It's All about the Green @laurenisverde - Tumblr Blog

Update

I haven’t written anything on here in a while. This blog was originally created to write about my abroad travels, but I didn’t even write many blog posts when I was in Europe because I was too busy enjoying the dream life.

Anyway, I felt like I needed to write a blog post because there are many things going on in my life that I wanted to reflect on without making a giant and obnoxious Facebook status. This past 2014-2015 school year has been absolutely incredible. I have been given so many amazing opportunities in the past year for the upcoming year that I know will shape me into a leader, mentor and experienced (sigh) #senior.

During the fall semester I got to find myself. I visited nine different countries and in doing so was able to change my perspective about the world and the different cultures that inhabit it. I never realized how oblivious I was to the issues, cultures and different ideas surrounding me until I traveled and actually immersed myself into different cultures.

Spring semester offered me a reverse culture shock that initially took me by surprise but ultimately ended up being one of the most difficult and rewarding semesters of my college career. I began my semester by applying for internships. I ended up applying for twelve different internships in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles and San Diego. After being rejected from a few and getting a few others, I decided on an internship with LaForce + Stevens PR Firm in NYC. Although this acceptance meant huge change for me from having an actual “real-person” job to living on the opposite side of the country for summer, I knew it was an opportunity I had to take. Each day I’m understanding how important it is to take another step further outside my comfort zone if I want to achieve the goals I have set for myself.

In addition to landing a summer PR internship, for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year I also was selected to be Brand Manager for The Social Life, a Victoria’s Secret PINK Campus Rep, the PR Director for both Main Squeeze A Cappella (2nd year) and for ACCSU (A Cappella Council at Syracuse University), and one of the Co-Producers for First Year Players (FYP). Needless to say this semester also had some let-downs of things I applied for, but I know that next year is going to be a key part in developing my leadership skills in the many organizations that I will be a part of.

On top of all my extra-curricular accomplishments, all of my grades were just submitted and I am ending the semester with a 3.6. I am so thankful for the support of my family, but especially my friends at school. I would be a puddle of emotions if it were not for my amazing friends who continually give me support, advice and plenty of Chipotle dates.

That’s all the updating for now. I’m sure I’ll have plenty more updates when I’m living in “the city that never sleeps“ this summer. I can’t wait!

3 weeks

Three more weeks until I leave London. This semester has been the most eye-opening and eventful semester of my life, but boy am I glad to be coming home. I need sunshine, I need my family, I need the ocean, I need my best friends, I need Mexican food.

I have two more trips left: Iceland & Portugal. I am so excited for both of them but I wish I had a gap week where I could just lay around all week and not do anything. I'm exhausted and cold and a little bit homesick. The last thing I want to do is get on a plane on Thursday to travel to another country. However, I know they're going to be the best trips yet.

We have so much planned for these next couple of weekends: seeing the northern lights, hiking up volcanoes, going swimming in the Hot Springs & the Mediterranean Sea. It's going to be amazing, and I know I will love every second of it.

I think being abroad really is an incredible experience that everyone should invest in. Never again will you get the opportunity to not work for a full four months, and just travel all around Europe to wherever your heart desires. However, while being abroad, I think I have become even more appreciative for having a wonderful, loving family and home in America's finest city (San Diego). I'm more appreciative of having a job and having consistent paychecks every week. I'm more appreciative for American holidays and American currency and American accents. I'm thankful for people in America just being nice because it's a nice thing to do (and it's apparently weird in other countries). Even though there is a stigma about how ignorant and stupid Americans are, I have never been more thankful to call America my home.

England, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Scotland, Iceland, and Portugal are all amazing, but I wouldn't trade where I came from for anything. Tonight, I will finish my homework and go to sleep. Tomorrow, I will attend class, a show, and then start packing for my Thanksgiving weekend in Iceland. No turkey, no family, but good friends that I'm so thankful for being in my life. (23 days until I'm home though :) )

#abroad2014 #abroad #london #syracuse

Update: I am still abroad

Hello world, sorry it's been a while since I posted (and by world, I mean my mom and dad because they're the only ones who actually read this) every time I post. Any who, yes, I am still abroad (thank God) and yes, life is flippin' fantastic.

