#I miss Jane Austen study abroad class

[j2badwolfclevergirl]

Dear you,

I know today isn't actually my birthday, but it's still close enough that it doesn't feel wrong to write this.

I remember the last time I wrote a letter to myself was when I was eighteen. Wow. That was four years ago now. Hey. It's me. You.

You were such a different person back then.

Still raw and broken, trying to find something, anything to hang onto. Your life was falling apart.

Friends were growing up and leaving. You were growing up and it fucking terrified you. You were so scared and insecure that you closed in on yourself, all long sleeves and sweaters. You couldn't bare your arms because all your pain was written on them.

You were losing your religion, your faith.

You had no fucking clue who you were or what you wanted. Well, you thought you knew what you wanted but now you're not as sure.

Do you remember those walks on the beach with Evan, how happy and yet how miserable you were?

You remember thinking "these are the memories I'll treasure."

And you were right. But you were also wrong.

Because those memories couldn't compare to some of the ones that came later.

You, at eighteen, would never have even imagined who you would become.

At nineteen, things finally started to heal. You cut off all your hair and you fucking loved it. You left religion in your rearview with all the trauma it had caused you. Ok, maybe not all of it. Some of it you still carry deep in your chest and you're still trying to pry all the sharp-edged, heavy pieces out.

You went to England, for a whole month all by yourself. You literally got on an international plane and flew for seven hours and were awake for almost twenty four hours straight and then

you were there. In England.

That "someday" dream actually became a reality. You got to see Shakespeare's birthplace and visit Jane Austen's house.

You went out to a pub for the first time and drank for the first time. You even got kinda drunk. You tried a hand-rolled cigarette. You felt free and a little terrified by it.

You went for walks by that river, beautiful and a little haunting.

You were pretty lonely for most of that month, but you don't really regret a second of it.

It showed you that you were capable of so much more than you thought and that maybe some of your dreams could acutally come true.

Then you started college. For real this time. Moving away from home, leaving behind your remaining two friends and your dear, crazy family.

You remember how scared you were that drive down? How you had your headphones on and were trying to drown out the frantic voices in your head, the twisting vines in your chest and stomach? How your fingers kept knotting in your lap as you tried to wring the anxiety out of them?

Remember that first night in the dorm room? Scared but also kind of excited. College was a place to start fresh, to try and figure out who you were now.

That first semester was a bit of a mixed bag. You made some friends but being around them made you anxious, insecure. Casper died and you cried more than you thought you would.

And then there was that night with your friends, playing drinking games and drinking wine out of a red solo cup with a twisty straw. They went out to smoke and you thought, "Why not?" And then you came inside and everything shattered. You were on the floor, in someone's lap, crying and trying to breathe. You couldn't stop saying sorry. Four and a half hours you just kept gasping "sorry" over and over and over, begging for forgiveness for being weak, being a burden, for ruining everyone's night. And that was the night everything started to crack again.

The long sleeves came back. It got hard to breathe more often. You couldn't spend time with your friends because your brain wouldn't shut up about how they didn't really like you, how you were a burden, how they judged you for being weak, how they wouldn't miss you and how they would even be better off without you. And so you hid. You stopped going to dinner. You unfollowed and avoided. You cut them off and shut them out because you couldn't make the voices stop. You started to break again.

But then summer came and it was almost a relief. Home was the same, except it wasn't. The twins had started to get boobs, James was in high school and everyone was fucking growing still. It felt good to be home but it was also hard to see that everything had continued while you were gone, that your little siblings were growing up when you weren't there to see.

The second year was a little better, a little easier. I honestly don't remember much of it off the top of my head. You started to tentatively make some new friends. Just aquaintence level really but it was a start. You kept learning, kept struggling a bit but you didn't break again.

You had your first kiss at 20 years old with the first girl you ever liked. Oh yeah, that's right. Somewhere before college you figured out you liked girls. In fact, you really like girls. It was scary and, like the nerd you are, you turned to google. You spent hours researching, taking quizes like

"am i gay?"

"is it a crush or a girl crush?"

"do i really like her?"

You watched dozens and dozens of videos just trying to get used to two girls kissing. You imagined what it would be like to kiss a girl. And you didn't hate the idea.

It took months before you decided you were bi. You didn't tell anyone for a long time. But when you did, no one made it a big deal. But you couldn't tell Gammy. You still haven't told Gammy. You're too scared. You don't think your relationship with her will survive.

You also went on your first date at 20. It went ok but she told you she wasn't interested after the second date. That seems to be your lot. You still haven't made it past the second date.

21 was when things really started to get better. You made some real new friends. They aren't perfect and sometimes you still struggle with insecurity but you're learning that it's ok and that often they are just as nervous and insecure as you.

