Profile: Jane, Trainee Lawyer, NY/Lon

Jane is training to be a lawyer. Educated in the UK, her training has allowed her to live in London, Hong Kong and New York, with more good things expected to come. Here she (very modestly) answers some questions about her career so far, and recommends a few places to go out in each city.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m 26, working in law. Am generally quite shy, but have a good group or friends who are like my family.

My family are very important to me too.

You grew up in Leamington Spa, a mid-sized town in the Midlands. How did it shape you?

It shaped me in that I really wanted to live in the city for a while. I have always grown up outside of the city, hence why I was so excited to go to London. Now I have the best of both worlds, the city life and can always go home for weekend to see greenery!

Since leaving school you’ve lived in London, Hong Kong and now New York. Do you feel like a city girl now? What would you say are the benefits of city life?

I definitely feel like a city girl; I absolutely love it. The benefits are that there is something for everyone there. In NY I have managed to find like-minded people who understand my interests/culture etc.

Recommend some places to visit when people are in New York, Hong and London.

New York : Clubs - Webster Hall, pictured right, random places in village http://websterhall.com/ .

Bars - Faces and Names in Times Square http://www.facesandnames.com/

Tourist spots – I love the Empire State building and the Chrysler, pictured above on the left.

Oh, and [Central] park, obviously.

For shopping, I prefer the outskirts of New York; the Pallisades, Jersey City etc.

Hong Kong: Clubs/Bars - random places in Lan Kwai Fong.

Restuarants – there’s a place in IFC, best Shanghai pork dumplings ever!

Tourist spots - Big Buddha, light show at TST.

Shopping - all the malls!

London: Clubs/bars – I’m old now so don’t go out much, but generally stick to The Big Note, 207 Upper Street, a lovely club just because it reminds me of good times.

Bar Bollywood , 34 Dover Street

Restos - Isis, 49- 50 Dover Street.

Blossom, Unit 1b City Point, http://www.blossomrestaurant.co.uk/index.html

Anywhere they should avoid?

Well, everyone told me to avoid the Bronx, but there are some nice areas. I don’t advise on any bad areas [but] obviously use your common sense!

Has world travel, and especially working abroad had an effect on you as a person? How?

Yes definitely, I have become more independent, especially in New York as [before moving here] I had never lived alone. I’m still not perfect, but much more independent than in London.

Do you have ambitions to live and work elsewhere in the world? Where?

I would love to try working in Japan, and perhaps India for a while.

Persevere. I’m not the most studious person but I have managed to secure [a] training contract so if I can do it, I’m pretty sure anyone can.

Does travel for its own sake inform your ambitions? Where would you like to visit and why?

I am liking travel [but] hit the travel bug late. I would like to go to Australia/NZ as well as Africa. Aiming to do so before starting [a] Training Contract.

The type of law you practice is quite specific. Can you tell us a bit about it?

I’m not practicing yet. At present, I would like to do either Commercial or Clinical Negligence; each has its own appeal.

How did you come to follow the career path you’re on?

I kinda fell into it. I thought I would try the law conversion [after graduating with a science degree] and then decided I liked it, so stuck with it. There has been an element of luck too though.

If all goes to plan, where do you want to be in ten years time? What will you be doing?

Personally, I would like to get married and settle etc. From a work level, would love to become Partner in a firm, but we shall see.

Knowing what you do now, what advice would you give to someone else who is considering a similar career?

Persevere. I’m not the most studious person but I have managed to secure [a] training contract so if I can do it, I’m pretty sure anyone can. Above: Lan Kwoi Fong, Hong Kong

How does your profession affect what your choice of clothing?

We have guidance unfortunately, and need to wear collars, smart clothes, etc., so generally [I wear] suits.

Outside of work, what do you like to do? Where will we find you?

I’m up for trying everything. I have become a lot more social here; just hanging out with friends. My mentality [towards] drink has changed. Don’t get me wrong; I like going out till late and feeling the freedom of drink, but also just going for walks along the river with a cup of coffee is just as fun for me.

Cheering Up

Yesterday was a bad day, and today's not been much better, which made me think about things that might cheer me, and you, up. Here are a few suggestions to brighten your day.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going.” Winston Churchill

Leave the House I hate doing this at the best of times, but staying in and hiding never makes any difference so we might as well give it a shot.

Go out with friends Good friends put situations that may seem overwhelming in to proportion. They’ll also make you laugh. Extra points if it’s a night out and you end up on the dancefloor.

Make-overs (Maybe more for the girls, this one.)

Yesterday I detailed my love of visiting the MAC counter. I do think purchasing a new eye-shadow or lipstick can make a person feel better. I also like doing fashion shows using clothes I already own, and performing bad make-overs on my friends for the sheer hilarity of it. This is a photo of me and a fashion crime accomplice.

Home Spa On a bad day, turn the bathroom into a home spa. This should include, but not be limited to, the use of favourite bath products, face masks and moisturizers, the painting of nails, and the refusal to come out until you’re good and ready, all while listening to music only you like. Six hours is not unreasonable.

Cook Make your favourite meal. And drink while you're preparing it. If you're as hit and miss as me when it comes to cooking, the drinking will help.

Bake Baking is an oddly rewarding process. It requires almost scientific precision, which keeps an overactive mind, that might otherwise be dwelling on negatives, busy, and goes on to reward you with all kinds of treats. Recommended dishes are peanut butter cookies, devil’s food cake and brownies.

Exercise Not the gym sort. Dog walking, dancing, roller skating, rock climbing, and the odd bit of cycling.
Listening to very loud music A bit of a favourite in my house anyway, as it dovetails nicely with the dancing. Recommended: Cut Copy, Sweet Soubrette, French singer Julien Dore (who’s worth looking at too), early and very cheesey Kylie, and some 80’s power ballads to sing along to (don’t pretend you don’t know all the words).

Arts and Crafts Making things can make you feel better. For one thing, your time is occupied, leaving you with less time to think, a scenario that always makes me feel bad. I like to make cake stands, such as the ones pictured, which were made for my Aunt Jackie and Black Alice, respectively.

