Students at Embassy

Formal Hall

I feel like a lucky girl. A lucky young woman, who could fly away from her house, who could take the opportunity to live in another country, in another city. I feel like such a sweet, gentle, naïve little girl, who is having a whale of time in Cambridge, by travelling, by writing in English, as I used to in French just a couple of months ago.

I simply feel lucky tonight 23: 20.
And I’ll tell you why.

I feel so grateful, because I went for the second time -  and certainly not the last one, thanks to having found an old Swiss friend here – explanation to follow – in Magdalene college.
YES.

One month ago. On the way to school. Who did I meet on Magdalene bridge? Alexander.  A friend from Switzerland. A friend who I used to study music theory with. A friend who took a gap year last year, and who applied successfully to enter Cambridge University.

One month ago. It was his birthday. And I was invited to celebrate it with him. And I did. And for the first time I touched what I was and I’m still expecting to live and share in my future: to study at the university.

I’d like to speak as well as all these “alumni” do. By enjoying a few times with native speakers (or not, international students are there as well), you feel your listening developing, extend your vocabulary – informal in this case (but how beautiful is the informal English, speaking so fast when you’re among pals ? )

A Cambridge University has got a lot of tradition. No one will disagree.

Some will say they are old and boring. Some will say they bring another intensity, another beauty to these old buildings and the student life.

You can well imagine… that I would find my place in the second group.

Meeting at the Pledge. Loan of the gown (or gowny dress?). Admission into the Formal Hall.

Beginning of the Formal Dinner. The “pennying” (known as a drinking game – when someone throws a penny in your glass, you simply have to drink it, or pour it again and drink it in one go  - not allowed during the Formal…but the rules are made to be bent, aren't they? ) Anecdotes. Experience. Laughs. Legends. Promises not to go out so much for the next term. Other fascinating rules. Waiters. Wine.

Now I remember why I chose Cambridge for my gap year. Now I remember who I am and what I am going to do. Now I remember all my expectations. I found my subject for my oral presentation due on Wednesday. I found an aim for my next close years of study. Now I know why I’ll come back here after visiting my family and my friends for Christmas.

[ Alexander and I - In front of the "Plodge" ]

Edinburgh mon amour

« Close your eyes. Imagine the hustle and bustle of an ancient capital four hundred years ago. Cobbled streets, a maze of wynds and closes. The North Sea and Firth of Forth open up in front of you eyes from the top of the city’s seven hills. Edinburgh’s majestic volcanic rock, Arthur’s Seat, stands firm demanding your attention. Nature is everywhere.

Crisp and clear winter mornings. Cold nights in cosy fire-lit pubs. Festival revellers going to bed as the sun rises on the horizon. Students soaking up the sun on the Meadow’s green grass. The sound of bagpipes blasting out of ginger haired, tartan-trimmed souvenir shops. »

These two paragraphs, which I whish I could have written on my own, are simply the first two paragraphs of « The locals' guide to Edinburgh », a guide I bought last weekend, as you can well imagine, in Edinburgh. And they sum up in a magnificent way, all that I could say about this city and what I found in my trip : Wellbeing. Happiness. Letting go. Discovery. Beautiful scenery . Strength of several traditions, legends and historic facts.

I spent only two days there. But it was enough for to fall in love with it, and make me hope to go back there in summer.

Having gone with two of my classmates, I could learn about them, about myself, challenged to live with girls coming from another country (China ), and inevitably, about another culture. I surprised myself by drinking green tea with a typical Scottish breakfast (quite similar to the English one). Or simply by being quieter, and simply much more. Much more what ? I’ve just loved this trip, I’ve just found again all that I love in the world : travelling.  And sharing.

Almost 20 hours by coach to go and return. Few hours of sleep. Chilly days. But a wonderful couple of hours walking through the old and new city. Wonderful experience. Wonderful souvenir. And a huge number of pictures in support.

Thanks to Embassy not having enough space on the coach for the possible excursion to Edinburgh, it let me approach a country, a city, and to enjoy it on my own , with more … delight ?

Ps. If someone comes across a compact disc [ The Shee – A different season ] in a coach (591) , still with its plastic cover. Drop me a line ! That’s mine!
… Or it was my pleasure to give it to you. Enjoy it. A recent Scottish music band..  =)

I am Japanese after all

     From the end of October to the beginning of November, I spent time in Japan, where I am from. Since I started studying English in the U.S., I have met lots of different countries' people. As I have found out what kind of people they are, I have thought about what kind of person I am. At times my South American and Asian friends tell me that I am not like other Asian people, and they have thought I was from a Latin country when they first saw me. I guess I had sought myself, but now I know I am Japanese after all.

