Monthly Mains: October 2020

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I’m a big fan of shopping local, supporting small businesses, and giving my money to companies that give back to the community and do good. I also have spent my time in quarantine doing a lot of online shopping and needed something to help me justify all my purchases. And so I bring you Monthly Mains, a series where I’ll highlight three things that have made my life better (and will probably make yours better, too).

October is basically the height of fall (in my opinion) – the leaves change colour and begin to drop from tree branches, pumpkin spice lattes are available and being ordered in full force at coffee shops everywhere, and the oversized scarves are around everyone’s necks. If you’re in Calgary, you’ll probably also have asked yourself why Fall only lasts two weeks in this city as you shoveled snow and scraped frost off your windshield at least once within the first week.

Along with experiencing the usual October/Fall routines (especially the last part), this month I was really loving these three things: 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

I have a candle problem. And that problem became VERY apparent back in April when I found myself looking at (and buying) candles from small businesses across Canada. I’ve accumulated quite a few candles, but it was a more recent purchase that was lit almost all month: The Made of Magick candle by Land of Daughters.

The scent features notes of pumpkin, mahogany and cream, which already screams Fall, but the smell is not overwhelming or fake. Light this candle and the entire room will have the soft, slightly sweet smell that’s reminiscent of walking on a tree-lined path with a latte in your coziest sweater on a crisp Fall afternoon. And since it feels like the majority of the month I’ve spent more time shoveling my driveway than walking on pathways, it’s been a perfect thing to have lit in my living room while I work.

The candle is limited edition, and when I spoke with Paige (the owner of Land of Daughters) she said she wasn’t sure if she'd bring it back once it sold out. Basically what I’m saying is… head over to the Land of Daughters website and grab yours now. 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki

As a born and raised Calgarian, there was always one city I could just never like: Edmonton. But in recent years, Alberta’s capital doesn’t seem nearly as bad as I once believed. I mean, don’t get me wrong; it’s not Calgary. But it’s got great people and great local businesses, including Awake Coffee House.
 
The coffee shop itself is located in the northwest community of Twin Brooks. It’s a modern, sleek space (which it shares with a pharmacy) and offers baked goods, fresh juice, and of course, delicious made-to-order caffeinated drinks.

I enjoyed my experience at the café so much that I bought a bag of the Awake blend. The beans are roasted by B.C.-based Drumroaster Coffee, and the flavour profile includes chocolate, caramel and cherry. It’s been my go-to coffee this month – it’s smooth, sweet, mellow and not bitter – making it very easy to drink early in the morning and throughout the day.

If you’re ever in Edmonton, I would highly recommend stopping by, ordering a drink (and maybe a sweet or savoury waffle) and spending some time looking at the collection of specialty coffees and teas you can take with you and enjoy at home. 

 

Illustration by Len Kurosaki
Inspired by Khalid Albaih

"Style is a way to show who you are without having to speak."
– Rachel Zoe, American fashion designer. 

I'm definitely not a fashion expert, but I am someone who will purchase a piece of clothing or an accessory that shows a little bit of my personality and/or beliefs. That's exactly why I I bought this red sweatshirt: it's a comfy piece of clothing that can be worn daily - but more importantly - it shares an important message that I very strongly believe in.

The original design for this sweatshirt was created in 2016 by artist Khalid Albaih. It shows former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling with his afro in the shape of a fist. The illustration went viral for its creative use of art to highlight and support all that was happening at the time surrounding Kaepernick, his kneeling during the U.S. national anthem as a form of protest, and the issue he was bringing attention to through his actions: police brutality towards the Black community. 

In 2016, I wasn’t an online shopper, so I didn't end up buying a sweatshirt before they quickly sold out. But I never stopped wanting one, and I would often go back to Albaih's social pages to see if he had decided to put the item up for sale again.  

We are still dealing with the same issues Kaepernick was protesting in 2016, which were not new at that time either. After George Floyd’s murder in June 2020 brought the Black Lives Matter movement into the spotlight around the world, Albaih teamed up with Manhattan-based private arts club ArtX NYC to raise awareness and funds for civil rights issues. The Kaepernick illustration was printed on t-shirts and sweatshirts to be sold – with all profits being split between Know Your Rights Camp legal and Sadagaat-USA. 

This time around, buying the sweatshirt was a no-brainer, and it's been a staple in my October wardrobe. Besides supporting great causes and raising awareness on issues and the inequality that certain groups of people face on a daily basis, it’s also a well-made, good quality piece of clothing.   

It doesn’t appear that the items are still available for sale (there ARE copycat pieces out there - but they don't support the original artist). The good news though, is that more than $2500 US was raised through the collaboration. 