Since I last posted, I have been to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Paris & Versailles. A lot has happened, mainly just me eating a lot of waffles, crepes, and really fatty food that is also delicious.

Amsterdam was so much fun and also crazy (everyone is really high all the time, but it's okay mom & dad, it's legal there). We went to The Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Amsterdam Sign, and walked through the red light district. We saw a lot of prostitutes and we even saw some people go into the doors with the women and disappear. I thought it was really interesting that it was such a casual and common activity that people just go over to the Red Light District and participate in. Also, you have to google Stroop waffles and try them, they're amazing.

Berlin was not my favorite place in the world. The people were a little harsher compared to the happy, extremely amicable Dutch people. Even just walking around the city, I felt colder and could really sense the pain that has consumed Berlin culture since WWI & WWII. We ended up going to see the Berlin Wall and it was absolutely beautiful. There was so much amazing art work in the various murals that was breathtaking and thousands of people have signed the wall over the years. The final day in Berlin we visited a concentration camp, and I'd say that was my most memorable and meaningful experience I've had abroad so far. We toured the bunks and the camp grounds where all of the captives carried out their duties each day and where they were beaten, shot, and humiliated in front of friends, family, and strangers. It was bitterly cold the day we went and so incredibly sad to see the way that people were treated in the concentration camps. However, I am so, so grateful that I had the opportunity to go to one.

Prague was definitely the most beautiful place I've been since going abroad. Gothic architecture everywhere and a beautiful bridges and castles and the astronomical clock just made it seem like a postcard everywhere you walked. We ended up spending Halloween at a club in Prague called the 5 Story Klub, and it was very....interesting. Overall, fall break was great, but it made me SO incredibly grateful to be spending my semester abroad in London.

After fall break, we headed off to Versailles & Paris! Both were extraordinarily beautiful, but I think I've decided that Paris is not my favorite place in the world. The people were kind of rude to Americans, (everyone just thinks we're all a bunch of idiots here), which is the stereotype, I get it, but it made me feel very unwelcome in a city that I was so excited to revisit. We started off our journey visiting the Palace of Versailles which was absolutely incredible. Everything was gold and elaborate and the hall of mirrors was stunning. We also ended up going up to the top of the eiffel tower which was amazing, and we also visited a lot of different modern spots throughout Paris.

This weekend I'm in London and I couldn't be happier to finally have a weekend home in my favorite city abroad. Next weekend I'm visiting my friend Taryn in Edinburgh, Scotland and then I'm going to stay with her at St. Andrews! It's going to be a great reunion and I cannot wait for it.

I did my first long run this morning and as I ran around the Thames River and passed the London Eye, Big Ben, St. Paul's Cathedral, Shakespeare's Globe and all of South Bank, I realized that I am so incredibly lucky to live here.

I never want to leave Europe because I know that when I go back to school I'll be dealing with Syracuse snow... Life is truly beautiful and abroad has shown me that there are still so many places left to explore! I also think that if you're ever wanting to get to know a city better, wake up a little earlier than you normally would, go for a run and you'll see pretty much everything. PLUS you can people watch (which is probably my favorite part)

#London #Abroad2014

I think this was the best weekend of my life. #worththemissedflight #Montserrat #Barcelona #Spain #Abroad2014

Trapped in an Airport

I can almost hear a distant voice singing "trapped in a closet" except changing the lyrics to trapped in an airport. So, as you all know via my Facebook status, I am going to Barcelona this weekend. I should be on my flight right now actually, but my bus was an hour late, I got stopped in security 3 times, and I ended up missing my flight by 2 minutes.

To paint the picture more vividly for you, imagine this. Me with my giant north face backpack packed to the brim swinging back and forth as I race from the stupid, orange easybus (clown car) carrying my Longchamp bag over my right shoulder, racing past European people as they yelled out probably cursing remarks at me in different languages all the way to security. Upon reaching security, I am cut by a group of Portuguese men (c'mon these are my people...I'm 1/4 Portuguese) to which I respond by yelling at them in Portuguese (holla at my freshman year Portuguese classes), they moved begrudgingly and when I finally made it to the front of the line, I had to go back through security THREE TIMES. Once was for my watch, once was for my bobby pins and once was just so the man could get another feel of my ass I'm assuming (but seriously...). Then not even putting my shoes back on, I run and I mean SPRINT to my gate (which happens to be 3 floors down and 15 minutes away according to a sign. I make it there in 4 minutes, panting, not even fully dressed, literally hopping over people's luggage and dodging slow grandmas and small children only to see a man closing the gate as I slid up to it.

