tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80979825577326212792023-11-16T05:33:17.538-08:00Charlotte's University BlogCharlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.comBlogger529125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-54286852449290012182017-09-28T06:13:00.000-07:002017-09-28T06:13:04.035-07:0025. University: Semester 1, Week 4<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">How quickly weeks go by. I’m officially half way through the first half of the semester today, which means in exactly 3 weeks time from now I will get a well earned break! But before then there is still much work to be done on my two course work pieces and in revising for my grammar exam. Yet despite all of the work that needs completing, there is still so much room for exploring and making the most out of my time here in the Netherlands. Particularly as one of the modules I am studying is based primarily on Dutch history, so if ever the work is getting to me too much I can head out to see one of these places in person.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To celebrate getting a first on my first two essays of the year (both history based) I decided to head out and explore. This week, my path of travel was based primarily on finding some of the smaller spots hidden around Amsterdam that are perhaps lesser known. And also to just allow myself to wander a little; I can be quite bad at letting myself do that, though it’s often the best way to find interesting new places. One of the places I found most intriguing was Zevenlandhuisen:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zevenlandenhuisen - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Zevenlandhuisen translates into English as ‘the houses of seven lands’ and this is basically a street which has over time become a collection of architecture which fuses the traditional Dutch Golden Age style with aspects of other nationalities. Each of the houses has the name of the original residents/builders home nation (my favourites were the traditional German and Russian homes) and together they make for quite a striking sight. It also goes to show how much you can learn from just walking down the street. Artwork and history are everywhere, if you know how to look for them. Being a student has only made me more aware of that as my analysis skills continue to grow stronger.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was also reminded through my exploration of the initial lectures in welcome week where we were discussing the value of having an international perspective, and of how this can benefit not only the individuals who become international students but the world on a larger scale. This was chiefly due to the amount of diversity I came across in a singular period of 24 hours. Dipping in and out of independent shops throughout the Jordaan district revealed to me that there are so many kind, funny, intelligent people thinking up incredible things all of the time. An example being the gardening company + book shop I came across. There were books in multiple languages sharing excitement and conversation about botany. And surrounding all of these books were hundreds of plants so that once inspired, visitors could purchase a plant themselves to care for. It’s such a good idea to put together information and ideas in this way – though it did make me wish I were here long enough to invest in some cacti of my own.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canals, Cacti and Books - Image Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Lesson wise, this week has been a really engaging one. The best way I can describe it is to encourage you to think of a week in which you get to learn everything you’re really excited to learn about and focus in on the areas where you might end up specialising one day. Golden weeks are rare academically speaking for me, so it’s nice to feel in a good place where the stress hasn’t sunk in yet and I can instead just work hard and enjoy the new and old information alike. Especially regarding my essays. I’m officially half way through both my essay on gender representation in <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">The Hunger Games </em>and my biographical research paper on J. K. Rowling! Possibly the most eager I have ever been to write papers because both of these authors and their writings completely fascinate me. Though it has led to the most random of thoughts when I have been researching. For example, do you think that a chocolate frog milk shake sounds good?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In Dutch history, we focused largely upon the expansion of the Netherlands during the Golden Age when the VOC (Dutch East India Company) was at it’s height. Much of the research we were discussing has only come to light in the past 10 years, meaning it can be quite limited when discussing this area to a degree. Our reading for next week has focused in on this even further by picking out the well known tolerance of the Dutch people and questioning how this national construction came to be and how the meaning of the word ‘tolerance’ has evolved over time. In my Personal Is Political/History of Biography class, the focus has been on our own research project findings thus far and also upon the value of diversity. Our guest lecturer this week was from the Anne Frank huis which made for a compelling insight into how the foundation builds its materials using archives, which it refers to as its ‘tool box against discrimination’. It’s also proved really valuable in inspiring all of us to keep going with finding out the stories of those we are researching, despite that research sometimes proving difficult. As a motivational lecture, on top of the insight it gave, it could not have come at a better time than when things are getting to the 3/4 mark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, it’s been a busy week filled with some valuable lessons, exploration of new places and a lot of hard work. I’m relaxing for a while before more revision by arranging some of my favourite jazz of all time: Steve Waterman’s <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">October Arrival.</em> This music has saved me so many times; I must have listened to the title track half a dozen times a day since I first borrowed the album from a friend four years ago (who has actually been taught by Waterman himself!). Hope you enjoy this track and that you are having a productive week. Tot ziens!</span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-34491905938778792972017-09-22T14:47:00.002-07:002017-09-22T14:47:32.435-07:0024. University: Semester 1, Week 3Third week began with a lot of rainbows which petered out into an oddly sunny week. The Autumn solstice is evidently here on the streets as I walk to my classes early each morning, but less so when I wander through the woods. The crisp leaves under foot seem to have come from nowhere as there are so many evergreen trees overhead. But there is nothing quite as soothing as escaping for a wander between lessons and being completely immersed in so much nature, no matter the shades of the fallen leaves. This is certainly one of the perks of living in such a globally aware city. <div>
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Classes were scheduled slightly differently the past few days, with everything collecting earlier than usual which has meant a fortunate amount of time to catch up with what has been the biggest amount of reading and research yet (not that I'm complaining, it's actually quite fascinating). In our grammar lectures, we were focusing in on analysing the different elements of a sentence which was complicated to begin with but I'm starting to get there with the formulas now and that is the key to unlocking everything. Though, of course, there will always be those one or two multiple choices designed to catch you off guard which I find ever frustrating! It made me smile to come home from those lessons to find a letter waiting in my post box from my mum. She always knows how to make a day even better, namely by sending me a dinosaur key chain which we have nicknamed 'Freddo'.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycles, letters and more wandering - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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The thing which has perhaps made my week would have to be getting a first on my first assignment of the year. Whilst I don't want to get complacent, just knowing from that that I am keeping up with everything is hugely rewarding. The paper in question was for my <i>History of Biography </i>class, and focused in on how space and gender are intertwined. I chose a variety of resources to support my findings, including a book on C.17th feminism, a national geographic article about gender in the C.21st and a journal article about intersectionality by the Dutch writer Nancy Jouwe. From this project (and the poster I discussed in my history article) I have found the confidence necessary to begin work on the final research project due in October. My focus is going to be on J. K. Rowling, though the topic is yet to be revealed to you all (don't worry, you'll find my research out soon enough).</div>
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Dutch themes was definitely the most complicated module to keep up with this week, though this is largely due to the fact that we went over a whole few weeks worth of information before we have guest lecturers zooming in on more specific parts over the next month. We went from the beginning of Spanish rule all the way forward to 1672, thus covering just over 100 years. I'm currently putting together a revision wall, so making a summary of the readings and the lecture was my most successful method of processing all of this information. It certainly wasn't so scary to look over again after I had colour coded everything and put it in the correct order. Reaching the decline of the Golden Age has already come around so fast that I can't help but wonder if it felt that abrupt in history, though I know that that isn't quite how history works; There are no clear cut edges to things as the well organised mind might prefer.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to come up with everything I need to remember to do - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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Other events that happened this week have been relatively minimum (as I said, there's been a lot of work to do). Firstly I've been arranging a lot of new music for piano, focusing largely on film scores but also on a few pop songs which has made for a fun pause between readings. In addition to this, I've also been working on my poetry anthology which is gradually getting closer to where I want it to be and I'm greatly enjoying editing it; Seeing all those pieces falling into place is beyond satisfying.</div>
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I've also been going on a bit of a scavenger hunt for an assignment the Dutch blog team has set me and my fellow writers/vloggers. Basically we had to go to several places such as Museumplein and the Centraal city to describe what we saw and how it made us feel, as well as doing a few fun challenges. I think my personal favourite would definitely have to be ordering some food in Dutch. I of course went for Stroopwafel and hot chocolate because the two together are unbeatable. The next Dutch food I want to try is actually a popular sweet here. It's a form of liqorice that is, in English, named 'school chalk' because it looks like the stuff teachers write on blackboards with. But I think I might save that for my next challenge!</div>
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Like I say, things are busy as usual and there is plenty to look forward to as always. The key is to keep working hard and to not get complacent. With balance, patience and perseverance comes everything. For now, I hope you enjoy a snippet of my musical projects. Doei!</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day! </span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-20348845478837022322017-09-20T11:02:00.000-07:002017-09-20T11:02:13.321-07:0023. On Studying History<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When deciding on my modules for study abroad, there was a lot more freedom in choosing a variety of different topics. This is largely due to a cultural difference, because in the UK where students do one set degree pathway here in the Netherlands there are a variety of modules. It's kind of like pick n' mix - you have to get approval for the ones you choose from your teachers back in your home university, but you also get the opportunity to pick out some of your old favourites which you might not have come across for awhile so long, of course, as they remain fairly relevant and you can back up your choice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For me, this meant choosing a lot of historical modules. I studied history up to A level, and part of the reason I decided to study literature at university is because it encompasses so much of history (with the addition of many other topics, from music to art). Yet I've always been curious about what it would have been like to study a history degree, which is why I am very glad to have the opportunity to be practically studying a history degree full time here in Amsterdam. My modules for this half of the semester focus in on the history of biography, grammar and of Dutch culture itself whereas next semester I will switch to a further two modules on the history of capitalism + consumerism, as well as Jewish culture in Amsterdam. All of these modules with their historical focus offer an insight into the world I cannot gain through literature alone and, whilst it is hard work to adjust to the differences and work pace, I enjoy very much getting back to grips with timelines and flash cards.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandma is a big inspiration to me - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A small project we had to work on for this week was a poster collecting information on a member of our family. I immediately thought of my grandma as, despite every member of my family proving inspirational to me, the world has changed so much during her life time and I was eager to see the contrast between when she was young in comparison to the present day. My grandma (Christine Jane Stevenson) was born in 1948 in the same small town that me and my family have always lived in. Throughout her life she has had many adventures, from travelling and being a part of the Hippie movement to getting to know the musicians who made up <i>The Temptations </i>and <i>The Drifters. </i></span></div>
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At 18 months old, my grandma caught polio. Due to the war only having ended a few years prior, the polio vaccine was not yet widespread so the illness itself still proved fatal in killing hundreds every year. My grandma was very lucky and was able to beat the illness; One of her earliest memories is of being aided in breathing by an old mechanical device called the iron lung. Because polio is a disease which attacks the nervous system, part of her body is still partially frozen so to speak (she does not have full strength in one arm for example) but with the assistance of a physio school until the age of 5 she was able to make a strong recovery and return to a normal state led school. My grand dad showed me once a reference from her head teacher stating that <i>'Christine has never once used her disability as an excuse'. </i></div>
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So my grandma comes from a time when the world was different. She was born when rations were just coming to an end, she was brought up playing rounders and learning how to sew, she was part of the hippie movement and she was a military wife. But to me, she is grandma. She is the woman who taught me that everything from a disability to a nut allergy is not a hindrance but is in fact a blessing in disguise, so long as we look at them that way and don't allow our eyes to get too misted over. And she is the person I aspire to be in every way because she is the most intelligent, and yet most humble, human being I know. I am incredibly fortunate to have someone in my life to look up to in such a way and who can tell me first hand through her stories what life was like in a history that isn't mine.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting to grips with some dates - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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History is all around us and is not just limited to the text books that line the library shelves or the facts your teachers provide in class. Nor is it limited to the far distant past, when dinosaurs wandered the earth or pharaohs carved and chiselled their ideas on to stone. Whilst yes, that is history also, it is not the only form. As with every subject, sometimes just talking to the people around you about what their lives have been like is enough to begin writing a biography because we all have one; We are all history makers with our own stories. This is the most valuable piece of information that I have learnt from my lessons in historical modules so far. Everything is interconnected and that is what makes history; People, that's what makes history.</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></b></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-25732170566046618872017-09-20T09:26:00.004-07:002017-09-20T09:26:49.547-07:0022. September Favourites<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">It's that time again where I tell you my favourites of the month, everything from the books that have really stood out for me, to unique experiences or fun new songs. September has passed by so quickly up until this point, and I think this is largely because I am experiencing so much all at once, what with the whole study abroad situation as well as all of my own individual projects. It is an odd combination to have but one that continues on nevertheless. </span><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">In terms of new experiences, and re-discovering old ones, September has been packed full of them. I've seen so many new places, picked up new skills and learnt such a lot - particularly about writing. This past month, I've been working on more written projects than ever in order to develop and shape my voice further academically as well as beyond the classroom. The results so far have already started to pay off which I hope goes to show that hard work really does end up being your most successful quality in the end. But writing won't be a favourite on todays list, simply because otherwise it would have to be every month! The contents of todays' list focuses instead on a variety of things, from the literary to the global. So, without further delay, here are my September favourites:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. Onset Of Autumn</span></b><br />