Black lives matter. Today and every day. Head to this webpage to learn more about the movement and find out how you can help. If you're in Canada,  check out this Huffington Post list of local organizations you can support as well. 

 Side dishes 

Podcast:
To Live and Die in LA

Quote: 
“Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on; twas not given for thee alone, pass it on; let it travel down the years, let it wipe another’s tears, till in heaven the deed appears—pass it on. You can’t light a candle to show others the way, without feeling the warmth of that bright little ray; and you can’t give a rose all the fragrance with dew, without some of its sweetness remaining with you.”
– Henry Burton 

Read:
The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother
– Jonathan Hernandez

Song:
Sink – Maya B, SAINt JHN

Don't be afraid of Mercury Retrograde

Mercury Retrograde is an astrological event that’s become popular in recent years – often used as a way to explain bad days (or weeks), mood swings, things not working out, and in general anything negative happening in life during a specific time period.

Mercury Retrograde is an astrological phenomena that's
become popular in recent years for the wrong reasons.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

When we experienced 2020's first Mercury Retrograde in February (pre-COVID-19... remember those days? But also Pisces season, so HELLO emotions!), I was part of the group of people blaming my overly sensitive state and all the things I saw as “bad” on the phenomena. 

A few months later, I reached out to Alberta-based astrologer Donna Young to ask her for tips on how to make it through the next one. And that’s when I found out the bad rap Mercury Retrograde has is one that isn’t actually deserved. 

“This is the thing that drives me crazy,” says Young, who has been studying the craft for two decades. “A lot of people think that when a planet is retrograde that horrible things are going to happen. Everything that goes wrong is because Mercury is retrograde. It's Mercury's fault. As though nothing ever goes wrong otherwise.”

What is Mercury Retrograde? 

Let’s back up a bit.

Astrology is in part based on how other planets interact with the Earth (because we're self-centred and it was originally believed that our planet, not the sun, was the centre of the universe. Obviously, we now know is not astronomically correct).

Because of this, it can sometimes appear that planets are travelling backwards (even though in actuality, they are really just making their regularly scheduled trip around the sun). This visual illusion is why we use the word “retrograde.”

Technically, all the planets go retrograde, as they are all travelling around the sun, just at different speeds. The slower moving planets (slower in comparison to earth), like Jupiter and Pluto (technically a former planet now but it will forever remain a planet in my heart) will appear retrograde every year for about four to five and a half months. Planets that travel at speeds closer to that of earth (Venus and Mars) are retrograde less often: Venus is retrograde every 20 months for 40 days, and Mars every two years for approximately 10 weeks. Mercury does a lap around the sun every 88 days – so we see it “going backwards” from Earth three (and sometimes four) times per year. This may be a reason why it’s the only retrograde we hear about in popular culture. 

The term retrograde comes from the optical illusion that makes planets appear to be travelling backwards.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

Mercury's mythological counterpart is the Roman God with the same name (also known as Hermes, if you prefer Greek mythology), who looks after a number of things, including communication, commerce, finances, luck, transportation and trickery. 

When Mercury is retrograde, it’s equivalent to Mercury/Hermes backing up to trick us into thinking he didn't do something that he did. And that impacts all the things he rules.

“This is why they say don't make any major purchases when Mercury is retrograde,” Young says. “If you buy something during this time, something might be wrong, and you might have to retrace your steps. But it's not the end of the world. It's just an inconvenience.” 

Mercury Retrograde affects all the things
Roman God Mercury/Greek God Hermes rules,
including communication and finances.
Illustration by Len Kurosaki

That’s not to say that Mercury Retrograde won’t have any effects on you – both positive and negative. But what you do (or don’t) experience during these three (or four) yearly events depends a lot on a number of factors, most of which can be found in your natal chart. 

Using Mercury Retrograde to your advantage

Mercury retrograde isn’t something we can avoid. And while it may not be the negative, inconvenience-filled astrological period pop culture makes it out to be, it can still throw us off. 

So how can we make the best of this triannual event? 

“Back up your computer,” Young says, only half-jokingly. “That is absolutely one of the things that you should do before Mercury goes retrograde.”

“This is a really good time for us to retreat. It's a good time to do any of the “re” things: Research, reflect, renovate, remarry even. To redo something while Mercury is retrograde is a perfect use of the period.”

If you’ve been putting off returning that shirt you ordered but didn’t fit quite right, now is the time to cross that off your list. Have a paper due in November? Start gathering information and planning for it now. 

But if you’re thinking about dropping some serious cash, especially on items related to communication (the latest iPhone or a new laptop), it’s best to hold off until this retrograde passes. 

