Hello readers of my bloggy bloggy blog (apologies if this come across a bit hyper, I may have just crossed into the land of overtired.)
It has officially been over 2 months of me being here in London! I still can't really believe it, I've been sort of running on all cylinders for the past two months, and I'm really excited to get to slow down. And walk around more of London. And swim. It's on my list and I'm going to do it! This week, maybe! (Yesbe?)
Job prospects are mixed. I have a couple of leads on tutoring agencies that I need to follow up with (I rather like explaining things, and tutoring math in particular would be excellent, I think.) I also applied to a job at Next which is a sort of H&M ish place. Hard to articulate really. Anyway I got called and passed what I assumed was interview one to be followed with in person interview two. Showed up and basically ended up abandoned on the store floor for an hour and an half and told to help customers. Can't say I was overly fond of the experience, but I was willing to tough in out since the online literature said they'd tell me immediately after if I was hired. No such luck. Ended up being a rather awful day for me after that so I'm honestly not sure if I'll take the job after all that. Better than sticking around my apartment for a month though! I'll drive myself and everyone online crazy!
In the land of trying to get out and do things more so I spend less time muddling about inside my head, my choir's concert was on Sunday and went really well I think. There's always a sense in that choir of being vaguely lost, but I really enjoy the work that goes into it, so I'll continue along.
I went to the Royal Society's Best Popular Science Book of the Year awards ceremony (or something along those lines on the name) last Monday. Admittedly, I almost fell asleep, but that was wholly because I think I was running on less than 4 hours. It was actually pretty cool, because the winner was a graduate from the same program I did for my undergrad. And also I learned about a guy who jerked off a bird. You learn something new about scientists every day...
I actually spent some productive time in the Imperial Library, and boy does that place need an overhaul. I'm strongly reminded of Falvey pre reno's. Same temperature issues too, ick!
My evil coughy cold thing seems to have FINALLY gone. Hurrah! (fingers crossed, knock on wood)
I acquired yarn and other equipment to make the sweater that I decided I wanted to make back in September and I'm already a skein in! The yarn isn't exactly what I expected but I'm excited to see how this adventure turns out (how important is a gauge square anyway?)
In that package I also acquired a cupcake tin and some cookie cutters. I'm VERY excited to make some cupcakes and pierniekes in the near future!!
Oh, and I've just finished my last essay of the term. So glad to be done with it!
Hope Turkey Day treated everyone well!
Love from London!
Showing posts with label uni. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uni. Show all posts
Sunday, December 1, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Halloween and Bonfire Night
So after lecture today it is officially halfway through my first term! That's crazy. It's also a bit mad that having been to five lectures counts as being halfway through.
I feel like I'm finally settling in a bit to where I'm living and what's expected of me, although I can't say it's been the easiest thing in the world. I did take a trek with a coursemate to Peter Jones to look at craft supplies, and grabbed a shot of a completely lovely street along the way.
I feel like I'm finally settling in a bit to where I'm living and what's expected of me, although I can't say it's been the easiest thing in the world. I did take a trek with a coursemate to Peter Jones to look at craft supplies, and grabbed a shot of a completely lovely street along the way.
Honestly, the photo really doesn't do it justice. I didn't really manage to properly stop to take it!
In any case, I didn't actually do much for Halloween or Bonfire Night - although I have heard fireworks going off for the past few nights. It's like living near Magic Kingdom again. I think several people did go to "fancy dress" - costume - parties, but I spent my Halloween attempting to work on my second essay of the term and at choir practice.
I did manage to go to a small ceilidh ("kay-lee") put on by the Scottish society at my uni with a bunch of coursemates after lecture today and it was completely wonderful! It's a bit like line dancing only with way more spinning and way better music. Plus the addition of men in kilts just adds a bit of fun to anything.
Last post I said I was going to try to go swimming, and I didn't manage to make it last week or this week for rather the silliest of reasons - I've realized I don't have a second towel and I don't much enjoy the idea of chlorinating my showering towel. So something added to my list of expenditures for this month. I haven't much figured out a way to add to my income column yet, so if you've got ideas, I'm your girl!
I hope my friends Stateside enjoyed the trick or treaters and costumes! I'm actually bizarrely glad I worked a few Halloween parties before I left Disney - I don't feel like I've completely missed out.
Til next time!
Saturday, October 26, 2013
See? Told You.
Apologies abound.
I had my first proper assignment due last Tuesday in addition to being down with some chesty cough "moved-to-a-new-place-and-now-my-immune-system-hates-me" thing. So blogging wasn't really on my radar.
Let's get the sad stuff out of the way so I can talk about the cool things. Basically can't get a part-time regular job because I don't have time between essays every two weeks and the amount of reading assigned (let alone the amount I'm actually expected to do.) So I applied for an RA-type position at my residence (nope) and a really amazing science events planning job (nope again.) The ways of the universe better have some good stuff on the agenda for me or I'm gonna hunt them down!