You could finally legally drink! The first time you go to the liquor store they don't even card you and you think it's pretty funny.

You started trying to love yourself. It wasn't easy. It still isn't. You also started to let loose, take more risks, try to go with the flow a little more. You went on more dates but nothing ever panned out. You also started smoking weed. You really fucking love weed now.

You spent more time with Emma and found out you actually have a lot in common. She became your fun-friend, the friend who would drink with you on a weekday, smoke with you when-fucking-ever and who encouraged you to let loose. You were each other's cheerleader and each other's encouragement to live like the young 20 year olds you were. Remember that night you went out drinking on a Wednesday afternoon before class? You had drinks and then two shots. I don't think anyone noticed though. Two weeks later, you were back at the bar before class again and you both split a pitcher of mimosas in celebration of the ending semester. Those were two of the best nights you ever had. But they weren't nearly as fun as the days you would go over to Emma's apartment to "study." Those afternoons and evenings spent drinking, smoking and talking. Sometimes playing a game, sometimes watching a TV show, but always having so much fun.

Now, here you are. 22 years old. Four years ago, you were on suicide watch and feeling like life would never get any better. Now, you're thinking about teaching abroad after you graduate.

You still aren't in a relationship but for the first time in your life, you are genuinely okay with that.

You don't have a lot of friends but the ones you have you wouldn't trade for anyone else.

You're still trying to find the balance between responsibility and living life to the fullest but you're getting better at it everyday.

You also started practicing witchcraft, which is kinda cool.

You feel more confident in yourself and you are having fun experimenting with your style.

You shaved your head and it makes you look kinda badass. (It is also so much easier to deal with and let's be honest that is really why you love it.)

You smile so much more than you used to. You laugh more and cry a little easier. You're finally starting to let yourself really feel again. You're trying not to be so afraid of feeling, trying to stop numbing yourself when you feel overwhelmed. You're trying to sit with your emotions more and let them pass rather than ignoring them because you're scared you'll fall back into the dark place. You're growing.

You have changed so much.

You still think being an adult sucks, but you're starting to notice and take advantage of more of the perks

You have transformed from a scared, broken, bleeding teen into a confident, curious, and free-spirited adult.

The future isn't as scary now. I mean, there are definitely still days where it terrifies you and your chest aches for everything you've lost with time. There are still days where you relive a memory and long to go back to when things were simpler.

But there are also days where you remember that the future promises more of those good times and memories.

You're doing what makes you happy more. You're letting yourself be happy without guilt.

You're finding the pleasure and joy where you can and learning to enjoy it as it washes over you, instead of trying to grab it and hold on.

You're letting yourself make mistakes and trying not to feel as embarrassed or ashamed of them as you used to.

I am so proud of you. I am so proud of who you're still becoming, of who you won't ever stop becoming.

Keep growing, keep learning, keep taking risks and making mistakes.

Be brave.

Be curious.

Be tender.

Because you're alive and that's all that matters.

Love,

You at 22

[austennerdita2533]

cbk1000 reblogged your post and added:

Where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking? I’m just curious, because language study in the States doesn’t start till high school (and it’s optional). 

What are some classics you’ve read and liked, and what sort of genres/storylines do you like? I’ve read a ton of classic literature, including some more obscure stuff, so I might have some good recs for you if I can gauge your tastes a little better. 

It definitely helps to have read something in your original language first, even if it was years ago; I’ve gone back to books I haven’t read since I was a kid, and it still helps having a general outline of the plot when I read in Russian. I know some people will actually look up a basic plot/chapter outline before they read a book in a second language. Context can help tremendously if your vocab is decent but you still need a little extra to make up what you’re missing

I’m from the Northeast of the U.S. :) Language study in our country does tend to be lacking (and late!), but I just happened to be fortunate enough to attend a good primary school where language was included in the curriculum. I took both French and Spanish in elementary, but then when I went to middle school I had to choose which one I wanted to pursue--which actually totally sucked because I excelled in both of them--and I chose Spanish because it’s spoken more widely here and abroad. (Weird for a ten-year-old to think of those things, but I did haha.) By the time I started taking it in middle school, we weren’t allowed to speak English during class at all in order to help further our fluency. 

I’ve read a decent amount of classic lit myself, some for school but a larger portion of it simply because I enjoy it haha. I’ve been trying to work my way through some lesser known works. Some of my favorites are Jane Austen in case you couldn’t tell by my URL lol, Rebecca/My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier, Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell, The Great Gatsby/This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (he has some great short stories, too), Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights by the Brontes, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (and also a bunch of his short stories), basically anything by Shakespeare (but Much Ado About Nothing is my favorite), Oscar Wilde, August Wilson, Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez (which I want to read in Spanish at some point)...I could go on forever, honestly. 

