2 weeks left.
I have 2 weeks left.
I can not believe that 6 weeks have passed. I am still here for 4 weeks. 2 of which is with this internship and the other 2 are going to be spent doing god knows what is several Eastern European countries.
How strange to think about this experience as coming to a close. I wonder how many things have changed since I began this endeavour? I can't think of anything major, but clearly you can't enter and leave this type of thing without a change of some sort.
I am ready to go. I have enjoyed my time here despite my rather shitty start. It has perked up nicely. But what waits for me after this is being reunited with 2 of my best friends after 2 years apart. Traveling Europe again with Liz. Going home to see my sister and my babies. NBS's wedding, which we all have been waiting for. My 21st birthday. And my senior year of College. Let the adventures begin.
I am not sure how much I have actually learnt about my industry. I am hoping that I have learnt more than I think. It would be fantastic to get a job at home and actually understand all that they tossed at me the first day. The likelihood of that being the case is rare, but a girl can dream can't she?
I know that one thing I learnt is that, in no way, will ever live in the UK. Whilst I always enjoy my time here, I know that we make better friends than lovers.
I went to Germany this weekend, pictures will come, I promise. I am not sure if you knew this, but they speak German in Germany. Surprised the hell out of me. I did prepare by arming myself with key phrases provided by Marissa. But nothing can actually prepare you for going to a place and not being able to understand 98% of what is going on around you. At one point, John and I were on a train when all the sudden an announcement came on. After the announcement everyone in the train car left. We had NO idea what was being said, but went with context clues. Apparently the platform changed and we were moving to the right one. Had we not followed every ones lead, who knows where we would have ended up. Even in french speaking countries where I can get on pretty well, I am still doubtful. And as much as I hate to admit it, I am pretty thankful that the universal language just happens to be the one that I am fluent in. Sucks cause it makes my motivation to learn another language diminish ever so slightly, and gives us a reputation as the dumb country. But great because it means that I can enjoy an evening with people from all over the world and we can understand each other. It's a give or take situation, with most of the time it seems like Americans taking.
But what we lack in language skills we make up in other areas. Fear not, we are not hated around the world. We are just questioned. And that makes for great debates.
Speaking of great debates, I love how the debate is not a lost art form. I watched this show the other night with Ken Livingston, the mayor of London. He was being asked questions from both a panel and from the audience. They get so passionate about debating. At times, I wonder how far it really gets them. It seems that it goes around in circles often. I mean a 30 minute debate is not going to fully change someones thoughts, but it will however, show you that your leader is educated and can handle being in the lions den. Both of which are good qualities. I really enjoy that Ken. They get quite humorous in their debates as well. Good stuff that is. Good stuff.
There is a book out there called Red Herrings and White Elephants. It is a book about phrase origins. Obviously I am in love with it. You should really pick it up.
I hope that you all will give your eyes a visual feast and go watch a firework display. If not for the eyes, do it for me. I miss my fireworks. But happy note, I get to eat some award winning curry tonight and the company is paying. So we take what we can get. I will have the County Fair and Air show to see fireworks, but free award winning curry is a rarity.
Alright, go enjoy your day. Pictures will come soon.
Sidenote - Go eat a chicken, avocado, bacon and mayo sandwich on ciabatta bread. Yummy
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4 comments:
So I feel really stupid, thus I am deciding to share this with you. For a few weeks now I have been wondering why you haven't joined us out. Then last week I remember that you had an intership in the UK. I asked Beth about it last night and she told me to come to your blog. I felt pretty stupid, especially after I read the first line of your blog today - It is hard to believe that I have been here for 6 weeks. Yeah I felt dumb. Even more so because every time I go to the Galleria, I look for you. That should give you a laugh.
I was in Germany last year during the 4th and missed my fireworks too. I LOVE FIREWORKS, so it was sad. Though this year I have seen lots and I still have tonight to go. So fear not, I will watch some more for you tonight. If you wouldn't mind, eat some curry for me.
It's amazing how many languages people know in Europe. I'm sure you meet people all the time in the UK who know 3 or more. When I was in Germany I experienced the same sadness in the lack of Americas desire to learn languages other than their own. It's something I have thought a lot about since then. I agree that it is nice that we are fluent in the universal language, but I would love to be able to travel and converse with others in their own language. I think it shows respect. However, to cut us some slack, not that we need any more, since it's so easy and frequent for Europeans to travel, languages hold easier. Plus, they have more use for them. Americans can learn other languages all they want, but unless they are taking classes or visiting other countries frequently, they either don't become fluent or they lose it over time. Just think - if every one of our states spoke a different language, we would most likely know more than one language as well. The more you are surrounded by it, the easier it comes. So while it is sad, I don't see it changing.
A final note: This experience will change you. It's something you kinda feel and people will tell you, but you won't really see it's full effects until months afterwards. It will change your thinking (and debates), your opinions, and your desires. Though it will only make you a better person. I spent a portion of my time abroad wanting to come home and it's something I will always regret and I don't believe in the word. But I would do it again in a heart beat and enjoy every second of it. So soak up everything you can in the next four weeks, take lots of pictures, make lots of friends, and know that I am jealous!
P.S. I am meeting up with a roommate of mine, from Germany, in Manhattan the 23-26. And if another one of the girls I met in Germany gets the intership she applied for, next year I am going to try to visit her in Geneva! This one opportunity will open several more.
Sorry for the length. Enjoy the 4th and all of the other days you have left until you return home.
Joanna
Yeah, that was long! Fourth sucked this year, but the third kicked all kinds of ass. Your name was brought up in several conversations and only good things were said about you. Large amounts of explosives coupled with booze and under-age drinkers made Warrenton exciting for once. I'm waiting on the edge of my couch for you to get home, 'cause we're gonna burn the Hi-Pointe up, just like on everyone else's twenty-first birfday.
Word.
Hi Jo and welcome. It's alright that you forgot about my whereabouts. I seem to be going a lot of places, so it is hard to keep up at times. Even for me.
Sidenote about languages. It seems that everytime I hear a language that isn't English, I have the tendency to speak French. So there I am in Heidelberg speaking part German, part French and part English. My sentences were all over the place, but my point always seemed to get across.
I will give you a full report on Geneva when I return. This way you can have an insiders guide if you go there next year, which obviously you should.
Long comments are my fav, they give me something to read in the mornings.
Nizzle, you might want to sit back a little on the couch. I wouldnt want you to fall off and miss the festivites known as my b-day.
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