She Said Yes!!

Is this not just beautiful?!

If Northeastern was not great enough, working the Welcome Weekend I even managed to see a love story blossom. SHE EVEN SAID YES.

LETS GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wise Words

I enjoy blogging. I enjoy reflecting. I enjoy sharing my experiences.

I would not pass by an opportunity to be able to share my year experience on an industrial placement, in America within Higher Education.
This week my small profile which has been created on the www.studentsonplacement.co.uk website has went live!!
Its quite exciting, I hope others students in the United Kingdom (and worldwide) read and become even more eager to venture into an industrial placement to experience the gains and growths that I myself have.

Please visit my profile and read on some of my reflections from my time so far in my industrial placement: http://studentsonplacement.co.uk/placement_profile_info.php?profile_ID=3


Any comments or advise is greatly welcomed (and appreciated) to: nicolemcmahon@ outlook. com

Thank you!!!

Coincidentally, speaking on reflecting I worked at the Welcome Day today for Admitted Students on Northeasterns Campus. It was a bright sunny beaming day, all round! I thoroughly enjoy meeting new prospective Huskies and their families, along with alumni and faculty/staff across campus on these days.  Every event I work on campus is so enlightening, seeing students start their paths to fruitful futures and hope they all entail down a mighty marvelous road within NU, its exciting to wonder which, if not all, are going to be the leaders of the future, creators of the next big thing, speakers of the next generational movements- anything they want to be, believe and they will achieve, with the help, support and cozy community around them at Northeastern!

My cheekbones were in pain from smiling at all of the wonderful happenings on campus today; the CPS students graduating, a proposal from the graduating students, the bright and dusty colorful celebration of the annual holi amongst students on the centennial common, the bright fresh families that floated through our welcoming open doors and a whole day working with colleagues who, tremendously, make every day a happy one. (even at weekends)

Marathon Monday

After hearing the awful news from this afternoons explosions during Boston’s most famous marathon, it saddens me to type that I was so thankful and happy to have missed the manic madness during the marathon.  Having planned this weekend so far back, we had clashed dates with many events such as the Husky Ambassador gala and marathon Monday. I would have been lying if I said once this realization hit before the weekend I wasn’t upset at the event clashes, but as I sit here on thus back to Boston full of best wishes and hope for the injured, I am so glad to have spent a crazily cheery weekend away from Beantown.

Sadly I’ll remember this day of missing the marathon with my thoughts of fear for friends that could have been injured in the explosions which occurred at the final of the Boston marathon, on Boylston street right in the city center. Its terrible news, which no one ever wants to read and my thoughts go out to everyone who experienced the trauma today, and to the families who have lost their loved ones.

In west Philadelphia born and raised.

Sitting emotionally and physically exhausted, unsure whether I should be gleefully smiling with happiness, or gleefully crying with pain I slumped in my Bolt bus chair heading to PHILADELPHIA. After a slight time confusion, we ran late rather than organized and early to our 1015am bus. Running from the T station to the bus station, carrying my weekend bags I had a harsh realization that the time spent in the gym clearly isn’t enough. Hahaha. Ok exaggeration over, we made the bus by the skin of our teeth and YAY onwards to Philly we go.

After a surprisingly pleasant ride through the states we arrived to a warm welcome at the train station by Mollys ‘uncle’. We sat that night catching up and meeting each another, over a grand meal thanks to Lisa Tay-funs wife.  Sunday we became the happy little tourist under tour guide Lisa’s wings, after an absolute incredible breakfast, croissants, pancakes, sausages, bagels, and tea …. .after all breakfast is the most important meal of the day… .. We managed to see rocky balboa statue, the line of flags, many sculptures, tried a Philly cheesesteak, and touristed together around Philadelphia on one of the nicest days so far of America 2013. We ended the evening in an Italian restaurant Maggianos wining and dining with new friends we then carried on the conversations with monster strawberries and delights back at home, spoiled.

