London Olympics 2012

I thought this might be a good moment to share some pictures from my involvement in the Olympics so far. I'll make another post later about how how incredible it has all been so far!!!

Stairway to Stadium

The Security Entrance to the Stadium

ME! In Front of the Official Entrance

THE STADIUM!

Sculpture, Moat and Corner of Stadium

At Night after the Opening Ceremony Rehearsal - Monday.

One Place the Cycle Race went through Kingston

Woman's Field Hockey: Netherlands vs. China & Germany vs. South Africa

My Knee and the American Flag - PRIDE.

Woman's Field Hockey

Earl's Court Decked for the Olympics

Men's Volleyball: Bulgaria vs. Italy & Great Britain vs. Argentina

Men's Volleyball

More coming soon!

xx, Kristin 

Some of My Favorite Things...

Every time I get lost in London I fall more in love with the place.

From stumbling off a main street with the beauty of modern architecture, to wandering into an old street with buildings that have a longer history than any in Cooperstown. I can't say which I prefer more - but in the end it doesn't matter.

Somedays when I find a moment to breath between writing my book and taking care of my studies I get lost of reflecting on the last year. I know I've mentioned it before, but I still struggle to believe the difference that's overcome me already. Everyday I'm happy and if I'm not - I write. I've never had such motivation and inspiration. It took one impulsive and daring move to find me in one of the most satisfying places of my life.

I am so much better at living, compared to one year ago.

xx, Kristin

Snow in London

Guess what world - It does snow in London.

It might not be the mountains piled on sloshy sidewalks that I'm so familiar with, but it was was enough for local Londoners to draw profanities on the roofs of tiny cars. We were drawn to the window as we heard laughter in the streets to see scores of people having snowball fights. It didn't take long for us to join in, throwing bread at them like they were ducks, while they aimed for our window. Their bad aim only got us twice, but once almost through the window when we lingered too long.

This morning when I woke up the only sign there had once been snow on the streets is the damp chill of the day. It's so dark and grey here right now I'm confused into thinking it much later than 4:30 in the afternoon. Though it doesn't get to me, as I see scowls so clearly on others faces. Starbucks coffee is enough to keep me relaxed an happy.

xx, Kristin

One Week

I've been back in London for a week.

Most of my time has been trying to fix my sleeping, catching up with friends, figuring out the flat situation, reading (that's one trilogy and three books down for the week), and continuing to work on my book. I've now finished a solid 30 pages, and have another 40 waiting for me to mold. This would be a lot harder if I hadn't finished the whole book two years ago.

Good times.

I should be moving into my new flat this coming Wednesday. This is the moment where I ask you all to take a breath and say a little prayer that everything goes smoothly, and my next nine months will be blissful and trouble-free in this place. It shows me to get my first flat on my own in a foreign city, on the day my flatmate won't be in town. 

However, no one should worry too much because I do have a lot of support on this end.

Support - I always seem to need it. It's worse than just plain approval, because you need to rely on someone to be supported. With approval it's all you until you look back and see the nods and smiles. Maybe this is a new goal for myself, seek approval not support. It will surly force me to grow a little more and make my own decisions at the peak of choice making time. I'll stop worrying about other people when I need to make decisions for me.

... OR maybe I'm just being stupid - Can't blame it on not sleeping enough, haha.

Anyway, it feels good being back in London even though I do miss my friends and family. I'll have to start working harder on those train-tracks over the Ocean right onto Main Street Cooperstown. What would that be called: Atlantic Rails, West and a Bit More West Trains, Sunset Station? Ah well - building first, names later - although Sunset Station gives me a good idea for a shortstory.

xx, Kristin

BIG NEWS

Today I signed on a flat.

In the center of Kingston, London.

That
            is
                      ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xx, Kristin

My week was AWESOME

A quick shot with my Android of the Thames river,
a few boats, Big Ben and the London Eye. 

I began this reading week comparing it the last one I experienced in London. That reading week I travled to Norway and Wales. A piece of me was thinking about that time with a bit of longing, as I had no plans for travel. I figured that I could do a few day trips, but with the beginning of NaNoWriMo - a self-assigned project where you try to write a 50,000 word novel in one month - and all my assignments for school, the thought of leaving London became more unlikely. However, with an incredible and unexpected twist of events it turned out that leaving London would have been a mistake.

NOTE: This is poorly edited on account of time, excitement and exhaustion from the following week.

November 1st:
It was a successful first day with NaNoWriMo. I have an easy goal of 2,000 words a day, and the first day I finished the lot in under two hours. To celebrate my friend and I decided that the most important thing to do was to go see...

Backbeat - The Beatles the Musical!

