Some context before we get into the happenings of my first week in London: I am interning with a research services organization called FrameWorks UK! They are a sister organization of the US-based FrameWorks institute and focus on helping charities and non-profits communicate about important causes in a way that meaningfully drives change. Because, as we all know, communication is key.
I landed in London on July 22nd, and began my internship on the following Monday, July 27th. Those five days primarily consisted of me fighting the jet lag and acclimatizing to what would be my home for the next 6 weeks. I did some anticipatory planning for my 9-5 by attempting to fix my very messed-up sleep schedule, creating a short list of London spots I wanted to visit, and mapping out my commute as I was living outside central London. My main concern throughout these five days though was what I would wear on my first day. What does ‘smart casual’ mean? What if I'm too formal? Too informal? First impressions matter a lot, right?
Needless to say, I was incredibly nervous before my first day. I arrived at the office an hour early and waited till my supervisor (my GOAT Sophie, FrameWorks Associate Director of Comms!) came to get me. FrameWorks UK is quite small, with just about 10 employees. I was introduced to them and given a short tour of the office. Fun fact: the WeWorks in London have beer on tap…
I knew FrameWorks was a small organization so I expected to meet only about 8-10 people. What surprised me though was the lack of diversity among the employees – since London is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, my expectations of workplace diversity were quite high. I wouldn’t say I felt unwelcomed at all, but I think subconsciously (even if to the most minimal extent), this made me feel slightly out of place and awkward at first. Adding to this, I felt intimidated by their British accents – this probably sounds odd but pop culture has instilled this sense in me that this specific accent signifies higher intellectual rigour. It became very clear to me, through these instances, how quickly our brains (without us really knowing) conform to social norms.
My tasks for the first week involved learning more about the organization and what it does along with its main collaborators. I also worked on developing a list of tracking instruments to better help FrameWorks evidence their impact! Currently on track with my weekly milestones, let’s hope I keep it that way.
Also: London is so fire. I love the Tube (except when it’s hot and crowded and everyone is stuck together). I love the people (so kind). I love how this city adores reading and books (you will find the most crowded bookstores and so many readers on public transit). I don’t love how expensive it is though, so for the duration of my LiA, 1 CAD = 1 GBP.