Hey all!
As I expected my internship rules my life while I'm here. But what I've experienced in just three days has been pretty awesome.
My first day of work I was given a super quick orientation. I met the other intern who is here right now, her name is Katie and I relearned that the world gets smaller every day. She's from Minnesota, she lived in Rochester, and went to the U of M. How crazy is that! She's studied here before so she's kind of my insider's guide to Chile. She's pretty cool.
After our orientation Katie and I were asked to edit some articles. Then we were given an address, told to go to a press conference, and that was it. "Go do." seems to be the theme at this place which works wonderfully for me. So we go to this press conference, we don't know exactly what we're there for but we were told that we were going to this thing called SANFIC, an international film festival that takes place here every year. It turns out that this press conference is for Willem Dafoe (the guy who plays the Green Goblin in the Spiderman movies) and his wife Giada Colagrande who have made a new movie called "A Woman" that is premiering at this festival. After about an hour we had what we needed, I took the notes, Katie got some sound and pictures on her Iphone and we were ready to go. The writing's all Katie, but it was fun to be there. Like Katie said: that was pretty cool for a first assignment. "A Woman" Press Conference
Yesterday I conducted my first interview in Spanish with Fran Caselli, a chilean designer who is trying to teach people in Santiago the art of the weaving loom so it doesn't get lost to the pages of history. It was a very interesting interview and she understood all that I asked. Rescuing an almost lost art
Today we were told to stay home because there were major protests in the area during this strike of labor workers and the US embassy was concerned that it could get violent, it did. The boss is American so he decided he'd rather keep everyone safe than make us travel across town to the office. So, I played social media specialist all day from home, watching media outlets here, watching twitter, translating information to English and posting it on the site to help keep the public informed. It was hard work but worth it. Chile Timeline Thankfully my editor was able to pick up the timeline after 5 so that I could write my news brief for tomorrow and try to enjoy the rest of my evening.
I've put up one news brief so far and the other one will run tomorrow but below is the one that ran this morning. Chile's Daily News: August 24, 2011
I think I've learned a lot more and done a lot more in three days than other people have done at some of their internships so I think I'm right where I need to be. It's exhausting but it's fun.
Until next time,
Avery Cropp
August 20, 2011
Hola de Santiago!
18 hours.
2 flights.
A sunrise over the Andes that made them look like they were on fire this morning.
3 hours to go through immigration and customs.
Many separate conversations with a multitude of Chileans.
And I am finally all set up at my host mom's house in Santiago.
I'll tell you one thing about Chilean's they do love to talk. And the accent is a little hard to pick up on at first as this other blog tells you. I have had conversations with people on my plane; 3 with my host mom, Josefina's, relatives who were picking up another member of the family at the airport; and one very long conversation with the lady that is responsible for leading me to her this afternoon. They've all told me I speak very well, like a Chilean, which makes me pretty proud of myself. Apparently it's better than being told I talk like a Peruvian, which was something my friend Elise told me is meant as an insult here.
Though I needed an english break this afternoon and reached for one of my books I brought with me, talking is good; it's keeping my mouth moving which is helping my body stay warm. It's freezing here right now.I am literally writing to you all right now under the covers on my bed, with a few more extra blankets, a sweater and a jacket and I'm still cold. The Minnesota 54F is a lot different than a Chile 54F. Granted it's about 9 p.m. here and the sun's down so that makes a definite difference, but still, brrrrr. No humidity here to give that extra cushion.
Thankfully though, as you can see in the next link, it's going to warm up soon. There's a shot at 70F people!I was told that tomorrow is the start of spring here. How wierd is that?
I do have an estufa in my room which is kind of like a portable radiator, but I can't seem to find the matches that go with it. Josefina lit it for me earlier, but now I can't find them. She's resting right now since she came to the airport to pick me up early this morning. She's really tired and I don't want to disturb her. The least I can do is let her sleep after she did that for me.
