I’m back with another instalment of Zoe’s Second Semester Saga.
Let’s begin by discussing MENTAL HEALTH. Fun.
As I’ve said, this past semester - heck, this past year- has been tough. Not only academically, really mining my confidence, but also mentally. Although I chose to stay on in Bath because the course there is so prestigious, I have to say this past year has been a bittersweet experience. I had an absolute blast during my final year as a BA student and this time round Bath felt like a whole different place. Most of my friends had graduated and gone off to do things in the world, or had left to go away on placement. Anyhow, there were only a handful of people left in Bath. Even those who were still around were really busy with kids, work or life in general. Fortunately, I got on with people on my new course and we made a point of doing stuff together: going for a much-needed end-of-the-week drink at Brew House, exploring on the weekends, meeting up for study sessions at Carpenter House, going to watch and support each other’s shows and performances. I’m really thankful for that. But man, my mental health went downhill this year.
I would get stressed about the course and then overwhelmed and then start feeling lonely and just want to cry in bed and not do anything. I tried doing all I could. I made myself eat proper meals, I kept going to the gym (which has been a Godsend this year, I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t gone to at least three classes a week), I tried to get my eight hours of sleep. But I still felt like shit and didn’t seem to get out of the hole. I didn’t feel like there was anybody in Bath that I could open up to (me not being one to talk about my feelings often) and my support network there was failing me. I would write about it and then I eventually just had a really bad breakdown and sent my parents a massive note I’d written on my phone. But I guess reaching out is the first step (and I’ve definitely been lucky in this, mind you). I must’ve freaked them out at first but my parents were really supportive and my Mum phoned and we chatted and she kept checking on me and so did my older sister, who also phoned me. Slowly they helped me get through and I also analysed how I was feeling and how to deal with it, which unfortunately for me basically meant pulling through until the end of the exams and once that was done (in about a month’s time), I knew I would start feeling better.
This past year has been weird. I’ve had a few panic attacks which freaked me out the first time they happened. And I probably felt the lowest I’ve ever been. But I’m proud to have got through it with the support of my family. One of my problems is that I don’t like to make mistakes or admit that I need help, but I had to ask for help to pull through and I’m glad I did. Onwards and upwards, right?
CAREER EVENTS
On a different note, a perk of doing the course at Bath is the networking. Interpreting for the institutions seems to be quite a small world, and this small world is full of Bath alumni. We were fortunate enough to have a few different people come over to give talks and lead workshops.
During inter-semester break (“break” lol), we had a series of translation workshops with former ECoJ translator Steve Slade, which were really interesting. We discussed different types of French texts and how we would go about translating them, as well as what the institutional translation exams are like. That week former EU interpreter Helen Campbell attended the PG course Open Day and we got the chance to also ask her questions about the institutions. Other alumni also attended the Open Day, chatting to us about their different career paths and what they did straight out of the course, a period which we are all understandably worried about. Michelle Keating, from the UN, also delivered some workshops on translation. Hers were interesting because she was the first to visit with experience working for the UN. It was really interesting to hear her talking about her long career path before actually passing the exams and how many turns our lives will likely take.
As I’ve said, this past semester - heck, this past year- has been tough. Not only academically, really mining my confidence, but also mentally. Although I chose to stay on in Bath because the course there is so prestigious, I have to say this past year has been a bittersweet experience. I had an absolute blast during my final year as a BA student and this time round Bath felt like a whole different place. Most of my friends had graduated and gone off to do things in the world, or had left to go away on placement. Anyhow, there were only a handful of people left in Bath. Even those who were still around were really busy with kids, work or life in general. Fortunately, I got on with people on my new course and we made a point of doing stuff together: going for a much-needed end-of-the-week drink at Brew House, exploring on the weekends, meeting up for study sessions at Carpenter House, going to watch and support each other’s shows and performances. I’m really thankful for that. But man, my mental health went downhill this year.
I would get stressed about the course and then overwhelmed and then start feeling lonely and just want to cry in bed and not do anything. I tried doing all I could. I made myself eat proper meals, I kept going to the gym (which has been a Godsend this year, I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t gone to at least three classes a week), I tried to get my eight hours of sleep. But I still felt like shit and didn’t seem to get out of the hole. I didn’t feel like there was anybody in Bath that I could open up to (me not being one to talk about my feelings often) and my support network there was failing me. I would write about it and then I eventually just had a really bad breakdown and sent my parents a massive note I’d written on my phone. But I guess reaching out is the first step (and I’ve definitely been lucky in this, mind you). I must’ve freaked them out at first but my parents were really supportive and my Mum phoned and we chatted and she kept checking on me and so did my older sister, who also phoned me. Slowly they helped me get through and I also analysed how I was feeling and how to deal with it, which unfortunately for me basically meant pulling through until the end of the exams and once that was done (in about a month’s time), I knew I would start feeling better.
