Le Sahara

Ce week-end je suis allée au sahara avec trois amis. C'était une très bonne façon de se réposer, de s'amuser et de voir un nouvel endroit au Maroc! 

On a décidé de payer pour un guide pour deux jours mais parce que le sahara est assez loin de Taroudante et le tour allait commencer tôt le samedi matin, on a pris un grand taxi (c'est un taxi qui prend une certaine route d'une ville à une autre) le vendredi soir après le travail et on est resté dans un hôtel à Ourzazate dans une chambre pour quatre. Ce n'était pas trop cher et c'était comme si on faisait une soirée de pyjama comme quand on était petits! Le voyage jusqu'à Ourzazate était assez facile, mais un peu long et on a dû changer du taxi parce que notre chauffeur est rapidement tombé malade! Mais on est arrrivé vers 22h et on a exploré un peu la ville pour trouver quelque chose à manger avant de se coucher. 

Le matin, on a déjeuné à l'hôtel puis notre guide nous a rejoint. Il s'appellait Houssin et il était trop amusant - il ne parlait qu'en français et arabe (darija) et il nous a raconté beaucoup d'histoires et de blagues et d'énigmes y compris celui-ci: 

C'est quoi qui est vert dans la nature, noir au magasin et rouge dans la cuisine? 

Si vous pouvez deviner, laissez un comment et je vais envoyer une carte postale au premier élève qui a la bonne réponse! 

Houssin connaissait tant de choses sur le sahara et le paysage et les villes et c'était tellement intéressant. Il nous a montré la rue de 1000 kasbahs (on l'a nommée comme ça parce qu'il y a autant de kasbahs!), la gorge de todgha, la vallée draâ et beaucoup de choses additionnelles! 

Notre route était plus ou moins comme ça:

À Merzouga on a laissé la voiture et on a monté les dromadaires! C'était incroyable! Je n'ai jamais fait quelque chose comme ça mais j'encouragerais n'importe qui à le faire. Au début ça me faisait peur parce que je ne savais pas comment le faire, mais après environ 20 minutes je l'ai trouvé très relaxant! Les dromadaires étaient (pour la plupart) très bien comportés, très sages et très gentils, mais je dois avouer que ça faisait mal aux fesses et aux jambes! À vrai dire, j'ai toujours mal aux cuisses! On a voyagé pendant une heure et demi pour arriver à un tent berbère où on a passé la nuit. On a mangé avec les berbères, bu du "whiskey des berbères" (le thé à la menthe) et joué à la batterie ensemble. Puis on a regardé les étoiles (njoom en darija. C'était dommage qu'il y avait quelques nuages donc on ne pouvait pas les voir clairement, mais quand même elles étaient belles) et puis on a dormi. Le lendemain on est retourné à Taroudante. 

C'était un séjour merveilleux. J'ai trop appris, trop vu et j'ai parlé beaucoup de français et de darija. Je me sentais vraiment à l'aise et je ne vais jamais l'oublier. 

À la prochaine!

Sitting the Cambridge Tripos

Ok, so once you get over the hilarity that the Cambridge exam is called the tripos, because of the tiny little three-legged stool students had to sit on to take their exams orally way back when, you begin to realise that it's actually quite a daunting process. And among the myriad of reasons why it's daunting, for me the most daunting is how different it is from GCSEs and 'A' levels. And as I sat my first tripos exam today, it seemed like the most appropriate time to assess these differences.

1. It is not moderated by a nationwide body. 
These means that it is very likely that you will you know your examiner. However, unless you are one hundred per cent sure, this is probably not worth bearing in mind, as all your papers are anonymous and it's probably going to be marked by several examiners. So the best thing to do is forget that your supervisor might be the one reading it and relax.

The fact that it's not moderated by a nationwide body may also mean that the exam is tweaked every year. It's best to ask your supervisor or whoever is teaching you to let you know as soon as possible how the tripos has changed, so that when you come to look at past papers, you'll know which bits are going to be useful for you. However, as your teachers may not be setting your exam, they may not be sure, and even if the are setting it, they may not do so until Lent Term.

