holloa boys and girls

after writing that short post and being told that my blog was appreciated I am now feeling quite motivated to write another, proper post. I can't believe it is already the 12th november (actually I think now it is already the 13th but days start when I get up as far as I'm concerned). christmas is appearing everywhere and the pressure is on with assignments galore and an equal amount of distracting activities.

as always, because I don't write often enough, many things have happened since my last post. i have been elected has cloister postgrad rep and have been through training and a few meetings already. one big advantage of this post is that i get free hoodies (this is a new word I have learned since getting here - another one is spag-bol = spaghetti bolognese) and free trips to places like ... Amsterdam!! but of course actually I really enjoy being a person of reference for people and feel strong enough to take on the responsibility although I need to build up some more connections with other reps to get some good stuff going on for cloisters.

... let me think what else has been going on since last posting. I have seen robin hood and friar tuck jousting (obviously not against each other) at the robin hood pageant at nottingham castle (which is not actually a castle but more like a mansion but i know a great deal about its history after doing a five minute presentation on it) - the weather was so english, it was incredible. it was cold and wet and incredibly windy but there were lots of people in costume and even the king had come! another cultural experience was halloween. i think most of you have seen pictures but yes, I was actually wearing a witches hat! that was as far as my costume went but I think that was also about far enough, thank you. before going out to the pub as a witch though we witnessed a guinness world record being set on the old market square in nottingham: the most people dressed up as zombies dancing the michael jackson's thriller dance! the rest of that weekend was slightly messed up by me having to undergo JCR (junior common room) training from 9-5 saturday and sunday. although it was quite an interesting experience and I saw more drawings of penis in those two days than I have in the last few years of my life. cannot believe I was ever an undergrad like them, haha.

after that, my timetable changed. this might seem boring to you but it was interesting for me because i was interested to see whether I would like my new courses more than the ones I had had so far. the answer is: I do! but ... all my new courses are assessed by coursework so I now have about 6 essays to write. uiuiuiui. first one is due in 8th december and the rest towards the end of january. with all the excitement of my timetable changing came the excitement of my first ever pub quiz! rather than going to the local pub (the JA) we opted on going to a pub in Beeston called the Malt Shovel where the PGSA organise a pub quiz every month. it was very good, it got you thinking and we had a good time. definately something to think about doing again in december - if only the broadgate park formal wasn't on the same day but no one else seems to want to go there anyway... where were we? ah yes, pub quiz. after pub quiz came bonfire night! also known as guy fawkes night. some of you might remember him from v for vendetta.

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I can think of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

anyway, we went to see him burn at the forest recreation grounds which was really nice although rather muddy. fireworks were being let off all week and we went to see another (I think more spectacular) bonfire and fireworks on the friday at our local firestation. but i am getting slightly ahead of myself. oh nevermind. talking about our local firestation, saturday morning at some ungodly hour (i.e. about 6am) I woke up to the sound of water only to find out that a pipe had burst just outside my room and there was water running through the ceiling in the hallway. after banging on sophie's door and causing some confusion the fire alarm went off while I was on the phone to the broadgate reception because the water was running through it. fact is, the whole house was evacuated at 6am and the local firemen came because they automatically get alarmed and even though we did sort of enjoy having men in uniform in our flat it ruined any chance of sleep for me so I went for a swim (this turned me into my flatmate's hero but ruined any chance of me doing anything productive for the rest of the day). that afternoon we had tea and cake in our flat for the house and met some people we had not met yet so that was nice.

this week has been quite uneventful so far. I have had a chat with a careers advisor about my CV and possible application question answers (I have started an online application to the Rolls-Royce graduate leadership programme in HR), which was very informative, have been to a PGSA meeting and tomorrow I am going to Lings Lane Stables again finally to give the Thursday group of the local RDA a go. Sadly because my timetable has changed I will no longer be able to go on Wednesdays.. My plan for this weekend is to get started on my essay, have a few drinks with some friends and sleep. Oooh I almost forgot: we are apparently getting a new flatmate!! Very exciting!

Anyway, must go to bed - this is far too long for anyone of you to want to ready anyway but I feel a lot better for having written it (thank you jenny r)!

good night, sleep tight, don't let the bedbugs bite!

xxx

must

must write a proper new post again soon but it takes more effort than i had originally imagined and there are so many other things that i should be doing or would like to be doing: reading, writing essays, applying for jobs, volunteering, swimming, going to the gym, writing my blog, keeping up with my representative responsibilities (i.e. going to meetings and organising stuff), going to french-speakers meetings, watching films presented by the human rights law society, going on trips to cambridge, lincoln, amsterdam, etc, studying, and of course keeping up with my friends here and back home. i think of everyone a lot, which is maybe on reason why i get less done than i would like. need to work on my self-discipline and time-management.

xx

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

neui bekanntschafte

ich bi scho über e wuche do und s studium het noch wie vor nonit so richtig agfange aber mi sozialläbe entwicklet sich immer wie mehr (juhui).

