Hello. 

I don't know how to turn the pictures. let me try. 

anyway. i'm in cambridge now, at Cam's and we were trying on the costumes so here it is!!!

Every piece was acquired separately. Actually the dark red outer skirt i had custom made for this outfit. you guys like it? we leave tomorrow. 

i'll let you all know how it goes. 

jealous anyone? hehehe. don't worry i'll enjoy for everyone back home. 

Ciao!

So today was the first day back to work after being sick. It was nice, having a routine again. I got there and all the old ladies were very happy to see me. I started a new project today. Turns out, recently the son of an art dealer who died donated all his dad's files to the library. The art dealer, when he was alive, documented every painting he sold and bought, taking notes, doing research, keeping all the correspondence between him and buyers and sellers, etc. So the files that the library has now in that collection having letters, documents, pictures, transparencies, etc. I have to look at each file, and put everything that it contains onto an excel spreadsheet, then go look up the artist and see if the library already has that image, and make a note of it. It's nice, i sit at the computer for an hour then walk around the library looking up artists for an hour, then back to the computer, then walk around again. It's a nice change. I love that i am constantly receiving visual input of art history. It helps with my creativity, inspiration and of course visual intellect. 

It looks like every few weeks i'll change projects so it will be varied and fun. 

Other than work, i got home, cooked dinner, showered, the usual . . . and now i'm going to bed. I don't want to be exhausted tomorrow. 

Ciao!! 

Hi again, 

I know, it's been a while. A week, to be exact. I got sick, really sick. They call it the British ManFlu, it kills you for a week. I don't know, maybe because it's an island bugs evolve and change and they're different than in the rest of the world. So i was in bed for a week, no work, not a lot of food, just meds (lots and lots of medicines) and sleep. 

I had to go to the doctor, and in a British accent . . . . not so cool. When was the last time you heard a doctor (read: professional) call urine, wee???? Wee?????? C'mon seriously, aren't they supposed to know the medical terms? Weird. 

Oh and the time i was acutally awake, I spent watching Grey's Anatomy. I had never seen it. It's great, funny, a bit repetitive, but the medical stuff keeps you interested. I'm up to season 3. Thanks to my new ipod video (Thanks Mom and Dad, or is it still Santa??? haha) i can watch my favorite shows wherever I go, though not recomended while on the metro (missed my stop several times) or walking (especially not in England, where cars and buses come from the wrong side, almost got killed several times, hahaha). It's been great having it. I can't wait to have it on an airplane, no more boring rides yay!!!

So this weekend i started feeling better, much better. Friday and Saturday were spent doing preparations for the trip next week. Where am i going, you ask. well, i'll tell you. I'm going to Venice. (YAY!!!!!!!!! VENICE!!!!!!!!!!) Next week, actually this Friday, starts a tradition that has been going on since the Renaissance: Venetian Carnival!!!!! 

So Cameron and I are getting everything ready for our costumes. Yes we need to have costumes, the dress code for most events is costume and mask. We bought masks, they match. They are black, gold and cranberry (deep red). Cameron rented a costume, it think the label said Georgian Gentleman, so a bit later than the Renaissance, but it works. I created mine. I'm using clothing that i have already, and i bought fabric: cotton velvet in cranberry, to make the top layer of a skirt, renaissance style. I'm having it made by the seamstress at the costume store. It's gonna look great. I'll definitely show pictures. We leave friday morning, then we are going to a Maskerade Ball (Gala Dinner, Opera performance and dancing) at an old venetian palace. The next day there's all sorts of events, parades, show of costumes, parties, etc. Also there's all the wonders of venice: the bridge of sighs, cannot wait to see the bridge of sighs. My favorite book happens in venice. 

Anyway, that's next weekend. 

This weekend we spent saturday in cambridge. Went to the Ale (British Beer) Festival hosted by the university. It was fun, very crowded, outside my comfort zone, hahaha. Had dinner at a pub, walked around town. Cambridge really is a beautiful town. I love walking around there,  the streets are so pretty and old. It's like a fantasy.  I love it. We went to some of the stores, a bookshop, got some books, it was fun. 

Today, sunday, we went to a nearby town called Huntingdon, where one of the American military bases is, and went for a hike. The area is flat, and it's all farming land. But since it's winter, a lot of the field are very wet, and some even flooded, so they turn into small lakes and ponds, making the landscape very pretty. We set out from the town, walking past a newarby town, then fields, to a small community of huge, expensive mansions, then to other fields, with the small lakes, and back to the town. In total it all was 8 miles and took us about 4 hours and some change. it was great. Got a great work out because we had to keep a fast pace since we started later in the day and darkness was starting to set. The fields turn pitch black once the sun sets, so we did not want to be stuck still out on the hike. One thing though: last week that area was flooded, i mean the town and all. So it was VERY VERY VERY MUDDY!!!! Good thing Cameron and I got all the proper waterproof gear (Thanks again mom and dad, hehe) and were able to treck through the mud. It was a lot of fun, I loved it. Afterwards we stopped at a pub and had a pint and tea (can you guess who had the pint and who had the tea?? haha) I know, i'm a tea junkie, but when in rome . . . . (do as romans do). Finally we came home, had dinner and are watching the latest from American Idol, hahahaha. It takes on a different perspective watching it from Britain, hahaha. 

