Workin' for the Weekend

My recent absense from blog land is likely due to the fact that I, Joanna Nettelfield, have a job. Yes ladies and gentlemen, I am working on my vacation. Before I give details of my job and being a big girl in London, I first need to give a shout-out to Rob Wilson who organized my current internship as well as took Kimmy and I into his home (which he and his wife realize means full access to phones, refrigerator, and of recent times, his car... Seriously Rob, what are you thinking?) But in all seriousness, a huge thank you to the Wilsons, and a shining star to Rob for making things way too easy for me.

Now for the good stuff. I have been hired for a very brief internship at a media company in London called Universal McCann. As the name suggests, it is an international company and I am working in their London office which is located in Farringdon. I started at UM last Thursday and will be with them until the second week of November. As an intern, I have been given many fun and exciting intern jobs like checking Excel spreadsheets, editing PowerPoint presentations, and silently sitting in on meetings in which I have no clue what is going on. But to be honest, I am really enjoying my time here. The people I work with are incredibly welcoming, sweet, and helpful. UM has many prestigious clients such as Microsoft, Xbox, and Brown Forman, which owns labels for Jack Daniel’s and Southern Comfort . I have been placed on the Xbox team but have somhow only done work for Microsoft and Brown Forman (lucky for me, computers and I get along very well, and SoCo and I have had a long running love affair... Add video games to the mix and I might never go back to the states!).

I have never worked with a media company before, and I have learned so much about this field since I have been at UM. Advertising has always been a job avenue that I have kept in the back of my mind, but never actually pursued anything in the field. I am finding it all incredibly fascinating but not terribly exciting. After a number of internships and jobs, I am learning more about my professional self, and what I am learning is that I don’t think I am cut out for a desk job. I get very bored and lonely sitting at a desk staring at a computer all day. I find myself staring at the clock all day wishing it’s end to suddenly arive so I can leave my worst enemy, the PC, behind. I have come to realize that I need different environments, different people, different schedules day after day. I like to be excited and challenged, and even stressed out. I like instant gratification with my work. I like to work towards an immediate deadline, achieve it, and then feel like I accomplished my goal with a tangiable outcome. The good thing about internships is that I can do as many as I want until I figure out exactly what I want to do with the rest of my life (Don’t worry Jamestown, I’m still coming back to you, but I have a feeling that being the “JD Girl” is a job inteded for girls in Never Never Land and sadly, I will grow up, and the last thing you want is a 35 year old pretending shes 22 saying “Jamestown Distributors, DOT, com *wink*).

So, I have caught you up on my job and such. Plans for this weekend are quickly getting hectic. Friday is Halloween, an American tradition of absurd costumes which Kimmy and I plan on bringing to the conservitive Brits (England never really stood a chance with the two of us). Saturday morning I am catching a train to my grandmother’s house in the country to see my Dad’s brother, sister and a few of my cousins. Saturday night JOSH is coming home! Josh is the son of the Wilsons and has been one of my best friends since before either of us can remember meeting. Lots of plans are coming up and we have a lot to fit in because we only have about a week and a half left in London before we take off with our backpacks to reap havoc all over Europe!

Everyone Should Have a Godfamily

This past weekend, my Godfather Antony was kind enough to invite us to his country house in Lymington. Kimmy and I left Queen’s Park at 7:30 in the morning on Saturday to arrive at his house in Wimbledon by 8:30. We packed up his car and we were on the road by 9:30 (would have been earlier but my Godbrother James was having a bit of difficulty getting out of bed so early!). A two hour nap later, we were at the house in the country! Antony has a great little motorboat, so after we got ourselves situated in the house, we bundled up in scarves and jackets and went to the Yacht Club to take a boat ride over to the Isle of Wight for some tea.



As you can see from the video (and hear from Kimmy's screams of joy), we had a blast on the boat ride and had another sunny gorgeous day in England (I’m convinced we are the bearers of good weather and anyone who disagrees probably has a thundercloud over their head). We sat down for a much needed hot cup of tea as we looked out onto the water. It was my idea of a completely blissful afternoon. After tea we got back onto the boat and went back to Lymington.
Kimmy, James and I were all exhausted little children, so we each took up a couch and had a much needed nap before dinner. My Godfamily, Kimmy and I all watched a movie together, and then went to bed. The next day James took us on a bike ride back to the Yacht Club where we met the others for lunch.




I have really enjoyed seeing the Chandlers while over here. I don’t get to see them very often, but it feels like I have a second family (complete with the brothers I have always wanted) over here, which is very comforting. They have been so kind to us and we both appreciate their incredible kindness and hospitality!

Now I Lay Thee Down to Sleep...

