I See a Bad Moon Rising

I've had that song stuck in my head for ... 4 days! Okay, so obviously I'm miserable at updating this, which I apologize for yet again. But I had some time on my hands and figured late was better than never.

Today was friday - the end of a very very long week.  Classes are still going well - since I last posted I saw a production of Hamlet at the National Theatre, and gave a presentation advising Pakistan's economy. Oh, and I went to Oxford with my flat mate Alison.  ^^^ That's me in the great hall of Christ Church!! Check out my fb photo album of Oxford to see more pictures of all things books, and Harry Potter.

The last few days at work have been a little stressful - I'm working with royalty reports, which, while really interesting, can be a bit insufferable when it's all in excel.  I'm getting a lot of experience though - and am really happy working on it.  I just need to get better at balancing lack of sleep, caffeine intake, and anxiety. [If that doesn't sound like a classic Ellie sentence, I don't know what does.]

Unfortunately our hot water has been really testy the last month - our entire building went 7 days without hot water, and then today we actually went 24 hours without again. I'm so happy it's back on because I REALLY needed to do laundry! Speaking of laundry, I should go check the dryer....

I wish I could be home for halloween!! Everyone must be partying it up like crazy in the ROC this weekend!! They seem to acknowledge halloween in Britain - though no one dresses up... my boss actually informed me they all just get drunk and eat lots of sugar. Nice! As of right now, I don't think we're doing anything to celebrate... except homework?? Crazy, I know, I'm just so wild.  Just two classes, two homework assignments, and 3 days of work stand between me and glorious fall break.  Ten days of not thinking about work, or classes HERE I COME.  I'm so excited to just be able to absorb my surroundings for once.

Speaking of surroundings!! Colby flies in on friday (AHHHHH!) and we're headed to Pisa, and Florence Italy from the 8th-12th!!! I'm BEYOND excited to go to Italy.  Literally, I hope I just eat bread and olive oil for four whole days.  and maybe some wine... and cheese... pasta! ... pizza! (never fear - ellie has her lactaid pills everyone!!). Apart from having an amazing four day affair with the carbohydrates of Italy, we're also planning on hitting a bunch of museums and doing some exploring!

Oh, I forgot to mention - a week from tomorrow we're going to an Arsenal soccer game!! Everyone has been saying I really should try and go to a soccer game, and while I don't really know a lot about soccer, I'm so excited to go.  Our friend Micah, also from UR and studying in London, is coming too!! :)

In other news, my flat mates and I finally booked our flight to Dublin! We're going for a weekend in November!  During our last weeks here, we're also planning on taking the train up to Scotland, and to Bath (for their Christmas market!!).

Okay - I should go throw my whites in the dryer! I hope everyone has an awesome Halloween weekend.  All I can think about is mom's pumpkin pie these days - ah get me home!!

I'll be sure to post again soon - the next pictures you see of me will be from Italy!!!

Until next time.

You know, I still haven't seen a Dalmatian...

Clearly I’ve been all about this whole blogging thing.  Who knew recounting your day could be so exhausting?  I’ve been avoiding it like the plague.  It’s been 17 days since my last post, and it seems like much longer.  I’ve been insanely busy.  But the bad kind of busy that makes you tired and just want to veg at the end of the day.  Work has been exhausting, and I haven’t been able to put much into my studies – or anything else for that matter.  The list of things I’m needing to do just keeps lengthening.  I really thought being here would offer me some time and resources to do a few things for myself – write a few proposals I’ve been meaning to put down on paper, study for the GMAT, etc.  Unfortunately the city is not conducive to my brain and it’s functioning.  It’s amazing how far away things are in the city.  I used to marvel at the idea of walking out your door, and having so many things at your fingertips.  But are these things necessarily the ones you want?  I had never thought about it.  Without a car, or even with, it takes forever to go anywhere – in such a small little space!  How ignorant my envy has been! It seems anything extra I wanted to do will have to wait until January.  

Like I said, work has been crazy.  The company that I work for is involved in a film festival every year, and I’ve taken on some major responsibilities the last few weeks.  Essentially myself and another intern were given a list of directors, and a list of available interns and told to schedule and conduct interviews for the directors and their screenings.  It’s been absolutely crazy trying to do all of this so last minute and make sure all the attending directors get their interviews.  After we conduct the interview, we post the video footage online and blog about the interview to promote the film.  The festival ends tomorrow night, so I’m excited to have all of this behind us.  Two exciting things that I’ve done since the last post:  I attended the junkit for Buried.  Starring Ryan Reynolds, this film is 90 minutes and literally just a man in a box.  No panning out, no flashes to memories, or life above ground.  Just a dude who’s been buried alive.  It sounds incredible, and I’m excited to see it.  I also attended the press conference for The Social Network, and was a few meters away from Justin Timberlake, and got to hear his answers to questions about the film.  Also really excited to see that film as well!! The next few weeks will be much more relaxed at work, given that I wont have to work over time like I have been.  Our next project is planning the company’s Christmas party, which will be very fun! Erin and I (the other intern) attended an events planning expo a few weeks ago, which was really helpful, so I’m excited to start working on this.  I’ve come to learn that knowing how to do anything well is going to be helpful when starting up a company.  The beginning of everything tends to be 1-2 man armies, and the more things I know how to do, the less labor I need to hire right away! Hurrah!

My Shakespeare Class has been going well – saw Henry IV part one and two last week at the Globe.  Seeing the performances was really great because I really hated reading the plays, so this gave me an appreciation I never would have had.  I’m officially sick of the Globe though, because the cheapest seats involve standing, which I think I mentioned before.  And standing for hours at a time, Shakespeare or not, tends to distract me from what I’m supposed to be watching.  I’m writing my first paper for the class as we speak, and am handing that it in Tuesday.  I’m currently reading The Spanish Tragedy, which is the one non-Shakespeare play we’re reading during the term – more on that later.

International Economics is also going well – I receive our first take home exam on Monday, so I’m a bit nervous about that.  Each lecture is really interesting and really eye opening.  I’m certainly learning a lot about different trade policies, and what events lead to certain policies being in effect.  What’s also cool is that I understand which trade policies to implement given a countries current status.  The class is all about real life applications, and I think understanding the world’s trade policies will really help when considering target markets, and the competition.  I’ve found that my brain has become extremely entrepreneur-based.  I’m constantly trying to apply whatever I’m learning to how it would help me start up a business, where this came from I have no idea, but I’m rolling with it. 

In other news, Colby comes in 25 days!!  Our trip is nearly all booked.  We’re flying into Pisa, and then taking the train to Florence.  Staying three nights in Florence and one night in Pisa to see the Leaning Tower – one of the seven man-made world wonders! Museums, Italian food, and wine - bring it on. I’m beyond excited to have him here and to take some time off from work.  And then after he leaves – only 34 days until I’m home!!  How wonderful!!

I’ve been a little stressed about all of the hype about the anticipated terrorist attacks, but I’ve been trying to just take it day by day, and am taking necessary precautions, aka not visiting tourist sites, and avoiding public transportation whenever I can. 

I love and miss you all so much!  I swear I’ll try to write more, I’m hoping this next week will be less crazy.  We’ll see. 

Until next time. 

Some pictures: 

Dawn and I at the Ice Bar. 

mmmmm!!! 

The Globe!! I want to take Ben some day! 

Justin Timberlake at the Press Conference for The Social Network. 

This is one of my new favorite bands - their alternative and pretty big in the states - I got to see them up close and personal at the opening night of the film festival - look them up! The Airborne Toxic Event 

Erin and I at the opening night of the festival!