zu minere grosse freud ha ich festgstellt, dass me do au shithead spiilt. d regle sin zwar bi jedere person liicht anderscht aber hauptsach me spiilt shithead und ich ha au scho anderi neui karte spiil glernt d.h. ich bi glii sehr versiert im karte spiile. die letschte zwei hani geschtert zobe vo zwei vo mine mitbewohnerinne glernt. apropos, ich stell vor:

zimmer nr 1: ellie (sie heisst tatsächlich au eleanor), macht e PhD in organischi chemie und isch e zimlichi klischee-ängländerin: sie stoht offe drzue dass sie trinkt zum betrunke sii, het null scham, stoht uff vrkleide und lost alles möglichi musik egal ob guet oder schlächt. sie isch aber au e durchus liebi und luschtigi person.
zimmer nr 2: dr schuh (kei ahnig wie me das wirklich schriibt), kunnt us taiwan und isch im dritte johr vo sim PhD in "genetics" (är macht stammzelleforschig, was ich sehrsehr cool find). e üsserscht hilfsbereiti person und sis gekoche duftet immer durch die ganz wohnig so das alli hunger bekömme. är goht in e paar wuche zum erscht mol siit 1.5 johr widr hei und das well sini eltere gfunde hän är söll si gäld lieber für reise in europa ussgä. druffabe ischr im friehlig für e wuche oder so ind schwiiz, nach interlake go d bärge aaluege, hihi.
zimmer nr 3: moi!
zimmer nr 4: gähnende leere :(
zimmer nr 5: paulina uss pole. sie macht e PhD in pharmazie (glaub) und isch super. sehr energievoll und sehr lieb.
zimmer nr 6: sara uss italie. sie macht e masters in wirtschaft und vrmisst ihri fründe und ihre färnseh. sie het glaub am meischte scho ztue bis jetzt, was mr bitz e schlächts gwüsse macht. uff jede fall au e sehr liebi person.

mini andere kartespiilkumpane sin d herre uss dr wohnig im unterschte stock. am sunntig obe hets e spontanparty für s ganze huus gä, was super gsi isch, well suscht hani niemerts kennt im huus und jetzt kenni doch einigi. sehr viil asiate hets ka, was füre e überraschig, aber es het zb au dr robbie (au bekannt als jennifer) ka, wo zwar au e klischeeängländer isch (d.h. wenn betrunke zimlich rüd) aber au e durchus intelligänti, luschtigi und liebenswärti person. denn sii treue mitläufer, dr deepak (au bekannt als 2pac) uss indie. dank ihne vrstand ich jetzt au wie me hearts spiilt, was mir vorhär immer e rätsel gsi isch und jetzt findis eigentlich no e cools spiil. ich ha au kenneglernt: e mexikanerin, e amerikanerin, zwei franzose, e cypriot, etc. E durchus internationali sach! Und das in efangs die uss mim huus! Vom studium kenni mittlerwiile au scho paar mensche dank de ganz wahnsinnig spannende iifiehrigssache letscht wuche... D vorläsige vo mim kurs (au bekannt als WaOP) sin oft mit lüt vo ähnliche kürs, do sich alles bitz überschniidet und mi kurs nit so gross isch. In mim kurs hets widrum sehr viil inderinne (die uni isch allgemein massiv international, als wissi ängländerin isch me glaub in dr minderheit do, sehr unterhaltsam) und anderi nationalitäte (chinesisch, uss malaysia, griechisch, kanadisch, etc). die mit dene ich mi aber bis jetzt hauptsächlich abgä sin ängländer. wie das halt so oft isch, finde sich d nationalitäte quasi zämme: d inder mit de inder, d chinese mit de chinese, etc. Mit dr ziit wirds aber sicher durchmischter. U.a. dank de tutoregruppe. Mini tutorin isch forschigsassischtäntin am insti und macht e PhD und kunnt uss italie. Sisch jetzt ihres dritte johr, wo sie das macht und sie isch mini asprächsperson für jeglichi froge, problem, etc bis im Juni. Bim Forschigsprojäkt hani denn e andere betreuer.

ah jä, hani scho gseit, dass es e mega gmietlichs pub het öppe 3 minute vo mim huus entfärnt? sehr praktisch! oder au vrheerend... das gsehni denn no. parties gits au massewiis egal welle wuchetag isch und jetzt isch denn no d nottinghamer version vo dr herbschtmäss für e paar täg. es git also gnueg ztue aber ich nimm aa glii wirdi miesse afo läse und so für mini vorläsige. jetzt sötti eigentlich usefinde wo ich ka mini folie ussdrucke aber s wätter isch grad so gruusig dusse, dassi nit use will :-s am zwei muessi denn, denn gohts in die nöggschti vorläsig und hüt zobe ins schwimmtraining.

also, ich raff mi mol uff, bis bald mini liebe!