Many people asked how excited I was to cover ASU London and the Union Jack Classic. Most, especially friends and family, saw it as an amazing trip to see one of the world's largest and most historic cities.
That's not what it was. At least, not how I approached it.
Some would approach it as a fun trip where you happen to write a couple stories. For me, it was all business. When you get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to cover something in another country — you better not mess it up.
From the moment Visuals Editor Madison Haynie and I landed at London Heathrow Aiport at 7 a.m. on Friday, we worked nonstop for 39 hours. Straight.
Interviews with over a dozen different people, multiple hours traversing the London Underground, touring two different sites of a brand-new campus meant this trip had no room for error, a goal set back by us getting lost outside Wembley Stadium.
So, I didn't let myself enjoy it. I stressed about it for weeks on end leading up to the trip. Countless meetings went over every last detail with The State Press' leadership. Both days in full business attire. Over 14,000 steps on Saturday in dress shoes I'd never worn before.
It was the best experience I could ever have.
Every minute on the clock was worth every second.
Pure exhaustion and a completely drained social battery had never felt better and the lasting jet lag upon my return did nothing to distract from fondly reminiscing on the trip.
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The first day is what I was most nervous about: interviews with part of ASU London's leadership team — immediately after getting off an overnight flight.
Did I mention I don't sleep on planes?
So a sports journalist, having barely ever covered anything else and running on less than four hours of sleep, was about to talk with founding members of ASU's newest global center.
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With a much-needed adrenaline rush and some terrible-tasting coffee, it came and went without a hiccup. I could have done better, but that's not the point.
A reassuring look from Maddie gave me the confidence I needed. A confidence that brings forward the inner workaholic.
The reporter deep down doesn't get this adrenaline rush from just any story. Talking to professionals, exclusive tours, finding the story within the story: This is what a pure journalist lives for.
However, the enjoyment that we had covering ASU London was not relayed to the ASU football pep rally. Countless things could have caused this, from lurking jet lag, a drained social battery or the overwhelming crowd at the adidas flagship store.
Ultimately, we cut our journey short, heading to the Airbnb before 5 p.m. Originally, our plan involved running around downtown London to visit random tourist attractions. Instead, my impromptu nap turned into an entire night of sleep.
Lucky for us, a 10:30 a.m. call time on Saturday gave Maddie and me a chance to enjoy a Notting Hill breakfast. Unluckily, our driver dropped us off at the wrong spot for our interview.
This meant nearly 30 minutes of scrambling to find an elevator tucked inside a mall. Confusing, to say the least. Some helpful locals gave us the directions needed, twice.
Panicking that we were in the wrong spot was stressful, but it all worked out. It always does. Turns out the founder and chairman we were lined up to interview had the same issue. This little coincidence broke the ice in the best way. Some calm inside the storm provided order during a weekend of chaos.
Yet that rush, the lack of sleep and the confusing directions in an unfamiliar place are what I live for. Time speeding by, no chance to wonder or wait.
The rest of the trip was a blur. Maddie hyping me up to chat with the very friendly fans was the main talking point.
Then we made it inside Wembley.
Wow.
A dream come true: reporting inside the home of the English national team and one of the biggest soccer stadiums in the world. Everything else was business. But this was the experience everyone raved about.
I gave myself five minutes. Five minutes on the pitch at Wembley to take in a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But working is the experience. A get-in, get-out trip is what journalism is all about. As a journalist, getting to go and report in London is a much better experience personally than wandering around and sightseeing.
So, did I do anything "fun?" No. Would I do it again? Every single time.
Edited by Sam Troester, Senna James and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at aldeutsc@asu.edu and follow @AlanDeutschend3 on X.
Like The State Press on Facebook and follow @statepress on X.
Alan Deutschendorf is a Managing Editor at The State Press. This is his fifth semester, and he previously worked as a sports editor and sports reporter. Alan also works as an event assistant at ASU Health and spent two years playing D1 club roundnet.