I still haven't done much exploring of London besides my immediately pertinent mall and campus area. I did get a chance to go to the Natural History Museum as part of a class video assignment which was completely amazing. The architecture is amazing and the parts of the collection I saw were pretty awesome. It's also positively massive.
I FINALLY got my checking account up and running and, therefore, my phone up and running. I ended up having to go a different way than I'd initially planned, but it wasn't that much different in price and I have a phone again. So that's the important bit.
I have been doing an excellent job of trying as many chocolates as possible while I'm here and the far and away winner in my book is still Crunchie by Cadbury - sponge candy readily accessible? Yes please. And I've gotten Wagamama three times now, with my favorite being the firecracker chicken I had yesterday as a consolation meal. Totally delicious, A++, would buy again.
I'm just getting used to the idea of how the grading system works here. Like, people shoot for passing. It's such a foreign concept to me and I'm understandably, I think, more than a little stressed to hear how I did on my first piece. Not my best work, I think.
I did manage to do a night out in East London with some of my coursemates after choir rehearsal last week and a pub called "The Book Store" or something like that. There was actually a book launch going on downstairs, and I was so tempted to crash!
So I'm starting to fall into a groove of things here, and I have PLANS - this week I'm going to try to go swimming! Inside, of course, but I am trying to add some physical exercise into my schedule before it gets cold and I get even lazier.
Oh and for all of my skips out there - it looks like someone shot this hippo.
I had my first proper assignment due last Tuesday in addition to being down with some chesty cough "moved-to-a-new-place-and-now-my-immune-system-hates-me" thing. So blogging wasn't really on my radar.
Let's get the sad stuff out of the way so I can talk about the cool things. Basically can't get a part-time regular job because I don't have time between essays every two weeks and the amount of reading assigned (let alone the amount I'm actually expected to do.) So I applied for an RA-type position at my residence (nope) and a really amazing science events planning job (nope again.) The ways of the universe better have some good stuff on the agenda for me or I'm gonna hunt them down!
I still haven't done much exploring of London besides my immediately pertinent mall and campus area. I did get a chance to go to the Natural History Museum as part of a class video assignment which was completely amazing. The architecture is amazing and the parts of the collection I saw were pretty awesome. It's also positively massive.
I FINALLY got my checking account up and running and, therefore, my phone up and running. I ended up having to go a different way than I'd initially planned, but it wasn't that much different in price and I have a phone again. So that's the important bit.
I have been doing an excellent job of trying as many chocolates as possible while I'm here and the far and away winner in my book is still Crunchie by Cadbury - sponge candy readily accessible? Yes please. And I've gotten Wagamama three times now, with my favorite being the firecracker chicken I had yesterday as a consolation meal. Totally delicious, A++, would buy again.
I'm just getting used to the idea of how the grading system works here. Like, people shoot for passing. It's such a foreign concept to me and I'm understandably, I think, more than a little stressed to hear how I did on my first piece. Not my best work, I think.
I did manage to do a night out in East London with some of my coursemates after choir rehearsal last week and a pub called "The Book Store" or something like that. There was actually a book launch going on downstairs, and I was so tempted to crash!
So I'm starting to fall into a groove of things here, and I have PLANS - this week I'm going to try to go swimming! Inside, of course, but I am trying to add some physical exercise into my schedule before it gets cold and I get even lazier.
Oh and for all of my skips out there - it looks like someone shot this hippo.
Monday, October 7, 2013
The First Apology of Many
As the title implies, apologies for not posting in nearly a week. And I'm sure it won't be the first time, so again, as the name suggests, it is probably the first of many.
I think I'll go through the whole of last week by day and attempt to pull out key highlights.
Wednesday
Oh goodness, I can't really remember much of what happened. We had some visitors come in and talk about what I'll refer to as "micro-documentary" making - that is, making short, documentary style videos with a very small team. But very high quality. Actually, the video was quite good and I have an inkling that it might be of interest to some of you - it's about the Diamond collider project in England. Think LHC on a small scale where the collider is more of an accelerator/super bright light source/microscope type thing. Anyway, click here if that piques your interest.
We also wandered over to The Science Museum to visit the "Who Am I?" gallery and then discussed it with one of the curator-type people. Which was really quite cool to hear how they tried to pull in all sorts of ways of learning.
Thursday
The last day of induction week, we got a chance to talk to various people across the college who might need our help (time to freshen up my CV - or in my case, format my resume in CV style) and go over what the year is really going to be like. It's daunting, really, and I don't know if I said it already, but the idea of a part time job seems rather not feasible based on the feedback from the teaching staff. Which is frustrating. Maybe I'll sell my body for medical testing? No needles please! ;) We rounded out the induction week with a "party" which was more of a "stand awkwardly whilst eating 'crisps' and indulging in liquid refreshment" type thing, and which I left slightly early because it was the first choir practice!
