Photo: The lovely Miss Hathaway
Saturday, June 30, 2007
More Reasons Why Britain Rules
So much goodness going down in the British pop culture scene!
An end of an era in Britain it is! Tony Blair (a dashing, dashing man) steps down as Britain's Prime Minister, making way for the newly appointed (and far less dashing) Gordon Brown. David Beckham says 'adios' to Real Madrid, and promises to change the outlook on soccer/football in the states. Meanwhile, wife Victoria Beckham sets to embark on an 11 city reunion tour with the Spice Girls (like, who doesn't have "Wannabe" on their iPod?). Princes William and Harry host a successful charity concert in memory of their late mother, Diana Spencer, former Princess of Wales. Prince William and Kate Middleton keep us guessing: will there be a reconciliation or not? In even bigger news, when the heck did Harry become hotter than Will? Speaking of sexy Harry's, the new Harry Potter film will debut in less than two weeks! It's going to be the highlight of my July! I've readied myself by watching all 4 preceding Potter flicks during the month of June. I don't want to miss one single detail! And wow, that Hermione has sure grown into a little hottie. Click here for a spoiler!
An end of an era in Britain it is! Tony Blair (a dashing, dashing man) steps down as Britain's Prime Minister, making way for the newly appointed (and far less dashing) Gordon Brown. David Beckham says 'adios' to Real Madrid, and promises to change the outlook on soccer/football in the states. Meanwhile, wife Victoria Beckham sets to embark on an 11 city reunion tour with the Spice Girls (like, who doesn't have "Wannabe" on their iPod?). Princes William and Harry host a successful charity concert in memory of their late mother, Diana Spencer, former Princess of Wales. Prince William and Kate Middleton keep us guessing: will there be a reconciliation or not? In even bigger news, when the heck did Harry become hotter than Will? Speaking of sexy Harry's, the new Harry Potter film will debut in less than two weeks! It's going to be the highlight of my July! I've readied myself by watching all 4 preceding Potter flicks during the month of June. I don't want to miss one single detail! And wow, that Hermione has sure grown into a little hottie. Click here for a spoiler!
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Carrie in Italy
Working at the campus International Services Center was a huge blessing for me in 2005. Not only did I love my job, but I was blessed with an amazing (and very small) network of colleagues. Every now and then, I'll receive periodical e-mails from a former coworker, Carrie, who is 4 years my senior, and quite possibly one of the kindest persons I've ever come to know. She studied abroad in Sienna, Italy during her undergrad studies at UCSB, and after graduating university in 2001, she found herself stuck in slump of substitute teaching and counseling gigs. She knew she wanted to return to Italy through a grad school program; and just a few short months later, she was boarding a plane to Syracuse, NY to begin her MA degree. She went on to school and work in Italy, and after being there for over one year, she sent out her much looked-forward to e-mail update. The way she writes is quite poetic, novelistic almost - and just reading about her adventures makes my eyes tear in longing.
I encourage you to read my favorite parts of her e-mail below. Especially for those of you who need some sort of encouragement. It's rather long... so use your imagination.
One day, I'll be back in Europe. Just you wait and see. *Deep breath*
[...] I feel that I should continue where I left off last time. I had just returned to Florence to begin work as a TA at Syracuse University. I began teaching two sections of an art history class on "Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance" and sat in on an upper-level course on Michelangelo that I hoped to TA for in the fall. Being a TA was really an incredible experience, because each week I (along with fellow TA Anne) lectured on-site...meaning that we never lectured in a classroom. We met students at different locations around the city in front of the paintings, sculptures, and buildings that they were learning about. This was absolutely amazing. We also took students on a few overnight trips to other Italian cities (Rome, Mantua, Padua, Urbino, San Sepolcro, Monterchi, Arezzo, and Rimini) during which I lectured. It was wonderful getting to know our students and working with them was such a rewarding experience. We connected much more personally, because they were learning and navigating their way through a foreign country. I felt like TA/tour guide/translator/surrogate family to many of them. At the end of the semester when academic and volunteer awards were given at a ceremony, I was there in the audience cheering and waving like a proud parent.
[...]
