Assignment #3 - COMM 597

While my time in London was shorter than most, I still feel like I learned a lot.  The onsite class visits were interesting, informative, educational, and entertaining.  Such visits included trips to the British Museum, BBC, and Euro RSCG. 

Onsite Class Visits

Although the first class field trip to the British Museum did not directly relate to social media, it did give us a glimpse into British culture.  During this excursion I saw exhibits on world currency, the history of writing, animals, and different countries.  I enjoyed reading the artifact captions about writing and its origins, specifically a young king’s first attempt at writing and his teacher’s editing marks.   

The visit to BBC, at Bush House, was my favorite onsite class visit and London excursion overall.  I enjoyed listening to Abigail Sawyer, senior producer, and Ramaa Sharma, multi-media trainer, both of BBC World Service, talk about their jobs and social media.  Both Sawyer and Sharma embrace social media and encourage others to be more open and accepting about its uses and what it has to offer.

The class excursion to global advertising company Euro RSCG was exciting, informative, and well-organized.  We were lucky enough to meet with seven members of Euro RSCG staff, including CEO Russ Lidstone, to learn more about the company and their individual roles.  Like BBC, Euro RSCG also has a team of employees dedicated to social media.

A second visit to BBC, this time to Television Centre, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at BBC’s TV newsroom and studios.  We listened to stories about the crazy demands of the rich and famous who are interviewed at BBC.  For example, singer Mariah Carey asked for a box of puppies to play with in her dressing room, and Madonna wanted a portrait of the Pope.  We also learned about BBC’s weather forecast, watched part of the taping of a live show, and ended the tour with a mock game show in an interactive studio.

I learned a great deal from the class excursions, specifically the visits to BBC and Euro RSCG.  After listening to employees at both companies, I reflected on the similarities and differences between the two and what I learned from each experience.  BBC and Euro RSCG employees encouraged us to be creative, experiment, take risks, and build a personal brand. 

Be Creative

A common theme throughout presentations by Euro RSCG staff was creativity.  Gerry Moira, chairman and director of advertising, shared his take on “How to be Creative.”  Moira believes that an individual’s creativity is suppressed with age.  “I believe creativity is like a muscle; the more you use it, the stronger it gets,” he said.  Moira is an open admirer of Arthur Koestler, a British-Hungarian Jew, whom he quoted several times during his hour-long presentation.  Koestler believed that “Creativity is a type of learning process where the teacher and the pupil are located in the same individual.”  Moira agreed, and added that to be creative you need to embrace all of your senses.

Claire Adams, head of social media at Euro RSCG, shared with us an “Introduction to Cupola Lab” and “Creative Ideas in Social Media.”  The Cupola Lab, which consists of seven flat-screen TVs on the walls, acts as the company’s crisis center.  It also streams live social media and acts as a “lookout,” according to Lidstone. 

Adams shared her thoughts on “bringing creative ideas to life through social media.”  In doing so, she showed a powerful, fast-paced video about social media packed with facts and figures about the different kinds and uses.  “Word of mouth is on digital steroids,” Adams said.  Fifty percent of mobile Internet traffic in the United Kingdom is Facebook, she said.

Experiment

It’s important to experiment and continue trying new things until you find something you’re good at that you enjoy, Sharma said.  She advised us to expand our knowledge by learning new skills that will make us more appealing to future employers.  “Can you develop specialism?” she said, adding that it’s advantageous for us to identify what we are “good at effortlessly.”  “Go experience, go explore,” Sharma said. 

According to Sawyer, it’s also wise to experiment with social media.  She suggested choosing one type of social media to try out at a time, such as Twitter.  It takes time to understand the social media service you are using and its content, and to build a following, she said.  Sawyer stressed that patience is key when first experimenting with social media, and so is persistence.  Using a social media service is work, she said.  It requires time, attention, and upkeep.  Sawyer’s example was remembering to update your status often on Twitter.  She said this is important because followers will lose interest and move on if you do not make refreshing your status a priority.

