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  • Interview with Daria Morozova | Lingo Magazine

    Interview with Daria Morozova Juliet Kennedy Tuesday 10 December 2024 Daria is an artist who, through her work, explores the complicated connection between cultures and languages. Juliet had the opportunity to interview Daria to find out more about her influences, her work and her goals. Daria was born in Tallinn, Estonia, and has lived there her whole life. However, all her family roots are Slavic - from Russian, to Ukrainian, to Bessarabian. Coming from a Russian-speaking family in Estonia, her work explores challenges of identity, focusing on the experiences of Russian ethnicity in Estonia. Namely, language barriers, assimilation, and the emotional struggle of living between two cultures. She draws from both personal and social experiences, intending to show that identity is complex and ever-changing. By mixing abstract and figurative elements, she reflects feelings of connection and isolation. Growing up in Estonia with Slavic roots, how do you navigate the connection between your Estonian environment and your family’s Russian, Ukrainian, and Bessarabian heritage in your work? To start, I’d like to clarify that while my Slavic roots are diverse, I feel more closely connected to Russian culture. My mother is from St. Petersburg, as were her mother and grandmother. Until the invasion, I had visited St. Petersburg multiple times, and it remains in my memory as something warm. Slavic culture is incredibly broad and varied, so I feel it’s essential to mention that my work right now mainly explores Russianness. In my art, I blend elements that are hard to assign exclusively to one culture or another. It’s as challenging to separate them in my paintings as it is within myself. But if I had to, I’d say the Estonian side in my paintings is represented by blue—a color that holds deep meaning for me and in which I feel I currently live. The Russian side, on the other hand, is red: beloved and beautiful but currently intense and complex. For example, my duo of paintings, “awareness” and “rejection”, reflects a period in my life when I wanted to hide my Russianness and the moral exhaustion that came with that desire. In what ways do your two cultural backgrounds influence your identity? How do you express this duality in your art? It’s difficult for me to separate which part of me comes from which culture since they’re so interwoven. In 2020, I tried to divide them and always ended up feeling like I was either the “wrong” kind of Russian or not quite Estonian enough, haha. It took me some time to understand that both backgrounds influence me almost equally and are equally important to me. Now, I want to find the shared, relatable aspects within both backgrounds, bringing them together in my paintings. A good example is how I’ve begun approaching complex themes and emotions through nature. Estonian nature deeply inspires me, and I spend a lot of time in the forests—just as I grew up with Russian fairy tales, where nature often takes center stage, and looking at paintings by Shishkin, Aivazovsky, and Kuindzhi that my mom showed me. Later, I discovered Estonian painters like Konrad Mägi, Aili Vint, Paul Raud, and others on my own. There’s something beautiful in the shared love of nature between both cultures. For instance, in one of my recent works, “Wind blew the wrong direction”, there are pines—trees that feel like home to me both here and there. A forest that will listen to anyone. I am interested in the video piece, “I would stop being…”, which aims to give a voice to Russian-speaking Estonians. Can you tell me more about it? Over the past three years, the themes of language barriers and belonging have become central for me. Until university, I didn’t have a single Estonian friend due to the strong separation of communities in Tallinn. I learned Estonian fairly well in school, and when I found myself as the only Russian-speaking student in my university cohort, I made friends and was understood. Still, it took at least six months to adapt to the Estonian slang and fast pace. Studying was more challenging for me than for native speakers, and although my environment was friendly and tolerant, I still felt like an outsider. Even though I grew up in the same country, the cultural context was very different. I’m the first in my family to speak Estonian fluently. All the media I consumed growing up was in Russian and later in English, but not in Estonian. So when my new friends talked about local television stars, I’d just blink and smile without any idea of who they were talking about. This situation might seem tiny but still in it, and all other similar, I inevitably felt lonely. This feeling was one of the reasons I wanted to know how other Russian speakers in Estonia were managing and what difficulties they faced, especially in such a tense time. This led to my video piece “I would stop being…”. The work has three parts: a performance, narrated stories in the video, and an additional booklet with text. It was essential for me to experience what it would be like to try removing my cultural layer and literally burning it—the performance video reflects this. However, the core part is the anonymous stories and statements by Russian-Estonians about their self-perception as Russian speakers. When I read the stories sent to me by anonymous respondents, my heart broke at the amount of pain they endure. There were so many stories, and they felt so important to me that the ones not included in the video ended up in a separate booklet. The piece received a range of responses. Some people liked it very much, while others criticized it, feeling it came from a victim’s perspective, which was never my intention. Currently, I’m working on a new exhibition, and this piece is one that will undergo significant changes. I believe I’ve found a very good way to enhance it. Do you think your art helps to create a dialogue between Russian-speaking communities and Estonian society? Yes. I think one of the main goals of this series of works was to start a dialogue. I wanted to show an honest side of identity and Russianness, and, for instance, give a small platform for those who have experienced something very difficult but have no one to share it with. How do you hope viewers will connect emotionally with your work? Do you aim to help them reflect on their sense of identity and belonging? I feel it’s essential for this theme not just to hang in the air but to be internalized by anyone who encounters my work. I genuinely hope that my works can give viewers a small push to look inside themselves and reflect—about themselves, others, and their place in this complex world. The topic of identity is broad and challenging. I have been seeing a psychologist for two years now, where we also work through