I already love Josefina. She's super sweet and funny too. She loves to cook, she made a wonderful lunch of arroz con pollo which we swapped stories over for awhile, and I've already promised her I'd make her my specialty, Tortilla Espanola, while I'm here. I think we'll get along swimmingly.
Well I've got to go. I'm leaving to go to the mall with Josefina in a little while to buy a local cell phone and a BIP! card that will help me get around the city while I'm here. Our adventure tomorrow is finding out how to get to my internship. Apparently there's a micro route (city bus) that stops close by Josefina's house and takes me all the way to work without having to change buses at all.
I'll mark that down as
Avery Cropp: 1
Directional Dysfunctionality: 0
if that proves to be true.
Until Next Time,
Avery
2 flights.
A sunrise over the Andes that made them look like they were on fire this morning.
3 hours to go through immigration and customs.
Many separate conversations with a multitude of Chileans.
And I am finally all set up at my host mom's house in Santiago.
World fact book
Though I needed an english break this afternoon and reached for one of my books I brought with me, talking is good; it's keeping my mouth moving which is helping my body stay warm. It's freezing here right now.I am literally writing to you all right now under the covers on my bed, with a few more extra blankets, a sweater and a jacket and I'm still cold. The Minnesota 54F is a lot different than a Chile 54F. Granted it's about 9 p.m. here and the sun's down so that makes a definite difference, but still, brrrrr. No humidity here to give that extra cushion.
Thankfully though, as you can see in the next link, it's going to warm up soon. There's a shot at 70F people!I was told that tomorrow is the start of spring here. How wierd is that?
I do have an estufa in my room which is kind of like a portable radiator, but I can't seem to find the matches that go with it. Josefina lit it for me earlier, but now I can't find them. She's resting right now since she came to the airport to pick me up early this morning. She's really tired and I don't want to disturb her. The least I can do is let her sleep after she did that for me.
I already love Josefina. She's super sweet and funny too. She loves to cook, she made a wonderful lunch of arroz con pollo which we swapped stories over for awhile, and I've already promised her I'd make her my specialty, Tortilla Espanola, while I'm here. I think we'll get along swimmingly.
Well I've got to go. I'm leaving to go to the mall with Josefina in a little while to buy a local cell phone and a BIP! card that will help me get around the city while I'm here. Our adventure tomorrow is finding out how to get to my internship. Apparently there's a micro route (city bus) that stops close by Josefina's house and takes me all the way to work without having to change buses at all.
I'll mark that down as
Avery Cropp: 1
Directional Dysfunctionality: 0
if that proves to be true.
Until Next Time,
Avery
August 14, 2011
There's a new adventure to report
Hey all!
Apologies for the latest hiatus. Freelancing work, school, and internship prep have been keeping me on my toes this summer so I have been a bit neglectful of this blog. But there is a new adventure to report.
I will be leaving the U.S. in a few short days to finish my last requirement before college graduation. The internship is at an English-based media group in Santiago, Chile. The media group is called I love Chile and I am extremely excited to get started:
If that isn't a journalism intern's version of Nirvana I don't know what is. The other part, the opportunity to use my Spanish on a daily basis and live with another, seemingly wonderful host family, is simply the cherry on top. I couldn't think of a better combination of my majors for my last semester of school, though I will admit the pre-trip jitters have started to kick in today.
Hours of research and planning for this 3-month opportunity over the summer will finally come to fruition on Aug. 19 when I fly out of Minneapolis.
So, keep your eyes peeled and watch for updates, I don't know if I'll have really reliable internet yet so I'll update as much as I can. The goal is to blog at least once a week so you all know that I'm still alive, and I can show you another side of the world from a more personal angle.
Until next time,
Avery Cropp
Apologies for the latest hiatus. Freelancing work, school, and internship prep have been keeping me on my toes this summer so I have been a bit neglectful of this blog. But there is a new adventure to report.
Yes, you read that right, a journalism internship, and one abroad at that.