More importantly though – don’t buy into the hype. Mercury Retrograde is not something you need to worry about. In fact, it’s something you can actually make work for you.

“That's the thing with astrology. All of the planets that are transiting through, you can use to your advantage – if you know what's coming,” Young says.

The last Mercury Retrograde of 2020 begins October 13 and ends on November 3. To learn more about this astrological phenomena - or anything else astrology-related - and its impact on you, book an appointment with Donna Young.

Profile: Alayne Lebsack (Apostle Boutique & Cover Story Styling)

Take a stroll down Marda Loop, a southwest neighbourhood in Calgary, and you’ll quickly realize it’s a trendy spot for people of all ages looking to shop, eat, grab dessert or relax at the spa. It’s also home to Distilled Beauty Bar, a popular spot for Alayne Lebsack to meet with clients. Alayne runs Apostle Boutique, an online store that features a curated collection of jewellery that can be paired with any outfit.

Apostle Boutique is an online jewellery
 store owned by Alayne Lebsack. 
Photo: Substance YYC.

“I want people to also invest in pieces that they can wear with jeans and a t-shirt or a cocktail dress or a wedding dress if they really want,” says Alayne, who launched Apostle in the summer of 2015.

The idea didn’t come together right away, but it came from a significant experience following the birth of Alayne’s second child.

“I had my second son and had postpartum depression,” she says. “Once that finally lifted, I decided I needed to do something for me – my own thing.”

At the time, she didn’t know what that thing was. She knew she loved fashion and style, and she had experience in helping others with both. It wasn’t until she was online shopping herself that the idea dawned on her.

“I’ve always had the mindset that if I want something, I can do it myself. So I just self-taught and figured it out and went from there.”

“I was looking for a certain pair of earrings, and all the online shops I found were terrible. They didn’t seem legit; I wasn’t sure if I was going to get what I wanted or if I was going to get anything at all. I didn’t trust them,” Alayne says.

An online jewellery store was the perfect fit: Alayne would be able to use her passion for fashion and seven years of styling experience, she’d be able to help people find pieces that reflect their own unique style, in turn helping them feel more confident and beautiful, and she could do it all without leaving home.

Going from an idea to an actual business came with a lot of learning experiences for Alayne. For example, when she first started, Alayne had pieces from 19 different designers, most of whom were Canadian. Looking back, she says having that many designers at once wasn’t the best way to run her business, but it was still a helpful experience for her.

"That was partially inexperience and partly because I wanted to see where my clients’ interests grew and what styles and aesthetic they had,” she says. Over the last four years, she’s streamlined and now offers pieces from a select eight designers, the majority of which are still Canadian.

Despite curating from different designers with a number of different pieces, Alayne still found there were some styles she wanted to offer her customers that she couldn’t find.

Alayne turned to designers and YouTube
to learn how to create her own line of jewellery.
Photo: Greg Lily Photography

Alayne turned to some of the designers she carried for help. They shared tips about materials and where to source them from. She also relied on YouTube tutorials and trial and error during the jewellery-making process. All of this led to the creation of the Apostle In House Collection.

Alayne puts a lot of thought into her decisions, and nothing is done without intention, including every aspect of Apostle – right down to what it’s called. She wants the name of her business to reflect the feelings that come with having your own individual style and living it every day.

“Everyone has their own unique style and I want them to own it and believe in it. An apostle of your own style,” Alayne says. “I have my thing, this is my vibe and I’m going to believe in it. I’m going to own it, because it’s who I am. And I’m not going to be ashamed in it; I’m confident in it and I’m just going to run with it."

Along with the name, the designers she works with and the pieces she carries, Alayne is very intentional when it comes to giving back. Doing so goes with one of Apostle’s mission statements: Do good. Feel good. Look good. For every purchase made through Apostle, a portion goes to a specific charity. Alayne switches the charity that will be receiving a donation every six months, and the causes and locations vary every time. 

For Alayne, Apostle comes with a lot of positives. She gets to be her own boss, pick her own hours, work from home and, most importantly to her, gets to have one-on-one interactions with her clients. But it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Even doing what she loves comes with its challenges.

“The hardest thing would be time-management,” Alayne admits. “I work from home, and I do have the kids, and they can be distracting. I just am always juggling everything, and that is difficult.”

Alayne with her husband and two sons. 
Photo: Greg Lily Photography

“I have come to realize that balance doesn’t exist - at least not for me. There’s no way I can give equal time, attention and care to my businesses and my family. It all comes in ebbs and flows, and I have had to learn to accept that this kind of schedule is how my life is. In realizing and accepting that, I have found a lot of freedom. There is major pressures on working women, and working moms in particular, but I think the real beauty comes in when you release yourself of any of those outside pressures.”

