BES-Assignment 8 (Wimbledon)

Wat Buddhapadipa Temple

Today we went to Wimbledon to play some tennis!...just kidding, we went for our villages of London assignment. From Putney Bridge we took a bus to the Wimbledon area, and wow I don't think I have seen such big houses since coming to Europe! I definitely wouldn't mind living in this area. Our first stop was at the Wat Buddhapadipa Buddhist Temple. I had to stop and wonder if we were still in London-with it's ornate decoration and serene streams surrounding it, it felt like we were in another country. In our bare feet we went and explored the inside of the temple. It was so beautiful! I took a world's religions class in high school, so I recognized a few of the statues and paintings, but it made me want to go back and re-learn things about this religion.

Beautiful houses of Wimbledon

Me in front of St. Mary's Church

We then made the trek to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (Wimbledon Tennis ground)-again, passing beautiful houses along the way. We saw a dead fox?...that was kind of random. But we made it to the green courts of the infamous Wimbledon. None of us are tennis fans, so we decided not to pay to go inside, but took a few pictures from the outside. We headed back up Church Road towards the high street. Along the way we stopped and looked at St. Mary's Church-I just had to (I went to St. Mary's Academy for high school). The outside was beautiful, loved the big blue doors. But they were locked so we couldn't go inside, but I imagine it was very pretty.

We continued up towards Wimbledon High Street, again (sounding like a broken record here) the houses were so beautiful. The people walking around were either old adorable couples dressed nicely, young people walking their dogs, or people driving their Mercedes. It made me wonder how much money it takes to live in a place like this? The high street was very quirky-with its shops, pubs, and little cafes. We walked in a few stores just to browse. On our way to the bus station we saw the Eagle House (owned by Robert Bell, one of the founders of the East India Company). It was a huge house-wished I could have peeked inside! While we were waiting for our bus I buzzed across the street to a real-estate agency to answer my question about how much money it takes to live in Wimbledon. I don't think I was totally prepared...to RENT an apartment, it costs 8,000 pounds a month! (for all my American friends, that is almost $13,000)! And the houses ranged from 500,000 pounds to 8.5 million pounds. Maybe that would have been a good place to hang around looking for a man? :)

Overall, I really enjoyed this assignment. I liked seeing a wealthy area of London. I could tell that there was a lot of "old money" there-which also means it comes with a lot of history. With its bigger houses and parks it reminded me of home a little bit...not that the homes reminded me of mine, I wish....but living in the city we haven't seen many real houses/neighborhoods. Although I don't think I will ever be able to afford living there, I definitely enjoy visiting it.

Internship Assignment D

Holly Osborn

This is London magazine

Julie and Beth Jones

Part 1:

1.       In numbered sequence of complexity and importance, list your major duties during the intern period.

1.       Go to press viewings at exhibitions

2.       Write reviews on plays and exhibitions

3.       Do research on and write reviews comparing shopping areas in London

4.       Subbings (converting long press releases into interesting bits for the magazine)

5.       Collecting leaflets from concert venues and mailing them to the advertising department

6.       Proof-reading the magazine for errors

7.       Sending bills to advertisers

2.       Were you able to fulfill any of your educational objectives? Describe how your duties contributed to this.

a.       I definitely fulfilled many of my educational objectives, these included: have my work be published in the magazine, learn as much as I can from Julie and Beth about teamwork and running a magazine, to use my status as a visitor to London to help the magazine appeal to tourists, and to continually improve my work ethic. A lot of things I did were published in the magazine, which was a great feeling. I’ve done as much as I can to observe how Beth and Julie run the magazine. I understand the process of production from start to finish and know what goes into each issue. Although sometimes things were challenging I continually strove to improve my work ethic and teamwork.