my perception of myself as a Russian speaker. Art is one of my ways of “healing.” Because Russian speakers are almost marginalized, expressing pain related to identity is challenging, if not impossible. So I wanted to create small spaces where anyone with an internal identity conflict—not just Russian speakers—could express themselves. I think it’s essential for people’s traumatic experiences to find a verbal outlet. At my exhibition “To Become A New” in Narva, I created a small zone with a questionnaire where people could anonymously share their stories. For the upcoming exhibition of same works in Tartu, I plan to create something similar, but in the form of a notebook. Perhaps, when I have enough anonymous stories, I’ll make a publication that brings them together to form a portrait of the self-perception of Russian speakers in Estonia and beyond. In what ways do you hope your work contributes to a broader conversation about the experience of being a Russian-speaking Estonian? I think my primary focus is the desire to start a dialogue between Russian speakers and Estonians. My work, as an artist, reflects my experience as a Russian-speaking Estonian, which, in turn, can become part of a broader conversation about what it’s like to live at the intersection of two cultures. In my paintings, I explore questions of identity and belonging and the emotional and cultural transitions I face. I hope my art can help people understand more deeply what it’s like to exist at the intersection of cultural worlds. This is not only about cultural clashes or assimilation but also about the richness that comes from existing within multiple cultural spaces at once. How can an interested reader engage with your art? You can easily find me on Instagram by @dariakylm :)) About the Author Related Articles Images courtesy of Darya Morozova. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here Tags: interview Art estonia Russia Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

  • A Thai-ing Together of Culture and Cuisine: Zaap Thai Street Food Review | Lingo Magazine

    A Thai-ing Together of Culture and Cuisine: Zaap Thai Street Food Review Beth Walker Monday 8 August 2022 Our Social Media Manager, Beth, recently ticked off a classic UoN bucket list activity and went to Zaap Thai Street Food. Read on to hear about her experience of a taste of Thailand in Nottingham As a third-year student, I have long awaited the chance to try Zaap. I’d heard great things about it and last week, the wait finally came to an end, and I lunched there with a friend. “The vibrant colours and cultural decor were unique and immersive.” Located near Maid Marian Way, Zaap just about escapes the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Upon first walking in, I was really impressed with how much character the restaurant has; it felt so authentic, as though I was walking down a busy street in Thailand. The vibrant colours and cultural decor were unique and immersive. When I visited it was quite busy, which heightened the busy Thai street food recreation too. We walked in and were shown to a table for two. Given my excitement at the setting and ambience, I couldn’t wait to try the food. The Zaap menu has a wide range of different Thai delicacies, and I was spoilt for choice – I’ll leave you to decide whether that’s a good thing or not. They also had a wide range of vegetarian options. What did influence my decision, however, was that it was all a little bit more expensive than I had imagined. Don’t get me wrong, items from the Zaap menu aren’t extortionately priced, but from a value-for-money perspective, you can go elsewhere and receive more for the same amount of money, or less. We ordered drinks before we got our food. My friend opted for a watermelon bubble tea, which was bright green but apparently very sweet and refreshing. I ordered a Virgin Thai Star mocktail, which was really nice and creamy, but unfortunately quite small. “…when our food arrived, I instantly had food envy.” As it was only lunchtime, I opted for two of the smaller dishes: chicken gyozas and a bao bun with satay chicken. My friend had ordered one of the curries, which I had fancied but thought might be too big for lunch, but when our food arrived, I instantly had food envy. Her curry looked amazing and, compared to the small portions I received, it was an appropriate size. Zaap’s chicken gyozas arrived first and while they were on the small side, they were absolutely delicious. These were unlike other gyozas I’ve previously tried, as their shells were pastry-like. I thoroughly enjoyed these and would order them again. My bao bun arrived shortly after, although not at the same time as the rest of our food. Unfortunately, I noticed a small dark hair on the side of my plate. While this was unpleasant, I did quickly notify the waitress and she took it away immediately. However, it was brought back very quickly, and the plate did look the same, so I am unsure whether I was given a new plate or the hair was just removed. I was a little bit put off by this, but the hair hadn’t been touching my food, so I proceeded to try the bao bun once the waitress had brought it back. The satay chicken was so tasty, as was the bun, although perhaps a little on the dough-y side. If I were to visit Zaap again, I would go for one of the curries that my friend had ordered. The staff were friendly but seemed rushed off their feet, meaning that aspects of the service were either rushed entirely or took far too long. For example, the waitress came and took one of our plates while we were still eating, but then we were sat waiting a long time to receive the bill. Overall, I did enjoy the food at Zaap and I think everyone should go just to experience the quirky decor and atmosphere. However, certain aspects of the restaurant let it down. In terms of value for money, staffing levels and perhaps hygiene, there is work to be done. ★★★ ☆☆ About the Author Related Articles Hungry in St Petersburg? My Top 5 Restaurants for Visitors Jess Henrys A Taste of the Mediterranean in Nottingham: Review of Yamas Beth Walker Holi on the Downs 2022 Beth Walker Cover image provided by Zaap Thai on TripAdvisor. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Beth Walker Restaurants Thai Street Food Categories: Culture Nottingham Eats Review Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • Shopping sustainably? Here are the best vintage, second-hand and preloved shops in Nottingham | Lingo Magazine