2. You are unlikely to be given mark schemes until late in the year.
If, like me, you were trained to love mark schemes at A2, then you may want to consider asking your teacher early on if you can access them. If they are not forthcoming, then you could ask someone in the year above you who is doing your subject where you can access them. It is probably worth doing this, because it'll let you know exactly what your examiners will be looking for, but you shouldn't get too hung up on it, because there is no generalised mark scheme for the paper, but an individual one for each year. It may also be worth reading examiner's reports.

3. You may not be given much information about the exam until Easter term.
This can be frustrating as for 'A' levels and GCSEs, you are spoon fed the information about the exam and taught to jump through hoops. In some ways it's a good thing, because it encourages you to enjoy your education more broadly and not just learn information to regurgitate in an exam. However, it may be useful to look at a couple of exam papers in Michaelmas term in order to guide how you work during the year. For example, if I had known that my exam paper for Arabic would involve working out verb forms, I would have kept a tab of all the verb forms we encountered during the year. However, if you are prone to panic, I would suggest you do NOT look up the exams before Lent term...they can be a little frightening, particularly if you are studying a subject ab initio (from beginner's).

4. In your first (and potentially second) year, these exams count for very little. 
Not that I'm saying you shouldn't work hard, because of course you should. But going from 'A' levels, where your exams were super important, because you had to get into Cambridge/a university of your choice, it may be hard to believe these exams, they count for very little. Yes, you are expected to work hard. Yes, you are expected to do well. Yes, a third is not considered well at Cambridge (not to demean a third at all in anyway, this is just Cambridge standards.) But you are very unlikely to get a third. Cambridge is hard to get into for a reason. But even if you were to, it is not the end of the world, Cambridge has many options to help you get passed that. And really, in your first year, all is required of you is to pass. Which is an odd place to be in when you're so used to pushing yourself to your limit. But I recommend you don't in first year. Yes, work hard, revise hard, don't procrastinate. But do put your mental health first and allow yourself a life. Make sure you get the work-life balance right and enjoy your time at Cambridge. And how can we do that? Set yourself curfews and boundaries; mine is that I am not allowed to work after 9pm.

Obviously there are many, many other differences, but I think these are the main ones. When it comes to exam preparation, the best advice I can give you is to relax, work hard but give yourself lots of breaks, prepare for the exams as far in advance as you can and finally, try to enjoy them!!

My Literary Canon

This week saw the second in a series of Critical Theory seminars that I am obliged to attend as part of my course. Despite my slight lack of enthusiasm for them, due to their part in my being late to dinner and potentially missing the best food, so far I have found them very interesting and amusing.

In preparation for this week's seminar, we were asked to read the introduction to Terry Eagleton's book, Literary Theory: An Introduction, which suggests that "We can begin, by raising the question: what is literature?" before even attempting to criticise literature. Once I got over the excitement at being given the incredibly meta task of reading an introduction of an introduction, I knuckled down and got thinking about what literature means.

In my mind, there are two forms of literature: Literature and literature. 

The latter is simply defined by being the written word, regardless of whether it is fiction or non-fiction, published or un-published, "good" or "bad." As long as it contains words (of any language) on some sort of page/screen/wall etc. then in my mind it is literature, as it can be read. And I think it is important to establish this idea in the minds of others, as to my mind ALL reading is good reading. Too many people shrug away the idea of becoming a reader, because it seems to stuffy/difficult/highbrow/posh/intellectual...when actually we are all readers. Whether you've devoured all the classics, like to read the occasional Glamour or simply glance over the ingredients on your cereal packet each morning, we are all readers. Which is good. Reading increases knowledge and also increases your desire for knowledge. And knowledge is power and knowledge means engaging with the outside world and caring about what is out there. 

