Snowing Again!

That's right, it's snowing again! The snow started a little after 2pm, and has really picked up as night fell. I wonder if it'll accumulate just as much as last time? If so, then we're in for a bunch more ice and traffic delays!

Since I last updated, I have managed to score and internship! Hooray!! Our internship coordinator was able to hook me up with a local very-high-end residential designer at the last minute. Which actually turned out to be good for them, as they were about ready to start looking for an intern when she called! The firm is called Blanchard, and is a smaller company with five designers.

The Pros:
- Close by in the quiet neighborhood of Primrose Hill. I can walk there on nice days, and take the bus or tube during the cold/rainy ones.
- They'll pay for food and transportation every day I work!
- They're a luxury home design firm, so they work with large homes and large budgets.
- They are very open to training me and letting me learn what I want from the job, not necessarily just filing.

The Cons:
- Not hotel design. Which means that I'm still not getting the relevant job experience I was looking for.
- May still be doing some filing and odd-jobs most of the time.

So, overall, it looks like a really good position! I am required to write a journal for class, so I'll definitely be posting updates here about how the jobs is going.

On Friday night we went to a nearby pub and hung out for a little bit with the local crowd. I didn't get much interaction in, but I hope to go back on days when everyone is a little less cold and tired and perhaps get to meet more Londoners our age. One popular drink out here is Hard Cider (Strongbow, Magnus, etc.) I've only had a half pint of the apple version so far, but I like it because it is a light, fizzy, and not-too-strong version of beer. More local beverage experimentation must be conducted. I think I might try the pear version next time, to see what the difference is.

Today was a busy day of walking. First we stopped in a local "catalog store". It's a very interesting shopping concept - instead of walking up and down aisles, buying what you want, you just walk up to a catalog station and flip through pages. When you see what you want, you write the number down and take your slip of paper to the front desk. You pay for your items, and then pick them up from the counter when they're ready. Meanwhile someone goes into the back of the shop and picks up your ordered items for you. Very interesting! They are the closest store to the dorm that sells cheap mattress pads, so that's why I was able to see what the "catalog store" was all about today.

Bekah - one of my flatmates - and I also visited the (very large and extensive) Camden Markets, just a few blocks north of our residence. The markets are three or four covered street markets which take advantage of the old railway bridges, storage warehouses, and stables around the Camden Locks. Most of the shops sold indie-style and vintage clothing, fast food, or jewelry. There were TONS of stalls though! And they wind like a narrow maze in and out of this great old architecture in the region. The best area was Stables Market, which is actually inside the old railway arches and horse stables near the locks. Shops are actually set up inside horse stalls! It's very historic, but colorful and unique at the same time. Such a bustling, busy, "indie" sort of place - worlds apart from Primrose Hill where I will be interning, which is only a few blocks up the hill!

I'll post pictures of the Camden Market area either later tonight or tomorrow. Hope everyone is staying warm and dry!