BES Assignment #9: VLOG

Internship VLOG

Internship Assignment C

 What are you observing about your work environment? If you could, what are two things you would keep and two things you would change?

Keep: The Atmosphere is very open at work. It is acceptable to talk to people and have conversations with them. Both people keep in mind that they have work to do and allow enough time to do it. I would like to keep the ability to talk to and get to know your co-workers more.

Keep: Tea. It is amazing what a nice cuppa will do for the work ethic. I would make the tea for my boss and I, along with whoever was around when I asked. I was just a time for me to relax and reorganize what is going on in my head. Also, since you have to boil water, you don’t get to drink it immediately. That little victory and satisfaction when you do get to drink it boosted my moral throughout the day.

Change: I would have liked to be better integrated into the Trust quicker. I felt that I didn’t really get introduced to everyone properly and I was still meeting people a month after I started. At the end I felt a part of the Trust, but it took honestly a few months.

Change: I had extremely sporadic hours. I would go in anywhere from 9.00 until 11.30 and then leave anywhere from 16.30 to 20.00. I would have tried to be a little more consistent with leaving. That being said, sometimes I left late because of my own doings just to make sure that I finished the work that I was assigned.

2. How does your supervisor’s style work for you? What would you want to be like as a supervisor in the future?

My supervisor had a decent approach to being the boss. I respected the fact that she knew her place and dedicated so much time to the Trust. She also attended conferences, meetings, and seminars to learn about external factors that would be affecting the Trust in the coming years. She was a good multi-tasker and could be stern when needed. She also took a genuine interest in my life. I felt very open with her and she gave me not only sound advice, but advice that could influence my managerial style.

I did not think that she could manage her time effectively. She would often stay quite later than I at work, which she told me to make sure that I don‘t do when I am working. She also doodled quite a bit when people were talking to her, either on the phone or during meetings. I found that slightly rude. There were times when I couldn’t read her emotions either, whether she was happy or unsatisfied with my work.

We talked a lot about me being a supervisor in the future. One thing that we discussed was worker relationships. I want to have a relationship with my workers that borders on friendship. I want them to feel comfortable coming to me with issues and telling me about their lives. I do need them to know that I am the boss, and even though I seem to be their friend, it is because they do quality work. I want to lead by example, so I want to make sure that they understand that my decisions are for the best of the company and nothing is personal. Finally, I want to be able to have the delegating skills so I do not overload myself. I need to make sure I am surrounded by people whom I can trust do work, so I only have to review it and add my own spin. That will save my time so I can do more important things like strategic planning and attending meetings dealing with the big picture of the firm.

3. What are you learning about yourself through this internship? What is one thing about yourself that you would like to improve for your next job?

Something that was pointed out to me was that I am perpetually positive at work. This is not the first time I have been accused of this, but now I know it is a trait that I have. I disliked working (I mean, honestly who likes waking up early, and commuting?) but that is no reason for me to be miserable or distant at work. Something that I want to improve which I had noticed and was pointed out to me was how I became familiar with the Trust. It took me quite a while to really get a feel for the Trust. I would read memos and business plans and things but not retain anything. Once I was there for a while, I understood what I was getting into more, but it just took a long time. This is something I experienced at my last job too, so I need to be aware and really try hard next time.  

4. What are two things you have learned how to do or improved upon during this internship? These are skills and they might belong on your resume.

Networking/Communication- I have participated in a few networking events, where the goal was just to meet as many people as possible. I was forced to talk to random people and it was good practice for when I go home and have to do it nearly every week during recruitment.

Representing the Trust- My boss was proud at how I represented the Trust at the events. She said that I would focus the conversation on the Trust rather than on myself, which most people asked about. This will be useful in the future when I have to go and represent the company I work for and have to project their views, opinions, values and goals.

5. After college, will you look for a company that is similar to the one that you have interned with? Why?

I don’t think I would look for a job in the not-for-profit field directly right out of school. I would much rather go to a big firm then in my free time help a charity. I have gotten a much better idea of how much one person’s help is to a charity. I will also try and get work groups together to help charities, like groups have done at the Trust. Again, that help is vital to the longevity of the Trust. Eventually, I would like to become a trustee of a trust.