Oooh, I never through about researching chapter outlines for a book I was reading in Spanish! That’d be helpful if I hadn’t read it yet. I usually don’t like to spoil myself when I’m reading something for the first time, but I’d be okay with that when I’m reading in my second language haha.

[roeytomacquarie-blog]

[Day 62] Missing my first class - 14/Mar/2018 

I woke up this morning to see my snapchat takeover was uploaded to the official Roehampton snapchat! I am a bit disappointed it is in an odd order, but hopefully I get some new people following my blog because of it. I also received an email from a student starting university at Roehampton in September asking about how study abroad works without extending your degree by a year. (Answer: it's because I'm on "exchange" for 6 months as opposed to "study abroad" for a year, I didn't realise the difference myself until recently).

I missed my train meaning I was rushed to get my connecting train and hopefully make it to class on time. My throat felt really sore on the train. I figured it would be easier to get the bus as it is hot today and it will be quicker than me walking. Well the bus was due at 2.06 and when it arrived everyone was confused as the driver said he was going the other way. Nobody got on his bus after talking to him. I waited a couple more minutes and decided I would walk to class. It was already 2.15 meaning I would get to class by like, 2.25 hot exhausted and not knowing what's going on in the tutorial. Not forgetting that tutorials here are only 1 hour instead of 2. So I went "nope". Turned around and went home. 

In the class we were supposed to discuss the second half of Amnesia by Peter Carey. I managed to finish the book on the way home yesterday, and, I didn't really enjoy it. The first half was okay, but the second half switches narrators and many parts of it were confusing and I was unable to keep up with what was going on. At least this was an opportunity for me to start my next book. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen for my Gothic class. I am enjoying it so far, I love the style it is written in.

[iamliberalartsgt]

Hello all! Long time no see—honestly too long, and for that, I apologize. (Not for the first time, but oh well. Life and school and all that, right?)

Anyway, not to beat a dead horse. 

I figured that I would share some exciting things that have been doing on in my life recently. Exciting things, cool things going on or that have happened, things I like and have found...etc. Kind of random. But what better way to share this hot modge-podge mess than...drumroll please...A BULLETED LIST! ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!

On Pi Day I found one of the Georgia Tech scavenger hunt pies! They shared hints on Instagram all afternoon so after calculus class I ran/walked across Tech Green like a fool and got free pie so the run/walking was okay.

I’ve been able to take a bunch of naps recently.

BUT I’ve also found THE BEST COFFEE ON CAMPUS. THAT’S RIGHT. THE BEST. Two words: Architecture building. You’re welcome.

The most important calculation I did in my math class today was discovering that I will be able to have coffee every day for the rest of the semester with my remaining dining dollars. I drink plain coffee, $2 a cup. Six weeks, times seven days, times two dollars a day. BOOM. Take that calculus.

I’ve also found my go-to dining hall meal, which is MUCH less exciting but nonetheless important. I make a spinach salad (which is reliable) and then add whatever chicken there is on top! Oh and the sweet tea is good too. Not on the salad.

I’ve been consistently going to the barre pilates class at the CRC on Tuesday nights this semester, in addition to yoga, which I may have mentioned before I’m not really sure, but I really enjoy it, it’s super fun. (Longest sentence about pilates ever? Probably.)

Next year I’m living in the North Avenue Apartments with three of my friends and I could not be more excited! We didn’t get the particular building we wanted, but we took what we could get because, like registration (which is also coming up, JOY) it was basically a feeding frenzy. And our room is going to be so wonderful and happy and cute and I get to decorate ALL OF MY WALLS and I can’t wait.

When we all decided that we were going to room together, we all went on a cute and fun little adventure to Cabbagetown, near Little Five Points and Krogg Street. We took pictures and ate brunch...highly recommend the murals and the Carroll Street Cafe!

Over spring break a couple weeks after that (aka last week) I went home and actually got to...that’s right...SLEEP! The naps don’t cut it what can I say.

Over break I also got to read something NOT assigned for school! I grabbed The Circle by Dave Eggars, which is good but also really disturbing as it directly pertains to our media-driven world. Part of why I picked it is that Emma Watson is playing the main character in the movie adaptation that is coming out in a couple of months (I’m so excited, check out the trailer here and fangirl with me!)

I also got to spend a lot of time with my family, which I’ve missed. I hiked up a mountain with my brothers and went shopping and binge watched Big Little Lies with my mom. (Highly recommend by the way—especially the soundtrack. My favorite character is Chloe because she’s seven and has amazing music taste and calls Reese “woman” and is one thousand percent cooler than I’ll ever be.)

