Jacqueline Roberts

Jacqueline Roberts is a New Yorker and 2017 Journalism graduate from Point Park University, pursuing her dreams in travel, lifestyle & fashion. An avid reader of All Things Condé Nast, especially Vogue and Traveller. This is her second trip abroad with the International Media course; last year she explored the different media outlets in London, Bruges and Amsterdam. Jacqueline is looking forward to visiting Iceland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. Expecting to take cliché photos by the beautiful geysers in Reykjavik, nostalgic scenery of the Titanic Shipyards and fancy Belfast Castle in Belfast, and casually sightseeing in Galway Bay. Follow her as she documents everything with just her iPhone6 camera lens, and whatever else she can stuff into that carry-on on this two-week journey across Europe! Be sure to catch photos and updates on her travel Instagram page, Imported Melanin.

 

It’s Not Goodbye, See You Soon

May 26, 2017

It wouldn’t be a travel day home, without delays. I woke up this morning to some fresh plump bright yellow pineapples (which I haven’t had on the entire trip until our lunch at BBC that I’m actually still sad got thrown away) and sweet melons. The Oak Arms Hotel in Shannon was so nice and regal it felt like a modern glamorized suite in a castle and the breakfast didn’t disappoint either. I was surprised to be able to order from the full menu so I definitely took advantage. I ordered french toast and a fried egg. I was a bit alarmed when I received what looked like toasted bread with powdered sugar on it, but after tasting it, it was deliciously light and airy and very hot. I packed up some fruit to take with me to the airport and boarded the coach. Once I got word (well a group text) that our flight had been delayed, I wasn’t shocked but rather disappointed to have to wait two and a half more hours in the airport on top of the time we allotted ourselves to be there (a grand total of 4 hours).

So we get to the airport and I am so glad that I live in New York because the trip’s connecting flight was to JFK then to Pittsburgh. There were delays in NYC because of the weather and they were on high alert as a result of the bombings/ attacks in Manchester. This was the thing that was worrying everyone because as a result of the NYC delays, the time everyone had to get to their connecting flight was too close for comfort. It was all very stressful and to make matters worse, the Shannon airport was probably the smallest airport we went through on this trip and it had a small duty free shop! Whomp whomp whooommmpp. I thought  I was going to shop some more because I had some more money, but I only got some last minute souvenirs. After waiting for what felt like 8 hours, we boarded the plane and prayed for the best -hoping everyone made it to NYC safely and in a timely manner so everyone can get to where they needed to be. It felt so good to be back home in NYC, but bittersweet to be leaving behind our sweet adventures in Ireland. I definitely want to revisit Iceland because even though it was our shortest visit, it was my favorite. It isn’t goodbye, but see you soon!

Until then,

xo

I Never Thought I Would Experience This

May 25, 2017

Today was the last day in Galway and I can honestly say I am going to miss the delicious caramel tea (I had to pack some in my bag to go). Galway has been so good to me and everything and more of what I imagined. I loved the all of the culture and music that characterized the small town and city square. I am definitely going to remember and cherish all of the great vivacious sounds and connections to the countless musicians and artists that welcomed you into their city with pleasant melodies of tradition. We headed to see the Cliffs of Moher and can I just say, look at God! The Cliffs of Moher were absolutely breathtaking and overwhelmingly high (I was going to say beautiful, but whew they were high up). We hiked along these large towering cliffs covered in a variety of greens ranging from the grassy greens to the shadowy forest greens. I didn’t think I’d be scared but I was certainly nervous to walk along these large masses that was surrounded by the large open seas with dark deep blue waves crashing against the rocks and edges of the cliffs. On the other side of the cliffs were fields and fields of fluffy grass with cows speckled with brown and black spots that looked like they were posing for you to take a photo of them. After hiking from one side all the way to the other (or at least we tried to) I couldn’t help but take in the alluring beauty of such immense boundlessness that I was besieged by. I was at ease and peace with my mind, body and the experiences I have had throughout this trip – I was so thankful for the 3 hours of meditation. Beside the high winds that propelled bugs at you and some of them sticking to your back, in your hair or what felt like them flying into your nose, I really enjoyed the time at the Cliffs of Moher.

After reaching our beautiful hotel in Shannon, The Oak Arms Hotel, it was for certain time for dinner! We quickly drove to the Bunratty Castle for our final group dinner. The trail to the castle had small horses and baby goats along side it eating grass as their brown coats glistened in the pockets of sunshine that peeked through the overlapping trees. Opened were these grand steel and wooden gates that led to the towering castle with small and medium sized cannons that lined the graveled walk way. We were greeted by a man and woman dressed in colorful medieval  clothes as they directed us to walk up this small winding white spiral staircase. Once to the top, we entered the ballroom where we were served mead, a honey based fermented drink. We were mingling inside a castle! It was such fun start to what I knew would be a theatrical night. A harpist and violinist played soft melodies before the rest of the crowd joined us and a gentleman walked around and offered us bread as a peace offering to friendship and keeping the castle safe if you lightly dipped the bread into the salt and ate it (I didn’t dip my piece into the salt because at the time I didn’t hear him say all of that). We were then greeted by the rest of the royal hosts who crowned Helen and Bob Queen and King of the evening! After toasting to our King and Queen, we went to the main dining room where we all sat along these long wooden tables with matching benches. On the table was an entire medieval spread: round soft loaf of brown bread atop a stand (there was no butter), red and white wine, fresh (room temperature) water,  a small drinking bowl for water, a slightly bigger one for wine, a plate underneath a soup bowl and finally next to it a knife. There was no other utensils like a fork or a spoon so I was surprised to see how messy things were about to get. We were ready for a medieval feast at the Bunratty Castle. There was singing by the regal hosts accompanied by the beautiful sounds of the harp. We had a four course meal: soup (that we drank from the bowl), what they called the best ribs in all of Bunratty (I ate fresh sweet melon for this course because I no longer eat red meat) for the main course roasted chicken with potatoes and finally for dessert, an apple crumble atop some sort of set cream.