One of our recent day trip adventures was to Highgate Cemetery, located in Highgate, London, England. The cemetery was opened in 1839 as one of seven modern burial grounds when inner-city cemeteries became too full. This site is home to a number of famous deceased writers, actors, artists and philosophers; the most famous being Karl Marx.





Normally, cemeteries are not my favorite place to be. I have always been the girl to hold her breath while driving past one, so I don't breathe in their haunting spirits (whoever thought up that superstition must have had a really awful experience with a graveyard, so I'd rather not question it). However, this cemetery took my breath away (no pun intended). Stepping foot on the grounds made me feel as if I was walking into a Tim Burton movie. Highgate is completely overgrown with trees disturbing the eternal resting places of the departed, vines erasing the names of those buried, and a chilling wind which seemed to be pushing us out of the cemetery. Every time I walked through a spider web, I was thrashed by the corpse bride's veil, and when I crushed a leaf with my foot, Edward Scissorhands took a chunk out of my hair.

















Those who know me best are well aware of the fact that I don't deal with scary situations very well. I cry when I see a scary movie, I screech when somebody startles me, and I will violently hit you if you even mention the clown from Saw (I'm serious... Don't do it). So for me to say that Highgate Cemetery was frightenly beautiful, you know that there is something wonderfully unique about it that put my fears at ease.




Take a look at this video for a quick walk through the cemetery:

Josh Harnett followed us to London

We have been in London for just over a week now, and have fallen into the London routine. We go for walks in the park, drink tea 12 times a day, wine with every dinner, and we have both been desperately trying to pick up an English accent (sorry mom, but it WILL happen!). It just seemed that to enhance our London experience, we would need to visit the London theatre. We looked through the entertainment section of the newspaper and asked anyone and everyone for their recommendations on what shows held the "hot tickets." The fairly unanimous suggestion was to see Rain Man. We agreed (and of course that decision had nothing to do with the fact that the play happens to star Josh Hartnett, and we would be able to gaze at his sheer beauty for two glorious hours). Putting the obviously handsome star aside, the play was terrific. I was a bit skeptical as to how the movie would translate onto the stage, but it was actually done beautifully. We both really enjoyed ourselves and only had one complaint about the show... We would have liked the scene where Josh Harnett took his shirt off to last a bit longer.

Vamos Wimbledon!

For years and years I have watched my tennis idols on TV walk through the Wimbledon grounds, enter Center Court, and leave with the euphoria of victory, or the heartbreak of defeat. I have seen crowds of English hopefuls sitting on Henman Hill, eyes glued to the big screen wishing that their star player will take home the title. I have watched Roger Federer on the verge of making history in the 2008 finals, but instead watched Nadal take home the trophy (Vamos Rafa!!). It's surprising the amount of emotion a mere spectator can put into the Wimbledon tournament a thousand miles away. After years of pouring these emotions into my television screen (and into the arm of whoever was unlucky enough to sit next to me) I was able to visit the site where it all happened, The All England Lawn Tennis Club.

My Godfather, Antony, lives in Wimbledon Village and asked Kimmy and I to stay with him and his family on Monday night. I have not seen them in years so I was looking forward to seeing them again. We took the tube to the village and then walked to their beautiful house. We had dinner and played catch-up on everyone's lives since I was last here in 2002. On Tuesday morning my "godbrother" (if there is such a thing) drove Kimmy and I down to the legendary Wimbledon tennis grounds. As soon as we walked through the gates I felt the history of the grounds instantly. I knew we were in the presence of tennis excellence, and I suddenly felt very small. I have played tennis for years and have done quite well for myself (two CCC titles in a row and the chance to play at Nationals, thank you very much!), but that all seemed incredibly insignificant while I looked up to see the stadium that holds Center Court.

We went into the museum and got headsets that took us on a guided tour of the showcased memorabilia. We learned all sorts of things about how tennis originated and the history of the Wimbledon Championships. At the end of our tour we did just what every other tourist does when they visit Wimbledon, and went into the gift shop for souvenirs (I may be a citizen of this country, but that won't stop me from buying an "I *heart* England" t-shirt!). Unfortunately, the grounds are under major construction at the moment, so we were unable to walk through and see into Center Court or any other courts. And the most unfortunate occurrence of the day was when that good old English weather finally arrived. At that point we opened our umbrellas, and left.

Game. Set. Match. Wimbledon rain defeats Kimmy & Joanna.