Take Risks

Experimenting also leads to taking risks – and assuming responsibility from what results.  Moira, of Euro RSCG, and Sharma and Sawyer, of BBC, stressed the importance of taking risks, especially when using social media.  Moira believes that you can’t be creative unless you’re prepared to fail.  Sharma has similar thoughts.  “If we didn’t take any risks, we wouldn’t make any progress,” she said.

Since social media is new and changes quickly, so do the rules that govern it.  Social media law is primarily determined by case law, Sharma said.  According to Sharma, it’s best to be transparent and publish disclaimers on social media.  However, when mistakes are made you have to accept responsibility and learn from your mistakes, she said.

Both Sharma and Sawyer encouraged our group of young professionals to troubleshoot with social media and not do anything in isolation.  It’s important for someone else to know what you are doing, Sawyer said.  When using social media in the workplace, Sawyer urged us to document everything and be prepared to show it when asked.    

Build a Personal Brand

Social media can also be used to help professionals create their own personal brand.  This is especially important for young journalists to do before entering a newsroom, Sawyer said.  Social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Flickr, and Storify, can be a great way to showcase work online.  With social media, you come across as being far more confident than you are, Sawyer said.  Journalism aside, it’s advantageous for anyone to create a personal brand.  A personal brand is a way for you to decide how you want to be seen by others.   

Conclusion

I had few dislikes about our onsite visits, most of them factors we couldn’t control, such as the weather.  I really enjoyed venturing out into the city for the visits, spending time with classmates, and learning more about the culture I was lucky enough to be a part of for two, short weeks.

Assignment #2 - COMM 597

I can’t decide if I left part of myself in London, or if I brought part of London home with me; perhaps it’s a little of both.  Regardless, something in me changed as a result of my first overseas experience.  I returned home to the United States after nearly two weeks abroad and realized I thought differently about my life.   

My experience in London was nothing short of wonderful.  I had a great time making amazing memories and new friendships, and experiencing a lifestyle different than my own.  For example, most homes and few businesses in London have air conditioning.  I found this to be odd, but was informed by some London natives that the temperature rarely gets hot enough so air conditioning isn’t needed.  I was also told that because most of the buildings are older it would be quite expensive to install air conditioning.  The climate in London differs greatly from St. Louis.  I had been warned by a British friend that London was quite chilly, and that a sweater, jacket, and some long-sleeved shirts would be go-to clothing items.  I took heed of this warning, and packed a green rain coat, black zippered sweater with a hood, plain black sweater, and a few pairs of long pants.  I was so glad I did.  I was freezing the first week or so in London.  I wore layers of clothes and always had on my green rain coat.  It rained just about every day, sometimes several times a day, and each time the temperature dropped a few degrees. 

There were several instances where I wish I’d had gloves and a scarf.  I purchased four scarves from a street vendor at Piccadilly Circus.  I was thrilled to know that my neck would now be warm.  Ironically, the next day London was hit with a heat wave.  London’s version of a heat wave is very different from St. Louis; temperatures peaked in the low 80s.  However, I found it difficult to cool down since there was little to no air conditioning, and few fans and ventilation.

There were other smaller, yet noticeable differences between London and St. Louis.  One big difference for me was the lack of Diet Pepsi and other soft drink choices.  Apparently, England is a Coke country, and most soft drinks are served in glass bottles.  While I found comfort in drinking Diet Coke, I come from a loyal Pepsi family and therefore relished the few places that stocked my favorite caffeinated beverage.  I was encouraged to sample chocolate in London, having been told that it was far better than chocolate in the States.  I tried several different candy bars, but was unimpressed.  Fellow travelers and I talked often about public toilets and how it costs money to use them.  We also found it strange that you typically go through two sets of doors before getting to the actual bathroom, and that the water pressure is much lower.  

Other obvious differences between London and home were the use of public transportation, the abundance of stairs, driving and walking on a different side of the street, and the use of technology.  Drop-in Internet cafes can be found on nearly every street, and few Brits piddle on their smart phones in public.  Naïve, I assumed the British just didn’t use their phones as much as Americans.  I was later told that the British find it rude to be on your cell phone in public.  I also found out that Brits are avid users of social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter.  In some ways, I feel that England is more technologically advanced than the United States.  For example, most European credit cards have micro chips embedded in them for added security and faster service.  Back at work in the States, I recently read a communication about micro chips in credit cards for easier use in Europe.      

