Y2-16: Weeks 32 & 33, exams, socials and sunny days!

My French Politics exam is now over and it seems like I’ve re-gained my freedom. Sweet freedom (exams still not over though).

My Arabic test on the Monday went better than I expected. It was a horrible rainy day and, to top it off, bank holidays so everything was closed. The room where the exam was taking place got changed and I only knew because Sokratis messaged me… The test itself was fine. We were only five taking it and I did what I could, which was a lot more than I expected to be honest. I made up the rest, but you have to give it to me for trying! I think the listening was probably the worst, and the oral was fine. I didn’t have a partner so I had to pass the exam with Khalil himself, but he was overall very reassuring – he said we’d attended the lessons and that was most of the mark, the test was just to check the skills but not that important (phew!). He also offered to help me keep up my Arabic next year via email, which is fantastic because I have no idea what I can do otherwise… After the test I picked up my bag from Leila’s and went back home to keep doing some work.

On Tuesday I did the massive batch of piled-up laundry. Note to self, don’t leave it until late morning, driers are busy during lunchtime. I did manage to get it done quite soon, even though when I got there all the driers were taken. I just had to wait for a bit. After lunch I kept working on my essay and then got ready to go to the Erasmus Leavers’ Party. It was such a nice event! It was the first time they organized it, basically a subsidised get-together for students on Erasmus or going on Erasmus to meet each other – free champagne, canapés and name tags included! Nobody from Siena attended (neither from Fécamp but that did not come as a surprise), but I had a lovely evening with my course mates and meeting foreign students from Vancouver and Italy. Afterwards I walked home with Emily and Jess. It was funny because they mentioned reading my blog. Honestly, I know I get views but it is always so strange when people come up to me and say they actually read it!

On Wednesday I didn’t do much. I did the groceries and some bulk-cooking and then revision for French Politics (it was revision week, so got to do some revision). I also managed to actually find a student from Liverpool University on thirdyearabroad.com who had done the placement in Fécamp during her year abroad and contacted her. We’ve exchanged some emails and she’s been so helpful! To be fair, I really didn’t expect to find anybody!

On Thursday I revised all day and then in the evening we had the BUSMS End of Year Meal. Before that Lyana and I had a small outfit crisis. I hate dress codes; for guys it’s easy but how dressed up is “smart-casual” for a girl? Anyhow, we got to The Westgate where they had hired the whole top floor. We were so many the tables had to be laid out on a U shape for us all to fit, and Lyana and I ended up in one of the bottom corners, which let us see everybody but was a bit awkward for conversation. I had a fantastic time, the food was good and everybody was so happy. The Social Secs gave out funny and context-needing (and more serious) awards for everybody – Lyana got the Award for the most Photogenic while I got it for the Best Looking in Red Lipstick (got to love red lipstick – sadly, I wasn’t wearing it for the event lol). It was a bittersweet night as it was the last official social and a lot of BUSMS members are leaving, including most of the committee. I had a lovely time nonetheless. After dinner we stayed for a while and then Lyana, Zach and I walked back to Oldfield.

Friday was such a long day. It was the Year Abroad Information Day and we had like five different long meetings about different topics all throughout the morning and half the afternoon with basically no breaks and we got overflown with information which I still haven’t yet totally processed. Basically, starting at 10 we had meetings about next year and final year: options, Year Abroad security, Careers Service, Italian and French information (transport, health systems, security etc.), Placement and Erasmus information… I resorted to coffee to pull my way through. And I also half sorted the papers for my Open Day job in June, which I finished doing last Wednesday. Pretty long day but I did have to do some more revision when I finally got home…

The weekend I was planning on spending finishing my notes and actually memorizing them for my exam on Wednesday. I had finished and handed in my Italian Cultural Studies essay on Friday so I didn’t have to worry about that anymore. However, we had a problem with the external drain of our house which had got blocked and water was coming out of the manhole. The landlady came over and even though we tried to clear it up ourselves and used acid and stuff, nothing worked. We basically had no water in the kitchen for the whole weekend until we phoned a jetting service on the Monday to get it professionally done. So much hassle and unlucky that it was during our tenancy that it exploded because the problem seemed to have been powder detergent from the washing machine which none of us use so blame on the former tenants… Anyhow, it is now sorted but that took away our whole Saturday afternoon/evening. I did manage to study on Sunday and Monday, and also pick up the recommended reading for the politics exam (seriously, going up to campus just to pick a book, the effort is there).

During the past few days I’ve binge watched a couple of TV shows: caught up on Game of Thrones, finished Glee season 3 and OITNB season 2. Plus, watched Allegiant which to be honest was a mix of other dystopias I’ve already watched. Not a great fan, but could’ve been worse. Any show recommendations? Got a couple of things on my list but any other will be appreciated!

