When I was first looking for courses to apply to for university, I was drawn to the units that offered the “full hands-on experience” of the industry I was going into.

Journalism seemed to tick all the boxes and balance both my interest in writing and socializing with new people. Until I completed placements throughout my course, did I truly understand what I wanted from it and what I was going to pursue after graduating.

Placements themselves are hard to come by especially as a Journalist. Before I even sat down for orientation, I was late to submit my CV to news organisations for placement responses for the following academic break.

When I finally got a reply from my first placement with The Staff Canteen in September 2017 I was over the moon to work with an organization that brought together my interests in Journalism and food!

Beautiful pictures of Michelin starred dishes and interviews with chefs decorated their homepage. I expected to walk into lavish restaurants and ask to speak to the chef who would welcome me into his frantic kitchen in a Parisian accent and share his secrets to perfecting pastry or that butter is the answer to life. Sadly, I did nothing like that.

Instead, I sat at a desk and looked at pictures of food while sipping on a cup of coffee… there was an excellent Nespresso machine which I became very familiar with between coffee runs and scheduled posts on tweet deck.

While I thought I was making the baby steps to become the next Anthony Bourdain – I found myself looking into the back door of social networking instead. I learned how to market and maintain The Staff Canteen name and really understand what consistent content meant to an online organisation.

The following summer, I was offered the opportunity to work with a multimedia company in the south of Portugal. Now, since I live in Portugal the idea of going back home to work didn’t need a lot of thought.

The placement required me to shadow the CEO of the multimedia organisation, Comunicame. We worked with a charismatic team of directors, actors and camera operators to create a docu-series around eco tourism in the Algarve.

To some degree, it was like the basic training stages to becoming a Bear Grills camera man. In the scorching July heat, I am responsible for holding a blinding light reflector that could parachute me over a cliff edge in order to make the interviewee look flattering while she talks about pollution. It was amazing.

We hiked up into what seemed to be the clouds and found private paradises. While my language capabilities may be limited in Portuguese, I felt that my self confidence in speaking and working in a foreign language developed naturally overtime. We met a range of amazing people who felt the changes of the environment around them. It was an exceptional work experience.

The two placements heavily contrast with each other but have given me an understanding of what i want out of my career and what I need from myself to follow that path. I would recommend everyone to consider some form of work experience in addition to their university curriculum just to understand what you can get out of your degree.

This chapter is hastily approaching its ending and I can’t believe it has come so quickly. Only this time last year I was sitting at home studying for my A level exams thinking: “How am I going to get into university?”

Now, I study Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University and it has been intense. Throughout my years in school, I had to overcome 3 different curricula. I started in Washington but spent most of my educational career in Miami then graduated high school in Portugal.

None of these experiences could compare or even prep me for what the UK had in store for me. I have been yelled at, rejected and belittled by people who don’t even know my first name. I have stayed up late nights to complete articles just for 15% of my grade. The ratio between the amount of coffee I have consumed this semester and the times I’ve said “I’m so done” is practically equal. So, why have I continued this year? Why haven’t I dropped out like 50% of my course mates?

Well, there was a day that I felt small and stupid. I was lost and just wanted to come home to a hot meal and a shower I could actually shave my legs in. I rang my dad and he told me “Lex, it is only temporary. You are better today than you were yesterday.” He was too right. My whole life played out like that.

I decided to stay to see how much I would learn. I wanted to know how far I could be pushed before I really was, “done”. Having friends around that felt the same way is really helpful. We are all tired and stressed but we are all tired and stressed together.

As a consequence of my decision, I somehow learned how to write shorthand, started my own radio show with one of my close friends and actually printed a few articles.

I found myself in situations id never thought id be in like an underground studio talking about stupid tattoos or running away from security guards after a report. It’s better than I expected and I’m glad I stayed.

So, dear reader, I hope that my experiences don’t scare you off but rather give you a brighter side to whatever situation you’re in. Keep in mind, no matter how bad it is…”It’s only temporary”…

 

 

Some how I, Alexis Alley, was able to convince my parents to allow me to get a tattoo. Keep in mind that I was not allowed to go to sleepovers until I was in the 8th grade.

The tattoo has meaning but to be frank, I just liked the way it looked. Initially, I had the idea of getting a list of coordinates from each place I’ve lived in. My step dad though “why don’t you go bigger?”… how could I say no to that! 

So, instead of that grocery list, I got this bad boy. On the map are blimps for each city I’ve lived in. It begins in Washington to Miami then Vilamoura and now Bournemouth. It will progressively gain more blimps over time as I move.

