I'm Blue- Da Ba Dee Da Ba Dye

Today was a twist and turn of events. For starters, I woke up with the news that my uncle was doing very badly (he was diagnosed with cancer a few months back and its been a tough journey ever since). Once I was at work, my sister text me that he had passed away. It was surreal and unsettling, to know I was away from my family during this difficult time. I was thankful, however, that my Uncle Chris was now not suffering anymore and that he was with my Namey (what I call my mom’s mom, and who was also probably very happy to be reunited with her son today) and the rest of the family in Heaven. Rest in Peace Uncle Chris, I’m sure you’re rocking your ponytail again up there.

I was zoning in and out the rest of the day, when Charles had come to my desk and asked me to help him find the right gel filter for their lights in the hallway in the basement. He had specified that the color they wanted was blue, but they were unsure of the hue. Of course, they wanted the right hue to wake up the employees and make them feel alert, instead of sluggish and drowsy- but out of all the blues, which was the right one?

(pictured above: the fun gel filter samples I got to play with)

Charles also informed me that I could email David, a guy from one of the tech companies that I had met with the other day, if I had any questions about the right hue to choose.

So I emailed David and asked if there were certain wavelengths that had proven to do what Charles wanted them to, and there indeed had been. The ideal wavelength to increase cortisol (the hormone that keeps you awake) production in the body is 460-480 nanometers.

With that information and the research I had already done, I narrowed it down to a hue that was a very pale blue, but would do the job it was intended to do.

My email to Charles explaining what filter to pick sounded very professional of me (I was pretty impressed with my self). I basically backed up my choice of the ideal filter with evidence/support and David’s suggestion. Charles emailed back that he was impressed at how I answered his question and that I did a job well done! He also said “I luv it :)” and CCed a couple of people and told Lloyd (I’m guessing the guy who handles gel filters) to order a couple yards of the filters that I had suggested! I felt very cool…

…That was until Charles saw the filter in person and seemed disappointed at how “pale” the hue actually was, and I think he wanted a more dramatic blue. So we will see if he still goes with my decision.

That little project took me the rest of the workday and I was floating on air after it, it really turned my day around to get appraisal such as that (especially from Charles who seems to be a bit of a tough critic).

I headed back to Regent’s to unload my heavy bags and change before going to an orientation meeting with the company that sponsored our work visas.

As a group, we had attended this meeting pretty late (you were supposed to do it within 15 days of arriving, and we had just made the cut), so we already knew most of the stuff they were dishing out.

We were all looking forward to the group dinner we were having with Jeff after, though. He took us to a Mexican place called La Tasca and it was tapas style. We all received 6 different dishes to choose from and they were all great, hands down the best Mexican/Spanish/Latino place I have ever been to (maybe my favorite meal in London to date). I most literally scarfed the food down, and the cheesecake that I shared with Hayley as dessert!

(pictured above: cheese.)

Once we were all busting at the seams, we headed back home to write our daily emails to Jeff (since we don’t have class anymore) and to write these blogs for all you lovely people to read. I also booked my plane ticket to Paris! And I do not care how dirty people say it is, anything will be better than our experience in Cambridge. Fourth of July in Paris here we come! (”Together in Paris” “AWE Grandmama!”- Anastasia reference) (Le Poissons!)

I am looking forward to tomorrow, as it is my last day of work before the week.. so TGIT and Good Night!