Watch your favourite film or TV show, particularly if they’re funny
The healing effects of being wrapped up under a duvet in front the TV are not to be underestimated. Be it Sex and the City, The Inbetweeners, America’s Next Top Model, Don’t Tell the Bride, or even Jeremy Paxman’s unfalteringly condescension on University Challenge, something that makes you laugh will always make you feel better.

“Never lose your sense of humour. The moment you lose your sense of humour, you lose your sense of proportion." David Tang

THE SERIOUS BIT
Two bits of advice that may actually make a difference.

Attitude adjustment Obviously, when it comes to attitude, I’m not going to lecture. Some shit is just so heinous that really all your friends should do is say, “I am so sorry that this has happened to you,” and give you a hug.

Other shit is not so heinous; other shit can be dealt with by “choosing your attitude” as my old, tirelessly upbeat boss used to say. So when things are bad, or you feel fat, or you’re overdrawn again, you opt not to let it affect you, making the conscious effort to remember that, as with everything else, you will get through this.

Keep your sense of humour During the drugs scandal that threatened to ruin her career, Kate Moss’ good friend, the fashion magnate David Tang, told her “to never lose your sense of humor. The moment you lose your sense of humor, you lose a sense of proportion." And it’s true that a keen sense of the ridiculous will get you through many an awkward or embarrassing situation. I always know I’m over something when I can turn it into a funny story, so even at the worst of times I’m trying to figure out how to construct one.

Lipstick Traces

"Red lipstick is the stiletto heel of make-up," Terry Barber, director of make-up artistry at MAC.

I love a strong lip but often lack the confidence to carry the look. I'm old enough now that I should be wearing what I want when I want to, be it in the form of clothing or make-up. With this in mind, I've decided to wear a lot of red lipstick this Winter.

Originally, I posted this video, featuring Times Lifestyle Editor Jennifer Howze having her lipstick applied by senior MAC make-up artist Lynsey Alexander, who's there to explain what red suits whom, and how to best apply it, at the end of Alana's profile but, having just rewatched it, I think it bears repeating. Valuable lessons for us all.




The video can be found in its original form at: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/beauty/article3634058.ece

MAC make-up is available online from http://www.maccosmetics.com/, a site which can direct you not only to their products and make-up artists, who can be hired for events, but also to their Looks page http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/templates/looks/looks_landing.tmpl, the most fun you can have with cosmetics that aren't in front of you, and to their AIDS Fund, which is paid for by the sale of their VIVA GLAM products (http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/mac_aid/macaids_landing.tmpl).

Apart from the lippy lesson, two things strike me while watching it. The first is that The Times' Beauty pages rule. And the second, which I feel more strongly about, is that, if you're ever feeling low, or unsure about which make-up to apply, it is always worth a trip to the MAC counter.

I think I was about fifteen when I had my first encounter with the brand at their newly opened shop in Birmingham. One of their head make-up artists, a guy with immaculate natural look make-up and the best eyebrows I have ever seen, was in for the day, showing the public how to get their looks right, a key difference between the MAC philosophy and that of some of other well-known brands. He didn't make me feel bad 'cos I'd chosen the wrong shade of blusher and wore enough eye-shadow to make a goth blanche, he just made me look (and feel) so much better, which is all you can ask for from a make-up artist. And, of course, MAC are some of the best quality cosmetics you can buy, which always helps.

My nearest MAC stockist these days is Debenhams in Milton Keynes. The girls there rock; there are never enough of them yet they go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. My favourite make-up artist there, whose name I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten, was a contestant on last year's X-Factor. She got as far as boot camp. She found me the only eye-liner I've ever had that doesn't dribble down my face after half an hour. She then chose a purple gel-liner for me and taught me how to apply it. In short, she rules.

If you are in need of cheering up, or just some new cosmetics to play with, I seriously recommend a trip to your nearest stockist, which can be found at http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/templates/door/finder.tmpl.

LA VIE EN ROUGE

Red lipstick: Some Recommended Brands

ELIZABETH ARDEN Suffragettes and women in the Second World War wore lipstick, referring to it as "the red badge of courage." Elizabeth Arden and her contemporary Helena Rubinstein are largely responsible for this, and EA is still an excellent high end brand, if a wee bit less glamorous than it used to be.

MAC Obviously. Has, at various points, been endorsed by both RuPaul and Dita von Teese. Do not argue.

DIOR Recommended by Alana, who knows a thing or two about pulling a look together. See her profile from earlier this month.

VINCENT LONGO The brand can be hard to get hold of in the UK but is definitely worth searching for. A high water content makes their 'sticks very conditioning (I mean moisturising. Gross.). Both Americana and 5 come highly recommended.

CHANEL Rouge Noir has been a favourite of mine ever since Uma Thurman wore it, and the matching nail varnish, in Pulp Fiction. It's the ultimate vampy shade; good for when you wanna be bad.

NARS One day I will tell you all about how much I love Francois Nars, founder of Nars cosmetics. For now, let me just say, his make-up and choice of girls for advertising campaigns is near perfect.

DOLCE & GABBANA Currently being endorsed by Scarlett Johansson, whose lips, contrary to popular belief were made for lipstick, not pornography.

URBAN DECAY A newer brand than many on this list but such a goodie. Their lipsticks smell amazing (sample scents: brownies and cherries) and come with a teeny little dagger on the end of the tube. Rock'n'roll.

Profile: Ellia Bisker, Sweet Soubrette

Sweet Soubrette are my favourite band. Unlike the myriad of guitar-toting, new wave influenced boys we've seen from the city recently, Sweet Soubrette owe some of their style to the performance art and burlesque scenes that permeate New York's landscape, a lineage which allows them to look amazing and wax intelligent while conquering the music scene.

The band is fronted by non-cooler front woman, Ellia Bisker, who started taking on the world with just dark humour, clever wordplay, and her ukelele for company, before recruiting a backing band.

