The Daily Beacon

Our school newspaper wrote a little something about our trip! Read along now.

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Standing on both sides of the Earth. AT THE SAME TIME!

Today, our group travelled to Greenwich to the British Maritime Museum and surrounding landmarks! This included the Prime Meridian, which blows my mind every time I think about it.

I stood in two places at once (A Walk to Remember, anyone?). Not only that, but I was on different sides of the world. I feel a GLS chant coming on...

No big deal.......

Tomorrow will be our third of four exams in statistics, by the way. I'm 95% sure that I will be glad tomorrow when 75% of this class is done!

I will name my firstborn child after the first person to ship over a box of FROSTED Mini Wheats

But I only wish I were kidding about this......

Two solid weeks in and the list of American struggles and differences continues. I haven't posted many yet, because I was waiting for a fair number of items, but I think the day has finally come.

Things I miss about the U.S.

1. Frosted Mini Wheats. The "shredded wheat" is literally shredded wheat... AKA mush. And there is no sugary option.
2. Sugary options.
3. Going down the right hand side of sidewalks, escalators, stairs, etc.
4. One dollar bills. These GBP one pound and two pound coins are so heavy!
5. US Standard Units... like feet and cups
6. Going to the store in leggings and a hoodie, being completely accepted by [collegiate] society.
7. Driving my car
8. My two favorite places to dine for lunch... Field of Greens (UT Knoxville) and Paulette's (Paris). Nothing I've found thus far can beat a summertime strawberry wrap or classic piece of strawberry cake.
9. Not being lost............. Look at a map of London. I DARE YOU
10. My wonderful friends and fam. Obv.

Aaaand as much as I complain, deep down I still can't believe I've been blessed with all of this. The adventurer in me may soon overtake the homebody...

Things I love about London

1. Eating healthier due to lack of sugary options (and lack of funds... can't afford cookies, so I don't buy them!)
2. Learning something new every day and traveling to new areas of London, even if it's just down the street a little further than the day before.
3. The accents. Duh.
4. The Tube is fantastic, simple, and efficient.
5. Though the pressure for fashion may be stressful, it's moving me towards a more business casual wardrobe! What's up, CBA.
6. Again... the accents.
7. Constantly being surrounded by this amazing group of students. We really are a family...
8. The amazing architecture and picturesque images every time I step out my door.
9. PIGEONS. Everywhere. It's not much for wildlife, but they'll do.
10. Being surrounded by so much history and culture. We don't have a queen in my small town, ya'll.

Such a lucky girl I am. I can't believe it's been nearly three weeks already. Spring Break is just around the corner, for real... Venice, Rome, and Budapest here we come! I'm doing well in Stats so far and we're going to Cambridge this weekend (I'll bundle up better this time).

More updates to come!!

AND REALLY.....about these care packages. I would love to send and receive mail. Let me know if you would like the address :) xoxo

I made brownies today!

AMERICA

photo by Lizzz

BABinc.

After taking on two Tube stops and a little bit of snow, I was able to visit my future workplace today for the first time!

I had a meeting at noon with Katie, the lead events coordinator for BABinc. She was very nice and I think I made a good first in-person impression! I'd interviewed with her via telephone back in November, but this was my first time seeing the office and actually getting to ask questions without the fear of appearing like a naiive American. (Still may have accomplished that..oh well). I'm very excited to work there and it seems to be a good networking and professional skill building opportunity. The employees are very close-knit and I'm told we may be able to work it out to where I can see other aspects of the company outside of the event coordination. Their member companies range from banking, law, accountancy, and insurance to aerospace, energy, and even airlines and the media. There's no telling who I will meet or what specific tasks I'll be doing day to day.

No matter. I'm pumped.

AND I am apparently the first American intern she's had to have a cup of tea when offered. I think that's a good thing?

Cheerio! 

......by the way, another exam tomorrow.