Your Supervisor:

·         Although technically Julie was “my boss” Lucy and I worked mostly with Beth. She would text or email us our tasks, and if we had a question we would usually ask her. They really trusted us to get things done once they told us, which often meant going a week or two without seeing them in person. The office is kind of far, so sometimes it was nice to work from home but sometimes challenging to get motivated. We have developed a great relationship with Beth and Julie, they are great business-women as well as supervisors. When they made corrections to our writing they would explain why and tell us how to fix it. One thing that I would suggest for improvement is a more set schedule. It was often very frustrating to have to wait until 11am to figure out what we were doing for the day. I know that a magazine needs to be flexible, but I think that knowing a schedule would have helped me organize my time better.

Your Co-workers:

·         My only co-worker was Lucy, so we spent a lot of time together. I think that we worked really well as a team to get things done. At first it was good to have someone else with me when we’d go out to do errands and go to unfamiliar areas, but by the end we were able to split up and get things done even quicker. We would pick up on different things at plays and exhibitions, which would help enrich our reviews.

Yourself:

Was your academic preparation for this internship appropriate?

·         Yes. As a communications major with an English background, writing was something that I am used to. In addition, my time working with our school paper gave me a foundation to do well with this internship.

2.       

Evaluate your work performance and the value of work assignments to yourself and to your employer.

·         Personally, I think my performance continued to grow throughout the semester. I continually learned more about the style of writing used in tourist magazines. Since we did so much it was hard to excel in one area, except subbing…we did a lot of subbing. At first it took me 20 minutes to do one, but now I can do one in five.  Although sometimes my work assignments seemed tedious (collecting the same leaflets that I did the week before) most time it really felt that what I was doing was making a difference towards the magazine.

3.       Describe how this experience has helped you professionally and personally.

·         This experience has helped me both professionally and personally. Professionally, I have learned so much about magazine publishing. I now know a new style of writing that will help me in the future professionally. I have gotten to experience being a member of the press at the press viewings at the exhibitions. I learned how to act at press viewings/what questions to ask/what to pay attention to, that readers will be interested in. Personally, this experience has given me a lot of confidence. I know that the work I did made a difference to the magazine, even if it was in a small way. I know that the what I do can make a difference.

Central College’s Programme Organization:

1.       Evaluate the application process and information provided to you. Include any suggestions for improvement.

·         I think they application process and information provided to me were sufficient. The visa process was a nightmare, and it didn’t seem like anyone really knew how to help. I would also suggest updating the money program, it is way out of date.

2.       Was the goals/self-evaluation method beneficial in providing structure and self-guidance to your learning process? Would you advise any changes?

·        Yes. I liked to set goals for myself and write them down. It’s neat to go back and see how many goals I have fulfilled while abroad.

3.       Did you expect, or want, the Central staff or director to play a different role than what was provided? Was the contact enough or too little? Suggestions?

·         I think the director role is perfect the way it is. We know that they are there to help us if need be, but they let us have our own freedom to learn and grow by making mistakes.

4.       What recommendations do you suggest for future interns?

·         With this internship, be flexible and open to suggestion. A lot of it you learn as you go, and you have to be willing to make mistakes. 

*Attached is a video to future interns.

BES-Assignment 9 (Reflection)

I cannot believe how much I have changed and grown during my time here in the UK. Time has gone so fast, it’s hard to believe just how quick I have grown and learned life lessons.

Can't believe I mastered this!

I think the biggest thing that I’ve learned is that I am a lot smarter than I think I am. Coming over here I was so nervous that I would never know where I was and I would get hopelessly lost all the time and just end up crying on a street corner somewhere. Even in Arvada I always use my GPS, even when I know where I am going as a safety blanket, so one look at the tube map made my head spin. I remember the first time I went somewhere by myself, even though it was just to a grocery store, I felt so accomplished and proud of myself. I thought, “I hope this feeling doesn’t ever go away.” But after a while it did, but it would crop up every once in a while. For example, one Saturday I was going to take a bus to Trafalgar but they were on diversion and I ended up way far away from where I was supposed to be, but I used landmarks that I knew and found my way to a familiar tube station and got home all by myself. That was a great feeling, because if that would have happened three months ago I would have had a panic attack. I have become more confident in myself, and learned to trust my instincts.

