We recently heard again from senior Caroline Izzi, who is studying in London this summer. She writes:
I’m back with another London update! I just wrapped week 7 out of 12.
Classes are done and now my main focus is being the product intern for Original Travel, a luxury holiday company. I get to look at extraordinary dossiers of clients who are ice fishing in Sweden, journeying around Africa and swimming in the Maldives. My position helps prepare the materials—website, booklet, dossier—that clients use when planning their adventures. While the projects are a learning experience, the work environment is equally as fascinating to me. I’ve found subtle differences in the way people operate in U.K. vs. the U.S. For example, people are rarely attached to their mobiles. They go to meetings and leave them on their desks. When the work day ends at 18:00, employees don’t dip out at 17:45. Sometimes they even stay half an hour later. Everyone, even top-level management, works in one big open space. Free coffee and tea are always stocked in the kitchen. Trendy music plays from the speakers placed throughout the office. I could do an entire blog post about the work life here.
In my now drastically reduced spare time, I’ve still tried to get out and see London. Trooping the Colour is a ceremony to celebrate the Queen’s birthday. I was lucky enough to spot Duchess Kate, Prince Harry, Duchess Camilla and Queen Elizabeth. I met Bethany Mota, a Youtube superstar, whom I have been following since my teen life began. Even though my museums class is over, I still pop into some galleries, like the Wellcome Collection. Markets—Camden, Portobello, Borough—are great for leisurely strolls when I want to embrace the British food and culture. Emirates Air Line cable car boasts 360 views of London from the sky. This past weekend I went to Bath and saw all the muted yellow-toned architecture.
My first update mentioned that I was going to Amsterdam and Paris. Both were lovely and filled with charm. In Amsterdam, sometimes it seemed like more people were biking than walking with how frequently they would wheel past. Sitting underneath the Eiffel Tower was indescribable and I hope I never forget that feeling. My next trips are to Barcelona and Dublin. With Europe being so accessible and travel itineraries being my job, the travel bug has fully taken over and I know I will be happily infected for the rest of my life.
~Caroline Izzi