BES Assignment #7: Wimbledon

My trip to Wimbledon was amazing. First, I enjoy tennis, so it was a no-brainer that I was going to visit, but also I really enjoy getting out of the metropolitan part of the city. I took the Tube there because I was on a semi-short time frame. I made it there around 9:45. The first thing that I noticed was how bustling the area around the train station was. It wasn’t a bustling like found near the corner of Russell Square, but the bustle of people running errands and working.

I noticed that all of the stores on the high street were smaller. Of course, there were tons of coffee shops, but the clothes stores were more boutiques than labels. I really appreciate seeing that. I headed towards the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The walk there was beautiful. First, you walk up a great hill, which really disappointed me because I got sweaty. The anticipation of this my destination was killing me, and I thought when I reached the top that I would be at my destination.

I was wrong. At the top of a hill was a more commercial area again. I stopped in a coffee shot to grab a cup of tea, which I drank a little too quickly. I don’t like rushing when I go to places because it seems that the Europeans don’t, so I want to fit in, also I am usually never in a hurry. It was about a 15 minute walk to the tennis club, and most of that walk was in residential areas. Two things I noticed were that 1) it was quite a posh area and 2) people really are nicer outside of central London. I passed probably ten people on the street and I got about 5 half-smiles and even a hello from one of them.

The atmosphere at the club was everything I hoped for. There was an electricity in the air when I walked in (I may have made that up myself) and the security guard at the door was quite friendly. After visiting the museum, I went to the café at the club and had another cuppa and some scones. They actually had a good deal, 2 scones, jam and clotted cream for 3.30. I was easily the youngest person in the café, which I will attribute to the fact that it was early and a club. I also felt inadequately dressed. I looked fine, but there was something more about the people there. Upon leaving, the guard and I chatted a bit and he asked where I what I was doing the rest of the day (going to Kew Gardens). What really took my breath away was the fact that he seemed interested in talking to me.

I walked back to the train station but stopped at a pub for a proper lunch (around 1.30) and a pint. Again, everyone was surprisingly friendly there. Even though I ate alone, I didn’t feel awkward or anything. I would have liked to spend more time in Wimbledon. Hopefully I will be back one day to actually visit the championship, because I could easily see that semi-sleepy village turning into something special over that fortnight. 

BES Assignment 6: Greenwich & Docklands

We were fortunate enough to be given tickets for a boat trip down the Thames from Westminster to Greenwich. The day that we went however, the air was so frigid (like most of this Winter/Spring). I enjoyed getting photographs under Tower Bridge. One thing that I was surprised to learn was that for most of London’s history, the Thames was something that most people turned their back too, instead of embraced, as say they did in Paris. Recently, they have been building more housing on the river, which was quite evident on the way there.

Greenwich was quite an amazing experience. First, when you come to London, you don’t expect Greenwich to be some place so easily accessible. On the day I was there, it was quite chilly and miserable, but that didn’t deter from the beauty. To walk to Greenwich was to walk up a hill that some of the most famous scientists have scaled. I really enjoyed looking down from the hill onto the National Maritime Museum. There is something about brown gravel paths that are so entrancing to me.

I wasn’t too impressed with the actual observatory. I think it would be more impressive to see the laser that shoots across the sky to show where the line actual is. What did impress me though was the Maritime Museum. The first thing that caught my eye was the boat they had once you entered the main auditorium. I enjoyed the boat so much because of the gold leaf and I find the symbols on the boats to be quite interesting. Thinking about it, the symbols that I saw were not only sought after, but also had such a specific meaning to the captain or whoever boat it was. It is something that really hasn’t transpired over unto our time.

Once I left the Maritime Museum, I headed off to the Greenwich Market. I found it much cozier than markets in central London. It seemed that the people who were selling at this market were just people who had things they were proud of and wanted to sell them as opposed to people who just wanted to make money. Also, I enjoyed how small it was.

I didn’t eat in Greenwich because I tried walking home through Canary Warf. On the way, I walked through Millwall. It was honestly the scariest part of London I have been in so far. The people seemed hard and the buildings seemed intimidating. I was happy to get out of there and into Canary Warf. I crossed the maze that was the warf, and ended up on West India Quay. I ended up coming back to this area because of the amount of restaurants, which honestly were both reasonably priced and completely delicious.

Overall, I think that it was a good trip and I see myself back in Canary Warf, either for business or pleasure, but I am not sure if I would ever go back to Greenwich on my own. It was a nice town, but I could see something more someplace else. 

