Goodbye 2014

I haven't posted a substantial blog post since this summer. As many of you guessed, I took a break from blogging when I started my job, moved to Vegas, and got used to not being in school.  I won't promise anything, but I do hope to get back into the blogging world.

For now, here is my annual recap for 2014.

Looking back on the year, 2014 was one of the best yet. A year of change, tons of travel adventures, new friends and acquaintances, a new home, and lots of memories.

In January, after a month home in the USA, I returned to London to start the lent term at LSE. Capstone was still going on, and while it was stressful, I was glad that I had two close guy friends in my group. I started to explore the parts of London I hadn't spent much time in as well as starting the job search process. 

In February, I hopped the pond to Princeton for the editing weekend for the Journal of Public and International Affairs. I got to see one of my closest friends as well as swing home for some snow during the week back in the States.  I checked out the Royal Photography Exhibit at Kensington Palace as well as taking a selfie with John Travolta. 

March was my birthday month. I kicked it off with finishing the dreaded capstone project followed by celebrations with the boys. I turned 24 with the majority of the MPA program present. The MPA Ball was held the weekend after, and we danced all night. 

April brought me home for a five week vacation. Much of that was spent applying to jobs and having interviews, but that work would soon pay off. 

I barely spent time in London during May. After finishing final papers,  I took off to Bulgaria, Sweden, Las Vegas for my job interview, did several day trips, and really enjoyed my time in Europe before I had to start studying for finals. 

June was my final month in London. I found out in the beginning of the month that I had gotten the job offer I had been waiting for. I would be moving to Las Vegas. I did a lot of fun things for my last month in the midst of finals. I was sad to leave London, but I was excited to start a new chapter of my life. 

July brought the start of a new life. I did a road trip across the country with my friend Nicola. I moved into my apartment in Summerlin, and I started working a job that I love! I missed graduation, but I still celebrated. 

And, if you do follow my blog regularly, you know I took a hiatus from July until now. I posted one or two small things. The short recap of August-December: Visited California three times, reunited with some friends from freshman year, stopped getting lost in Vegas, met some great friends, joined Junior League, and continued to wander. 

Stay tuned for new adventures in 2015!

I graduated!

Yesterday, LSE held a graduation ceremony for the MPA program! 

While I wasn't there to attend in person, I'm now officially an LSE alumna! Earlier this week, we got our grades including the mysterious capstone grade that I'm sure all my friends were waiting for me to stop talking about. For those wondering, we did better than we anticipated. But, the release of the grades confirmed my graduation!

So, while I would have loved to celebrate in-person with my class and have a great night out in London, I'm getting ready to start my job on Monday!

But, don't worry...this was my version of a graduation ceremony!

Celebrations

On Wednesday, following my last final, a bunch of us went off to celebrate. There was a group of us that had some of the last set of finals. 

Appropriately, my Congress class headed to the George to celebrate being done with the class!

A tad later, I met up with Federico and Simon. We survived capstone, so naturally we all had to celebrate being officially done with the MPA! 

Following a quick lunch, we gathered with our other friends for some rooftop drinking. 

Talk about a great view!

We all ended up watching the World Cup game that evening at a local pub. It was an absolutely lovely day spent with some close friends celebrating freedom! 

Done with LSE!

I finished grad school this week!!

(Let's out screams of woo!!)

I finished my last exam on Wednesday, shortly before noon. As soon as I put my pen down, it hit me. After going to school for 21 years, I am finally done. It's been quite a long time. 

Pre-school, primary school, secondary school, undergrad, and grad school...

I love to learn, and I will always be a lifetime learner. But, the fact I no longer have to write papers or take an exam is a huge relief. I know in no time, I will most likely miss the assignments. I know I say I'm done with school forever, but since the future is unknown, I may end up back in a classroom someday! 

As for now, I'm enjoying my last few days in London while I begin packing.  

It still hasn't hit me that I'm done. Grades will begin to come with all of them being released in July. 

But, now...onward thinking to Las Vegas! 

Studying

The month of May was truly a month of travel for me. 

It was also a month of tremendous excitement as I accepted a job offer!

However, now that June is here, I've succumb to the tool of 9-5 studying. I was lucky to have all my papers and projects due at the beginning of May. Those long hours paid off as now I can devote my entire time to my last two exams.