IT.
WAS.
INCREDIBLE.

I laughed, I cried. It gave me a new idea of what it was like to live during the rise of The Beatles and I have to say, I really wish I was around for that. They played their music and told the story of the fifth Beatle, Stewart. I was so emotionally involved in this musical that when it ended I almost wanted to cry for not being able to listen to anymore of their music. They ended the musical by having a full blown Beatles concert playing four of five of their songs!!! I felt like a screaming fan girl as they asked the audience to get up and dance with them! The whole theater was jiving to the beat, and laughing. It was a blast!

BUT, it gets better!

The whole time we were watching, there was one actor on stage that I knew I had seen before. For a moment I considered that maybe he lived in London and I had walked past him on the street - he was attractive enough for me to remember if that was the case. However, I could not place him no matter how hard I thought about it, so I gave up to just enjoy the moment. When I got home however, I went right onto the internet and looked the boy up. My heart nearly broke as I looked at his name.

It was Andrew Knott.

The Secret Garden, 1993

Picture fromBackbeat website.

Andrew Knott, as in: Dicken from The Secret Garden, and little Joey from The Black Beauty. More importantly - My very first crush... EVER. Later he was in the History Boys, and that time I had no trouble recognizing him. The fact that I spent two hours in the same room as him, watching him preform live and did not recognize him - well, it nearly broke my heart.

So, you can imagine I will be going to see Backbeat again.


November 2nd: 
It was much less successful than the day before with my NaNoWriMo goals, I was 500 words short and for good reason.

I did NOT take this picture,
small credit to google images.

I went for a nice long walk in Richmond park with Philippa and Saxon, the temporary household dog. She drove us deep into the park to a place I have never been before, and as we began to stroll she causally mentioned that the London School of Ballet was the great building I could see in the distance.

The London School of Ballet.

As in where all the greats go for training, as in where part of Billy Elliot was filmed. It was another one of those classic movies in my life, and between this and the whole Andrew Knott surprise thing, my week was already emotionally draining.

That building is magnificent. I did not take any pictures, as I had not expected to need my camera while walking the dog, but I do intend to go back and get some incredible pictures to share. There is a path leading up too the front of the building with great trees and birds. I felt like I was in one of those old classic english movies.

I then had a LONG and fun lunch with one of my classmates at Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Kingston. It was delicious and also... Jamie Oliver - enough said.

Then I did a Pub Quiz with the Adam's family and crew. WE CAME IN FIFTH - also, really exciting!


November 3rd: 
So, I was sitting at computer, slowly waking up and trying to figure out what I was required to do today when I saw this:

Kingston University class of 2012The olympic torch will be on campus TODAY! Come down to have your picture taken with it from 12noon.

And I was like - UM WHAT?! So, as it was nearly 11am I hurried my butt down to campus and got this:

They had four different backgrounds... haha!

I am almost certain this one is my favorite.

I was then required to head into central London to meet up with some Publishing people and see some really old books at the British Library. But on the way, something really incredible happened...


I SAW THE QUEEN!

I snapped this picture after I
regained my ability to move.
 That was her caravan,
but not her car. 

As in, Her Majesty the Queen! How many people jokingly said, "Say hey to the Queen for me," as I got ready to fly over. I laughed, thinking, no one ever sees the Queen. But as we were walking in front of King's Cross station (yes, the one in Harry Potter!) all the traffic was stopped in such a weird fashion. A police man came through on his motorbike, directing traffic to pause - ignoring the traffic lights. After a few more motorbikes came through, two cars passed by. I had stopped, asking "Are we going to see a parade?" (Which I think not one of my friends heard me say) But as I finished the sentence and looked in the window of the car, I saw her. She was just sitting there, like a normal person - THE QUEEN. By god, I have seen the Queen of England - in real life and unplanned. 

Evidence that I went
to the British Library.

Now onto the Library, which for a book person is just as exciting as seeing the Queen. There were books dating to the 4th and 5th century, my jaw nearly dropped. Jane Austen, Bronte, old song workings from The Beatles, the Magna Carta and the list goes on. We were not permitted to take pictures of the books, but seeing old pages from well recognized text in person was humbling. It came with this surprising result of stealing my intimidation from the old greats as I look at their scribbles in ancient notebooks. My own handwriting was simliar to many of theirs, completely illegible and quick. I was inspired to grab a notebook and just write and write - though I may have to wait till after NaNoWriMo to play with that idea.


After the British Library Exhibit, we headed to a pub not so very far away to something called 'BookMachine.' It is a social where people in the publishing world can meet up and make connections. I talked to a few very exciting people, mostly from Random House and got to spend more time with the people from my course which is always fun.