Another difficult part of the job, but one that has gotten easier over the years, is finding support within the community. Alayne says when she started, she experienced moments of “deep loneliness” where she “felt lost,” because she didn’t know any other entrepreneurs who were in the same boat as her. But as her business has grown, she’s managed to find people who understand her successes and struggles and can offer informed insight and advice when needed.

Alayne has come a long way from when she first started Apostle, and now, she’s expanding her portfolio. She’s started a second venture that revolves around her first love of fashion and styling and that works hand-in-hand with Apostle. It’s called Cover Story.

“It’s always been in the back of my head to do something like this, but I've dealt with a lot of self-doubt,” she says. “When I think of a stylist, I think high-end and high-fashion; stiletto boots and like leather; the ultra fashionista. And that’s not me. But I really want to help everybody be smart, intentional and conscious when putting together their wardrobe.”

That’s where Cover Story comes in. Alayne says her new venture is about relatable, functional and personalized style. Cover Story will involve a “closet edit,” where Alayne will go through clients’ closets with them and get rid of anything that doesn’t fit, doesn’t suit their lifestyle or that they don’t wear. Another option, which can be combined with the first, is to have Alayne either take the clients shopping or pick out some staple pieces to bring directly to them.

Alayne's newest venture, Cover Story, will help
people create a personalized, functional wardrobe. 
Photo: Substance YYC.

“It’s about developing a very personalized wardrobe that is unique and effective for both your style and your lifestyle. And we’ll work together in figuring it all out together.”

While this new endeavour is exciting, it also means Alayne will have more on her already quite full plate. Of course, as someone who puts a lot of time and thought into her decisions, she’s already got a plan in place for that.

“But all good plans do change. So, we’ll see,” she laughs. “For now, I have certain days a week that will be dedicated Cover Story, and then the rest of the days will be dedicated to Apostle. I am also being more intentional on using weekends as my time with my family.”

When asked if she had any advice to share to others hoping to start their own businesses, Alayne paused, clearly thinking about her answer. The one she gave, via e-mail later that day, was, like most things in Alayne’s life, well thought out.  

“I would say do your research and try to have some idea of what you're getting into,” she suggests. “But really, just do it! You'll never feel completely ready and it will never be the perfect time. But instead of thinking ‘not now’ change the thought to ‘why not now?’ and go for it!”

You can find more about Apostle Boutique offers on the website. You can also get updates on new pieces and restocks on Instagram.

If you’re looking for Alayne’s help with all your styling needs, head over to the Cover Story website and follow the Instagram page.

New year. New decade. Same mess.

It's 2020. A new year. A new DECADE. 

I've had this blog for 10 years. Yes, you read that right. Despite only having 16 posts (17, if you include this one), this little space of the internet has existed since 2010. 

Do I have a valid excuse for my lack of content and consistency? Well... I am a millennial. Does that count? 

I don't actually have a reason other than I've been busy trying to navigate real life (#firstworldproblems, I know). Blogging is a great concept - but when you want good grades in university, or are being smacked in the face with reality once you graduate university, or are working 35 days straight of double shifts and weird hours at your two jobs, being a blogger just isn't really top of mind. 

And yet, it's still something that's stayed on my mind. I truly love storytelling, and I've been super fortunate to be able to tell stories for a living in some form or another. But those stories have almost always needed approval - from a manager or a news director or my team. They've needed to be timely, to reach a specific audience, to be structured in a certain way. I am so grateful for the opportunities I've had - but I've also always craved the ability to take any idea or topic and share my own thoughts on it. So here I am, back on Blogger, hoping I can just tell stories and write about whatever pops into my mind. 

I've done reviews of music, movies and books. I've written profiles on people I find inspiring. I've even chronicled my adventures in London when all I wanted was a job at the BBC (spoiler alert - I have yet to be hired).

My plan is to continue with all of this (yes, even the job at the BBC). I'm always excited to talk about the newest song on my Discover Weekly Spotify playlist. I have met so many inspirational people - and I want to tell the world about them. I get to visit some really awesome places, and I think everyone should know about the hidden gems in these cities. And sometimes, I see/hear/read/experience something that I want to talk about. 

Of course, plans don't always work out (let's be real - they RARELY work out). But it's a new year and I didn't make any resolutions so I figured I needed to have some sort of vague, kind of unrealistic goal that I can reflect on when it's almost midnight on December 31st and we're counting down to 2021. 

