this holiday was more about self-discovery.  I've discovered that I have the potential to be a leader when the time arises.  I now know that I can make friends no matter where I go.  Also, through our many deep conversations, I've learned a lot about my self and my faith.  That topic may be a little too deep for a blog like this, but all our conversations this weekend really got me thinking about the kind of person I want to be, especially when I return to the states.  It's sometimes easy to forget that at this age (21) I am becoming the person that I will most likely be for the rest of my life, so if I have any faltering character flaw that I would like to change (I'm a little pretentious and hard on people) then now would be the time to do it.  That may seem like such a random thought, but those thoughts are the kind of ideas I found myself thinking about while on this trip.

     So that was my midterm break: Snowy Paris, beautiful Nice, windy Barcelona, deep conversations, stepping outside of comfort zones, meeting new people and just enjoying life. 

Cheers,

Janelle


*Edit: I would like to put more photos up but Blogger is an AWFUL website when it comes to incorporating photos into a post.  Sorry about that.