The night was finished by playing Kings in New Malden, like the good Uni kids we are.

November 4th: 
Now is the day before November the 5th.

Remember, Remember the Fifth of November. 

Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.

All I want to do is have a night in and settle down from my week. Figure out how to send money home, fill out applications for a Railcard for the trains, a student Oyster card (which is cheaper), and work on NaNoWriMo and my other heaping pile of ever growing assignments. I would even perhaps like to paint my nails and relax with a movie for just one night, but no. The fireworks are starting and because I have to be involved with everything all the time, even after my amazing week, I am heading out again for fireworks at 8pm.



xx, Kristin

London, London, London

Sebastian and myself in the
Cafe in the Crypt, I am going to
have to eat here sometime!
Taken by Justin White.

Close up of the
London Eye. 

This has been such an incredible weekend. I am not very good at the weekday part of my schedule - with the reading and the academic writing - but I am very good at the weekend part of my schedule where I am allowed out into London!

This should come as a surprise to no one.

On Friday, I did complete my writing workshop piece - which you will all be able to read in a few days when I post it on my writing blog. I had been working on it over the last few weeks, and I am pretty happy about the result. I put this in print now, so that when my class gives me feedback this coming Thursday, I will remember a time when I was proud of it - haha.

After I finished up with my work, it was time for me to take on the fun side of my schedule. (From Friday night to Sunday night, I am allowed to do whatever I want - says me). I met a few friends for dinner, and then we went to see the movie Contagion. I really enjoyed it, and the cast was incredible, but if you are even a slight hypochondriac DO NOT SEE THIS MOVIE. You will never touch anyone or anything again. Then, we went out on the town - hit one of our new favorite bars and then crossed the street to do a little dancing at a local club. I was exhausted by 1:30am, but did not get into bed until 3ish in the morning - do to peer pressure, I'm looking at you Stace, haha!

Andy, Alyssa, Justin and myself in the Maple Leaf pub.
Taken by Justin White.

Saturday, I met up with a few people from my course at Waterloo Station and we headed into London. It was really crowded with tourists, but we could not resist walking to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. While I love this walk because of how beautiful the buildings are, and the many memorials along the way, my favorite part this time was that I actually remembered how to walk there! We made a goal of taking 50 pictures each, I only got to 17 pictures for the day. I was having too much fun just being in London.

After strolling through the gallery we headed to a Canadian pub called the Maple Leaf. It was a nice sports bar, but it had a homey atmosphere - even though I am not from Canada. I also tried a new beer called Moosehead. It was delicious. It was really nice getting to know the people in my course a little better and I have to say, we are really cool people!

Andy, Sebastian and myself walking...
somewhere . Taken by Justin White. 

Tomorrow, I have to get back into work mode. I think it will be easier after having such a busy, exhausting weekend. I have some big assignments coming up that I really need to focus on so that I can use my reading week for something exciting, like traveling. I was thinking somewhere easy in the United Kingdom, Wales or Scotland perhaps.

In other news, does anyone want something specific from England for Christmas?



xx, Kristin

CRAZY Days

It has been so crazy here over the last few days. In the short span of a week, so many things have happened, changed and exploded. It is unbelievable that only one week has passed since arriving here in London.

First of all I went from:

• Eternally grateful to the Adam's family for taking both Stacey and myself into there small bedroom upstairs.
• Freaked and stressed because I could not find a place to move in a decent amount of time, aka: the end of this coming week.
• Relieved, because Philippa set Stacey and I up with a friend with two bedrooms to rent in New Malden.
• Stressed again, because one room was very much smaller than the other - and one would have felt very guilty to get the larger room with a desk. 
• Eternally grateful to the Adam's family for suggesting I rent this room from them, without a contract, so that Stacey and I might continue looking for a flat without stress.

Then I learned that:

Myself in front of the Parliament Building,
just out of Waterloo Station and under the
shadow of the London Eye: 20, Sep. 2011

• I could still manage my way around central London.
• I still LOVE Harry Potter - getting to enjoy the last film on the largest Imax screen in all of Britain. (My fourth time seeing it, of course).
• My degree is going to kick my butt, and I have only been introduced to half of the course! (The other induction is tomorrow for Publishing). 
• I am still capable of making friends, even though I was practically on solitary confinement for the last year and a half. 
• Jet lag takes a long time to kill off.
• I can survive on little food during the day when stressed.
• I can survive on little sleep during the night when overwhelmed.
• The internet makes this world a very, very small place. 
• My writing style gives me strengths as a story builder.