Before I knew it, spring had sprung. Paola and I thought it was best to flee the mainland and head to Sardegna, an island just to the west of the mainland. It is actually commonly called "Barcelonetta" or "Little Barcelona," indicating the strong Spanish influence on this Italian island. As the photos will corroborate, we enjoyed tapas and sangria, saw Spanish-style buildings, and tried to cope with the unique local dialect. We spent five nights in the city of Alghero and traveled by bus to Sassari and Bosa. From Alghero we took a guided boat tour to Le Grotte di Nettuno (60 million year-old) caves. The hosts of our B&B also took us to a beautiful nature reserve that culminated at the edge of a spectacular cliff. The weather in Sardegna was thankfully warmer than on the mainland, but of course our final day on the island was the nicest. We returned to Florence relaxed and tan, ready to brave the second half of the semester. The semester progressed as normal and then we fled Florence again in early April...only this time to France and for work. The professor that I TA for takes students in his Leonardo da Vinci course to Paris for four days with day trips to Versailles and Chartres. Two TA's come along for the ride - the TA for the Leonardo course (Paola) and another TA (Anne) who organizes the trip and brings another 30 students. I got the best end of the deal by having no responsibilities whatsoever, because I was job shadowing Anne. I will be the organizer of the trip for fall semester. Unbelievably, I will lecture at the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and Chartres Cathedral. Me? At the Louvre? Seriously? We even had some free time to ourselves, especially in the evenings, to explore and get a taste of Parisian life. I had visited Paris nearly seven years ago when I first studied abroad. Thus, I did not climb the Eiffel Tower or visit other main attractions. Instead, I visited less-frequented museums, climbed up to Sacre Coeur at midnight, and wandered quaint streets. I am truly in awe of the opportunities that Syracuse University has afforded me. The work and stress is tremendous, but I love it.
[...]
The semester finished a few weeks later, but before I could pack up and head for California I had one more trip. Every semester my professor invites a few chosen TA's on a three-day trip to Le Marche, a gorgeous region southeast of Tuscany. Anne, Paola, and I went along for the ride. This was really the first time that we had been able to see Italy by car and it was breathtaking. To be honest, I cannot remember the number of or names of the cities we visited. It was a marathon of tiny town stops. What was most refreshing about the trip was the fact that none of the stops were crowded with tourists. We could enjoy the towns for what they were without any major plans or destinations. It was a welcomed change of pace. We stayed at a lovely countryside agritourismo (sort of a country villa where they grow and serve their own food). I was fortunate to spend my birthday while on this trip and delighted in a fabulous birthday dinner at the villa's restaurant.
We returned to Florence on a Tuesday night and I still had to say some goodbyes and pack before my flight home on Thursday morning. Some of my closest friends would not be in Florence when I came back, so there were a few tearful farewells.
[...]
I will be back in California for all of August for anyone and anything I missed. I am only going to Florence for work purposes. I am ecstatic to return to the company that I worked for last summer, this time as the Associate Director. I will spend five weeks and 24-hours a day with American high school students studying abroad in Florence. First, my company is flying me to New York to visit the headquarters. I will then fly with other staff members to Florence. When the program ends, it is back to California for August, then back to Florence for fall semester in early September. I will TA for Masterpieces again, Michelangelo, and coordinate and lecture for the Paris trip.
If you could not tell, I am torn between two continents. Or, rather, I am enjoying the most of two continents and hoping that by spending concentrated time in each that I will make the right decision of where to live once fall semester ends. I wish you all a fantastic summer and hope that you know that I carry you with me on all of my journeys.
With love,
Carrie
I encourage you to read my favorite parts of her e-mail below. Especially for those of you who need some sort of encouragement. It's rather long... so use your imagination.