"I'M HERE, CAN I STILL GET IN!?"

"No, I just closed the gate, nothing I can do."

"Well what do I do now? There's nothing you can do?"

"No, you can go back to the main entrance of the airport past security though to book another flight."

Gee, thanks a lot. So as I walk back to the main entrance, trudging along this time because SCREW THAT, I start crying and sit in the middle of the airport dumbfounded that I missed my flight, and that I was spoken to so rudely and not helped out at all. After about 5 minutes of moping, I picked myself up, walked all the way back to the main entrance, past security and bought a $200 ticket to Barcelona for 8am.

Now I could blame all these things and be upset about it. However, I am currently sitting in a coffee shop by myself with a giant latte, percy pigs (english candy...the best), and a brand new ticket to leave for Barcelona tomorrow morning at 8am. Yes, I ate $200 (it's a metaphor), swallowed my pride, dried my tears, and bought myself the next available flight so I could still allow myself an amazing weekend away in Barca with one of my best friends from high school.

Life sometimes throws obstacles at you, and when you're alone without your parents or friends, you have no one to blame but yourself. This is a learning experience and although I'm really upset, I'll look back on this and think, damn that sucked, but it was so funny that I ran through an international airport in my socks with Europeans hardcore judging me.

*end of vent session* Thank you, and good night.

It's Official

I've been in Europe for one month as of yesterday, October 2nd, 2014. Everything that's going on is so amazing. Whether it's just walking around London aimlessly, grabbing a quick tube ride to go to the National Gallery after classes, or making a traditional English lunch in a school cooking club, time has been flying by.

This week, I think I'm going to do some London traveling by myself in between classes. Do some homework on the steps on St. Paul's Cathedral, maybe just sit on the Trafalgar Lions for a while and people watch. There's honestly so many things I still haven't done yet that I feel like the clock is ticking and I won't have enough time to do everything I wish to do.

This week I went to Camden Market with my class. It's a very different place. The little stalls decorating the market full of people weaving in and out was interesting to observe & interact with. My friend Jess got her nose pierced which was cool to go to because I have officially had my nose ring for a year now, and I still love it. I'm thinking about getting my cartilage pierced, or maybe changing my nose ring to a hoop. I'm sure my mom and dad would LOVE that. (We'll see).

Apart from the exploring London portion of the trip, I'm experiencing more with my flatmates. I'm finding out different sides of myself that weren't as apparent to me as when I was living in my two person, large bedroom at school. I'm always sarcastic and kind of sassy, but now I'm understanding that it can come off as too harsh sometimes with certain people. Some people are more sensitive than others, so I've been working on that personally. Another thing you learn with living with new people is that not everyone is going to have the same cleaning standards as you. I've been learning to be more articulate with my words and confronting problems when they arise, instead of shoving them away so no one's feelings get hurt. It's been okay. Living with a lot of people is difficult sometimes, especially when you're used to a certain person being your roommate for so long. The good part is, it's been a month, and we're still friends, and no one has killed each other.

As for London romances, well, I've been meeting new people that are locals and although it's hard to understand them sometimes (different sense of humor, different dialects, etc) it's been fun! I was asked to go grab drinks with someone casually and I've never just gone and "gotten drinks" or been asked out on a date by someone whom I don't really have some sort of friendship with, but it was good. I went because I know these things will happen later in the future, where it's not weird if someone wants to ask you out to get to know you. It's not creepy, it's part of being an adult, because that's how you get to know people, you spend time with them.

Next weekend, I'm traveling to Barcelona alone to visit my friend Josh who visited me in London this past week. I'm really excited to get out of London and my routine and have a little space in a new country. I'm excited for the beach and the buildings and the warmer air. Although, I'm a little nervous I won't be able to rally as well as Josh & his friends when it comes to going out (evenings starting at 1am...?) I know it'll be great. Pretty much after this week, I'll be in a different country every weekend for the rest of my time here.