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Autumn has always been my favourite of the seasons because it brings with it crispness, crunchy leaves, warm woollen sweaters and pumpkins. There is something almost magical about it where the line between night and day ceases to exist and instead we live in this comfortable inbetween. It's the perfect time for wandering and sitting somewhere wrapped up in a scarf reading a good book.<br />
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Experiencing my first autumn away from home has proved eye opening in lots of ways, firstly in that I never knew you could be homesick for a season. And yet I am! I am so excited for the October break so that I can hopefully get to see some of the fall back in the UK. But until then, I am enjoying the odd combination the Netherlands seems to possess of somewhere between summer and winter. It's too hot to say the crispness is perfect yet, but the leaves are gradually beginning to fall.<br /><br />
<b>2. Zoology </b><br />
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As you will know, from my many blogs discussing the value of a versatile skill set variety, I have a keen interest in the natural sciences. At the moment, my interest has shifted to zoology which is proving really interesting so far. I am currently using some of the free courses available through Open University, meaning that once I have completed those offered for free I can make a better informed decision on whether this is something I would like to study in the future. If you've never really thought about zoology before and how it can prove fascinating, let me leave you with this thought provoking question to help: How would you define the environment and nature? And how would you say the two compare/contrast?<br />
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<b>3. The New Academic Year</b><br />
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The beginning of the school year is perhaps my favourite (other than the holidays during the busy periods of course). Already I am fast approaching the half way point of my semester here in Amsterdam! The work pace is quite different but it also means that we are learning a lot rapidly, keeping us occupied and thoughtful. The new academic year always brings with it new surprises and areas to research.<br />
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I always enjoy when there is something we are taught about in class which then follows me around every day. For example, if I learn a new word suddenly I am aware of people saying it more so than I would have been before and it seems to be magically everywhere.<br />
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<b>4. The Hunger Games</b><br />
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One of my favourite YA books has to be <i>The Hunger Games </i>so getting to choose which book we wrote on for one of our assignments led me immediately back to the Suzanne Collins classic. For those of you who don't know, <i>The Hunger Games </i>is a dystopian book (and movie) series which follows the main protagonists of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark as they are forced from their small District into a cruel game where they must fight to the death. But obedience can only last so long in the face of danger, and our protagonists are not so virtuous as they first may seem in following the rules.<br />
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Getting to analyse the text and write about it means I am suddenly aware of elements within the book I previously didn't see in a great deal of depth. For this reason, I feel like I am getting the opportunity to read it all over again and it feels like I am back in highschool just as entranced by this grotesque and yet brilliantly constructed world. I highly recommend it as a read, even to those of you who have already read it but perhaps not in a while. Appreciating a book on this level reminds me why I continue to do what I do and to remain so eager to share the debate on literature.<br />
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<b>5. Amsterdam</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The city of bicycles - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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And of course, this has been my first full month as a Dutch student! I am enjoying it so far as I say, it is proving the challenge I expected with a few other surprises thrown in for extra measure. But studying abroad has also meant being faced with many opportunities (such as more freedom on what to write my essays on) I otherwise would not have been able to experience, as university life in the UK is very different. I am intrigued by this place, by its' history, and it is certainly widening my perspective of the world to see how culture can subtly render a place into a different version of home; For it is different and yet not so very different afterall.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day! </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></b></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-28787404527725588012017-09-19T14:38:00.001-07:002017-09-19T14:38:58.220-07:0021. Space Readathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Something very cool which is happening at the moment on Booktube (the literary side of the internet) is the space readathon hosted by Booksandquills. I always look forward to when these mini book events occur because it is so much fun to share a love of reading on a particular topic with people on the internet from across the world. It makes me realise how closely connected we all are in a way and (on a more space related note) how in the case of the universe we are all merely tiny specks on a planet. This analogy was also used in the Clarice Bean books I read when I was a child and I remember her saying that because of this, it didn't really matter whether or not she wore the purple or red (or even yellow) raincoat.</div>
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Having a space themed readathon is the epitome of all things great about these reading challenges because it means I get to read and re-read some of my favourite books. At the moment I am looking at reading the <i>Martian</i> again which is absolutely brilliant and will be a good beginning for heading towards Weir's next book which is out later this year. In addition to this, it also means that I have been presented with some cool new books I can't wait to read, such as <i>The Loneliest Girl in the Universe.</i></div>
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Another book I am re-reading at the moment is <i>Hidden Figures </i>by Shetterly which came out very early this year during Oscar season as a feature film. It's an absoultely astounding work of non-fiction, focusing on the lives and works of the women at NASA. These women were working before the civil rights and feminist movements had had the chance to make a widespread impact and for this reason, it is even more astounding that they were able to achieve the incredible work they did in mathematics and astrophysics because it would have been practically impossible to get a job in this industry at the time. It's a book about fierce determination, great strength and bravery, faith and family. Through interviews with these remarkable women, especially Katherine Johnson in my opinon, it is possible to gain an insight into the genius responsible for science that put humankind amongst the very stars!</div>
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For this reason, I was really happy to see that a part of this series was a short debate/discussion of the book and film. Hearing other peoples' perspectives on literature and movies is always intriguing, especially when they enjoy it because they often pick out parts you yourself never would. For me personally, pretty much all of my favourite moments from the book and film got included in this short talk though the comments veered towards different aspects than I initially picked out reasoning wise. I highly recommend that you do go and watch this if you are at all interested in learning more about these remarkable people and the art published recently surrounding their biography:</div>
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And on a final note regarding the space readathon, we have of course spent September reading <i>Mooncop - </i>a graphic novel challenging the traditional science fiction genre and presenting a myriad of different questions on writing, the universe and the capability of humankind (specifically in the future). It's kind of a lucky chance that this overlap has occurred, but either way it makes for a great read that isn't too much effort to get through considering it is the beginning of term and there is already a great deal of work to be done. For my review of the book, be sure to click <a href="http://charlotteucas.blogspot.nl/2017/09/20-student-reads-review-mooncop.html" target="_blank">here</a> and if you still want to get involved with the book club for this September let me know your thoughts on what you've read so far in the comments below.<br />
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I'm also keen to hear what you'll be reading/watching/listening to for the space readathon. Will you go for the original newsreels of man on the moon? Or perhaps you will listen to everything ever performed by Bowie? Maybe you will follow in my example by combining the excellent genre of space non-fiction, graphic novel and of course <i>Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy. </i>Either way, be sure to let me know. For now, to infinity and beyond! - I'll see you later.<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-11392555216448610662017-09-18T07:17:00.003-07:002017-09-18T07:17:46.319-07:0020. Student Reads Review: Mooncop<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A project I've been working on over this summer is starting my own mini book club. More than anything it has so far been an opportunity for me to share some of the content that I have learnt about literary analysis (in the forms of a monthly review) with those such as yourself who are looking into whether or not this is the degree subject for you. Especially with reading being such a popular summer activity, it seemed a good idea to put this into practice now when the holiday is feeding into the new academic year and some important decisions will be coming up in the months ahead for those of you who are considering applying to university. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Many of you will not yet know your future reading lists or might be looking for something university appropriate to read during your free time. If this is the case and sounds like something you would be interested in, all you need is a copy of the book to read along and at the end of the month there will be a post with some further literary analysis of the text, a discussion of some of my own ideas in relation to the themes and a few other comments which will (if all goes to plan) allow you to see into the mind of a student heading into the second year of studying literature at undergraduate level. I don't know everything about the subject yet mind you (and with the number of books available it is unlikely that I ever will) but for me, literature is an open conversation and the best part of it is sharing ideas. Having that collaborative conversation and exchanging all of those ideas is something that I, as an individual, am extremely passionate about.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This month our student read was <i>MoonCop </i>by Tom Gauld.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i style="color: #222222;">MoonCop </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">is a story which focuses in on the protagonist of the same name as he wanders across the surface of the moon attempting to prevent crime. But here it seems the golden age of life in space has passed and everyone is moving home to Earth (the opposite of Wall.E) so not only are crime rates incredibly low but our hero is also very lonely. Because of this, for most people it will prove that there is more to the space environment than purely stock science fiction where there are good guys and bad guys and people fight aliens. It is far from stereotypical and that is what makes it so striking, because this goes against the suggestion of the title and the initial blurb. There are fun antics, philosophical questions and a powerful use of illustration to put into images what exactly it is to feel isolated and to be (in this case literally) the only person on the planet. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So, as you can see from what we have discussed so far and after reading the text, you'll know that this fits into two categories; Those being science fiction and graphic novelisation. These two fields are both relatively new, especially the latter, meaning that they are part of popular culture as well as beginning to be accepted into the academic sphere of all things literary and canonical. I think this is part of what makes looking at such a text so fascinating, because it is treading on new ground and making a statement all of its own. Unlike a more traditional novel, the approach to writing about graphic novels in particular is not as definite or pinned down meaning it is easy to be creative when approaching academic writing in this area. Afterall, an image is worth a thousand words.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So on that note, let's talk about the images in this particular text. The frames are very successful in conveying the emotions of characters as well as keeping the fluency of the story moving along. Using a limited colour pallette of navy blue, white and grey, the space landscape seems simultaneously flat and ever expanding. As a result, the principal theme of loneliness is easy to to feel without even needing to read the speech bubbles at points. It also meant that it was further understandable as more and more characters left that the space dream accented by the presence of the run down museum has slowly died out and become unfashionable amongst the people. In their shared guise of black and white ink, it is evident that loneliness and isolation is something each of them feels, not just the protagonist. Yet he chooses to stay because there is nothing for him on earth - his dream remains the same, despite the manner in which it isolates him and there is heightened nostalgia in his actions due to this. All of this is best encompassed in the frequent repetition of images, gradually getting further and further away from the character sat alone to show how small he is in comparison the giant blue sky full of stars above him.</span></span><br />
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In terms of how you might write about this at literature degree level, there are many different approaches. You might want to comment on the two dimensional nature of cartoons and how you feel this genre is not expressive enough, or in great contrast to this you might wish to delve into how complex it is to pick apart multi-faceted emotion which is triggered by photographs. Regarding where I stand from a critical perspective, I think that I fall somewhere in between those two categories.<br />
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An example question might be something along the lines of:<br />
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<b>Discuss the representation of space and technology in <i>Mooncop.</i></b><br />
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Again, this is one of those typically vague questions that you will be given by examiners because it allows you to really think outside of the box and come up with a highly original idea all of your own. If I was responding to this question, my first point of research would be to collect a few examples that back up my idea from the novel. Firstly, technology seems outdated on the moon and the 'better equipment' sent up from Earth doesn't work because of the huge improvements that need to be made. Because of this, the attempt to make everything robot-run on the moon has simply resulted in people leaving to maintain human relationships. Where space has always possessed a certain feeling of being the 'final frontier' it seems that again it has prevailed in going beyond all human mastery. Humankind in this future is no further ahead with technology than we are now - in fact, it possesses a rather 90's feel. For this reason I would come to the conlusion (or overall thesis) of: <b>Space is shown to remain un-tamed by manmade technology which remains small scale and outdated in the longrun. </b><br />