Monday started off not as early with another mighty marvelous meal. Stealing Lisa’s omelet recipe as they were fabulously fluffy and full of flavor! We packed our gear and headed back into the city for a last few hours of sightseeing. We managed to make it down to the magic garden, boy were they magic. Walking down to the garden you are teased by small murals in the ghetto areas walls and side of buildings. Once you were there it was incredible! I really enjoyed seeing all of the art splodged and splatted around Philly, it makes the streets a lot more interesting.

Walking back up with promenade/river, we chilled with coffee before boarding our bus back to BOSTON!

Bon voyage!!

Beaunos springbreak, we all shouted at our French friend Roman as he entered the room. Surprise going away celebrations are the best.  Spending the night dancing to country music, laughing at ridiculous things, enjoying an inside BBQ since the weather decided to turn-  we all shared our time with Roman before he begins to count down his days,for travels in Europe before starring his summer coop.

Inspirational.

Tonight I had the pleasure of accompanying my very good friend Michelle to her awards ceremony in frost lounge.  Tonight on campus was the northeastern university scholarship awards, certificates, recommending speeches and congrats are given to all incredible outgoing students on campus.  These students have participated in the most events, researches, charity raisers, show exceptionally high dedication to tasks and determination to improve and better not only their selves but people around them also, inspirational young adults.  Listening to all of the achievements was an inexperience I won’t forget, as it truly is a reminder to me to really reach goals and push boundaries. Being an absolute proud friend I watched and clapped enthusiastically as Michelle received one of the top two awards possible of this academic year. You go girrrrl, I’ll take note of your movements and question when you actually have time to ever sleep! Such an involved incredible female!

Invitations and Indigo

Today I received this wondrous invitation in work.

 

I had to sadly decline the invitation to the End of the Years Gala, hosted by the Husky Ambassador Program Organization on campus.  This event is going to be a great event, I'm sure, to have all of the talented students together in one room, razzleing and dazzling each another with their outfit choices.  This would have been my opportunity to play American proms, but alas I have other plans.  This upcoming weekend myself and the Scots are traveling down to Philedelphia for a funfilled weekend of touristing it up and catching up and meeting a new friend! I cannot wait, love traveling and exploring as you learn and see so much of the world.

 

This past weekend I managed to climb the mammoth (in my eyes)((although it was only 500+ feet) mountain that is called the Great Blue Hill, within the Blue Hills Park south Boston.  After you make the 30 minute ride down via the T and a bus, you are entirely separated from the city and emerged into nature. I really do appreciate weekends where I mix it up a little, saying that most weekends I do different things.. .

Anyway, Katie, Safaa and myself enjoyed hiking up, down and round the forest taking in the amazing views looking back at Boston.  By then ending the evening in a quirky little Italian restaurant in Dorchester. I could honestly have sat on the antique cushioned chair all night. .. . I will definitely making a stop there again in future to chitter chatter with good friends and enjoy grande cappuccinos.

March Madness

As mentioned earlier I had participated in March Madness, it didn’t end well. Sadly as an optimistic scot I backed the royal, Dukes. Having left the game within the final four I was out. Throughout the game though I learned heaps. Having started the game amongst colleagues, I first thought the questions, how is your bracket looking, clearly meant a wall bracket and was it nailed in well, still up etc. I was wrong. American college basketball is the game and winning amongst 8 rounds is the goal. Wanting to win, if you do something may as well try and to it the best, I sat for three hours researching what a bracket was… what their ranks meant and why this was so great. It’s awesome watching your teams win, and lose as the banter which is generated between your team rivals is great. If only I could gloat with glory of being a Scottish girly winning against all the Americans, perhaps next year!

Your making my dreams come true!

Doooodooo do do dooooodoooodo do. FLASSSSHMOB.

It’s not every day you see a flash mob, and it’s especially not every day you get to be a dancer in a flash mob! Thanks to one of the hundreds of organizations on northeasterns campus, THEEEE (drum roll please) Husky Ambassadors, the crème de la crème of campus organizations, secretly planned a flash mob to razzle and dazzle visitors to the campus on Saturday morning.

Its surely something I can not only tick off my Boston to do list, but definitely off my bucket list.