When I got back to Japan after an interval of 7 months, I naturally became energetic. In spite of the fact that I had been in a stifling economy seat for 10 hours and there was jet-lag between the U.S and Japan, I was bursting to do something right away. Easily passing migration gate and picking up my luggage, three faces which I was really used to seeing were waiting for me. These were my family. At the moment, I felt as if I finally put down a heavy weight. I became so calm.

When I stayed in Japan for a week, I enjoyed every moment despite the fact that I scheduled until midnight everyday. I attended my best my best friend's wedding and saw his happy face and my friends there. Also, I spent time with my family. Casual talk with my family and my mother's normal cooking soothed me. Even second-class comedians on the TV made me laugh. Above all, the moment when I saw my girlfriend, who I had not seen for one year, was unspeakably happy for me. Even though she criticised my new hair style immediately before hugging or something which I had expected for a long time, I was reassured.

Everything I saw, heard, and tasted in Japan were like meditation for me. I have never thought I did not like my life in the U.S., but the tiny island is the best for me. I am Japanese after all.

Will snow in Cambridge? I hope so.

The winter is coming ... and I hope that I’ll see snow soon and for very first time in my life. I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment and a few months ago I was really, really close.

Well, in Brazil we are not used to snow and in Rio (where I used to live before I came to Cambridge) there is only one season: THE SUMMER. The days are really hot; the weather always invites you to go to the beach.

Sometimes it is really hard to stay under the sun and people usually look for shadows to stop and rest before getting on to their destinations. As you know the summer in South America is between December and March and all houses have air-conditioners. Have you ever felt so hot that you thought you were smelt? – I felt that and probably all Brazilians have, as well.

One time I tried to go to Argentina to go skiing with a couple of friends, but unfortunately I had some problems with the main airline company from that country and I couldn’t go.

But, where was I? – Oh, yeah! I was talking about how I hope that I could see snow as soon as possible here in Cambridge. Today at Parkers Pierce a rink is opening for people who want to skate on ice (http://www.cambridgeonice.co.uk/). This rink is the sign that the winter is coming soon and the time we have to prepare ourselves and our homes for Christmas is running out.

Let’s put on our coats and wait hopeful that Cambridge will bring me this unforgettable Christmas present: the SNOW.

See you soon and God bless everyone who had patience to read my post. Hugs and kisses.

Matt

Happy Ending

It’s surprising. It’s absolutely amazing, how a piece of news, one message, read in the morning, can make you smile.

I was about to drop you a line last week, but I fell asleep. I was about to do it again yesterday, but I was quite upset, and pretty sure that what I would say might be confused, incoherent, and that I might want to cancel all of it, after a long deep sleep.

Although living far away from your family can be a good experience (and how long have I been waiting for that…), the such beautiful time spent here, with your special friends you’ve met five weeks ago, special one you’re getting to know much better, as the days go by..
Hard times happen.  It happens.

That person reminds you of another, this dress can remind you of the one you wore last summer when you graduated. In your country.
And suddenly.

You miss your hometown, your own room, your friends, these closest friends who became suddenly pen friends. Nostalgia, for 10 seconds. For 10 hours.
Your thoughts mix up. You don’t know what are your priorities anymore. The smallest things you love to remember to remain happy, crumpled.

One night. One shower. One way to the school, One path crossed on your bike. A bright day as you’ve never seen in Cambridge before. You enter in the classroom – as usual – took a laptop – switch it on. Five minutes left – just enough to check your mails. – As usual – you’re expecting to see few messages, junk mails, a new post on facebook.

And that bright day. Means much more. Mister Sun brought with him a surprise. Like a miracle. A few words. A few words well chosen. Written by - who cares whom ! – , drew you twinkles in your eyes. And give you warm feelings. How did they know ? Why now ? Right when I needed to ? Chance happens. It happens.

Distance doesn’t just help you to grow. It helps bonds to grow. And Friendship to come stronger. It helps you to be aware of what the word «  friends » you use so much, means.

It’s surprising. It’s absolutely amazing, how a piece of news, one message, read in the morning, can make you smile. Again.

