the sun is shining but not in basel

New things have been happening since my last blog: I have bought lovely wellies (white with pink bits and little pink flowers) and a proper jacket so that I can go and volunteer with the RDA (riding for the disabled association), I have been nominated as Hall Rep fro Cloister House, and FC Basel is currently losing badly against FC Barcelona.

I went to Lings Lane Stables this morning for my first introduction to working with the RDA and it was a great experience. The kids that came suffer from autism or aspergers syndrome (so mental learning disabilities, some more severe, some less) but were very enthusiastic and could hardly wait for when the time came to have a trot! (The volunteers less so as it meant running alongside the ponies) I was even allowed to lead a pony (Star) for the second half of the lesson! Sadly my timetable changes so I will not be able to continue working with the same group but will change groups to a Thursday afternoon group apparently consisting of more severely disabled kids (not only mentally but also physically disabled). It was also just nice to be around horses again even though it did make me want to sit on one again even more than before so I hope I will be able to keep up with the volunteering. If I sort out my time management all things should be possible.

I should get some more work done on my essay as it is due quite soon and also carry on watching the small FCB being slaughtered by the big FCB. Thankfully I am not watching it live but only on the liveticker otherwise I think I might actually be depressed. Oh believe it or not since I have been writing this the second half begun and Barcelona is now leading 5:0. The game is in Basel. I will not swear on my blog.

xx

les aventures continuent

i have been in england over a month and am getting quite used to it. even if you think after my last email that i think everything is bad here (or at least not as good as Switzerland) i must correct that false impression. i am enjoying my time here immensely so far, thank you. i have met wonderful people and even if i don't find my course particularly inspiring yet i am looking forward to the year but know it will be hard work. especially after the past tutorgroup meetings (i.e. i meet with my tutor and the other people she is tutor for and we discuss things together like the right way to go about answering an essay question) i know that i am in for some hard work. i have (only) three exams in january which seems like little after writing seven per semester in average in basel BUT these exams are slightly different to what i am used to... six questions per exam, two have to be answered in form of an essay of about four to five sides and each answer should include 10-12 references (with name and date!!) - and all of this off the top of my head! this means 3 exams x 6 questions = 18 questions x 10 references per possible answer = 180 names and dates i need to know! i know it wont really work out like that and i can use the same references for different questions but still... que exagerado!! anyway, tutorgroup is giving me the most work at the moment. tomorrow i have to do a five minute presentation on the castle of nottingham (quite interesting actually) and by friday i have to have sent my tutor a 1000 word essay on the relationship between the big five personality dimensions and organisational citizenship behaviour. other than that work consists mainly of reading as preparation for the exams and to try and avoid having to do excessive amounts of work during my christmas "holidays".

i also do nice things of course like i went to my first ever recruitment fair (a fair where employers come and look for future employees) and talked to a few people and grabbed some free stuff, i nominated myself for the position of course rep and thought about nominating myself for hall rep for cloister house but i would have to do that by tomorrow and i dont think it is something i want to do without telling anyone in the house about it so it is rather hurried i feel. anyway, i am sure i will be busy enough without it as i plan to start volunteering for the riding for the disabled organisation and will go and look at the stables this week hopefully. my unimosity weeks sort of ended on thursday anway this week as i set off to bexhill to see nanny peggy thursday afternoon and got there late evening. we had a wonderful weekend: on friday we went by bus to Rye, a very picturesque village and pottered around and had lunch and then got the bus back stopping off to buy me a new swimming costume (my old one was seriously seethrough - very embarrassing) and hat and goggles (old ones fogged up and that is no good) in hastings (ah, old memories of visiting the smugglers caves come up - but that is a different story). on saturday we spent the day in bexhill wandering around looking in shops and having coffee/tea on the front and fish and chips at louis'. in the evening we watch strictly come dancing - everyone watches strictly! come to think of it, i must look up who was eliminated! all very adventurous.

this week i have planed:
monday: lecture in the morning, tutorgroup at lunchtime, careers fair after that and going for a swim and then doing some work in the evening.
tuesday: doing some more work in the morning and possibly going to the gym or maybe only after the lecture+seminar in the afternoon. the careers fair is also still on so might pop in again if there are different employers.
wednesday: day off to exercise, work, write essay, or maybe go and visit the stables where the RDA are at home.
thursday: lecture+seminar in the morning and afternoon off to do the same as wednesday.
friday: day off again and again doing the same as wednesday.
saturday: robin hood pageant at nottingham castle!!! live jousting, etc - should be excellent!
sunday: sleep?
any free time is filled with working, playing cards (as a matter of fact, playing A LOT of cards, mainly shithead (yes this is a cardgame for all those that didnt know)), sleeping, eating or going to the gym/pool. i have no particular plans for going out yet this weekend except for the pageant but who knows what will come along!

i am having problems keeping my eyes open so good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!

my strengths and weaknesses

Thinking about my future (not very conclusive so far) and I would like to ask everyone to leave a comment about what they think my strengths and weaknesses are. Be open and honest - I think you can do it anonymously so no worries about me hating you afterwards.

Thanks!

P.S. more exciting news about what I am actually up to coming soon.

xx

was ich lieb und was ich hass

what i love: shithead and all other card games, nottingham in the sunshine, my new bike, interesting journal articles, challenges, good conversation, new friends, travelling, tea, 2 for 1 offers, sainsbury's basics, swimming, yogurts, the gym, insanity in moderation, etc



what i hate: lies, cowardliness, talking behind people's back, popular music, pork, bitches, unnecessary nakedness, binge drinking, bad manners (or even worse - no manners), obnoxiousness, boring lectures, force, etc


tbc