Now that school is back, I’ve been reading Emma by Jane Austen, my latest Major Authors book. Along with this, we watched part of Clueless (one of its many film adaptations...and one of my favorite movies ever) in class today, and I had a huge dumb smile on my face the entire time, I love it so much.

I was the Ivan Allen Social Media Highlight recently too! Peep the picture of me in front of the mural (above and on their Facebook page) talking about how much I love LMC 3226 here. (I have such cool friends ugh I love them.)

It’s spring finally and the weather is so lovely and everything is colorful and blooming :)

Today I had a meeting for the Oxford study abroad program that I will be going on with Georgia Tech this summer! We’re going to a ton of different countries, will see and learn so many wonderful new and exciting things. Our meeting today made it seem way more real. We actually got to meet people in our travel groups (I’m in group one!) and everyone was so nice and just as excited as I am. IT’S SO SOON AND I AM SO HAPPY!!! (Oh yeah, if you’re curious about the details, here’s the overview!)

I’ve been helping with various things at the Women’s Resource Center in preparation for the Women’s Leadership Conference this Saturday too! This event is going to be AMAZING; there are going to be three kickass speakers covering various sure to be empowering subjects, and then we ladies will all bond and eat breakfast, lunch, and dessert together. It’s sold out and I am over the moon, literally can’t wait.

Next weekend I’m going with my friend and his fraternity to formal at the beach! THE BEACH! So hype.

Before that, though, is...SHADOW DAY NUMBER TWO!!! I can’t wait to help with that too, and hopefully get to meet some more new little faces and talk about art and Georgia Tech and maybe persuade them to come to the greatest school ever next year :)

If you’re one of these lil faces...I’ll see you soon! And just know that this list is really nothing. It doesn’t completely represent my day, life...but it’s a snapshot. Reality is so much bigger. 

Not everything is good and sparkly and wonderful. Sometimes classes, days, and people suck. My work can be really hard and I can get pretty overwhelmed sometimes. But there is good in more places than these that stand out on a bulleted list. There is good everywhere. Especially here, and especially when you choose to see it.

Talk to you sooner rather than later, hopefully~

~Lauren

[zillowcondo]

My Discoveries in the Devon Countryside

“We have all a better guide in ourselves, if we would attend to it, than any other person can be.” – Jane Austen’s Fanny in Mansfield Park (1814)

Before I ventured on my way to England, first to London and then on to the Devon countryside, at the end of last month, I came across Jane Austen’s quote above. Unbeknownst to me, my trip would unfold very much as though Austen’s quote was a prescription of what was to come.

I cannot recall when I first dreamt of visiting the English countryside. And while I have since my studying abroad in Angers, France, been a Francophile, the Anglophile in me has been steady, reserved, but always ever-present if only in the background.

The moment the Great Western Railroad train emerged from London and into the green rolling hills of southwest England I saw what I doubted to be real until I saw it with my own eyes: peaceful grandeur void of harsh landscapes and offering simple vignettes of a quieter life.

And then after acquiring my rental car, it was driving for the first time on my own in a foreign country as I shared more about in episode #185, that I saw even more intimately the farms, quaint towns of two or three thousand and stone lined roads and fields.

What I discovered about the countryside and about myself surpassed expectation and gave (and still is giving) me great pause.

1. Make the journey comfortable: Choose first class rail tickets in advance

For the two hour journey from London to Exeter, I chose a month in advance first class tickets. At less than £50 each way, I enjoyed free lunch, snacks, tea and a very quiet car with ample room, a table to work upon and comfortable, large seating. While I know choosing this option wouldn’t be a regular choice if traveling frequently, for a long excursion, it was a lovely choice that I highly recommend.

2. Give yourself as many tools to be successful as possible in unknown situations

First, while I grew up driving a stick-shift and quite frankly, miss it in my current car, I chose an automatic when given the choice since I was already going to be driving on the other side of the vehicle and the road. As well, the car with the automatic transmission had a navigation system installed. Two choices I am very glad I made to reduce unnecessary stress.

3. Let go of time

I was constantly pinching myself. My eyes as well as all of my senses were dancing from one beautiful observation to the next. Nothing seemed too insignificant. The stone graduating wall outside my cottage truly delighted me (seen below).

4. Be a traveler rather than a tourist

While I did visit the Victoria & Albert Museum while in London, my primary objective was to enjoy the everydays in England. And so I did. Upon arriving at my cottage, I inquired with the owner as to where to pick groceries for the evening which she happily shared. She also gave me information about a couple of weekly markets to visit while I was staying in the area as well as a few other boutiques and shops. I took note.

