Tuesday 1 December 2015

Accord Ecole de Langues / Paris II

La première raison pour laquelle j'ai visité la France était pour améliorer mon français, parce que je vais enseigner le français et l'anglais au Maroc de mars à septembre 2016. En vue de faire ça, j'ai décidé d'assister à un école de langues.

L'année dernière, mon collège à Cambridge m'a donnée un peu d'argent pour que je puisse aller en France pour assister à Accord École de Langues ce qui est un école pour apprendre le français à Paris. J'ai passé une semaine là-bas et cette année j'ai décidé d'y retourner mais pour trois semaines.

Je me suis bien amusée à Accord. La plupart des cours ont lieu le matin et la structure des cours dépendent du prof. Pendant mon séjour j'ai eu quelques profs différents qui ont utilisé les styles variables d'enseigner...un jour il y a eu une qui nous a donnés des extraits d'un livre qui s'appelle 'Notes de chevet'. Ce livre vient du Japon du XIe siècle et c'est le journal intime d'une femme bourgeoise qui n'a écrit que de listes. Puis, la prof nous a encouragés à écrire une liste de listes...voilà un extrait de la mienne:

1. des choses qui nous rendent heureux et tristes en même temps
2. des lieux où je veux visiter
3. les meilleurs moments de ma vie
4. des celebres que je voudrais inviter chez moi

Dans les autres classes, nous avons étudié la grammaire, la culture, l'orale et l'écoute. L'après-midi il y avait des ateliers sur des aspects de la langue spécifiés comme la grammaire, le français des affaires et la préparation pour les examens. Personellement je ne les ai pas trouvés vraiment utiles. Je préférais passer mes après-midis en visitant des sites culturels.

Laquelle est votre aspect préféré de la langue?

À plus!

Sunday 22 November 2015

La Grande Mosquee, Paris






Salut !

Voilà mon premier blog sur mon séjour à Paris !

Je suis restée à Paris pendant trois semaines avec une famille dans le 11e arrondissement en Octobre. J’y ai étudié le français chez Accord Ecole de Langues le matin mais l’après-midi était libre pour que je pusse explorer la ville !

Le premier lundi j’ai décidé de visiter la Grande Mosquée avec ma copine (si vous ne savez pas, la Mosquée est le bâtiment religieux pour les musulmans), parce qu’on m’a dit qu’elle était belle et qu’il y avait un salon de thé là-bas. La Mosquée elle-même était vraiment intéressante – les sols et les murs était mosaïqués, il y avait plein de dessins géométriques et une bibliothèque qui était remplie de livres soit en arabe soit sur apprendre l’arabe. C’était amusant pour moi parce que j’ai pu comprendre les titres et j’y ai vu mon livre universitaire. Puis on est allées au salon de thé. On est assises dans le petit jardin couvert où habitaient des oiseux et on a pris un thé à menthe sucré et du baklava – vraiment délicieux ! Je me suis amusée tellement bien !

Si vous pouvez visiter Paris, ou iriez-vous premièrement ?
A plus !
Verity

Saturday 19 September 2015

Fundraising for Morocco

Gagner de l'argent, c'est difficile n'est-ce que pas? Avant de partir l'Angleterre pour voyager au Maroc, il faut que je trouve un peu d'argent pour que je ne sois pas complètement pauvre pendant mon année à l'étranger, surtout parce que je dois payer pour mon boulot bénévole...c'est un peu bizarre je sais mais l'association caritative avec qui je travaillerai est très petite et donc elle ne peut pas payer pour tout...mes vols, mon logement, mes études, la formation, ma nourriture etc. 

Therefore I have had to think of some ways to fundraise. While I will still receive (a slightly elevated!) student loan and support from my parents, which will more than cover my food, fees for my study placement in Rabat and my flights, I still have to raise £3900 to pay for my food, accommodation, training and a small donation to Moroccan Children's Trust (MCT) for my voluntary placement with them.

Luckily, MCT have been super helpful and sent over some advice on fundraising and I have a friend who has just returned from a voluntary placement in the Philippines so she has been able to give me lots of advice. 