One day, I'll be back in Europe. Just you wait and see. *Deep breath*
[...] I feel that I should continue where I left off last time. I had just returned to Florence to begin work as a TA at Syracuse University. I began teaching two sections of an art history class on "Masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance" and sat in on an upper-level course on Michelangelo that I hoped to TA for in the fall. Being a TA was really an incredible experience, because each week I (along with fellow TA Anne) lectured on-site...meaning that we never lectured in a classroom. We met students at different locations around the city in front of the paintings, sculptures, and buildings that they were learning about. This was absolutely amazing. We also took students on a few overnight trips to other Italian cities (Rome, Mantua, Padua, Urbino, San Sepolcro, Monterchi, Arezzo, and Rimini) during which I lectured. It was wonderful getting to know our students and working with them was such a rewarding experience. We connected much more personally, because they were learning and navigating their way through a foreign country. I felt like TA/tour guide/translator/surrogate family to many of them. At the end of the semester when academic and volunteer awards were given at a ceremony, I was there in the audience cheering and waving like a proud parent.
[...]
Before I knew it, spring had sprung. Paola and I thought it was best to flee the mainland and head to Sardegna, an island just to the west of the mainland. It is actually commonly called "Barcelonetta" or "Little Barcelona," indicating the strong Spanish influence on this Italian island. As the photos will corroborate, we enjoyed tapas and sangria, saw Spanish-style buildings, and tried to cope with the unique local dialect. We spent five nights in the city of Alghero and traveled by bus to Sassari and Bosa. From Alghero we took a guided boat tour to Le Grotte di Nettuno (60 million year-old) caves. The hosts of our B&B also took us to a beautiful nature reserve that culminated at the edge of a spectacular cliff. The weather in Sardegna was thankfully warmer than on the mainland, but of course our final day on the island was the nicest. We returned to Florence relaxed and tan, ready to brave the second half of the semester. The semester progressed as normal and then we fled Florence again in early April...only this time to France and for work. The professor that I TA for takes students in his Leonardo da Vinci course to Paris for four days with day trips to Versailles and Chartres. Two TA's come along for the ride - the TA for the Leonardo course (Paola) and another TA (Anne) who organizes the trip and brings another 30 students. I got the best end of the deal by having no responsibilities whatsoever, because I was job shadowing Anne. I will be the organizer of the trip for fall semester. Unbelievably, I will lecture at the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, and Chartres Cathedral. Me? At the Louvre? Seriously? We even had some free time to ourselves, especially in the evenings, to explore and get a taste of Parisian life. I had visited Paris nearly seven years ago when I first studied abroad. Thus, I did not climb the Eiffel Tower or visit other main attractions. Instead, I visited less-frequented museums, climbed up to Sacre Coeur at midnight, and wandered quaint streets. I am truly in awe of the opportunities that Syracuse University has afforded me. The work and stress is tremendous, but I love it.
[...]
The semester finished a few weeks later, but before I could pack up and head for California I had one more trip. Every semester my professor invites a few chosen TA's on a three-day trip to Le Marche, a gorgeous region southeast of Tuscany. Anne, Paola, and I went along for the ride. This was really the first time that we had been able to see Italy by car and it was breathtaking. To be honest, I cannot remember the number of or names of the cities we visited. It was a marathon of tiny town stops. What was most refreshing about the trip was the fact that none of the stops were crowded with tourists. We could enjoy the towns for what they were without any major plans or destinations. It was a welcomed change of pace. We stayed at a lovely countryside agritourismo (sort of a country villa where they grow and serve their own food). I was fortunate to spend my birthday while on this trip and delighted in a fabulous birthday dinner at the villa's restaurant.
We returned to Florence on a Tuesday night and I still had to say some goodbyes and pack before my flight home on Thursday morning. Some of my closest friends would not be in Florence when I came back, so there were a few tearful farewells.
[...]
I will be back in California for all of August for anyone and anything I missed. I am only going to Florence for work purposes. I am ecstatic to return to the company that I worked for last summer, this time as the Associate Director. I will spend five weeks and 24-hours a day with American high school students studying abroad in Florence. First, my company is flying me to New York to visit the headquarters. I will then fly with other staff members to Florence. When the program ends, it is back to California for August, then back to Florence for fall semester in early September. I will TA for Masterpieces again, Michelangelo, and coordinate and lecture for the Paris trip.
If you could not tell, I am torn between two continents. Or, rather, I am enjoying the most of two continents and hoping that by spending concentrated time in each that I will make the right decision of where to live once fall semester ends. I wish you all a fantastic summer and hope that you know that I carry you with me on all of my journeys.