BES Assignment 5: The East End

I was luckily placed at the Hoxton Trust for work, so the East End was not as unfamiliar to me as to others. For this assignment, I both enjoyed the walk, even though I completed it over multiple trips.

Whitechappel Art Gallery:

There is so much I could say about this gallery. First, I had no idea what I was getting into when I walked in. The first room I went into had a hallow tree trunk with gold leaf on every part of the inside. The reason for this eludes me, though. Two more exhibits that caught my eye were both deal with sex. The first was a video of an old French man talking about his sexual exploits of his youth. I didn’t quite understand this but I think it touches on a greater topic, of how sex is a lesser taboo topic on this side of the Pond. The second was a room with a about 15 televisions each playing a video of a group sitting around talking about their sexual exploits and planning others. Again, how this is art blows my mind. Some of the permanent exhibits were nice, and I would highly recommend this gallery to anyone who comes to London.

Number 18:

I thought that this was a unique house. I did not get the chance to go in the house, but I did have an appreciation for most of the houses around it. I enjoy the feeling of that area of London. It reminds me of a more industrial time, a time when London was nearer to its heyday.

Spitalfields Market:

The day I walked around Spitalfields was a Monday, so it was quite dead around the market. What I did notice was a lot of eating establishments. I deduced that a lot of people from the City must come up to this part of town during lunch or after work for something to eat. I also liked that it was a covered market. During my trips to markets, I disliked when it rained or was windy and there was no protection from the elements.

Brick Lane:

I went to Brick Lane twice, once with my boss and the other time on some Saturday night. The first, my boss and I had a meeting there, so after the meeting, she showed me around. Finally, she brought me to a bagel bakery and was telling me about how this is one of the oldest bagel factories in the cities. If I am not mistaken, it has Jewish roots. The second time I visited, the place transformed. A group of us went to a few bars and it was wild. It was unlike anything I have been to in the States. People were drunk but not belligerent. Everyone seemed to just be out for a good time, rather than to cause ruckus, which seems to be the goal at home. Also, the Kebabs at 2:15 are delicious!

Not on the tour, but a place I feel inclined to add is Hoxton Street. I work on that street and it has a flavor all its own. There are two bakeries, which if I worked full time there, I would frequent way too much. One has the best sweets, breads, and other goods, while the other has 2 bread puddings for a pound. There is also two cafés with a 12” pizza for £2.95 and down the road are two pubs, one that is open until 2 or 3 in the morning, and the other with an open rooftop. And of course, one can’t forget to mention that The Verve recorded Bitter Sweet Symphony on that street, where I can see the Hoxton Trust Community Park.

BES Assignment 4: Join an Organization

Urbano

Being assigned to join an organization was not an easy assignment for me to complete. I did find an organization that I joined, but I think it was out of the ordinary for a typical study abroad student. Nevertheless, I think I learned more in my organization than I ever could just from self-reflection or sitting in a class.

The organization I joined was a group called Urbano. Urbano is a group that acts as a liaison between businesses and rounds them up together for networking events. They hold two networking events a month, one a breakfast or lunch and the other a dinner event. They also offer information session concerning current events. I attended three events, because that was the maximum a guest could attend without paying the 75 Pound entrance fee. The first event was the most memorable and I got the most out of that event. The other two were just seminars to educate the members and most of the information was of little value to me.

To begin with the latest first, it was held on 10 April. It was held from 1:00pm until 5:00pm and it had to deal with putting in bids for a new build. What I could gather is that a new build is when someone wants to build something completely new. We looked at spreadsheets dealing with cash flow projections and occupancy minimums, along with other financial things. It was interesting seeing the spreadsheets, but a lot of the information went over my head. Afterwards, I met a few people and handed out my business card over tea (all of these events had free food!!)

The second event was nearly identical to the first, except that it dealt with changes that were coming into effect on the first of April. We had a speaker from Lambeth come in to explain the Bedroom Tax and the effects it will have on people. This was my least favorite of the three events. The tea was terrible and the sandwiches were stale.

The first event I went to was really the best. It was hosted at the Hard Rock Café near Hyde Park. In business casual, I showed up and was handed two drink vouchers. With that I was set loose on a room filled with professionals varying in age and occupation. There I met photographers, web designers, wealth managers, lawyers, hotel managers and countless other people. It was honestly a night to swap business cards, eat sliders and chicken tenders and get drunk, which every person in the room did. Some of the contacts I made there, I referred to work, so that was a plus too.

