The Closing of Year Two

We might have found the best ice-cream
place in The Hague

Well, if one ignores politics, the last week has been quite lovely. The intensive period came to a close and, I can safely say this now that it's over, I actually enjoyed it this time. Got to say that is completely down to my partners in crime (a.k.a. my class mates) who were both great moral support and great fun. Got to admit that our post-exam lunch was the highlight for me - you know, no work - but they were awesome throughout. And somehow I managed to take no photos... I have let myself down! Anyway, I managed to get an A grade for German which I am so happy with. I actually got an A for the speaking which is amazing considering last year I basically failed that part. Immensely grateful to my class and teacher for their enabling in that regard.

I then had a few days to attempt to catch up with friends and socialise a bit before leaving. I failed to see half the people but I did go to The Hague with Leonoor on Saturday to look at a potential apartment and visit a wonderful paper and bookbinding shop. I'd bought from them online before but oh my goodness, the shop is a treasure chest. We also found an amazing bookshop. I was kinda lucky that the pound had plummeted as it was a good motivation to not buy everything! We were joined by Ryan for a drink in the evening and it was thoroughly delightful.

We did also eat, in my defense!

Sunday was equally lovely as Dania, Leonoor and I headed into the centre of Amsterdam for brunch at one of our favourite places. As it was a celebratory brunch we might have decided that cocktails were in order. We had planned to go shopping afterwards as I had quite a lot to get for the summer trip but, let's put it this way, I didn't manage to get much shopping done afterwards!

And then it was back to England. I'm here for just over a week and I have so much to do before my month (!) on the road. Seriously, I have so much to pack into the next week. Today, for example, I had my trial with contact lenses and the weird lesson of how to put them in and take them out. Really excited that I won't have to choose between seeing the stage and taking photos/protecting my glasses when at events but my eyes are feeling it now! 

So yep, enjoying my not so relaxed time with my parents before the complete insanity of the summer really gets underway. Who am I kidding?I'm so excited... and maybe a bit nervous too ;-)

That whole Brexit referendum thing.

This is most certainly not for facebook because, heavens, I could not put up with the inevitable flame war that would arise. It's also on the topic of something that is upsetting me and it's therefore perhaps not the most coherent and I'm not sure if I get my point across but, having spent ages writing the blasted thing when I should have been studying German... here goes...

_________

So yes, I normally keep my political views to myself or discuss them over dinner with a group of friends because what's more fun than that, right? But every now and then I do make a political post and this is one of them. It's one of them because I actually can't keep silent about it any more. I'm not even in England at the moment (thank goodness) and the campaign is making me want to tear my own hair out!!

I'm not going to get into what I'm voting here because, to be honest, I'm not interested in sharing that piece of information broadly. If you know me and we've had a discussion about it then you've probably know what I feel. If you know me at all then you can probably guess. Either way, I've looked at the information and I have made a decision. 

But that is beside the point because this campaign has not been about facts, it's been about emotions. And not a lot of emotions. Only two really: Fear and Hatred. Both sides have used those tactics and, frankly, it's left people even more het up than they were before. Let's be honest, a woman has been killed because of the heightened emotions (combined with the actions a very sick terrorist). Admittedly, and on a more subdued level, we are human. We cannot separate ourselves from our emotions and they will always play a part in our choices... but they should not be the main part of the decision making process. I don't know about you, but I learned that as a child.

There seem to be two main focus points with this whole Brexit thing although there are many other issues. One area of interest is the economy - I don't claim to understand enough about that to make a proper academic comment but have tried to work it out while deciding. The other is immigration and it's this bit that is upsetting me. I'm ashamed of some of the things I have heard politicians say. I'm ashamed of some of the things I have seen friends/acquaintances write on facebook (etc.). It seems to be that the general atmosphere at the moment is allowing people to say things that are quite obscene and be in the majority, therefore fear no repercussions if they even realise that they're saying something cruel. And that's the other thing. I don't think these people really believe what they're saying - and sometime soften when confronted - but are repeating the words of the time. I mean, if you feel that way genuinely then that is your right but I still feel such opinions are toxic. I don't know if there would ever be any justification for saying that you feel the channel tunnel should be opened then blown up with the people who try to get through inside. 

Of course, this fear/hatred thing does come from somewhere and there is a problem within the country. I come from Birmingham. For those of you who don't know the country at all, Birmingham is the city that Fox News said was a no-go area for white people and non-Muslims. Oops. Just to clarify, it is a really multicultural city but it's most certainly not a no-go area! It's a city that has 'taken in' a lot of people from different nationalities and good heavens am I proud of the life that has given the city, and honoured to have grown up there. During my childhood, I went to school with people who spoke no English, people who didn't speak English at home but did in school, people who were immigrants themselves, people who were children of immigrants, people from all over the place. It was wonderful because I met so many people with so many individual and cultural identities. Internationality is a beautiful thing. However, I will also be the first to admit that there are parts of the city that are not safe and (some of) these parts are ghetto type areas where people (read young adult men) of one nationality are the only people on the streets. It's odd. It's really odd. And when you've had fireworks thrown at you when you've passed through that area then you can safely say that it's frightening. It's a problem. I'm not belittling that. But it is not a problem with the EU. It's not even a problem with immigration per se but rather with security. It is a problem that needs solving. Hatred solves nothing.