    Shopping sustainably? Here are the best vintage, second-hand and preloved shops in Nottingham Evie Dowding Monday 23 September 2024 Evie talks us through the top spots and events for getting your preloved fashion fix. When I arrived in Nottingham as a fresher, I couldn’t wait to search out all of the best second-hand clothing shops to satisfy my thrifting addiction. As I’m sure it is for many readers, thrifting and charity shopping for clothes is a hobby, a pastime and something I love doing with friends. The great thing about Nottingham is there is something for all tastes and budgets. Here’s my run-down of the best areas, shops and events for sustainable shopping. Here’s my run-down of the best areas, shops and events for sustainable shopping. City Centre Bubble Vintage What I love about Bubble Vintage is that when I browse the clothes, I can actually afford them! You can find designer brands as well as unique pieces. The best thing I ever purchased here was a pair of Schultz wooden chunky sandals - and for only £15; I knew I had to have them. A warning: the store is cash only, so come prepared. Cancer Research A small Cancer Research shop is tucked away on Friar Lane (near the Kitty Cafe), and it’s always worth having a browse for clothes and jewellery. White Rose A charity shop started by Nottingham Trent Graduates, aiming to recycle high street clothing and reduce waste. White Rose Stores can be spotted all over Nottingham City Centre, Hockley and Beeston. Hockley Hockley is one of my favourite areas of Nottingham. It was, naturally, dubbed the ‘Soho’ of the city. This area is brimming with cool food spots, trendy bars, record stores and an abundance of sustainable clothing options. Start on Carlton Street, grab a coffee and dedicate a morning to exploring. COW COW is an independent vintage clothing store found in cities across the UK, which boasts an array of hand-picked pieces for all styles and genders. While a lot of their branded pieces are definitely on the pricier side, they have sale racks and a kilo sale at the end of every month. WILD Clothing A few minutes walk from Cow, sits WILD Clothing, and it's not hard to miss with its bold red facade. This independent vintage store has been around since 1983, offering vintage jackets, shirts, jeans and much more. While you do pay for higher quality, be aware that this place is definitely for those with higher budgets, or that leather jacket you’ve been wanting for years. My Sight If you're on a lower budget or just prefer the hunt in charity shops, My Sight is always worth a visit. This local charity shop is only small, yet if you rummage for long enough you can find vintage items of clothing and accessories for reasonable prices. Oxfam Further along Goose Gate I always like to go and browse in Oxfam, not just for clothes, but books too. As far as sustainable and budget shopping goes, Oxfam is the best of the bunch. Beeston I love spending an afternoon in the little town of Beeston, for its calmer atmosphere which reminds me of my Suffolk home town. The other selling point is that its high street is quite literally flooded with charity shops. Whether you get the tram or bus you can start at either end of High Road, and you will find nine or ten charity shops in very close proximity to one another, including an Oxfam and White Rose. Sustainable shopping in Beeston is as affordable as it can get, and a fun escape from the city. Events St Mary's Church, Lace Market As an alternative to visiting shops, you can keep an eye out for events at St Mary’s church, often the site for Worth Weight Vintage Kilo Sales. There is also an event coming up on the 5th of October called Lou’s Vintage Fair where independent sellers will be based. Make sure to get tickets in advance and get there early! About the Author Related Articles Copyright free images via Pexels. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Fashion Sustainability Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

  • Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Interrailing | Lingo Magazine

    Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Interrailing Rachel Lara Hoddes Sunday 14 July 2024 Rachel gives us a comprehensive list of everything she wishes she had known before setting off on her interrailing adventure, sharing her top tips and tricks for a smooth-sailing rail holiday. Interrailing is an incredibly popular travel option nowadays, with around 350,000 students applying for passes annually. I myself have travelled as a student in Europe twice now, so I'd like to think I am somewhat able to share with you a list of tips and tricks for enjoying the fast-paced holiday style preferred by our age group. These range from common sense tips to surprising insights, as even though travelling can be super exciting, it can also be stressful and tiring. Dehydration: Don't Underestimate It This may seem obvious, but intense travelling, especially in hot and humid conditions, can lead to dehydration. It is crucial to stay hydrated to avoid exhaustion, as the last thing you want is to be trekking round a foreign country armed with your ghic and Google translate, only to be referred to completely the wrong service due to language barrier (definitely not based on a real story)! Planning regular drinking intervals, carrying electrolyte packets, and considering locations with water fountains is key to ensuring you can stay healthy and remain active throughout the trip. Additionally, avoid day-drinking and consuming too much caffeine (this may be rich coming from me!), as they can majorly dehydrate you. Factor in Melt Time Constant travel and activity can be exhausting, particularly with disrupted sleep from night trains or noisy hostel roommates, so it is important to have a space to decompress. This doesn't have to be at your accommodation, but putting in headphones on a train sometimes just isn't enough. So, this year, whilst travelling with my friends, we factored in what we called "melt time". We would find a quiet location as a base and split off, some opting to sit with headphones in and watching the bags whilst others would wander off alone to take in some solitude. It really helped us all recharge and ensure that we weren't (too) snappy. Dietary Requirements When travelling in a big group, there are likely to be a lot of dietary requirements. From allergies to religious restrictions to even veganism, we often found ourselves in need of very specific foods. We found that using websites such as "Happy Cow" and learning specific food-related words in local languages to find suitable food options. I would also recommend finding a Lidl or equivalent supermarket to stock up in safe snacks and drinks so that everyone always had something they could eat. Overwhelming Itinerary The main goal of interrailing is to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. To do this, a lot of planning goes on to ensure that everyone involved gets what they want out of a location. But for me personally, I get overwhelmed by a busy itinerary, particularly as things can be so unpredictable when travelling. Trains can be late, people can fall ill, and sometimes you just need an extra lie in. To combat this, I