Tomorrow, it's back to work. Lets see how it goes. Until thursday, when I will come to Cambridge to be ready to leave the next morning for Venice!!!!! 

VENICE!!!!!!!! 

I can't wait, i've never been. 

Well, i hope everything back home is great. Keep me updates on all the shenanigans on that side of the puddle!!!! 

Hello hello again. 

today was the first day at work. it was great. i like it. it's like being back in pre-school, hahahaha. No really. here's what I do: i work at an image library at one of the most renowned art history institutes in the world. Their images date back to the mid 1800s. the institute aquires images by donations of photographs of pieces, paintings, sculptures, architecture, etc. Or they buy catalogues from auction houses (think christie's and sotheby's), museums, galleries, etc. and they cut out the images they want, mount them then file them by artist. 

Great idea, for the 1800s when the library was first started. For the 21st century? not so much. My job is to go through catalogues, follow the marks that the art historians made, and cut out the images they have selected, cut them neatly, paste them onto mounting board, including artist info, title, etc, then file them according to name and geographic location. The problem? The entire concept of the library, and thus my job, is totally obsolete! I should be scanning the images into an online database. 

The thing is, here is what the people at the library are like: old, tonny blair-loving, conservative, traditionalist, techno-phobes, obsolete women who can't dress, don't know that the world outside the library changes and progresses, and have continued to do the same thing for over 200 years, they're as old as the building. You get the old librarians, the old art historians who hate modern art, and old volunteers who help keep the files in order. 

So it's totally and completely pointless. we live in a digital world, that's what the library should be, i mean don't get rid of the images they already have, but stop putting new ones in paper, and do it digitally. 

However, my job is quite fun, and quite a workout. It's fun being back in pre-school and cutting out images from magazines, gluing the to the paper, then of course, filing them means constatntly climbing up and down step stools to reach the top of the shelves, and walking all around the library back and forth to find the artists. 

I like it. It's fun, no computer work, i keep busy, so time flies and i get to learn and see art history on a daily basis. 

As obsolete as the women are, they are very nice. 

Ok shower time. 

Ciao ciao!!

Today was boring, and rainy. haha. we had orientations all day. about the internship, about the apartments and appliances, about the city, everything. lots of talking talking talking. 

i start tomorrow. yesterday, when Cameron and I were walking around london's legal center, hehe, we passed this beautiful building that we thought was a college. turns out, it's the building where i will be working. It's called the Courtauld Institute of Art. it's by the river, in the city center. that entire area is absolutely gorgeous. i can't wait, i'm excited. hopefully it will be a nice atmosphere for work. 

The people from the program seem nice, the other students I mean. it's 5 girls and one guy. The girls, I think, will eventually get on my nerves, they're a little too girly (yes i know, i'm the girly girl of all girls, but trust me, these are worse, haha) a bit too high maintenance. yesterday there was a whole lot of fuss over hairdryers. They are aparently just book smart, not bright when it comes to other things in life, like knowing that england and the US have different voltage. My roommate already blew her hairdryer and now she's having a fit. oh well, i guess looks do matter when you are doing an internship in parliament haha. 

my dress code is business casual, so i don't have to look s perfectly professional as my roommate, poor thing has to wear suits and all. 

I have to say, i don't think i could live in london, the rain is already driving me crazy. it gets tiring always having rain, getting wet, carrying umbrellas, ugh!

i think i can manage with the lack of space. although my roomate already has a mess, i mean with this little space, we can't afford messes!!!!! she has totally taken over the nightable, we are supposed to SHARE!!!! 

like i said, they're nice girls . . . . . hahaha. 

Oh, and emily, guess what? i went to walk Cameron to the front door yesterday before he went home, and when i opened the door there was a kitty cat outside our building. I couldn't tell if it was a male or female, but it had a collar, so it wasn't a stray cat. it was just visiting. it was an orange tabby (like Jack and Fox) more adult though, name Slash (according to his/ her tag) and soooooooo friendly. i hope she/he comes to visit more often. it'll be my adoptive cat friend. I was very very excited. Normally I wouldn't have started petting a cat in the street but since it had  a collar and a name and all, i figure it was safe, sooooo adorable. I miss Jack and Zoe and Sienna and Chai!!!!!!!! Kitties!!!!!!!!!!!! 

There doesn't seem to be enough time in this city for three meals a day. apparently people here only expect you to eat twice, that's all we've had these past two days. i hope the job doesn't give me any homework, i'm looking forward to being able to come home and have ME time, no homework!!!!! 

Ok, i think i'm going to bed.  Have a great day back home everyone!!!! 