Each morning I would awake, enjoy my breakfast, take a walk either outside my cottage along the stone lined shore (as seen below – my cottage was just up on the left of the farm you see in the picture) or head to a nearby beach at Woolacombe (also seen below in the second picture) to stretch my legs. Then it was an opportunity to explore the nearby towns or visit the markets and pick up local produce for dinner or work on a project or read or nap or do whatever inspired me. Then dinner in my cottage, snuggling in listening to the “mizzle” smatter against the windows, followed by a long, luxurious soak in the soaking tub (be sure to check out the post on Friday to view this most magnificent detail of the cottage).

~Woolacombe beach on a windy, misty November day (it was truly lovely)~

5. Give yourself time to soak everything in

Without a rigid schedule, I gave myself time to appreciate all the newness as well as history around me. While I would have loved far more time, I used the time I had to appreciate as much as I could, to make sense of what captured my eye and take note in my journal.

Of course, much tea was consumed, and the cottage was well stocked with a variety of options along with teaspoons, trays, teapots and many different sizes of teacups.

6. Listen to your inner yearnings

I was drawn to Devon to be near the ocean, to the specific cottage I chose to be able to see the ocean when I woke up, to walk along it each day. There is a calming nature for my mind when I stroll along the sand or along and have sight of it while I mosey along the edge of a cliff – my mind is present, yesterday and tomorrow are put aside and I am just there, full of more gratitude and dismissing all realities of time. Ideas dance, dreams feel more tangible and the power of Mother Nature evokes great reverence for all that has occurred thus far as my perspective grows.

7. Choose a place you would want to call home

I was recently reading Mathilde Thomas’s book about French beauty and she shared something that I found refreshing and relatable. She commented how, based on her experience, unlike Americans, French families escape to a holiday cottage or getaway and refrain from making any plans. Rather they luxuriate about the house, relax, enjoy, shop at the local market and enjoy a casual, but jovial meal each evening.

As I will share in more detail on Friday (here is the link if you’re visiting on December 15th or later), upon discovering the cottage I ended up staying in, I planned my getaway around its availablity as it was the house I wanted to spend my holiday in relaxing, unwinding and soaking in the large tub.

8. Seek out details or items to bring home with you that speak to your experience

The only two “souvenirs” I brought home with me were not items that I sought out, but ones I came across while exploring one of the markets I visited and one of the nearby towns city center: a £2 mini butter-yellow teapot and a £3 tea cup and saucer (seen below).

~left: my kitchen counter in my cottage and local treats from the owner which greeted me when I arrived (the apple juice was sublime); right: the view of the Bristol Channel from my cottage back porch~

9. Visit the local markets

As I mentioned in #4, visiting the markets for local produce was something I sought out, and upon doing so had lovely conversations with locals (one inquired if I was from New York which made me smile and yet another taught me how to pronounce Barnstaple correctly – his patience was greatly appreciated).

~Barnstaple’s daily market~

10. Converse with the locals

As mentioned in #9, ask questions, show interest and be open to learning.

  11. Listen to what speaks to you; follow the inspiration’s direction

Visiting the English countryside has always been an interest of mine. As to why, I cannot pinpoint a precise reason except to say, it spoke to me. As an English major in college who chose to focus heavily on British literature and in my minor courses, British history, my fascination only deepened. And while I, like most English speakers, most likely travel to England and the United Kingdom partially because we can speak the language for the most part, being able to converse without having to construct a sentence thus limiting my ability to absorb the moment and converse deeply was a significant bonus that I didn’t fully appreciate the last time I visited London.

From running into spaniel pup after spaniel pup on nearly every walk I found myself, discovering the country’s love for dogs to be akin to my own, delighting in the observance of Parliament’s discussion on the budget presented by the treasurer alongside the Prime Minister, and having a good cup of tea wherever I found myself, I began to realize my Anglophile nature is far stronger than I give it due.

12. Slow down and pack your wellies

As someone who grew up in the country able to wander about on 20 acres of wide open spaces and Mother Nature nearly everywhere I gazed, being back on a farm (that was far larger than what I knew), pulling on my boots to go about my business outside and simply wandering about in the fields felt like home. Having the chance to take a walk with the owner through the pastures with her dogs, I felt a kinship I have not felt in some time with the daily routine of stepping outside, no leashes required and land aplenty.

In all sincerity, thank you to my British readers who reached out while I was traveling in the country, said hello and shared with me where they from with regards to Devon. Your warmth and invitations made me feel most welcome. I am in all seriousness taking a long look at England as a future destination to live for a long-term basis once I attain a visa and would be open to receiving any and all advice and recommendations you have about . . . well, anything.

Now some TSLL readers may be saying, what about France? And I will quickly assuage your fears, France will always have a special place in my heart. In fact, simply knowing I was so close to the Gallic land made me even more eager to hop the channel, but I will save that for this summer (more details on that trip to be shared in the coming months). And I couldn’t imagine a more lovely combination than living in England and having France so near to visit when able, more frequently than not, could you?