We Live & We Learn... The Hard Way

Last night Kimmy and I got our first real taste of London night life. A friend of mine, Emily, is studying abroad in London this semester, so I got in touch with her and she took us out on the town. Kimmy and I took the tube to the center of town and had dinner in China Town while we waited for Emily and her friends to meet us there. We were a bit early, so we decided to sit down on a busy street and people watch (one of my favorite past times) for about an hour. About 85% of the girls walking past us were extremely dressed up in fancy dresses and bright colored heels. Sitting on the street in our jeans and sneakers, we felt like the two American tourists who didn't get the memo on how to dress on a Saturday night in the city. **Lesson #1: Dress to Impress.**

When we met up with Emily she took us to a place called the Fudge Bar which she was pretty familiar with. We had a few drinks, met some nice English boys, and met up with a number of other students from Roger Williams who are all studying abroad in London for the semester. Kimmy and I went up to the bar to buy a drink, paid for them, and then realized we were completely stiffed on our change. We went back to the bartender to ask him to correct his mistake, and after a few minutes of him trying to cheat us out of our money, my New York attitude put him in his place, and we were given our money back. **Lesson #2: Repeat after me.. I am from NEW YORRRK.. I know how to COUNT!**



When we decided to leave the bar to go home, we quickly realized that the tube stops running at midnight, and it was about 1:30 at this point. We were told that we would need to take a bus home, so after about an hour and a half of literally running through the streets chasing double-decker buses, getting on the wrong buses, fighting with a few bus drivers, we managed to get on the right bus to take us back to Queen's Park. **Lesson #3: Disregard Lesson #1.. Running sneakers are a necessity if you want to catch your bus.**

We lived. We learned. One Step at a time.

Eye Love London

"You know the sunlight always shines, behind the clouds of London skies"

Funny how everyone told me that the fall is the worst time to go abroad. "It will be rainy and miserable and completely foggy the entire time." Since we arrived, we have seen nothing but sunshine, and 65 degree temperatures. I'm sure I'll regret rubbing this in everyone's faces once the first cloud appears overhead, but until then, London is gorgeous!

Having good weather the past few days has been a complete blessing. A good friend of mine, Sebastian, took Kimmy and I sightseeing the other day. He had told us where to meet him, which meant that we had to figure out how to use this so-called "tube" all by ourselves. In typical Joanna&Kimmy fashion, we made complete spectacles of ourselves trying to figure it out. After holding up a line at a machine to put money on our oyster cards (equivalent to a metrocard) we made it onto the train, and found Sebastian at Picadilly Circus (I love the names of these places!). He took us down to the Thames River where we saw the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abby, the London eye, and good old Big Ben. We walked for ages, and went down a street where there were tons of street performers including a man dressed as Charlie Chaplin who seemed to really like the two of us. After hours of walking around, we headed back home to Queen's Park.

Kimmy and I both decided that we wanted to go back to the center of London again because we didn't see everything the first time around, so yesterday we went back on the tube and went to the London Eye. I have never done well with heights, so I was a bit anxious stepping into a glass capsule that was about to take me 443 feet into the air. Once we got off the ground I was perfectly fine and saw all of London from a completely unique perspective. It's a good thing all you weather pessimists warned us of the fog and rain, because we felt incredibly lucky to be able to see for miles in every direction out of our little Willy Wonka glass elevator.

It's Begun...

In my efforts to procrastinate joining the "real world" as long as possible, I have left the great states of America to see what else this wold has to offer. As a 21st birthday present from my parents last year, I was given a one-way ticket out of the country. It was a bit of a joke at first, but the idea to ship me out was very real. After graduating in May (or as my diploma says, August... Thanks to Roger Williams for letting my community service slip through the cracks) I was unsure of what I was supposed to do. Without any real plans for what to do next, a professor of mine gave me a lead for an internship which I happily went on an interview for. After hardly any work on my part, the internship fell into my lap, which quickly turned into an offer for a full-time job in Rhode Island. Knowing I still had this one-way ticket to cash in on from my parents, I had almost jokingly went into my boss's office asking for a three month vacation while I frolicked around Europe with my friend Kimmy. He agreed to hire me in January, and the rest is history!

Kimmy and I booked a flight from New York to London without any plans of what to do once we got here. After a hundred emails and phone calls later, we arranged for my English grandmother (GM as she insists on being called) to pick us up from the airport and bring us back to her house in Odiham, and then have my aunt pick us up from her house and bring us to her house (more like a castle) to spend the night. Our flight took off from New York on Monday night, and since then we have left America, been to Odiham, Dodington, went for a long walk in the New Forest, seen my grandmother, my aunt, gotten about 7 hours of sleep, and it is now Wednesday afternoon. Ugh!

In a little while my aunt will be driving us to London where we will be staying with a very good family friends Rob Wilson. Every year we see him and his family in Provincetown where we all go on vacation. One of his sons, Josh (who I am very close with) is away at University, so Kimmy and I will be staying in his room for a month while he is away. Neither of us are entirely sure of what we will be doing in London yet, but a few weekend trips are planned to go visit my family and friends all over England.