joined the trip late, opting to do only 1 week instead of 2 as despite really wanting to go to all locations, I knew I would get overwhelmed and burnt out due to the amount we had planned. Know your limits! Another thing worth considering is doing a walking tour on the first day of arriving in a location. These are super useful as they allow you to properly experienced a location and gained both cultural and historical knowledge. It also means you can return to locations that caught your eye and assess whether some of your main interests prearrival are actually worth the excursion. And they don't have to be expensive too! Many tours are free with a tip basis so you pay what you think the tour was worth after participating. Also, it's worth downloading some of Rick Steves' free audio guides which provide concise and informative city and attraction tours. Navigating Conflict In every high stress environment, conflict is always going to arise. And travelling, despite being super fun and rewarding, is also stressful. Cohabiting in close proximity with a range of personalities, dietary requirements and routines can be a recipe for dispute - but that's okay! What is important though, is to make sure that you're looking after yourself and others. The best way to do this is by ensuring you're communicating effectively as a group, and setting boundaries for your physical and mental health. Conclusion Since beginning university, I have tried so many new and rewarding things, but interrailing has definitely been one of my favourites. The cherished yet often ludicrous memories I have made will last a lifetime, and I certainly recommend it to anyone with a thirst for exploration. However, it can be difficult and often exhausting, so I hope my tips will help you on your exploration of some of the world's best train routes. About the Author Related Articles Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? Chloe Brewster How to Navigate the Navigo: A Guide to Paris Transport Charlie Bodsworth Beyond Creatures: Unveiling Pokémon’s Multicultural Universe Jasmine Johal Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Rachel Lara Hoddes Travel Travel Guide Trains Categories: Travel Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • YEAR ABROAD TALES: A Reflection on Being LGBTQIA Abroad | Lingo Magazine

    YEAR ABROAD TALES: A Reflection on Being LGBTQIA Abroad Grace Whitaker Friday 18 March 2022 This time in the Year Abroad Tales we hear from Grace as she tells us her experiences as a LGBTQIA student on a year abroad and her advice for others like her. Firstly, I’d like to preface this article by saying that I identify somewhere between bisexual and lesbian, but I’ll usually just say I’m gay. Although I am openly gay, I haven’t personally ‘come out’ to the majority of readers of this magazine, so this acts as an easy and convenient way for me to come out. My experience of being LGBTQIA abroad has differed vastly. Before starting my year abroad, there was not one part of me that considered that living in France and Spain as an openly gay woman would be at all different to that of England. Other countries like Russia or those in South America? Of course. But Western Europe? Surely not, right? I spent the first 3 months of my year abroad working in a medium-sized town called Annecy, approximately 40 minutes from Geneva and the Swiss Border, very close to the Alps and their ski resorts. It is a stunning place to live: surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and lake, it often felt like a fairy tale. It was also an incredibly rich and conservative area that inevitably incurred equally conservative attitudes and opinions. Although France legislatively maintains secularism, I knew that the Catholic church is prominent and has a firm homophobic standpoint. But since gay marriage was legalised over 8 years ago, I (maybe naively) did not believe that my sexuality would be problematic. View of Lake Annecy That was until I arrived and began working in Annecy. After a fairly seamless first couple of weeks, I was chatting with my boss and we ended up discussing the topic of marriage. Now, I had not really suspected my boss of having homophobic views, but I decided to take the plunge and ask him how he felt about the legalisation of gay marriage in France. His response was this « Je crois pas que les homosexuels devraient se marier ou avoir les enfants. » (I don’t think that homosexuals should marry or have children). An intense wave of panic hit me. He then continued by saying that for him, it was better for a child to be raised by a single parent than two parents of the same sex. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This man had no qualms in sitting in his office delivering a hate speech. From that point onwards, I proceeded to act as ‘straight’ as possible when it came to work, primarily dressing more feminine. The eyebrow slit had to grow out, my cargo pants and chain were left at home. I even had a call with the Year Abroad team later to explain the situation I found myself in. I have to say they were incredibly supportive and understanding, they most definitely reassured me. Unfortunately, views like this were not confined to the older generation. There were people of my age who held a similar level of homophobia. For instance, I met a girl who, in all seriousness, asked me whether I thought it was the ‘natural’ instinct for a woman to sleep with a man. Or there was a guy who told me I simply couldn’t be gay since I didn’t look like the lesbians he had seen in the past. Even to this day, I can’t believe I encountered such conversations. Having paused and realised that this article has become rather depressing, I will say that a) I did in fact meet some wonderful people in France who without a doubt helped me forget about all of this and b) it does get better. On the topic of getting better, let’s move on to Spain. At the time of writing, I have been living and studying in Valencia for a little over a month and it has been incredible. I had always assumed that my experience in France and Spain would be similar but the difference in attitudes here is startling. I walk around and see pride flags hanging from balconies. There is an amphitheatre and benches painted in the colours of all the different pride flags. There is a rainbow heart stuck on the door of my faculty. There’s a popular gay club that hosts drag shows. I happily hold hands with the girl I’m dating without receiving stares or comments. I feel comfortable, safe, and accepted here. It’s liberating. Amphitheatre in Valencia, with the steps painted in rainbow colours. I will say that whilst my experience in France has been tainted, I certainly did not let it ruin it. If anything, it gives me something to joke about. But for any LGBTQIA members reading this article who are on their year abroad or about to embark upon it, I know it can very mentally exhausting to not always be living your true, authentic self. Do not hesitate to reach out for support. My DMs are always open. If you'd like to share your unique experience of a year abroad, get in touch with us on Insta (@lingomag_) or send a submission into lingo.magazinesubmit@gmail.com ! About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Images provided by Grace Whitaker. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Living Abroad France Spain Grace Whitaker LGBTQIA Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Feature Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? | Lingo Magazine

    Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? Chloe Brewster Wednesday 16 November 2022 To coincide with the current COP27 summit, Chloe considers the possibilities of travelling sustainably during the year abroad which can potentially produce a hefty carbon footprint. At a time when the devastating realities of climate change are increasingly apparent, living sustainably is not just a distant ideal, but a necessity. Travelling is often perceived as a major source of pollution – undoubtedly not helped by cheap flights – and there are increasing calls for people to reduce their use of polluting modes of travel to save the planet. This raises the question: how do you travel sustainably during your year abroad? Is it possible to travel without leaving a massive carbon-emitting footprint? As this article will explore, the answers are not necessarily straightforward, but sustainability is not an unattainable goal as you embark on your travels. Reaching your destination A key image that springs to mind are flights – who hasn’t posted an Instagram story of the view out the plane window at the beginning of their travels? However, air travel is the complete antithesis of sustainability and releases huge amounts of carbon emissions; for example, The Guardian estimates that one flight from Manchester to Barcelona generates a significant 259kg CO2, and undoubtedly emission rates are considerably higher the further you travel. For many year abroad destinations (including Asia and South America), air travel is almost certainly the only means of transport, so it is difficult to find a sustainable alternative. Travelling cheaply with Ryanair from Stansted Airport - but at what price to the environment? On the other hand, students who are spending their year abroad in mainland Europe have more options, notably Eurostar which travels to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. If your destination is neither of these capital cities, you can opt for coaches such as Flixbus or Blablacar, both of which are cheap and eco-friendly. Yes, travelling by coach can be exhausting (i.e. overnight journeys) and it isn’t an option for the faint-hearted. But Europe is ahead of the curve by offering sustainable modes of transport for the masses without costing a fortune, and you couldn’t better immerse yourself in European culture by travelling more sustainably. Or you could opt for trains within your host country; the affordability of rail cards (some for youth, others for local regions) further incentivises people to use public transport in a way to which we are not necessarily accustomed in the UK. Ultimately, whether you are studying or working in Europe or beyond, keeping air travel to a minimum is a major factor for reducing your carbon footprint. Don’t feel too guilty for flying to your destination if that’s the only option to get there, but be mindful about the frequency with which you fly (either home or elsewhere) – for example, is it really necessary to fly home for a weekend? Would it be sustainably wiser to fly home for a longer period of time, such as during the Christmas holidays? Sometimes, it is easy to be tempted by a cheap getaway (and we are all in need of a holiday occasionally!) but living and travelling sustainably can require some self-discipline (and possibly some sacrifice). Travelling within your host country Once you have navigated the tricky waters of travelling to your destination, it is remarkably easier to travel sustainably within the country where you are spending a semester or year abroad. It is highly unlikely that you will bring a car with you to your host destination (keeping your hold luggage below the weight limit is challenging enough), so that immediately eliminates one threat to you carbon footprint. Using public transport – as mentioned previously – is the way to go to be as sustainably conscious as low as possible. However, it is of course easier to travel sustainably within cities or bigger towns compared to small towns or even villages. Cities usually offer a wider range of public transport, such as trams or even biofueled buses, so there are clearly inequalities between urban and rural environments in terms of sustainable travel. Regional train to Luxembourg from Belgium One popular (and healthy!) way of keeping carbon emissions low (or zero) is cycling, which is quite common in many European cities where you can even rent a bicycle on a monthly subscription. Several French cities, including Paris and Strasbourg, run their own bike-rental services to encourage more sustainable travel habits among its citizens and visitors, which is often cheaper than purchasing a monthly bus or tram pass (although those sustainable modes of transport are not to be overlooked). All in all, being a sustainable traveller against the current backdrop of an environmental and climate crisis is not an easy task. However, any gestures that we can make – however small they may seem – are indeed better than doing nothing at all. While getting to our destination are important, it is what we do while we are there for months at a time which matter on a daily basis, so research ways in which you can get around your host destination and the country before you leave the UK, as well as investigate any alternative ways of getting there if you can avoid air travel. It might seem daunting, but you can travel sustainably and happily! About the Author Related Articles Taiwan Diaries: Quarantine Rosie Loyd Why you should visit Strasbourg Chloe Brewster YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing Mhairi MacLeod Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chloe Brewster Sustainability Environment Trains Year Abroad Categories: Travel Analysis Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • An evening of 'Santi' | Lingo Magazine