Ps. Edinburgh next week. « A piece of dream come true ». You’ll have some feedback, naturally.

Céline, fair little student who loves writing sat in Parker’s piece and admiring this lovely piece of grass.

Halloween – international party at Nusha®.

My first post overseas!

Good morning everyone!! SEJAM BEM VINDOS!!

It's a pleasure to me having you as a reader of my post. WELCOME and I hope that you can find some interesting information about me, my life (here in Cambridge), English, The UK, Embassy (my school) and another thousands and thousands of subjects.

I'll write more soon because now I have to focus my attentions on my English class.

One for All

In this small world, over five billion live together and everyone is different from each other. Because of the different characteristics, nationalities, religions, and races, understanding each other is difficult, and collisions easily happen. However, as everyone knows, people can not live on their own. To live peacefully and to be friendly with others in this beautiful world, everyone should do something good for others.

If people did not think about others, their every single act would bother others and everyone would easily get irritated with each other. For example, in public places, smokers would neglectfully smoke in a cloud. In addition, they would throw cigarette butts away if there was no ashtray near them. Likewise, if you share your life space with someone, you have to care about the person. For example, you need to cleanly use things you share, and if you get them dirty, you have to clean them up at once, before the person use them. Otherwise, someone will get irritated.

Likewise, the action which a person does for the others makes the society peaceful, lively, and delightful. As an example, here is an interesting story: presidents of successful companies clean up their companies' restrooms on their own. Lots of successful presidents oddly have this similarity. Actually, it is not only cleaning up restrooms. In other words for it, the top of the company does a work whick others do not want to do for other workers and customers. So, the workers and customers feel good to go there because of it. As a result, the company becomes lively and peaceful. It is not talking about only inside a company. Doing something good for others is important to cooperatively live others in every area of our life.

As one of examples of cooperating with others, the idea of team sports is exactly what we need in our daily life. Here is one of example of a team sport named "Ekiden", a road relay, which is famous in Japan. Each team has about six runners, and each runner has to run his/her own area and relay to the next runner. Even though a runner gets fatigued in the middle of his/her zone in which he/she has to run, the latter runner is waiting for the former runner. So, each runner can not give up because of personal reasons like "I want to take a rest" or "I want to quit because I feel sick today". Every runner does their best for the others, one for all.

Basically, all people are selfish. If people did not try to think about others, they would do everything only for their own good, not for others. However, we all come across someone everyday and we can not insist too much or demand only what we want to others. If we did not listen others' demands or requests, they also would not take our opinion or more, would ignore us. Similarly, if we made someone happy once, the person might does something good to other person as well. After all, this relaying would make peaceful, cooperative, and friendly world. One is for all because we all are in the same huge team called earth.

These people were my baseball team mates when I was in a high, and now we are good friends. They all think about each other. Nice guys!

First post - first thoughts.

One month. One month and one week.

I've been here in Cambridge for one month and one week, and I have about 5 months more to spend here, far from my house. Switzerland. Geneva. Lausanne. Far from my friends, and my family.

It's getting cold here. It's obvious. Winter is back. Snow in London. Only rain, a thin rain here as yet.

My name is Celine. I'm on an Intermediate Diploma Course in Cambridge, using laptops during the lessons, through the morning class. Yes! And I'm enjoying every single moments, instants, that I'm spending, breathing, reading, learning, speaking, writing, dancing, and meeting new people, future friends.

I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to show, and leave a trace of my gap year ( or middle gap to be precise ), in posting my thoughts, my news, on an Embassy Blog. The Embassy Blog.

An experience with Embassy? It should be, It IS! a manic-marvellous-enriching experience unless you stay at home and miss the worth living events of your life.

C'Line.

Preparing in Case of .....

I am a man, and I always think one thing, "as a man, I must be physically strong". This thought might cause some dispute between men and women, such as not only men should be strong, but also women should be strong, or the idea that men look down on women as weaker people.

However, technically men are physically stronger than women, and I would have not to fail to help a girl if she asked for my help. If the girl were strong enough to protect herself, that would be fine.

I started learning martial arts to prepare in case of this kind of situation, also to protect myself. If  my girlfriend came across a creepy man who was bigger and stronger than her and dangerous, and she asked for my help, I would have to defeat him.

This kind of situation might not happen a lot, but it is like the saying "practice makes perfect", and "forewarned is forearmed".