This talented group of students are going to go places, if not in future flash mobs- definitely successful careers and achievements. Their drive, dedication and perceptions on life is truly inspirational and I am so happy to have been allowed to participate along with them all, and feel one with the pack. (LETS GO HUSKIES!)

… … Are you ready to gooooooooooo?!

SpringsAcoming!

Everyone loves a free lunch, today at preciously 11:55 I beamed out at the centennial common quad from my office window. It was Springfest BBQ time, and the celebrations for the student concert night had started from 11-2 on center campus. With my excitement I got the attention from my other colleagues and we headed together down to the Smokey tables for hot dogs and burgers.

After laughing hard at the image of some of the Admission counselor bravely squatting on a rodeo surf board, I met up with friends to sit on the sunny warm grass and enjoyed my lunch hour outside, sunfun(!!)

After work I headed to Sweet Cheeks Q, via a nice walk across the fens parks. Meeting Molly and her Marvelous family. Patting pulled pork and Texas toast into our mouths I enjoyed my early evening chatting about the Aitkens trip to NYC and future travel plans. Spending the late evening in Cambridge at the Havana club, we counted our dance steps out to ramba salsa.  This was the first time I had taken a salsa class, but I would recommend it to anyone thinking of doing so. 123..567. No fours are included in this beat, I spent the evening mantraaaa, cha cha and cha and by the end of the night tired and ecstatic at my hips don’t lie movements we headed home definitely planning on returning a future Thursday (april classes free, afterwards 5$ per class)

the grand finale.

Well, I maybe never got my lead role that I had possibly dreamt I had.. .. But the proof is in the pudding. At around 1:16 onwards my friends and I appear in the crowds!  It obviously isn't that clear as we were too great to be shown, at a better angle, and so with the little help from red circles- you can spot ourselves in the crowds!

I am so glad to have been able to experience Fenway Park, for free, after hours with little crowds.

Lets allll go to a baaaaaal game.. .. .

Burgers and Bread

Sitting in the T at the moment staring at my bag I’ve hauled along with me. Today is going to be a good day, I have cheesecake! Last night at sundown was the ending of Passover, my good friend Michelle being Jewish had lasted the whole week on matza bread and noodle pasta. At exactly 7:11pm we headed to the Cheesecake factory and filled our little stomachs with heaps of brown bread, burgers and fries. Sadly we could not finish it all, but gladly I thought I may as well get cheesecake for the road since it would be terrible, really, not to. I ended last night with my Scottish girls plus an extra one, Mollys’ little sister Jojo came over for a slumber party! (TV and Relaxing, yesplease)

lets get down to business..

Pinchpunchfirstofthemonth, April. Happy new month 'y'all'!

Wow. Time surely does fly when you are having fun, I cannot believe that I now only have three months left here on this side of the Atlantic. And, for anyone that has been around me in the past few days, they all surely know as I cannot keep myself from bringing up the sad news. Now, I shall just try and live every week like it is almost my last and make the most of being here, until moving home.

March truly was March madness, with visitors from Scotland, a weekend in NYC, a couple of TWENTY FIRST BIRTHDAYS, the real march madness bracket competitions, participating in my first ever flash mob, and lots of other crazy cramped activities in the available thirty days.

HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY. Nothing spectacularly foolish happened to me today, except when you went onto the northeastern website, their logo was flipped round the other way, which was rather foolish… ..

What can I look forward to in April: a weekend in Philadelphia next week, booking my travels to the west coast hopefully doing a trek America’ which takes groups round different routes to experience all of the places you really want to see, pour example I really want to go and see the grand canyons, the Yellowstone reservation park, Hollywood and other sunny west coast destinations and attractions. I hope to find a summer internship somewhere in the Uk for my three months gap before I start my big bad fourth year of my degree back at Glasgow Caledonian. We are also expecting the Brian Evans music video to be released this month, here’s hoping for some mug shots! Basically, making the most of now and taking every opportunity that I could try to grasp before it passes me by.

To fruitful futures and happy happenings….  … …… ..