One of the things I've really missed since being at Nova is being in a proper singing group, working on a piece (or pieces) of music, and the process of something rather train-wreck-like becoming melodious and wonderful. So I knew setting out for my time here, especially in the attempting to salvage my mental/emotional health endeavor, being part of a singing group would be really important. The feeling in the group was very familiar, although I'm waiting to hear back from something else before I decide for sure if I'll join. It's expensive! Something like 40 quid membership fee plus another 36 for music. I think that second one is a deposit but still! Good thing they have "tea" - more akin to the use of "refreshments" in American English - I'll take any free food I can get!
Friday-Saturday
I slept in. Beyond that I don't remember doing much. Might have wandered down to see if I got any mail. My debit card did arrive, but I still can't activate it, because I'm waiting for more mail with codes and such. Hahahaha all I really want at this point is to be able to activate my SIM card! It's so frustrating not being able to be in easy contact with people!
Sunday
I gave this its own heading, although it was very similar to the scrounge for food-enjoy doing nothing sentiment of the two days prior, because I had my audition for the more selective choral ensemble. If ever there was a train wreck, that was one. I got flustered and short of breath, which anyone who sings will tell you is just awful for singing. I think parts of it went okay, but I don't know whether they'll actually want me. It's frustrating though, because I know I could be a real asset in the actual context of small group singing. But I couldn't relax and sound the way I wanted to.
Today!
Woke up to go to my first two proper classes. One is a philosophy of science class, which reminds me very much of ACS or any of my core liberal arts classes except bigger. Weirdly, with around 48 students, these are some of the biggest classes I've ever been in. Which is odd because they both feel large and small. The other class is sort of a get used to tv/radio/camera production class in which we aren't graded but I'm still insanely nervous about! Excited, too, though. Exposure to all that stuff is what made me pick this particular degree!
If you want to help me out, I know some people already posted on facebook, but what was the coolest/best experiment that you ever did having to do with fluids/liquids?
I think I'll go through the whole of last week by day and attempt to pull out key highlights.
Wednesday
Oh goodness, I can't really remember much of what happened. We had some visitors come in and talk about what I'll refer to as "micro-documentary" making - that is, making short, documentary style videos with a very small team. But very high quality. Actually, the video was quite good and I have an inkling that it might be of interest to some of you - it's about the Diamond collider project in England. Think LHC on a small scale where the collider is more of an accelerator/super bright light source/microscope type thing. Anyway, click here if that piques your interest.
We also wandered over to The Science Museum to visit the "Who Am I?" gallery and then discussed it with one of the curator-type people. Which was really quite cool to hear how they tried to pull in all sorts of ways of learning.
Thursday
The last day of induction week, we got a chance to talk to various people across the college who might need our help (time to freshen up my CV - or in my case, format my resume in CV style) and go over what the year is really going to be like. It's daunting, really, and I don't know if I said it already, but the idea of a part time job seems rather not feasible based on the feedback from the teaching staff. Which is frustrating. Maybe I'll sell my body for medical testing? No needles please! ;) We rounded out the induction week with a "party" which was more of a "stand awkwardly whilst eating 'crisps' and indulging in liquid refreshment" type thing, and which I left slightly early because it was the first choir practice!
One of the things I've really missed since being at Nova is being in a proper singing group, working on a piece (or pieces) of music, and the process of something rather train-wreck-like becoming melodious and wonderful. So I knew setting out for my time here, especially in the attempting to salvage my mental/emotional health endeavor, being part of a singing group would be really important. The feeling in the group was very familiar, although I'm waiting to hear back from something else before I decide for sure if I'll join. It's expensive! Something like 40 quid membership fee plus another 36 for music. I think that second one is a deposit but still! Good thing they have "tea" - more akin to the use of "refreshments" in American English - I'll take any free food I can get!
Friday-Saturday
I slept in. Beyond that I don't remember doing much. Might have wandered down to see if I got any mail. My debit card did arrive, but I still can't activate it, because I'm waiting for more mail with codes and such. Hahahaha all I really want at this point is to be able to activate my SIM card! It's so frustrating not being able to be in easy contact with people!
Sunday
I gave this its own heading, although it was very similar to the scrounge for food-enjoy doing nothing sentiment of the two days prior, because I had my audition for the more selective choral ensemble. If ever there was a train wreck, that was one. I got flustered and short of breath, which anyone who sings will tell you is just awful for singing. I think parts of it went okay, but I don't know whether they'll actually want me. It's frustrating though, because I know I could be a real asset in the actual context of small group singing. But I couldn't relax and sound the way I wanted to.
Today!
Woke up to go to my first two proper classes. One is a philosophy of science class, which reminds me very much of ACS or any of my core liberal arts classes except bigger. Weirdly, with around 48 students, these are some of the biggest classes I've ever been in. Which is odd because they both feel large and small. The other class is sort of a get used to tv/radio/camera production class in which we aren't graded but I'm still insanely nervous about! Excited, too, though. Exposure to all that stuff is what made me pick this particular degree!
If you want to help me out, I know some people already posted on facebook, but what was the coolest/best experiment that you ever did having to do with fluids/liquids?
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