Here's to 2020 - a year where I could get my life together, but most likely won't. Hopefully there's at least some consistency on this blog and that makes up for it though.

Profile: Rubies in the Rubble

London’s Piccadilly is a road that’s never not busy. The sidewalks are always crowded with locals and tourists alike, trying to take in all of the higher-end shops, department stores, hotels and restaurants. Fortnum & Mason is a sure place to find a large number of people shopping for the variety of specialty products it offers. It’s also where one might find Alicia Lawson serving up and chatting about chutney.

The Rubies in the Rubble team sells their chutneys in stores
across the U.K. as well as at local London markets.
Photo courtesy of Twitter. 

Lawson is the director of Rubies in the Rubble, a company that makes chutneys out of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be wasted.

Along with giving people a free taste of the chutneys in Fortnum’s, she’s in charge of sales, operations and marketing. She also does a lot of explaining to people who are put off by the fact that “wasted food” is the main ingredient.

“I think a lot of people automatically jump to the idea of a bin or scrapings off a plate when you talk to them about food waste,” Lawson says. “It’s not that there’s anything wrong with what we’re using; it’s just that it’s not right for the market that it’s being grown for, which is fresh retail, where people expect it to look a certain way.”

That means Rubies in the Rubble takes all the irregularly-shaped, oddly-coloured, too-ripe fruits and vegetables we wouldn’t even think of buying, and uses them to make long-lasting products like chutneys and other condiments.

The idea started when the company’s founder, Jenny Costa, read Tristram Stuart’s “Waste: Uncovering the Global Food Scandal,” one of the first books to cover the issue of food waste. Costa then went to a London food market, where she witnessed exactly how much perfectly good food was being thrown away.

She saw food waste as a problem she wanted to play a role in solving, but also saw as a business opportunity.

Jenny Costa (left) and Alicia Lawson (right) started off selling
their chutneys out of a minivan,
Photo courtesy of Twitter.

Lawson got on board in June 2012, when the company was operating a small kitchen in a mini-caravan in the parking lot in London’s Borough Market. Their products were also sold in some independent shops and delis. 

At that point, the two were making the chutneys themselves by tweaking traditional recipes created by Costa’s mom. And all the produce Lawson and Costa were using to make the condiments was coming from sellers at the market.

“Then we got interest from Waitrose (…) and we realized we needed to scale up,” Lawson said. “We also started talking to farmers directly (…) and realized there was so much more food that wasn’t even leaving the farm. So in order to really have impact on the problem, we were going to need to scale up.”

The pair sold their little kitchen and outsourced their production to a small manufacturer in Devon, U.K. Then, they got to work on growing their customer base and having their products on the shelves of more retailers. Since then, they also moved their chutneys into hotels, restaurants and cafes.

While they’ve seen success, whether it be their company size doubling (it’s now a team of four rather than two), or their idea getting tons of good press (including from CNN and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s website), Lawson says there is still a long way to go.

“For us, the impact is directly linked to the size that we are. So the more we sell, the more impact we have,” she says, adding that right now, the company only uses a small percentage of what farmers waste each year. “If we do get to the stage where there is no food waste because we’re using it all, then that’s going to be an amazing problem to have. We’ll have solved the issue.”

  

The first Rubies in the Rubble ketchup flavour is called Top Banana,
and it's now available online.
Photo courtesy of Twitter.

Lawson adds, the past few years the company has “chugged along quite happily.” There wasn’t much money being spent, which meant there was no debt, but there also wasn’t a lot of money coming in. This year, Costa, Lawson and their team have decided to change that. They managed to raise an investment of £120,000, all of which will be spent on growing the business.

One thing the cash has gone towards is a new product – Ketchup. Lawson says the recipes have nearly been finalized, and the plan is to have the condiment available online by January 2017, and on store shelves by March that same year.

“Eventually we want to be an umbrella brand that doesn’t just make one thing. Food waste is pandemic and it’s across the whole food industry, so we want our product to kind of reflect that,” Lawson says. “If it’s getting wasted, we’re going to make product out of it. It doesn’t matter what the product is, as long as it tastes great and is utilizing under-utilized produce.”

You can find more information about Rubies in the Rubble on the company’s official website. You can also get updates on the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. 

My quest to get hired at the BBC: Paying the way in

Money may not be able to buy happiness, but for a total of £25.95, I got through the doors and into BBC studios, and really, that’s close enough for me. 

The outside of BBC Birmingham's studios.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

I managed to keep my emotions in check and didn’t burst into tears (of joy) when I walked through the sliding glass doors into the BBC Birmingham headquarters. I want to say it’s because I’m an adult who’s in complete control of my emotions, but in reality I think it’s because I was expecting something much larger and obvious.