Both of my exams are back to back...go figure. The first is on June 17th. That is my "Cities, Politics, and Citizenship" which is 100% of my grade. Thankfully, it is only two essays on the test. My second one is the next day. That one is for my class on the US Congress, and it is only around 66% of my grade. A tad less stressful than the first! 

I'll be hitting the books straight until the 18th...but I do have a few fun plans to report on the next few weeks (polo game, birthday parties, sightseeing). Stay tuned! 

Weekly Recap!

Besides my birthday happenings over the last week, I also completed another term of graduate school. Yes, you've done the math correctly! That leaves only one term left! Before we get to what I have planned over spring break, here's what else I've been up to over the past week!

Before my birthday party last weekend, I wandered through the Victoria and Albert Museum! I hadn't been inside to check out the exhibits since I studied abroad in 2010. 

Inside the V & A

I wondered around and checked out the fashion exhibit which showcased British fashion through the years. 

From there, I discovered the exhibit about theatre and concerts in London. I spent the majority of the rest of my time, there.

Costumes from the Lion King 

Vivien Leigh Archive 

War Horse 

On Sunday, the Pi Phi UK Alumnae Club and the KKG UK Alumnae Club hosted a Sunday Roast at a beer garden in Camden. Both of our sororities were founded at the same college in the US.

Tuesday was the big capstone presentation! My capstone group and I are officially done!

Capstone Team Post the Presentation 

Wednesday evening was full of excitement as Susannah and Nathan surprised Alyssa and I with birthday tickets to see 'Once' the musical! We both had no idea, and I had never seen the musical! It was an awesome performance! 

Once

Before the Musical

The rest of this past week was spent preparing for the ball and wrapping up another semester! Stay tuned for most posts!

Capstone Project is Officially OVER!

Yesterday, my capstone group finished our report! 

The past six months of research, writing, and copious amounts of stress are officially over! 

And, I will never have another capstone report for school, ever...again. 

While we still have our presentation to give this coming week, we were able to celebrate our victory!

First, Federico, Simon, and I joined some others to celebrate in the park that is technically on campus.

Following that, I went over to a Levo League event (more on that in another post!).

And, then the second years went out for a night of Latin dancing! 

It was a great way to "cap-off" the capstone report!

Life Lately...

Another week, another weekly recap...just a tad delay on this one. 

While I have school news to catch up all of you on, we can save that for another time.

Spring has officially arrived in London! 

Sorry to all my friends on the East Coast that are still battling snow. 

I'm over here, enjoying my flip flops. 

On Saturday, I got to sneak away from a group meeting and walk in St. James's Park. I stopped and smelled the roses (literally) and waved hello to the Queen. 

Buckingham Palace

Spring Flowers

On Sunday, Federico, Simon, and I went and had lunch at Union Jacks- a Jamie Oliver restaurant. As spring has arrived, I, of course, had to have my first Pimms of the season!

Also on Sunday, the SU Alumni Club in London hosted a game viewing for the SU game against FSU! It was a lot of fun!

GO ORANGE!

As a huge project at school has finally come to an end, I'll be back to posting regularly! 

Latest Happenings

Over the past week, London has had a wave of spring weather. 

50 degrees, sunny with a few rain clouds, flats, spring jackets...as you can see, you won't find me complaining. London avoided a hard winter, but I'm nevertheless still excited to push the pea coats aside.  

The above photo was taken of my backyard last week on a nice day. And yes, I live along a canal! 

This post isn't going to focus on schoolwork as well...that deserves another post once again. Let's talk about fun activities! 

Last Thursday night, Susannah, Alyssa, and Crystal and I got dinner at the Real Greek in Shepard's Bush before we went and saw Gavin DeGraw. We had standing room only tickets, but we managed to make our way to the front of the crowd. 

Post the concert- which was fabulous and a ton of fun- we met Gavin DeGraw in the pub next door to the theater! Talk about a fun night! And, yes that was the second celebrity encounter in two weeks...

On Friday, I met up with my friend Eleanor who I met via the Smart Girls Group and social media! She's studying abroad this semester,  and she was in London for the weekend! We went to a BRGR.co in Soho to check out their version of "afternoon tea." It was sliders, milkshakes, brownies, and iced tea!

Mini Milkshakes!

Twist on Afternoon Tea 

Friday evening, LSE hosted a "trial" on the baby boomers! I served as one of the members of Generation Y on the jury. The event took place over the course of two hours with evidence from witnesses, opening and closing statements, academics playing the judge/clerk, and the jury actually deliberating. Without going into the whole case, we the jury did find the baby boomers non-guilty on all the various charges! 