Classes are going well too. I love all of my professors. They're so unique and bright in their own way and offer so much to each course. I especially love my sociology & Shakespeare professors, they're just so intelligent and you can feel how passionate they are about the subjects they're teaching.

Overall, I'd say I'm breaking out of my shell more and more each week, and I'm definitely learning about the kind of person I want and hope to be. Being an adult is fun, but I think I'm happy to know that I still have a year and a half left of being a "kid" in college. I love it here, though. It's a place I could see myself living in-- maybe in the future someday.

Traveling is what you make of it...

As of today, September 25th, 2014, I have planned every trip I will take for this semester. On the one hand, I feel so relieved and blessed that I will have all these amazing experiences in the near future & that they're officially booked & DONE with (until I actually experience them), on the other hand, it made me kind of sad knowing that there's actually an end to this amazing experience!

I truly haven't had a bad day since I've been here. I've made so many new friends (shout out to Joey, MATT((there's your shout out)), Adam, Billy Eisenburg(aka the love of my life), Quinn, Courtney, Liz, Evelyn, Sarah + many more), I've been to 3 Shakespearean productions, one with Martin Freeman and two of which happened at Shakespeare's Globe, I've seen Billy Elliot, attended London Fashion Week with my best friend, and I've been to palaces, parks, and cathedrals.

So I know you're just dying to know, what trips will Lauren go on this semester? You've seen my separate statuses about the various countries I'll be trekking to, but here is the full & finally complete list:

Barcelona, Spain

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Berlin, Germany

Prague, Czech Republic

Paris, France

Versailles, France

Edinburgh, Scotland

Reykjavik, Iceland

Lisbon, Portugal

That's it! I am so excited to continue my adventure here abroad. I'm only 1 month in and I couldn't be happier with my decision to come here. If you're currently deciding whether or not to come because you're scared of being far from home or it's too expensive, make it work. You have to experience this, because if you don't it's your loss. Yes, you'll always have time to travel, but when will you ever live and study in a foreign country for 4 months again? Money has always been a struggle for me, but if you really want it, get a job, or two, or three. That's what I did this summer and I honestly cannot express how thankful I am that I did. It is worth it! Trust me.

Thanks for reading!

So thankful to have this beautiful place be my home until December 18th :) (This was right after London Fashion Week, photographed with my GoPro by the lovely Erin Reimel)

Settling In.

It's been over a week now since I've arrived in London. I've bought all the necessary things I need to live-- food, towels, cheap cider... I've been through one week of classes, visited Big Ben and Parliament, went to Trafalgar Square, and in addition to all the madness of getting comfortable, I've booked a trip to Paris & Versailles, a trip to Madrid, and will see numerous Shakespearean shows and other musicals this semester.

Today, I will be traveling with my roommates to Oxford & Blenheim Palace, which I cannot wait for. After, I will see Richard III for my Shakespeare Interpretation class, staring Martin Freeman (who has been in Sherlock, The Hobbit, and The Office!) I am so, so, so excited to see this production.

Tomorrow will be a lazy day of just getting my homework done and organizing myself a little bit more. It seems insane to me that I've already been here for 10 days-- it's gone by so fast. Yes, I've been homesick for a instance or two, but I realized as I was writing down all my weekend plans and future trips in my planner that I don't have time to be homesick. I don't have time to long for anyone or anything back home because I'm only here for 3 months! This semester is going to go by in a blink of an eye, and I intend of living every second to its fullest potential.

Cheers!

Landed.

This morning I woke up in somewhat of a haze. I finally landed in London after my 7 hour layover in Phoenix and an additional 9 1/2 hour flight to Heathrow Airport. When I first arrived, my phone was on it's last minute of battery so I snapchatted my friends and family that I had arrived and then made my way through the UK Border Patrol.

After finding my way to my new home, I arrived at the Kamen house at 4:05PM to find that no one was there. A little lost and bewildered and EXTREMELY jetlagged, I asked a random British man to use his phone and awkwardly had to explain that I didn't even know how to use it because I'm from the U.S (which he could probably already tell from my non British-accent and 3 bags). Finally, I got a hold of the Syracuse Abroad building and someone came to bring me to the orientation meeting.

