10.2.12

Have a sweet weekend...


Happy Friday dear friends!

How was your week? Mine has had many ups, a few downs and some magical moments. The first week of my internship is over-whew that flew by. Overall I feel like the week went well. Sure I made a few mistakes, opened the wrong mail and called the wrong person the wrong name twice. (ugh!) But, I also was given a project of my own, asked to sit in on an author meeting, told that I was doing better than most, and had some laughs over a few pints with some colleagues.  And then on the way home is started snowing. It was cold but snowflakes falling on my eyelashes put a sweet smile on my face.

This weekend my plans include sleeping in and making valentines for friends. I feel like lounging around in pj's and cutting out hearts in paper lace doilies. I love Valentine's Day whether I'm single or attached. And this year, my valentine is London.

Enjoy your weekend!
{photo:source

9.2.12

Working girls & Coffee


So, let's talk about my internship. For the past three days I have been waking up at 6:45 a.m., commuting into Central London with thousands of others and working within the publishing field. And, it has definitely been a work experience. Little did I know how green I was to the publishing industry. There are so many intricacies to the business, so many contacts to be made, contracts to be signed, manuscripts to be read, things to be filed, calls to answered and yes the occasional cup of tea or coffee to be made. 

I've enjoyed it, but it's also raised questions many questions. And the one that excites and worries me the most is: Do I really picture myself working for someone else for the rest of my life? The answer is a resounding NO, and while I know that I can't start and run a successful business overnight, I know that I can aim for it, plan for it, and make it a reality in the future. And of course I have doubts and apprehensions, I have loads of them, but I also know that if I didn't at least try, go for it and give it all that I got then I would forever wonder, which for me would be heartbreaking. 

So I'm learning everything that I can while at this work placement. Soaking it all in because I just know one day I will need every skill that I've learned. 

By the way, this picture was taken at the cute pub around the corner from my office. Everyday I walk by they have a snappy sayings on their chalkboard outside. Today, it said something to the effect of... 'Hey it's -4 degrees outside. That's still warmer than Zurich, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Russia.....' Their signs make me laugh out loud on a regular basis so the the other day I popped in for a cup of coffee, sat by the fireplace and enjoyed my book. It was the perfect coffee break. 

7.2.12

Sevilla {Part One}

I decided that I wanted a life of adventure. I moved to London last year, made many new friends, visited places I've never been and learned a little bit more about myself each day.
I thought I would do a little more exploring, branch out a bit more. And one night while I was wide awake at 3 a.m., I found a ridiculously cheap flight to Sevilla, Spain and a few weeks later I was on the plan for my first solo adventure.

As I landed in Spain, walked around, got lost, spoke Spanish, and ate delicious food I relaxed into myself my surroundings and explored....



19 January 2012

I am in Sevilla, Spain drinking delicious sangria at Bar Patanchon and waiting for my calamari to arrive. I'm probably drinking my Sangria too fast but I can't help it. It's amazing. I was pretty nervous all night before I left London. I kept asking myself, 'What are you doing?'

But you know this is what I want to do as nervous as it makes me, as freaked out as I get this is exactly what I'm supposed to be doing right now. And so far I've been alright. I've navigated my way to the bus stop to take me to the city center, I've stopped and asked people for directions {all in Spanish nonetheless} and I've wandered around El Barrio Santa Cruz, checked into my hostel, and made my way to this cafe where I've just been served the best calamari of my life. No really, it's amazing. Perfectly seasoned with a bit of fresh lemon juice. perfecto.



It's worth mentioning that it only took me 2 hours to get to Spain from London. There's something to this living in Europe thing. And on my flight, there were so many people who were going on holiday. Backpackers young and old. The older couples surprised me a bit but then again I guess a sense of adventure never really fades in some of us.

The city of Sevilla is beautiful. There are orange trees everywhere and I'm determined to taste an orange. I just have to figure out how to get one. Maybe I'll have to stand on my tippy toes...



Cathedral Seville
I always enjoy sitting in a pew in a cathedral and reflecting. This one in particular isn't my favorite to be honest but it is the largest gothic Cathedral in the world. It feels drafty in here and somehow a bit vacant. But, as I sit here with my moleskin in my hand I can't help but reflect on how spiritual life is beautiful and should be celebrated. I climbed to the top of the Tower Giralda and the views of the city were beautiful. From the top of  I got a sense of the Spanish lifestyle. The streets looked quiet, church bells rang in the distance and rooftop pools glistened in the sun.  I felt relaxed and warm.



Wandering around...
This lady came up to me and read my palm. I understood most of what she was saying despite the fact that she spoke very quickly in Spanish. She kept pausing to ask me if I understood what she was saying and I kept nodding my head emphatically each time. She said that I had a very long life and that I wouldn't have any troubles in Spain while on holiday. She moved to my love line and said that I had big heart {corazón} and that I longed for love in my life. I don't know what came over me but at that moment tears pricked my eyes. I wondered if to her I seemed lonely.



And to be honest, I felt lonesome and I think she saw it in my eyes. She patted my hands gently, told me not to worry that it would come and then blessed me, giving me a piece of plant and instructing me to burn it in three days for good luck. I don't believe in luck, but I kept the leaves and pressed them in between the pages of my moleskin somehow thinking, hoping even, that they would bring me love...

6.2.12

Ready, set...GO!




Whew! What a day.

Can I just say how absolutely grateful I am that I have been able to take a year off to do my Master's Degree? Today was the first day of my work placement and I can not even imagine working AND studying full time. Between the full day at my internship, two free lance deadlines, commuting (London commuting is NO joke), cooking dinner and writing to you lovely people I am exhausted. But in the best possible way. 

It felt so great to be back in an office and working again. Everyone seemed really friendly and I can't wait to really sink my teeth into some projects.

But for now friends, I am going to eat some ice cream, mango flavored yum, and hit the hay. Hope you too had lovely and productive days.

{image source:Wherethesidewalkbegins}

3.2.12

Enjoy your...


Enjoy it friends. It only happens once a week.

Tonight  I'm going on a ghost tour at Hampton Court Palace. Not sure how I got into this one as I get freaked out very easily, but I'm sure it will be a good time... (gulp, I hope!)

Loads of reading to do this weekend, French to practice, articles to write and wine to be consumed.

Coming next week:
Travelouge of my holiday to Spain {!}
Review of my work placement at a literary agency {!}
and much more...

Have a lovely weekend.
xx!
{photo:source}

2.2.12

Parlez-vous français?

{Thanksgiving in Paris in 2010)

Bonjour! Ca va?

For a while now my daily affirmations have included one line in particular:

I live in London, travel often and speak English, Spanish and French

I have wanted to be fluent in French for ages and recently an opportunity came up at Uni to take a FREE French class. Parfaite, no?

Then tell me why today I found myself dragging my feet to class...I think it was a combination of feeling overwhelmed with all of the Uni deadlines this semester, two work placements and loads of reading to do. But, I went to class and while I have much reviewing to do, I left feeling more determined than ever to make my affirmation a reality.

Très bon!
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