The House of Lords

Today, I woke up at 6:30 am and went to Westminster for a conference and managed registration for “The National Information Security in the Public Sector Annual Conference." I organized & produced name badges, greeted people, registered people/changed information for substitutes, packed delegate folders etc. I then headed back to the office and updated master attendance list for the Second Annual Parliamentary Awards/Champagne Reception. I was originally given the wrong spreadsheet to update so I had to redo my changes from last Thursday. I then completed changes/updates from today, packed the necessary materials for the Annual Parliamentary Awards for set up etc, complied the name badges and put them in their holders for 366 delegates. At the Second Annual Parliamentary Awards at the House of Lords, I was in charge of registration and had a staff under me that I oversaw. I was also able to mingle with various delegates and meet some important Lords, Baronesses and MPs. I also helped to break down the event and clean up. I took the Inside Government banner home because I am responsible for bringing it to the event tomorrow.

For lunch I went to Pizza Hut and met a few Americans who were traveling there too.

I then returned home after a 15 hour day and steamed a few pants for tomorrow and headed off to bed.

Another Busy Day

Today, I had a very busy day at my internship. I updated events board for Inside Government. I deleted many events that took place last week and rearranged the events board to take into consideration new events that were added. I also updated the total number of paid delegates, the event manager/program manager, number of exhibitors, total number of delegates etc.
Then, I converted all of the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations from the events last week into PDF files so that they would be ready to be sent out to all of the delegates that attended the event. Next, I created surveys for events last week via surveymethod.com for feedback on speakers, presenters and overall event. I also created signage for GovNet events that are coming up this week – signs for registration by surname etc. I then created badges/nametags for GovNet events this week. Finally, I updated spreadsheet for the Parliamentary Awards and proofread the badges and created badges for people who confirmed today.

During lunch, I mailed all of my postcards to the States / Canada!

After work, I headed to get some tokens for the dryer, however, they only had 2 left, and I had one at home, so when I came back to do laundry, most of my clothes were still wet after the 3 tokens - therefore, I have many clothes around my room drying.

This evening, I just uploaded my pictures on my computer from Ireland and am getting ready to go to bed early since I do have an event tomorrow along with the Parliamentary Awards in the evening.

Cheers!

Heading to Dublin, Ireland

This weekend, I traveled to Dublin with some EUSA friends. It was beautiful and just an enjoyable evening.

On Friday, June 26, 2009, we had our Professional Development Seminar and I also paid my last housing payment. During the seminar, we had a fire drill too! After the seminar, we took the tube to King's Cross and from there took a train to Luton Airport. The flight was very smooth and we got to Dublin around 5:00 pm. We then checked into our hostel - Browns Hostel. It was quite a nice place - however, we did notice many older people there too. We then walked around Dublin and into the Temple Bar area. We then went to a great restaurant. I had a steak and then we all shared two desserts - it was delicious. We then went back to our hostel, and went back out to the night life. We got back to our hostel and we were lucky that we were the only people staying in our room.

On Saturday, June 27, 2009, we ate breakfast next door at the Browns Hotel - just toast and coffee/tea - but very cheap. We then headed toward the Guinness Factory, ate chicken fingers at a local pub, went to Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and saw the Dublin Castle. It was a fun day and we ran into some other students from EUSA and traveled around that evening with them.

On Sunday, June 28, 2009, we took a bus tour to the south of Dublin/Ireland and into the mountains. It was beautiful and saw many sights where various movies were filmed.

We then headed back to Luton for our plane - although it was delayed - I was able to get back to my flat by 2:00 am.

It was a great time!

A Night of Cartoons... Well At Least The Music To The Cartoons

Today, I woke up and headed to my internship. I updated attendance sheet for the Alternative Parliamentary Awards. I finally reached the goal of at least 300 guests who confirmed. I called all of the unconfirmed members once more, and sent many emails to delegates to provide them with more information regarding the event.

The office was very empty today since there was a GovNet Event today and most of the staff had to attend.

For lunch, I got a lunch on the go and just walked around since it was such a beautiful day.

