HELLO LONDON, GOODBYE USA

Sunday, March 22, 2009

So here I am, my first day in London and I am up to my neck in stress already. What? I just got here? Well that’s what I originally thought but “being stressed” is definitely an understatement because I most definitely don’t think I’m suffering from jet lag. I was ready for this trip three weeks before we embarked on this next journalism adventure of mine and I was nervous but very excited at the same time. Today was filled with a lot of different emotions; the anxious feeling of traveling and arriving to in a new country, the anxiousness about exploring some foreign territory, and arriving in your new destination where I would have to hit the ground running and get my work done ahead of time so I may have room to breathe.

The craziness of a new groove and new vibe of a new city excited me but after having seen what I’ve been through today in London? Let’s just say I was honestly hoping my first day here in London would have gone better. Sleeplessness hasn’t even kicked in yet and I miss my trusted journalism partner who did not join me on this trip. Speaking of this trip, this is my third time traveling with Dr. Michael Cheers, my professor. I think he’s taught me many wonderful things , he’s given me numerous chances to rise to the challenge of doing some foreign news reporting. I would prefer to call it “freelancing”….but then again I’m not sure which reference is better suited for me here in this context.

All in all, I’ve had very high highs today and experienced many low lows at the same time. Am I missing home yet? Not really. I’m in touch with my mother through email so missing home and being homesick hasn’t really occurred yet.

Speaking of Email…checking Email at the hotel is ridiculous. It’s very expensive but I guess we have to do what we have to do to stay informed while we’re in our new environment. I told my friends on Facebook, I’ll be traveling to London. Most of them message tagged me and said “ENJOY YOUR VACATION”…what vacation?

This London/Paris Spring Break trip has been a big multimedia boot camp and although we’re in a foreign country right now, thousands of miles away from home, I feel like I can rise to a challenge provided by my instructor or fold. I guess we shall see what my time here in London will bring....I guess for now it’s about taking this experience in for a bit but also working numerous hours to churn out something extremely wonderful. We shall wait and see…


Kim Nguyen
Broadcast Journalism

MISSING HOME BUT KEEPING BUSY

Monday, March 23, 2009

Today was our only full day of reporting in London. A full successful day of reporting wears anyone out, but if you’re a news junkie then you’re excited about having managed to hit the ground running as soon as possible and managed to pull a full day's work.

I checked my email this morning and the thought of missing home is sinking in, but I am much too busy to think about what’s going on at home right now. All I know is, I have a job to do and I will do it as best as I can, I just hope it will go well in a place where I don’t know the directions and lay out of the town or city because again I’m only here for a short time.

I’m sure all successful news reporters have dealt with this pressure of being up against deadlines and time. Having time to do a news story can be a good thing, but time can also be your worst enemy as I’ve had to find out here in London. I don’t know much, all I know is, I chose the right profession to get into because I have fun, I enjoy it, and I love what I do. I can’t wait to do this after I graduate for a living, but deadlines are horrific. I feel like I’m sometimes completely out of my element…I just hope I find my comfortable “grooving” zone again so I can get back to being me and deliver the “stuff” everyone knows I can deliver, just not right now.

Kimberly Nguyen
Broadcast Journalism