The former, Literature, with a capital L, is what we as a society commonly believe to be literature. That is, a written work that is most likely fiction, although sometimes this loose definition also includes poetry, dramatic texts and non-fiction, in the forms of autobiography, biography and philosophy, and also a work that has, for some reason, been deemed to be worthy of reading. This could be because it is on a particular subject matter, comes from a particular place (most "Literature", as you may have already noticed, is written by dead white men), but for the most part it usually contains a display of supposed mastery of the literary technique. Therefore, you can enjoy and learn from a book, without actually liking it. 

However, while I do see the merits of Literature, I do think that it is an out-dated way of looking at the world of writing and can also be poisonous. It can encourage people to stick at reading books they don't enjoy, which could potential stress them or put them off reading and it can also discourage others from reading altogether as they think that it's "not for them."

As part of our seminar, we were asked to list 13 examples of literature that we would give to a martian if he turned up right now and said "I have just arrived on earth, took a look in Waterstones and I am very confused about literature. What is literature?" Of course, most of the works and authors we chose were from a literary canon that our society impresses on us as some of the finest works of literature; Shakespeare, Simone de Beauvoir, Homer, The Bible...but this got me thinking. Surely we all have our own, personal literary canon? That is, a group of books that we have enjoyed, even loved and that have changed our lives. With this in mind, here are my 13 books that would be in my canon if I wanted to show a martian (or anyone willing to listen, really) what literature means to me:

A Little Love Song by Michelle Magorian.  
This one is an obvious choice for me, as it is without a doubt the book that I have read the most times. I discovered it when I was far too young for it, fell in love with the story, even if I didn't understand some of the more grown up parts. Despite not having particular literary flair, it is written competently and has a timeless story that draws me back to it again and again. And as it was something I picked up at a very young age, it feels as familiar as an old friend. 

Lolita by Vladimir Nabakov 
This was probably the first book to show me that you could at once disgust and entice me in a reading experience. The experience of reading it is so uncomfortable as you feel completely immersed in Humbert Humbert's brain, which is not a very nice place to be, and yet it is written in such a gorgeously poetic style that you can't help but be drawn in and what to know more. 

Havisham by Carol Ann Duffy
The poem that taught me the meaning of the world 'oxymoron', renewed my love for writing poetry and sparked my interest to read more poetry. It also introduced me to a darker side of literature that I had not really explored before.   

Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson 
A beautifully written, powerful story of the pains of growing up and how it feels to be cast out by your community for being different, made all the more heart-wrenching because of the beautifully metaphoric descriptions of the world of King Arthur and his lover, Lancelot. This sadness is further heightened by its belonging to the memoir genre. 

London Assurance by Dion Bouccicault 
A fine example of a Victorian farce. Not a particularly pleasant read, but reading it led to the most pleasurable acting experience I have ever had. 

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
One of the first classics I read and one of the first examples of literature where its genre is so strikingly obvious. I adored the elements of gothic and loved being able to hate the protagonists for the first time. 

This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin
One of the first poems I encountered with strong language, it also helped me to deal with a slightly tough situation that was going on at the time I read it. The poem shows us that usually people have the best intentions, even if it may not seem like it, and that you shouldn't judge others' imperfections, as they too have their own crosses to bear. 

The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy 
Such a simple poem and yet full of such meaning. I find its simplicity and obvious confusion so striking and feel it really encapsulates the character the poet wanted to portray. 

Room by Emma Donoghue 
Again, the simplicity is what makes this book. Donoghue tackles the difficulties of writing as a child head on and performs wonderfully. So interesting and so dark at the same time. 

The History of English in 100 Words by David Crystal 
The first non-fiction book I have read since horrible histories that really grabbed my attention and held my interest. It has encouraged me to seek out more non-fiction in my reading, as it is so informative, so well written and yet so readable!

Horrible Science Series by Nick Arnold 
The series of books that really sparked my interest in reading. As a child, I was precocious and did not understand the importance of reading. This series changed my mind. 

My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards 
A fantastic series of stories that I loved having read to me as a child. It still holds a very fond place in my heart, so much so that I bought them for my niece for Christmas. Fun, light and entertaining, yet still somewhat moralistic. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling 
Possibly the first book I decided wasn't worth finishing. Thanks Jo, for pointing out to me that just because everyone else liked it, didn't mean you had to and that it was ok not to force yourself to finish a book. 