It was such an experience and I would definitely recommend it to everyone who visits Ireland! I can’t believe it is our final night in Ireland. Our trip flew by and I couldn’t more happier with all of the memories I have to look forward to from all of the experiences we’ve had thus far. I hope I get to return in the future to see all of the things I didn’t get to and of course shop (can’t forget shopping)! Tomorrow we head back to the states, so Helen and Bob had to give back their crowns -what would we do without them especially since Helen organized all of these amazing trips. Here’s to the 11th International Media trip! I hope I get to go on next year’s trip to Italy (fingers crossed)! I will be back so definitely stayed tuned.

Until then,

xo

 Peace, Love & Oh How Good it Feels to Be Back in a Studio

May 24, 2017

It’s the second day in Galway and I am so happy that it was another day that I felt right at home. We visited Galway Bay FM and let me tell you, I have been having withdrawals from the small radio closet Point Park called a studio (until they built a brand new state of the art – that didn’t work – media center). The radio studios at Galway Bay FM were of course larger than the college radio stations we had, but nonetheless it felt like home to me. Nostalgic to say the least, the smell of the carpet and the foam padding on the walls to the dual computer set up accompanied by soundboards and microphones. I really enjoyed hearing Keith, the CEO, on air on his morning show because it is always interesting to see how different seasoned hosts work their programs. From the live on air guest interviews, to the callers speaking segments, I loved every minute of it. I was surprised to, yet oddly proud to hear that he and his daughter were a team -she produced his shows and he was running CEO and host of some of the top shows at the station. It was refreshing to see such a close bond between father and daughter because it reminded me of my connection with my father.

While Keith talked to us about the ins and outs of the station, he also shared some of the things he looks for when he is going through his 5-year hiring process. Below are 5 key things to take note on if you are planning on getting a job at a radio station. Note: this may be news programming specific!

  1. Communication Skills
    • If you’re in this field, you should have this in the bag! Know how to communicate in different settings to all types of people in different levels of their careers
  2. Someone that doesn’t use Google or Facebook
    • He was keen on his employees not relying on sources found on Facebook or Google. Be able to determine what is news, how to obtain the facts and how to source them properly
  3. Have to be “switched on” & knows whats going on
    • If you’re in this field, you have to have knowledge on what is going on around you that can affect you and those around you. Be alert and be ready so you don’t have to get ready!
  4. Be first, be a leader.
    • Just because other news outlets may be doing the story, how can you do it differently? How can you get the scoop first and present it to your audiences first?
  5. Have local knowledge as well as international knowledge

Everyone’s Welcomed at the Galway Street Club

May 23, 2017

 

After not seeing any live music last night in Belfast, I was excited to get to Galway in the hopes of seeing if all the talk about this “music town” would be true. So long Belfast, NI, hello Euro Land- I am happy to be back in Ireland where the currency is euros (because I still have all of the money I bought and I  am ready to shop)! We didn’t have a group dinner tonight but that’s ok because I got to have the best fish & chips (well the best thus far on this trip) at the famous McDonagh’s. It was like we set foot in a little cafeteria where you walk up to the lunch lady and say what you want, but this wasn’t cold school lunch, it was fresh seafood hot and steamy and ready to eat. The menu had cheesy up close and personal photographs of the food on what seemed like an old iPhone or some small point and shoot, but let me tell you, it did the food no justice (kind of reminded me of a Chinese take out spot in NYC). I got the cod and chips and it was less than €10 – a steal, especially since the fish and chips I got in Reykjavik was 3800 krona. After we finished and my belly was full and I was happy we went for a pint of Guinness and some live music at The Quays. I was pleased and excited to hear some live music in Ireland, because I’ve been studying it for a semester and nothing compares to experiencing it in person.