Until life’s journey reveals more of her answers, I will trust in Jane Austen’s words from Persuasion, “Time will explain.” Of that, if the past is any indication, it most certainly will, so long as we each stay attentive, observant and reveling in the journey as we travel along.

Be sure to stop by the blog on Friday for a detailed post on the cottage I stayed in, how to rent it or one similar to it throughout the English countryside. As well, the big reveal of the new addition to the simply luxurious life destination will be shared on Friday, much of which was inspired by my stay in Devon.

~View more posts from the Archives of Shannon’s Journey here.

My Discoveries in the Devon Countryside published first on http://ift.tt/2pewpEF

[shaylyngoesabroad-blog]

Community Engagement

Regrettably, my initial community engagement activity (to visit my close friend at Oxford on the weekends and play lacrosse with her club team) fell through due to scheduling conflicts and the fees of actually traveling to Oxford every weekend. In place of that original plan, I have found several other activities that I’ve determined will act as my community engagement including attending and taking courses at the YMCA down the street from classes at least 3 times a week, attending a Creative Writing Night at the Ziferblat Café every Friday, and, through my visit to the Jane Austen House Museum for a creative writing workshop back in late September, I’ve been having weekly meet ups with one of the girls that I met there, and during these meet ups (a different café in a different part of the city each time) we share whatever creative writing projects we are currently working on with each other to edit and critique.

 To start, I’ll talk about my time at the YMCA, as that is my longest on-going community engagement activity. On almost a daily basis since mid-September, either before or after class, I’ve gone to the YMCA to do individual workouts or take one of the many classes they offer—most consistently one of the daily yoga courses with Inji. While I haven’t made any outstanding connections through my involvement there, I have at least been able to briefly chat with fellow gym goers, and all of my conversations have been positive (mostly them offering me good restaurants or places to see while I’m studying here). I think the best part about spending a significant amount of my time at the YMCA is people watching while I’m there. In the locker room there are women coming from or going to work, reapplying their makeup and leaving in their black stylish low-heeled shoes ready for work. I’ve noticed that I rarely see any of the men leave the gym in their regular business clothes, and I think that is a bit strange. The yoga classes are nice to join, but again, no one is very sociable in them, aside from a rare conversation with the instructor before of after the class.

 My participating in the Creative Writing nights at Ziferblat is a newer addition to my time spent in London (I’ve only been able to go twice so far, once before break and now a second time this past weekend), but it will continue for the rest of the semester. The Ziferblat Café is interesting in and of itself because it acts as less of a café and more as a community center for people to come, meet up, do work, play games, or even take a quick rest in the middle of the day. It is located on Old Street, which, with its quirky cafés and colorful street art decorating the exterior of most buildings, has become my favorite spot in London (I even attended a gallery opening in the area back in October). I’ve met another girl from the United States at Ziferblat, several people from London who have given me insights on the best places to see movies (Playhouse Stratford) and where to watch the sunset (Primrose Hill), and people from continental Europe and Russia. I enjoy doing my work at Ziferblat, and the Creative Writing Nights are great because other aspiring writers (this past week there were 9 or 10 of us) come and join a professional writer who has us go off for the first hour and a half to work on whatever project we’d like to, and then he brings us all together to talk about whatever it is we’re writing. The last session extended beyond three hours due to so many people wanting genuine critiques of their work. Since attending these workshops, I’ve really gained confidence in my own creative writing, and I have definitely better honed my skills with character and setting building, though I hope before I head back to the States, I am able to work a bit more on my dialogue during the next few workshops.

 Finally, although this may not necessarily count as a community engagement activity, I think it’s the thing that has given the best insight into what its really like to live in England, so I wanted to include some meetings I’ve had with a fellow writer I met at the Jane Austen Writing Workshop I attended weeks ago, back in September. Lottie, an acting student who studies in London that I met during that workshop, and I have met several times over the past month or so to talk more about our writing. Since she used to be a barista and I have been making a point to try as many coffee shops as I can while I’m here, we’ve been meeting up in different cafés, normally for around two hours, and have been reading and critiquing little side projects both of us have written for fun. During these little meetings, we’ve talked a lot about British vs American culture, and it’s the most personal insight to what its like to grow up that I have gotten from anyone during my time abroad. For example, during our first meeting after the Jane Austen workshop, I asked Lottie what Bonfire Day was really like, and she told me all about how English schoolchildren are told to make miniature versions of Guy Fawkes out of straw so that they could throw them into bonfires during the celebration…something we both agreed was a little gruesome for kids, but one of those interesting cultural things you wouldn’t really think of having grown up with it.

