Hello everyone! I am Alexandra and I am studying Photography and Film at Edinburgh Napier University.  I am currently in Bellingham, Washington State, working in the publications department for SPIE, the same non-profit organization Kate is working for. SPIE was incorporated as Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers in 1955. SPIE publishes the SPIE Digital Library, which contains approximately 280,000 research papers from the Proceedings of SPIE and the Society’s six scholarly journals. Around 18,000 new papers are added each year. The SPIE Press also publishes print monographs, tutorial texts, Field Guides and reference books.

Working in publications has been great so far. All my colleagues are fantastic and are helping me out whenever they can. I also love the fact that you get free office coffee. I will probably be hooked on caffeine very quickly. I am currently working on the preparation of eBook data that is about to be uploaded to the Barnes & Noble online library. I am learning about Digital Content Provision Agreements and eBook file delivery. I am excited to find out what projects I will be doing after Barnes & Noble.

Our first week here in Bellingham has been an overwhelming experience. After three long and exhausting flights, Kate and I arrived in Bellingham on the 4^th of July. It was great to start our internship adventures on such an important US holiday. Tim and Amy, our managers at SPIE welcomed us and we spent the afternoon and evening at Amy’s house with BBQ and fireworks. I don’t think I have ever stayed up for more than 30 hours before, but it was definitely worth it.

Bellingham is one of the greenest cities in the USA. Recycling is taken very seriously and many people ride their bikes or walk. The public transportation system is very good, too. I cannot believe how incredibly nice the bus drivers are. They greet you as you enter the bus and even wish you a good day when leaving. I heard that freeganism is a big thing in Bellingham and I am hoping to find out more about the freegans located in Bellingham. Freegans are people who dumpster dive and live on food that supermarkets have to throw out because it is past its sell by date but still perfectly eatable. I have already made a documentary on Freegans living in Edinburgh, so I want to find out more about the American Way of Freeganing and environmental and consumerism issues abroad.  During the weekend we could explore Bellingham at night with all its bars, the bay area and its paths and finally the mall on Sunday.  Bellingham, SPIE and all the people we have met so far are fantastic. Many thanks to Tricia especially, who has been hosting two BBQs for us already.  I am really looking forward to another 7 weeks here.