    An evening of 'Santi' Emily Brown Monday 7 November 2022 A review of the concept film 'Santi' and an insight into the Q&A session with the director and executive producer. A look into why everyone should see this film. On Tuesday 11 October, University of Nottingham students and associates were privileged to welcome Harry Richards, writer & director of the short film, Santi, and David Sierra-Márquez, executive producer, to the university for a Q&A and screening of the short film. The feature-length version of Santi is to be filmed between the UK and Colombia in 2023. Santi is a British-Colombian film that tells the story of Santi, Jon Gutierrez, a young Colombian trying to find his feet in a country that is not his own, battling with a new language and culture. The opening scene places our protagonist at a dinner party in London accompanied by his girlfriend, amongst others. Halfway through the scene, Santi receives a phone call, followed by a voice note, from his mother back in Colombia. Not only does the film highlight the difficulties of assimilating to a new way of living, but also the strength of the connections that migrants have with those they left behind. The transformation from complete discomfort at the dinner party, to the joy and unconditional love felt for his family, is cleverly depicted with sound – the noise of a party that he doesn’t understand in the background of a conversation with his mother and family back in Colombia. Santi speaks to all those who have left their home countries in search of something more, as it doesn’t shy away from difficult topics of language barriers, micro aggressions or immigration. “Santi speaks to all those who have left their home countries in search of something more…” The Q&A was a valuable 45 minutes that gave the listeners a chance to put both the film and the work of Harry and David under the microscope, allowing a peek into the process of filmmaking, funding and the magic that goes on behind the scenes. One of the key messages that Harry conveyed throughout the session was the importance of being passionate about the project and finding a motivated team who all wanted to see their ideas come to life. Despite the difficulties encountered in finding filming locations and deals falling through, their vision was executed with skill, care and sensitivity towards the subject matter. What I, along with many of my classmates were previously unaware of, was the intense process of storyboarding that took place every time a new filming location was found. Harry explained how the team learned from previous mistakes, and how they carried these lessons onto the next phase of the filmmaking process. Setbacks, in many senses, added more fuel to their fire to achieve the project. He explained how he integrated both his own experience from his time in Colombia during his year abroad and the expertise of his Colombian colleagues, alongside whom he was able to realise the vision for the film. Santi provides an insightful critique of our own culture that should be shown to audiences everywhere. It is a charming and authentic inspiration for all that challenges preconceptions about those who have taken the leap to live in a foreign country. The importance that it places on authenticity throughout means that, within ten minutes, it captures the mixture of emotions felt when moving to a new country. It provides a warm embrace around the Latin American community who have made a life for themselves in a country that isn’t their own. The film possesses a certain power in making people feel that they are seen and that their stories are being heard, with Santi as the figurehead of the community. It’s both challenging and heart-warming, as it emphasises the power that familial love has as a source of comfort. The highly anticipated full-length film will begin production soon across the UK and Colombia. About the Author Related Articles Encanto: The Deeper Meaning Behind Disney's Award-winning Latino Film Mhairi MacLeod An evening of 'Santi' Emily Brown Foreign Film in the Face of Western Commercialism Francesca Beaumont Images provided by and published with permission from Santi. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Brown Film Santi Screening Hispanic Cinema Categories: Culture Review Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing | Lingo Magazine

    YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing Mhairi MacLeod Tuesday 24 May 2022 Have you ever considered au pairing in a foreign country? Not sure what it actually entails or if it is an experience for you? Our Deputy Editor, Mhairi, shares her rollercoaster experience of au pairing in Barcelona and the realities that come with it. After my term in Peru was cancelled due to the dreaded Covid, I found myself desperately reaching out to the Spanish family that I worked for in the summer of 2019. My friends and family thought I was crazy as all they had heard for the last two years was how I absolutely hated au pairing and that the pressure of looking after two feisty Spanish boys had formed stress lines on my forehead at the young age of 19. I would never do it again. I shouted this from the rooftops whenever anyone asked about my experience of au pairing. Yet here I was sending a jumbled WhatsApp message to the same Spanish family asking if I could come and live with them again for three months. A week later, I was unpacking my suitcase in the same spare room as last time. The room where I had cried so many tears on FaceTime to my parents saying I just wanted to come home (who knew a 4-year-old could make me cry). All I can say now is that I am so glad that I took the risk to go back as my memories of au pairing had been heavily overshadowed by the occasional bad moments back in 2019. I had forgotten just how incredible the experience had been, the friends and memories made, and the huge improvements to my Spanish. There’s nothing like being sat around a dinner table with what seems like hundreds of tíos y tías, primos y abuelos, all talking over each other in their fiery Spanish. In the middle of their heated debate, in an attempt to acquire some backup, one of them would ask ‘the English girl’ what she thought. What felt like hundreds of heads would turn to stare as I tried to form a coherent sentence in Spanish without crumbling from embarrassment. It really is a humbling experience and made an oral exam seem like nothing. Oh, and did I mention that I was living in a huge house in the middle of Barcelona, with a beautiful garden and pool? Now it doesn’t sound too bad at all. Like many things, the experience of au-pairing has its highs and lows. When I first stayed with the family in 2019, the two boys were four and six years old. For a 19-year-old, who didn’t have much experience looking after children, I was plunged straight into the deep end. How was I to know that a four-year-old could cry over his sandwich not being cut the right way? Or that the six-year-old was actually very fast and on several occasions decided to run off down the street and cause me to look like a crazy lady chasing him? It probably took around two months to settle in properly and for the boys to get used to me. After that, it