Y1-10: Weeks 15, 16 & 17, exams, revision and adventures!

I know this is a long post because it, again, covers three weeks. But do not fret; this is not likely to happen again. I will need a whole post for what is coming up next week… Brussels, duh!... So I decided to write about three weeks instead of two in this post.

Week 5 was Revision Week, meaning that it was part of the term, but there weren’t any classes (at least for me, some people had revision lectures). The teachers were supposed to be on campus and everything was supposed to run as normal (which turned out to be wrong), but the whole point of the week was working on the assignments and studying for the two Exam Weeks that lied ahead. I had two assignments to give in, which I had done over the holidays so they were already finished and all I had to do was make some finishing touches, print them out and hand them in, something I did on Wednesday. It was a weight taken off my shoulders, because I had a whole week to study for my Italian History exam. 

Revision was martyrdom. Honestly, procrastination followed me everywhere. On Monday I did not study and instead I ran some errands: I went into town to the bank and to do some shopping, I attempted to write my CV… On Tuesday though, I did run some errands in the morning (after sleeping in), but then decided to start studying. I felt so overwhelmed I nearly wanted to cry, but I decided I would make a plan and follow it, so I would have enough time to study. I mean, I know I was lucky because I only had one exam and I don’t want to sound like I am complaining because I know many other people had four or even five exams, but that doesn’t make mine feel less to me. The amount of stuff I had to study (from scratch, it wasn’t like reviewing as if it was the PAU, it was having to learn everything as something new) felt too much for me. But I was determined after setting out my plan: three lecture contents per day in order to be finished by Saturday and have time to revise after that. I did actually manage it, although I had to catch up after falling behind at one point.

It took me ages to do the work, but my days basically consisted in waking up late at around ten or half ten, spending the morning and afternoon going through my notes and rewriting them while drinking coffee (a must) and then studying them in the evening and night. I feel like I concentrate better when it’s dark outside, so I’d rather sleep in in the mornings and go to bed at like, 1am. The thing is, I got distracted really easily (the phone, gosh, someone take it away from me!) and I tended to want a lot of breaks. I usually watched The Misfits in those breaks. I am really into it and I watched the first season in about three days although after that I have been limiting myself, but I am now in the third season and it is lacking Nathan’s presence…

The problem was, there was no credit on our cards. And most eateries were closed for the first three or five days. Like, literally, at night there would not be anywhere we could go to have dinner. But, anyway, what would we pay with? I had around fifteen pounds on my card when I came back, left from my first instalment, and that money disappeared in a matter of days. I found myself having to cook, which I hate. But I must say, even though I hate it, it provided me with an excuse to take a break from the study. During the week, I tried to buy as little as possible so as to finish it before they put our new credit in (which we though was on the 12^th, but ended up being the 15^th, what pissed me off incredibly because nobody even sent an email to inform us – the catered students- neither about the credit nor about the unusual eateries’ timetable). I cooked Spanish and French tortilla, salad, fried eggs, couscous with chicken or couscous with tuna,… and had a lot of canned soup and soup in a cup. Plus, I still spent a lot of money in the eateries, because at some point I couldn’t be bothered to cook and just decided to eat out and socialize.

Sunday was slightly different, as it usually is. I cleaned my room after waking up late, did some sport and then took a shower and got ready for the Charlie Hebdo gathering on campus to show support to the victims of the attack. Around 150 students gathered. There were different speeches and a moment of silence. Here is a link to the article, in case you are interested: https://bathimpactblog.wordpress.com/2015/01/11/scores-of-bath-students-display-solidarity-with-paris/ Other than that, I considerably procrastinated.

Week 16 was exam week. My exam was on Thursday morning, so my anxiousness built up towards it. I still ran some errands, especially when I had some problems with the Medical Centre. And on Monday I was so fed up of study I decided to go into town and do some leisure shopping. It was drizzling all day, but that did not stop me. My two great finds were a 50s style long vintage stripped skirt, and some black wellies. My wellies were a find: the last ones I had owned were pink with glitter and I was seven years old, but the new ones are black and I was able to use them right away because over the next few days it rained…and SNOWED! On Tuesday afternoon there was a weather forecast of strong snow during the night and Wednesday morning, so the Wednesday exams were delayed half an hour so students would be able to arrive safely on campus. On Tuesday afternoon sleet fell and, later, it snowed! It wasn’t really proper snow though. It was kind of pathetic because it didn’t even stay on the ground, it just melted, but it was snow nonetheless, so I was pretty excited. The next morning, everything was covered in a thin layer of snow dust, and it was gorgeous! But, of course, it soon melted and turned to slush, which is not that nice. But at least we got snow.

On Wednesday I was nervous for my exam. I mean, I was fed up of studying but could not stop revising in case I missed something or forgot a date or something like that. But it got to the point where all I wanted was to shout “ne me frego!” (see Fascist reference there, if you please). It took me ages to fall asleep, as per usual before an exam, but the strong wind and starlings outside did not help.