The other thing that I have seen bandied around, and I'm not even going to bother myself with although it really does make me laugh in a sick way, is the whole "We didn't fight WWII to be ruled by Germany". Erm, yep, you're right. You didn't fight in a world war at all, and if you did please do recommend your anti-aging cream because you look amazing. Secondly, for all we might have been on the opposite side to Germany, we were fighting against Nazism and for peace, liberty and justice. Ask yourself which side of that battle we are, as a country, fighting now. 

"We want our country back"

This is something I've seen bedecking the UKIP posters (UKIP is a right wing party, short for the UK Independence Party, and they seem to have moved from a marginal party to quite mainstream as of late, unsurprisingly). I agree. I want my country back. My country that fought against oppression and hatred as best it could. I'm not saying we've been perfect but I am saying that we have always been better than this. Whatever the results of this referendum may be, we are the only ones who can destroy our own identity and, if we're not careful, we will do it quite thoroughly. 

So, go out and vote. It's your right. It's your civic duty. Vote for what you believe in, whatever that may be. Just make sure you're doing it for the right reasons.

Dancing in the Rain and Fighting with German

This post isn't quite as smushy as it could be in terms of content but it's likely to be pretty smushy in terms of grammar. Seriously, I am so tired/have been speaking so much German, I can't remember how to English right now! 

Keltfest

When I went to Keltfest last weekend, I was pretty determined to write a full post about it. As you can see, I have not managed to stick to that plan but, all the same, here we go! So, this year I went with the wonderful Heleen and we had a thoroughly delightful time. It's always a very early morning start to get there from my flat and, because storms where forecast, I decided to take the bare minimum (i.e. no camera) and just go to enjoy myself. And I think it's pretty fair to say that we really did have a good time. We watched William's solo set which was lovely, no surprise there. It's nice to hear a stripped back set once in a while, actually, and to sit down for it. We also watched Pyrolysis... well, I say watched... it was more "listen from a distance while attempting to keep somewhat dry". While I only discovered them about a year ago, or a little less, I have started to make a point of catching their sets because they are both generally polished and high energy. And finally, we braved the rain for Rapalje because that's basically compulsory. The crowd was, as always, so much fun. Yes, I even ended up dancing for a bit - imagine drowned rat me, with no spatial awareness, carrying a super heavy bag with mead in it, attempting to dance in a crowd.... not elegant but sure fun nevertheless!

Actually, for all Keltfest is only getting a couple of paragraphs, it's one of my favourite festivals. It's always a little quieter than the other major ones and has a really nice atmosphere. There are some wonderful stalls with handmade pieces from jewellery to the compulsory drinking horns. Everyone tends to be friendly. It's generally relaxed and all round wonderful, even if the weather leaves something to be desired! At least I didn't get hellish sunburn this year like I did last!

German

The last week has been one that I've been dreading, quite frankly. It's the (final!!!) German intensive of my degree. For those of you that don't know how my silly university works (if you do then skip this paragraph), we have to do a certain number of language levels (three) in intensive study periods. Effectively, this means you study for a month non stop and are supposed to improve a full level on the European framework, and then you take (approx) half a year out before the next intensive month. I don't know about you, but I need some time to internalise new skill based information before you pack new stuff on top making the speed of learning pretty bad.... and five(+) months is a long time to forget it all.... and I am terrified of speaking foreign languages anyway. The system might work for some people but it doesn't for the vast majority I've spoken to.

So, my German class is a class of five people, including me. We were four for a while but have settled at five now. While there is nowhere to hide, it's actually a nice number. Before starting out, I made a resolution not to care so much what everyone thinks about me and just go for it this time round, and in life in general. I spoke more German in our first class than I think I ever have. I've had my usual brain fogs a fair few times, where I panic so much that I just can't access the bits that I do know. Have I told you about that time I had a conversation with a politician using only lyrics from French songs because that's all I could remember? So yes, there have been some horrible, horrible moments in this class for me already but I do think that I am getting better.

I'm not so sure that the teacher's teaching style and my learning style gels particularly well. She seems to expect us to deduce and get a feel of how things work which is a very natural way of learning, I know, and probably the best way to do it. Indeed, it's the kind of thing I've been suggesting should be used for long term language teaching/learning in schools. However, this is an intensive course and I am not going to be able to get a feel of things overnight - I'm quite slow with skill based learning. I'd prefer it if someone actually explains exactly what's going on and why, in this context. But we all learn differently.

And.... I am a quarter of the way through!!!!

So, all in all, I think the next three weeks are going to be tough on me academically and emotionally as I am constantly out of my comfort zone. I also think I am, and will, gain a lot generally from this. I will, hopefully, learn to go for it when speaking a foreign language and that is a transferable skill that I have struggled with for many years now. I'll be pretty pleased when it's all over though ;-)

Not for facebook