I then went to South Kensington to pick up a package and then headed toward London Bridge to see the Unexpected Opera - The Barber of Seville (the songs from many cartoons) located at The Scoop, an outdoor theatre - similar to the Shakespeare's Globe but on a much smaller scale. The opera was great and very funny too. I enjoyed it alot, especially since it was free too! It was located right on the Thames river and across the way was the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and Gherkin. Right next to the theatre was the London City Hall (a big spherical building). It was a beautiful, warm night and just very enjoyable.

I ate a hamburger at the theatre, which was actually grilled (or BBQ'ed) over an open flame!! It was delicious!

I then returned home and wrote my weekly journal for school and am getting ready for Dublin, Ireland this weekend (hopefully looking up some McFeely's). Tomorrow, I am going to pay my rent, tell them my departure date, buy some more laundry coins and then off to Professional Development.

Today, I also got my flight confirmation that it is fine to swith until a departure on Tuesday, instead of on Saturday back to the States. I am going to Rome/Vatican City for sure!!

Cheers!

Another Event

Today, I woke up at 6:30 am to get ready for my internship because I had to attend an event. After taking the tube to Westminster, I arrived at One Birdcage Walk for the Meeting the Manufacturing Challenge Through Investment in Innovation, Skills and Green Technologies. I was in charge of registration, logistics: working with the caterer to make sure the coffee/tea breaks and working lunch was set up in a timely manner and to make sure that there were enough utensils etc., the question/answer session (passed the microphone around the room to delegates who had questions), and also for set up and clean up for the event (ensured there were enough chairs, set up the room with pads of paper and pens, set up the computer and made sure all of the microphones and technological aspects were functional). I had to make some executive decisions in terms of catering and therefore, GovNet/Inside Government was very trusting of my abilities.

For lunch, I was able to have a few sandwiches from the working lunch - mainly roasted chicken with a lemon mayonnaise and fruit kabobs. They were delicious. We then took a tour of the conference building, which was beautiful too. The room we had was a bit small, but it was a great atmosphere for the conference. I realize that I am quickly being assigned big projects and programs to work on or be in charge of. It is a great experience.

I then returned back to the office and updated the attendance sheet for the Alternative Parliamentary Awards and send the final copy to be printed for the name badges.

I returned home and ordered Papa Johns to dinner (Potato Wedges and Chicken Dippers) and in the process of completing my mid-term paper.

Cheers!

Heading Toward Parliament

Today was a great day - very busy, but it flew by. I got a great nights sleep and headed toward my internship. I updated the master attendance list for the Second Annual Parliamentary Awards/Champagne Reception. After finding parliamentary (MPs’ and Lords’/Baronesses’) contacts, I began to telephone each parliamentary to confirm their attendance. After the list was completed, I went back and re-called people that I could not get through to, or who I left messages for last week to see if they plan to attend. I also converted all of the presenters’ PowerPoint presentations from the events last week into PDF files so that they would be ready to be sent out to all of the delegates that attended the event.

For lunch, I went to Nando's again - delicious!!

I was also told today that on top of being able to go for the reception at the House of Lords, I am going to be able to take a tour of Parliament during my workday - so I am quite excited about that.

I then went back home and wrote the addresses on my postcards - slowly I am getting them done.

I am going to go to bed early tonight, hopefully write the two papers for school tomorrow. Also, I need to wake up early tomorrow for an event - Meeting the Manufacturing Challenge Through Investment in Innovation, Skills and Green Technologies at One Birdcage Walk - right near Parliament again. On Thursday, I am going to see an Opera about the Barber of Seville. On Friday, I will pay my last rent, give them my date of departure (hopefully I will have Rome/Vatican figured out by then), attend the Professional Development Seminar, then off to Ireland!

Cheers!

Week 5 Beginning

Today, surprisingly I was not tired for work. At Inside Government, I updated the events board for Inside Government. I deleted many events that took place last week and rearranged the events board to take into consideration new events that were added. I also updated the total number of paid delegates, the event manager/program manager, number of exhibitors, total number of delegates etc. I then updated master attendance list for the Second Annual Parliamentary Awards/Champagne Reception that is held at the House of Lords. I received emails from various GovNet staff and other delegates confirming the attendance of specific people to the event. I also telephoned other delegates to confirm their attendance to this event.

For lunch, we walked around Embankment and I bought a few postcards to send back to the States & Canada.

After work, I returned home and uploaded my pictures from Venice on my computer and relaxed.

Cheers!