Hello Everyone, 

So I have created this in order to avoid having to write the same email millions of times. I will try to keep a constant post on this and give you updates. Feel free to post comments, questions, and opinions. To my family, I will only write in English, it's easier and faster, if you have questions as to what I mean by something, ask me, and I'll explain. Also, I tend to write inside jokes in parenthesis, so if you don't get it, then it was clearly not meant for you, but I will be happy to explain it. 

So far it's been crazy. The plane ride here was ok. As usual, my impatient self got very bored. I can't stand the long long plane rides. I know they show 6 different movies, but they are bad movies and don't keep me entertained. I enjoyed the new ipod, although I didn't have enough time to put a lot of videos in it, and of course the new noise-canceling headphones were awesome. There was a baby a few rows back crying the entire time and I didn't even notice. I feel bad for the other passengers. The food . . . . well, it was airplane food. 

I finally arrived at Heathrow (London airport) and went through immigration and customs without a problem. When I came out, Cameron (my boyfriend, fyi) was there waiting for me. He had roses, yay. so sweet, haha. We drove back to Cambridge, about an hour and a half, and had a bit of a late-night snack. Then finally got to bed, since I was exhausted. Of course, 5 hours later, I woke up. It was 11 pm in the states, and EVERYONE knows I'm a night person, so of course at 11 pm I was wide awake. Small problem: it was 4:30 am in London. hahaha. I tried to go back to sleep, and woke up again at 8:30 am London time. Very rare for me. But since I couldn't go back to sleep, we got everything ready, had breakfast and left for London. Turns out I brought a bit more than needed, so Mom, Dad, I will probably send back some stuff. I also forgot some things I needed. 

Anyway, we took the train to London, along with my 20 thousand bags. Cameron was a darling and helped me carry them all over London. After checking in and all, we got to my mystery apartment. Turns out it sucks. No really, it's tiny and there's three of us in it. Since there was only one guy in the program, he actually gets a single room. The apartment consists of two bedrooms, a single and a double, one bathroom, kitchen and living room. It's divided, the bedrooms and bathrooms are downstairs and common areas upstairs. So I got there and in the single bedroom was one girl, who had arrived earlier and had settled in. She didn't know they had assigned a guy into our apartment so when I got there, I told her "um, there's a guy in this apartment, so I think the single bedroom is his." I wasn't about to share bedrooms with a random guy. 

Regardless, our bedroom is absolutely tiny, we only have one closet for the two of us. each gets 4 tiny shelves and we share hanging space, which is practically non-existent. no drawers, and we share night-table. nice huh? 

the rest of the girls in the program got lucky, i think. Their apartment is way larger, of course they have to share it amongst 5 people, all girls. They get two bedrooms, one triple and one double. The triple has a bathroom in it, then there's a second bathroom, and they even get a balcony. I think I should become good friends with them, haha. 

My roommate, can't remember her name, says that as soon as the sun comes out she'll try to get a tan in their balcony. Poor thing, little does she know that the sun, in fact, does not come out in this country, haha. 

Anyway, I will be keeping one empty suitcase in Cameron's house, since it wont fit here. So after a bit of unpacking and settling in, Cameron and I enjoyed an evening in town. we were a bit hungry so we decided to try out new pubs. Heading in the direction of Temple Church (from the Da Vinci Code) we walked along the river for about 20 minutes (Dra. Alvarez, como ud. recomendo, nos salimos dos paradas antes en el metro, jeje) then found a nice cozy pub for dinner. After dinner, we were walking around, saw Temple Church, it's beautiful, but it was closed, and realized we were smack in the middle of the law and justice section of London. All around us were the National Courts and lawyers EVERYWHERE. It felt like a movie set. 

We came across a pub called the Ale and Pie, which is where the National Bank of England used to be. We decided to have tea there. Turns out, the building stood right between the barbershop and the pie store from the Sweeny Todd legend, which means that it was in the vaults and tunnels of the old bank that his victims were butchered, aaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!

For those of you who don't know the legend: first of of all, it's about to be made into a movie with Johnny Depp (yes Emily, you HAVE to see it!!!!!!). Sweeny Todd was a barber and his mistress was a pie-maker, the meat kind, not the sweet, fruity kind , whose store was one building down from his barbershop. Sweeny Todd was a crazy mad-man who used to take his victims into the vaults and tunnels of the old bank, kill them, cut them into pieces, and then together with his mistress, would use the human remains and cook them up into pies, then sell them to her customers. EEEWWWWWW!!!!!!! I know, I was just as disturbed when I heard the legend. So, everyone, go see the movie, Johnny Depp is a good actor, and now you can all think of me, having tea, in a beautiful, old building, underneath which victims were killed. Nice huh?  haha. 

Ok, so afterwards, Cameron went back to Cambridge, poor thing, he got back to his house at midnight and had to be at work by 6:30 am today. I got to sleep in, since I don't have anything until 1:30. We have an orientation today, where I assume they will tell us about our jobs,which start tomorrow, and how to get there, and all sorts of other boring details. 

Look forward to talking with you all again soon. I will keep you updated with all sorts of shenanigans from here. 

How is everything back home??? 

I wish everyone the best for this new year. Oh and come visit me!!!