The most important lesson that I’ve learned whilst in the UK is that I cannot always plan for everything. Sometimes things happen, good and bad. Some of my fondest memories happened when things didn’t go according to plan. Like when we found Peter Pan getting lost in Hyde Park.

Some new skills that I’ve learned include: cooking, using public transportation, and general travel knowledge. Before this I had never really had to cook for myself, but if I wanted to eat I had to learn fast! Surprisingly, I learned quick and only burnt a few things. Using public transportation was completely foreign to me, and I’m not usually good at reading maps, so it took time to master. I still have a lot to learn, I’m not totally comfortable with the buses routes/schedules, which would be something I’d have to learn if I was here in the hot months when the tube is supposed to be unbearable. General travel knowledge came as the semester went on. I traveled to: Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, and Greece by every means of transportation possible. I learned: how to plan trips, how to travel effectively, how to get to the airports, what to pack, and what I need to bring to customs, etc. I feel like by the time I leave I will be a professional traveler.

Aside from the thousands of pictures I took while abroad and souvenirs I bought, I want to share my experiences with my friends and family. I know that words and pictures won’t do any of it justice, but I want people to know how great of an experience it was for me. I don’t want to forget anything I’ve done, which is why I’ve been keeping a journal that I write in every day. I want to make a scrapbook when I get home, which will take me all summer but I think it will be a good way of transitioning back into my “normal” life. I want to use the experiences I’ve had whilst abroad and continue to grow as a person through them.

The most surprising part about my experience whilst living in London is that there is literally always something to do. I’d heard it before coming, but I don’t think I really understood. One semester is not enough time to see or do everything. I was also surprised how much there is to do for free: museums, parks, live television broadcasts, walking through the markets, and so much more. It’s not surprising that there is always something to do in London.

Advice that I would give to students coming to London in the future is to make a budget and stick to it. At first it’s tempting to buy everything at Camden Market or go out to eat at a different pub every night, but I would suggest saving money for things you want to do instead of spending a lot of money on shopping or drinks. Every week I would write out what I was going to have for every meal, so I would know exactly what to buy at the grocery store and not waste money. Personally, I knew I wanted to travel and see musicals, so I planned that budget first and then went from there about how to spend the rest of my money. I would also tell students coming abroad to take advantage of every opportunity they can while in London. Don’t pick a nap over a walk in St. James’ Park, and don’t pick a day sitting around watching Glee on your laptop instead of going to Harrods’s with your friends pretending you can afford things. I would tell them to make the most of their time here, it goes so fast. 

Yay for new friends!

BES-Assignment 4 (Join an Organization)

Serving at a home game

Coming to London one of my biggest worries was missing out on volleyball. I have been playing year round since I was 14, and I was worried that by coming abroad I would miss it and lose some of my skills. This assignment gave me an opportunity to do something that I already wanted to do: join a volleyball team.  I have been participating in ULU (University of London Union) volleyball, and have had a ton of great experiences with it. They usually train on Monday’s so I wasn’t able to attend (theatre class) but later in the semester they occasionally had a few Thursday sessions that I could attend. After the first training session I was invited to play in the games with them. I have played middle hitter in two games at “home” (Bacon’s College in the  Canada Water area) and have a few more coming up both at home and other colleges through the end of the semester. I have notices quite a few differences from what I am used to back home, but overall, it’s been great to get into the gym and do what I love best.