Gosh, I really thought I was going to struggle to make it to 13 and yet I could still go on and on for pages about the books that have influenced my life (I won't, don't worry.) However, to finish up this post, someone honorable mentions:

Why We Broke Up - Daniel Hadler, The Fault in Our Stars - John Green, A Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde, The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory, Disgrace - J.M. Coetzee, Mates, Dates and...series - Cathy Hopkins, Dancing in my Nuddy Pants - Louise Rennison, Girl, Missing - Sophie Kinsella, Twilight - Stephanie Meyer, 50 Shades of Grey - E.L James, Pulling Princes - Tyne O'Connell, Love Lessons - Jacqueline Wilson, A Streetcat Named Bob - James Bowen and A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens. 

Please note: Books were not necessarily chosen because A) they are any good, B) I would recommend them or C) I actually liked them.

 

She's Leaving Home...

So here it is: my last few days at home before heading off this weekend to start my first year at Cambridge University.

I am very excited, but very nervous. I guess I should probably change the name of this blog!

I am currently sitting watching Downton Abbey with a blanket, my teddy bear and a warmed Beanie Buddy. And I am feel exhausted between the stress of moving, tying up loose ends and preparing for uni.

I've had books to read, grammar to revise, worksheets to complete, forms to fill in, packing to do, decisions to make...it's all been quite tiring really!

Anyway, that's all I have the energy for! Hopefully I'll be back with some insights into life as a Cambridge undergrad!

I am a Yes Girl

This blog has been a long time coming, but it feels very relevant now...

Back in 2011/2012, I read 'Yes Man' by Danny Wallace and it sounds cheesy, but I was really inspired by his message.

Now don't get me wrong, I have no grand ambitions to say yes to every single thing that someone asks me to do. For instance in the book, I found it bizarre, if not verging on irritating when he decided to travel all the way to Amsterdam in search of someone who asked him for his bank details over the internet. Now I'm not so naive as to not realise that the innocent tone in which he wrote that particular passage was intended to heighten his sarcasm and the hilarity of the situation. However, I am assuming that the book is founded mainly in truth, like a memoir, and therefore I cannot believe that someone would do something so stupid just because he decided to say yes to everything/because he thought it would make a good book. He must have wasted a lot of time and energy and if I were him, I would have found it more disheartening than enlightening.

However, the book did cause me to reflect upon how often I say no to things in my own life. This was particularly poignant back in 2011, when I was a stubborn 17 year old starting her A2 year, in a very new relationship. I suppose in a time of so much obligatory change, I wanted to do my best to keep control of my life by sticking to my guns, despite my opinions being questioned by my new boyfriend and by the changes in my life. For example, I believed I wanted to go to Cambridge University, but I never stopped to ask myself why. I just wanted to go because it was I always wanted. However, when I failed to get in and had to make the decision as to whether I wanted to reapply or not, I found I did want to go for reasons other than just because it was what I expected of myself.

As I am now, once again, facing a big change in my life (MOVING TO UNIVERSITY!), I think now is the time to try to undertake the challenge that tempted me two years ago...

I want to become....

a yes girl.

I want to start saying yes to more things. A few weeks ago, I worriedly asked my boyfriend if he thought I could get away without going clubbing when I'm at Uni, because when I've been once before I didn't particularly enjoy it. He basically told me in no uncertain terms that doing so would make me seem like a massive spoil sport and he reminded me that this is a time that I can try new things and really find out what makes Verity tick, because everything is subsidised and the kinds of people I'm going to be mixing with...well there is no specific kind of person! According to everyone I've spoken to who has been to university, it's a time when people are much less judgmental; I suppose because everyone is in the same boat, trying to find out who they are as an independent adult.