This past year has been weird. I’ve had a few panic attacks which freaked me out the first time they happened. And I probably felt the lowest I’ve ever been. But I’m proud to have got through it with the support of my family. One of my problems is that I don’t like to make mistakes or admit that I need help, but I had to ask for help to pull through and I’m glad I did. Onwards and upwards, right?
CAREER EVENTS
On a different note, a perk of doing the course at Bath is the networking. Interpreting for the institutions seems to be quite a small world, and this small world is full of Bath alumni. We were fortunate enough to have a few different people come over to give talks and lead workshops.
During inter-semester break (“break” lol), we had a series of translation workshops with former ECoJ translator Steve Slade, which were really interesting. We discussed different types of French texts and how we would go about translating them, as well as what the institutional translation exams are like. That week former EU interpreter Helen Campbell attended the PG course Open Day and we got the chance to also ask her questions about the institutions. Other alumni also attended the Open Day, chatting to us about their different career paths and what they did straight out of the course, a period which we are all understandably worried about. Michelle Keating, from the UN, also delivered some workshops on translation. Hers were interesting because she was the first to visit with experience working for the UN. It was really interesting to hear her talking about her long career path before actually passing the exams and how many turns our lives will likely take.
Later on in the semester we had more interpreting workshops, both for consecutive and simultaneous, as well as meeting preparation workshops, with Marilena Iannidinardi and Reuben Imray, both EU interpreters, and Cecilia Giussani, from the UN. The workshops were tough but very useful and so was getting to ask practical questions on dealing with interpreting issues and about the institutional exams. They were encouraging but also realistic about their answers, which I appreciated.
THEATRE
To end this post on a happier note, this semester I also went to a lot of different theatre and musical theatre shows. Some I really enjoyed, others were just OK. I’d consider them a break from having to work continuously, which was a nice change.
In March I got to see Ian McKellen on his UK one-man tour for his 80th birthday. What goals. Being able to get to that age and say, ‘You know what? I’m going to do a UK tour of me just taking the stage and talking to people about my life and Shakespeare, just because I can’. It was great. My seat wasn’t the best, but it was amazing to see him onstage and interacting with the audience, performing Shakespeare monologues and also bringing in a little bit of Gandalf. Oh, and I got to get my programme autographed…
THEATRE
To end this post on a happier note, this semester I also went to a lot of different theatre and musical theatre shows. Some I really enjoyed, others were just OK. I’d consider them a break from having to work continuously, which was a nice change.
In March I got to see Ian McKellen on his UK one-man tour for his 80th birthday. What goals. Being able to get to that age and say, ‘You know what? I’m going to do a UK tour of me just taking the stage and talking to people about my life and Shakespeare, just because I can’. It was great. My seat wasn’t the best, but it was amazing to see him onstage and interacting with the audience, performing Shakespeare monologues and also bringing in a little bit of Gandalf. Oh, and I got to get my programme autographed…
I did two other trips to the Royal Theatre after that, the first to watch a play called ‘Home I’m Darling’ which I’d heard about on The Guilty Feminist. It was an interesting one, a mix of modern and 1950s aesthetic, discussing the married life of a couple. The stage was a two‑storey house, I’m not even kidding. It was like a dollhouse. The second show was The Rocky Horror Show in May. Such a nice break from studying; it was absolutely crazy! Ruadhán also went, decked in a Frank-N-Furter costume. The show was hilarious; I’ve never seen so much interaction with the audience before, so many die-hard fans!
Another musical I was able to see before the end of the semester was Matilda, at the Bristol Hippodrome. I loved the parents and the swings on stage. I can definitely see why my nieces and nephew loved it so much!
I also went along to a few BUST and BUSMS shows. The Laramie Project back in March was really touching; I thoroughly enjoyed the show even though it was really intense. I loved the angels and everybody was so talented! Legally Blonde was so much fun too. I made a point not to listen to the tracks beforehand or follow any rehearsal videos, so it was all a surprise. It was lovely to see BUSMS alumni and people who had been away on placement coming back for the aftershow and the actual show was impressive! So much hard work which paid off! Finally, I watched Encore, which brought back memories from the Leavers Song last year. So many BUSMSers have graduated this year too!
Well, that’s it for now. A bit of a random mix of topics but I think the next few posts will be the same kind of deal… See you next time!
Zoe x
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeamz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatheringsmithereens/
Well, that’s it for now. A bit of a random mix of topics but I think the next few posts will be the same kind of deal… See you next time!
Zoe x
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeamz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gatheringsmithereens/
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