Home game 

My coaches name is Kostas Kikiras, he is Greek, but speaks English…he isn’t the only one from foreign lands. Every girl on the team is from somewhere different. I met one girl (Allie) from America, but everyone else comes from different places including: China, Hungary, Germany, Mexico, and Poland. I swear I can say “free ball” in 15 different languages now! Everyone is very nice, and it’s good to finally be around some tall girls for a change! J The atmosphere is very different than what I’m used to. Training is supposed to start at 8pm, but people don’t start showing up until 8-then we have to set up the nets before getting started. Even at the games, Kostas gets there ten minutes before it starts and I even caught him texting during the game. I am used to a very competitive and intense atmosphere, so sometimes it can get frustrating when people are lolly-gagging around. It has made me appreciate the level of play that I come from even more.

Team huddle 

I have gained a lot through this experience, not just practicing volleyball. I’ve met a lot of great girls from all over the world, I even ran into one on the tube on day. It’s been great to meet people from all over the world who are as passionate about volleyball as I am. Not everyone is in college; some people (including the team captain) are in their late 20s. We played against a team where half of them were in their 40s, that was different than anything I’ve ever done before. I have gained insight into British athletics, including seeing how people’s commitment levels differ. For instance, I noticed that the other girl from America takes things more seriously than some of the other girls do. She’s very vocal about getting everyone focused, and it becomes apparent when she gets frustrated with other players’ lack of focus…it’s not just me who sees that the level of intensity is different here.  I am grateful that I have been able to keep practicing even though I am away from my team, hopefully that will make the transition back home easier. 

Internship Assignment C

Holly Osborn

“This is London" magazine

Part 1:

1. What are you observing about your work environment? If you could, what are two things you would keep and two things you would change?

My working environment has much more freedom than I’m used to. Julie and Beth give us our tasks for the day and they trust us to get them done. Because it is such a small company they have the freedom to work from wherever, allowing them to be part of a lot of events they put into the magazine. This allows for a more relaxed work environment. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a magazine on deadline, so things have to get done, but it’s definitely a more tranquil atmosphere.  

Two things that I would keep are the production system, and the premier reputation that the magazine upholds. First, the production; with just two people running most of the magazine they have perfected a system (writing on Mondays, features and press viewings on Tuesdays, editing on Wednesdays…etc.) It is very smart and ensures the magazine gets distributed efficiently. Second, the leading reputation of the magazine. Whenever we go to press viewings or plays, when we say we are from “This is London,” magazine they light up and I can see just how great a relationship the magazine has with those they work with. A lot of advertisers and event venues have been loyal to the magazine for a number of years because of how great they do business and communicate.

Two things I would change are the lack of schedule and how they include information at the end of event information. First, the schedule is very frustrating to follow. Most days we don’t know what we are doing until 10am, which can be exciting, but also frustrating when attempting to arrange a schedule. I would make the schedule more concrete and determined in advance. Second, the way the magazine includes contact information. At the end of concert, theatre, or exhibition information they include phone numbers to contact the box office for tickets. They don’t want us including any web-site information or how to get tickets online. I think that with the rise of digital media people are more inclined to buy tickets online, and not have to deal with people over the telephone, so I think it would be beneficial to include website information.

2.  How does your supervisor’s style work for you? What would you want to be like as a supervisor in the future?

My supervisors are very relaxed in style. When they go over our articles with us for corrections they always explain each and every mistake by beginning saying, “It’s not a big deal,” or “you couldn’t have known this,” which helps when you are first learning a certain style of writing in a new country. I like their style, but don’t know if I’d be quite as generous as a supervisor myself. In the future as a supervisor I would like to be as encouraging as Beth and Julie but with a little more bite in my demeanor.

3. What are you learning about yourself through this internship? What is one thing about yourself that you would like to improve for your next job?

I am learning a lot about myself through this internship. I have learned that I am a lot smarter than I give myself credit for. For example, at the beginning when they told us about the different concert venues we’d have to go pick up leaflets from I was freaking out thinking, “there is no way I will be able to find all of those!” But now I feel like I could do it in my sleep. My internship has given me the unique opportunity to explore London, to really have experiences in the culture…then I get to write about them, one of my favorite things to do. I have learned that I can do anything that I set my mind to, no matter how daunting it may seem at first.