The highlight of my evening though, was walking in the drizzling rain and stumbling upon this crowd of people circling around what sounded like a small community concert with different instruments going and a melody of voices singing. We stood in what turned into rain listening to live street music by an enthused and surprisingly coordinated 12-member band, the Galway Street Club. They played outside (and somewhat to the left and in the center) of the same place where Ed Sheeran used to play, The Treasure Chest. It was exciting to see all of these talented musicians play various songs (some of which I couldn’t understand). I never knew a street band of 12 members could sounds so good and there were so many different instruments being played (you could hear all of them perfectly tuned too) which included the harmonica, guitar, violin. washboard, saxophone and a mini trumpet which was only the half of it. The collective group of buskers were full of personality, individually and as a band, it felt like we were in on one of their band rehearsals the kind that you see on tv in someone’s grandparents garage. From the tall guy with a short sleeved shirt on without shoes with a high hippy ponytail that couldn’t stop dancing to the short girl playing the washboard in the back vibing out and in tune with the band’s instrumental flow. It was everything I hoped it would be and more – thank you Galway Street Club for welcoming me into your city with open arms and soothing voices. I even got their cd which was one €5! I can’t wait to pop it into my stereo at home and feel like I’m back in the rain sitting on the cobble stoned walkway in front of the same place where great artists before performed. (Don’t forget to follow The Galway Street Club on all their social media platforms where you can keep track of their upcoming events)

Until then,

xo

I Think I Fell in Love, Again.

May 22, 2017

Ok I honestly thought Harmonia Publications was my favorite media visit thus far – but BBC Northern Ireland is coming for them on the scoreboard! Yes today, we visited the renowned BBC in NI. I cannot believe I had a badge and I stood inside the very place (or at least the affiliate) where some of the shows and news stories I read are produced. I am still shocked and stunned. The presentation from yet another woman boss -go girl – really educated me and opened my eyes to what BBC stands for and what they are doing to make a difference in media today. They even had lunch for ready for us along with tea and coffee – I had the juiciest pineapples that were so refreshing, but when we split up to tour the studios, they threw it out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Still upset about that because I love me some fruit- especially pineapple).

I was in the group (front and center) that visited the radio studio and newsroom. When I stepped inside this newsroom with all of the open space filled with dual side-by-side computers on every desk, monitors laced the walls with current news updates, running shows, editing clips for upcoming programs, and people working together in the midst of all the hustle and bustle -I felt like Lucy from that old black & white show I Love Lucy when Ricardo yelled, “Lucy, I’m home.” I felt right at home in the midst of all the quiet commotion. We got a chance to go inside the control room where the 4-member team was working on all on the boards for the on-air radio show with William Crawley. I think I fell in love, all over again at the sight of it. I just felt at ease in the control booth because they were using programs like ENPS that I was familiar with and others like Dalet and Phonebox that I wasn’t but was eager to learn more about. Talking to William Crawley was probably my favorite part of the tour because it was nice to connect with someone that has been doing this for such a long time and getting to hear his start and why he still gets up and comes to work every day.

We wrapped up our tour in the BBC tv studio where we met Sara who was sitting underneath those bright white lights in front of the BBC green screens and not-so-live traffic feeds. I’m not the girl who loves to be in front of the camera, but I’m definitely the one who enjoys writing and producing for programs. It was nice hearing some of the tips she’s learned along the way and what stuck with me the most was when Sara said, “make yourself valuable because the more skills you have the more indisposable you are to your employer.” It felt good being back on a tv set, I didn’t know I would miss is as much as I did since I’ve graduated from PPU (I don’t have broadcast news production with Maria anymore). Visiting BBC NI today, made me realize that I don’t need to be afraid of what’s to come in the future as far as my career is concerned. I’ve learned from the best and I am prepared and well skilled to land a job in the real world. Tomorrow we leave Northern Ireland behind and head back to Ireland – Galway Bay is next. I’m going to miss this city, but I am excited to move on to some more adventures.

Until then,

xo

Stay Woke, Stay Resilient

May 21, 2017

I didn’t expect to feel the way I did when I reached the end of the tour, but before I get to that let me rewind a bit. Leaving Dublin City this morning wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, I guess because I felt comfortable here, I felt at home here – I was ready to move on and see what Northern Ireland has in store. We boarded the Enterprise and had a beautiful scenic train ride through the countryside all the way to Belfast Central Station in just two short hours. Honestly, it kind of reminded me of  the train ride on the Long Island Railroad from Hempstead into the city and everything from the cushioned seats (which may have been a bit more plush than the LIRR seats) to the suburbia bricked houses next to five or six -story multiple family houses (public housing or miniature projects) all felt strangely familiar and soothingly put me at ease.

We immediately started our tour day in Belfast as we boarded the coach and headed into the City Centre. Hungry and somewhat anxious, I was more than ready to get off the coach and explore. We stopped and had a quick but much needed lunch break in the new City Hall which was surrounded by beautiful Victorian buildings and thick landscaping lawns of mixed lime and forest greens. Inside was stunning with high sculptured ceilings dressed with chandeliers and along the walls to the Bobbin Cafe were bright colorful mosaic windows of captivating scenes of historic events that characterized Northern Ireland (and the Republic of Ireland for that matter).