Sippin' on tea and diversity

This evening, my flatmates and I find ourselves attempting to reach full health status again. In my case, this consists of numerous cups of raspberry tea and as little talking as possible due to my sore throat. We have chosen Marley & Me for the living room (and only) television, and are surprisingly all in the same place for once.

It's rather nice.

Like most of my peers, I live in a flat, or apartment, of 7 people. There are two same-sex flats and two co-ed. I am part of a co-ed group (thankfully) and thus far we've all done really well living together. It's nice to have the boys around for comic relief. Our blend of personalities is pretty seamless. One might even say organized chaos...

I can't put it much better than my roomie did on her blog:

"Amanda, small town girl

Rob, white Methodist Brentwood boy

Sophie, adorable German

Liza, sassy Jewish girl

Alex, musical IDGAF hipster

Dania, Singaporean genius

Andrew, Memphis man who will fight me to the death for some Chad Michael Murray"

Copyright, Liza

We like what we have and we have what we like. It's definitely something new. I've had to adjust from only childhood until the age of 18... to sharing a room and sink with only one other person in college, to this... six other people. I've never even lived in a household with more than one other person! I can't say I'm the only one adjusting though. Rob came straight to London from a fraternity house, where the goal is to not clean up and let the pledges do it on Saturdays. Still working on that.

We're all learning about one another, day by day. One "Good Morning" song and luggage prank after the other. I love it.

Oxford For a Day

Yesterday was probably one of the most eventful days since we've been here! We took a very cold and snowy day trip to Oxford with Dr. Mee, our statistics professor. He and his wife are very knowledgeable about the city and university due to leading each class before us on this same trip. The majority of us went to C.S. Lewis' home, the Kilns, while another group stayed in the town and took a historical tour. We all met for lunch at the Eagle and Child, one of Lewis' and Tolkien's favorite pubs to have tea and discuss life in. Fish and chips round two was a success along with a nice cup of mulled cider. Following that we continued touring to see cathedrals, monuments, and various other historical sights. The snow coating everything was a very nice touch for my first sight of Oxford :)

Cold and snowy. All. Day.

Harold hanging out in the last original fireplace in the Kilns!

Heidi, Jillian, Sydney, and me. Love them! 

Oxford

Lewis quotes adorning the Eagle and Child

Fish and chips round two. Plus cider.

Martyr's Memorial

Highlight of the day: seeing the Great Hall and courtyard used in the Harry Potter films! 

Christ Church Hall

Dining where the Gryffindor's did. NBD

Courtyard

The trip was very interesting and a good first out-of-town escapade! We battled the early morning alarm clocks, slushy snow (didn't fall!), freezing cold temperatures and wind, and are now fighting sickness and achy joints... But I think it was worth it. Still a fantastic trip and I can't wait for more.

Time to rest up. I foresee a day of movies and hot English tea with my flatmates. Cheerio!

Dunnhumby

Today, we made our first business site visit as an entire class. We sought out Dunnhumby, the international retail media group, to give some insight into what it is they actually do and some of the opportunities within their company. It was very interesting! They also gave us free pizza (an offering we college kids are trained to respond to)... British style toppings on the pizza, but lunch nonetheless.

Some of the things I learned are:

• Dunnhumby is responsible for the Kroger Plus Card and 90% of their business in the US is with Kroger
• It was formed by a husband and wife, originally dealing with consumer data from Tesco (UK version of Kroger/Wal Mart/Target...not as good though. Ha!)
• They work with probably every brand you've ever seen on a shelf
• A lot of thought goes into the milk arrangements
• The most purchased item in the UK is the banana
• So. Much. Data.

I loved it and the presenter was very personable! Everyone in the building seemed to be lively and social... No wonder it's been voted as one of the top places to work. I'm a little jealous of our two boys interning there in March!

Harold riding the Tube, all ready for our visit! 

Gorgeous church on the walk. First snow day since we've been here

Sarah and I pausing for a snow moment

Dunnhumby awards in the lobby

Pretty kewlllll...

