alexaedwards – Page 4 – Lex in the City

Week of Wonders

June 26, 2016January 4, 2018by Alexa1 Comment

The main question among my program-mates (?) this week has been, “Why did you decide to come to London?”

While we all had various reasons, we all agreed that we mainly wanted to travel and experience something new. This became a segue into a conversation about the significance and impact of traveling. We agreed that, beyond the financial component and other circumstances that may prevent people from traveling, we couldn’t imagine a life without traveling now that we have done it. Yes, London itself is not new for me, but I am constantly discovering new things in this grand city.

My roommate, Colleen, and I visited an exhibit this week by Yayoi Kusama titled “sculptures, paintings & mirror rooms.” It’s amazing how tiny rooms of mirrors can not only draw crowds, but also create such beautiful imagery. This exhibition is on a random street near Angel which only makes it feel that much cooler and somewhat exclusive. That’s one of the things that I love most about this city–there’s always something to do or see. Something is always ‘on’. Continue reading “Week of Wonders” →

Adventures

Adventure Awaits

June 19, 2016January 4, 2018by Alexa1 Comment

First, I’d like to apologize for staying MIA when I said that I wouldn’t…twice. The time off from blogging and posting has exceeded the 21-day limit which means it feels like more of a habit now than a choice. But now that I am no longer living out of a suitcase or dealing with paperwork, I can stop, breathe and share.

As expected, I spent my first week here doing touristy thing with my brother: Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Leicester Square, pubs, Hyde Park, markets, you name it. The sun sets by 10 p.m. and rises right before 5 a.m. so it feels like the days can go on forever while the nights are so short. It really put us in a bind with staying on time for our plans, but I love the feeling of long days, no matter how exhausting.

Tower of London
Trafalgar Square
Tower Bridge
Madam Butterfly at London Coliseum

Big BenThis second week, I started my internship while my brother headed over to Barcelona. My internship hasn’t consisted of much to report, but I have been taking advantage of said late sunsets. Staying out after work makes my time here feel more concrete rather than waiting for the weekend to enjoy myself. I feel like a real Londoner (not to mention, my work day doesn’t start until 9:30 a.m. so I have the luxury of staying out later).
The week flew by with Cameron not being around. We saw each other once more for his last night in London yesterday. We ended the weekend by revisiting Oxford Street, stopping by the MI6 building, and taking in an aerial view of the city from Sky Garden. I am so glad to have been able to create these memories with my brother that will last a lifetime. Next time we will be even more prepared and I look forward to traveling together again.
MI6 Building
Returning to London was equally everything I imagined and nothing I imagined. I thought once I boarded the tube from Heathrow, I would feel this sense of nostalgia and that I would be even more overwhelmed with emotion once I rose above ground. However, I didn’t feel anything at all. Aside from the stress I inflict upon myself to make sure all the T’s are crossed and all the I’s are dotted, I see now that I didn’t feel nostalgia because it still feels so familiar. Even as I type this, it doesn’t really feel like I’m here. It’s a recognizably different feeling than any other because I feel like I’m somewhere between fantasy and reality. The amount of memories I made here last year in a short span of four months makes me feel both attached and detached because it’s not my home, but it feels like it is. Granted, I’ve been preoccupied with many, many other things to really stop and smell the roses, but in the quiet moments of walking through the streets, it feels like I belong. I’m so glad to be back 🙂 Continue reading “Adventure Awaits” →

R&R

Cloud 9

June 5, 2016January 4, 2018by Alexa2 Comments

I’m back in the skies and heading back to my third home.

I am currently sitting in Newark Liberty International Airport waiting to board a flight to London with my brother. While he is just going to visit, I am heading that way to start an internship where I will be a fashion journalist for a shoe company called Miista. I have told many people about this new summer adventure, but I felt I should finally put in writing what I am currently doing since my internship with Southwest ended.

Moving forward, I know that I previously hinted at new things coming for the blog and they are still on the way. With that, I will obviously feature what I’m up to at work and outside of work (unless you guys are tired of hearing about London). I did follow through with a new layout which is much more plain, and arguably less exciting in some ways, but I felt it was much cleaner and more appropriate for the direction I’m going in. Finally, I will return to posting on Sundays. I’m still trying to figure out what time of day works best for posting, but it will be weekly again.

I know I have been MIA, but I appreciate all of the nice comments from those of you who have kept up with my blog and have been inquiring about when I would return. I was off ‘the interwebs’ for a minute [with the exception of graduation posts] because I was trying to get some things in order, but I’m looking forward to picking back up again next Sunday. Until then…

xx, AE

R&R

Hitting Home

May 23, 2016January 4, 2018by Alexa1 Comment

About two weeks ago I had my college graduation.

I could say so many things about what graduation meant for me. When you push the stress of graduation day to the side, you start to unravel the sentimental value of it. I am constantly thinking about all of the things I wish I did during college or at least did differently. Obviously, had none of my experiences happened in the way that they did, I wouldn’t know what I know now. Still, I wish I was more adventurous, more social, more invested in my own participation of my college experience rather than having others define it for me. On the same note, I feel more liberated, having been a graduate for almost six months now, because I can recognize these things and grow from them. I’m not here to thank USC for anything, but rather the people I’ve met—friends, co-workers and educators alike—for teaching me so many unforgettable lessons in this thing we call life. So, here are four lessons from four years: Continue reading “Hitting Home” →