Laura, former Multimedia Producer at BBC and our tour guide, took us through East, North and West Belfast. We started by driving across the River Lagan to the Titantic Quarter. The “wee” shipyards had the sister ship, Nomadic, of Titantic docked, (pictures soon) the recently constructed what some people call the “iceberg” building which has more than 3000 mirror geometric plates on it made to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titantic. The yellow white and grey stripped Titantic Studios sat in the middle of the shipyards and I was surprised to hear that most of the interior scenes of The Game of Thrones was filmed in there. As we left the shipyards, the tall yellow metal cranes with H&W at the top was clearly visible as Laura mentioned Harland and Wolff was the largest producer of ships in the world. We then went to what she called the “mini white house” or what locals call it “the house on the hill,” Northern Ireland’s Parliament building – the Stormont. It sat on a hill overlooking the city centre and all the way to the mountains where the bumps and curves of the green-covered hills characterized the silhouette of the great big giant. From there, we drove to up through the Cavehill Park to the Belfast Castle and when I tell you I felt like a princess walking straight out of a Disney film -believe me (pictures soon). This grand red bricked castle stood so tall I had to bend my head backwards to see the top of it. It’s front lawn was so finely manicured and plush, with a stoned water fountain in the center surrounded by fully bloomed purple pink and yellow flowers that blew in the breeze. The city-scape was the perfect backdrop for the castle and the best part of it all was the winding stoned stairwell that gracefully welcomed guests to climb up to the second floor of this grand gift. (videos to come)

The most influential and memorable part of the city tour was driving around the Peace Wall and seeing the two separated sides of Protestants and Catholics. It was shocking to see in real life because we read about and saw videos about it but that didn’t compare to seeing it in person. While reading some of the comments of solidarity and messages of hope, I became so emotional at the realization that a people, their communities can be so divided even today in 2017. Tears formed in my eyes and I tried to hold them back until I got on the bus to let them roll in private. I signed next to someone’s black power fist, “WITH LOVE + HOPE. NYC-> NI STAY RESILIENT. JRK O5.2017 PPU XO.” 

Getting to sign the peace wall. I hope the feel our support.
Belfast, Northern Ireland
JRK

A Day With The President

May 20, 2017

Today was our free day in Dublin and I had all intentions of waking up early, despite the fact that I’m not a morning person (not to mention our schedule on this trip has been early mornings to late afternoons) and go shopping! But yesterday after meeting Michael Chester, the second time president of PPAI, he offered to take some students on a photo tour of Dublin’s hidden spots that tourists would never think of going. I am a photography enthusiast and even though I didn’t have a fancy camera on this trip, I had my old faithful -iPhone6. So we waited and waited and waited some, finally as I was walking towards the main shopping streets I got a text from Chloe saying, Chester is free to take us now (mind you it is almost 2pm) so I walked back to our hotel in excitement and relief. I was so grateful to be sharing an entire afternoon with the President, I was so giddy like a little kid spending the whole day with their favorite uncle.

In his 2016 BMW 3 Series M Sport, Chester jokingly swerved from empty lane to empty lane accelerating happily while the soft tunes of Coldplay’s A Head Full of Dreams album played in the background. He told us about how he got his start, what camera was his favorite, why he preferred black and white film to digital and of course why Ireland is his favorite place out of all the places he’s visited. I wrote my class article on him, so if you’re interested in hearing more about Chester and the students he took on a photo journey, read my article underneath  the tab “Student Articles.” This six-hour photo adventure around Dublin outer city and countryside was overwhelmingly amazing. We visited more than 10 places, but the ones I enjoyed the most (which was hard to choose) and think every visitor should experience are down below! Get ready to take note because I’m sure you will want to visit every one of them!

5 Non-Touristy Places to go When You visit Dublin

  1. Dublin Bay
    • This is just outside of Dublin city and is well worth the 10 minute drive. The port has this long walkway to a lighthouse which is great if you’re looking for some exercise. You can also catch some vendors selling some quick drinks and lunchtime bites. Be warned this stop is only recommended during the summer months because otherwise the tide is too high and often covers the graveled walk way.
  2. Scottsmen Bay
    • Just outside of Don Looghaire, this bay area is perfect for watching some sailing events, getting the fresh air off of the water and all while you enjoy an ice cream cone with fresh chocolate inside!
  3. The Forty Foot
    • This natural pool area is known for its deep waters that form a forty-foot deep lagoon that is great for swimming! This stop is a gem because you get two for one. If you don’t like swimming and just in it for the view, walk up a block to James Joyce’s Tower and learn a little bit more about the famed literary author. You can even go to the very top of the tower and get a view of Dublin city and all of the blue waters surrounding it (beautiful on a sunny day, but you never know with Dublin’s weather so bring that umbrella just in case).
  4. Bulloch Harbor
    • This small harbor looks out onto the Don Looghaire bay area into Dublin city. Great place for diving, if you’re into that kind of thing, but while you’re there it is a perfect spot to enjoy the view and some lunch – pack a little picnic and settle down by the harbor. When the sun is out, that warmth and soft breeze is just what you’ll need!
  5. Sorrento Park
    • Saving the best for last, whether you’re a couple backpacking or a family looking for a time away from your hotel, this view will surely stun you and force you to stay until you realize it’s too dark and you can’t find you car (just kidding). This stop is for everyone looking for that amazingly breathtaking postcard 360° panorama view of Dublin.