Before I got the tattoo geography was something I learned and forgot very quickly. I had been to too many places to really care where things were. As long as I had two feet on the ground and I could understand what people were asking me, I was fine.

Thanks to my tattoo artist in Quarteira, Beirao, I’m saving up to see the rest of the world become a part of me.

When I first moved to Portugal, my initial plan was to make acquaintances quickly so I wouldn’t be alone for the three years that I’d be there before I left for university. Then, I found out that the Portuguese people id befriend would be the most genuine, funny and best gossipers I will come to know and they look great next to a sunset.

Among them was Joao Mexia, my best friend.   

If a champagne bottle were personified it would be him. A man with cold dark features and an elegance that lit up a room like a vanity mirror.

I would be the mother of his and his boyfriends’ children if they asked me to.  I would cheer him on until he succeeded his goals, good or bad. Most of all, I know I could lean on him in my times of desperation because he can lean on me.

We met at school but didn’t truly become close until my second year in Portugal. When I accepted the fact that I would have to stay another year for school, I accepted people more. He wooed over the fact that I was American and I awed over how American he was without ever having been to the states. We were comfortable in each other’s company in silence, in a group or the group forming around us. He is another leaf on my tree that I hope to never shake off.

My dear reader, do not be a stereotype. When you come to a new place, you meet new people and you lose some fear you had from your past because you’re learning more. I didn’t become friends with Joao because I wished to have a person like him in my life. I became friends with him because he happen to fill all the spaces that needed to be filled. It was him, this person I befriended, loved and saw as equally as everyone else that became part of my favorite piece of life.    

I write this article to Joao for no reason but also for you, dear reader, to understand that desires are not needs but simply “wants”. You may want to have your old life back but you may need to look in front of you to see all the beauty and potential before you.  

In every country there are traditions. Among multiple American traditions, there is the all important celebration of prom night and graduation. Unfortunately, Portugal doesn’t do that kind of ‘stuff’. The closest comprehension of the events were in movies like high school musical.

My parents knew what they were taking away from me when they moved me here.  I felt so deserted in this new country as I watched my friends in their shining dresses on prom night and throwing their caps in the air through social media. If you have been following my story or know me personally, you’ll know that I don’t like to feel sad or excluded. So, rather than living my teenage American dream through a lit up screen, I took it upon myself to plan a prom!

It wasn’t the easiest thing for me to plan. In reality I was not anymore informed about prom than my friends here in PT. I knew there was a formal dress code and someone pouring alcohol into the punch bowl. Since the drinking age here is 18, there was no need for that. In the end, the night was amazing. Everyone looked stunning in the sunset as we all piled into the best club in Vilamoura, Aqua moments. We all celebrated the night from sunset to sunrise and went home with unforgettable memories. I tried my best to make this night as authentic as possible with materialistic things but what really made the night  was the love and appreciation we all had for each other. For every person in the room that made my move easier, I loved them for being in my life. I’ll never forget my prom night because of the love I had omitted and received from everyone. Then again, winning prom queen adds to the memories. I was so happy to have brought something from my home land to my new home and it was all because I dont like being sad.

In your life you have a choice to live happily or regretfully. You can look at life through a single lense or a full gallery. I hope that in your life, dear reader, you can make your own gallery and live happily ever after.

It’s a funny thing when people change. Some become a better version of what they were. Others develop horrible habits. Then there’s the occasional dread of becoming your mother. The change can be so seamless that it may take another person to notice it.

If the old Alexis had met the new Alexis today, they’d kill each other! In America, I can honestly say I was very close-minded. I thought that appearance was what made an impression. I was a cheerleader, had joined bible studies and was always trying to find ways to look like the other girls around me. My health and relationships I had at the time were my main priority. I was able to be molded by judgment from others and debate was not a talent of mine.

European Alexis is different. Almost everyone I have met here in PT is openly honest about who they are and love to talk about it. I have developed this behavior since I’ve moved here and so far its done no harm. I don’t judge others and they don’t judge me. It has made sangria filled dinners more interesting. In all honesty, I think it has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I always wondered how the beautiful European woman in movies swooned everyone in a room. She simply was herself and let everyone know! Who would have guessed…

In class I had learned a term that describes how a person speaks. Idiolect  refers to an individuals speech that has developed from external experiences be it, growing up in a rural area or age. I particularly love my idiolect now; an American accent with a European way. I learned that if you’re in a place for long enough, it starts to grow on you or you grow on it. It’s beautiful, really.

My friend if you are in a new place, do not be afraid to be yourself or converge. It’s what makes you interesting and new and who doesn’t like new? You may bloom into something better.