One thing that I would like to improve about myself for my next job is confidence. I can sometimes be a little hesitant about something I’ve written or an opinion I have towards an issue that may help the company move forward. I think that this experience will help me show confidence in the future.

4. What are two things you have learned how to do or improved upon during this internship?

Two things that I have learned to do during this internship are subbings and travel writing. First, subbings are a very important part of the magazine. This is when we get sent long press-releases that we have to cut down to interesting tidbits that tourists will find enthralling. I had no idea what these were at first, but after your 30^th one, they become much easier. Second, travel writing is much different than the journalistic style of writing that I’m used to. With journalism you are expected to attend an event, report the facts, get interviews from key people, and quickly get an article to the editor. This style of writing stresses having experiences and telling readers what will make them feel like they are there with you. This was a challenge at first, but after some practice I really came to enjoy it.

5. After college…will you look for a company that is similar to the one that you have interned with? Why?

After college I will look for a company that is similar to the one I have been with here. I definitely would want a bigger company where my schedule would be more solid and my role more established…don’t get me wrong, I love my internship, but for a long-term job I would want more of an established role within a company. I have enjoyed the style of writing in the magazine and I love the feeling that I am getting readers excited to go out and experience this city that I am experiencing myself alongside them.

                                       Part 2: Updated Resume

Holly Osborn

 

Objective                            To obtain a work placement related to communication studies where I can apply my education and related skills: journalism, media relations, and public relations.

Education                             Bachelor of Arts Degree, Central College, Pella, IA, May 2013 (anticipated)

·         Major: Communication Studies         Minor: Psychology

·         Related coursework in Communications and Journalism

·         Cumulative grade point average: 3.3 out of a 4.0 scale

·         Communication Studies Scholarship

Related

Experience                         Staff Writer, The Ray, Central College, Pella, IA (January 2010-present)

·         Inferred what is newsworthy on campus

·         Wrote regular articles for publication in campus newspaper

·         Conduct interviews with students and staff members to provide accurate information

·         Provided photographs to compliment articles

Study Abroad, London, United Kingdom (January 2012-May 2012)

·         Immersion into British life, academics, and workplace

·         Learned to establish rapport quickly with individuals in an unfamiliar environment

·         Traveled throughout Europe, observed culture and enhanced language and intercultural communication skills

·         Awareness of global economic, political issues and realities

Intern, This is London Magazine, London, United Kingdom (January 2012-May 2012)

·         Used international standing to infer what is beneficial for tourists

·         Wrote articles reviewing events, exhibitions, theatre performances, and shopping venues for publication

·         Communicated with advertisers, venues, and curators to ensure the continuing elitism of the magazine

·         Edited before printing and distribution

Work

Experience     

Swim Instructor and Lifeguard, Cherry Hills Country Club, Englewood, CO, May 2009-August 2011

·         Instructed beginning level group swim lessons and conducted private lessons for all skill levels

·         Protected the safety of the pool while creating positive experiences for members and guests

·         Managed the coordination of numerous league swim meets

Activities                             Volleyball Player, Central College, Pella, IA, (2009-present)

                                               

                                                Member, Eat Well, Get fit, Feel Great Theme House, Central College, Pella, IA (August 2010-

                                            present)

·         Promote a healthy lifestyle by hosting numerous activities and booths on campus

Skills                                     Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Basic knowledge of InDesign

Certified in First Aid, CPR and AED            

BES-Assignment 7 (Imperial War Museum)

What is it with London? Every time I got to a museum it seems like it's even bigger than the last one. The Imperial War Museum, situated in Lambeth North, with it's beautiful grounds and grand displays is not easy to miss. There was so much to see inside, I could have spent a week there. I spent time on each floor, making sure to see The Trench Experience, The Blitz Experience, and the Holocaust exhibition. Aside from 500 screaming kids running around, the atmosphere was somber and respectful. The museum showed just how big of an impact WWI and WWII had on England and Europe as a whole. America has never seen war on such a scale on our home soil, so a lot of the exhibits shocked me. Overall, this museum gave me a greater insight into how conflict has impacted England and shaped the way it is today.