I Crawled Pass 4 Pubs

May 19, 2017

Before I get to the fun pub crawling details, let me tell you about my day of media visits! Today, we visited Heneghan PR, the Irish affiliate of Burson-Marsteller. First off, Nigel Heneghan, the Managing Director, was so welcoming and personable -it felt like I was talking to an old time friend over after work drinks. Heneghan PR was started by Nigel’s father and their main priority is to understand their clients and their clients’ objectives in order to deliver impactful communications.  I really enjoyed the fact that he tries to be involved in all of the client relations. He said, “I’m very available and hands-on,” as he was talking about working with clients where he’d rather be involved than just see them twice a year for a check in. I admired his managing style because I felt comfortable and motivated to listen -I was inspired by his charisma, how genuine he was and most importantly, his character and interest in what he does.

They had an intern studying in Ireland and working with them from Charleston, South Carolina. She was such a sweet hard-working girl and it was so refreshing to hear her point of view. She was keen on doing what you have to do in order to get that job experience and get to where you’re going, “climb mountains, go through valleys.” Below are 5 points of advice she offered us that really stuck out to me.

  1. Don’t be afraid to stand out
    • Be different from everyone
    • Try something different for your cover letter like writing a feature about yourself
  2. Put communications into your application
    • You’ve studied it in the classroom, so now it’s time to apply it and show employers you know how to use it
  3. Be open-minded
    • You may start out in a job having a set list of duties and responsibilities that don’t coincide with the position you applied for or the degree that you have. It is ok to do things outside your comfort zone because the more you do, the more you learn
  4. Just do it with a smile on your face
    • Whatever your boss asks you to do, just do it (like Nike), be appreciative that they asked you to do it and not someone else.
  5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions

Afterwards we got to talk with the President of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland, Michael Chester. He was such a character, with a loud Irish accent and such enthusiasm. He looked like an Irish St. Nick without the Santa hat on. He was so passionate about photography and I was surprised that he hadn’t gotten a degree in it. He said, “I have an eye and I got this [points to his brain],” as he talked about his qualifications in photography. He got me thinking – if he can do it, then I sure can. Chester was keen on black and white film photography, said, “digital is for the birds.” I thought that was funny because digital photography is becoming more and more prevalent especially with all of the new advancements in technology. The thing that stuck with me the most that Chester emphasized were the 3 things he said you needed to have in order to be successful in photography: passion, hard work and creativity. I enjoyed listening to Chester’s stories so much, I’ve decided to write an article on him for our class website, so stay tuned for that!

Now what you all have been waiting for… The Dublin Literature Pub Crawl with our actors & hosts -Finbarr Doyle & Kevin C. Olohan! Honestly, when you visit Ireland and you’re looking for something to do one night, go on this pub crawl and make sure you’re with Finbarr and Kevin because they are great! They reminded how much I love literature because not only are they believable actors, but they had relatable chemistry, they were very personable, they had tons of knowledge on Ireland and Irish literature and they were hilarious! It was a great night event, despite the fact that I was as sick as a dog with a fever, pounding sinus pressure and I was having a hard time breathing. I pushed through and for less than €15 (for students), I got to enjoy some great literature history and good ol’ Irish pub atmosphere. We stopped at four pubs that I would recommend you visit if you decide not to go on the tour: The Duke Pub off of Grafton Street, O’Neills, The Old Stand Pub and finally Davy Byrne’s. Along the way, Kevin and Finbarr quoted great authors and some of them stuck with me more than others. Below are 5 quotes that are mix between authors, old bar songs and old sayings Irishmen would say at the pub.

Here are the 5 Quotes on the Dublin’s Literature Pub Crawl that would make literature fans even bigger enthusiasts and have ‘craic’ (fun in Irish) along the way!

  1. “What will you have? I’ll have a pint!”
    • This was the first song (Waxy’s Dargall Drinking Song) we all sang in The Duke Pub. It was fun and festive and a great start to a night full of good literature and lots of beer!
  2. “They would corrupt the morals of the Irish drinking men.”
    • Finbarr was telling us a little history about the O’Neills pub – they used to have a room called the Snug where women were served liquor because it was seen as un-ladylike for women to drink amongst men. He then said most men believed this was the reason why women couldn’t drink with them. The room is still in the pub today, all guests are welcomed to drink on any of their 3-floors.
  3. “The first duty of a writer is to let down his country.” Brendan Behan
  4. “I’m a drinker who has a writing problem.” Brendan Behan
  5. “The pub is where you go!”
    • At the end of the tour, I was able to talk with Finbarr and Kevin about some of the Irish history and what they liked most about the culture. Kevin explained how public homes were the places to be and that is why so many women opened theirs up for people to come in and social and drink. It was a part of the town’s culture, families would go out to the pubs on Sundays listen to the news, watch sports, socialize with their neighbors and have dinner. It was the place to be, where sitting down and having a drink with a group of friends was and still is so much more than getting drunk- it was about connecting with one another and sharing the cultural bond.

I Was At A Loss of Words When We Met

May 18, 2017

Today we visited Dublin City University and it was such a green open campus. It reminded of those campuses you see on tv or something. I was really excited and ready to hear from the professor, it kind of brought me back to when I went to Amsterdam last year and sat in on a lecture from Dr. Jolien Arendsen about Dutch media. Check out my blog from last year to read more about it http://amsterdam.pointparkjournalism.com/student-blogs/imported-melanin/. I was so pleased to see an educated female professor speak to us today -I always get so inspired when we go on these media visits and I see so many young women in roles that I aspire to be in one day.

