It's November already!

Hey all,

November is here! I have a little less than two months left here in London. Assignment due dates are coming up. I have a paper due next week in my, Race and Representation class. My other two classes are moving along as well. In, Media Production we are beginning the T.V. component which I am excited about. Today, we basically covered putting all the equipment together in the T.V. studio room. This included the initial set up of the cameras and learning the different cords and power sources. Finally, in Screen & Script we should be finishing up a completed rough draft of our short film scripts and we meet with the professor this week to talk about changes and editing.


TENNIS: Last week four of us travelled to an away cup match. Thankfully, the match was in-doors. Although we fought hard, unfortunately we lost 2-4. It did come down to my partner and I's double match which went to a third set tiebreaker. First and second singles won their matches while third and fourth singles lost. It was tied at two all. Next, was the doubles. Our first doubles team suffered a lost and we were down 2-3, with my doubles match as the deciding factor between a lost and tie. My partner and I lost the first set rather quickly 2-6 and knew that we could play better. We took a quick water break after the first set and then pumped ourselves up for the next set. The second set was a battle to say the least. At one point we were down 1-2 and then broke back to be on serve and then the next thing you know we are up 4-3 and then we got broke right back to make it 4-4. The other team played tough and it was 5-5. The match was becoming very very competitive with high quality hitting. My partner and I broke the other team again to go up 6-5 and then it was my turn to serve. I served out the set and my partner and I won the second set 7-5! It was an extremely exhausting and long set. Finally, we had to play a 10 point super tiebreaker to decide the winner. Again, the points were close we found ourselves down 5-8 but went on to win the next three points to make it 8-8. Unfortunately we lost the next two points and lost the set 8-10. While it was very disappointing and a tough loss, we were proud of our effort and left all we had on the court.



Last week, I stated that this study abroad experience had changed my life. I wanted to elaborate more on this statement. From the time I was little I had always dreamed of coming to London. I was fascinated by the theatre and performing. And once I learned London was the theatre capitol of the world I knew that I just had to go...someday. I never knew when this day would come. Seeing that W&J gives students the opportunity in more ways than one to have an abroad experience I figured there was no better time then while I was in Undergrad. To be honest, initially I was just going to do Maghellan. And I thought to myself, "that's not enough time." So, I went to the study abroad office and began the process. Since arriving in London, I have appreciated the culture and experiences of being out of the country. I find it refreshing to be in a new place where I am not used everything. Meeting new people has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey. I am learning so much from the London natives and it is eye opening to see how we go through similar struggles. The classroom environment, while it is very different from the US, I still enjoy the different setting and adjusting to the education system here. I am taking every opportunity to gain knowledge from my lectures and other students around me. Being away from W&J has also made me appreciate my college so much more. It's honestly the little things that I have come to miss the most. Like taking things for granted like free laundry and printing.  Being in London has opened me up to a completely new culture that I am now a part of and can say I lived for a number of months. Overall, I have grown as a person through this experience and learned even more about myself. I have learned that I can be independent and what it really means to budget. I've learned how to communicate even better with all types of people from all different places, backgrounds, religions, etc. I've learned that even during the toughest of times I can over come them and rise to the challenge at hand. I am truly proud of myself for all the hard work I put in to get myself to where I am today.



CATS the musical: Ahhhhh I am so excited to see Cats this Thursday! I haven't seen this show in so many years and I know it will be a great night. Stay tuned for my review next week.


My house mates and I went to see the new James Bond movie, "Spectre" this past Sunday. It was a really good film and I high recommend it if you are a Bond fan or Daniel Craig, as this is his last Bond movie before the new guy is chosen to play the 007 agent. Rumor has that Idris Elba will be the next bond and this would make him the first Black bond in the history of the series, but we will have to wait and see.


Well that's all for now. Until next time. CHEERS!

Ty G