Inside The Trench Experience

Both the trench and blitz experiences were not what I expected. The Trench Experience did a good job depicted the environment of a WWI soldier, smells and everything. I was afraid they were going to let a rat loose or something. I walked through that one pretty fast, just because of how terrible it smelled. After waiting in line for The Blitz Experience I went in, not knowing what to expect. I sat on a bench in the dark with a bunch of random people as it simulated a bomb shelter during an attack...I almost had a heart attack when the bench moved at the end. The rest of it was pretty lame, I couldn't really understand what the voices were saying either. I enjoyed a lot of displays on the lower ground floor, in particular the Conflicts Since 1945, which  talked about even after WWII there has been conflict in every part of the world. It included displays from conflicts in the Middle East and Africa.

Uniforms worn by those in concentration camps

I spent most of my time in The Holocaust Exhibition; watching clips, looking at clothing displays, real phone interviews, dioramas of concentration camps, and reading testimonies from survivors. There were real concentration camp uniforms, stars of David, and even Torah scrolls partially destroyed in kristallnacht. I have never seen anything from the Holocaust until this exhibition. In America, we have books and some film where we learn about the Holocaust, but not anything like what's here. There was a particular point in the exhibition that had a wall of pictures of people before and after they had all of their hair cut off, both men and women. I stayed and looked at that for a while, very sobering to see actual pictures from people who suffered in the Holocaust.

Antisemitism signs

Nazi-German airplane

A little bit of America

One thing that we were told to look for, or what to notice the lack of, was America. On the first floor they have a first-model Jeep from America, and in the WWI and WWII areas they included explanations of when America intervened. They had a section of posters trying to recruit people that included the infamous, "Uncle Sam wants you!" poster. But aside from that I didn't see anything American in the museum. Overall, this museum allowed me to see a lot of stuff that influenced the history of the world, that I wouldn't get to see in America. It helps me understand the importance of the wars in British history, like why there are monuments to militants all over the place. This is an important part of British history, and this museum is a great key to unlocking insight into this part of its culture.

Bienvenue a Paris!

In front of the Louvre

Throughout my 3 years of high school French I didn't think I would ever be able to actually use it in real life situations, until our trip to Paris. I loved it! From what people in the program who have already gone said I expected it to be dirty and smelly, but honestly I didn't notice it with all of the other beautiful things. We left Thursday night via the train, super easy and quick, also got to experience the chunnell...it really was just a tunnel, we unfortunately didn't see any fish or sharks. We used the metro/RER system all weekend, which was easy to figure out after getting used to the tube system. Once we stepped out of the RER station the first thing we saw was Notre Dame...beautiful! Our hostel was located right in that area, which proved to be really nice and easy to navigate. We had a grocery store close by, along with restaurants, ATM's, an RER station, and souvenir stores. At first we were a little hesitant about our hostel. After walking up six flights of windy uneven stairs we walked into our room and the first thing we smelled was wet paint...great! haha. Aside from having to keep our windows open all the time to avoid asphyxiation the hostel was actually turned out to be really great. Thursday night we got some crepes, I got a nutella one that was soooo delicious! We walked around Notre Dame and the Seine River. Met up with my friend Ang who is studying abroad in Paris. And at midnight we went to the Latin Quarter (student area close to our hotel) to get a drink for Bre's 21st birthday.