I will be leaving the U.S. in a few short days to finish my last requirement before college graduation. The internship is at an English-based media group in Santiago, Chile. The media group is called I love Chile and I am extremely excited to get started:
- Writing daily news briefs (morning and evening) for online news and radio broadcasts
- Writing TV scripts for a weekly newscast
- Writing short news articles for online news, on a variety of topics
- Attending press conferences and events
- Conducting interviews and writing articles for their print edition
If that isn't a journalism intern's version of Nirvana I don't know what is. The other part, the opportunity to use my Spanish on a daily basis and live with another, seemingly wonderful host family, is simply the cherry on top. I couldn't think of a better combination of my majors for my last semester of school, though I will admit the pre-trip jitters have started to kick in today.
Hours of research and planning for this 3-month opportunity over the summer will finally come to fruition on Aug. 19 when I fly out of Minneapolis.
So, keep your eyes peeled and watch for updates, I don't know if I'll have really reliable internet yet so I'll update as much as I can. The goal is to blog at least once a week so you all know that I'm still alive, and I can show you another side of the world from a more personal angle.
Until next time,
Avery Cropp
May 7, 2011
To move forward, you must go back
You come far in four years. You change a lot. Sitting in the halls of my old high school after visiting an old teacher of mine, I realize why this year seemed unfinished. To realize where you've ended up you need to go back where you started, where the changes and realizations began.
I stood where I used to all those years ago in the breezeway between the music wing and the academic side of my high school and put everything into perspective. The worst thing that I thought could ever happen to me turned out to be the best thing. It allowed me to be who I am today.
It helped me to grow, take risks, and take advantage of everything I have in the past four years.
I took up swing dancing. I've met amazing people. I met those who inspired me and those who pushed me back a few steps. But the difference was I learned to realize I was regressing before I fell back into my old ways and found the strength to move forward and onward to bigger and better things.
I set goals. I achieved them. I went to Spain and found my calling. I discovered who I am and what I'm meant to do with my life.
There are no words to describe what changed because I myself don't even know. All I know is whatever happened, whatever change occurred in my life, has made me better than I was four years ago. And for that I will always be grateful.
I stood where I used to all those years ago in the breezeway between the music wing and the academic side of my high school and put everything into perspective. The worst thing that I thought could ever happen to me turned out to be the best thing. It allowed me to be who I am today.
It helped me to grow, take risks, and take advantage of everything I have in the past four years.
I took up swing dancing. I've met amazing people. I met those who inspired me and those who pushed me back a few steps. But the difference was I learned to realize I was regressing before I fell back into my old ways and found the strength to move forward and onward to bigger and better things.
I set goals. I achieved them. I went to Spain and found my calling. I discovered who I am and what I'm meant to do with my life.
There are no words to describe what changed because I myself don't even know. All I know is whatever happened, whatever change occurred in my life, has made me better than I was four years ago. And for that I will always be grateful.
April 27, 2011
The Last First and the First Last
I texted my mom tonight:
"Last Reporter article
[for the school year] is in.
I'm not quite sure how I
feel about that."
Her response:
"sad bitter sweet old
grown up excited looking
forward to the future?"
"Yeah. That." I answered.
It's a bitter sweet moment for me certainly. Though I only worked at The Reporter for the past year I grew so much as a person. I developed a writing style all my own. I learned about working in an office. I made mistakes, I learned from them, and I worked with an editor who always was there to help. Lately, people have also been recognizing my name from the paper, which has been really cool.
You see, The Reporter is the first paper I have ever worked for. Truly the only legitimate media experience I've had was here. My first byline, my first front page, my first story, my first beat have all been here. I picked Journalism going into college because I had gotten a taste of it in high school when I worked on my school's yearbook during fall semester my senior year and absolutely fell in love with it. The people I met, the stories I was told, the pieces I wrote, taught me more about my high school and the people in it than during my whole four years I was there. The same is true for The Reporter. Though it took me longer to get up the nerve to apply than most people, I'm so glad I did.
Covering events, covering the whole gamut of the University including: Take Back the Night, A Vandalized Snow Sculpture, The Ballroom Renovation, A Blood Drive, various speakers and programs.