Every night I go to bed after midnight. Every morning I get out of bed early to start my day. But I still keep trudging on with a smile, because I made it and I am following through on my goals. As long as you love what you are doing, you can afford to smile even in the most difficult parts of the journey.  

And this was my first week in London...

xx, kristin

Adjusting

Adjusting - or if you can call it that.

I have been so busy in the last couple days I do not even know how long I have been in Kingston. Socializing, starting a bank account, socializing, enrolling, dealing with small details of being a postgraduate student, socializing, trying to find a good cell plan, and socializing -It is no wonder I cannot keep track of the days. I am almost certain I have been here a month, surviving on peanut butter and toast.

I am certain it has been a month.

Although, that may also play into the part where I have been here before, making me comfortable and confident as I walk the streets - Still possible I get lost though. Knowing my way around has made the prior list much easier on my brain. I knew where the Lloyds bank was that - with some advice from new friends - I chose to open my account in. I knew where all the cell phone places where. Most importantly, I knew the short route between all those places and campus as I ran in circles with my head spinning today - Even if sometimes I forgot to use them.

Anyway onto what I have accomplished -

• I have enrolled into the University, getting my ID card and all that lovely official stuff.
• I have begun to complete my bank account at Lloyds for my loan money to be dropped into.
• I have begun research into cell phones, even thinking I have found the right plan for me. 
• I have finally glanced over my timetables.
• I have continued to search for flats, getting a few really decent options but more indecent ones. 
• I have met up with many of the people I found on facebook before coming to Uni and more. 
• I have taken a tour of Kingston - because I thought it would be fun... it was.

All I have left to accomplish -

• Actually finish of my bank account.
• Finish off the cell phone.
• Find a flat to live in - and hopefully soon.
• Get organized to for my courses.
• ACTUALLY GET INTO LONDON! This I might run off and do on my own, just to have a good, old fashioned moment. 

That is all I can think of anyway.

OH - on account that I am required to head to a pub down the street and continue socializing, this post will be completely and entirely unedited! Socializing Calls.

xx, kristin

Dear London,

Welcome to my new blog created for a new adventure overseas!

As many of you know, I have made the decision to become a student again. On September 12, I will be heading off to begin a Master's program in Creative Writing and Publishing at the same university I attended as a study abroad student - Kingston University, London. It was the home-base of one of my most fulfilling life experiences. While as a study abroad student, I learned more about myself and being a citizen of the world than possible while staying in my comfortable state of existence in Cooperstown, New York. I believe with my return to the United States, it was clear to many people around me that I would work my way back to London – perhaps, even before I knew myself.

With regards to Kingston, I cannot say for certain how I discovered this institution, but many can attest to the fact I had discovered it in my sophomore year of undergraduate work. It developed into a goal of creating my future of working with books in publishing, and the written word in writing. After a semester at Kingston in my senior year of college, I had resigned myself to this path. Becoming a student again, for myself, is a very exciting and nerve-wracking decision. I know myself best as a student, and with that I know both my strengths and weaknesses. Right now, I am in a healthy state of mind about my current goals. The choice to do this program overseas is crucial. To be a writer and to work with books takes a certain level of empathy, experience and worldliness - being comfortable, without incident, does not make great literature. From the small bite I had before, I know that London is where I need to be in order to develop myself on at least those three strengths.

But do not think I am this weird statue of assured confidence – I am nervous as hell.

It has just become a fact to me, that in order to begin a successful path, this is the first step. Receiving a Master's in Creative Writing and Publishing, is the first step. The power of education is a worthwhile investment, especially when experienced by one who refuses to let it go to waste - which, is someone like myself. Right now, I do not know the answers, by next year at this time I hope to have a different response to the questions of – who, what, when, where, why and how. My habits of being stubborn, ambitious and determined have been the fuel for these goals up to this point – as much as they have caused conflict. I have gained much knowledge in the last several years.

When you do not believe in regret, every decision is worth its experience.

This blog is going to be a public record of my steps as I work on my goals – starting with being an international student in London. This time at Kingston, I will be at the university for a full year. The approximate time period of my studies will be from September 12, 2011 till June 28, 2012. I will be making worldwide connections and digesting worldwide information during this time. It will give me a chance to grow back into my independence. However, it will also be the longest extended period that I will be away from home – without the certainty that I will be home for Christmas.

As I continue to write on this blog about my time, I will be thinking of my family and friends at home. Each post will be a letter to you who chooses to read. I also hope that as you read my posts, you will comment – I will love to hear from all of you. Of course there is always the opportunity to Skype me or send me an email – kberg032@gmail.com – whichever option is more flexible to your needs.

Please stay in touch!

xx, Kristin

PS: This post will always remain here - Purpose of Blog.