Pennies From Heaven

Today I experience the Tube at peak busy-ness.

As always, I was running behind schedule (mostly due to the fact that my allergies were terrible when I woke up and I had to keep blowing my nose), so I left the dorms 10 minutes after I had scheduled myself to.

Running down the stairs and through the courtyard, I quickly made my way to the tube station.

Many men in their work suits were heading in the same direction, so I sped up and attempted to get in front of them (which didn’t necessarily work, none of them were taking the tube line that I was anyhow). I got to the southbound Bakerloo platform, where many other work professionals were waiting as well. The first train to approach was jam-packed, the most packed that I have seen the tube yet. It was a competition to see who could cram themselves in the available spots first, and I did not make the cut. The Tube doors shut in my face, and I had to wait for the next train.

Thankfully, the next train arrived a minute later, and I got on this time.

With all of my brisk walking and squeezing through people, I made it to work 10 minutes before 9 a.m… and no one was there.

I started to think that maybe no one came in until later, until I saw the head of HR and she

showed me how to open the sales office (where my desk is).

After awhile, my supervisor and the rest of the sales associates showed up for a busy day at work.

Apparently, new investors were visiting the venue today, because the exclusive hologram technology was set-up. And yes, you read that right, hologram. And yes, it’s exactly what you think it is, super futuristic and unreal.

Charles asked me to come sit in on the viewing of the hologram presentation, presented by him to the Chairman of 8 Northumberland.

The presentation started off with a floating picture frame appearing on the stage, and from the picture frame appeared Frank Sinatra. He was singing and swaying and I was completely mesmerized, I had never seen anything like this. When Frank had finished serenading us with “Pennies From Heaven”, Charles informed us that this technology was set up and Frank (well, hologram Frank) performed at Simon Cowell’s birthday! Two more hologram presentations were presented, one explaining the technology in better detail, and the other was a speech being made by the past Creative Director of Satchi and Satchi (a well-known advertising agency). The twist, however, was that the past Creative Director was now deceased, and through this technology and others, he was on stage talking about the after life (ha ha) and the success of the company. To end the presentation, a ballerina performed a bit from Swan Lake, and her holograph turned into a swan to end the performance.

I was having so much fun with the holograms; I never wanted the presentation to end.

The technology used with the holograms is so extensive that it can use 4G and essentially video chat with a whole room (i.e. a CEO who can’t make it to a conference), the only difference is that instead of you looking like you’re on a screen, your whole body seems to be present, up on stage (there’s a youtube video attached at the end of this entry of the hologram at my work- Charles is interviewed in it so you can see who I’m talking about!!!)

After I was finished watching the holograms, I went back to work on my research. Today I was looking at an experiment done at Carnegie Mellon University. They were comparing the effects of color with word valance. After this internship is over, I will know everything there is to know about color.

There was left over desserts after a tasting for an event and Charles brought them into the sales office. Perks of working for an event company, let me tell you. There were quiches, and chocolate cake with whipped coffee frosting, and fruit kabobs… I was in heaven (well as close to heaven that you can be sitting at your desk at work).

After I had finished my work for the day, I ventured out into the wild to find some laundry detergent, which proved to be tougher than I thought it would be… after 3 stores I finally found a bottle that seemed legit enough to clean my clothes (I’ll be very excited when I’m back in a country that has tide).

Currently I am finishing up my first load of laundry in the UK and I’m hoping that my clothes aren’t ruined. As always, updates to come.