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Another way you might interpret that question would be similar in manner to the previous with a focus predominantly on the interaction between space and technology with the addition of human perspective. In this approach you could look at the interaction between: space and technology, space on its' own and the different elements of it, and humans with both space and technology (easily split into 4 sections, but could be cut back to three main points). Focusing on how space as an environment impacts those living on the moon would make for a really interesting contrast to this invisible earth we do not see but know of somewhere else in the imaginary universe. Such a thesis statement therefore might be something along the lines of: <b>The interaction between humans, technology and the moon environment show space to remain a complex and multifaceted setting beyond the characters comprehension. </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;" /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-76728181284276662017-09-14T08:10:00.001-07:002017-09-14T08:10:33.378-07:0019 - University: Semester 1, Week 2<span style="font-family: inherit;">Second week is officially drawing to a close and with it, I will have officially submitted my first three assignments which is a little crazy to think about. I've discussed previously how different the work pace is, but it still surprises me that I can already have produced 2000 words in the space of this past fortnight of working as a Dutch universiteit student. My assignments focused primarily on the final projects I will be submitting at the end of the three modules in October and it's intriguing to guess where my intial thoughts and ideas will lead me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For my class on gender and politics, I produced a paper discussing different resources I had read in relation to gender and space. Initially I read work by figures such as Stuurnam on the role of women and the equality discussion in the early seventeenth century (where important spaces included academies and salons) progressing further forwards to my own question of how space is still shaping developments in the present day, using a reading from National Geographic. As I've stated previously, space is quite fascinating because it assists in the shaping of ideas and decisions in what is usually a subconscious manner - we do not even realise it is assisting in the forming of new terms or ideas until hindsight allows us to look back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In contrast my history class assignment was an essay focusing on specific questions about a reading we did on the Scientific Revoltuion during the Dutch Golden Age. This was something I also found really interesting to write on, especially as I haven't yet done a tremendous amount of work on this underrated period of history. Cook (the critic we were reading) argued that consumerism and the strength of the Dutch economy allowed learning to become fashionable, leading to some of the most crucial findings and scientific developments. For instance, elites collected things such as ancient scripts and objects which scholars could then study to form reports on, adding to the wider data base of knowledge available at the time. This is a link I never would have thought of had I not read this particular book, so it just goes to show how important critical readings are to the development of our thoughts and opinions on history as students.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPHbaw1Hr7NWbKXx9SKB3ShemSCk6vDKM4ZT2VYkoLEUDygrH3MHM9tgxg9dVMbpbJcrZTdPyO3cKhaO_fsvPXw7mDTcRKT83xbdy1DIgFsfmpAQVxJIUWul5OA5Qrm8AOZYvn52PcLPm/s1600/autumn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZPHbaw1Hr7NWbKXx9SKB3ShemSCk6vDKM4ZT2VYkoLEUDygrH3MHM9tgxg9dVMbpbJcrZTdPyO3cKhaO_fsvPXw7mDTcRKT83xbdy1DIgFsfmpAQVxJIUWul5OA5Qrm8AOZYvn52PcLPm/s400/autumn.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The onset of Autumn here in Amsterdam - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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Classes have also been eye opening due to the several guest lecturers who visited to discuss a range of topics, from how Dutch stereotypes have been constructed to how the genre of biography has evolved over the course of several centuries. We even discussed who we would like to write biographies on if we got the chance. Personally, I quite like the idea of writing on someone such as Anne Boleyn. From a historical persepective, I feel there is still a lot we don't know about her which intrigues me. For example, there are many letters missing which could actually be hidden somewhere in an archive. Looking for long enough is crucial to finding out that which we do not know and, in the incident of the long ago, it is the looking for those missing links not the writing about them which proves the most frustrating.<br />
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The onset of Autumn has been fairly sudden. From long sunny days, the weather has all of a sudden switched to being windy and the leaves are falling so quickly from the trees I have lost count. Autumn here, from what I have experienced so far, is much more of an active season than the Autumn back home which feels lazy and cozy.. But I am enjoying the aesthetic of orange 'pompoen' against the backdrop of bicycles and evermoving canals. It certainly makes me glad of my coat and my books because sometimes, sitting still awhile amongst it all can be the perfect break from the fast paced life of study.<br />
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As I discussed previously in my Autumn post, I do still miss home a great deal this week. I think this will be a regular feature of my posts as being homesick is one of the biggest challenges I have faced so far. Missing home is not making me regret my decision in coming here though for I know that, during my time in the Netherlands, I am going to acquire new skills which will benefit me in the long run. Plus it will make me look forward to Autumn next year in the UK and I will be perhaps even more grateful for it. Keeping optimistic is my biggest advice for all international students because sometimes, especially when you are down, it is important to focus on the things which matter and which make you happy. For me, writing letters to those I've left in England always makes me feel a little more cheerful and ready to take on the next challenge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOCzRs4tM1AWPrb-FHus51-X0bA5vVnYqXLw6ovBkSsGmMi3xQFkpVI6wSLy4oJT1zpkWsEYwE2mB5mYto2cpYVRlWKZtWYNYrfnajztJgxuK1wxhy-YI8_6rOJZRDlzU-EW1rEvVe1di/s1600/BeFunky+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOCzRs4tM1AWPrb-FHus51-X0bA5vVnYqXLw6ovBkSsGmMi3xQFkpVI6wSLy4oJT1zpkWsEYwE2mB5mYto2cpYVRlWKZtWYNYrfnajztJgxuK1wxhy-YI8_6rOJZRDlzU-EW1rEvVe1di/s640/BeFunky+Collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading + Studying by the gracht and more pumpkins! - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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And on that note, I think I am going to have a short break from studying and from writing with some music. Here is my latest arrangement of the main theme from the Disney Pixar movie 'Up'. See you next time - Doei!<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jisGfMXQ3yc/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jisGfMXQ3yc?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></b></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></span></span></span>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-82755248693980747512017-09-14T07:32:00.000-07:002017-09-14T07:32:16.490-07:0018. A Guide To: Efficient RevisionHeading back to school or university brings not only the opportunity to learn more on your favourite subjects, but also the potential to perfect that system of revision you use every year. Being able to utilise your skill to the highest level of efficiency is incredibly important as a student, because it is through your ability to retain information and develop it as you go that you will best be able to produce successful evaluations around the topics on the exam papers.<br />
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I always approach revision a little tentatively for it can be easy to get caught up in the grading and marking systems to the extent that you forget that it is the learning itself which is most important. For this reason, I am posting my revision guide for September earlier than usual in the hope that it will encourage those of you reading to begin your processes earlier on. Remember that if you split up your revision chunk by chunk and do it as you go, it is far more likely that this information will stick with you in the long run. On top of that, it is also much less stressful to work at your own pace and take your time than it ever would be to cram all those statistics and facts in over night the day before your deadline.<br />
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Here are my tips on how you can create a revision system which works for you, so that learning doesn't become a chore and exams aren't as scary as they first seem:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<b>1. Copy Up Notes</b><div>
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After every lecture or seminar, make several copies of your notes as that way they will not only be incredibly clear and easy to use at a later stage but it will also mean that you are clarifying everything you have learnt that day. Revising as you go can be one of the easiest ways to 'cheat' the revision stress and prevent it from building up over time becasue, if this is something you are making a habit of, it doesn't even feel like revising. </div>
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I also find it useful to make several copies of notes. My standard class notes are the first copy which I will then make a plain pencil and paper copy of (stored in a folder) and a colour coded copy (which I also file or occasionally stick on the wall). Having a typed copy of notes can be useful, but personally I find that I am less likely to remember something if I am typing it. In addition to this, make sure you copy up things onto flash cards so that you havea portable set of notes.<br /><div>
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<b>2. Lesson + Reading Summaries</b></div>
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Make summaries on top of copying up those notes. I have an entire wall of these summaries for each class because I am firm believer in learning via osmosis. Surrounding yourself with the information on top of all of your active work is another area in which you can start early to ensure you pick up good habits sooner rather than later. </div>
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Label your summaries clearly so that you know what information is contained and pick out the key facts you feel were highlighted in your most recent lessons/reading sessions. You won't be able to remember everything, and being able to pick out the things which you find interesting + important will enable you to begin forming clear arguments right from the start. </div>
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<b>Tip - </b>Make sure to include a few key critics if you are doing history as it can be useful to have one or two to refer back to in your questions. Always reference them if you do use them in your paper.</div>
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<b>3. Extra Reading</b></div>
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Working at your own pace also means expanding upon the basic knowledge as and when you can. The easiest way to do this is to look into extra reading. Some of this will be provided by your teacher, but it's important to remember (particularly in the incident of course work) that your own research is also expected. Extra reading can be really fun once you grow accustomed to researching, as there are so many different perspectives to look at the same points through. </div>
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For early extra reading, I would recommend finding one or two books which cover a lot of ground. For example, if you wanted something other than a text book to help you with American literautre then you could go out and read some other American texts which are by an author you are studying. When I was studying <i>Of Mice and Men </i>I also read <i>Grapes of Wrath </i>so that I could see exactly what Steinbeck was trying to achieve through all of his work, opposed to in one text alone.</div>
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<b>4. Planning + Scheduling</b></div>
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Making the most of time is your key to success. When you schedule time, you are learning how to create guide line to help you get through the hours in the day which are set aside for individual work and attaining a really useful skill in finding the weak points which need to be developed to be proactive in improving them. When you make your plans, be sure to split your time evenly for subjects but make sure to have emphasis on the elements where you think you might be struggling or know you need a little extra space to finish working something out. </div>
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Scheduling doesn't come naturally after a summer of freedom, but the more you do it the easier it will be to adjust to. Block planning (laying out exactly what you want to do each day the evening before) can be a useful way to begin because that way, as soon as you wake up you will know what you need to be doing without needing to remember too much. </div>
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<b>Tip - </b>Make sure to get a balance by giving yourself plenty of breaks. Getting involved in extracurriculars can be an excellent way to give yourself some space from work and pick up a fun new skill with your friends. </div>
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<b>5. Ask Questions</b></div>
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Most importantly, start your revision early so that whilst you are improving on your weakest areas you can work out what questions you need to ask in order to do better than you were previously. Everybody struggles and there is not shame in that, but it is important to take your mistakes and learn from them so that you can progress and achieve the most with your potential. By beginning early, you'll get right to the heart of those questions before it is too late to do anything about them. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></b></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-42310629826011706412017-09-13T06:09:00.000-07:002017-09-13T06:09:03.595-07:0017. More Poetry Projections <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A project I have been working on recently has been putting together a collection of poems based upon the different things I've seen around my new city so far. It has been fun to put together up to this stage because the things which inspire the creative pieces vary and there is always something new to come up with. It means constantly being on the lookout for the next thing to use as a contribution and sometimes making lists and mind maps to see what would work best in the longrun. It's been especially useful too as I'm not the best creative writer, so having the room to experiment now is really valuable for the future. The name for this project is <i>Poetry Projections, </i>because the aim with each of these texts is to create a vivid image in your mind so that whilst you are reading it a projector is switched on somewhere in your head and you can see it; You can see exactly what has been captured.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are several pieces that have been put together so far, but this is one of my favourites that I have produced up to this stage (hence why I wanted to share it with you). Poetry seems to be the best way to summarise a place built upon water because it really echoes the movement of such an element. The ebb and flow of words in short prose is the easiest way to go about producing that image, especially with how musical the rhythms make everything. For now, here is one called 'Stanley Fish' which was inspired by the name of one of the critics we have been reading and written in the style of a famous nursery rhyme - can you guess which one? I hope you enjoy it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DsPblhFKp4ahvzDZUIrBWfh_V7LRYEYtfHxYsfgpTvzQDHhARPBOVl72hnEJLE1sHYsj6CdZxe0NVqpRjOTNt3gpSQi3GgZNFxjhHfg9S2cM7ZI_NuNKR9sZ8u9L4WwjoBVgVt52TgBe/s1600/lowry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="624" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DsPblhFKp4ahvzDZUIrBWfh_V7LRYEYtfHxYsfgpTvzQDHhARPBOVl72hnEJLE1sHYsj6CdZxe0NVqpRjOTNt3gpSQi3GgZNFxjhHfg9S2cM7ZI_NuNKR9sZ8u9L4WwjoBVgVt52TgBe/s320/lowry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L. S. Lowry captures the busy nature of the human life; All those people going about their days unaware of one another</td></tr>