Thursday morning at 9:30 was the Italian History exam. I just wanted to get over and done with! The process reminded me a lot of the PAU, with a Cambridge English Exam twist… The room was packed! The exam itself went alright. At first they did not give me a dictionary but then they checked and gave me access to one, which was great to check spelling! The contents were so-so. I have some doubts about my answers, but I refuse to check on them. What is done is done and I don’t think I did a bad job, but the exam could’ve been easier… After the test, I was FINALLY FREE! Honestly, it felt so good to finally be able to enjoy the break, with no more exams or assignments! I could now employ my time on something more interesting, like reading or watching films or sleeping! Boyhood was my film session for the night, and then warmly tucked in bed to get plenty of sleep…as the next day I’d be going with Amélie to Thekla, in Bristol, to watch Box of Light live! 

So, on Friday all I really did was sleep and then go for lunch and get ready to go to Bristol. We took the train at a quarter to four, because it was delayed for about a quarter of an hour, and then arrived in Bristol at four. We walked to Thekla, just to learn the way in case the gig ended late and we had to make a run for the last train back. Thekla Bristol is a club on a boat. Yes, a boat. It was awesome! And then we walked to Broadsmead Shopping area and visited a couple of shops (Primark is huge!). I bought myself a new black Jeep backpack to use in Brussels which was on sale, because my lovely patched backpack is not strong enough for the trip. We certainly need to go to Bristol just for a shopping day at some point…And then we had dinner at Prêt-À-Manger and walked to the club. It was only half full (mainly of teen fangirls), which was great because it wasn’t boiling hot inside. There was a merch stand in front of the bar and we wandered around and got closer to the stage. Suddenly, we we’re waiting and I turned around and there was Helen! (https://www.youtube.com/user/snakebitesparkles) Helen Anderson is one of my fav youtubers and it was so awkward but cool to see her in real life! The sensation was: fangirling with a touch of “you are a real persooooooon!” I bought a shirt and chatted to her for a little bit. Matthew and Box of Light were around too. I took some pictures with her and she was amazed when I told her we came from Spain and France, and that she had other fans in Tenerife (shout-out to Cris!). She is such a babe! Just as in her videos, really funny and nice. The concert went great too. First, Dodie Clark perfomed with her ukulele (https://www.youtube.com/user/doddleoddle), then Box of Light took over the stage and played some awesome originals (https://www.youtube.com/user/Boxoflightband) and, finally, Bethan Leadley played some originals and covers (https://www.youtube.com/user/musicalbethan). It was finished at a quarter to ten, so we had plenty of time to go back to Bath without rushing. The night was awesome, definitely a day to remember!

Another thing we did on Saturday was visit Bath Spa University, the rival. I had been curious because I didn’t really know where it was. Well, apparently it is in the middle of the countryside between Bath and Bristol. Jenny, Alex, Begoña and I took the bus and arrived at the University and wandered around. We went inside every open building: the Library, the music rooms, the Main Building,… It is quite small and isolated, but the scenery is amazing and it is a University for Arts, which has always been appealing to me. Anyway, it was a nice little adventure.

Sunday was pretty efficient. I woke up early, did the laundry, watched Misfits, cleaned my room and took a shower. All before having Sunday roast. Then, after lunch I got coffee and started house-hunting. Gosh, it is too much responsibility and too many things that I don’t understand, but I found some options. I guess it is just taking it slowly… I wish my parents were here to help me, this is way too grown-up-things…I’m only 18! The next Saturday was our first house viewing, which went pretty well, but the house was taken before we made a final decision. Now we must keep looking. Always a first time for everything, right?

On Thursday the 22^nd, I got up at 8 to get ready and took the 9:30 train to Portsmouth. In 2004, I lived in Southsea with my family for a year to learn English. I hadn’t really been back since and wanted to make a visit when I had some free time. So, after a two-hour train ride, I arrived at Fratton Station and then walked down towards the seafront, stopping at Southsea Infant School – the school I went to – and Albert Road. It was cold, but sunny, and seeing all the places I used to go to was quite nostalgic but nice at the same time: Lennox Mansions (where I lived), the Pyramids, the beach with its pebbles and seaweed and shells, Canoe Lake and the swans, Blue Reef Aquarium, the tanks we used to climb, the “secret” garden, Francisco’s house,… Memories rushed back, eleven years later. It hasn’t changed much: the Pier and Model Village are now closed and some new buildings and leisure areas have been built, but it remains mostly the same (although everything seemed smaller because in my mind I remembered everything from a seven-year-old’s perspective…). I was lucky enough to be able to meet Demi, who used to be my best friend back then, and with whom I had got into contact about two years ago through Facebook (it does come handy sometimes, doesn’t it?). We had lunch together and then walked along the seafront until we got to Gunwharf Quays. It was a lovely day and I am so happy I was able to go there, I remember so many stories. It was a good time, 2004. And it was also great to catch up with my bestie. Definitely have to do it again sometime.

Friday night, all exams were over for all of us what meant…PARTYY TIMEEE! We went out into town and went to Forever Fridays at Second Bridge. It was a great night, I missed going out with the girls. And then after the club we got some food at McDonalds and came back to campus and sleeeeeeeept.

After packing on Saturday, Sunday was chill. I did a few things I had to get done, Skyped with Lara and then in the evening we had a film night in. Quite relaxed before going to bed early…because the next day we left for Brussels!