got easier and in hindsight was really great fun. I discovered that the boys were hilarious, whether they knew it or not, and despite their tantrums and meltdowns, they were actually sweet children. Some of my favourite memories are teaching them to swim in the pool and singing Calma by Pedro Capó with them every day. The parents were also the kindest and most accommodating people I have met, who always wanted to make me feel at home. They took me on their multiple family holidays, to the mountains in the Pyrenees, their family home in Cadiz, and weekend trips to beach houses, they really were so generous. I got to experience the local version of Spain and I was made to feel like one. When I returned at the start of this year, the parents were even more welcoming and kind. They constantly praised me for doing a great job with the children and if I looked tired, they would offer to help or tell me to have some more free time to relax. My work schedule was so convenient, and I had so much time to explore the city again. I would wake up at 6 am and get the kids up and ready for school. They would leave for school at 8.30 am (or thereabouts, it was always a bit of a stampede) and later I would pick them up at 5 pm. That left me with a whole day to do absolutely whatever I wanted. I filled this time with language lessons, exercise, exploring the city, and going to the beach, the list was endless. At 5 pm I would walk to their school and look after them until their bedtime at 9 pm. Just in time to go out and have dinner and drinks with my friends in true Spanish local time. The weekends were also my time off and the family often went away so I regularly ended up with a free house and some much-needed peace and quiet. On the occasion that they didn’t go away for the weekend, I had a fun time explaining what a hangover was to the kids, and that ‘yes I don’t look well’. This second time around with the family was an incredible experience, despite the occasional tantrums and meltdowns. The kids were now six and eight years old, they were more independent and welcomed me into their little lives like an older sister. I also cried considerably less than the first time, which in au pairing terms is a great sign. I now have such a good relationship with the family that they treat me as one of their own. They are constantly messaging me to offer up their various houses in Spain for a holiday or telling me that if I am in Madrid I need to visit this amazing bar, visit ‘tío Pablo’ who will give me a lift to the airport, and meet ‘cousin Paz’ who will take me on a night out. The Spanish really do have family everywhere. It sounds funny to say but I feel like I have a second Spanish family and I know that should I ever need their help they will always be there. I got to know Barcelona incredibly well and felt like a local, giving city tours and guides to my friends and family from home. On top of this, I met some great people from all over the world at my language school, some of who I now consider some of my greatest friends. I realise how lucky I was to have such a great experience with this family, as I know it is not always the case for other au pairs. For me, the experience of au pairing was something that made me grow up very quickly, there is a lot of responsibility and suddenly you are the adult answering all sorts of questions from two very inquisitive children. My favourite was the classic ‘how are babies made?’ to which I swiftly tried to change the topic by pointing to a dog on the other side of the road. Make no mistakes, it’s tiring and when I say tiring, I mean truly exhausting. I remember being dropped at the airport after three months with the family and falling asleep at the airport gate from sheer exhaustion. At times it’s not glamorous and it will make you question why you ever signed up for it. However, I can truthfully say that it is an invaluable experience and in my opinion one of the best ways to learn a language and experience a foreign culture. Whilst it wasn’t my ideal year abroad, Covid-19 has meant that we must be flexible and adaptable. Oh, and let’s not forget the other spanner in the works called Brexit. It is ok to feel disheartened that things have not gone how you may have wished however, this is proof that sometimes the ‘worse’ option can work out for the best. About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Images provided by Mhairi Macleod For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Spain Year Abroad Advice Mhairi Macleod Living Abroad Au Pairing Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival | Lingo Magazine

    Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival Francesca Beaumont Wednesday 25 October 2023 A look at Sweden’s contemporary cultural industry and how AI plans to augment and reimagination some of Sweden's most famous film's. Exploring what Gothenburg Film Festival's digitalized debut mean for the future of the film industry. Is it an exciting experimental shift in cinema, or will Artificial Intelligence be used to undercut the authenticity so intimately undergirding art house cinema? In January 2024, the Göteborg film festival will be host to an AI-assisted reimagination of Swedish arthouse classic ‘Persona’ (Dir. Ingmar Bergman). But what does this digital debut mean for the future of the film industry? Is it signalling an exciting experimental shift in cinema? Or will AI Augmentation be used to undercut the authenticity that is so intimately undergirding art house cinema? In this debut, Liv Ullman, most known for her performance as Elisabet Vogler in Persona (1966), will have her face digitally replaced by the face of Alma Pöysti, a Swedish-speaking Finnish actor, most recognised for her 2023 performance in ‘Fallen Leaves’. Jonas Holmberg, Göteborg film festival’s artistic director, claims that “the authenticity that has made ‘Persona’ a classic has been urgently reactivated by technological advancements”, and thus this restoration of ‘Persona’ (1966), which will be screened exclusively at the Swedish film festival, will act more as a “discussion on acting and technology” than an applause for emerging technological advancement in the film industry. Choosing Ingmar Bergman’s arthouse apotheosis is an interesting move from Sweden’s largest film festival, as Bergman’s films are intrinsically tied to the nature of the soul. His oeuvre is famous for extracting and implementing Nietzschean ethics and Kierkegaardian existentialism throughout. And to now frame his works inside a digital medium provides a platform for some very interesting debates. Holmberg argues that AI is purely reactivating authenticity, but how is it possible that we can attach authenticity to art that requires digitalism to propel itself into the scope of legitimacy? In anti-AI rhetoric, it is held that creativity is an invariably