Instead, the studio is on the third floor of The Mailbox, a building made up of different office spaces and a lot of high-end shops I wouldn’t expect anyone earning a journalism salary to be able to afford. It’s definitely not what I had imagined the home of one of the biggest broadcasting companies in the world to look like, even in the (somewhat) smaller market of Birmingham. I’m not the only one who felt that way. A man actually walked in and after looking around for a few minutes said, “I saw the beautiful display of flowers in the window and came in. I had no idea it was a TV studio.”

I ended up in Birmingham after a last-minute decision to take a BBC tour. I would have booked a tour in London’s studios, but when I checked on the website, that idea was shot down with a message that read, “We’re sorry but the tour of BBC Broadcasting House in London is no longer operating.” Later on I found out this was probably because most of the filming previously done at the BBC Broadcasting House had been moved to Manchester. Such a shame.   

Originally, I had planned to be at the Birmingham studios sometime during my trip, because through the magic of social media, I found out I shared a mutual friend with one of the radio personalities who works there. Unfortunately, despite connecting ahead of my visit, that all fell through, and it wasn’t looking like I’d be able to ever get into my dream newsroom – even as a visitor.

So I took matters into my own hands, and on Monday night I booked the £9.95 ticket for the Tuesday morning tour. I also found a fairly cheap round-trip train ticket to Birmingham (instead of paying something ridiculous like £48 one way, I paid a total of £16. Talk about savings!). It was a small expense considering the experience.

The view on the main level of the studio.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

After walking around the fairly small first floor in awe for about 10 minutes, I finally started interacting with the other people on the tour. There was a lovely couple who watched and listened to BBC programming and had always wanted to be part of the tour, and a journalism student who was on the same wavelength as me – she said her plan was to come on these tours every week and harass the people she saw until she got a job.

The tour was informative and in-depth (kind of like the BBC's programming), and we got to see the newsroom, the BBC academy (where all new employees receive their training), the web area (the majority of online content is produced at the Birmingham location), the main studio where BBC Midlands is filmed, the gallery (where the crew who help put together the news broadcasts are during the show), the radio studios, and even the room where the engineers work.

         

News desk for the BBC Midlands program.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

Partial view from the producer's chair in the gallery.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

     

What struck me the most during the tour was the fact that despite all the similarities, there are quite a few differences when it comes to creating news broadcasts at the BBC compared to Canadian news organizations.

Some of these differences are minor. For example, at my current workplace, we use Burli to record, edit and produce our newscasts. At the BBC, a program called RadioMan is used for radio shows. 

One of the major differences is the fact that for every story aired, the producer is required to confirm the details it by contacting three verified and trustworthy sources. Until this happens, the organization cannot share the information. That is definitely not how we do things at my current news station, although it is something I’d be willing to put into practice.

My favourite part of the tour?

Um, ALL OF IT. Duh.

Okay. I really did have a favourite part. When we all went to see the gallery, we were told to sit in whatever seats our hearts desired. I was first in the room, so I had first pick, and I chose the seat that gave me a good view of everything. After we’d all settled in, our guide started explaining how news happens, and the roles of each person in the chairs. Turns out, completely by accident, I’d sat in the producer’s chair. After that came out, I contemplated refusing to leave my spot until the BBC got me to sign a two-year contract as an employee, because Hello, this was fate. Instead, I just shared a photo of my very excited self in the seat on Snapchat (along with many other photos from the tour).  

By the time the tour came to an end, I hadn’t managed to run into anyone who could get me a job there. I did, however, get rid of any bit of doubt I had about my dream. While it’s next to impossible, it’s what I want more than anything at this point in my life. And that’s enough to make me work harder than ever to make it happen. 

Because let’s be honest; I can fork over £10 for a tour, but getting a job with BBC London would be priceless.  

My quest to get hired at the BBC: First World problems

You know your life is pretty great when one of the biggest problems you’re dealing with is not being able to find a place with free Wi-Fi.

Trying to find free Wi-Fi in London is
not as easy as some might expect.
Photo by Gobind Prihar. 

And yes, I used the word “problem.” For the journalist in me who wants to live-tweet all the things happening as I walk the streets of London (where I am more often than not lost because I can’t use Google Maps), it totally counts as one.

That being said, since I’m not here covering major news stories (or any news, really), it might actually be a blessing that I can’t tweet whatever comes to mind. I’ve had some pretty unintelligent moments during my three weeks here, and I could end up sabotaging myself online before even getting a chance to prove I’m a half-decent journalist. Not ideal.