L'arc de Triomphe

Friday was jam-packed with touristy things, good thing the weather was beautiful. We took the metro a few places, but ended up walking a lot as well. First stop was the Louvre, we stopped and took pictures at the pyramids...we didn't go in and visit Mona Lisa, because the museum was huge and it would've taken us all day to find her. We then walked through La Jardins de Touleries, filled with plants and statues of important people. We walked all the way until we made it to the Champs-Elysees road, where all of the big stores (Louis Vuitton) and clubs are located. By this point we were all starving so we stopped for some "quick" burgers...what an oxymoron, it took us like 45 minutes to get our food. Oh well, I went from starved to stuffed in 10 minutes. At the end of Champs-Elysess road rests "L'arc de Triomphe," looked just like it did in 'Passport to Paris,' and all of the other movies I've seen it in. On our way to the metro station we saw a wedding dress photo shoot, which was pretty cool. Next stop=Eiffel Tower! It was so much bigger than I thought it would be, and for some reason I thought it was silver, but it was bronze. We waited an hour to get tickets to ride the elevator to the very top. It's cool to say now that I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and it was neat to see all of Paris...compared to the London Eye I saw that London is way bigger and spread out than Paris, which appeared to be very close together. Once we were done we went across the way and bought crepes again...I had the best crepe I'd had all weekend, nutella/banana/and whipped cream...mmmm good! We made our way back to our hostel to get changed for dinner. We went to a restaurant called 'Hippopotamus' which Ang said is a nice chain restaurant in France. Good thing we had Ang with us, she translated half the menu for everyone...I could order food but that was about it. We got all dolled up thinking that we would be going out to a nice club for Bre's birthday...what a failure. After finding our way to this club we found out that it was a private club only....couldn't have put that on their website or said that when I called?! Urgh...we tried a few other places but didn't know where anything was. Eventually we gave up and called it a night.

Eiffel Tower & Crepes!

Me and my baguette in Luxembourg

Saturday was a "Holly-Ang date day." I met up with her at an intersection, that I found all by myself and didn't get lost!! We began our day with baguettes at a picnic in the Luxembourg Gardens...no big deal :) We took the train to Versailles, the old palaces and holiday homes of the French Royalty. Woah was it big! We figured that while we were there we walked around 4 or 5 miles. Inside was so beautiful! Every room was intricately decorated differently with a lot of history packed inside. We walked through a lot of the gardens until we found Marie Antionette's houses/palaces...as if Versailes wasn't big enough? Afterwards we took the train back to the 13th district. I wanted to see Moulin Rouge, which we did...took my pictures, not too much else to see. We walked to the Sacre Coer area with its many artists and different cultures. We stopped at a boulengerie (bakery) and got pain au chocolats, so yummy! We made our way up what seemed like 500 stairs we made it to the Sacre Coer Basillica, which sits at the highest elevation point in Paris. I really liked this area, we were able to walk around inside the basilica. We were able to look out over the entire city, in my opinion it was a much more beautiful view than that at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Exhausted, we made our way back to Ang's foyer...stopping at a French grocery store to get food for dinner. Her kitchen consisted of two hot plates and a microwave, much different than what I'm used to in Vandon. We made a delicious dinner of ravioli, green beans, and bread. She had some cheese and honey from a market that we devoured, again, so delicious! And of course, lots sand lots of wine :) We ended our date day by going up to her terrace and watching the Eiffel Tower glitter in the night sky...perfect end to a perfect day in Paris. It was great to catch up with Ang and spend time in her city.

Me and Ang in the Hall of Mirrors, Versailles

Moulin Rouge

Sacre-Coer Basillica

Beautiful view of Paris from Sacre-Coer 

We left early Sunday morning. Almost missed the train because I had to run to the bathroom to get sick right  after getting through customs..but hey, I couldn't make things to easy could I? :)

I really loved Paris. It was everything I always imagined it would be, which sounds corny but is true. One of my favorite memories is from Friday night when I had a conversation with our taxi driver in French. Although I was able to speak a little bit throughout the weekend I had a big sense of accomplishment when this happened. I think the fact that I knew enough French to get around and understand the monuments helped enrich my time there. I would definitely want to go back and spend more time en Paris!