Although different, London and St. Louis share some similarities.  English is the native language, and a mix of people from different countries and cultures live in both cities.  I met few Brits during my time in London, and instead engaged in conversation with people from Turkey, Italy, France, Scotland, and New Zealand.  While the British drive on a different side of the street, I think drivers in both countries are aggressive behind the wheel.

While some might find it difficult to narrow their list of London adventures to one favorite, mine was easy.  My favorite part of the trip was the first class visit to BBC, the British Broadcasting Channel, for my British Culture and Social Media class.  As a former newspaper reporter, this visit appealed to me because of my journalistic roots.  It also had me missing my past career.  I enjoyed listening to BBC employees talk about social media, the different types, and how it’s used in England.  I found the discussion on developing your personal brand through the use of social media to be beneficial, and found it amusing that with social media you often come across more confident than you really are.

Overall, London was amazing.  I am grateful for the experience, and have no regrets.  I don’t do see myself going back, not because I don’t want to, but because London showed me there is more to explore than my own backyard.

London Eye Pics

The London Eye is 135 meters (equivalent to 64 red telephone boxes piled on top of each other) making it the fourth tallest structure in London after the BT Tower, Tower 42 and One Canada Square in Canary Wharf (according to the official Website). It was the ONE biggest to-do on my London bucket list. Jennifer and I rode the "Eye" our last day in London. It was the perfect culmination to an amazing trip.

Neat shadow!

Yeah, right, like I would lean against the door!

Me in an "eyeball" of the London Eye (not sure if it's called that or not).

Jennifer and I on the London Eye.

Sooooo high up!

Don't look down!

Amazing view from the Eye.

Another gorgeous view from above.

Super cool.

Check out the boats!

View from the London Eye

The Black Friar - BEST food I had in London!!

One evening, Vitina, a fellow Maryville student and new friend, and I trekked across London to dine at The Black Friar. Aside from having the best salmon I've ever had in my LIFE, it was a really neat pub. The location (right next to a railway line) and shape (described as a "narrow wedge) of the pub is unique, but it does have ample space for a beer garden.  

Vitina and I dined indoors. It was a crazy hot day for London, so I could think of nothing else but an ice cold Diet Pepsi. Vitina sampled beer. After briefly scoping out the interior of The Black Friar, we decided on a table off in a corner so we could have a good view of everyone who came in. I ordered another Diet Pepsi. (Hey, it was REALLY hot and most of London doesn't have air conditioning.) Our food arrived and it was nothing short of spectacular. I mean, WOW. I had salmon with a cream cheese sauce on a pastry, topped with grilled vegetables. Also on my plate were potatoes and a small "salad." I use quotation marks around "salad" because it must have been the British version of a salad. Vitina and I tried hard to finish our wonderful dinners, but left the table defeated. We headed outside to sit in the beer garden and watch the city go by. 

Gorgeous stained glass

True that.

Also very true

The details were incredible at The Black Friar.

Plaque

SERIOUSLY the best salmon I've ever had



Vitina's yummy dish



See the friar statue at the top?

Took a while to get there, but it was SO worth it!

BBC

For my British Culture and Social Media class, I got to visit BBC... twice!!


During the first visit, we interviewed two members of BBC's World Service department about social media. It was really interesting to learn that the British are such big fans of Twitter! (I have not yet given into tweeting.) I commented that I rarely saw the British using smart phones, and wondered if they were as addicted to their smart phones as Americans are? The answer from BBC: YES! Apparently, the Brits find it rude to be fiddling on your phone in public. Hmmm... perhaps Americans could learn a thing or two?


The second visit to BBC was at Television Centre. We took a tour of the studio and heard stories of the crazy demands celebrities have when they come to BBC to be interviewed. (Example: Madonna wanted a portrait of the Pope in her dressing room and Mariah Carey wanted a box of puppies to play with.)


Both of these visits REALLY made me miss my days as a reporter... a LOT. The conclusion I came to was that British reporters must get paid more. Period. Otherwise, how are they living the life of a reporter and still making ends meet? Ask American reporters; it's not an easy thing to do.