On Wednesday the 11^th I had my French Politics exam at 9:30 so I got up early to go to that. You know that moment when you are just fed up of something and want to get it done so badly? That was me with this exam. I think it went alright, I did my best which is what counts but you never know because examiners have been a lot harder with their marking this year… After that I had a meeting with an Italian Erasmus student who is on placement here in Bath to practice some speaking for the exam. She seems pretty nice and will be meeting up with her again for an English-Italian tandem. After grabbing lunch I went into town to ask at the Police Station about the documents I need for the DBS, which they can’t provide so I phoned the Consulate in London and I couldn’t get through to them. Such a pain of a process but hopefully I’ll get it sorted soon. Then back home to “enjoy” freedom by cleaning, doing some extra stuff I’d left aside and Beryl coming over to check the leak in the kitchen. Yes, there is another leak but it has been dealt with now. I also did some research on places to visit in Amsterdam and Utrecht when I go an visit Chopi (any suggestions, please comment below) and finally got to read for pleasure.

On Thursday I was woken up by the man coming to fix the gutter to avoid the leak and then I did the groceries and bulk cooked for the rest of the morning. I made garbanzas, tuna samosas, aubergine and a chicken and veggie fry. I’m sorted for a while. The sun was lovely so I left the kitchen door open and a ginger cat shamelessly came in (along with like 3 bees!). I pushed it back out but it had a collar so I’m assuming it’s got an owner, he came round again on Friday and A and B ended up petting it... After lunch I skyped with Sara (only one call to go before completing the tandem) and then I sorted a couple more things and took a shower and read (leisure reading for a change!). No-study day, I deserved the break.

On Friday I slept in for a bit and then got ready and did some work. After lunch I headed into town to meet Jess and Isaac, the exchange student from Siena. We had a nice conversation over a cup of coffee; I’m so excited to go to Italy now! Siena sounds really promising! And then while I was coming back home, Amélie said B, Joel and her were going to go to Green Park to revise and make the most of the sun, so I quickly got my stuff and joined them. It was a lovely afternoon in the sun (tons of bugs though). Plus, Starbucks’ half-price frappuccino deal, what else could you ask for? It was great to enjoy the sun for once; the weather has been amazingly gorgeous lately, in need of a bbq asap! Once back home we phoned Virgin up to check on the end of our contract (don’t want to be stuck in Bath in June without Internet…). Seems about sorted now, so that is a relief. After that, dinner and chilling – Youtube and OITNB.

On Saturday morning I pulled myself out of bed and put my sports gear on to go for a run in Bath for the first time. It felt really good. It was quite chilly but it had been ages since I’d gone for a run so really needed it… Now I have sore muscles but they are worth it! After that I popped into the post-office to send an envelope and then chilled for a bit and worked on my French notes. After lunch I wrote up a résumé and then gave up studying because I was tired and it was sunny. I had an early dinner and got ready to go to campus for the Eurovision social. BUSMS had booked a massive lecture theatre in CB to watch the show, and it was fancy-dress. And BUSMS never disappoints with fancy dress… Zach and I represented Belgium and we stuck to the easy costume: flags and face-paint. But there were some really cool ones; Beky and Leigh were representing Sweden and they came as a chest of drawers and an IKEA saleswomen, whereas Monica and Emma, as Spain, came as a bull and a bullfighter (not the best representation of Spain atm, but you’ve got to give it to them for the effort). There was a quiz, banter and we watched the whole show. To be fair, the most fun part was actually watching the score and how Australia (who doesn’t even go here) started to shoot up and was then kicked out of the first place by Ukraine (a song none of us actually remembered). It was a fun night. I actually enjoyed Eurovision for once.

And then today, Sunday, the day started sunny. I got ready and went into town for a vintage fair at the Guildhall. I wasn’t going to go because I don’t really need anything, but I kind of wanted a dress or jumpsuit and I knew I would regret it if I didn’t go. I just love everything vintage, I can’t help myself. I ended up getting an altered vintage 1940s-style red and white checked dress. So beautiful. Then I went up to campus to join Amélie in Lime Tree and do some work for my French test tomorrow. We had Sunday roast and are kind of craving Pimms’, but it is sadly now cloudy, so our hopes of sunbathing breaks have been discarded… Will be working on campus for a bit and then go back home and chill (and probably watch some more OITNB, ‘cause you know, why not?).

Still have two more exam weeks to go, five exams in total, but all language ones so it should be fine. Also, Bathfest, BUSMSTag, the Fencing End of Year Meal are coming up so, despite covering the exam period, these posts will actually be kind of interesting, rather than me being stuck at home studying. I’ll keep you in the loop.