Also, as mentioned a bit earlier, not knowing where I am is another problem I have here. My sense of direction is already absolutely terrible. Add in London’s lack of proper signage when it comes to displaying street names (I never appreciated those poles we have on every street corner at home that tell you what intersection you’re at before this trip) and you’re just asking for trouble. I kick it old school by writing down directions and using an actual map to try and figure out where I am and where I need to be, but most of the time these steps don’t help. Luckily, Londoners seem to quickly pick up on the fact that I’m hopelessly lost, and are very willing to offer assistance. I’m just thankful I don’t have to be at any news conferences or live on scene anywhere, because I’d be late… all the time.

One of the easier to see street signs
on a building in London.
Photo by Gobind Prihar

Not sounding like I’m completely confused when I talk to locals is an issue as well. Sure, I meet kind people who try to answer my questions and will sometimes correct me when I use wrong terms, but it doesn’t leave a good impression when you seem like you have no clue what’s happening, especially as a journalist. It’s key to be sure about things and make confident statements. I can’t convince news editors and directors – or the general public – that I can report on London’s day-to-day news stories if I can’t even properly order a latte to go. (Is it “may I have a latte in a takeaway cup,” “may I have a latte to takeaway,” or “may I have a latte as a takeaway”? I still don’t know.)

Now, I realize all of these things are just , and I want to clarify that I definitely realize how fortunate I am. I’m in London on vacation for an entire month. I have a wonderful and very supportive group of family members and friends. I have a roof over my head, food in my fridge, and a bed to sleep in every night. I don’t worry about my safety, I’ve never had to think twice about my right to vote or go to school, and I have so many opportunities to chase my absurd and very-unlikely-to-come-true dreams (like the one that inspired this blog series).

I'm not immune to complaining about my First World problems.
But then I remember: I'm in London chasing my dream.
Life's pretty great.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

Despite all of this, I’m still not immune to complaining about the First World problems I deal with. Maybe I can add becoming someone who doesn't complain to my list of big dreams to chase, right after not needing Google to ensure I don’t get lost. But until I get that BBC job, I don't see either of those goals being achieved. Sorry. 

If you want more from my trip, check out my Instagram and Twitter accounts (I update them when I do have Wi-Fi. Obviously).

My quest to get hired at the BBC: Conversation with Crumbs

"It's not easy, what you've chosen." 

Those words from Claire McDonald, one of the two sisters behind Crumbs Food, a blog and YouTube channel that focuses on eating well and finding a balance between working, enjoying life, and being moms. 

Claire and Lucy McDonald are journalists
who blog and vlog about food and life.
Photo courtesy of Facebook

Before I landed in London, I knew that the only way to get an idea of what exactly I needed to do to get my dream job at the BBC was to get to London and talk to journalists. 

I didn't have an exact plan of attack, and my original plan of spending every day in front of the BBC headquarters and approaching all the people who went in or out seemed a sure-fire way to get me permanently banned from the area, and maybe even the country. Clearly, I needed a Plan B. 

I decided to use the one method that always seems to work when I'm trying to find sources for a news story; I reached out to people. I sent a few e-mails to London journalists, hoping they'd be willing to help me on my quest. 

That's how I ended up meeting with Claire in central London on an unseasonably warm Wednesday evening. 

As we walked along a street parallel to the River Thames, Claire told me she still considers herself a journalist, but is currently working in the marketing and advertising field. Journalism in general is not an easy career to pursue, she said, and it gets even more difficult to be great at your job when you start to grow your family. 

Claire worked as a writer and editor at The Times of London for more than a decade. But after having her second child, she knew it was time to find something else. That's how her blog started up, which was followed by a YouTube channel. 

Unfortunately, according to Claire, blogging alone does not generate a livable income, which is how she ended up in her current role. The good news is that it allows her to use her journalism-based skills, as well as the ones she’s picked up as a blogger and vlogger, a little more creatively. One of the major projects she’s worked on is a Christmas ad campaign for one of the biggest grocery store chains in the UK. Not a bad thing to add to a resume.

Along with the low probability of getting a full-time gig at the BBC, Claire expressed concern about the cost of living in the city. When I asked about possible salaries, she told me that just like in Canada, journalism doesn’t pay well in the UK. And when I asked if I could realistically make enough to cover the basics, she had some uncertainty in her voice.

This lead to both of us trying to do math. We got off to a rough start with the multiplication (we’re journalists for a reason – very little math required) but eventually determine it is in fact possible to rent a flat (with others… none of this “living on my own” business), buy groceries, and lead a very basic life being paid minimum wage in London. (I know we don’t make much in news, but I’m really hoping I would be getting more than minimum wage.) 