Firstly, I set up a justgiving page to a) encourage family and friends to donate and b) keep track of how my fundraising is going, which can be found in the menu bar of this page (hint hint hehe). Unfortunately, while my friends and family have been super generous, this will not be enough to reach my target. Therefore I have also contacted many different important members of the community, such as the Chief Constable, local solicitors and heads of local businesses to ask for their advice as to any grant giving organisations I can apply to. They have been incredibly helpful and in fact the £400 grant which I have already received is from Nelsonspirit which was recommended to me through one of these connections. I have also taken up some sponsored tuition jobs. This means I tutor in French for one hour a week and my tutees, instead of paying directly to me, agree to give a donation of £20 to my fundraising effort. Through this I estimate I have raised around £200. Finally, I am now looking a grant giving organisations and charities and making applications. There are a few search engines online to help you find appropriate organisations and MCT give advice on how to write application letters, making this process really simple. 


Merci à tous pour avoir lu cet article! J'ai déjà gagné plus que £1000 et j'espère que je pourrai gagner en plus! 

A plus! 

Verity 

🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷

Thursday 13 August 2015

Cruelty Free Reviews II



I've recently become more interested in make up again and so have been experimenting with lots of cosmetics and toiletries which are cruelty free! These come from four main brands: Soap and Glory, Superdrug own brands, Lush and Barry M.

Superdrug Own Brands


48 hours Antiperspirant Deodorant

To be honest, I have no idea if this lasts for 48 hours...however, I can tell you that it lasts through an energetic 9 to 5 job working with kids. It has a gentle smell which does not become overwhelming with sweat (does anyone else get that when they sweat?) 
Four out of five stars. 

-

BB Eye Cream in Light 


This has a brush head and you have to squeeze the tube to get the cream out. Its nice and light, but still gives good coverage. Works great as a primer before concealer. 
Four out five stars.

-

Conditioning Cuticle Oil Pen 


Makes it super easy to push your cuticles back and leaves them in beautiful condition.
Four out of five stars. 

-

Witch Hazel Mud Mask


Works so well! It leaves your skin feeling so pure and clean. Only slight downside - if I'm having a sensitive skin day it feels a little overly tingly and leaves my skin looking a little red. 
Four out of five stars. 


Simply Pure Moisturiser for Sensitive Skin


I personally haven't tested the SPF of this because I need a higher SPF as I burn crazily easily! This is incredibly calming, no fragrance and very hydrating.

Four out of five stars.

-

Simply Pure Cleansing Face Mask


A good daily face mask, but if you're having a really bad break out, you'll need something stronger.
Three out of five stars.

-

Elegant Touch Protective Nail Glue 

Keeps fake nails on reasonably well, but leaves nails in really bad condition! I used this several weeks ago and it's still stuck to my nails, even though the nails came off after about a week.
Three out of five stars.

-

Vitamin E Refreshing Toning Mist

Smells nice and feels nice, but to be honest, I don't really feel like it does much!
Two out of five stars.

-

Nourishing Creme Bath 

Smells great, foams reasonably well, leaves skin feeling soft. 
Three out of five.

-

Simply Pure Foaming Cleanser 

Little fragrance, great for sensitive skin. Lathers very nicely, great for taking off face masks, but still very soft on the skin. Absolutely love this product.
Four out of five.

-

B. Pure Micellar Water

No fragrance and good for sensitive skin. It does occasionally sting my eyes if they're having a sensitive day. 
Four out of five.

-

Make Up Artist Nail Polishes 

I'm pretty sure this brand is owned by Superdrug. These nail polishes apply really well. However they feel cheap, as they chip really easily. The top coat takes on the colour of your other nail polish as you apply and it doesn't really protect it. 
Two out of five stars.

-

Soap And Glory 


Soap and Glory Scent 

I was so excited to find a cruelty free perfume as I love perfume but have yet to find a brand that is cruelty free. This stuff is very cheap (think this medium sized bottle was £15). I think it's eau de toilette based. It smells great - very similar to other Soap and Glory products, but it doesn't last on the skin very long - only a couple of hours.  
Four out of five stars.

-

Kick Ass Concealer

This product is a 3-in-1. It contains an illuminating under eye concealer, facial concealer and a setting powder. Both work well and don't crease up and the setting powder is a lovely touch and great for use if you don't want to use an all over facial powder. 
Four out five stars. 

