Leah Barish

Oh my lanta.  It really has been just non stop here! (Thank god).  My week seems to be finishing off rather nicely.  I had my second day of work - the morning started with a lot of grunt work, but I had a nice surprise in the afternoon! I was asked to help out a junket.  Which, is a series of interviews that take place and are filmed for other media use.  I sat in and helped set up the interview of Paul Franklin, the head of Visual Effects for the movie Inception!! It was very very interesting! It was very enthralling to just sit there and absorb all of his enthusiasm about the film and his work.

Thursday I had my first International Economics class.  I was really nervous that this class would be horribly scary and very math intensive, but day one was fantastic.  The professor is young, engaging, and seems very knowledgeable.  He gave us a series of exercises throughout the three hour class to gage what we already knew, and next week we start exploring the world and its economic and financial transactions! Right away it was easy to tell that this class would be a refreshing history lesson, which I'm eager to utilize, as I'm pretty sure the last piece of history I absorbed about the world was in the 9th grade. My brain is racked with all these American based facts, and is completely ready to spit out our economic history.  I think this class will be really helpful and the small eye opener most American Economic students really need.  Don't worry though, after just one class I was already consumed with a great deal of identity and pride for America.  I know a lot of people travel abroad and just wish to death they weren't American and are embarrassed of their accent and our nations follies.  I can say with certainty I will play the oppostite part here - every moment I'm more proud to be from America, and I've never felt more grateful and fortunate in my life - for my health, loved ones, and upbringing.

On a lighter note - Thursday night, Leah arrived from Bath!! We had an awesome two days together and I'm so happy she could visit! Thursday night, we went to a local pub just a few blocks away called The Albany.  We both decided we could use a beer and wanted to catch up.  I wanted something light, and Leah recommended I have a hard cider.  Immediately repulsed by the idea (for no good reason) I agreed I would try a sample and see if it was of my liking.  IT WAS.  I promptly bought a whole pint, Leah bought a dark local beer, and we sat down for a good hour in the dimly light bubbling pub.  We enjoyed the atmosphere (as we should! Our drinks were a whopping 4 pounds).  The cider was so fabulous, and I  already have another waiting for me in the fridge for tomorrow night!  I have a feeling it's definitely going to be my thing here - it reminds me so much of beer, but is just delicious!

Friday we went to Tate Modern, and I managed to thoroughly enjoy it despite it being my second visit.  We then bought tickets to Design for Living at the Old Vic theatre (really beautiful) and had dinner and saw the show.  It was really great - totally original, I've never seen anything quite like it.  The acting was superb - I'm so glad to have gone, Leah tends to gravitate to the theatres (one of the perks of being her good friend).

Today we toured Buckingham Palace! The queen is away on holiday in Scotland and the palace is open until October 1st for touring! I'm really glad we went because who knows when I'll ever have that opportunity again.  It was really impressive, and the Queen is the most adorable person in the world and she wears the cutest hats (Leah and I have decided).

Now I'm back at the flat, enjoying some hummus and carrots and reading the insane amounts of shakespeare I need to complete before class on tuesday.  Very glad tomorrow is Sunday - grocery shopping, hitting the gym, and reading reading reading.

Being busy has been great, and next week will only be worse! (better?!) Colby and I are finalizing our fall break plans tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.  We've decided to spend two nights in Amsterdam and two nights in Tuscany!! (We might even take a cooking class ahhhh!!)

Shout out to my kid brother Benjamin who just moved his butt to Boston for a year of grand exploration and learning (of the film variety)!  I am so very very proud of him, and can't wait to see him in Boston in all his glory.  Watch out world, great things a coming.

Thanks to Leah for the visit - so good to see your face!

I love you all so much.

Until next time.