With this in mind, I don't want to say yes to everything. That would be incredibly impractical. However, I do want to say yes to more things, in particular things that I am afraid of or things that I think might not interest me. I have already started by deciding to take my bike with me to uni and bike to lectures, despite not having ridden a bike for 2 years. I have also purchased a pair of jogging bottoms and trainers for the first time ever in order to increase the likelihood of my trying sports at uni. And...I bought a new bag that's small enough only for essentials and has a zipped pocket for my ID and money....so that I can go out clubbing. I don't mean to say that I'm going to force myself to do things that I REALLY don't want to do. Nor will I say yes to things that will endanger my education/health (e.g. illegal drugs, too much alcohol, or even poorly timed outings and trips). And I won't be saying yes to prince from Albania who wants to send me £2million. But, I will be saying yes to things that I wouldn't usually say yes to. At university, I want to try lots of new things and discover who I am really am as a person.

And for anyone who actually got to the end of that, I'm sorry for the cheese fest. :-)

Preparing for University

Hi there!

It has been quite a long time since I posted a proper blog on here, so here goes nothing...

In just under 4 weeks time, I will be embarking on the biggest journey in my life to date. I will be moving to the city of Cambridge and I will become a undergraduate student at Girton College, Cambridge University.

And oh boy, am I scared.

Yup. Really scared.

I am currently in a very strange position. Since the beginning of the year, I have known that I had a guaranteed place at the university I have been dreaming about since I was a little girl. I was about 7 or 8 when I first decided I wanted to go to university and when I first decided that that university had to be Cambridge. I wanted so badly to go there, that I took a year out simply to reapply for Cambridge, based on a night of insomnia. For a long time, I felt very excited about leaving for university, because it was so far away that it didn't really feel like it was going to happen.

Well now..now, I know it's really. Because I have to do all the boring, horrible things to prepare for it, which makes me cry in the middle of the night.

Things I've Done to Prepare:

1. Try out so many budget apps you would not believe. My loan does not cover my accommodation and therefore I've had to make decisions about where to get a student account, how to pay my rent, how much money to accept from my parents, how many hours to work a week and how I'm going to keep track of all this. I've been puzzling about this for weeks and tried so many apps that seemed to make the muddle in my brain much more confusing than it had been before I entered the information into the app. Finally today, a friend put me onto an app that I think my tiny brain can deal with. 
2. Teach myself basic Arabic. So, Cambridge put on their AMES a worksheet for you to work through before you arrive. I started working through this by copying out the Arabic alphabet as best I could, before I was fortunate enough to be offered a language swap with a Palestinian. In return for teaching him French, he would help me with my Arabic. When I proudly showed him my work up until that point, he chortled for 5 minutes straight...but despite that, we got on very well for several weeks and now I can introduce myself, write my name and count to 10! 
3. Buy all my course books. I spent a ridiculous amount of time and money on my course books. The Arabic textbook has DVDs that are essential for the course. I was super chuffed when I found a copy for a tenner instead of the usual £30!! However, the thing they failed to tell me was that this copy came without the essential DVDs...I then bought what I thought were the DVDs and was promised I could return them for a full refund if incorrect. They were not what I needed, but yet there is no sign of my refund yet....finally, one of my books for French was so difficult to get hold of, I had to wait until the 2nd years were selling theirs.
4. Spend time with my family. I've dedicated the weekends to seeing my family. My time is divided between seeing my parents, brother and niece (who all live together) and seeing my boyfriend's mum. This weekend however, my sister and her husband came up to wish me luck for Cambridge and we had a lovely weekend relaxing and eating and picking blackberries. 
5. COOKING. Before this year, I had no interest in cooking and very little interest in baking. Now I can't get enough! Because I will be in catered halls for the entirety of my course (what a blessing!), I am frantically squeezing in as much cooking/baking as I can! In the last week alone I have made a huge quantity of yellow plum and vanilla jam, 4 earl grey jellies and jam and cream macarons. I have plans to make scones and a blackberry cake this week, to use up the leftover buttercream icing and jam. 

So all in all, these things aren't making me feel any better about going away. I keep worrying about having to try new things, meet new people and get back into studying. I'm sure I'll get back in the swing of it. However, any tips would be gratefully received ;-)