5/26/2023 0 Comments First WEek with DDMFor the first week of the internship, I met with the overall supervisor of the organization to sign paperwork of the organizations policies for work conduct and policies for working with children. Then we went on a tour of the office where I was introduced to each of the department heads. For the first week, I would be shadowing each department head for a day to gain an understanding of each of the main services provided by DDM. On Monday, I shadowed the case worker for the office where he averaged about 6 meetings an hour with beneficiaries all needing a variety of assistance and getting signed up with the organization. On Tuesday, I shadowed the psychosocial services office with two workers who took me on their work trip to visit a few local NGO’s that they are working on partnering with. On Wednesday, I was in the women’s space assisting with painting sessions and later helping to facilitate a workshop with women refugees on gender stereotypes and issues. On Thursday, I sat in with the doctor for his day of meeting with patients who over the course of 7 hours didn’t take one break between patients. On Friday, I helped to oversee the Nadafa space that is the open area in the middle of the office where beneficiaries sit and wait for one of the departments or to do their laundry and helped to entertain the children. This introduction to the office by shadowing each department was very helpful for me to be exposed to each of the services that DDM provides and observe the interactions amongst the staff and beneficiaries.
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5/17/2023 0 Comments Hello MoroccoI made it to Morocco! Oh my gosh I can’t believe I’m finally here! It is insane how much has happened over the past two weeks going from Serbia to Germany to London to Paris to Morocco! Safe to say I’m going to take a few days to sleep and relax before my internship starts on Monday. I got a pizza from a place across the street tonight and am just watching some Netflix before turning in early for some sleep! The next few days I’m going to try to just slowly explore and learn more about the area, I can’t wait for this new adventure!
5/16/2023 0 Comments Palais Garner...Bye ParisMy last day in Paris started with a protest at a school right outside my hotel. If I had a nickel for the amount of times I’ve accidentally ended up at a protest internationally, I’ll have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but it’s weird that it’s happened TWICE! Lol. I went past them in the morning and made my way to the Palais Garnier to fulfill my Phantom of the Opera dreams! I didn’t buy a ticket to go inside because I didn’t have a lot of time, but I took pictures and went to the side steps to eat my baguette. I just took in the scenery and appreciated my last hours in Paris. I saw at the side there’s a separate entrance to go into their gift shop, and was able to look around and bought a few phantom of the opera souvenirs. It was a great last morning there and end to my trip!
5/15/2023 0 Comments Full day in parisThis morning I got up and stopped at a cafe for a pain au chocolat and baguette. Then I walked up towards the Place de Concord with the Egyptian obelisk and gardens. Afterwards I hopped on the bus and went to the Eiffel Tower where I walked around the front grass area, which was sadly barred off so I had to sit in the grass by the side, which was still beautiful! I went to a stand and ordered a Nutella crepe for my mini picnic under the tower. Sadly the sky was clouded over but the temperature was nice and I could still enjoy my time. I sat down and ate my crepe and read for awhile and just felt at such peace! My peace was sadly interrupted by a bunch of school groups of kids that came and sat in groups for lunch all around me screaming and running around. I found this a good time to get up and head to the docks to book a river cruise! The timing ended up perfect because right as I got on the boat, it started pouring outside! It was okay though because the River boat had clear walls and we could still see everything around. It was so incredible to see the sights, and oh my gosh the Notre Dame!!! I loved it so much and had a really great time. After the cruise it stopped raining, and I took a bus to the Louvre and bought tickets to go inside! Everything inside was breathtaking and beautiful history! I did go through the line for the Mona Lisa, which I have to say was a little underwhelming haha. I was more excited to see the Liberty Leading the People painting! I’ve been studying this photos for years and it was amazing to see it in-person! Then I took the bus back towards the hotel, and stopped in a restaurant for a nice dinner to relax after a long day. 5/14/2023 0 Comments Champs-Elysee and Eiffel TowerAfter saying goodbye to my family this morning, I headed to the train station and took the Eurostar to France! It was so fun and soo nice not having to fly for once! After changing for dinner, I took the bus from my hotel to the Champs-Elysee to walk up the street with a beautiful view of the arch. It was a beautiful evening and the weather was perfect! It was absolutely breathtaking walking up the street. I got up to the roundabout infront of the arch to take pictures and then figured out where the tunnel was underneath to go straight to the arch. It was so cool being right under the arch and getting to read all of the inscriptions. The sun was slowing setting and the view was just spectacular! The beginning of many dreams coming true. I decided instead of taking the bus to the Eiffel Tower that I would do the 30 minute walk over to enjoy the night and views of the city. It was a nice walk and crossing over the bridge of the Seine was incredible. That first view of the Eiffel Tower was just jaw dropping. Still in shock that I was here. Walking up through the garden paths everything was just stunning. Again the sun setting around the Eiffel Tower had the views so beautiful. I went down to the docks and found a floating restaurant with outdoor seating directly infront of the Eiffel Tower. I had an amazing glass of wine, salmon, and dessert just appreciating the views. The food was incredible and not as expensive as I was thinking for a restaurant right there! The sun finally set around 10 and we got the lights show of the tower from the Seine. It was so freaking beautiful, I couldn’t believe I was there finally fulfilling this dream!! I walked back up under the lights of the Eiffel Tower for more pictures and headed back to my hotel for the night.