 Between these three regular activities, I fell that I’ve gained so much that I hadn’t expected to during my time in London. I honestly think that, when I’m flying home on December 1st, these will be the things that I miss doing the most, though I know that I will keep in touch with at least Lottie after the semester is over, and hopefully I will make some longstanding connections during my writing workshop at Ziferblat.

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Secret Career Advice by Top 12 Lady Bosses

History bears witness to success of women in various fields: As military commanders, rulers, entrepreneurs and industry captains. Yet their contribution in various sectors goes largely unnoticed or remains confined to women’s lib circles. Out-of-box thinking, grit, innovation and a lot more was displayed by women who made it to topmost echelons of industries. They overcame adversities to get and stay there.

Adversities faced by women continue “Still Missing,” screams headlines on CNNMoney. The analysis talks about dearth of women entrepreneurs in today’s business world. The CNNMoney analysis on gender equality worldwide grimly states: “Only 14.2 percent of the top five leadership positions at the companies in the S&P 500 are held by women”.

Out of 500 companies, there are only 24 female CEOs, it adds. A study by World Bank states: “Achieving equality in economic opportunities for women and men could spur $28 trillion in world GDP growth by 2025 – about the equivalent of the size of the Chinese and US economies combined.

Gender equality in business and corporate world remains a pipe dream, fears International Monetary Union. The International Labour Organization has encouraging news: Studies conducted worldwide indicates growth in entrepreneurship among women.

INSPIRATION FROM THE WORLD’S MOST SUCCESSFUL WOMAN

It is impossible to write about successful women without mentioning Oprah Winfrey, the world’s most popular TV show host. Oprah, who ranks among wealthiest women on this planet said: “The greatest discovery of all time is, a person can change his future by merely altering his attitude.” She reminds people worldwide that failure is stepping stone for success. Oprah’s advice for people desiring to get rich: “Surround yourself only with people who are going to take you higher.”

Lady-Boss

1) Work for your dreams “I never dreamed about success, I worked for it.” – Estee Lauder

Daughter of Hungarian migrants to the US, Josephine Esther Mentzer carved a business empire from business skills acquired at her family’s hardware store and by selling her cosmetics from a chemist uncle’s lab.

Fondly called Estee Lauder, she launched an eponymous company in 1947, which today holds 107 labels of topmost fragrances and 25 cosmetic brands including Clinique and Aramis.

2) Think outside the box “In order to be irreplaceable, one must be different.”- Coco Chanel

Born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, this little girl was put in an orphanage by dad after her mother passed away. Nobody expected her to become a global figure. Nuns at the orphanage taught her to sew.

She worked as singer in various bars in France where she earned the nickname ‘Coco’, derived from the derogatory ‘coccote’ (mistress). With stitching skills, she opened a tailoring shop in Paris in 1910, making suits and other dresses for women.

Chanel’s success came from popularity of a dress designed from an old jersey. Further success came in 1920 when she launched her first fragrance, Chanel No-5. Today, Chanel is a global leader in haute couture and fragrances.

3) Astute decisions are important “I made every decision on what was good for the company. And that pretty much ruined my marriage and my health.”- Sandra Lerner, Cisco.

Cofounder of IT giant Cisco, Sandra Lerner was born on a farm in California. She graduated first from a state university in social sciences and later studied econometrics. Sandra later studied for Master’s degree in statistics and computer science at Stanford University.

She is credited with designing the world’s first router that connected incompatible computers at Stanford University, along with her ex-husband Len Bosack. The two founded Cisco Systems, hailed at world leader in networking.

Sandra is also reputed as philanthropist, having bought and restored Chawton House, where legendary female author Jane Austen lived. In 2014, she was honoured by United Nations with the Technology Pioneer award on Women Entrepreneurship Day.

4) An undying passion and zest for life “Our passion is and always should be to make life better.” – Martha Stewart, Living Omimedia.

Born in American middle-class family as Martha Helen Kostyra, she began taking assignments as babysitter at age of 10. She worked as model for cigarette companies and other advertisers including Chanel to fund her studies.

Her career planning as stockbroker encountered severe doldrums that ended in felony charges and conviction for insider trading. Undeterred by adversity, Martha launched Living Omnimedia, a successful TV, print media and merchandising venture, along with her husband. She is also a successful writer and TV personality.

5) Relentless pursuit of dreams “Just decide who you are going to be and pursue your dreams against all odds.”- Vandana Luthra, Founder, VLCC

Born in New Delhi, India, Vandana graduated from a polytechnic for women. Later, she went to acquire skills in beauty, fitness and nutrition from various institutes in Europe. Inspired to bring superior quality skincare and beauty products to India, Vandana launched VLCC in 1989.

VLCC Wellness Centres offer unique DNA-based weight loss therapies. The company now has international presence with over 175 VLCC products retailing online and at major stores in India and abroad.

