All Good Things

"It's easier to resist at the beginning than at the end." Leonardo da Vinci

As they say, all good things must come to an end. After careful consideration (and by “careful consideration” I mean “insomnia overthinking”) I have decided to retire this blog. I briefly changed the layout and even the title, but as I thought more about it, it just didn’t feel right. This blog was a requirement for my multimedia program in London, and even though it started off as just another assignment, it became a real chronicle of my time there and I wanted to preserve that. I am not going to delete this blog, because I am very proud of it, and I love being able to share my trip through it.
 When I started library school two years ago, one thing we were encouraged to do was start blogging. I created a blog and never did anything with it. I think that it is high time I change that. Life is changing a little bit for me, and I’d like to blog about it, but this is not the proper forum.

So without further ado, I bring you Life, Libraries, and the Pursuit of Information.  I hope you like it. Thank you again for reading this blog and taking the trip to London with me.

Fear and Loathing in LIS

"Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future." Audrey Hepburn

I’ve made a decision. I’m going to attempt to keep up this blog. I really enjoyed the process while I was in London. Some of the posts, especially a couple of the more personal ones, were a real source of cathartic release for me. I think that I will need that release as I move forward into the next few months and beyond. You see, I am a bonafide librarian now. Assignments complete, transfer credits received, grades in. All that is left is for me to participate in commencement this weekend, and even that is just a formality. So, how do I feel? I’m relieved, excited, anxious, and scared witless. I am now facing a job market that frankly, is a little scary and saturated. I am also in a situation where my options are limited. Every article and blog I’ve read lately is telling me the same thing: “If you want to get a library job, you have to move. Period.” Well, that just isn’t feasible for me, and that one track thought is making me angry and frustrated. I have a pretty deep-rooted life. Mortgage, two kids in school, and a husband with a really great (read: well-paying) job. There is no way that I would get hired for a position that rivals or exceeds his salary at this point in my professional career. That would be the only time a conversation of moving would even be on the table.

You might be wondering what I’m doing about this. Well, I am doing all I can. I am faithfully scouring the job listings at my local library system, community college, and four year university that are in driving distance. I’m keeping in contact with my professional network for their advice and guidance. I’m even considering positions outside of the profession. It’s amazing what kind of skill set I have acquired during graduate school. A degree that some may think is pigeon holing me, is really opening a door to different opportunities. Ultimately, my heart is in the library, but more than that, I am realizing that my heart is in information. My passion is connecting people and the information they seek. If I have learned anything, it’s that you can connect people and information in a variety of fields, not just in the library. Truth be told, I’m really hoping that things work out for me to stay at my current library. I love it there and I can see a future there.

For now it’s onward and upward. I’m going to keep my chin up, keep writing cover letters and keep my fingers crossed. The road is long and I’ve barely started. I just have to keep moving forward. 

Holiday from Real

“Oh, it’s the picture of perfection
Ah, the postcard’s gonna read…
F*** yeah, we can live like this…
We can live like this.”

Jack’s Mannequin, Holiday from Real

I am home. Home, sweet home. I arrived at SeaTac International Airport Monday evening, and after breezing through customs, I hugged my family for the first time in three weeks. What a great feeling. I think my son got taller and my daughter looks older. I wish I could say my journey ended there, and after a quick car ride I was in my own bed, but that’s not quite how it worked out. SeaTac is approximately 3.5 hours from home, so the car ride was not exactly a quick one. I thought I was doing pretty well until about 9:00pm when I felt like I got hit by a freight train. My body just about gave out on me. I realized it was because at 9:00pm pacific time, it felt like 5:00am to me – also known as 22 straight hours awake. I know I said it a few weeks ago, but jet lag? It’s no joke.

Here I am a couple days later reflecting on my journey. I chose those lyrics from one of my favorite Jack’s Mannequin songs because looking back; it really did feel like a holiday from real. The things I experienced were almost too good to be true. It especially feels that way since I am back to the reality I left behind. There are bills to pay, work to get back to in a few days, and finishing the last couple assignments for my Master’s Degree (graduation is in 17 DAYS!!) After that, a whole new reality will be upon me. I am so thankful for the time I got to spend in London and Paris. I feel like I am a bit better prepared for that new reality somehow.

Along with this new impending reality, I’ve been thinking about this blog. I’ve had a really great time writing it, and I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for reading it. I received some great feedback from readers and it was nice knowing that so many of you took that journey with me. I don’t know what I am going to do with this blog now. Should I keep writing? I’m no longer a “librarian in London,” but I like the idea of looking at things through an “alternate lens.”