After eating lunch at DCU, we headed to Harmonia Publications, Ireland’s largest magazine publisher. I was the most excited for this visit because I’ve always wanted to tour and visit a publication house – especially one that publishing international fashion magazines. I was assigned to lead in questioning for this visit, but when I met all of those strong, smart, confident and friendly women bosses- I was at a loss for words. They obviously answered all of the questions I could possible ask and I was just like a giddy child at a candy store – didn’t know where to go or what to say first. I was so grateful for all of the advice they shared both the marketing team and the creative team. The editor of Food & Wine Magazine, Mariam Atkins, was so interesting and exactly where I wanted to be in the next 5-7 years. The advice she gave stuck out to me the most and I wanted to share it with all of you magazine lovers out there aspiring similar dreams as I. Below are the top 10 tips Mariam offered us. Hope this helps you on your journey, as for tomorrow, we have two more media visits here in Dublin so stay tuned for that!

Here are 10 tips from the Editor of the internationally recognized Food and Wine Irish Magazine.

  1. Be polite
  2. Do your research – on the company, on the material you’re writing, on everything
  3. Stay organized
  4. Always use spell check
  5. Always pay attention to detail, every little thing matters and can make or break you
  6. Pitch new and fresh ideas, whether you are a freelancer or just starting the job
  7. Keep your pitches short, concise and get to the point
  8. Be persistent, keep knocking on doors
  9. Ask why? Don’t be afraid to get criticism
  10. Get experience in digital and online media

I Honestly Never Left NYC

May 17, 2017

Early mornings, early mornings. We had a 6 am flight to Dublin City this morning but of course it was slightly delayed. I never flew on WOW airlines but Rachel (our travel agent who makes all these trips happen) told us how affordable their flights were so that is definitely how I will get back to Iceland! It was so cute and retro with a pink exterior and inside the jet was clean – the only thing that they didn’t have were tvs (at least on this jet). The flight attendants wore coordinating uniforms: the women wore this really vibrant fuchsia dress, blazer over top of it with a matching hat and low buns, and the men wore navy dress pants with a  matching vest with fuchsia paneling on the back- some of them had ties on but I just thought it was so cheerful and a great welcoming start to our flight. I slept on this flight (as I usually do), but I woke up to a a rough landing – we had to land twice.

As soon as we got on our coach and started driving around, all I could think of was inner city Manhattan. It was like I never left NYC – I felt at home and surprisingly at ease in this new city. I wanted to see more. We arrived downtown near the shopping pedestrian street (Grafton St) for a break to walk around and get acquainted and finally eat! I had a very tasted chicken sandwich on from this cute little cafe that had such fresh toppings – avocado and this really nice honey mustard mayo sauce. We then had a tour of their House of Parliament where we got to sit in on several legal hearings which was pretty cool but quite tiring (or maybe I was just tired from being up since 1am and now switching time zones again).

We stayed at these apartments – Stayapt Hotel – which was the cutest little flat and place we’ve stayed so far. It had two bedrooms, a laundry room, a nice sized bathroom, a living room with a small newly furnished kitchen off to the side and a balcony with the nicest view of Dublin city. We stayed over this courtyard where kids and residents would sit outside and the laughter and kids playing (soccer) football quickly reminded me of home, my little brothers, and living in the Harlem where I used to play in this park all the time when I was little. It felt just like I was back in NYC. The sun setting over the apartment complexes adjacent to us, the churches and bell towers in the distance was so soothing. We had ended our long day and with a dinner around the corner from where we were staying at the oldest pub in Ireland -The Brazen Head. I definitely recommend you go there for a pint of Guinness whenever you’re in Dublin!  Dublin reminded me so much of home, I started noting similarities and below you can see what I came up with.

Here are the top 5 reasons why I felt Dublin City was an international Lower East Side Manhattan

  1. historical churches in between every 5 or 10 blocks
  2. little nooks of street lined apartments
  3. grassy open parks
  4. great food joints/ restaurants on every block and corner
  5. shopping streets lined with countless store fronts of any brand you could think of

Here’s to You Kid!

May 16, 2017

Waking up today on my final day in beautiful Iceland was accompanied by the too familiar bittersweet feeling. Our first two media visits to Promote Iceland and The Reykjavik Grapevine were so inspiring to me as a fresh off-the-press college graduate who doesn’t quite have her s*** completely together (for lack of better words). It was a real relief and quite reassuring to here the background stories of the founders, editors, and directors of these reputable companies. Afterwards, I went to this really cool record store and photography shop. There I heard the melodic strangely relatable voice of a 16-year-old Icelandic rapper, Aron Can. His sound reminded me of PARTYNEXTDOOR vibes mixed with a dash of old school WEEKND and Post Malone. He is so talented, especially starting at such a young age. The guy working at the photography shop told me to listen to his recently released album -so i did! Let me tell you, I started it but I will definitely finish it after writing this post.