Covering community events and organizations: The Southern Minnesota Wedding Expo, Habitat for Humanity, The Apology Day party at the Best Western. Just to name a few.
Covering the MSSA beat, MSU's version of a student council, though some people probably think it's the most boring job on the planet, was completely fascinating to me. Though I grumbled about the meetings some days, seeing things--politics, the inner-workings of the administration, The role of MSSA in the University, referendums passed by the students and vetoed by the President, relationships built with the city--while they're unfolding from an "outsider's" perspective was so interesting to me. Seeing the interaction between people and getting to understand more about this organization was, for lack of a better word, exciting. Yes, I admit once again that I am a complete and total nerd.
42 articles. 18 weeks. Two issues a week. Clips are great and important, the producer is only as good as the product, but what I'll take away from the experience is the people I met and the things I learned while I was there.
Here's to experience, lessons, and learning.
Here's to a future unknown, but exciting all the same.
Cheers!
Until Next Time,
Avery Cropp
"Last Reporter article
[for the school year] is in.
I'm not quite sure how I
feel about that."
Her response:
"sad bitter sweet old
grown up excited looking
forward to the future?"
"Yeah. That." I answered.
It's a bitter sweet moment for me certainly. Though I only worked at The Reporter for the past year I grew so much as a person. I developed a writing style all my own. I learned about working in an office. I made mistakes, I learned from them, and I worked with an editor who always was there to help. Lately, people have also been recognizing my name from the paper, which has been really cool.
You see, The Reporter is the first paper I have ever worked for. Truly the only legitimate media experience I've had was here. My first byline, my first front page, my first story, my first beat have all been here. I picked Journalism going into college because I had gotten a taste of it in high school when I worked on my school's yearbook during fall semester my senior year and absolutely fell in love with it. The people I met, the stories I was told, the pieces I wrote, taught me more about my high school and the people in it than during my whole four years I was there. The same is true for The Reporter. Though it took me longer to get up the nerve to apply than most people, I'm so glad I did.
Covering events, covering the whole gamut of the University including: Take Back the Night, A Vandalized Snow Sculpture, The Ballroom Renovation, A Blood Drive, various speakers and programs.
Covering community events and organizations: The Southern Minnesota Wedding Expo, Habitat for Humanity, The Apology Day party at the Best Western. Just to name a few.
Covering the MSSA beat, MSU's version of a student council, though some people probably think it's the most boring job on the planet, was completely fascinating to me. Though I grumbled about the meetings some days, seeing things--politics, the inner-workings of the administration, The role of MSSA in the University, referendums passed by the students and vetoed by the President, relationships built with the city--while they're unfolding from an "outsider's" perspective was so interesting to me. Seeing the interaction between people and getting to understand more about this organization was, for lack of a better word, exciting. Yes, I admit once again that I am a complete and total nerd.
42 articles. 18 weeks. Two issues a week. Clips are great and important, the producer is only as good as the product, but what I'll take away from the experience is the people I met and the things I learned while I was there.
Here's to experience, lessons, and learning.
Here's to a future unknown, but exciting all the same.
Cheers!
Until Next Time,
Avery Cropp
April 10, 2011
Relay for Life
We all know someone who has been touched by cancer in some way. I personally know at least seven people who have battled, survived, or lost their lives against this horrible disease. Sadly, I'm sure that I've forgotten some people in that count, which has given me all the more reason to fight back.
As a girl I know from a project I participated in years ago, Stephanie Olson, stated during a section called "I relay because..." where the mic is open to anyone who would like to speak said, after listing off all the of the people in her family that have had cancer, "It's just not fair."
Thankfully, there is an international event called Relay for Life. It's goal is to get people to fundraise money for cancer research. It has been held at my college for a number of years, and I have participated the last two years. This year I teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and my roommate's Pre-Dental club. It is a twelve-hour event. Ours went from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. because the catch phrase of Colleges Against Cancer, the Student Organization in charge of this event, and the American Cancer Society is: "Cancer doesn't sleep and neither should we." I just woke up, a couple of hours ago after getting back at 6:15 this morning.