Bisker is known for her razor sharp and humorous lyrics, and for never, ever looking bad. Here she talks about music and style, before giving us the inside scoop on where to visit on a trip to New York.

Check out their website http://www.sweetsoubrette.com/ for more pictures and info.

Tell us about Sweet Soubrette, and a little bit about yourself.

Sweet Soubrette started in 2006, when I wanted a name for my ukulele singer/songwriter act (originally solo, now a band). A soubrette is a stock character from comic opera—it’s usually described as the flirtatious chambermaid—and on the vaudeville stage young women who played and sang were also often called soubrettes. It seemed in keeping with my act. Sweet Soubrette started with a theme of “doomed romance,” which is a great source of inspiration. But I've toned down the melodrama a bit since I started, and a lot of the material is more nuanced now. I describe the music as Regina Spektor meets the Magnetic Fields—folk-influenced indie pop with witty lyrics and some electronic production.

As for the woman behind the false eyelashes, I was an English literature major, have worked in a circus, in book publishing and in the nonprofit arts, and currently have a day job in the legal department of a music publisher.

You live in Brooklyn at the moment . Did you always live in New York? When did you develop an interest in music? Was it supported where you grew up?

I've lived in Brooklyn for about six years now and I love it here. I'm a rare New York native—I grew in Manhattan and then in New Rochelle, a nearby suburb. I have friends living nearby from practically every era of my life. My interest in music started basically at birth—my parents are not musicians themselves but are lifelong music lovers, so I grew up on a cocktail of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, folk songs, and show tunes from South Pacific to Andrew Lloyd Webber. I highly recommend this combination to parents wishing to raise songwriter children, incidentally. My dad collected old stereo equipment at garage sales, and by the time I was in high school you could play music in almost every room of the house. I took piano lessons and sang in the school chorus, even went to music camp one summer. So I was always steeped in music, but I didn't start making it myself until more recently.

Why the Ukulele? It seemed quite an unlikely instrument but then a couple of years ago a whole group of hip, sexy people picked them up all at once.

Why, thank you! I like to think I'm a hip, sexy ukulele player. But it is weird—the uke has become wildly popular over the past few years and I couldn't really say why. These things seem to go in waves. In my case I got it as a gift from someone I had recently met, practically a stranger. It arrived in the mail—it was really out of the blue. But I started teaching myself to play, using online chord charts to figure out how to cover Magnetic Fields songs and then writing my own. I found the bright tone was a nice accompaniment to my voice, and the uke really lends itself to writing—it’s portable, the chords are simple, it doesn't take long to become reasonably skilled, it's fun to play, plus it looks so adorable. It gave me something a little different as a singer/songwriter (I mean really, who needs another guitarist?), and it opened doors to some very cool uke-specific opportunities—I got to play in the Paris Uke Fest last year, for instance! Plus, when you carry it around, people talk to you. It's good for making friends.

Is there a Ukulele scene? Or do ukulele players, particularly girls with ukes, just fit in to the whole NY scene, which is full of musicians and performance artists?

Yes to both! Definitely you can play the uke in the context of the general NY scene, and I know a bunch of performers who play uke in their acts but who I never see at uke-specific events. Playing the uke is still unusual enough that you stand out, mainly in a good way, though many people don't seem to understand it's a real instrument, not just a toy. But there's also a lively community of ukulele players in NY--so much so that during the 2008 NY Uke Fest there was a competing weekend-long ukulele event with completely different performers, and both were well attended. The monthly Ukulele Cabaret, hosted by the duo Sonic Uke, has been at the center of the scene for a long time. You see a huge range of material and styles, including some crazy performers doing ridiculous acts in costume, and it's tremendously fun. You can see some of those shows archived at http://www.ukuleledisco.com/.

How does having an alter ego in the form of Sweet Soubrette affect you? Is it like being a super-hero; you can do more when you’re in costume?




In my Sweet Soubrette persona,
I am a glamorous and mysterious creature, seductive and sophisticated



It's a great comfort in my ordinary life to remember that I have this other existence where I'm a femme fatale spotlighted against red velvet—as opposed to my usual activities of, say, buying groceries, spilling coffee on my new skirt, or carrying heavy bags up the subway stairs. As Sweet Soubrette I am larger than life, I command the audience and I flirt shamelessly from the stage. The alter ego also sets me apart and creates a little respectful distance in men who might otherwise get too familar. I'm working on my new record right now, “Days and Nights,” which also recalls that split personality, day and night. For the album artwork I’m thinking of using two photographs, on the front all glammed out as Sweet Soubrette, and on the back in my street clothes somewhere really mundane, like the laundromat.

Where can our readers catch a Sweet Soubrette show soon?

I'm organizing a "Paris Uke Fest in Brooklyn" on October 8 at my favorite venue in Brooklyn, the Jalopy Theatre (http://www.jalopy.biz/). It's going to feature Brooklyn uke players who have performed in the Paris Uke Fest, the Paris Uke Fest organizer himself, and some other local uke players, and will include everything from fun novelty songs to experimental music to doomed love songs to 1920s French jazz. Some of my favorite uke players are in it and I invite everyone in town to come check it out! Readers can also sign up for my mailing list at http://www.sweetsoubrette.com/, and please don’t hesitate to befriend me out on facebook (www.facebook.com/elliabisker) or myspace (www.myspace.com/elliabisker).

Does music influence your look? In what ways?

When I'm offstage, music doesn't influence my look all that much. I really do seem stick to the double life/alter ago thing. I think mostly I reserve my style energy for the stage and keep it pretty simple otherwise.

How important is presentation when you’re on-stage? Is there a certain way you want to look when you perform?

Presentation is a very close second to the music, in my opinion—the function of being onstage is that everyone is looking at you, so you should give them something to look at!

My experience working with the circus really influenced my feelings about this—razzle-dazzle is a big part of the package, it's what makes it a show.