-

Kick Ass Stick Concealer

I was actually quite disappointed by this product. The lightest shade is very yellowy and doesn't suit my skin tone. It doesn't offer very coverage and yet is is very greasy and heavy and creases really easily. I bought it for use on my under eyes, but I really hate it. I didn't even finish this product up, which is unusual because I hate waste. 
One out of five stars. 

-

Supercat Eyeliner Pen 


I love this product. It has a felt-tip style nib, which is great for my super-sensitive eyelids. You don't need to constantly refill which is great and it lasts for ages. I also find that it stays on my lids really well, though it does take a little while to set. I've already repurchased it.
Five out of five stars. 

-

The Righteous Butter

I really like the scent of this, but despite marketing itself as being for very dry skin, I don't actually find it very hydrating.
Three out of five stars. 

-

Thick and Fast Mascara

I like this product a lot. It's pretty good at being both volumising and lengthening, but it doesn't do either to an extreme. It stays on really well and gives a lovely natural look. The colour is really dark as well. Takes a while to dry though which can lead to smudges and can be a little clumpy after a while.
Four out of five stars. 

-

Lush

Fun Bar



I only have this product to mention at the moment, although I do love their products. However I find them a little pricey. My fiancé bought this for me as a treat as we recently moved close to a Lush Store. It lasts for AGES as you only have to uses a tiny pinch. It feels like playdough and can be used in the bath or shower. It has a lovely citrusy scent. 
Four out of five.

-

Jessica Fusion - Base Coat


Works really well, goes on very easily and doesn't smell too strongly. I also bought some fast dry drops from this brand, but they didn't really work at all. This product is a little pricey and hard to find, but it lasts a very long time.
Four out of five stars (one out of five for the fast dry drops)

-

E.L.F Pan Stick in Apricot 


This product is great. It lasts ages, it smells of apricots, the colour really suits my skin tone, it's very cheap (I think this was £2), it goes on very easily and has great coverage. However you can only order it online.
Four out of five stars.

Barry M



Natural Glow Eyeshadow Palette 2

This palette contains loads of great natural colours, as well as an eyelid primer. The colours are very pigmented and the primer works really well, however once you've used it for a while, the primer gets a little clumpy. 
Four out of five stars. 

-

Dazzle Dust - Old Gold 

This product lasts for ages. I think I've had this pot for two years at least. It seems a little pricey because it's about £4 for a tiny pot, but it does last for ages. It's very sparkly and glittery,however it does rub off and smudge quite easily. It creates a great look though.
Four out of five stars.

-

Barry M Nail Polishes 



I absolutely love Barry M nail polishes. The colours are great, they apply really well, they don't have too bad a smell and they don't chip when used with a good top and base coat. However, I would say the new Sunset Gel look UV set range aren't worth the extra money- they look exactly the same as the others. 
Four out of five stars. 

-

Flawless Matte Powder


Does what it says on the tin. Colour suits my skin tone and it does a reasonably good job at mattifying my shiny patches. Nothing special. 
Three out of five stars. 

-

Afterglow Light Bronzer

A very good bronzer, goes on well (perhaps too well as its very easy to put too much on!). Possibly slightly orange in tone. Great for pale skin though.
Three out of five stars.


And that's all folks!







Monday 20 July 2015

Je me présente!


----

Hello! I'm 21 years old and I'm a student at Cambridge University, reading French and Arabic. I've just finished my second year and so next year is my Year Abroad. I will be studying and working voluntarily in Morocco. Currently, I am living with my fiancé in a small flat in Norwich and I work part-time as a teacher of English, Drama and French. My hobbies include drama, reading, writing, watching TV, listening to music, sewing, knitting and art. I love spending time with my family, going on walks and travelling. This year, I am going to Italy twice and Paris once. I had a gap year and spent it doing drama, reading for pleasure, working in a theatre and working in a shop at Christmas.

I look forward to sharing my year abroad with you!