Myndaniðurstaða fyrir aron can inott

I had such a good day today and I had time to reflect on how much passion I have for music and writing about music. The Grapevine reminded me of my summer internship last summer with the renowned Hip Hop and Culture publication- XXL Magazine. Once I heard their history and how much they focused on writing for the culture and music of Iceland, I thought I could definitely see myself writing about Aron Can in the US. I guess I’m just a little homesick (if you can feel like that about an occupation) from being away from my close connection to my university’s radio station and my radio show, KNOX Radio Show where I was constantly connecting with different artists on social media and finding new music to share with my listeners. I’m excited for my future, but even moreso now than before because I know what I love to do and I think I’m going to try and find a job where I can utilize my passions. For now, I’m going to enjoy my last evening is Reykjavik, take a nice long hot shower, and jam out to the soft melodic sounds of Aron Can until I fall asleeep. Too bad I will be going to bed early (10pm) since we have a set 2am wake-up call and a 4am flight to Dublin, Ireland!

Until then,

xo

A Day of Meditation

May 15, 2017

I woke up this morning to the beautiful soft golden warmth of the sunrise on my back (after the distant ringing of the room phone alarmed me for my 7:30am wake-up call). I felt so comfortable in this surreal city and it wasn’t all because of my soft plush white comforter and fluffy pillows, but the peace in the silence and nature that surrounded me. I never expected waking up in the a downtown area would be this quiet and unpolluted and I am a city girl – NYC for life. It was just so refreshing.

The breakfast in the basement of the hotel was fresh and quite tasty giving me just what I needed to start my day of touring. Fresh seeded rolls topped with creamy lightly salted butter, crisp cut green apples and bright bananas cut into thirds which went really nicely with the oatmeal/ porridge that I dressed with a sprinkle of demarara sugar, and lastly a couple slices of white mild cheese cut into perfect triangles. As I sipped my Earl Grey tea and fresh lime water, I could not help but become more and more excited for what was in store.

The sun came out just for us it seemed like and was the perfect shining guide to start our Golden Circle Tour off. We traveled around to Iceland’s National Park, then to Geysirs and hot springs and ended at the Golden Falls. My favorite part of the tour was the National Park though they all were fascinating and overly breathtaking which made it hard to choose. On the way to the park it started to rain which brought about these vivid rainbows that effortlessly graced the light snow dusted mountains and the lakes. I have never seen anything like it in my life, it looked like five year-old Jac (me) took a fresh pack of Crayola crayons and colored a perfect-for-the-fridge picture of a fictional rainbow with puffy cotton clouds on the end. Nostalgic, yet stunningly present it was.

As we pulled up to the National Park, all I could say and think was “Wow.” I was speechless at the beauty that I was witnessing. The mixture of aqua, teal, indigo and dark blue characterized the water of the lake that surrounded the mountains. I was shocked to know that the water came from the melting of the glacier which was filtered through the volcanic lava rocks that flowed into the streams leading to the lake. It was so pure that it was drinkable (I know you are just as mind blown as I was when I heard Helga say too). We then headed down this trail where we touched these steaming soft dark rock walls and you will never guess what they turned out to be… (hint it is not volcanic rocks because I guessed that) These towering rock walls that were warm when you touched them were on one side the North American tectonic plate and on another side was the Eurasian tectonic plate. I immediately had a Finding Nemo moment when young Nemo swam out to the hovering boat with his small fin and proudly “touched the butt.”

Image result for he touched the butt

This park felt like a never ending abyss of natural beauty. I approached this small waterfall that streamed into the lake, but it was anything but minuscule. The soft rushing sounds of the spring water falling from the gathered rocks crashing against the walls with strong currents was overly satisfying. I honestly felt the pride and appreciation the people of Iceland have for this landmark. I and so grateful to have experienced something so serene and I would not trade it for anything else. I would definitely recommend you go on the Golden Circle Tour to experience this piece of beauty Mother Nature has blessed us with. The connectivity I had to the nature was so relieving and relaxing that the time I spent walking through it all was mere mediation. As for tonight, I will be heading to bed earlier than I did last night (3:30am) because tomorrow we get to go on our first media visit!

Until then,

xo

Day I

May 14, 2017

We have officially touched down in Reykjavik, mama I made it! I didn’t know I would be this relieved to leave rainy NYC to come to cloudy Iceland. After a five hour flight on a small Delta jet, waking up to the snow-covered mountains surrounding Keflavik was more than worth the crick in my neck and mid-back.

I’m a night-owl and waking up at 6:45am Iceland time (2:45am NYC time) wasn’t bad, especially when I walked into the beautiful Keflavik International Airport. Honestly, it was a like Instagram blogger meets some  interior design show on HGTV because the clean sleek fresh look and feel was so refreshing. The crisp polished light hardwood floors were something I have never seen in an airport before. There were these tall concrete accent walls that were a mix of heather grey and a charcoal grey that just resembled their appreciation for nature. And finally, the best for last, the bathrooms… any Instagram blogger (any person for that matter) would die if they walked into these bathrooms. The cleanest airport bathrooms I have ever seen in my life. There were these private rooms for stalls with cascading clean acrylic white walls that met a full length clear mirror that just forced you to take out your phone for an immediate mirror selfie. If I were to get stuck in any airport in any city, I would gladly volunteer!