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<b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stanley Fish</b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stanley Fish was a decent man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A clever man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">A proper man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yes, Stanely Fish was a decent man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who lived on Small Fry lane.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he walked to work at a proper pace</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Frown on his face</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Standard business chase,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Stanley Fish was a proper man</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Who worked at Tuna Sales.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">His day consisted of formal files</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That took a while</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To reconcile,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Stanley Fish sorted formal files</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">To ship to a company in Wales.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">But Stanley Fish was a thoughtful bloke</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The type that folk </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Would call Top Yolk</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So Stanley Fish, as a thoughtful bloke,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was certainly. Going. To. Choke.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; color: #222222; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">So the proper man walks to work one day</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sorts through his files and earns his pay</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Then turns around and finally says -</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">'My real name isn't even Stanley, it's Bill!'</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bill former Stanley</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Was not typically manly</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He works in an art studio in Haarlem</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And he'll have you know</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's the place to go</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you want to both love 'em and 'leave him</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">He is done with the strife </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of his old business life</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And the rushing and bustling and worry</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Though sometimes he finds himself missing</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">His old life of filing and business and fishes -</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Until he eats Herring. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">And then he's ok.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </b></span></span></span></span><b> </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;"></span>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-22064859577267134462017-09-12T09:34:00.001-07:002017-09-12T09:34:31.015-07:0016. Thoughts On The Autumn SemesterHeading back to uni is always accompanied with sighs of all the summer plans which didn't quite make it off of the drawing board, or wishes of a quick return to the sunny days of August. But I always find myself looking forward to the Autumn semester as it draws nearer. There is so much about it to love, from the crispy leaves which coat the earth, to pumpkins and chunky woollen sweaters. It has an atmosphere all of its own which no other part of the academic year seems to possess. In a way, it's almost magical in the potential it lines up.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHrKGatw2s2sv3UAIiUPwr__TC0CW4IdwphduY2H1laaimL-3KN_jfYrCOnTd40kIuWrpXZ5EoJPVnWMuMI_8wW9wSnIX7Lj6chAepET_d4fmtqv-SzoLHMFrmfcQrJvuNi1pc6MVrH-z/s1600/autumn-collage-abby-herberger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHrKGatw2s2sv3UAIiUPwr__TC0CW4IdwphduY2H1laaimL-3KN_jfYrCOnTd40kIuWrpXZ5EoJPVnWMuMI_8wW9wSnIX7Lj6chAepET_d4fmtqv-SzoLHMFrmfcQrJvuNi1pc6MVrH-z/s400/autumn-collage-abby-herberger.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No matter where I am in the world, Autumn makes me feel at home - Image copyright Herberger 2017</td></tr>
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Having that empty canvas work wise when you return is probably the best feeling. Obviously the assignments will build up and deadlines will draw closer, but the important thing is you don't quite yet have to relinquish your freedom. These are the weeks when I go for walks at sun down to try and soak in some vitamin D after lectures or read Bukowski because no time is ever wrong for his work. For new students, I'd encourage you to get to know your area during the transition from rosy summer into warm fall because this is the time when you'll find which spots make for perfect winter revision sites. My tip would be head towards wherever the hot chocolate has the most froth and sprinkles - it always gets me through that first thousand words more cheerfully.<br />
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Autumn is also the time of Halloween and Bonfire Night, which are two of my favourite occasions because of how grounded in history and literature they are. It reminds me why exactly I am doing what I am doing to be surrounded by people telling stories, whether that be about Guy Fawkes or The Wizard of Oz. There are so many things you'll get to do with new friends, from carving pumpkins and watching scary movies to writing essays which cleverly evidence ideas you came up with about books you adore. The creativity is ripe and ready for the taking, even if the rest of the harvest across the UK has all but disappeared in the wake of empty fields and the scarecrows who get left behind.<br />
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And more than anything, all of this goes to show that this is the time in the year where it isn't quite hectic note writing time but it isn't time to forget everything you know. There is the space to breathe and learn and be, all of those things that make university such a wonderful environment to exist in. There will be cold evenings and long days, hours of studying and hours of wandering. More than anything? There will be time, and there will be opportunity. Grab it with both hands and in the spring, when all of those leaves have blown away from the ground and the wind is silenced, your tree will be full of leaves again.<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </b></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></span></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-20705213549063248402017-09-12T09:30:00.000-07:002017-09-12T09:30:09.733-07:0015. 5 Reasons To Study AbroadSince I've moved away from the UK for a semester, there are lots of things which I both did and didn't expect in my new home. Living in the Netherlands is quite different from life at uni as I know it back in England, but this is an incredibly positive thing for many reasons.<br />
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So far on my journey I have learnt everything from how the Dutch swear in illnesses to the fact that I am always going to need to keep up on my reading with the standard 100 pages assigned every day. I've learnt that this is a city which stays afloat literally (with the help of specialised foundations buried deep in the earth) as well as metaphorically. This is a place of hard work, of determination and of freedom. The atmosphere is charged with something which makes me want to remain motivated enough to become the best version of myself there is. And it provides me with just enough joie de vivre that I don't spend all of my time in doors with my books.<br />
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For those of you considering a study abroad, here are my top 5 reasons you should go ahead with your plans:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7qyCTec79btdF73hOTvYdvotzg3rx_mgG572cxdDTN6kFDKkpxmFhvVwqZchyphenhyphenhsioA0arFfgnfmdufAWPT0Prl1JegqDZtliOZj4bAiUMxW6WfsaEsAUc1d-THoxlzJLHiuFnJZFI8ro/s1600/21105619_1415703631816673_9072543555182350526_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="960" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7qyCTec79btdF73hOTvYdvotzg3rx_mgG572cxdDTN6kFDKkpxmFhvVwqZchyphenhyphenhsioA0arFfgnfmdufAWPT0Prl1JegqDZtliOZj4bAiUMxW6WfsaEsAUc1d-THoxlzJLHiuFnJZFI8ro/s640/21105619_1415703631816673_9072543555182350526_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes we must learn to fall before we can learn to fly - Image copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<b>1. Language</b><br />
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It's the opportunity to put into practice those dusty old French tenses or German slang words. There is no better place to put into practice a language than somewhere it is spoken all of the time. Whilst English is usually available, you have the option to try something new first hand and acquire a useful skill as a result.<br />
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<b>2. Unique Specialisation</b><br />
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The modules taught in universities around the world differ in variety. Currently a field I am fascinated by is Dutch history because it's so underrated and here too I can learn from teachers who grew up in different parts of the Netherlands. Hearing their opinions, and more on another culture, means I have a unique and niche element to my specialisation as a degree student.<br />
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<b>3. Friendships</b><br />
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There are so many friendly faces all eager to introduce themselves and share their stories. I think it's an important thing to note that you learn as much from your friends when in higher education as you do from your lecturers. The books they recommend and their views make for interesting conversation and ongoing debate which opens up so many new ideas.<br />
Plus, I never would have met half of these amazing people I know if it hadn't been for this opportunity.<br />
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<b>4. Comfort Zone</b><br />
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It isn't all blue skies and daisies - if I tried to tell you that, I would be lying. Being in a new country on your own for the first time does have its pitfalls. For instance, you're not around your family all of the time and you have to adapt very quickly to a bunch of new things. But again, this can be incredibly useful.<br />
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By learning to be versatile in your approach to life in general, your academic skill also improves vastly (particularly when it comes to organisation). Learning to stand on my own two feet outside of my comfort zone means that I am building up my ability to function as a fully independent human.<br />
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<b>5. International Perspective</b><br />
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Lastly, the sum of all of the above is the most amazing thing; An international perspective. This benefits everyone around you as well as yourself because you will have something fresh to contribute to conversation.<br />
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There will be things you know about the world that you never could have found out without experiencing them in person. The you that returns home will always be slightly changed, not quite the same, but with a wider outlook.<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-40182689637928029332017-09-10T12:55:00.001-07:002017-09-10T12:55:22.480-07:0014. September Playlist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Being away from home for the start of the academic year always leaves me feeling a little gloomy. For that reason, my playlist tends to reflect this but also how I'm trying to find things to look forward to again. Everybody has days when they need something to listen to which just comprehends entirely what goes beyond words. Often I find that that results in film soundtracks being my main listening material, because those melodies tell so many stories which could only ever be scored in that sort of situation by someone such as Zimmer or Williams. </div>
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My September playlist this year will probably also be closely linked to my overall collection for Autumn, so be sure to let me know what links you find and which you enjoyed listening to. And als oif you have any recommendations, feel free to leave them in the comments below. For now, here are some of my favourite tracks at the moment:</div>
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<b>1. We could go home - The Hunger Games</b></div>
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Ironically, I'm also writing about this for an essay at the moment. The book and film series (particularly the first of each) I find fascinating and this particular piece from the soundtrack always makes me feel so many things. This is my evening listening usually, alongside the theme from <i>Finding Nemo. </i>Classics which never get old.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aHXiLcjqDKQ/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHXiLcjqDKQ?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<b>2. Passenger - Autumn Leaves</b></div>
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Anything with a string quartet and you'll find me there, especially if there is the added bonus of lyrics by the incredibly talented Passenger. This was initially added because of the Autumn theme but stayed because again, it really gets what I feel about being homesick but also being happy. There is a positive and a negative to every situation which can sometimes cause a paradox, and when you have the right music to let you know that you're not alone it can feel much better.</div>
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<b>3. Post Modern Jukebox/Taylor Swift - Look What You Made Me Do</b><br />
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This classic sound fused with one of the latest releases to top the charts makes me beyond happy to listen to. Anything written with those typical Bond semi-tones makes for interesting listening. I think it definitely adds an entirely different level of drama to what was already a statement tune. I think this is my favourite version so far - hitting repeat.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yjiupe-odRQ/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yjiupe-odRQ?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<b>4. Mika - Take It Easy </b></div>
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Mika always ends up on my playlists, or at least that has been the case ever since I can remember. Even with a negative theme, there is something uplifitng about the chords and lyrics. Together they always leave me feeling a bit more motivated to take on the challenges ahead. This one is currently reminding me to pace myself - studying is good but only with breaks afterall!</div>
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<b>5. What I've Been Looking For</b></div>
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Can you believe it's been 10 years since High School Musical? All of the nostalgia! This one gives me nostalgia but again, reminds me of the positives. I think that's a running theme for September. What a good idea - a slowed down version with an added sprinkle of jazz. </div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-55304746870296948382017-09-10T12:41:00.001-07:002017-09-10T12:41:59.127-07:0013. The Purpose of Monsters In Literature We all have things that scare us and that we find creepy or uncanny. Those things differ from person to person, but when we were children there was a common pattern of translating our fears into creatures; More specifically, into monsters. In the fairytales we learn alongside reading, there is always a bad character who is defeated. One in particular which always springs to mind would be the Wicked Witch of the west. This is an example of how villains/monsters are used to create simplified binaries to exaggerate what it is to be good and bad, when the reality is that such binaries do not really exist and this what makes the monster such a complex figure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional monsters (or stock characters) would include Frankenstein's Monster, Vampires and Witches</td></tr>
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As a consequence of analysing monsters in my classes at university, I have become fascinated with how suddenly there is a whole new perspective regarding every text. The complication of these characters is definitely what makes them so fascinating. For example, in Frankenstein who would you say is the monster? The nameless monster itself (which pop culture has nicknamed after his creator, Frankenstein) or the inventor? I would argue now that it is a case of the creator being the true monster because he abandons his creation and refuses to take responsibility for a creature he made. But then again, I would not argue that the monster is without monstrous qualities - the ability to cause great harm and upset <u>is </u>monstrous. But this does not make the creation a monster; instead it implies that all beings, human and non-human, possess the ability to take on monstrous qualities. <div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the present, the word 'Monster' has become much more complex than it has previously</td></tr>