5/13/2023 0 Comments WindsorToday we got up early and took the train over to Windsor for a tour of this beautiful castle! We got to see the changing of the guard again which was a ton of fun. This was my first European castle and it was an amazing one to start with! We were full on tourists today, renting the audio tour headphones to walk through. It was quite chilly in the morning so we got into the castle quickly. All of the rooms were so beautiful, it's crazy that the Queen (and anyone) lives here! The paintings were so beautiful, and learning about the knighthood society was fun. Going through the old bedrooms always feels odd thinking about someone living and sleeping in these beds that are now on display. The whole castle was so breathtaking and I am really happy that we did this. We went through the church as well and viewed the resting place of Queen Elisabeth II. The church was so beautiful on the inside and out. Afterwards we went over and took a few pictures with the guard. Then we went out and had a traditional afternoon English Tea Service with biscuits and tea. It was so scrummy! Biscuits, and clotted cream and jam, oh my!! I also got a salad because I hadn't eaten anything yet haha. It felt like a perfect last day in the UK! 5/12/2023 0 Comments HamiltonWe got to be in the room where it happens! Haha I know that's cheesy but ahhh it was soo cool to see this show in person!! I loved the changes they made from the filmed version, it was so much more comical and interactive with the audience. We were laughing out loud a ton, and then equally stunned from the choreography and singing throughout the show. It was really fun getting to share this experience with my family, especially with my Dad and his love of Hamilton. Almost all of the main male cast members were understudies, and we could not tell until we looked it up at the end! They were freaking incredible and the chemistry was amazing. I loved the King and his jokes, the Cabinet battles were interactive and so cool. I loved the show so much!! AND there was someone from Elon in the cast!! We all enjoyed it so much, and I feel so grateful for my parents for them giving us this experience.
5/12/2023 0 Comments Buckingham Palace & Notting HillWe started the morning with going to Buckingham Palace. This was so beautiful and really cool to see where the royals (sometimes) live. We ended up being there around the time for the changing of the guard so we stayed to watch. It was really fun seeing all the horses and music. I didn't know there was that much pomp and circumstance that comes with the changing of the guard. I don't know that I would need to see it again, but it was really cool to experience at least once! Then we headed out and went to the Natural History Museum for a bit, then Delaney and I traveled to Notting Hill. This area was so fun and funky, I loved it! All the streets were closed off with tons of booths set up with homemade goods. We stopped at the Notting Hill bookstore, and bought ourselves and our parents a Blind Date with a Book books. These are always so much fun! Then we just walked around and caught up on how we've been doing. It's hard being away from Delaney for too long because we're really close. I really appreciate the time we had together to just bond and mess around with each other. We found the door from the Notting Hill movie, gotta be honest it was underwhelming haha. It's just a blue door that is someone's real door/house haha. We walked back and had a unwrapping session with the family, giving them the blind date books we got, as well as gifts for Mothers day, Delaneys birthday, Fathers day, and Moms birthday. Haha I made sure to get everything in before I get home in August.
5/11/2023 0 Comments Phantom of the operaSomeone pinch me, I have now seen the Phantom of the Opera on Broadway AND on the original opening theater on the West End. We were four rows back from the stage and it was absolutely breathtaking. The actresses and actors for Christine, Phantom and Raoul were all freaking incredible!! Our Christine's voice, just amazing. The Phantom, Delaney and I agreed, was better than we saw on Broadway, and the whole trio worked in such perfect harmony!! Being that close to the chandelier was a ton of fun, and what a dramatic ending to Act 1. I said before the show started that I thought I would cry 5 times, and I did indeed cry 5 times by the end of the show. 1. opening music/chandelier rising 2. Music of the Night 3. Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again 4. Phantom sad at the end 5. Bows. This show is just top tier. The music and the ensemble and the leads, it is all beautiful and perfect. I am must in love, there will never be enough times that I see this show. Walking out of the theater I was just crying and speechless. Thank you to my parents for getting us these tickets and the experience!
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