So I tell my band what to wear, generally suits for the gents and something dressy for the ladies. My violinist doesn't like to dress up at all but she humors me wonderfully. As for me I've toned it down some over the past couple of years—when I started performing there was a lot more costume going on, and sometimes I still do that, flowers and feathers, sequins and fishnets—but I'm trying to set a tone that's more rock star than cabaret now, so I'm keeping the retro stuff to a minimum. But I never perform without my sparkly false eyelashes. I get the kind with rhinestones built in for maximum glamour.

Do you buy special clothes to perform in? Where do they come from?

I do in theory have special show clothes, but I usually like them so much that I end up wearing them offstage as much as I can get away with. I have a collection of great dresses that come from a variety of places—thrift shops, local designers, grandma's attic, hand-me-downs...I'm always looking for a good dress. I need some more sparkly glamorous things. I have a good friend, Kelli Rae Powell (http://www.kelliraepowell.com/) who is also a local ukulele chanteuse and we have a date to go dress shopping together sometime soon. The Brooklyn vintage stores won’t know what hit them.

Have New York and Brooklyn influenced you, in terms of your personal interests and look?


Video for Greenpoint, the song that won Ellia the Mizz Greenpoint Pageant in 2008

As a native, it's hard to separate out my personal preferences from the local culture. But I wear a lot of black, I like to accentuate the fact that I'm long and lanky, I love a hot pair of boots...so I suspect that when transplanted to other places I'm pretty easy to peg as a New Yorker. I don't think of myself as particularly fashion-conscious but there's definitely an unconscious attention to my look that I don't realize I have until I go to other places that aren't as style-obsessed.

Who and what would you say are your main style influences?

My boyfriend would tell you Pippi Longstocking, but he's wrong, wrong, wrong! I'd prefer to think of the movie stars of the 30s and 40s as an influence—I like to look like your sexy grandma in knee-length skirts and low heels, hair up in bobby pins. Just a little retro, though, not like I'm in a period piece. I also like a sort of pared-down gothy thing—dark tight jeans and a little black sweater, smoky eye makeup. But I'll admit to a certain circus-influenced tendency to mix and match patterns, stripes with polka dots with leopard print. That might be where the Pippi Longstocking thing comes from.

Give our readers some style advice. What should no wardrobe and make-up bag be without?

False eyelashes: instant glamour! No, seriously, my make-up bag short list is a good quality eyeliner and lipstick, adequate mascara and eye shadow, and loose powder and liquid foundation for complexion emergencies. A pencil sharpener and nail clipper/file are essential—bobby pins, too. And make sure you always have a compact mirror because you never know where you're going to have to get ready to look good (i.e. bar bathroom). As for the wardrobe, you need jeans that make you look hot and a good pair of boots. Splurge on the boots and then get them re-heeled and soled every year and they'll last forever.

And what should they definitely be without.

Steer clear of disposable clothes—anything you won't be caught dead wearing next season. Go classic instead, so you can mix and match with the same pieces for ages. And for heaven's sake stay away from things that don't flatter your shape, no matter how trendy they are! For instance I don't know a single person who looks good in those terrible high-waisted shorts I saw all the hipster college girls wearing in Williamsburg all summer. If you pick things that complement your own build, you will always look good.

Do you think that living in New York, which is incredibly diverse, helps foster creativity?

[In New York] it's the sheer density of creative people—you can't throw a rock without hitting someone who's working on a cool project.

Absolutely. It's the sheer density of creative people—you can't throw a rock without hitting someone who's working on a cool project. I've gotten involved in so many artistic endeavors simply through meeting someone randomly, or knowing them in some completely unrelated way. There's no need to advertise, you just go about your business—go to parties, hang out with your colleagues, talk to people in coffee shops, go see your friends perform. You get invited to participate in things, and you have a huge pool of people who could be amazing resources. I don't know how I'd get anything done anywhere else.

Who, apart from you, should we be listening to right now?

I recently discovered Melody Gardot and she's amazing. Erin Regan and Chris Garneau are two local songwriters I think are incredibly talented. I love quirky little Joanna Newsom with a passion. PJ Harvey is always doing something new and interesting. I've been listening lately to a lot of my favorites from 10 years ago though. Liz Phair's records (before she sold out) never get old.

Apart from work and music, what do you like to do? How do you spend your time?

I spend most of my free time with my boyfriend, who also happens to be my producer, so our free time tends to be a mix of work and play. But I'm pretty domestic—I like to cook and bake and crochet, and I love not having to get on the subway to do things. My ideal weekend might involve going to the neighborhood farmer’s market, a potluck brunch at someone's house, dress shopping, and getting drinks at a local bar before going to see a friend perform in their own show. Oh, and I just recently started taking dance lessons! The class is called “Absolute Beginner Hip Hop,” and I'm terrible but it's really fun.

Where, ideally, do you see yourself in ten years time?

Basically I want to have it all: a happy home life and adventure, fame and intimacy, art and quality of life, love and a successful creative life and a career I feel passionate about. I think about having kids too (I think this is a function of having just turned 30). So if I had my way, in ten years I'd be married or living with someone I love, with a kid or two and a cat or a dog, living in a nice apartment in Brooklyn with friends nearby, earning enough from my music to live on without a day job, and making music I love and that the fans love. I'd like to be touring too, but not all the time. And I want to be able to pay my band enough to tour with me instead of taking other gigs, including flying out my violinist for shows when she finally gives into her true nature and moves out west and out of the big city. Also, by then I plan to be an amazing dancer.

Finally, recommend a few places (shops, bars, etc) that people shouldn’t miss when they’re in the city.

Greenpoint's Alter (http://www.alterbrooklyn.blogspot.com/) and Dalaga (www.myspace.com/dalaganyc) for clothes by up and coming young local designers.