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Where monsters typically made up a category in which previously only fearful beings existed, the present is all for exploring the complexity of good and bad monsters. Take for instance the popular YA novel, <i>Twilight. </i>Edward and his family are vampires, but they do not want to cause harm to humanity and become as a result 'vegetarian' or 'good' vampires. But despite the presence of these compassionate immortals, there are those which embrace the typically monstrous qualities which come with the role (e.g. drinking human blood, causing pain). This use of complication can also be seen in the incident of popular Disney Pixar movie <i>Monster's Inc. </i>Here to being scary is performative as gender is in our modern reality, and it is also something which monsters have been doing under the guise that it is the right thing to do. This is not the first instance of a society tricked into believing something by essentially having the wool pulled over their eyes.</div>
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Complication of the monster is nothing new, it's been going on for many years. For instance, go back to French writers such as Victor Hugo or Gaston Leroux who created characters so human that it was sometimes impossible to distinguish who had the higher number of monstrous qualities or who we were meant to be rooting for. The book which saved one of the worlds most famous cathedrals, <i>The Hunchback of Notredame, </i>features a 'monster' who is far more human than the man who 'saves' him, just as the <i>Phantom of the Opera </i>himself proves to be a creature deprived of love and shut out by society. There are two perspectives to every relationship as I stated previously, it is never so simple as saying someone is plain bad or good. Those are stock characters we can only ever aim towards and never attain. </div>
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The reason we use monsters in literature then? The role they play? There is no singular one. But I personally believe that we use monsters to take everything we dislike about ourselves as humans, and also all of those animalistic instincts we suppress, and put them into one form. We lock those beings in a cupboard or shove them under our beds so that we never have to look at them. And we take them out when we want to create a story - when we want to speculate from far away and see what happens. In that regard, every piece of artwork ever developed starring a monster and a hero is a constructed, thoroughly planned social experiment. </div>
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I'll be talking further about the representation and role of monsters in literature (and popular culture) in October as part of a Halloween series. Today was about providing you with a brief overview into what is a complex and fascinating part of literature, especially when regarding Gothic fiction. And as you can probably tell by the theme, I am super excited for all things autumnal (October is my favourite month of the year). So to help you get into a similar spirit, here is a music video with a twist:<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-89718330186523413042017-09-09T06:42:00.001-07:002017-09-09T06:42:01.521-07:0012. University: Semester 1, Week 1 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You know when they say that time goes fast? Well, I don't know exactly who they are, but they aren't wrong. Time is still something I am settling into here, but it is already starting to go too quickly in ways. I think this is because the work pace in the Netherlands is so different to what I am used to back home. Instead of having a lot of work here all at once, it is very much about pacing things across the weeks into smaller assignments with some bigger assignments which are a product of those at the end. But more on that in a second. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few sketches of some Dutch things that I did this week - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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More than anything, this semester I am studying here in Amsterdam it feels more like two semesters and this is because I have three classes until the end of October and then different classes until the end of December - hence the fast work pace. It's learning a lot about a myriad of interesting and useful things, but it can also be tiring at points so I am trying to make sure that I do tasks as soon as they are set. For instance, whenever I get reading for class (which is pretty much every day) I usually do it in the evening when I get home because that way I have notes ready and I don't need to think about it agian until the next class. I have had to change a module so far this semester to a different one and whilst this was stressful, it only again highlighted to me that I have made the right choice in doing an Erasmus because learning to deal with negative experiences like that more independently is a really important skill to have. <div>
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It's hard to call a favourite class because I like them all but, if I had to, then it would probably be Dutch themes. This is a history module which focuses in on the development of the Netherlands from 1555 right up to the present day, meaning there is always plenty to discuss and research. This previous week we had quite a complicated, almost philosophical discussion, about what exactly a nation is and how it can be formed by a small group of people. I'd never really thought that something which is commonly stated but isn't tangible as imagined before, and talking about it that way made me realise just how complex everything around me is. It was obvious then that I would spend my evening reading up on this further and working to comprehend how communities are simultaneously positive and negative things which begin initially as creations.</div>
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In The Personal is Political, we have discussed again so much already. We get to create a research project in this class on anything of our choosing which I find really exciting. I want to focus in again on that area I never shut up about in my field (the impact of spaces, atmospheres, environments, etc). More specifically, the impact of virtual spaces and how this is the next development in the conversation surrounding so many different indentity based topics. I think it is a good platform on which to voice ideas (whilst it can have negative repercussions) because it means that anyone can be part of this global conversation which is of the utmost importance in opening our minds to new perspectives we perhaps never would have come up with on our own. </div>
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One thing I wasn't prepared for was the rain - it's been practically torrential! My rain coat hasn't failed me but unfortunately my trusty backpack flooded so I had to get a new one in preparation for the next round of clouds. Now that I look back it's actually quite comical; I thought being from England where it rains all the time that nowhere could possibly be rainier. Boy was I wrong! I felt very much like I was starring in an underwater play that day with how soggy my socks were.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the books - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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So whilst this week has mainly been introductory classes so far, like I say it is a faster paced system here which means my first assignments are due in next week. Those consisting of an 800 word essay, a 900 word essay and the first 300 words of one of my final projects, on top of reading. But that said, I am enjoying them a lot more than I usually would enjoy working on assignments because they are paced and I feel like I have control over everything at the moment because I am keeping organised and working in advance. Another thing I have learnt then (or two) that I would like to pass on to you: Don't be afriad to ask the questions you have when you have them otherwise you won't have the necessary information to make the sort of progress your potential would otherwise allow - and always carry a highlighter because they are life savers in the long run.<div>
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Alongside settling in academically, I've just been trying to find a balance in general for my life. Working out budgets that work for me, figuring out how much work is pushing my limit, planning out in advance for future assignments and knowing when to cook, clean etc. With so much to settle into doing for myself after adjusting to home over the summer, it's important to make things into habits as early on as possible otherwise I'll end up doing silly things like missing meals to work and that always results in burnouts workwise. But like I say, so far I'm doing ok. I think one of the biggest reasons for that is because again, I am not giving up anything for anything else. I do my work, I do my chores, but then I have my own projects to work on beyond the classroom and access to a place with a piano (of course). So, with that said, it's time to get on with a bit more assignment work. Here is a recent arrangement I did of Taylor Swift's latest song, hope you like it:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">It makes my day every day!</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;"> </span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bolder;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span><br /></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-25077791359447107732017-09-05T02:08:00.000-07:002017-09-05T02:08:22.662-07:0011. Inspiration: Van Gogh<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So far, this small series of blogs has largely featured on my literary inspirations. Those who I have found to be inspirational figures throughout my reading and research, ultimately fuelling my own ideas and encouraging me to keep working hard in the process of developing my own voice as a writer/creative individual. It is easy to pick out examples of inspirational role models from throughout history in terms of books or artwork. Well actually, not necessarily easy - there are so many of them! Beginning with Woolf, this blog series has slowly begun to take shape in showing some of the people, writers and artists from the past and present who inspire me to do what I do every day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Many of those inspirations are voices speaking to us from the past in the form of paintings or novels, all manner of creative materials. But an inspiration who continues to have impact in the present despite his place in history would have to be Vincent Van Gogh.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I put my heart and soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process - Van Gogh</td></tr>
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I don't think many people remember a point in their lives when they didn't know who Vincent Van Gogh was. His paintings are such a big part of the world and go beyond the Netherlands and beyond France where they were initially produced. The ability to put dreams into art and also to capture the plight of the working class in a manner which is almost balletic, is not an easy thing to achieve. And it is difficult to believe that they came from the mind of a simple preachers son who didn't initially set out to be a painter, and more so that they remained underappreciated and not fully understood during his own life time. <div>
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Throughout popular culture, the idea of the genius (more particularly the tortured genius) painting away on a canvas, completely alone in the world other than their ideas, and again remaining mistunderstood is a popular stereotype for many figures of the past. Because of this, it can often be easy to forget that these 'immortal' names (from Van Gogh to Shakespeare, Mozart, Bronte, Austen) do not have immortal connotations beyond their work. This was instead a man of flesh and blood who painted because it was the only way he could make sense of the world outside of his window; Of the people who did not necessarily welcome him with open arms but regarded him instead as mad. </div>
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The first time I really realised how much Van Gogh inspired me would probably have to be in highschool when we first studied some of his painting, including Sun Flowers and Starry Night. We had to create a project based upon one of these ideas and then work on it throughout the term. I remember mine being based not on sunflowers but on lilies and, because of how quickly they live and die, I would take a photograph of them every day to see their life span; How it affected them, what changes there were, etc. Then, because Van Gogh painted several different versions of the sunflowers, I did the same with the lilies. I filled an entire sketch book drawing out their different stages in different styles. First in pencil carefully, then hurriedly (almost jaggedly) in ink, followed by some paint work at the end. Unfortunately we only had a few weeks so I never got to transition to the oil on canvas stage, which is where I think I would have learnt the most about his artistic comprehension and would have best learnt from his work + life. </div>
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Since then I have been utterly fascinated by all things about him because I feel in each piece of art, in each biography on his life, there is more than an abundance of wisdom about humanity to discover. Not just in one period but through all of them, right up to the present. This was only confirmed to me further when I went to the Van Gogh museum last summer. The main thing that struck me was the evolution of how he saw himself. Each self portrait takes on a completely different guise. For instance, the colour pallet changes, the shape of his smile is slightly different, so he is constantly exploring not only nature and class through his work but also his view of himself. I think that is probably the main reason he is inspiring to me - because he shows how normal it is to doubt the self, and to not see our individual selves in the right light. Sometimes we are blinded to our own attributes, whereas with others we could not be a more honest mirror. For this reason, it is through his portraits that I discovered it is ok to dislike ourselves sometimes and to have a complex relationship with how we view our own identity. </div>
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On a final note, since arriving in the Netherlands, I have found great comfort in his work and in reading about his life. Whilst he did not live here particularly long and was off to Paris in the blink of an eye, knowing that there was someone else here who didn't always fit in but still managed to make the most of putting together their ideas and outlook of the world is a great reassurance. It makes me feel so much better to know that all of us in a way are our own versions of Van Gogh - which sometimes means we have to remind ourselves that through our greatest strife we will one day be able to paint the sunflowers in just the right light. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day!</b></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b> </b></span><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-88070265614103748402017-09-04T03:23:00.001-07:002017-09-04T03:23:28.152-07:0010. Poetry Projections <span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A project I have been working on recently has been putting together a collection of poems based upon the different things I've seen around my new city so far. It has been fun to put together up to this stage because the things which inspire the creative pieces vary and there is always something new to come up with. It means constantly being on the lookout for the next thing to use as a contribution and sometimes making lists and mind maps to see what would work best in the longrun. It's been especially useful too as I'm not the best creative writer, so having the room to experiment now is really valuable for the future. The name for this project is <i>Poetry Projections, </i>because the aim with each of these texts is to create a vivid image in your mind so that whilst you are reading it a projector is switched on somewhere in your head and you can see it; You can see exactly what has been captured.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are several pieces that have been put together so far, but this is one of my favourites that I have produced up to this stage (hence why I wanted to share it with you). Poetry seems to be the best way to summarise a place built upon water because it really echoes the movement of such an element. The ebb and flow of words in short prose is the easiest way to go about producing that image, especially with how musical the rhythms make everything. For now, here is one called 'Universe on a T-shirt' which was inspired by the preceding image. I hope you enjoy it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign seen in Amsterdam</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When he closes his eyes, </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">He sees a symphony of nebulas
Dotting their pinks and greens and greys
All over his days
In coils of melody
They sing to him enough that
When he opens up the closet he falls in,
Into the hours of open time just
Waiting in a line of button up planets
That he catches and uncoils
Until Mars buckles under his feet
There is a sheet of blazing comet
Which he holds and from it,
Pulls a wisp for each his ears
On days like this it would be easy enough
To call the bluff and spin away
Into the back of the wood;
Let his skin seep, deeper and deeper in
Until he has surpassed the shadow and all it's darkness
Moulded himself into the mountains
Of fire or ice, has folded twice
Like a paper boat on a starry sea
But Instead he sighs and closes his eyes
Pulls the fabric of time closed
As quickly as his quivering fingers allow.
