Yes! I'm alive!

Now that I am able to get on our PogoLink network here in the flat, I can finally update you! The past few days have been full of getting settled into our flat and temp lifestyle but lots of excitement!


Flight was smooth. I didn't sleep, but it made really crashing the next night possible. I am so lucky to have had Dad here to get me situated the first 1-2 days. It worked out really nicely that he had to come over for work. During the day on Saturday we went to the Mayfair, dropped off the bags, went to lunch, went to get the keys at the Umi Hotel, went back to Mayfair, got my bags, and took a cab to our flat here in Kilburn. We were all over the place! What was really nice was when I got to the flat, Matt was here, and we went next store and then to dinner the three of us. It was a nice time to just relax after all the hype of the day. Stayed at the Mayfair Saturday night. Dad and I went to the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Farm Street  Sunday morning, so appropriate coming from the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception back at CUA. Then it was off to brunch at The Only Running Footman. Food was good and the service was great (girl was very nice, Dad actually has had her wait on him before). Only turn off: the coffee was too strong! Coming from a coffee addict.


Sunday night was the first night we were all together in the flat. We went next door to our flat to a little pub called the Queens Arms. The owner is so friendly! I told him last night that the tomato soup and crusty bread is my new favorite thing there. Its nice having a little place like this next to us that we can call "our place". We hope to have a little gathering at the flat with Zimmy sometime in the future!


Monday we had our BUNAC Orientation over in the London area of Clerkenwell. It was a fairly quieter part of London but nevertheless interesting. Before our orientation appointment we went to The Grubbery, a little pub across the street for lunch. Molly and I both got the eggplant, tomato and mozzarella tower salad. Delish! Then it was literally 5 steps across the street to the BUNAC Headquarters. These people are really helpful and nice! It is really wonderful to be set up as an Intern in the UK through them. They are wonderful people and want everyone to have a great experience. The orientation covered lots of topics (many which we already we talking about amongst each other), like traveling, difference in sense of humor, our Oyster cards, dos and do nots, etc. BUNAC offers a lot of social programs throughout the summer. I hope to attend a few of them if I can. We ended up chilling at the BUNAC headquarters in their "media" lab and we were all able to get on the internet and take care of some things (me it was my international email on my BB and finally calling Mom). Earlier in the day, we did actually all go to Vodafone together. Four of us need a temp phone for calling/texting one another so we signed up for a family plan together.  After all, we are a family now! Monday night we met up with some people in Piccadilly Circus at O'Neills. The whole atmosphere is quite lovely. The live band that night was fantastic! Got the whole place going! We had a really splendid time out together, definitely a night that I am going to remember!


Yesterday was another kind of loveliness and awesomeness in its own way. We went to our meet and greet with Lord Cormack in the House of Lords in Parliament. Thank goodness we all traveled together because it can be quite confusing and overwhelming, the houses of Parliament are just huge! We got through security fairly quickly, and with a few questions here and there we found him. He is such a sweet man, very kind and very smart! I look forward to my seminars with him. The building is just magnificent. It has its own traditional character. Funny seeing advances in technology within; there consistently updated electronic boards with the committee meetings happening and other events. I am so excited to go to my first day with David's office tomorrow! After our meet up with him, Matt, Beriah and myself walked to the National Gallery and strolled around there a bit while some others did a quick meet up with their offices. The walk from Parliament to the National Gallery is breath-taking because of all the (government related) important buildings you pass and the history behind them all. After we walked back from the National Gallery, Beriah, Molly and myself had lunch at St. Stephen's. It was a little tight, or "cozy" as Beriah said, in there but I definitely can see myself stopping by there after work again someday.


Tonight the flat is meeting up with Dad for dinner. I'm excited for all of us to go out for a nice dinner together.


London is such an incredible place. There is so much history behind it and it really is unique in its own special way. I absolutely love it!