Finally, this past weekend, I really explored more of my neighborhood- something that I often don't get to do! On Saturday, my friend, Chelsea, and I took a graffiti class at a gallery on Portobello. While I am no Banksy, I did make this lovely creation: 

Graffiti Class Accomplishment  

 The real Banksy? 

On Sunday, I met up with a few friends to check out the Rum Kitchen! I've been wanting to try it for sometime...and before a capstone meeting, a drink was a must! After all, it is my birthday month!

How was your weekend? Did you try anything new in your neighborhood? 

A Whole Lot of Work...

My last post was 10 days ago. 

I have finally finished the last assignment in what could be called a midterm period at LSE. Except...none of my essays, presentations, or assignments in the last two weeks were graded. They are all formative assignments. So, I'll get feedback in terms of writing, preparation for the final summative papers, and general comments of my understanding of the course load. But, let's just say...phew! I'm tired!

Last week, I had a paper due in my media policy class. I wrote a short analysis about the increasing access to broadband in the United States and how educational policies aimed at teachers in secondary schools needs to change. It was actually a lot more interesting that I thought it would be! It might be a topic for my final essay. I also had a paper due in my US legislative politics class last week. That one was about the electoral connection! 

This week...I had an outline due for my final paper in my information systems for the public sector class. I'm writing on the organizational structures of two different web councils in the US federal agency structure and how those organizations effect the delivery of digital services to citizens. The graded essay is due in April (bit early), so I'm looking forward to getting that feedback right away! 

And, tomorrow, I have a presentation about the deliberation process in Congress for my US legislative politics class. 

Can we say "Katie needs coffee?" 

If you're wondering how everything else is going at school...

Our capstone project final presentation has been set for March 18th. It's the day after my birthday, so double the celebrations! We're aiming to have the entire 15,000 word report written by the end of this weekend. 

As for my policy paper, I changed my topic and focus, but I like my new idea much better. Plus, I think it will be much more feasible to write about. 

LSE is pushing me to the extreme, again. But, I am still glad that I chose the rigor of my program and the school. I know it's all going to be worth it once I finish in a few months!

Surviving the Tube Strike

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I've been delayed a day getting back to London due to the Northeast storm. It's an all familiar event as the same thing happened when I flew back after winter break. Oh well, flights are changed, and I'll be landing back in London on Saturday.

New LSE Tshirt that sums up the school!

I've covered the big events over the past week in my post on JPIA. Yet, last week was another crazy week. I had a few job applications due last week on top of capstone work and preparing for the JPIA weekend.

Tube Strike Madness 

Last week was also the big London tube strike.  The last tube strike that I faced was when I studied abroad in 2010. We faced a tube strike almost every month during my four months abroad. So, I was really excited for the past year and a half to not have one. However, this past week, the talks went forward and the strike happened starting Tuesday evening and lasting into Thursday. 

Traffic Madness

Luckily, I have a bus that runs straight from my flat to LSE. Normally, it takes around 45 minutes to get from one end of the city to another. Note, my bus takes the Oxford Street route which makes up for the majority of the time on the bus. 

Unfortunately, during the tube strike, my commute to campus took almost two hours. I had planned on walking, but of course, it was down pouring.  I got through an entire book and cleaned up my iPhone during that time. 

On my way home from LSE, I actually walked halfway home to just avoid the traffic and idleness of sitting on the bus. 

Thankfully, on Thursday, I had booked a Heathrow Express ticket in advance to avoid the chaos of trying to figure out how to get to the airport. Needless to say, I was happy to say goodbye to the strike! 

Weekly Recap

Phew! Another week is already gone?

Lately, I feel as if all my posts on this blog are relating to how quickly my second year of grad school is going by! It's the truth, though. I feel like I just got back from the Retreat, and now it's another Saturday. 

I celebrated Macaron Monday!

This week was jam packed with meetings relating to my capstone project including meeting with the liasion! We are putting together our final terms of reference for the six-month project, so we can officially begin conducting research, etc.

Capstone Group post client meeting

The rest of my week was spent either doing homework or at my internship. Nothing too exciting. My fellow interns and I grabbed drinks last night to celebrate the week being done. 

Check out a few other photos from my Instagram feed from this week, below: 

Fall Morning in Notting Hill

Selfridges is getting in the Christmas Spirit!