last day at bryan morel pr :(

Today was my last day at Bryan Morel PR and I’m honestly so sad to have to leave and go home on Saturday. I’m actually really upset that I have to go home and that I’m not going to be around for London Fashion Week to see what we’ve been preparing for come to fruition. :(

Interning with Bryan Morel PR has been such an amazing experience and I’ve been so inspired by the entire staff. Since it is a small agency, I really got to build a relationship with each of the AEs and get to know them professionally and personally. Not only did I make some hilarious, stylish, and fab British friends, but I also learned so much about PR, account handling, branding, and the fashion industry (and British culture, duh!) I think after this internship, my eyes have been opened to a lot of other career options that I would have never really considered in the past (still relevant of course.. not going to pursue law or anything, no worries). Before, I was sort of set on pursuing one specific type of job, but now I have sort of realized that there is definitely more out there and for this, I couldn’t be more thankful for my experience. The agency was so good to me during my time there, and it really was hard to say goodbye tonight. As I opened the present they gave me and read the card they all signed for me, I actually teared up a bit thinking that I may never see some of these amazing people ever again. I really hate goodbyes :(

Tomorrow, I’m going to play tetris with my boat tons of stuff and my sparing amounts of luggage space hoping that it will all fit! *crosses fingers* 36ish hours left in LONDON eeeek!!!

News of the World shuts down for good

hillsong. faithful. family & friends.

so i went to hillsong church today and it was quite the experience. we kinda got lost along the way because the tube stop that is right in front of the theatre (yes, hillsong church service takes place in a huge theatre where broadway shows play) is closed for construction so we had to walk from the next closest one. we asked a couple people on the street if they had any idea where a theatre nearby was that hillsong church service took place and they all gave us crazy looks. but after a couple failed attempts, one girl said she was on her way there and that she would take us! i believe that she was a member of the church because once we got inside, she spoke with one of the ushers (yes, they have ushers) and asked that they find us some really good seats! so we were ushered to the front-ish section of the theatre and it was a pretty good view of the stage even though it really wouldn’t have mattered because they have a huge projection of the pastor/praise band. the service was really interesting because a majority of it is done through song and its almost like a concert. haha but i enjoyed it nonetheless and will have to admit that the spiritual energy in the room was pretty amazing!

the message today was about what exactly it means to be faithful. faithfulness means a lasting, committed, relationship that holds strong through whatever circumstances. the pastor explained that this faithfulness does not only apply to your relationship with the man upstairs but also to your peers.

this message along with a certain conversation i had today got me thinking about the relationships i hold in my life. while being abroad, i’m finding it hard to keep in touch with those who mean the most to me including my family and close friends. it made me realize that although i set out this summer to focus on me and let myself be vulnerable to new and exciting adventures, i cannot forget about those people back home who i care about so much. to be a faithful daughter, sister, and friend i must not use the excuse of being abroad to not care or make the effort to stay in touch with people back home.

trust me, i’m having the time of my life here. i barely have time to sit on the computer and obsess over social media outlets like i normally do haha but taking the time to think about my family and friends truly makes me miss them and realize how thankful i am to have such an amazing support system in my life. to those who have been there for me through it all, i will try my best to be faithful to you as well while over here in London :)

It is only after you’ve spent time abroad and are forced to NOT be American, will you truly understand what it means to be American because you will again be forced to realize and reflect on your values, customs, speech, media, and everything that used to seem so ordinary.