Day One: Customs

This day could have been much worse, I thought while fighting the urge to pop the Mount Vesuvius sized blister on my heel. Who thought it was a good idea to buy the shoes that were slightly tighter than the ones that were blatantly too big? Oh yeah. Me.

The line for customs seemed endless. I stood with half a trees’ worth of paper, praying that the customs agent wouldn’t give me a hard time. Facebook had been blowing up all week with questions from other students about Visa papers.

Sweating, I went up to desk 18. A gentleman with gray hair stood there, smiling. How can you smile when you’re supposed to interrogate me about my “work placement,” not my internship because that would be a paid job, or why I am staying here for four months?

“Hello, how long will you be in England?” He said smiling. Why are you smiling?

“I’ll be here for four months, I will be studying at the Ithaca College London Center and I have a work placement with the charity Attend.” Did I really say that all confidently? Do you need any papers? Please, trust me.

“Where will you be staying?” Oh goodness.

“I don’t have a flat, yet, but the address I have for you if for the London Center. It is in Kensington. I hear it’s a very poshy neighborhood.”

“You’re very right, it is very nice there. What are you studying?”

He could tell I was nervous.

“Well, my degree is in journalism in politics so I am taking a few classes in that but I am also taking Shakespeare.”

He chuckled. Stamp. Stamp.

“Alright, you have a wonderful time. You’re all set.” 

“Thank you, sir.”

I found my bag and met my driver, Simon. He is a friend of my stepmom’s. Whenever she comes to London he drives her. Simon handed me his card before we even reached the car.

“I told Michelle I would do this, but if you ever need anything or find yourself in an area you do not know, please call me.”

He gleefully told me everything about London that he knew, from why the English drive on the correct side of the road (knights on horses drew their swords from the left side, so they could fight on the right when another horseman came. Also it was a Papal decision as well; the U.S. and France rebelled after the Revolution), England’s “most undemocratic democracy” as Simon put it (their politicians are actually real people, and are put in their place constantly. They’re also not technically “elected” – the party is elected at the leader of the party becomes Prime Minister.), and how the unexplainable loyalty to the Queen during times of trouble.

It was absolutely breathtaking to see his love for his country. Simon dropped me off at the hotel earlier than the other students were transported from Heathrow. I curled up in a hotel lobby chair, my feet just beginning to burn.

I expected traveling to be the must difficult part of my day. At least, that was what I thought before I had to find a place to live.

For the third piece on this four part series, click here for "Day One: Finding Flat Mates." 

Going in the Field: What I Realized About Myself

While shooting FOX 5 reporter Dan Bowen's stand up,  I took pictures
for Twitter. The photo was published on my Twitter account on June 1. 

This photo (taken from my iPhone) describes Saturday, June 1. I went to FOX 5 thinking okay. I have one shift left. Then, I can just run to the train, hang out with my friends and chill. When I got there, it was completely empty. Only a few people were there. I was confused. When I arrive for my usual shifts, it is mayhem. 

2pm - 5pm on weekdays in a newsroom are extremely busy because reporters and everyone possible calls into the assignment desk and all of the writers and producers are working fast to get the shows together since there are three every day (5pm, 6pm and 10pm) --- it is terrifying and overwhelming. You get used to it but it is the polar opposite of FAIR, which is like being in the quietest section of the library. 

Well, the weekend is completely different. It's quiet, not a lot of people are there. Also, there are only two shows instead of three. I was able to do something really cool, which I can't do on weekdays. 

30 minutes into the day, the first reporter, Dan Bowens, was about to go out on his assignment, and he asked me, "Hey, do you want to come?" Who in their right mind would ever turn this down? The assignment editor said, "Yeah Sara, you can go." "Cool, yeah sure! Thanks!" and I grabbed my purse and went off. 

It was exciting. We went to Staten Island with a really cool cameraman. Both Bowens and the cameraman gave me a lot of advice. Going to the shoot was really exciting because people kept asking me questions, like "When is the show going to be on? What station are you with? Are you with the reporter?" I felt so professional! People at the event were also really happy that someone was covering this event. You see, there's been a string of violence the past few weeks against the LGBT community. FOX 5 has been covering the attacks closely, and being at the parade meant a lot to everyone that saw us. I think we were the only mainstream news outlet at the event, at least we were the only television crew.

When we got back to the studio, I was able to observe the editing process. It sounds dorky, but I really like editing and I am really familiar with using nonlinear editing software. After watching everything, I felt confident because what I learned in school and with on campus media is actually what happens in the real world! I guess that means my school is on top of everything!

Something really big happened that day. I've been in the field many times, but I never became fully aware of this before. I realized the other day that I actually want and need to be a reporter. Usually, I tell people "I'm happy with anything. I would like to learn how to produce, I love to edit and write, I would like to go on camera, but I just want a job after college --- I'll take ANYTHING."

Now, all I can think about is when I'm going in the field again.