----

Coucou! j'ai 21 ans et je suis étudiante de français et arabe à l'université de Cambridge. Je viens de finir ma deuxième année et donc l'année prochaine c'est mon année à l'étranger. J'étudierai et je travaillerai en Maroc. Actuellement, j'habite avec mon fiancé dans un petit appartement à Norwich et je travaille à temps partiel comme prof d'anglais, de l'art dramatique et de français. Mes loisirs sont: l'art dramatique, la lecture, l'écriture, regarder la télévision, écouter de la musique, la couture, tricoter et l'art. J'adore dépenser de temps avec ma famille, faire la promenade et voyager. Cette année, je vais aller en Italie deux fois et Paris une fois. J'ai pris une année de césure et je l'ai dépensé en faisant de l'art dramatique, en lisant pour plaisir, en travaillant dans une théâtre et en travaillant dans un magasin pendant la période de Noël.

J'ai hâte de partager mon année à l'étranger avec vous tous! 

Friday 2 January 2015

52 Books in 2014

Last year I set myself the challenge of reading 52 books (so, one a week) and I actually managed it (with one extra, though many were plays/poems/etc...)! The books, in order of date read are: 

1) Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe - Jenny Coglan 
2) Les Amours - Pierre de Ronsard
3) Le Bel Inconnu - Renaut de Beaujeu 
4) This Star Won't Go Out - Esther Earl 
5) The Happy Housewife - Heleen van Royen 
6) Thursdays in the Park - Hilary Boyd 
7) Le bleu est une couleur chaude - Julie Maroh 
8) Frog Music - Emma Donoghue 
9) Central Cambridge: A Guide to the University and Colleges - Kevin Taylor 
10) A Little Love Song - Michelle Magorian 
11) The Fault in Our Stars - John Green 
12) Let It Snow - John Green 
13) All My Friends are Dead - Avery Monsen 
14) My Mother Said I Never Should - Charlotte Keatley 
15) Phaedra - Jean Racine 
16) Bluestockings - Jane Robinson 
17) Kimberly's Capital Punishment - Richard Milward 
18) Fifty Shades Darker - E.L James 
19) Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy - Helen Fielding 
20) A Tiny Bit Marvellous - Dawn French 
21) Oh Dear Silvia - Dawn French 
22) You're the One That I Want - Giovanna Fletcher 
23) A Room of One's Own - Virginia Woolf 
24) The Infinite Gift - Charles Yang 
25) Tiny Sunbirds Far Away - Christie Watson 
26) Wedding Night - Sophie Kinsella 
27) 1000 Years of Annoying the French - Stephen Clarke 
28) Call the Midwife - Jennifer Worth 
29) Mrs Dalloway - Virginia Woolf 
30) Ourika - Claire de Duras 
31) Where Have All the Boys Gone? - Jenny Coglan 
32) The Complete Maus - Art Speigelman 
33) Bridget Jones's Diary - Helen Fielding 
34) Atonement - Ian McEwan 
35) French Lessons - Ellen Sussman 
36) A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing - Eimear McBride 
37) Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides 
38)  Christmas with Billy and Me - Giovanna Fletcher 
39) Billy and Me - Giovanna Fletcher 
40) La folle journée ou le mariage de figaro - Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais 
41) Everyday Sexism - Laura Bates 
42) The Christmas Truce - Carol Ann Duffy 
43) Mrs Scrooge - Carol Ann Duffy 
44) Bethlehem: A Christmas Poem - Carol Ann Duffy 
45) Not That Kind of Girl - Lena Dunham 
46) The Christmas Mystery - Jostein Gaarder 
47) L'éducation sentimentale - Gustave Flaubert 
48) Wenceslas: A Christmas Poem - Carol Ann Duffy 
49) Another Night Before Christmas - Carol Ann Duffy 
50) A Child's Christmas in Wales - Dylan Thomas 
51) Le barbier de Séville ou la précaution inutile - Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais 
52) Pugs in Costumes 
53) The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas - Tom Fletcher 

100 Films of 2014...


Every year for the last couple of years I have set myself the challenge of reading 50 books and watching 100 films. I may have somewhat failed on the films...(though did succeed on the books!) In case you're interested, here are the films I watched in 2014...(bold means it was the first time I had seen it)

