Week Two: Learning Curves

This last week has been very busy. It felt long during the week but by the end of the week, I couldn’t believe how quickly it had flown by. This last week was crazy. I went to my classes for the first time, met my professors for the first time, and worked at my internship for the first time. This week held a lot of “firsts,” but I also experienced learning curves throughout the entire week.

My week was so busy that I was unable to go sight seeing or upload pictures. The feature image is a screenshot of my weather app this week. I just thought I could show you a glimpse of the common weather (and a cute picture of rainboots). I promise you will see some more pictures very soon!

Sunday

Ugh. Sunday. The church I attend offers an evening service every Sunday night. I was looking forward to going for a second time. The tube and TFL (Transport for London) system said otherwise. I walked to Baker Street Station and got on the tube. After being on the tube for a short while did I hear the announcement that the tube line I need for my ride to Church was closed due to maintenance. The other tube line that I could have taken was also closed. Sunday night was disappointing, but I was able to use the rest of my evening to prepare for school and plan out my trip to school.

Monday

I woke up Monday morning excited about school. I woke up, got dressed, all of that good stuff, and walked to the tube station. I arrived at the school on time! (yay!) My first class was Diplomacy and International Relations. I really believe I am going to love this course! The professor is smart and engaging. He is also a bit of an absent-minded professor. It was funny. He tried to make jokes concerning the topic being discussed. And then, he would stop mid-sentence, straighten his collar, and say, “Ah, nevermind…” He would then continue on with the lecture as if the last couple minutes hadn’t occurred. I probably did not do the story-telling justice, but it was a highlight. Oh, and this professor is Danish! Just thought I should let you know! 🙂

My next class was Revolutions and Political Change. I think I am going to like this course. The course will cover 11 different iconic revolutions throughout history. On Monday, we discussed the difference between popular sovereignty and individual sovereignty. The professor is sometimes difficult to understand. He has a lisp, a very thick English accent, and a large overbite. Even just one of those criteria can make anyone difficult to understand. I think I will like this class, but one challenge I see is that he prefers discussion rather than lecturing. I sometimes find it difficult to learn well when I can only discuss and not listen.

After both of my Monday classes, I was able to successfully set up a bank account here in the UK! This will allow me to access my money so much easier. I realized this week that I was given false information from my bank in Texas. They told me I would be able to access my money here with ease by just doing a wire transfer or withdrawal. What they failed to tell me is that they do not do wire transfers. Withdrawals from a US account is very expensive here, so I decided to look at other options. I will be able to transfer my money to my Lloyd’s bank account here in the UK with my parent’s help.

Tuesday

Tuesday was a crazy day. I was late for both of my classes. And if any of you reading know me really well, I absolutely hate being late. On Monday night, I decided to plan a walking route to the campus. I wanted to walk to school. This is a great idea (and I still do this). Can I give you some future advise? Never never walk a route for the first time when there you must be somewhere at a certain time. I got lost a couple times on the way to school, this made me late for the class. Thankfully, this was the first meeting, so I walked in when the professor had just wrapped up telling the rest of the class her life story. So, I didn’t miss any class material.

This class was the Gender, Politics, and the State course. I think I will enjoy this course but I also think it will be the most challenging and difficult. After being in class, I realized that this was not a course solely on gender and politics but feminism, different types of feminism and feminism in politics. I think this course will be very eye-opening and stretching, both academically and theologically, since the course will cover topics of homosexuality, queer theory, and other things.

As I was walking home from school after class, I bumped into one of my pastors. We had lengthy discussion on school, church and how I can continue to be a light in the classroom. It was such a needed conversation. I felt so encouraged and relaxed after the conversation.

My next course was in the early evening. This was was the most stressful time of the day. So, as I was eating lunch and planning for the course, I thought to myself: “Now that I know the way to the school, I can walk it better. I will even leave earlier so that I can definitely be on time. And by being early, I will find the classroom beforehand.” Sounds like a great plan right? Sure! I arrived on campus and realized that I went to the WRONG campus! I had ten minutes until class started. It twenty minutes to walk back to the campus I needed to be at. It takes a little over 1o by tube. I decided to take the tube. I walked into the correct building 3 minutes after class started. Now I had to find the classroom. I went up the stairs, looked at the building directory. The room I needed was not listed. The room before it was mentioned… but not mine…. I found an elevator and tried going up to the correct floor.