BBC Visit #1

BBC Visit #1 (They don't allow pictures of the BBC compound... we had to be sneaky.)

BBC Visit #2 (I snuck a picture when the guard wasn't looking.)

BBC Visit #2

BBC Visit #2

BBC Visit #2



BBC Visit #1 (Jennifer and me)

BBC Visit #1

BBC Visit #2 (Television Centre)

BBC Visit #2

BBC Visit #2 (Glimpse of celebrity dressing room)

BBC Visit #2 (Game show)

BBC Visit #2



The Roman Baths

After leaving Stonehenge, we continued our journey to the city of Bath. It is GORGEOUS there. I didn't want to leave. The architecture is outstanding, and it really felt like you had traveled back in time (minus the Burger King, H&M and other stores that lined some of the streets). Once again, we unloaded the bus and were handed a coin (our ticket) to see the Roman baths. Audio guides are very popular in Europe, so we each got one of those as well.

The Roman baths were exquisite. People used to write curses on tablets and throw them into the baths. It was believed that the goddess Sulis Minerva would read the curse and decide the fate of those who committed the wrongdoing.

After looking at the murky, green water and not being able to picture myself basking in it, I concluded that I would have been too prissy to fit in with the Romans. Instead, I would have kept myself busy writing curses on tablets or making wishes and throwing random coins in the water.

Somehow, myself and Tina, a grad student at Fontbonne (?), were the only ones left from our group still exploring the baths. We decided to take a few more pictures, make a wish and throw a 1p in the fountain and venture out into the city. Thanks to a nice person who commented that we were obviously tourists, we got coupons for Burger King and had lunch. (Yes, Burger King tastes the same in the UK as it does in the U.S., but they have adult burgers, whatever that is...) We wandered into a few stores, eventually found our group and waited for the bus to take us back to central London where we were staying.

Doesn't the green water look refreshing?

Me and the bath...

City of Bath

Roman Baths

Roman drain

Neat!

Roman baths

Making a wish... and throwing 1p into the fountain!

The Pump Room

In the distance...

Stonehenge

Not realizing that I would be trapped on a bus for more than two hours, I didn't think to bring my iPod. (Mine isn't the generation glued to their iPods, apparently, because I forget mine more than I remember it.)

It was early on a Saturday morning, June 25. Our group of about 40 people piled onto a bus and headed for Stonehenge. As soon as the bus drove away from the dorms where we were staying, the bus grew silent. I looked around... sure enough... everyone had ear buds in. God bless, iPods...

I take great pride in the fact that I can sleep anywhere, anytime. Seriously. Try me. I can sleep on command. I used to sleep through entire movies at the theater. When traveling, I usually fall asleep before the plane is off the runway - no joke. Anyways, that's what I decided to do on this bus ride... sleep. When I woke up, I looked out the window and realized we were in the middle of nowhere. There were green fields and sheep, lots of sheep. It was beautiful countryside, very peaceful. I'm not sure where we were exactly, but the bus ride from that point on was quite a bumpy ride.

We arrived at Stonehenge and were handed our tickets. We were each given an audio guide (press 9 for English), which proved to be quite interesting and helpful as we walked around the massive structure that is Stonehenge. I made great use of my audio guide - until it froze. Oh, well. From that point on, I walked around Stonehenge and pooled from my own knowledge to give myself a tour of Stonehenge. This wasn't very successful.

After we had circled Stonehenge, we heard voices and bells. I wasn't sure what was happening and to this day I'm still not sure. A stream of people came out dressed in costume, chanting and occassionally ringing a bell. Not sure what to do, we just stood off to the side and watched. It was pretty interesting.

After a quick stop in the gift shop (of course there's a gift shop!), we headed back to the bus. Not paying attention and obviously not thinking, I went to the wrong side of the bus to get on. To be fair, it would have been the right side of the bus back home in the States. A few minutes later, we were off to Bath...

Stonehenge

Ironically, I didn't see this sign until we were leaving... LOL.

I do not know what ceremony this was...

It was supposed to look like I had Stonehenge in the palm of my hand... but the wind kept blowing my arm down!