She has also written two books on health and wellness. She won several international accolades including Asian Business Leaders Forum Trailblazers award in 2012 and ranks 26th on Forbes list of 50 top businesswomen in Asia-Pacific region. VLCC’s success serves as examples to those looking at health and fitness as a career plan.

6) Walk away from tradition “Every story, each poem that a person shares, each voice that speaks against menstrual taboo, inspires me.”- Aditi Gupta, Founder, Menstrupedia

The anguish of menstruation was a taboo for most girls attaining puberty and rural women in India. Inspired by her own experiences as student, Aditi set out to vanquish the age-old myths about this natural yet frowned upon period of growth in female life by founding Menstrupedia.

Today, Menstrupedia provides literature and online resources to women who were earlier reluctant to discuss menstruation and related issues. The unique project also educates pre- puberty schoolgirls about menstruation and ways to tackle mental or health problems caused by hormonal changes.

Her literature is now used by education boards of seven Indian states to educate female students. She featured on the Forbes U-30 list of innovators.

7) Intelligence over mere hard work “We think mistakenly that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time.”- Arianna Huffington, Founder, Huffington Post

Ariadne-Ana Stasinpolou, a Greek-American is better known as Arianna Huffington. She is cofounder of The Huffington Post, an online news aggregator and with liberal political views.

Arianna performed various jobs before becoming a writer. She is perhaps the most popular journalist in the world, thanks to success of The Huffington Post.

Launched in 2005, The Huffington Post ranks among top 200 websites of the world. Over a million comments from readers worldwide appear on The Huffington that has won the prestigious Pulitzer in the national reporting for senior military category.

8) Wasting time is unaffordable luxury “I always have this imagination, something I want to use. I do not understand the idea of leisure time”. Cher Wang, co-Founder, HTC

Cher Wang is answer to anyone that wrongly believes women lag in technology. Cher, a graduate in economics, is co-founder of HTC, a top-of-the-line brand of Android based smart phones.

She ranks among the most powerful women in Asia and is avid philanthropist. Currently chairwoman at HTC, the company she founded in 1997, Wang proved that women can successfully foray into technology based domains.

Today, one of every six smart phone sold worldwide is from HTC.

9) Sense of patriotism “I can live all over the world but I am Chinese.”- Jin Xing, The Jin Xing Show

The story of Jin Xing cannot fail to inspire awe among any readers. Born male in Shenyang, China, Jin Xing enrolled in People’s Liberation Army and underwent gruelling, almost subhuman treatment while training.

Jin Xing was a colonel with PLA and today ranks as China’s topmost TV talk show hostess. She breaks across boundaries when speaking about gender reassignment surgery and other traditionally sensitive issues in China.

She is sometimes called ‘Oprah Winfrey of China’ for her show which attracts over a million viewers every week. Jin Xing has lived a very colourful life, working as from ballerina and colonel, entrepreneur to TV host.

10) Enjoy the journey to fullest “Entrepreneurship is a journey that is very exciting, adventurous and exhilarating.”- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Founder, Biocon India

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is Founder and Chairman of Biocon Ltd, an Indian biotech firm based in Bengaluru. She dreamt of becoming a physician but failure to get scholarship to pursue forced her to abandon the dream.

Her father, a brew master at United Breweries encouraged Kiran to follow his profession. She studied malting and brewing at a university in Australia. Chance encounter with Leslie Auchinloss, Founder. Biocon Technologies, Ireland played a pivotal role in Kiran’s life.

Upon return from a study tour in Ireland, she launched Biocon Ltd with in a rented garage with Rs. 10,000 capital. Grit and skill saw Biocon emerge from an industrial enzymes producer to a pharma giant.

11) Seeking innate but hidden talent “It is important to believe that we all have magic inside us.”- JK Rowling

Who else is more qualified to talk of magic than JK Rowling? The British writer and entrepreneur Joanne Rowling is better known by her pen name under which the legendary Harry Potter series is published.

The idea of Harry Potter and his magical world was conceived by Rowling during a 1990 train journey from Manchester to London, which was during the darkest period of her life.

Multiple, consecutive tragedies had forced Rowling to eke existence on state-run poverty and hunger alleviation schemes.

Her first novel, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone changed that. She owns rights for the Harry Potter brand that was born of paper and pen.

12) Create your own future “The future isn’t a place we are going to go. It’s a place that you get to create.”- Nancy Duarte

Nancy Duarte is CEO of the largest design firm in Silicon Valley, Duarte Design. An innovative company, Duarte Design provides a wide selection of presentations to almost every industry.

Nancy Duarte, an author who has penned three books, has developed communication skills that facilitate industry leaders to improve quality of presentations at events.

She was honored by various international organizations for her achievements.

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