The reason why I joined this club was to work on my networking skills. At school, they always talk about how important networking is and I consider myself to be more than horrible at it. One of the objectives I wanted to complete after being in London was being more comfortable with talking to people in a business setting. Now, I am a little more comfortable and much more confident, to the point where I feel that in a room of strangers, I wouldn’t be the most awkward person there. 

BES Assignment 3: Interview

On the weekend of the 8^th of March, I went on my HOST visit to a small town near Dartmoor, near Devon. For this assignment, I interviewed the man who invited me into his house. His name was Ray Burd. First off, I want to express that he was a most gracious host and I am truly thankful that he let me into his house. I hope to do the same once I have a place of my own. Anyways, I sat down after dinner last night just to have a chat with him and to answer a few questions.

First, I just asked him about his childhood. He was born and raised in London. He had a younger sister and brother and an older sister. He was sent to an all boy’s school. When I asked him about playing sports in school, he said that at first they all played football, but once they got older, they were forced to play rugby. The reasoning behind this was because of space and numbers. He developed a great fondness for rugby, so much so that we watched two matches of the Six Nation’s during my time there. He does have a football team, Queens Park Rangers, which is his local team and one he still follows quite closely.

I asked him and his wife what it meant to be British. It was the most stereotypical response, one that I have gotten from most every Britain when I asked. First, they both sighed, looked at each other and then stammered, struggling to make words. Finally, Ray came out and said to be British is to persevere. He said that no matter what is thrown at a Brit, they will face it headstrong and struggle though. His wife chirped in that to be British means to have a stiff upper lip. They both agreed though that the British do have a lost sense of identity. They are looking for a place in the world because they need to cope with not being an international superpower anymore.

In keeping up with culture, we got talking about accents. He said that he quite enjoys all of the different accents you hear living in the UK; except for Liverpudlian: “They sound like a bunch of sods with socks in their mouths.”  

In his retirement, he and his wife bought a campervan. A month after getting this van (about six months into retirement) Ray and his wife took it to Spain and drove across the country for 6 weeks; sleeping, eating, and enjoying the countryside. He said now that he is retired, he can enjoy things like that more often. He also regularly plays tennis and golf, although this winter he was nursing a knee injury. Another of his favorite hobbies is to go down to the local pub. Now what I mean by local is only. However, this pub (which he brought me to) is about 650 years old, so he doesn’t really have the opportunity to say it is a bad pub, it has history on its side.

Talking to Ray was quite an experience. He gave me an insight to British life that I couldn’t get in London, and definitely couldn’t get from talking to someone with my age. He seemed to be typically British in every way and my weekend with him was relaxing and insightful. I hope to one day pass his generosity on to other foreign students. I know this will sound cliché, but I honestly think that one can learn so much by talking to older generations and that you should try to do so at every opportunity. 

12/4/12

Ok. Well it is now crunch time in the semester. Why I have not written since whenever is because mom and grandma came over. We spend last week in Paris and had a lovely time. I wish I could have written it down, but it honestly wasn't feasible.

I returned by bus from Paris which was lovely. I enjoyed sitting and listening to nothing, reading and thinking. Monday morning, I woke up early and met Will and Sarah Kelsey and showed them around town. We saw Camden Market, the Tower of London, Covent Garden and I took them to a port bar. I believe they had a good time.

This week work was quite busy. I had to not only catch up on things that I should have done last week, but I am in the process of making sure all of my work can easily be transferred over to whoever follows me, making the continuity of my work better. Then Wednesday night I went with Matt and Leah to meet Leah's boss, who invited us out for drinks. Super wonderful guy, but he kept us out later than anticipated. 

Thursday was class. We went to a Buddhist temple, which I really enjoyed.then I helped Matt prepare for an interview and then we watched The Hobbit. That was good except for the fact that it was so long. I was going to write last night, but I was just too tired.

This morning I got up and walked to Covent Garden, where I met a lady who was from Rochester. Talk about a small world. We chatted for a bit and then I started wandering around looking for a place to get a haircut. I ended up getting one, also a shampoo and condition. It was great. After that I relaxed until a group of us went out to dinner at a burrito joint. 

I am off now... in less than 5 hours to Berlin. I will be back on Monday, which hopefully I may be able to write a little. But if not, look for me Tuesday for information and pictures. Mind you, I have been missing everyone a lot lately. Ok...Tschüss