With love,
Carrie
Monday, June 11, 2007
You Again
Photo: Kurt Halsey
There's something calm, soothing, and wistful about the memories I have of him. Maybe because the time we had spent together was in a magical place, filled with castles and palaces; anti-urban landscapes that humble even the most fierce of critics. Mmmm, I can re-live the moments I spent in his presence with flawless detail. The way the weather felt against my hair, the smell of surrounding eateries… the butterflies, the sweaty palms, the eye contact.But that was so long ago. And I feel a bit guilty that I allow his memory to resurface as often as I do. But he is my guilty pleasure. And while I hate to admit that on every full moon, my bones ache for him, the cruel and piercing reality of it all is that I love his memory more than I can ration with words. I didn't spend enough time with him to know him wholly, but who's to say that time constricts the way a love develops. It is a feeling so deep and so painful. That every second I think about him brings a heat upon my chest. It is a feeling. A feeling.
And I hate myself for loving his memory this much.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Wild Designs
Photo: Is this not the best bathroom ever? Urinals scare me, and these are no exception - but at least they take the edge off. I came across this pic a couple of months ago, and recently found it in my "temporary" folder. Wanted to share before I deleted it from my hard drive.
Photo: Stockholm's underground. So dope! Click here to read the accompanying article.
In My Wildest Dreams
Photo: LA in... never. Click to experience the greatness.
When Norma first showed me this pic, I was gullible enough to actually believe that some city-planning genius was actually taking this plot into action. Then I realized how absurd that sounded... and had a good laugh. Oh if only...
Friday, June 8, 2007
Milestones
I hit (not one but) two milestones yesterday! At exactly 7 a.m. on May 7th, I was given my very first speeding ticket! The good part? I didn't cry (like I always thought I would). The bad? It happened right in front of my workplace, so everyone had taken their best shot at me by 9am. They even managed to work it into our unit meeting as a 'hot topic'. Crazies. I am no longer referred to as "the kid," but rather "criminal." I'm such a bad ass.
So, although my day didn't start off at its best... it ended with a bang; because at about 7 p.m. (and after a 3-week waiting list), I was handed a set of keys to my dream car! Brand new & fully loaded!
Ironic? Perhaps. But I'd like to think of it as "God's way of keeping me in check." I've concluded that earning my first speeding violation, has and will continue to force me to drive on grandma-mode for (at least) the next 18 months. See, he was preparing me for the new car. Good lookin out big guy, good lookin out.
Anyway, It's true what the Bible says: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
So, although my day didn't start off at its best... it ended with a bang; because at about 7 p.m. (and after a 3-week waiting list), I was handed a set of keys to my dream car! Brand new & fully loaded!
Ironic? Perhaps. But I'd like to think of it as "God's way of keeping me in check." I've concluded that earning my first speeding violation, has and will continue to force me to drive on grandma-mode for (at least) the next 18 months. See, he was preparing me for the new car. Good lookin out big guy, good lookin out.
Anyway, It's true what the Bible says: "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
LA Bound?
Doing dinner is great. It's even better when you're surrounded by a heaping of close friends, with whom you have absolutely no reservations.Our good friend Travis (and Ivy League bloke from Harvard Law), is home for the summer - and Norma, Sandy, and I had a blast re-hashing old stories from London 2004. The best story being the time we were watching TV in our flat, to find that the boys upstairs (Travis and Mikey) had stuck their vacuum hose extension out of their window, and into ours - in the funkiest attempt to try and vacuum our carpet. Several seconds later, the hose detached and fell 4 stories down onto our lovely English garden. Or the time a soapy dish slipped out of Mikey's hand as he was doing dishes... 4 stories down onto our lovely English garden. I tell you, it's not wise to have an open window directly in front of your kitchen sink.
Anyway, our quaint patio dinner at Zip Fusion was followed by drinks at the Cha-Cha lounge. And in the early AM's, when everyone jetted off into the night sky, Norma and I went to the hood for Sopes - a place where drunk Mexican men began to harass and blow kisses at us. I even saw a roach crawl up the wall! But the Sope was delish - and time with Normatron is the best. She even played Justin Timberlake for me the entire ride back to Little Tokyo. What a good friend (and soon-to-be re-roommate).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)