Williamsburg's Dumont and Diner for amazing food.
http://www.dumontrestaurant.com/
http://www.dinernyc.com/

Pete's Candy Store is a great Williamsburg bar with lovely backyard seating, great music and fun events like spelling bees and trivia nights.
http://www.petescandystore.com/

I already mentioned Jalopy in Red Hook but it deserves another plug.
http://www.jalopy.biz/

Kashkaval and Locanda Verdefor amazing food in Manhattan.
http://www.kashkavalfoods.com/
http://www.thegreenwichhotel.com/restaurant

Habana Outpost in Fort Greene to experience multicultural Brooklyn at its finest. www.myspace.com/habanaoutpost

Ricky's is a very fun cosmetics chain that caters to drag queens and has the most fun hair and makeup products ever.
http://www.rickys-nyc.com/

For the health conscious, Yoga to the People offers pay-what-you-want yoga classes in a few locations around the city.
http://www.yogatothepeople.com/

And if you're feeling adventurous and aren't shy about hanging out naked with your girlfriends, you must check out NY Spa Castle , a gigantic Korean bathhouse complex in the farthest reaches of Flushing, Queens. Enjoy!
http://www.nyspacastle.com/

Profile: Emily, part 3, Work

Emily, while nannying in Scotland.

Emily teaches. Teaching is a job that is entirely beyond me; I was woman-handled into babysitting for next door's six year old this weekend, and am full of renewed appreciation for anyone who enters the profession. In addition to teaching middle schoolers - that's junior high school, or children between age 11 and 14, their most horrifying age- Emily also took on the challenge of teaching special needs children in the Montessori system, one that's not yet entirely geared to the age group. I asked, why? why? why?

Tell us about your job. What do you do? What does it involve in practical terms?

I am a Montessori middle school teacher. I enjoy this method because it affords me the opportunity to teach realistic skills and get to know each learner on their terms. It is a method that encourages individuality and interest based study. It is hoped that students of this type of school will think like scientists and be great questioners with insatiable curiosities. I also work a great deal with special needs. This ranges from mental disabilities to physical needs.

Did you always want to teach?

My passions have always been in education. I will certainly have to admit my perception of teaching has shifted and my passion and desire to advocate for learners has become more prevalent and significant as I have gotten older and more resolute in my position and self-awareness.

Can you tell us about your education and career path? I know you were a nanny in Scotland before becoming a teacher.

I went to Indiana University. I studied elementary education with an emphasis on health and wellness. Then I started some graduate level courses in cultural education and entered an immersion program. I actually taught for two years before taking time off to go nanny in Scotland. I wanted a chance to travel and Scotland seemed like a beautiful place. Everything fell into place once I arrived and found the farm where I lived. I had taken a week to jaunt to Amsterdam and was checking my email in a café when I saw a note from my director asking if I would be willing to come back and take my old classroom. It seemed fitting, so I returned. This is the third year back.

You’ve chosen a relatively unusual career path. You teach in a Montessori High School- there aren’t many around- but you also teach special needs. Firstly, can you explain to those of us who aren’t familiar, what the principles of Montessori education are? How do the teaching methods differ from the education many of us may have had in High School?

Maria Montessori pictured with some of the children from La Case de Bambini

Well, it is slightly complicated to explain because it has taken on so many faces. Montessori classrooms look different across the US and across the world. Different organizations have tweaked them to fit all varieties of molds. Maria Montessori was the first woman to become a doctor in Italy. She began by studying the brain. She worked mostly with children and noticed a great deal about special needs children. Her first school, La Case de Bambini was in the slums of Rome, and began as an experiment in 1907.

She helped to transform the way the children learned, and wanted to make things practical and exciting. She encouraged questions and created a set of materials to show physical reasoning behind concepts. She empowered the learners to respect themselves and their environments. Her son Mario helped to perpetuate the method and they spread the concept across Europe and the world.

Learners are put in to three year cycles; 3-6 years, 6-9 years, etc., this helps the learners become teachers of one another and offers the instructor the opportunity to have full understanding of interests and abilities. Because the original process only went up to 12 years old, the high school concept is a work in progress. Some guidelines have been laid down, but it’s difficult to work around the rigid state and national standards and still provide a self-empowering, practical based curriculum.

We allow our students to create their own courses based off of the standards. They are responsible for their learning and curriculum. This helps to ensure that they base their learning on their individual interests. It takes a massive amount of planning and double-checking.

Why did you want to teach Montessori, rather than mainstream education?

I appreciate the integrity the Montessori system provides the learners. It helps to keep my own ego in check because I am not the “say all.” I am able to help kids tap into their interests and look at the world from many different angles rather than having to adhere to the strict regulations that the state and school boards put on the traditional teachers.

And why become a special needs teacher? Do you think Montessori education is more effective for students with special needs?

I have known since high school that I enjoyed working with special needs. When I was in college I started a branch of swimming in the Special Olympics in my town. I find that people with special needs bring out my patience and help me to look at different perspectives. I find their honesty and triumphs endearing.

And finally, and most unfathomably to me, why High Schoolers? It seems like such a difficult age to teach.

Ahhhhh. If I could only bottle their uncensored hormones, I could make a million. I love their ability to be so blunt. The drama that exudes from their every move puts my life into perspective.

Do you have ambitions to live and work outside of the US again? Where would you go, and why?

Yes. I am open to going pretty much anywhere. I would love to study international schools as a curriculum project. As far as just travel, I next hope to do the Inca Trail in Peru—need to be a bit more physically fit first though. I would also love to travel to the Greek Isles, then ferry over to Turkey… all the possibilities.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time? Can you imagine staying in the same field in the long-term? If not, what are your other career goals?

Honestly, ten years seems like an eternity. I have a certain feeling that I will remain in the education field in some capacity. I don’t hope to be still a classroom teacher, as I hope I have other things to contribute. I would love to work writing legislation to shift the way we test kids in the US. I would like to be on the forefront of changing expectations of what school has to be, and I would enjoy writing curriculum that would be based on a more global and cultural view.

Outside of work, how do you spend your time?

Well, work takes up a lot of life. In addition to being a teacher, I work at my family’s pawnshop, and am the head coach for a local swim team. I love to plan travels, head to the woods, or find a place to boat. I love to dance and, dare I say, drink beer.

