Hills visits.

London

was amazing. Our airline deal included two free nights stay in a hotel, so upon arrival in Heathrow we took the underground to Gloucester Road in South Kennsington and lugged ourselves to Fraser Place Queens Gate Apartments. After having spent 7 hours on a plane and being completely jet-lagged, we passed out cold. Our second day we decided not to tube anywhere and simply walk around and get a feel for things. We walked all the way from South Kenn west of the city, to Tower Bridge and back (about 4 miles.) We ended up walking past Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the cool egg building I recognized from the movie 'Run fatboy Run' and tower bridge. Our legs were like noodles, so we passed out again at about 3 pm and didn't wake up until the following morning. We were then picked up by the beautiful Hollie Cook, and taken to her sweet flat in Shepard's Bush. Me being me, I got really sick and spent a lot of the day in bed :( but I pulled through and didn't let that deter me from pubs, shows, etc. We went to a few great markets/thrift shops/ pubs/ venues, etc. all thanks to our lovely hostess!

View from our hotel


Continental breakfast


mmmmm


Buckingham Palace #1


#2







Classic telephone photo


Rubbish robot


Tower Bridge #1


#2


#3


Castle thing by Thames


Egg building


Olympics building




Tate Modern Art








The wonderful Hollie




Cup-o-coco


Hollie's Dada- wish that were hanging in my flat!


Veggie English Breakfast


Walking, talking


Backwards car


Camden Market


Camden Market


Creepy pub eyes and strawberry beer!


Being the musical genius Hollie is, we got into a sold out NME show that her/David's friends were playing (The Soft Pack.) Great stuff!


A quick stop-off at Borders


We drove down to Brighton Pier... it was valentines day and the British are not ashamed of serious public affection!




Heavier than he looks




I whopped serious butt in air hockey






As if we weren't cold enough already- the tide came up unexpectedly




Looking rad for Hollie's mom

Ingwiinawenimaa, a'aw Pebaamibines

Mii sa go minik
<3 Gichi-Diiyaashikwe

Teach for America and other things

I have recently been accepted to the Teach for America program for the 2009-20011 school years in the general NYC area. I am not sure where they will place me yet (I'm hoping the lower east side) but it will most likely be somewhere in east Brooklyn. I will be teaching secondary English/ Language Arts- that's anywhere from grades 7-12. I am ecstatic to be a part of TFA's mission to close the achievement gap by placing well qualified people into high need schools, and raise the often far-below grade level achievement of these inner city students. The mission is great, the salary ad benefits are great, and they also pay for grad school. How I am supposed to be a first year teacher and attend grad school is still a mystery to me, but is all part of the huge life journey I'm soon to embark on! If I teach 12th graders, they're never to know that I am only 2-3 years older then them!

And still, before I start teaching, my life will be inevitably changing... all for the better! Very soon, at the beginning of February, David and I are going to take a nice lengthy trip to London. Since it is our future plan to move there after my two year teaching commitment to get my PhD, I am excited to view the culture and architecture of my future home! There will be plenty of photos of that as soon as we return, no doubt. In April, David and I will be saying our vows at the courthouse in the presence of Mom and Dad. we never thought we would ever get married, but since it is so low-key and low-maintenance, we are looking forward to having a day full of love and cherishing! I also have an amazing gold dress with a leopard print head piece thing. Oh yeah!

In June i'll have to attend a 5 week boot camp in Queens so I can train to be a teacher. I have to stay in dorms and the whole bit! I'll be co-teaching a summer school program and attending courses on the St. John's campus. So, needless to say, I will be keeping myself busy in the next months/years to come. Just thought i'd share a bit.

Nina is in town!

My beautiful cousin Nina was in town with her (also beautiful) boyfriend! We went to alphabet city for a fun show. See the family resemblance?

Special report

While walking down the west side an hour ago-




"According to Channel 4 television news, the plane, US Airways flight 1549, took off from LaGuardia Airport at 3:26 p.m. was bound for Charlotte, N.C. and had 146 passengers and 5 crew members. The plane, which made it to a height of 3,600 feet, may have hit a flock of birds, according to the report, and then plummeted. The pilot tried to return to the airport when the plane fell into the Hudson.

Television reports showed several commuter ferries around where the plane, an Airbus A320, was in the water. New York Police Department divers dove into the water to assist with the rescue as plane floated southbound on the river, possibly due to the tidal direction." NY Times

Arrojo Salon

"Backstage" at the an Arrojo Salon runway thingy I did tonight... been awhile since i've done a show. I hear that Arrojo is where they do the hair for "What Not to Wear"?? Hate that show, but they do nice hair :)