Last day in the States

I am currently in the Philadelphia International Airport, waiting to board the flight to London...yes it's happening!  I would have blogged about the past few days of packing but Blogger was down. Boo. Anyways, I was quite proud of my packing accomplishment. In a way its a little easier to pack for 10 weeks versus 10 days. Makes you justify needing that extra pairs of jeans or shoes. What girl doesn't like that feeling? I have two suitcases that have quite a bit of wiggle room in them. Another thing a girl loves, an okay to shop a little. As I was watching the Real Housewives and Watch What Happens Live and their re-runs following them (yes I am a Bravo addict) I was methodically packing up the different categories of clothing; leaving some things for the final day today. Oliver wanted to hop into my bag from time to time, wouldn't have been surprised if my suitcase was meowing when I was at the check-in. I am going to miss the little buddy a lot, even the fur that I find on my sweaters. Last night, Wawa was of course my destination for dinner. Had my last Wawa turkey hoagie with baked lays (which I will now call crisps in posts). Today, Mom and I enjoyed a nice lunch together and then I finished up the final final details. Then it was off to the airport. (Wasn't I just studying for a final this time last week?)


The new terminal at Philadelphia International is very sleek. It looks much more modern than where we go for trips within the United States at this airport. Get on that Philly airport. The woman at check-in was not friendly. Since Dad is classified as "silver" because of all his traveling, he should be able to check 2 bags without the extra price. However the woman would not budge at permitting it because the suitcase was 60.5 lbs, obviously over the 50. Yet the other one was 36 lbs. Again she would not budge and cut some slack. Whatever. We proceeded to security and ironically the TSA agents were really nice. I would say I thought this just because of the mean check-in woman. But the fact that they asked us about our day, our travels, and such, I thought it was extra special.


Dad and I just enjoyed a nice dinner at Cibo near our gate. Pretty good, of course as a foodie I have critiques. For an airport restaurant though, it was a good choice! Better than airline food.


Well, we are about ready to get in line to board. Its amazing how this is all happening! It feels like yesterday that I was in the info session in Pryz 321 for this program and then the application craziness came and went. Now its here! I look forward to updating you all when I am there!


Sarah


p.s. Congratulations to all you graduating this weekend! I wish you all the best on your next steps!

Goodness Gracious Me

Where did another school year go? It's hard to wrap my mind around being a junior in college in the fall. I certainly learned a lot this year about myself and others. There are a handful of people I didn't know this time last year that came to the surface this year and I am forever changed by the wonderful friendships we have between one another. I truly believe that much of the good that came from this year had to do with them, you all know who you are! =) I really grew in my faith as well this year, thanks to the amazing spiritual and religious based support on campus. As for academics, I learned so much! More so second semester than first. This past semester  I took 6 courses with lots of reading, projects and papers. Making it through all of those assignments and finals taught me that I do have the vigor to persevere and push myself. 

The end of the school year though was (or continues to be) bittersweet. I am so close to the 2011 seniors and I am really sad to see them leave campus. Luckily some of them will be returning to DC for jobs, graduate school and such. Also, as many of you know, junior year of college is when many students do semester abroad. So another "bitter" of approaching junior year, is that I am going to be away from one of my best friends at CUA for a whole semester. She is going to Oxford in the fall and I am really going to miss her! Yet, I am so proud of her achievement and know that she is going to have an amazing time. So that is what makes me happy!

With growing up comes new opportunities. And for this summer, that is definitely true...

This summer I will be interning for a member of Parliament in London. While I am there, I will be set to a number of tasks; the day to day running of the office, dealing with correspondence, carrying out research for my MP, and attending events alongside him. I am really looking to a constituency visit that I will be going on with my MP. It's going to be a great opportunity to see the area that he represents and give me an idea of what he does while I am there. I also get to observe both the House of Commons and the House of Lords in session, Committee proceedings, and Adjournment debates. Seeing casework in action? So cool! Since I am earning academic credit for the program, I also attend a weekly seminar with one of my CUA professors with the instruction of another professor (who happens to be a "Lord")...yeah I know! Okay that's it for now about the logistics!

My true hope for this summer is to definitely explore Parliament and its workings, London and the UK, and learn more about myself. Also, I really want to have fun! I sometimes get so wrapped up in the "professional" aspect of tasks and such. Of course, I want to keep that backbone of responsibility. But its definitely time to cheer up a tad more and have lots of fun while doing so! I hope you will follow me as I embark on this new journey as a Passionate and Posh Parliament Intern.

Ta!