Once we got some breakfast (as a true Caribbean I ate cocoa bread with a chicken patty I saved from a Jamaican bakery in NYC), we boarded our tour bus with Helga our tour guide and headed towards those beautiful snow-covered mountains to Downtown Reykjavik. The city surrounding the international airport, Keflavik, used to be the American Army base which since 11 years ago has not been occupied since. I found it so interesting that Keflavik is a music town because while the US occupied Iceland, they would play popular music on the radio station – pop and rock, which influenced the evolving music culture in Iceland now.

We quickly entered the “town in lava” Hafnrfjördur, which was surrounded by lava fields with growing green moss patches on them accompanied by a beautiful blue bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Other than this town being Helga’s hometown, it used to be the towns of the Vikings and they celebrate every summer with a festival. We passed the national church of Iceland which also on the same property as the current president’s residence. It looked out to the bay and the mountains, and if it wasn’t so windy I would have stayed off the bus longer to bask in all of its beauty. Once we got into the city, we stopped by the “church on the hill” which is the second tallest building in Iceland and the perfect landmark to look for if you ever find yourself lost in Reykjavik. The Hallgrimskirkja is a Luther church and has the largest organ inside. It was so peaceful and welcoming and I definitely recommend visiting it.

Since our rooms were not ready, we decided to do some personal exploring. I went into this small breakfast cafe, The Laundromat Cafe, and enjoyed the warm escape from the inner city brisk breeze. This cafe had some nice breakfast treats and drinks, but what I learned was the krona, is much harder to master lol Listen, I’ll break it down for you simply so you don’t have the same problems I did: the currency decimals are different in Iceland so if you see 1,200 kr, don’t assume its $1200, just move the decimal two places to the left so it is actually $12 give or take (you can also take off two zeros at the end.) Remember, $1 is about 104 kr (as of May 2017).

The Center Hotel (location we stayed at) is a small modern hotel easy to find if you ever get lost because it is in the center of downtown Reykjavik surrounded shops, restaurants and bars. Our welcoming dinner was conveniently located to the left of our hotel, just steps away cleverly named Reykjavik Restaurant. We had a delicious three course meal with great accommodating service and the warmth of the sun beginning to set at 8pm. For our appetizer, we had a creamy cauliflower soup with some fresh baked white bread with an seasoned crust and lighted whipped butter. For my main course, because I do not eat beef or pork, I was able to get a grilled salmon with roasted vegetables, a berry marmalade of some sort and some layered baked encrusted potatoes which was quite filling. Lastly for dessert we had a chocolate cake filled with a chocolate ganache accompanied by a fresh whipped cream topped with raspberries. It was a very good dinner and I would recommend going to them because they are known for their seafood buffet! As for tonight, I will be heading to bed because tomorrow we have a full day of touring!

Until then,

xo

Pre-Trip Jitters

Hey there, I am so excited to be documenting my trip to Iceland, Ireland and Northern Ireland and I hope you enjoy the virtual ride along the way! I am currently going through a whirl wind of emotions, kind of feel like I am on a never-ending emotional roller coaster. As you may have read in my bio, I am a recent college graduate and that alone has put me through everything from feeling happy, nervous, proud, scared, anxious and overwhelmed. I will let you know in my second week of post-grad life, I am feeling more tired and anxious but I am nonetheless appreciative of the opportunities that have presented themselves to me thus far. I, like many other recent college grads, do not have a secured job yet, but not to worry travel and getting to graduate school is at the top of my to-do list for my first summer as a college grad!

Traveling is a passion of mine and that is the reason why I decided to come back and go on the International Media trip again this year! Last year’s trip was so eye-opening for me and inspiring that it encouraged me to pursue a post-graduate program in London in the upcoming semester. Other than traveling to the UK, Belgium and Holland ( & France if you count our brief stop while driving through the countryside to get to Amsterdam), I have traveled to most of the islands in the Caribbean. My family is a big melting pot of Caribbean roots in Panama and Barbados and African roots in Liberia. We go on family vacations often and we have been to Barbados, Panama, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Belize, St. Croix, St. Lucia, St. Thomas, Bahamas, and some others that I can’t remember at the moment but you get the point – us Caribbeans love to visit our countries! (I mean who wouldn’t with all of that good food, good vibes, and beautiful scenery.)

#Treatyoself is honestly why I decided to go on this trip. (That and my mom was not paying for it so she advised me to save up and pay for it myself if it was what I wanted.)  My college experience was full of hard work, countless sleepless nights, not to mention me transferring from Hofstra University in NY to PPU my second year, four internships and a full time job. I think I deserved to go out of the country and live my dreams of exploring other cultures. After the cancellation of my senior capstone class (one that is required for me to graduate) I was able to work out an Independent Study by taking this course again. So all work and all play and I am proud to say after saving up my money from be a waitress at a Caribbean restaurant and receiving a scholarship from the Fallon Travel Fund, I will make it Iceland and Ireland next week!