There are no words to describe the power that this event holds for those who participate in it. During the event people are encouraged to decorate Luminaria Bags in memory of those who have died or in honor of those who have battled cancer. It took place in Myers Field House on my campus and every inch of that track had a bag on the edge.
During the "I relay because..." section, the most moving part of the whole event in my opinion, after people share their stories, and after all the lights are shut off in the field house we were handed glow sticks. Colleges against Cancer then told everyone who was a survivor to crack their glow sticks a few people cracked them. Then they went on to say if you have a family member who has battled cancer, please crack your glow sticks about half of the people cracked them. Finally they said, if you have a friend who has battled cancer please crack your glow sticks. Every single one was lit.
We were instructed to go and place our glow sticks in a bag. I put mine in one of my own losses, my second grade teacher Mrs. J, luminaria bag. We did a lap in silence to honor the memory of those who we had lost. You don't go too long without hearing at least one person crying as you pass them. After about five minutes we were told to celebrate the survivors to the tune of "Celebration" and dance around the track.
Fundraising for ACS goes throughout the night at food stations, craft stations, and other stations that are set up by the participating teams. Colleges Against Cancer organized many events to keep the energy up throughout the night.
At the end of the night there is a section called messages to heaven where you write a note on a strip of paper to someone you've lost, fold it up, put it in a balloon and let it fly.
Then the grand total is announced after the top teams are announced.
The Grand total for this year's Relay for Life: $36,042 and some odd cents going to cancer research, just from MSU....whoever said one place or person can't make a difference was dead wrong.
Until next time,
Avery
As a girl I know from a project I participated in years ago, Stephanie Olson, stated during a section called "I relay because..." where the mic is open to anyone who would like to speak said, after listing off all the of the people in her family that have had cancer, "It's just not fair."
Thankfully, there is an international event called Relay for Life. It's goal is to get people to fundraise money for cancer research. It has been held at my college for a number of years, and I have participated the last two years. This year I teamed up with Habitat for Humanity and my roommate's Pre-Dental club. It is a twelve-hour event. Ours went from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. because the catch phrase of Colleges Against Cancer, the Student Organization in charge of this event, and the American Cancer Society is: "Cancer doesn't sleep and neither should we." I just woke up, a couple of hours ago after getting back at 6:15 this morning.
There are no words to describe the power that this event holds for those who participate in it. During the event people are encouraged to decorate Luminaria Bags in memory of those who have died or in honor of those who have battled cancer. It took place in Myers Field House on my campus and every inch of that track had a bag on the edge.
During the "I relay because..." section, the most moving part of the whole event in my opinion, after people share their stories, and after all the lights are shut off in the field house we were handed glow sticks. Colleges against Cancer then told everyone who was a survivor to crack their glow sticks a few people cracked them. Then they went on to say if you have a family member who has battled cancer, please crack your glow sticks about half of the people cracked them. Finally they said, if you have a friend who has battled cancer please crack your glow sticks. Every single one was lit.
We were instructed to go and place our glow sticks in a bag. I put mine in one of my own losses, my second grade teacher Mrs. J, luminaria bag. We did a lap in silence to honor the memory of those who we had lost. You don't go too long without hearing at least one person crying as you pass them. After about five minutes we were told to celebrate the survivors to the tune of "Celebration" and dance around the track.
Fundraising for ACS goes throughout the night at food stations, craft stations, and other stations that are set up by the participating teams. Colleges Against Cancer organized many events to keep the energy up throughout the night.
At the end of the night there is a section called messages to heaven where you write a note on a strip of paper to someone you've lost, fold it up, put it in a balloon and let it fly.
Then the grand total is announced after the top teams are announced.
The Grand total for this year's Relay for Life: $36,042 and some odd cents going to cancer research, just from MSU....whoever said one place or person can't make a difference was dead wrong.
Until next time,
Avery
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