Cheerio!

Exam Day

25% of Statistics 207 is completed at last!!

We had our first of four exams today. Class is taught by an "imported" UTK professor, two times per weekday with no class on Fridays and tests Thursday afternoons. And recently, it was decided that we'll take our second session on Wednesdays to do a class adventure! So, essentially...3 days of class, 3 day weekends, and a class completed in 4 weeks.

I'll take it :) Now it's time to celebrate our first full week in London! Time sure has flown by.

Lloyd's of London and Broadgate

Yesterday afternoon, a group of 9 of us travelled to Lloyd's of London for a site visit. (This was my first Tube ride, by the way!) Though I didn't fully understand the company's actual position in the insurance industry before going in, I know we all came out with a lot of interesting information and insight! Not to mention some beautiful views and photos. Our guide, Robin, was very helpful, witty, and British.

Lloyd's is right beside London's Gherkin building!

Tiffany's blue and royal chandeliers. Perfect.

Original clock from Lloyd's first corporate office

Diagon Alley was on our route from the Underground stop!

We also went ice skating in Broadgate Circle this evening! Another wonderful event put on by the centre. No surprise that we were much better at this than our Floridian peers. Though I did fall once or twice... #noshame

The boys forming a conga line of sorts

Cheerio for now!!

Working Girl

Wonderful news, loves!

I received my internship placement today. I will be working at British American Business, Inc. just a few blocks from our flat :). In this position, I will mainly assisting the events team because one main purpose of BABinc is networking. The company's work isn't necessarily relevant to my future goals of accounting/law/undecided, but the communication and organization skills I will develop in this position will be relevant to any area of business I choose to pursue.

I can't wait for March to come! I'll have a meeting with my supervisor there next week. Time to ride the Tube and navigate directions to my London internship site!

Bringing out the Rebel! (Canon Rebel, that is)

I finally took and uploaded some new photos with my favorite camera.

Let the tourist frenzy begin!

Harold ready for our flight to London last week!

The Shard

Sophie, Me, Sydney, Heidi, Sarah, and Liza in front of the Tower Bridge

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Tower Bridge and surrounding dock sites

St. Paul's Cathedral

Big Ben and Parliament

Westminster Abbey

Ello from the telephone booth!!

We saw all of these amazing landmarks and learned so much historic information about them during a coach tour the study centre provided. More photos and more adventures to come! This morning began our first day of class, so we'll see how all that goes! So taunting knowing sweet London is right outside, waiting to be explored!!

As the first weekend concludes...

I cannot help but smile when I think of the past couple days. From arriving in the airport and using Great British Pounds for the first time, to actually knowing my way around these winding streets earlier this evening... I can't believe how fast everything is happening! And that I'll get to truly live all this for the next four months.

We've been through orientation and met all the Study Centre staff members. The other students we'll be surrounded by are awesome, as well. We've seen Buckingham Palace, the British Museum, and a nice distant glimpse of Big Ben (we'll be closer soon enough!) I've had traditional fish and chips, shopped on Oxford Street, and purchased a prepaid transportation card for the subway (called the Tube). Also, the centre put on a scavenger hunt today in which we were able to review all the paths our advisor has taken us on in the past few days! I'm not sure I've ever walked so much, so quickly, in the freezing cold, and been completely happy about it.

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to carry my camera very much and photos are slim in number... I'm taking it all in first before I flame up with tourist tendencies. I'm still enjoying the sights and learning my way around! I will say that the culture here is very different (especially from ole' Tennessee) and that my inner monologue is beginning to take on a British accent from all the local conversations.

GLS 2015 ladies at Buckingham Palace

Classic red telephone booth nearby

Approaching Tottenham Court Road

Exploring the London streets as dusk approaches

Ben's Cookies in Covent Garden

British Museum Entrance 

More things to come! Don't fret! (British accent applied)

Fish and chips really are a good thing

Next stop: traditional English tea time!!