He has the universe on his t-shirt
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<span style="background-color: #eeeeee; letter-spacing: -0.24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But he doesn't want to know.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-77688800161139292732017-09-04T02:28:00.000-07:002017-09-04T02:28:32.362-07:009. On The Urban SpaceToday is the first day of classes, so to get an early break in to take all of our minds off the pressure of initial beginnings, yesterday was a day for wandering and exploring. Not far from here, there is some woodland that I had previously never walked long enough to find. But after an afternoon there, I'm glad that the day was both sunny and free enough to find it. Some of it is wild woodland but the rest is built in the style of an English country park which made me feel very much at home.<br />
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But as I journeyed further on, past the marks of the city, past the houses in the middle of nowhere, I started to think about the role of space. About the role of the natural vs. the urban too, but more genereally about the urban space itself and how an atmosphere can be contained and shared by such an environment. Once I started thinking about this, I was not only back into my previous research from last year but expanding ever outwards to the possibility of more examples than I had previously thought.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMKt8vizSfpia8MNCC_ERNle0_sP4O0pr1yuj3unq2Heqd1eXa1NUoPvXce5f7bOJj-tyAfBges_LMj-jGRLbbXirt75RRVfMJ3QeSnt0lrybTaIxdPyCoBfjWwa6FcXdj2vRkQeL2Ir_/s1600/21230784_1420609414659428_2885187954938790618_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="556" data-original-width="960" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMKt8vizSfpia8MNCC_ERNle0_sP4O0pr1yuj3unq2Heqd1eXa1NUoPvXce5f7bOJj-tyAfBges_LMj-jGRLbbXirt75RRVfMJ3QeSnt0lrybTaIxdPyCoBfjWwa6FcXdj2vRkQeL2Ir_/s640/21230784_1420609414659428_2885187954938790618_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watery reflections - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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The urban space is a complex creature, almost a living thing. The streets act as veins across the city, constructing a map of fast cars, tall buildings, old architecture hidden in the gaps and rennovation acting as an ongoing project. There are things stereotypical of these environments all over the world, but every single one of them is different. With the Netherlands, there is so much nature mixed in with the cement and buildings. Because of these natural qualities, taking a break from the usual grey is much easier and getting a multi-coloured street to walk home along (especially in the summer) makes for a pleasant commute. <div>
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Too often we take cities for granted. There is the continual debate about whether the countryside or the city is the better place to be, usually with the result being that people agree both have their qualities but the individual person prefers one over the other. I think that cities, these urban dwellings, are far more important that we give them credit for. Largely they are seen as hectic hubs of life, where business men are always in a rush and traffic piles up at rush hour. It can be a place to avoid during public holidays because everyone will be heading to the same spot. And sometimes it can be a place of claustrophobia, particularly when in the middle of a crowd. But these are all the negative qualities - what is it about the urban space that stands out to offer a positive contribution?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHEgQbDKAmc4WSpnLRMr_Zcatpey6lhFdUusS8rh9N8uI4qEaRgDTHNJb8zKGtUV353zuVPQfw6lgxuMfo62qqBdEUk9XNUUizzQ2P_VAn-Bza6cNCwmMuucTLoPxKtgabyDQg7JREoTY/s1600/20994300_1410760865644283_5513091908310898012_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="960" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHEgQbDKAmc4WSpnLRMr_Zcatpey6lhFdUusS8rh9N8uI4qEaRgDTHNJb8zKGtUV353zuVPQfw6lgxuMfo62qqBdEUk9XNUUizzQ2P_VAn-Bza6cNCwmMuucTLoPxKtgabyDQg7JREoTY/s400/20994300_1410760865644283_5513091908310898012_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cycling along - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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Well firstly, I think that all of those negative qualities are true only to an extent and that over time they have become too generalised to all of the urban spaces across this planet when it is not that simple. Each city or suburb you visit is completely unique and individual despite having a fast paced approach most of the time, and that is purely because a lot of people live there. And why do people live in urban spaces if they are associated with so many negative qualities? I believe that it is more than just for the purpose of being able to work and have easy access to everything contained in these areas. <div>
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I think that most people do in fact enjoy city life, myself to an extent included although I do enjoy being able to get a break from it every now and again. Being in a place such as Amsterdam or London (and I imagine New York) offers the chance of new opportunities. There are so many independent businesses, interesting people to meet and more to explore if you let yourself step outside and walk for a while. There are galleries full of paintings dedicated to the formation of the industrial and to the figures of the past who inspired the people to design the modern buildings, to put together the historical artefacts dotted around and to fuse the city of the past with its' current guise. The urban space is alive, those streets really are veins, because contained in it all is so much energy and passion for a thousand different fields. </div>
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Being in an urban space only reminds me that having access to both the hectic and the calm is important. Finding that balance is not always easy, but it is the key to handling and making the most of this sort of space. For now my thesis remains surrounding that balance. That the urban space is the most valuable thing we perhaps have to offer within this century at present and that if we continue to imagine and to dream, with a balanced amount of freedom in nature to guide us, we have the ability to use these environments to continue making the impossible possible. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b>Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </b></span></span></span><b> </b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-34217223086479901022017-09-03T13:17:00.001-07:002017-09-03T13:17:05.676-07:008. Expectations Vs. Reality Sometimes we have expectations that do not quite reach our reality. It can take a while to see this initially though from time to time, we are lucky enough to never face the question of 'is this better or worse than what I initially had in mind?' especially in regards to doing a study abroad programme. After visiting the Netherlands last year I thought that I knew exactly what I was getting into when I set out to do my Erasmus semester here and wasn't even slightly worried about the culture shock. And whilst everyone faces culture shock in some way or another, for me it hasn't so muchbeen the place that has defied expectations as of yet. Instead it has been how much I miss my family because for me they are home more than a geographical place.<br />
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It's more so that I forgot that the people I knew and the things that I know well from home wouldn't be moving with me. It may sound obvious to you from the outside, but hear me out - sometimes we do not realise until we are doing something that a decision is more multifaceted than we ever could have comprehended when we were making it initially. Just as someone studying law may not know that the case they are heading towards is one of the most important in a century, this moving and studying business has so much more potential that what I recognised at first. Already I am beginning to see that my expectation was only the tip of the iceberg. The things I did not see in advance are harder to pinpoint and explain, but let me try anyway.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid-2dt_8cBrgbmuxyDA9gFuOR-Ta90jZAtwMjOvriOYEHb6YNmShx75WAMg350xp5ksLs_tXJRCPrwLIAaZ8PCTDSdbAZOsLtpZxj0aGCZIyQIUVe53nuKwV8LHs316kiFUGg_FcMbct6/s1600/21150191_1415703635150006_8576860152780153709_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjid-2dt_8cBrgbmuxyDA9gFuOR-Ta90jZAtwMjOvriOYEHb6YNmShx75WAMg350xp5ksLs_tXJRCPrwLIAaZ8PCTDSdbAZOsLtpZxj0aGCZIyQIUVe53nuKwV8LHs316kiFUGg_FcMbct6/s400/21150191_1415703635150006_8576860152780153709_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bicycles everywhere - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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The first thing I did not expect was how different the pace in work and general life would be. In some ways it is more taxing because of this and in others, it means I need to learn to take things much more easily than I have ever been accustomed to in previous parts of my life. The workload is quite big though overall, whilst it isn't competitive, so it is kind of useful that I do work the way I do because it means that I can work at my own pace instead of doing it all in one go. This previous weekend for instance, I have had so much reading to do. At first it was stressful, but when I let myself stop panicking it was so much easier to concentrate and work through than it otherwise would have been. <div>
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Something which has lived up to my expectation would have to be the city and university itself. I'm fusing the two because in many ways they are similar; I learn almost as much from the city (considering much of my study is based upon this) as I do in my class rooms. There are bicycles everywhere, and seeing from the perspective of wheels or from the canal itself can be quite an eye opening thing. Afterall, that is the way the city has been seen throughout history and seeing it that way now is a reminder of that. Suddenly the buildings have their own characters in a way they didn't before.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMir4r_yFdhNq2Rny9nB_6QLFGhXe0B0EordAwisNmWQaObbBCgzMnsiO6A52vewyeXg0iFaEY85_boqYl3jVM40FgLgMtag9xvENMW68IT5s8rRa0h3Q6Kogb_-b6rrBepzrTVw9nSIj/s1600/21192695_1415705195149850_3761111310480096918_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMir4r_yFdhNq2Rny9nB_6QLFGhXe0B0EordAwisNmWQaObbBCgzMnsiO6A52vewyeXg0iFaEY85_boqYl3jVM40FgLgMtag9xvENMW68IT5s8rRa0h3Q6Kogb_-b6rrBepzrTVw9nSIj/s400/21192695_1415705195149850_3761111310480096918_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A place with a mind of its' own - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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In short, if there is one thing you take from these ramblings, I hope it is this: Sometimes expectations and reality do not quite add up. And surprisingly, that is ok. So far I think it is the reason that people from far and wide decide to pack up their bags and move to a new place. Because all of these things we learn aren't part of the package we choose, and they aren't the things we expected to take away from our adventures. Instead they are life lessons and academic perspectives shaped by the people and the culture - basically everything that you can't research in advance on Lonely Planet. </div>
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It is those things which allow us to shape our perspective of a place and the world in a wider scope. Through the things we achieve, the things we experience, we become better people and we can use this to share a more positive vision with those around us. Yes it can be one of the most difficult things to do (I won't deny that for a second) but I maintain that I will render this into something as positive and worthwhile as I initially set out to achieve. And that said, I'll leave you with an orchestral version of a song that always makes me smile. Tot ziens! (And best of luck to all of you heading back to school/uni tomorrow).<br /><div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-20307568376634432152017-09-03T08:59:00.002-07:002017-09-03T08:59:55.581-07:007. Amsterdam In LiteratureAmsterdam is infamous for many reasons, from its' approach to freedom and democracy to tulip fever and being a city reclaimed from the water. In modern culture, it has gained a following particularly from young people for the openness it possesses, as well as being an incredibly European city with a focus on improving the world through tackling climate change. Overall, there is something for everyone here and that is what makes it so popular to the rest of the world.<br />
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But often, particularly in literature or in the day to day, Amsterdam can be overlooked. The most popular elements of history it has to offer are not necessarily the ones which are the most interesting once you get down to the details of things; There is so much more than just the period of the Golden Age. And whilst not much Dutch literature does get translated, that which does is beyond fascinating. Some of it is absurd, some is surreal, whereas other texts are comical or satirical. There is so much to offer overall. And despite Amsterdam sometimes being downplayed, it so frequently manage to get its' nose in when it comes to literature outside the realms of the Netherlands.<br />
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And to get you started? Here are a few of my favourites:<br />
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<b>1. Annie Schmidt - Jip and Janneke</b><br />
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This is a very sweet children's series which was originally published as a series in the newspaper before being collected and made into a book series. The language used is simplistic and the adventures are very sweet, which makes for a very light read especially if you are a beginner in the Dutch language - though if you want to read them in your first language, it is more than likely you will be able to find it at home because it has been translated for many countries.<br />
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<b>2. John Green - The Fault in Our Stars</b><br />
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In recent years, this has taken on a mass following particularly by young people and has definitely been the biggest success that John Green has produced as of yet. The story of two teenagers suffering from terminal illness and how this impacts upon their lives goes over many perspectives of multiple issues, from how we perceive the body (of both others and ourselves)<br />
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<b>3. Multatuli - Max Havelaar</b><br />
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Written in the 1800's, this book took a step back from the VOC and asked through fiction (which was rather speculative and ahead of its' time) what the repercussions of slavery and trade were. In fact it is strongly linked with the idea of free trade.<br />
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Whilst it has some rather heavy content (focused in around Java) which ignited mass public uproar + debate, it also has many funny moments due to the satire it contains as well as complex characters and all the makings of a well written novel. If anything, because it is based upon the history there are moments now which we do not get in full as we may have done at the time due to the changing of context and not being Dutch ourselves. But none-the-less a worthwhile read and eye opening into the thoughts of past and present alike.<br />
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<b>4. Jessie Burton - The Miniaturist</b><br />
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This book has harboured many a good and bad review - it seems to be like marmite for critics. I personally think it is an astounding work of literature, let alone considering it is a debut novel by Burton! Our protagonist here is Petronella who has just moved to the golden age of Holland after marrying a wealthy man. Only the positive future she should have lined up ahead of her suddenly becomes rather dark and mysterious when the figures around her remain dismissive of her questions. And when their secrets begin to be told through the odd miniatures delivered to her door stop by an unseen woman.<br />
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Detailed, dark, vibrant and brilliant, this is a book for any of you who want to enter into a place at its' finest and to see how even in the darkest of times there can be brightness. It's so easy to get through because each of these characters is so human and whilst through them complicated themes + issues are explored, there is the space to really become engaged with all that is read. It's also inspired in part by displays in the Rijk museum so if you're heading out on a trip to the Netherlands soon, it might be a good place to start.<br />
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<b>5. Anne Frank - The Diary of a Young Girl</b><br />
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Not a fictional novel but instead a journal offering so much wisdom and such a deep insight into the world, the Diary of Anne Frank is one of the most renowned Dutch texts. In fact, many of the people who visit Amsterdam every year come purely to visit the place where the Frank family was in hiding for nearly two years during the second world war.<br />