Profile: Emily, parts 1 and 2, Travelling Homegirl

I love a girl who drinks, thinks and travels.

Emily is my newest friend. We met in New York this Summer, promptly decamped to The Beauty Bar, and bonded over beer, doomed romance, our mutual love of travel and how all the best girls are fag hags.

Parts 1 and 2 of her interview are about her life in the artsy, southern cities of New Albany and Louisville, and her time spent travelling the world.

Part 1: Travelling

Tell us about where you grew up.

I grew up in a little town called Jeffersonville, Indiana. This is located in the very south if Indiana and is a river town. From my childhood house, I could look across the Ohio River into Louisville, Kentucky, home of the infamous Kentucky Derby. At age 14, my family moved about an hour west to a small town of less than 2000. There they purchased 50 acres, which of course included no neighbors. This certainly formed me as a young teenager. It fed my angst, but in the end instilled my love for nature.

Ladies' Day at the Kentucky Derby

You’ve travelled extensively, and lived in places quite different from Jeffersonville. How influential has travel been on you?

Wow, I could certainly never begin to calculate the influences that travel has had on me. Through my many experiences, I feel that I have become culturally aware and tolerant. I am able to identify with others better and also relate my travel skills (communication/ adaptability) to predicaments that arise in both my personal and professional life. It has ignited many interests and also is a constant reminder of the beautiful world that I am so fortunate to live in.

Can you describe some of your foreign adventures?

I have been [to] many places in the US, which is often like visiting a foreign country as many of the customs vary so significantly from region to region. As far as foreign adventures, Mayan Ruins in Mexico, camping in the rain forest in Costa Rica, wax museums in Canada, teaching 14 year olds in New Zealand, with Maori speaking lessons on the side, close up kangaroos in the Blue Mountains in Australia, tenting through the Serengeti in Kenya and Tanzania, dipping in the North sea off the coast of Malmo, Sweden, the sex museum in Copenhagen, Denmark, hiking in Genoa, Italy, working on an organic farm and nannying in St. Andrew’s, Scotland, Christmas in Paris, a London run through, a night on a house boat in Amsterdam, and a haggling venture in the Dominican Republic.

Any horror stories?

I have encountered several touchy situations, including an ex-convict who taught me how to kill a man with my bare hands should I ever need to.

Ok, I have encountered several touchy situations, including car repair out of an ex-convicts garage, where he taught me how to kill a man with my bare hands if I ever needed to. However, the most fearful moment in my life happened in a small Appalachian town that bordered Kentucky and West Virginia. If you have ever seen the movie Deliverance, you can clearly see the town. I was driving back with a girlfriend from a woman’s rights march in Washington DC. It was quite late and the highway was fairly empty. Suddenly a light flashed on the dash and the car lost steering power. Luckily, we were close to an exit, we put the car in neutral and drifted into a gas station which simultaneously signified the next alcoholic awareness meeting and gave the sale on Budweiser.

Anyhow, I walked in looking for someone to help me find a garage, or tow truck. The toothless girl behind the counter said she knew just the guy, Cathair. Apparently he was the town mechanic and had his own tow truck. We were waiting in the parking lot when he arrived. His large frame was covered in white hair, which he explained he dyed to make it look more like cat hair. Despite our utter fear, we had no choice but to get in the truck with this man. He drove us through windy back roads telling stories that made me fear for my life, before suddenly pulling off the road into a garage of sorts.

He closed the big door and in the garage there were three other men in their early twenties, holding crowbars and looking as if they were working on cars. At any rate, I chatted carelessly while shooting pictures in case someone found me dead; they would know the culprit. Cathair then pulls out a bag of marijuana and begins to roll a joint. At this point my stomach feels like it might actually come out of my body. After some time and convincing, he agrees to take us to the local motel. It looked like the hotel in Psycho. He calls the gentleman who owns the place, and he comes from his house on the hill overlooking the property. (This should let you know that we are the only people staying at the motel).

The owner had slicked back hair and gold rings on every finger. We agreed upon a price and were put up in a room. I remember locking the door in the hope that I was finally safe. Then it occurred to me that, of course, they have the keys. I also noticed that this was the only hotel room I have ever been in that is without a phone. While nothing actually happened I could sincerely feel the edge of death at every turn. Needless to say, it was one of the worst slept evenings of my life. These botchy details could not begin to describe the utter horror of that night.

What advice would you give to people who are about to embark on their gap years, or round the world trips?

Don’t make too strict an agenda, it only disappoints, and get to know the locals as much as possible.

Part 2: Homegirl

You live in New Albany, in the glorious state of Indiana, again now. Make some recommendations for visitors.

New Albany is pretty small. We have some amazing microbreweries though, and I am about 10 minutes from Louisville, Kentucky. There are some delightful stores where things are handmade. It’s on the river, so the regular water activities apply. We have several stops on the Underground Railroad, which was an escape line for southern slaves to the north during the civil war. We also have several waterfront mansions that are supposedly haunted that you can tour. In the fall we boast Harvest Homecoming, which is the trash-fest of the Century, complete with airbrush shirts, endless rides, and more fried food than one could ever dream.

Tell us about Louisville, I know you love it there. Can you make any similar recommendations for first-time visitors?

I would say most people from Louisville fall irreversibly in love with it.

Thunder Over Louisville

It is fairly small, about 1 million people, but has all the offerings of a mid-sized city. The people are nothing but friendly and I never feel uncomfortable going into someplace new. The highlight of the year is, of course, the Kentucky Derby and its surrounding festivals. Thunder over Louisville is the biggest firework display in the country and it always kicks off the month long celebration. The music and art scene are budding but abundant. There are many local bands and venues to see both local art and music. We have lots of locally owned grocery shops and stores. There are plenty of free things to take advantage of as well. It’s easy to travel in and out of and there are green spaces all over the place.