It’s another factor that won’t make achieving my goal easy – something that seems to be a constant in this plan of mine.

Despite the difficulties, Claire is full of hope. Maybe, she said, I could document the trials and tribulations I face while trying to chase my dream in a podcast or vlog. The idea was genius, so obviously I stole it. To try and make it seem slightly original, I kept it in simple blog form.

She didn’t stop there. As well as offering me a brilliant way to keep a public record of my trip, she promised to try and contact the few people in the industry who she’s still in touch to see if they could share advice on how to work my way into the BBC.

Now all I have to do is hope she makes me sound like a stellar journalist who must be hired at all costs so they get back to her and agree to meet with me. And then impress them myself. Minor details.

For photos and more timely updates on my trip, check out my Instagram and Twitter accounts. 

My quest to get hired at the BBC: A not-so-successful (journalistic) start

London, England.

Buckingham Palace.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

The London Bridge.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

View of the Shard from the Tower of London.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

It’s the city where, according to my mom, “All it ever does is rain.”

It’s also home to the British Broadcasting Corporation, known more commonly as the BBC, my dream employer.

So what does a journalism grad with only a few years of post-grad experience do to turn that dream into a reality?

I’m hoping my 28 day trip to London will help me figure that out.

I’ve put a lot of planning into this trip. Almost a year before I even got on the eight hour and 50 minute flight, I had to sit down and make a budget. Considering the exchange rate at the time, the plummeting loonie, dropping oil prices and an overall poor economic outlook, budgeting was not the most fun of tasks.

After crunching the numbers, it was clear. I had to work… a lot. Between two part-time jobs and freelancing, I earned enough money to buy a round-trip ticket, rent a flat, and buy groceries and other basic necessities for the month.

You’d think someone with my Type A personality would be set for smooth sailing the day of my flight. Maybe, if real life weren’t a thing. I was a stress case the night before, worried I’d forget something important, or that something would come up that would put my plans to an abrupt halt. Instead, I just woke up with the typical symptoms of the common cold.

Despite immediately and diligently taking medicine, including Emergen-C, Cold-FX Extra and DayQuil, nothing helped, and at 6:30 p.m. I boarded the plane feeling a lot less than stellar, despite the fact that I’d very soon be in the city where my dreams could potentially come true.

After surviving the very full, very cramped, very-little-legroom-available flight, I landed in Gatwick, made it through almost 45 minutes of waiting in a line to prove I wasn’t a threat to the country, and got into the cab to my flat.

I managed to only fall asleep twice on the drive there, and stayed awake for the entire tour and quick run-through of basic London living. Then I went to sleep, around 2 p.m. local time, and I didn’t wake up feeling any better that evening, so I went back to bed.

The next day I tried to start my first full day in the city off by going big, but I just ended up getting very dizzy and returning home after about 15 minutes. My second and final trip outside that day was to the grocery store, to stock up on all the cold fighting essentials possible. It was also the first time I’d been asked for ID when buying over-the-counter drugs. According to my good friend Google, some medicines have ingredients that are used to make methamphetamines, so stores have to keep track of who buys how much here. The more you know…

Some basic supplies picked up to battle the cold.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

After two days of being almost completely useless, I decided I was sick of being sick, and it was time to suck it up and start doing things.

I managed to have a packed first week, which started off with a visit to St. Paul’s Cathedral, included making friends with a couple of lovely Austrians while waiting in line to meet a local band, visiting a few different green spaces in central London, checking out multiple museums, and, in pure tourist fashion, heading to Big Ben and Buckingham Palace.

St. Paul's Cathedral.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

St. James Park.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

Big Ben.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

Gates at Buckingham Palace.
Photo by Yasmin Jaswal

And as it turns out, my mom was actually wrong (that never happens, like, ever, so I was pretty shocked). The first five days of my visit were abnormally warm, with temperatures sticking in the high 20s and low 30s, and the sun constantly shining. It only "rained" in my area once all week, and even that was almost too light to count. 

Despite fighting a cold for the past 10 days, my first week was overall quite successful from a tourist point of view. When it comes to getting any closer to the dream job though, I have some (okay, lots) of work to do. I might have to revert back to my original plan of sitting outside BBC headquarters for hours every day and talking to everyone who goes in and out of the building until someone finally gives me an interview. The only downside with that plan is instead of an interview I might get kicked off the premises by security... for good. 

For now, let's just hope the next post is more fruitful in terms of my journalistic endeavours.

If you want even more from my trip, be sure to follow my Instagram and Twitter accounts.