Oh goodness… I probably walked up and down stairs and rode elevators looking for the room for the next twenty minutes. Finally, I found someone who looked like they knew where they were. They did!! They told me to cross through this lab to the other side of the building. I did as they suggested and finally found the room – thirty minutes after the class started. At least I got there, right? Haha.

This class was the course that will provide me internship credit. The course is called Professional Experience in a Business Context. It will give me advise and preparation for my career and employability. I think I will like the course.

This was the last class of the week for me. I think I will enjoy my courses and schedule. Although, the academic setup is very different than what I am used to. Each course has a lecture and a seminar. The seminar is a smaller group of students where the course material can be discussed in great detail. The lecture is a large group of students where the primary professor speaks on the course material for an hour. Typically, the lecture occurs before the seminar, but my schedule is set up in such a way that it is the opposite, except for one course (the internship course). This academic experience is going to be a challenge to adjust to at first, but I think I will grow to love it.

Wednesday

Wednesday was the first day of my internship! And for my readers who missed my first week’s blog. I am interning with the Conservative Party in London. I am loving my internship! I am so happy that I was placed there! The whole team that I am working with are all very sweet and kind. I am so excited about working there the whole semester.

I feel that I am helping them a lot. They continue apologizing for asking me to do “mundane” jobs. But I keep telling them that I do not mind. The workplace environment and team make it a fun place to work, however “mundane” the task may be. I am already learning so much about UK politics through my “mundane” tasks. For example, I am learning about specific issues that are occurring in UK constituencies and which MPs have been tasked with addressing them. I am also becoming familiar with the names and positions of Members of Parliament.

On Wednesday, Hugo, my manager, gave me a quick introduction to the Conservative Party and its departments. I am working in the Campaigning Department, this department focuses on, well, campaigning.

Around lunch time, Hugo introduced me to common restaurants for lunch that are around the area. He introduced me to a restaurant chain called Eat. . It serves sandwiches, soups and salads. The restaurant is set up in order for people to get their food quickly. It was very good! I will probably eat there again :).

Thursday

Thursday was very similar to Wednesday. At the internship, I am shared between members of the Campaigning Department. So, sometimes I complete tasks for the Events team and other times I will complete jobs for Hugo. I enjoy working for more than one person, it allows me to grow and learn more.

Thursday night was also the night that my church KG group meets (KG Groups is short for Knowing God Groups). At church, dinner is served for a very affordable price and then there is a Bible Study. We are currently going through Luke. So far, I have enjoyed my time in this group!

Friday

On Friday, I went to my internship and stayed late. It’s funny. The regular hours are 9am to 5pm but no one actually stops working at 5pm. I think I have only ever seen one person actually pack up there stuff and leave at 5pm. Most people stay late – I don’t know how late, but at least until 6pm. It felt weird leaving at 5 since no one else had called it a day. On Wednesday, I had decided to just keep working until Hugo mentioned when he would like me to leave. I did not want to ask or mention it because I did not want to come across as eager to leave.

On Friday, I was invited to go with others from the team to go hangout after work. I wanted to go, but I had an event at Church at 6.45pm. No one else was able to leave until 5.45pm. I excused myself and wished them well.

The event at Church was International Cafe. This is an event the Church hosts regularly. This Friday was my KG Group’s turn to prepare and serve dinner at the event. II arrived at the Church by 6.45 and started helping cook. We ate something called Chicken Maya (sp?). It was very delicious! I was able to get to know my KG Group better. More and more, I am feeling more comfortable as I attend every week.

Saturday and Sunday

My weekend was so chill and lazy! I finished all of my necessary reading during the weekend. But I was unable to attend Church again – due to maintenance on the tube lines – again! I think I am going to have to result to walking to church, which is only a thirty minute walk, but a tube ride is quicker. BUT walking is free!

Even though I was unable to make it to church, I was able to have a Bible Study with my family (minus Grace)! I was so happy that we were able to do that! It was such a good devotional and conversation!

Well, that was my week. I am learning so much and will continue to do so throughout the semester! I am so very happy here! I miss my friends and family, but I am enjoying this new experience!

Thank you for reading!

Emma