Until we meet again here in the blogosphere, feel free to check out my final project for this course: my photo book. Thank you again for reading. Also, to my classmates from this program: Thank you. I learned so much from you all and I can’t wait to see what wonderful things you do next!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Turn your favorite photos into a photo book at Shutterfly.com.

These Last Moments

“And we danced, and we cried, and we laughed, and had a really really really good time…” And We Danced, Macklemore

“…Take my hand, let’s have a blast, and remember this moment for the rest of our lives…”

Beautiful London day for Buckingham Palace.

At this time tomorrow I will be on a plane heading home. I cannot believe how quickly these last three weeks have gone. Even though I had a sneaking suspicion they would fly, I could not have imagined just how quickly they would go. This is the last time I’ll be blogging from London. As I type, Crystal is beginning to pack and Lauren is finishing her own blog post. How bizarre.

Lauren, Kristyn, Melissa and Katie used the song “And We Danced” by Macklemore in their Digital Video assignment (check it out here), and it’s all I’ve been hearing in my head. It seems to sum up this experience perfectly.

“And we danced…”
I did not experience much of London’s nightlife while I was here. It was not the focus of this trip. I decided that I should go out at least one night, and since I was caught up on all my schoolwork and blogging, last night was the night. Lauren, Melissa and I took the tube down to Euston where we met up with Lauren’s cousin’s husband and his sister (did you follow that?) We hopped on a bus and headed down to Camden Town. I had been to Camden once before on this trip, and admittedly, it was not my favorite. It was just such a stark contrast to Bloomsbury (which I love). I have to confess though; the activity in Camden at night is pretty amazing. It seems like anything goes. There was no way you could be overdressed or underdressed. We ended up at a hole in the wall place called Barfly where several bands were playing. It was a really fun scene. The people were really great and very welcoming. It was funny, because the three of us were kind of the “token Americans” in a VERY British establishment. It was a blast. We danced and just had a really great time. It kind of reminded me of Portland, Oregon with its “anything goes” attitude. That is one of the things that I love about Portland, and it was interesting to feel so at home when I was so far away from it.

“And we cried, and we laughed…”
Okay, I think I can safely assume we’ve ALL cried at some point during this trip. Whether it was from laughing hysterically or from the pain of homesickness, the tears have been there. I am sad to say that I have cried from homesickness, especially in the last week. I think two weeks is long enough to be away from my family. I can also happily say that I have laughed until I cried more than once. I will fondly remember the “that’s what she said” jokes, and surprisingly with a bunch of librarians, there were many of them. I will remember standing in line for the Catacombs and hearing the girl in front of us say “alright, stop..” and following it up with “collaborate and listen..” and then busting up laughing in the heat of Paris. I will never look at food again and say it looks “tasty” without hearing Lauren’s voice.

“And had a really really really good time…”
I cannot express what a good time I had on this trip. I did things that terrified me. I know that these things changed me a little. Am I coming home a different person? I don’t think so. I’m a little stronger, maybe. I think I am also a little more willing to take risks and less willing to overthink every little thing. I am coming home with new skills, ones that I will continue to develop until I am confident enough to call myself an expert. I navigated new cities in foreign countries. I made some amazing friends. I will definitely remember these moments for the rest of my life.

Lucky #13

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” George A. Moore

Sometime over the course of the last three weeks, I have replaced saying things like, “when I get back to the flat,” with “when I get home.” When I say “home,” I am not referring to my home in the states – though I am ready to be there – I am actually referring to the flat, my home in London. It occurred to me that I have mentioned the flat several times, mostly in reference to it being the “penthouse,” but I’ve never actually shared anything about it. I figure that two days before departure is as good a time as any to give you a little tour of my “home” across the pond.

The Long Hallway

First off, let me tell you a little history about the Study Centre. The buildings that make up the Centre were built sometime between 1685 and 1693. The Centre is in an amazing location in Bloomsbury. The West End, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus are only minutes away. I can practically see the British Museum from the front steps of the building, as it’s only one block away.
You might be wondering why I call our flat “the penthouse.” Well, that is because it is. It is the top flat in building 102. We are four flights and 75 steps up from ground level. While I appreciate the multiple daily workouts I receive from hiking those stairs, there is no air conditioning in these 17th century buildings, so the heat wave that accompanied my first two weeks here was almost unbearable. Also, while I appreciate the aesthetic value of the slanted ceilings, I am a 5'9" girl, so I often feel like I need to hunch - or I'm hitting my head.  

My corner.