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It isn't an easy read but like I mentioned previously, it offers us a perspective of why it is so important to value life and to make the most of our freedom. Through the eyes of Anne we see not only how the war changed her way of living and attitude to life, but also how the world can be beautiful enough (if we let it) to allow us to dismiss the smaller things and focus in on the making the most element of things. She is a huge inspiration to many, myself included, and her words surround me as I walk around this incredible city everyday.<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span>Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-81621221910386628082017-09-03T03:00:00.000-07:002017-09-03T03:00:07.329-07:006. A Guide To: Settling InIt's easy to feel home sick on any occasion, but never more so than when you move away from home for the first time. Taking care of yourself 24/7, contrary to what <i>Matilda </i>would otherwise have you believe, is very much a learning curve that you have to learn and grow into. Everyone has different periods of time in which it takes them to adjust. For the lucky few, it is as simple as moving away and that's that. Whereas for others, myself included, it can take anything from a few weeks to a few months.<br />
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When I first moved away from home to go to university, I thought that somewhere an hours drive away was a big deal. I remember how upset both me and my mum got because of what a huge move it felt - that transition from being at home and being dependent on your famil to suddenly standing on your own two feet. It felt like someone had picked up the monopoly board mid game and flung the pieces all around the room.<br />
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But settling into accommodation in my university in the Netherlands by comparison has made for a similar experience oddly enough, which I didn't think would have been possible after having already moved away from home on another occasion now. Whilst there is culture shock on top of the usual moving chaos, the main difficulty here is that the homesickness really is purely about that my family aren't just down the street. Fortunately I have great friends here to surround myself with and they are my best way of feeling more at home here, gradually things are becoming more normal for me again.<br />
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Here are a few tips for those of you who will be heading away from home soon to the next chapter in your lives. And for those of you who might be worried or even a little scared, don't worry; It's perfectly normal to feel all those things and you'll soon see that it isn't so scary as it first seems.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A little piece of home - Copyright CLSS 2017</td></tr>
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<b>1. Unpack ASAP</b><div>
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Everyone hates unpacking; It's boring and dull and goes on seemingly forever. But the important thing here is that once it is over and done with, then it doesn't have to be done again until the next time you move (which will be back home for the summer presumably) which oddly enough makes it seem something to look forward to. </div>
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Another key thing about unpacking is that everything you have brought with you are the things which are familiar and recognisable, so being surrounded by them is bound to make you feel more comfortable in this new environment where things don't immediately feel like a safe space. Especially for those with anxiety such as myself, covering those empty surfaces with my favourite books and post card collection makes me feel like I can breathe so much more easily. </div>
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I usually get my mum to help me unpack once we have arrived too because that way it is not only a recognisable place to me but also to her; It makes things much less lonely. Having someone you care about nearby to help can be a huge relief because then it isn't so much a burden you have to face alone, but a fun challenge for you both to work on together (like an honorary art project).</div>
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<b>2. Get To Know Your Area</b></div>
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Being in a new area is again, something which can seem very scary at first. But by the end of the year once you know those paths and roads better than the back of your hand you'll soon wonder what all of the fuss was about. </div>
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Play a tourist at first, because it is the best way to get to grips with seeing this new place. Grab a map and get some of your flat mates to go explore with you. It's a really good way to make new friends because you are doubtless all going to be in the same boat and struggling to find the right starting point. I remember using the York 100 challenge list to help me get a start and then from there, there were also places we discovered by accident which ended up becoming some of our favourites. </div>
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Allow yourself to wander knowing that getting lost in the early stages is not a bad thing. Instead, it is the best way to prevent getting lost in the future. So long as you keep yourself safe and know roughly how to get back again, then you have everything you need to get to know this new place surrounding you.</div>
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<b>3. Make It A Sanctuary</b></div>
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This place, believe it or not, is going to become your sanctuary. Whenever you need to get away from the world for a while, concentrate during deadlines or even watch a movie with friends, this is going to be the place you head to first. Because this is a space you can shape into anything of your choosing in order to feel better again. Even when outside it looks absolutely miserable and freezing and you have no idea how you're ever going to get through the year, this is a place you can escape to until you feel prepared and brave enough to go back out again.</div>
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We all have those points where we wish we could flip the switch and reverse back in time to when things seemed simpler. But unfortunately, that isn't possible and that's one of the hardest things to acknowledge. But once you have, like I say it is easier to allow yourself the space to be calm and to be you before getting back up again. Allow yourself to feel everything and it will be much easier to feel happier and more comfortable in achieving what previously seemed impossible.</div>
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P.S. Make plenty of playlists to fill the space with music. You're going to need them - they have been my biggest saving grace. Here is a current favourite to help you get started:</div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-27416589784429562422017-09-03T02:00:00.002-07:002017-09-03T02:00:50.121-07:005. Books In SeptemberBefore we get into the books I'm going to be reading across the month of September, I have some exciting news to share with you first. Over the holiday I have been blogging over on campus society for the #SummerBloggin competition. It's been so much fun to get involved and I've really enjoyed getting to edit some old material to improve and share it as well as producing lots of fun new content to share with all of those on campus society heading away to university or moving on to their next year.<br />
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Now that the summer is almost at an end the competition has drawn to a close and the poll is open until 12pm on the 4th of September to the public to vote. This is where you guys come in and I have a massive favour to ask you all, that being please do go and vote for me over at this link: <a href="https://www.campussociety.com/post/222546" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.campussociety.com/post/222546</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd really appreciate it if you did because this is something which I have worked on with a great amount of determination. And no matter what the result, thank-you for all of your support throughout all of my writing, it means the world to be able to produce content to share with you all. Ok, that said, on to the books for this month</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As the arrival of autumn ushers in, there is plenty to look forward to in the realm of books. There is a lot of text book and back to school reading to be done, but on top of this there is of course much else to get me through those longer articles such as the chosen titles below (and co.). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This month my selection has focused intentionally on a different range of texts so that there is plenty to choose from. I find that usually when I head back for the semester I become so focused on the texts given that it is easy to grow tired of what I am learning and take it for granted. Hence, by choosing a wider variety and limiting myself to only one additional text book, I hope that it will be easy to enjoy reading both in and out of academic criteria.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Without delay, here are my September reads:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. MoonCop</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>This month on my student reads bookclub here on UCAS we are reading Mooncop by T. Gauld. So far it is making for a brief but nevertheless thought provoking read. Graphic novels always rank pretty high on my list when they possess elements of sci-fi and this is practically golden age science fiction with a twist. It is more like an observation by T. S. Eliot than the alien vs. astronaut you might expect, so in this regard I am loving the fusion of ideas.<br />
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Sometimes it is the simplest stories that have the power to impact us the most. Not much may seem to be happening throughout this short graphic novel, but if you pay attention to the detail and take time to soak everything in, then you will soon find your eyes opened wider than you thought possible.<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. A Millennium Of Amsterdam</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some text books are just distinctly cooler than others and this would have to be one. Fusing examples such as historical documents and images with the explanatory text, this is an exploration of Amsterdam right from it's original build between 1000 - 1100 AD up to the present. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I already feel as though I have been given a completely different insight into the location, particularly after reading about the development of the foundations which hold up the area/allow it to float. It was described an unimaginable, timeless, artifical forest. Almost rivals the tales of Grimm don't you think?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. My Neighbour Totoro</b></span><br />
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After reading several manga collections whilst I was still home in England, the acorn theme in this one (as well as the popularity of the movie amongst my friends) made this one seem like an obvious choice. So far I am really enjoying it - there is something about the translation of Japanese which is very peaceful to read. The writing has such a still yet kinetic quality. It feels like reading water, because whilst there is doubtlessly an adventure just around the corner, there is also the harbour and the shore line where the words rest, lapping softly. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. Dutch Short Stories</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Another book brought from home, this one was a very fitting leaving present which I am only just starting to be drawn in by. Some of these tales are so strange and unusual compared to the typical modern short story which I really like. The George Saunders feel is never all that far away if you keep your eyes peeled. <b><br /></b></span><br />
As again this is translated fiction, it seems I have a bit of a theme running this month! Just goes to show that the more we read from other perspectives, the more about the world our eyes will be opened to. <br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. A Young Girl's Diary (Freud)</b></span><br />
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I haven't fully started this one yet, it just sounded quite insightful. This is a girls journal growing up, all of her thoughts and feelings and hopes and fears and dreams. Reading diaries is always intriguing because not only do we get another perspective, but we become completely submerged in another persons world. We see and hear only what they do, it is almost like becoming a shape shifter without ever needing to move. The foreword by Freud is something I am as of yet a little unsure of (never been a big fan of the fellow) but I am looking forward to reading on.<br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; white-space: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. </span></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; white-space: normal;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-89457385272554197112017-09-01T05:08:00.001-07:002017-09-01T05:08:33.206-07:004. What We Can Learn From Whales<b>What can we learn from whales?</b> It's a question that many of you probably will never have asked but now that I've asked it, do you find yourself intrigued? Do you find yourself in that state so many historians do, when they look at something from afar and wish to plunge into the deepest waters that they might uncover the secrets of the ocean and the mentality + heart of a creature so different from the likes of mankind. If so, read on.<br />
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I like to talk about whales a lot. Sometimes I wish I had pursued that crazy dream as a kid of becoming the next Sylvia Earle - and who knows, there is still room and time enough to pursue all of those ideas. But anyway, I digress. My point is that talking about whales has opened my eyes to a lot of things that previously I did not see. <b>Looking at the world from any perspective is valuable, because those that differ teach us the things we are blind to from our own vantage points.</b> No matter how complex a creature a human is, it is not the complexity so much that we learn from. <b>Sometimes it can be the simplest things that teach us the greatest amount. </b><br />
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So what makes whales so amazing? First of all, <b>their ability to adapt. </b>This was a creature which evolved from the land into the water, seen in the presence of the hip bones with no current purpose which are still a part of the internal skeleton. Originally, they would have taken on the form of a cow like animal. Where everything else was moving to the land, they went the reverse direction and as a result were able to develop a whole new system of living. This can be seen to in the manner in which they breathe. </div>
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<b>Whales are conscious breathers which means that they decide when and when not they breathe. </b>When they sleep they shut off half of their brains and keep the other awake so that they can still move their muscles to swim up to the surface and gain access to oxygen, unlike sharks who have to constantly swim in order to keep filtering the water to remain alive. The mother whales push up their calves to the surface to encourage them to take their first breath, and the maximum amount of time any of them can remain under the surface for is somewhere around 90 minutes. <b>Whenever I am feeling particularly stressed I imagine I am a whale swimming in the deepest ocean. </b>The work builds up on my shoulders like a tonne of water, pressing down and making things dark... but the minute I remember that I am a conscious breather, that it is my decision when and when not I take that breath, it is easy to make the decision to swim back up to the surface and inhale with full vigour. <b>Only we are able to decide when we consciously take that breath in anything, just as only we can decide when to dive and sing and live.</b></div>
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As well as being conscious breathers they are <b>conscious movers.</b> Each year they migrate to warmer waters, sometimes travelling many miles. <b>That determination to get to the right place is again enough to keep me focused whenever I am wondering what the point in writing yet another essay is.</b> Those long distances are filled with song (they are the most musical of creatures) and companionship. Whales often travel in small groups and form close relationships with those who are a part of the Pod. Those close attachments mean that team work is often prevalent (as with the polder technique in the Netherlands) and despite not all being directly linked on family trees, family bonds are formed to connect them. This means they stick together and should someone be seperated and end up injured, they grieve together to. <b>That team work is incredibly important to survival, almost as much as the individual decision to consciously breathe. </b></div>
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Lastly, they are kind. <b>Kindness is something which is not always easy to give - in fact it can be the most difficult of things. </b>Whales often work side by side with humans in need, or adopt creatures they discover in the ocean who are not able to care for themselves and may have been orphaned. They have the biggest of hearts (about the size of a car in the incident of the blue whale!) to make room for all of this too. And this just goes to show that just because you are the biggest animal ever to roam this earth, you don't have to have the vicious teeth of a dinosaur or the violence of early human life to survive. <b>Sometimes, being gentle, being kind, and being consciously alive is the best way you can fend for yourself. </b></div>