2 hours later, I was tired and felt the urgent desire to brush my teeth 7 times. After doing so, I was finally reunited with my beautiful friends and room mates and we celebrated surviving the trip by going to our first British pub of the trip. The pub was quaint and so nice. I know we will definitely be going there a lot because it's 3 doors down from our flat.

Today, we have more orientation meetings and we'll do a little shopping for our new home. I couldn't be more excited for all the adventures that will soon ensue here in London! If you need to contact me-- FB message me or download the app whatsapp or viber :) It's with my same number from home if you already have it. Here's to London 2014, cheers! :)

Tomorrow.

Well, this is it. It is officially 8:38 PM on the eve of my departure to London. This summer has been incredible. It was full of ups and downs, but I managed to get through it all and I came out on top. As I sit here on my bed in my hot, childhood bedroom, I can't help but think about all the memories I've had here in San Diego. I've lived here my whole life with wonderful, loving parents, grandparents, friends, and siblings. Now, it's time to spread my wings and fly off to my own version of Neverland. London, where I will not work a single day (this will be the first time I have been jobless since I was 14), travel across the continent to Spain, Germany, France, Italy & Greece, and take classes surrounding some of my favorite topic, theater. My own personal Neverland for 3 1/2 months is something I am so thankful for. Despite it being expensive, and despite it being so far away from home, I know this journey will be one of the most important learning experiences of my life. Tomorrow at 10AM I will board a plane for Phoenix (and then have a 7 hour layover, yeesh). Then, I will board a plane for the best semester of my life. Yes, I am still a little anxious, but I know that the anxiety will subside as soon as I see my beautiful friends in a beautiful city. Here's to becoming a better version of myself. Wish me luck!

allthingseurope

Tuscany, Italy (by annabelle.bruckner)

laurenisverde

I've always wanted to visit Tuscany because of the movie "Under the Tuscan Sun" haha

Trip Ideas

So far I have

Barcelona (to visit Josh)

Scotland (to visit Taryn)

Florence (to visit Marissa)

Santorini, Greece

Prague

Iceland

Portugal

Any other ideas/trips you think are a MUST while I'm in Europe in the fall? Let me know!

2 Weeks.

As the clock ticks faster and faster, London is calling. However, not in the exciting way you would think it would. To be perfectly honest, I've been having some serious anxiety about leaving my beautiful oasis of a home in a matter of 14 days.

It's not that I'm not used to leaving. I've been traveling back and forth across the country for the past two years now, having just finished my second year at Syracuse University. However, this semester is different. I will be traveling to Europe by myself, with an 8-hour time difference separating me from my family and west coast friends.

Now, I want to say that I'm not afraid to leave the home I've yet again become so accustomed to, but I am. Instead of going back to Syracuse where I have many great groups of different and amazing friends, a singing outlet (Main Squeeze A Cappella), a brand new sorority that I've barely had the chance to get my feet wet in (DG), and an amazing family in a student run theater group I'm a part of (FYP), I'm going to London-- where yes, the sights are amazing and the memories will be incredible -- but it's just not familiar.

Now, I've never been one to miss out on opportunities because of the unknown...hell, I moved to the furthest possible place in the country to attend college. However, I've been feeling extremely squeamish about leaving my San Diego palm trees to study abroad. Whether it's because of my brief summer romance, the fact that I became closer with my family, or that I made a ton new friends this summer, change is HARD. I find myself becoming increasingly more attached every time I return to California.

All I know is, I will be boarding a plane in 1,209,600 seconds (yes I just used my calculator to figure that out) and I couldn't be more frightened for what lies ahead. In the end, I know this will be the best decision of my life, because who would turn down EUROPE!? (*cough* Lauren Conrad I'm looking at you *cough*) All can I ask for, readers, is for you to keep me in your thoughts as I embark on a life-changing and somewhat scary journey. Despite all the anxiety, I know I am so incredibly lucky and I cannot wait for what is in store for me. Keep checking back in for more updates and hopefully my anxiety will have turned into happiness by my next blog post.

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