Throughout this program, the two things that have really made it all bearable have been my flat mates: Lauren and Crystal. I knew Lauren before joining this program, as she is part of my MLS cohort back home. Even though we knew one another, I don’t think we really knew each other until we were in London. Crystal has been an amazing friend. Always calm, and always optimistic, I’ve enjoyed swapping “mom” stories with her. I can certainly say that I have made some really great friends during this experience, but these two girls have been the best part of the trip. We’ve kept each other sane, even during the difficult situations like moving flats so that we could be live with four 19 year old girls instead of four 19 year old boys.

Common Area.

Kitchen - it's filthy. Living with
19 year olds isn't fun.

 
 
 
 
 

Flat Mate Picture!!

I can safely say that I am excited that departure is right around the corner, and come Monday night, I will be sleeping in MY bed... but I’m going to miss London, and I’m going to miss these girls.

The Eye and The Globe

“Lord, What Fools these Mortals Be!” Puck, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Act III. Scene II.

One thing I have noticed on this trip is that “everybody got their something” (thank you, Nikka Costa, for this song is now in my head and probably in yours). For Kristyn, it was the Harry Potter Studio tour where she was able to get her picture taken in full house robes riding a broomstick in front of a green screen. For Melissa, it was the day of Roald Dahl where she skipped through the museum and story centre with childhood abandon. For Crystal, it was the production of Les Miserables, that not only made her cry but also inspired her to get a beautiful tattoo of Jean Valjean’s 24601 prisoner number here in London. For me? It was attending Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Globe Theatre. Nerd Alert: I am a big Shakespeare geek, so being able to attend a play there was my “something” that I was really looking forward to.

That's one BIG wheel.

Let’s back up a bit, shall we? The evening didn’t start with the Globe. We actually started with a trip on the London Eye. If I’m being completely honest here, the thought of going on the Eye was that “something” I was NOT looking forward to. I wouldn’t say that I am afraid of heights, but certain high spaces give me major anxiety: planes are one, and as silly as it may sound Ferris wheels are another. Of course, the London Eye is hardly a “Ferris wheel” in the carnival sense of the word. It’s a very solid structure with enclosed glass pods. I kept this in mind when I put the Eye in my “stepping outside of my comfort zone/trying new things” column. I knew that even though the thought of it freaked me out, I would do it. I was completely freaked out standing in line below the eye. Every time I looked up at it, the clouds moving past the wheel made it look like it was swaying side to side (it wasn’t, it was just me). The wheel is also continuously moving. You have to step on it as it passes the platform. It doesn’t move fast, but this was also a bit unnerving. Thankfully, our group got a pod by ourselves, and believe it or not, it was actually air conditioned! I am so glad I sucked it up and got on that pod. Any anxiety I felt faded away and I thoroughly enjoyed the 30 minute ride and unique London views.

Parliament and Big Ben from the Eye.

A walk along the lively riverfront led us to the Globe. We got there with about 10 minutes until show time, so there was time to go to the restroom or grab a drink but definitely not both. There was certainly not enough time to check out the shop (which I badly wanted to do). We did not have “groundling” seats, but they were pretty far off to the side, and my seat happened to be right behind a pole. Oh well. Nature of the beast when you are randomly handed a ticket. As for the play itself? Amazing. I really have no other words for it. The actors were emotional and funny. I really loved the traditional telling of the play. The set was minimal, which meant your focus was on the actors. There were a few modern elements – like the moonwalk – thrown in, but they did not take away from the play. One thing that I love about Shakespeare, and especially this play in particular, is the language. He had a way of making the simplest things sound so beautiful. Instead of saying “will you meet me in the forest?” and “yes,” his characters launch into extensive soliloquies to ask and answer uncomplicated questions. Maybe that is where I get my habit of rambling. As I always say, brevity is not my strong suit.

Walking into the Globe. So so cool.

Another thing I find interesting is the enduring nature of Shakespeare. The theatre was packed. All of those people were there to see a play written in the 16th century. I think this is because the themes explored in his most popular plays are still so relevant today. “The course of true love never did run smooth,” a popular line from Midsummer is still very applicable more than 400 years later. Nothing worth having comes easy, especially true love.
 

Mixing it Up - Group Style

Also known as our Digital Video Project.

One of our assignments for this course was to create a digital video. An option for the assignment was to use it as a means of promoting FSU's International Programs, specifically the London Multimedia Design and Production course.

My group had a lot of fun creating the video. I want to give a special shout-out to Jessica for volunteering her Mac (okay, *I* volunteered it.. "who has a Mac?" I said. "I hear iMovie is easy to use.." I said..), and for coming up with the "mixing it up" DJ theme. I'm pretty excited with how it turned out.