As far as first time visitors, you have to see the [baseball] bat factory. This is where all Louisville Sluggers [a famous brand of baseball bat- Ed] are made. This will of course motivate you to venture to the baseball park and take in a game. The racetrack is a no-brainer. The museum is fascinating and a day of betting is genius! Fourth Street Live is a series of bars and restaurants that tend to cater to a bit more uppity [read: snobby- Ed] crowd, but is great for people watching. Then head to Bardstown Road for local shops and live musicians. Cumberland Brewery is a definite stop to quench your thirst in the unrelenting humidity.

For those interested in Bourbon-and, really, aren’t we all?- head to the Makers Mark distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. This is nearby and will assuredly take the whole afternoon. To top it off, take a sail on the Belle of Louisville, which is an old fashioned steam boat which sails up and down the river. There are a plethora of other exciting venues to indulge in so my strong recommendation is to pick up one of the two free local newsletters, found in most shops, “The LEO” and “Velocity.” Either will tell you every venue in town, what’s happening each day of the week, and how much it costs.

Profile: Alana, Fashion Passion

At 18 Alana is more together than most people manage at twice her age. Her style is kicking, her make-up's immaculate, and her career in fashion- an industry that most of us will never break in to- is already on track.

Here she discusses going to the prom, fashion, make-up and why she isn't that fussed about having a man anyway.

You’ve just left School. How important would you say image- clothes and make-up, etc.- was to you and your friends?

Too important! Kids grow up way too quickly. But I have always loved fashion and make up from an early age probably as my sister is 10 years older than me I watched her getting glammed up and was forced to read Vogue and look at the pretty pictures. Image is very important to girls full stop, especially to girls growing up. There is a lot of pressure or influence at least, from the media. But, more than that, I think girls enjoy being conscious of their image-this leads to fun things such as shopping!

Tell us about prom. What's more important, the dress or your date?

I didn’t start looking [for a dress] until very late. I’m way too laid back about this kind of thing. My friends had theirs months ahead of the event though. It took me about 3-4 days of looking to find the dress I wanted. Once I bought the dress it took me about 3 and half hours to get ready, including hair and last minute applications of bronzer on shoulders etc. (and the odd glass of champagne in our room). I think the dress is far more important than the date!! You can find the perfect dress but finding the perfect man is much more farfetched! I think prom is about friends, I had a great night with my friends, no date needed!

I think the prom dress is far more important than the date!! You can find the perfect dress but finding the perfect man is much more farfetched!

Do you have a job? What do you do? What does it involve in practical terms?

I work for Brook Borg limited. The company owner [has] a modelling agency, a health recruitment agency and fashion production company! I am in charge of the marketing for these companies but predominantly I work for The Promotional People Agency (http://www.promotionalpeople.co.uk/), a modelling agency and I have worked for The Oxford Production Company, a fashion production company. If you’re interested have a look at Hobbs NW3 collection (http://www.hobbs.co.uk/) -we shot it!! Practically my job involves working with my director to decide the direction of marketing, working with my art director with graphics and design, for example I am changing our website at the moment. I also work with events and models under The Promotional People Agency. I also make the odd cup of tea, here and there!

Does working in fashion influence your look?

I think greatly; it makes me far more adventurous. We have Vogue and Marie Claire to flick through in our office and we are an all female team. I think working in fashion helps you develop and identify your own look, what you like and what you don’t.

Who, to your mind, has great style? Do you try to emulate any celebrities in your look?

Great style: Alexa Chung! She is lovely and always looks lovely! Other celebrities probably being Scarlett Johannson, she is very vintage and annoyingly beautiful! I don’t think I emulate celebrities but probably am very inspired by their styles if I like them.

Any fashion and style tips for our readers?

Red lipstick! It completes a quirky, vintage outfit! It’s also bold and strong, and a lipstick is not very expensive!



Red lipstick completes a quirky, vintage outfit. It’s bold and strong, and a lipstick is not very expensive.

What should no wardrobe be without?

A designer handbag! Pulling off an outfit is down to accessories as well. Investing in a classic handbag can make your outfit every time. Chanel or Louis Vuitton being two classics, Damier canvas or Chanel doctors bag being a favourite of mine! They last too, it’s a great investment in my opinion, and they look lovely!

And what should every wardrobe definitely be without?

Anything bought in [deleted for the sake of her career]! Ha, no I’m joking. Erm… I can’t think of anything you know, you can make most things work if they’re styled properly. I say MOST, haha there are definitely exceptions I just can’t think of any. Jeggings maybe, if you’re not a size 4-6 they’re a no-no, they don’t suit normal humans.

Anything readers should avoid?

Items with labels plastered on them. It’s terrible, whether it’s ‘Armani’ or ‘Nike Air’, it’s horrible. In your face is not classy at all, subtle and understated is the way forward.

Finally, if all goes to plan, where do you want to be in ten years time? What will you be doing? Where will you live? What will you have achieved (travel, career, personal life)?

In 10 years time, hmm, I’m so changeable and fickle I have no idea. I’m easily pleased though, I would be happy with a nice townhouse in a city-with a quirky and cool interior that I designed, perhaps a little bmw or something parked outside, editing a great magazine with a killer wardrobe to match and perhaps a fantastically good-looking and well trained man. The man’s not so important though!! So, really, I don’t ask for a lot!

Thanks for listening :)

PS Here's a link to a great article on how to carry off a strong lip, for those who may be unsure. http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/beauty/article3634058.ece

People Profiles: Hannah

I have a tonne of interesting friends. Rather than use this blog a way of journalising my own quite stultifying neuroses, I've decided interview them about their lives and careers.

Hannah Slate, Language Development Specialist, Pittsburgh, USA

Take time to really absorb what you experience... pictures are great-- but memories are even better.

Hannah is one of those frighteningly together people; self-contained and wise beyond her years in ways that intelligent, pretty girls do usually bother with. We met at grad school in Dublin, where I was quite intimidated, and not a little jealous, that she had travelled the world before we even began studying, and was already well on the way to success by the time we left. She is my calmest girlfriend; whom I see the least but always have something to say to.