  1. Anchorman (2004) – Adam McKay
  2. Disgrace (2008) – Steve Jacobs
  3. The Room (2003) – Tommy Wiseau
  4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – Stephen Chbosky
  5. Intouchables (2011) – Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano
  6. This is the End (2013) – Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg
  7. The Great Gatsby (2012) – Baz Luhrman
  8. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001) – Chris Columbus 
  9. Little Voice (1998) - Mark Herman 
  10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2003) - Chris Columbus
  11. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) - Blake Edwards
  12. Did You Hear About the Morgans? (2009) - Marc Lawrence 
  13. Moulin Rouge (2001) - Baz Luhrman 
  14. Tomboy (2011) - Céline Sciamma 
  15. 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) - Gil Jungey 
  16. Like Crazy (2011) - Drake Doremus  
  17. After Porn Ends (2010) - Bruce Wagoner 
  18. Morning Glory (2010) - Roger Michell 
  19. The Magdalene Sisters (2002) - Peter Mullan 
  20. Anita and Me (2002) - Metin Hüseyin 
  21. Strangers on a Train (1951) - Alfred Hitchcock 
  22. Cléo de 5 à 7 (1963) - Agnès Varda 
  23. Breathe In (2013) - Drake Doremus 
  24. The Bling Ring (2013) - Sofia Coppola
  25. Love Me if You Dare (2003) - Yann Samuell 
  26. Jeune et Jolie (2013) - François Ozon 
  27. The Artist (2011) - Michel Hazanavicius
  28. Muppets Most Wanted (2014) - James Bobin  
  29. Clueless (1995) - Amy Heckerling 
  30. My Best Friend's Girl (2008) - Howard Deutch 
  31. Friends with Kids (2011) - Jennifer Westfeldt 
  32. Warm Bodies (2013) - Jonathon Levine 
  33. Crazy Stupid Love (2011) - Glenn Ficarra, John Requa 
  34. History Boys (2006) - Nicholas Hytner
  35. Eat, Pray, Love (2010) - Ryan Murphy 
  36. Rachel Getting Married (2008) - Jonathan Demme  
  37. The Notebook (2004) - Nick Cassavetes 
  38. My Sister's Keeper (2009) - Nick Cassavetes 
  39. The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) - Robert Schwentke 
  40. Blue Murder at St Trinians (1957) - Frank Launder 
  41. 101 Dalmatians (1961) Wolfgang Reitherman, Hamilton Luske, Clyde Geronomi 
  42. Frozen (2013) - Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee 
  43. The Fault in Our Stars (2014) - Josh Boone 
  44. Saving Mr Banks (2014) - John Lee Hancock 
  45. Lovelace (2013) - Rob Epstein, Jefferey Friedman 
  46. Sunshine on Leith (2013) - Dexter Fletcher
  47. Ratatouille (2007) - Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava 
  48. Her (2013) - Spike Jonze
  49. Philomena (2013) - Stephen Frears 
  50. Catching Fire (2013) - Francis Lawrence 
  51. Begin Again (2014) - John Carney 
  52. The Lego Movie (2014) - Phil Lord, Christopher Miller 
  53. Boyhood (2014) - Richard Linklater 
  54. The Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) - James Gunn
  55. August: Osage County (2013) - John Wells 
  56. The Inbetweeners 2 (2014) 
  57. The World's End (2012) - Edgar Wright
  58. Mary Poppins (1964) - Robert Stevenson 
  59. A Long Way Down (2014) - Pascal Chaumeil 
  60. Brief Encounter (1945) - David Lean 
  61. The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) - Jim Sharman 
  62. Beauty and the Beast (1991) - Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise
  63. Pocahontas (1995) - Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg 
  64. Remember Sunday (2013) - Jeff Bleckner
  65. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) - Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise 
  66. Tarzan (1991) - Chris Buck, Kevin Lima 
  67. Anastasia (1997) - Don Bluth, Gary Goldman 
  68. Supersize Me (2004) - Morgan Spurlock 
  69. Nativity (2009) - Debbie Isitt 
  70. Just Like Heaven (2005) - Mark Waters
  71. The Aristocats (1970) - Wolfgang Reithermann  
  72. 9 to 5 (1980) - Colin Higgins 
  73. Love Actually (2003) - Richard Curtis 
  74. Paddington (2014) - Paul King 
  75. Lady and the Tramp (1955) - Clyde Geronomi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamiliton Luske 
  76. What We Do in the Shadows (2014) - Jermaine Clement and Taika Wakiki