Y1-7: Weeks 8 & 9

First, I am aware that I’m quite late with this update. These past few weeks have been absolutely hectic! Tons of work (but also fun stuff) have happened lately, and I’ve really struggled to find time. But do not worry! I have been writing down the interesting things to share with you…

So, Week 8. I really don’t go too much into detail about my classes because they are not that exciting. I love most of my lectures and seminars, especially those with Aurelien and Enrico. I mean, video-game topics for French history and songs and good-vibes for Italian grammar classes? I’M IN! However, that doesn’t keep me from having to work hard and I must say I have been a bit stressed lately, particularly with the reading as I was behind at some moments… But being constant with your work turns out to be beneficial as I finally managed to slowly get my things done (except maybe, reading Germinal,… *coughcough*).

Going on to the social events. On Monday in Week 8, Amélie and I booked everything for our Inter-Semester Break next January. We are going to…*drumroll*…Brussels! It will be amazing and I am so excited! Not only will it be a great trip, but I will also get to practice my French, which is a plus. I am really looking forward to it and will hopefully blog on the journey.

Then on Tuesday evening there was a Reception with the Mayor of Bath at the Roman Baths. It was a formal event and I managed to get my free ticket. There were free drinks, time to get a picture with the Mayor and then a private tour of the Roman Baths. I went with Alex and some other people from Brendon. There were also students from Bath Spa University, as it was a reception for Internationals in general. It was quite a nice evening and I enjoyed it although it was a tad boring at some point… But who cares when you get free entrance to the Baths and drinks? Oh, I also found out I am unable to iron. I wore a creased white shirt because, you know, #makesitmoreoriginal.

Some other interesting things were the Housing Event organized by the Uni, where they told us a bit more about accommodation for next year. Honestly, the fact that in January I will already have to start looking for houses is quite daunting and feels slightly unreal… I am still trying to accept the fact that I’m 18-years old and in Uni. Now I also have to find, rent and sign a contract for a house? C’moooooon! Also, I did my Christmas shopping. This is so boring and I dread doing it every year but the Christmas Market in Bath opened and it is so pretty! Every time I go into town I just feel so festive! (Brendon Court is anything but festive right now to be honest… I put some decorations in my room but it doesn’t really help…). I did all the shopping so now that is one thing out of the way J And the last relevant thing on Week 8 was… MOCKINGJAY! I went to watch the film on Friday night, just one day after its release. I had waited anxiously for a year and it was totally worth it. I loved it! Even though it is obviously not exactly like the book, it is fairly accurate. Now we ought to wait another year for the last film, but I was so excited! Just look at my face in the picture…

Week 9 was frantic. I had so much work to do, mostly because I had to finish coursework, prepare a seminar presentation for Week 10, read Germinal and other texts, and study for a French Grammar exam on Week 10 too.  Work sums up and stress comes and I need chocolate and I need to sleep but I can’t because I need to work and I am lucky if I don’t have a mental breakdown and- you get the idea. I spent my Sunday basically locked in my room studying.

Week 9 was also really cold. The temperature has dropped lately and has even reached 2ºC. I wonder how on Earth I manage to get out of bed in the morning. Who, in their sanity, gets out of their warm bed and plunges into the cold outside? It takes me ages to get up. Literally, ages. I even arrive just on time to my lectures because I get up so late… But at least I get there. Although it has been freezing, it has not rained much and has even been sunny a few days, which is lovely. I just wish my room was on the other side of the building so the sun actually shone in through my window, I feel like I am way too fair and need sunlight…

Sun and Xmas market in the middle.

Now, Week 9 was not all work. There were a fair amount of events going on. First, on Tuesday I went with Rebecca to an interview with Balanescu. He is a famous fiddler and composer who is doing a project at the University involving languages and music. He asked for volunteers to participate so we offered. I’m not going to lie, it was quite awkward, but I don’t regret going. The questions about us and our relationships with language and music were rather strange and I found that he himself was a bit weird too, but it was fine. The result of a project is a piece that will premiere in 2015. I really want to see what it’s like. That evening there was also an Erasmus social going on. Students were meeting at a pub in town to speak in different languages. To be honest, I was not going to go. Yes, it sounded interesting and, yes, it would be a great way of practising and meeting new people. But it was freezing. And it was raining. And I was going to go alone. But Amélie encouraged me and because it wasn’t too late I decided to go. I didn’t regret it. Although I was basically the only first year (most were Erasmus and fourth year students), and only stayed for about an hour, I did enjoy it. Plus, I got advice for my Year Abroad from the fourth years. Thanks for that, I really appreciated it!

Starbucks' Gingerbread Latte is a treat/ English bfast all day!

Then on Wednesday was the Snowball. The thing is, I had a ticket but most of the girls from volleyball dropped out. So, because it was cold and raining and I didn’t fancy going on my own, I decided to sell the ticket and chill in my room (more than chill, work). It took me some effort but I finally found someone who would buy the ticket, two hours before the actual event started. I didn’t get all my money back, but something is more than nothing so I was more than happy with the deal.

On Thursday evening the Volleyball club had its Christmas dinner at All Bar One. I had a nice time, although the value for the food was definitely not worth it. We payed way more than what it was worth. Apart from that and the accounting problems the SocialSec had, I had a nice night.

And last but not least, the MLES social/Mediterranean Night. After going into town to finish my Xmas shopping, I got changed and ready for the social. We were meeting in the Quads with some people from my course for predrinks and then heading into town for the Mediterranean themed Forever Fridays at Second Bridge. I had a great time with everyone, although the music was quite bad and defo not Mediterranean (‘Tacatá’, ‘Ai se eu te pego’, ‘Danza Kuduro’, ‘Macarena’,… I don’t expect the latest Spanish music, but really? Was it that difficult to find something a bit more modern?).  Nonetheless, I knew the songs and danced like there was no tomorrow. Cherish the Latin base of these songs because in this British country club music misses it completely…

Well, that is more or less what I was up to during Weeks 8 and 9. I am currently on my tenth week and Week 11 is the last of this semester. I will soon return home (FINALLY) but have a lot to get done before I do so, so please bear with me because I might be late again with my next update…

¡Hasta pronto!