Here she talks about teaching at college level, living in Pittsburgh, and almost getting stuck in an African desert.

Tell us about where you grew up.

I grew up in Neversink-- a small town in the Catskills. It's a peaceful place to grow up but it was also frustrating at times (everything was a drive away-- so I was very dependent on my parents until learning to drive!)

You’ve travelled all over the world, and lived in a number of places quite different from Neversink. How influential has travel been on you?

Travel has had a huge influence on me-- not only by opening my eyes to new places/cultures but by helping me realize who I fundamentally am as a person. Travel has helped me keep things in perspective and it has helped me become more confident and accepting of change. Travel has also made me realize how small the world actually is... it's not just a cliche.

Can you describe some of your foreign adventures?

My "adventures" have ranged from camping in the outback of Australia to working in Prague to getting on a bus with 15 other ESL [English as a Second Language] teachers and traveling through western Africa. The last one was probably the biggest adventure. Some highlights include shady border crossings, getting stuck (multiple times) in desert sand (and then pulled out one time by a military vehicle), bartering with Moroccans, trading my shoes for wooden crafts in the Gambia and eating nearly raw goat meat from our gracious hosts in Senegal.

Any horror stories?

There was only one time while traveling that I truly feared for my life. We were somewhere in Mauritania near the end of our desert crossing, and the sand dunes had shifted too much for us to take the usual route through the desert. Our only option was to wait for the tide to go out and then ride the hardened beach sand to the next town. Along the way-- we saw the remains of vans and trucks, which had attempted the trip before us, in the ocean. To make matters worse-- we didn't have any spare tires, and... you guessed it... we got a flat along the way. Amazingly, the driver managed to pull into the soft sand where we wouldn't wash away with the tide (at least not within the next half hour...) With a little ingenuity-- we managed to move one of the rear tires (they were doubled up) to the front... and after much pushing- got on our way again. The entire ride was terrifying-- even our mauritanian guide seemed horrified as he kept screaming to the driver in french-- "To the left!!" (meaning stay away from the ocean you crazy white man...) I was sure we'd either end up in the ocean or stranded on the beach... but I'm still here to tell the story.

What advice would you give to people who are about to embark on their gap years, or round the world trips?

Take time to really absorb what you experience... pictures are great-- but memories are even better.

At different times you’ve lived in New York, Dublin, Prague, and Melbourne, among other exciting places. Tell us some things that people should do when they’re in each place, and make some recommendations (sight seeing, bar hopping, shopping, anything else you could recommend).

It really depends on what you're after and what interests you have. Buy a good traveling guide and highlight some things that peak your interest. My favorite thing to do in a new city is to grab a seat at an outdoor cafe or restaurant, have some local beer or wine and people watch.

Tell us about your job. What do you do?

What does it involve in practical terms? I'm a Language Development Specialist at Carnegie Mellon. I work with international graduate students (and some undergraduates). I teach classes and seminars that help students develop academic fluency, presentation skills and academic writing skills. I also do some individual tutoring with students and I'm involved with a lot of assessment and student advising. Recently, I've also been responsible for monitoring our writing support program and mentoring other instructors.

Did you always want to teach?

No-- in fact, both of my parents and my sister are teachers-- so I always thought I'd do something completely different. But it turns out that I love teaching and I see myself always teaching in some way.

You’re very highly qualified. Can you tell us about your education and career path? I know you taught English in a number of countries before returning to the US.

My undergraduate degree is in Psychology (with a minor in Theater). I then got a TEFL [to teach English as a Foreign Language] certificate so that I could teach English abroad. I thought that teaching ESL would be a intermediate job before I decided what area of Psychology to study in grad school.... but after teaching English in Prague for a year, I decided to continue with ESL and got my M.Phil in Applied Linguistics. While working on my masters in Dublin- I taught English at a language school there. I then moved to NYC- taught a freshman writing class for one of the city universities and then got a full time gig teaching ESL at an intensive English program at another university. Finally- I moved to Pittsburgh-- and eventually landed the job that I have now.

Is there a noticeable difference between teaching College level students and students at a language school, such as the one you taught at in Dublin?

Yes. The main difference is motivation. In Dublin, many of my students were struggling with basic survival skills in English (communicating at work, in stores, government offices, etc.) At CMU-- my students have more fluency-- but they still need to develop their language so that they can make it through their academic programs successfully.

Is there a marked difference between teaching the subject in the US and other countries?

The main difference deals with teaching English as a second language vs a foreign language. In Prague-- my students didn't necessarily need English for their daily interactions- whereas in Ireland and the US-- they do.

I literally knew nothing about Pittsburgh before moving here-- and I love it. As one teacher told me in NYC before I moved here-- "It's the new Brooklyn".

Do you have ambitions to live and work outside of the US again? Where would you go, and why?

Sure-- I'm open to the possibility-- but I'm not actively seeking work outside the US right now... it depends on where my life takes me.

You live in Pittsburgh at the moment. Tell us about the city.

I literally knew nothing about Pittsburgh before moving here-- and I love it. The people are friendly, the terrain in beautiful, there's a thriving art scene and the different sections have a real neighborhood feel. It's easy to feel comfortable in Pittsburgh. As one teacher told me in NYC before I moved here-- "It's the new Brooklyn".

What should people who visit Pittsburgh try to see and do while they’re there?

See Question 6. But in addition to that-- no trip to Pittsburgh would be complete without a trip up Mount Washington and a meal at Primanti's. Also, to get the true Pittsburgh spirit-- go to a Steelers or Penguins game.

Where do you see yourself in ten years time? Can you imagine staying in the same field in the long-term? If not, what are your other career goals?

Ten years is a long time. I definitely wouldn't have guessed I'd be where I am ten years ago-- so I can't really predict what I'll be doing in another 10. I'd be happy staying in the same field-- but I'm keeping my options open.

Outside of work, how do you spend your time?

Going for hikes with my dog, relaxing with friends, playing my flute, doing yoga, watching movies... (to name a few activities)