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So, as you can see, <b>sometimes the creatures we do not think too much of because they are not all around us can be the ones who teach us the most of value. </b>And if there is one thing I hope you take from this it is that different perspectives are our most important tool to accessing and comprehending further the world aorund us. I hope that you have found this content useful and that you love whales now as much as I do! What the infamous Arthur Darville said about feeling <i>insignificant </i>in scale in comparison to the skeleton of the blue whale of his natural history museum is true - sometimes taking the step back can be a good thing because it reminds us not only how small we are but also how valuable our time on this planet is. Let's make the most of this amazing opportunity we have each been granted by being kind, by keeping up the moving and by not forgetting to come to the surface to breathe. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day!</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></b></span></div>
<br />Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-9334864664244728942017-09-01T03:56:00.001-07:002017-09-01T03:56:44.015-07:003. Long Distance Relationships <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Recently I've been speaking about the pros and cons of my decision to study abroad so far. There are many of course, it is a complex thing, but the next one on my list would have to be this so I thought I'd open up the conversation a little. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the hardest things about leaving home and deciding to do an Erasmus has been moving away from the person who is always around the corner and is always ready to talk at any hour of the day. Entering into a long distance relationship when you have been so close and relatively near to a person distance wise is possibly the most difficult part of being in a different country because whilst culture shock is a thing, the absence of those we care about can be one of the most starkly obvious elements upon arrival. Particularly when you don't know many people, this can be one of those things that makes you feel especially home sick. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Making the decision to move away from home as part of something such as an Erasmus for a while is eye opening for many reasons. Not only are you suddenly immersed in an incredible new culture that you can learn all about but you are away from your comfort zone. Being able to see what life is like when you aren't doing all the normal things you would do on a day to day basis is particularly valuable when it comes to your relationships with others, not only romantically but also with your family. Because you miss them, you don't take them as for granted as you otherwise might when they're just around the corner and you'll find yourself talking to them more as a result. It can really strengthen those relationships opposed to the adverse reaction which is what you might expect initially (hence why a lot of students worry).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Me and my boyfriend have been together for 7 years now and this move has been difficult for the both of us. Even if I have only been gone for half a month, the prospect of time looming ahead is what I think is the most challenging aspect of everything. But in spite of this we have already begun to ensure we make time for each other away from our studies and keep open a clear communication system in the future. We've even set up a plan in which to take it in turns visiting each other which is another thing to look forward to whilst I'm here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For those of you who want to know more about the impact upon relationships due to long distance whilst away from home or studying in a university abroad, here are my top 3 tips for how you can do so:</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Make Time For Each Other</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Just knowing that you have a little slot of time at the end of the day to call one another can be the nicest thing. It's coming home to your best friend afterall and being able to share your days as close to in person as you can - what beats that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Something I like to do is skype at meal times because it's easy enough to forget the screen when you do that and to dismiss the distance. It feels like a casual evening in which again, is one of those things you'll realise you can take for granted when it's not as much of an option in your new location. Making time for each other like this and just knowing that you're never far away in spirit is one of the most significant ways you can keep each other close and smiling.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Write Letters </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep things up the old fashioned way. Everyone loves getting a letter because it is a piece of you you hand wrote out and gave to someone else. Sitting down and spending some of your time doing this is another example of showing a person you care. Me and my mum write letters a lot too and through her writing, it's like I can enter into her mind. She tells me things on paper which remind me of just how funny and wise she can be in her words when she has the space to articulate everything.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On paper and in our prose, we are frozen forever in that moment which we give. A good letter just always means more than a nice text or a print screen of something funny. You can even add bright stickers or post cards to personalise things more.</span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Make Plans + Visit</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Having a bucket list for when you get back can give you plenty to look forward to. Mine is currently focused around everything I want us to do for Christmas and winter - it's going to be so much fun, especially the baking (I miss my oven!) and movie watching. Though something I really hope I am here for in the Netherlands is the skating on natural ice. Plus the snow because seeing a place like that is always strange and magical.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">You will also of course want to visit each other. To keep it fair, try to take it in turns so that no one is spending irrationally and there is plenty of time to save up money for other things such as travelling, savings and further education beyond your undergrad. Make your visits special too. Whilst you will be used to where you are living, your family member or boyfriend/girlfriend might not so really cater to this with another mini bucket list of places they might want to see and things you would like to do together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Love is love is love - distance can never separate it or draw it apart if you are determined to make things work. Keep caring, keep working hard to achieve all of your dreams in balance and you can never fail</span><span style="color: #152b3c; font-family: "Campus Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">.</span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="background-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span></div>
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-26777566513073503692017-09-01T02:58:00.005-07:002017-09-01T02:58:41.029-07:002. Erasmus Diary - Allergies + Living AbroadOne of the biggest challenges so far about living in a country where there is a different language spoken and at the forefront of the culture, would definitely have to be handling my allergy. <b>Growing up with an allergy means that you adjust to have many different qualities ahead of your age,</b> such as responsibility for what you do or don't eat, knowing how to handle an emergency and being aware of just how serious the consequences can be. But even with this skill set, being able to consistently find suitable food in a different country is proving quite the eye opener.<br />
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Not only is <b>there very little in the way of similar products to back home</b> (in fact, sometimes ingredients from familiar products can be slightly different depending on where in the world you are) but the<b> food products here are either A. Fresh </b>(which is not usually an option due to cross contamination) or <b>B. Packaged with ingredients in any language other than English. </b>This means that when I am checking food, not only do I have to try and check in Dutch but then I have to back up this with the other languages. <b>Every time I buy a product, I am essentially checking food in Dutch, German and French. </b>French is the one I feel the most comfortable with and has, literally, been the biggest life saver since my arrival. I am starting to settle into this habit now, but still it frazzles my brain to be doing so many mini translations throughout the day!<br />
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My kitchen here, as with all of the student accommodation in this region, <b>does not have an oven for some reason.</b> Instead we have microwaves and hobs which means there are limited options to work with. This is both a good and a bad thing. It is bad because it is limiting of course, but oddly positive in that it has provided me with a place to begin experimenting. <b>Dishes such as pasta and rice etc can prove excellent grounds for beginning to put together the perfect meal</b> which has meant I haven't ever needed to go hungry as of yet and shouldn't need to either. My flat mates are also very clean and friendly which means that so long as I clean and clear up properly when preparing and making my meals, there is no trouble using the kitchen.<div>
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<b>Here in the Netherlands, healthy eating is very popular.</b> Because of this there is no shortage of different vegetables and fruits to add to dishes to give them that extra something. Since I've gotten here, I've probably eaten more tomatoes then I ever have in my life because they just taste so much fresher overall as well as being at a low cost making them super affordable in the grand scheme of groceries. Another example of money saving health foods which are suitable for allergy sufferers would be the <b>salad and fruit juice options. </b>Firstly salads: at the university shop we can take our own tupperware and pay just to fill it up with salad. This is a similar approach with juice. <b>Most stores here have orange juice machines which freshly squeeze however much juice you want to refill your bottle with.</b> This is great for the environment too - less packaging being thrown away or scattered as litter results in a happy planet and a cheaper price for an equally happy customer. </div>
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So as you can see, <b>whilst it has been proving a challenge I am still beginning to experiment and branch out further from my initial comfort zone in order to see what will work for me and my allergy. </b>In this sort of situation I always start out feeling a little low because it is easy to give up after the first try and go hungry. <b>But with patience and time, you'll soon find that adapting is not as difficult or as scary as the allergy part of you will scream out every time you so much as head into a supermarket. </b>To be honest, it makes me a better and a braver person in all elements of my life. I like to think of it as my own personal super power/kryptonite sort of deal; Just call me Bat Man.</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></span><br />
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Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8097982557732621279.post-40095783588575193472017-09-01T02:12:00.000-07:002017-09-01T02:12:50.776-07:001. Student Reads September <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A project I've been working on over this summer is starting my own mini book club. More than anything it has so far been an opportunity for me to share some of the content that I have learnt about literary analysis (in the forms of a monthly review) with those such as yourself who are looking into whether or not this is the degree subject for you. Especially with reading being such a popular summer activity, it seemed a good idea to put this into practice now when the holiday is feeding into the new academic year and some important decisions will be coming up in the months ahead for those of you who are considering applying to university. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Many of you will not yet know your future reading lists or might be looking for something university appropriate to read during your free time. If this is the case and sounds like something you would be interested in, all you need is a copy of the book to read along and at the end of the month there will be a post with some further literary analysis of the text, a discussion of some of my own ideas in relation to the themes and a few other comments which will (if all goes to plan) allow you to see into the mind of a student heading into the second year of studying literature at undergraduate level. I don't know everything about the subject yet mind you (and with the number of books available it is unlikely that I ever will) but for me, literature is an open conversation and the best part of it is sharing ideas. Having that collaborative conversation and exchanging all of those ideas is something that I, as an individual, am extremely passionate about.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">This month our student read will be <i>MoonCop </i>by Tom Gauld.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRk0eEpiMYNKYB_B-g0FTIVWcRETcL3SNJDRdAZxTzSI2WKAPq9R52t-eX-t0FVmF_bDXoXWYmHTb9yp8nM9PPgYsknbKgbk8DqgKfGvJceN4Lt1SbUJ4qaCDWZPN2LtrYRuNdJ3RRT9H/s1600/mooncop.cover-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="623" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRk0eEpiMYNKYB_B-g0FTIVWcRETcL3SNJDRdAZxTzSI2WKAPq9R52t-eX-t0FVmF_bDXoXWYmHTb9yp8nM9PPgYsknbKgbk8DqgKfGvJceN4Lt1SbUJ4qaCDWZPN2LtrYRuNdJ3RRT9H/s400/mooncop.cover-thumb.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Published 2016</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So far in this book club, we have invested in reading standard works of fiction and non-fiction alike surrounding topics such as satire, friendship, magic, philosophy and the influence of the environment in which something takes place/is set. It seemed fitting that our next move be to a graphic novel. This is a genre which I feel is still making it's way into the literary canon for, whilst I studied some content surrounding Alison Bechdel's <i>Fun Home </i>last year at York St. John, it still seems that not everyone takes it seriously. The reality is that analysing graphic novels is one of the most complex forms of analysis you can perform because it is constantly necessary to be an active reader and to see how images connect, to note the links and to somehow draw up your analysis with the best word choice; Ironic since there are very few words in this format. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Another reason I picked this one is because, not only do I want to get you all to appreciate graphic novels and love them as much as I do, it is a fairly short read even once you start to pick apart the content. The beginning of the academic year is busy enough, but having something short to read on the side lines that you can take on the bus or the tube or the tram can be a comfort. I know it always makes me feel better to know that something of worth has been done during that travel time. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>MoonCop </i>is a story which focuses in on the protagonist of the same name as he wanders across the surface of the moon attempting to prevent crime. But here it seems the golden age of life in space has passed and everyone is moving home to Earth (the opposite of Wall.E) so not only are crime rates incredibly low but our hero is also very lonely. Because of this, for most people it will prove that there is more to the space environment than purely stock science fiction where there are good guys and bad guys and people fight aliens. It is far from stereotypical and that is what makes it so striking, because this goes against the suggestion of the title and the initial blurb. There are fun antics, philosophical questions and a powerful use of illustration to put into images what exactly it is to feel isolated and to be (in this case literally) the only person on the planet. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">As someone who is very much a fan of all things space-related, this is most likely going to be a read I am a big fan of. I hope that you find the same in your case and as you read, please do feel free to keep me updated on your thoughts and ideas; You can leave them in the comments below. For now, as another famous film astronaut would say, <i>To infiinity and beyond! </i>Student reads will be back with a review later this month.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Thank-you for all your support and comments. It is a fantastic thing to be able to help answer any of your questions and to share my adventure with all of you. It makes my day every day!</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span>
<span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you like, you can click<a href="https://www.ucas.com/connect/blogs/voting" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #00468a;" target="_blank"> here</a> to vote for me as Blogger of the month. Thank-you!</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span><br />
Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09022135205712751178noreply@blogger.com0