human quality – one that is completed out of sync with technology. To be creative is to be human. In superseding our own creativity with AI, are we not outsourcing our humanity to machinery as a means to mitigate the authenticity of the self? However, it is also widely held that all technology is inevitably embedded in, and influenced by, the social context in which it is developed, and thus there is no reason why Artificial Intelligence doesn’t have the capacity to emulate the authenticity of the human soul. This suggests that the artificial restoration of Bergman’s classic is not upending the complexity of the human condition but rather enhancing the multitude of ways we approach it. In many of Harvard Business Review’s AI Articles, it is held that “AI carries such great potential to satisfy the need to create content that it is incredibly representative of the consumer”. Taken positively, we can then take on the assumption that, through digitally enhanced art and film, we will soon be reaching a place where AI will be able to reflect to us the essence of our own authenticity with impressive accuracy. And where better to start than cinema? Sweden’s contemporary film scene is certainly home to some of the most current and heated debates regarding the merging of Artificial Intelligence with Art. So, whilst this artificial augmentation of ‘Persona’ will not be releasing outside of Sweden, it still births a very important argument regarding cinema worldwide and how emerging technology plans to modulate the cultural industry. About the Author Related Articles Film in Flux: Conflating Creativity and Artificial Intelligence at Gothenburg Film Festival Francesca Beaumont Rugby: A culture of respect? Eleanor Curtis Images provided by Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: cinema technology culture sweden Francesca Beaumont artificial intelligence Categories: Cultural Spotlight Global Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

  • A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections | Lingo Magazine

    A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse Wednesday 6 April 2022 The French head to the polls this weekend to elect their next President. With many candidates from all sides of the political spectrum, controversial campaigns and troubling times, Niamh gives the rundown of everything you need to know this French election season. Election season has begun in France as voters head to polling stations this weekend to elect who they wish to be their President for the next five years. The current term, under Emmanuel Macron, has certainly been eventful, with the Gilets Jaunes movement of 2019, an increasingly severe climate crisis, two years of a global pandemic and now a potentially devasting war in Europe. All these issues and more will be on the electorate’s minds as they go to the ballot box. With this article, you’ll be filled in on all the basics you need to know for the upcoming election across la Manche . How does the election work? The French election process consists of two rounds of voting, held 14 days apart. The first round, this year on 10th April, allows candidates, who have managed to collect at least 500 signatures of support from elected representatives, such as mayors, to run in the race for President. If one candidate out of this initial group gains more than 50% of the vote, then they win the election and will become the next president of the 5th Republic. But, if no one wins the first round, as is looking likely this year, the two candidates with the highest number of votes progress to the next round. This year they will go head-to-head on 24th April. Finally, the winner of this round will take office in the Elysée Palace on 13th May. Politics fans will be glad to hear that this is not the end of the French election season – the following month there is another vote to decide on the Députés (MPs) to represent each constituency in the National Assembly. The newly elected president will hope for a majority from the 577 places up for grabs so they can run the government the way they promised in election campaigns. Who is in the race? This year, there are 12 candidates running for President - eight men and four women. Starting in the centre, we have the current President, Emmanuel Macron, representing his party République En Marche! (Republic on the move!), which attracts voters from both sides of the political spectrum. Last election season, En Marche were the new party on the scene and took the political world by storm, winning the election in the second round. Of the five remaining frontrunners, we have two from the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Yannick Jadot. Mélenchon stands for the Union Populaire , a far-left party focusing on issues such as governmental and constitutional reform. While Jadot represents France’s equivalent of the Green Party, Parti Socialiste , the party of former President François Hollande, and its candidate, the Parisian Mayor Anne Hildalgo, have failed to overcome major setbacks over their reputation. This has lead voters of the traditional left to look elsewhere, especially to Macron and the centre. Moving on to the contenders from the right side of French politics, Valerie Pécresse is from the more moderate party Les Républicains , whilst Marine Le Pen and Eric Zemmour represent the far right. Le Pen, along with her father Jean-Marie, has been an infamous name in French politics for many years, having a strong anti-immigrant rhetoric. New to politics, the Reconquête nominee, Eric Zemmour, holds more hardline views, promising to implement a ‘zero immigration’ policy. What are the important topics and issues up for debate? Opinion polls suggest that the most important issues of the election debate have been the economy, immigration, and security. The current economy is relatively strong, having bounced back from the impact of the pandemic. As well as this, unemployment has decreased to 7.4%, just above the European average. Both of these factors will draw voters to Macron, as it has been under his government that these improvements have occurred. The next issue, immigration, has always been an integral part of French society, albeit a controversial one. There are around 7 million immigrants living in France, mostly coming from countries across Europe and the Maghreb (Northern Africa). The topic is most prominent in the campaigns of the right-wing candidates, with Madame Le Pen promising a referendum on the matter if she succeeds. France has experienced a number of terror attacks over the past few years, so understandably security is an important topic for both voters and nominees. Macron promises to put more police on the streets to reassure the French public, pointing to the fact that crime has fallen under his presidency. What are the predictions? According to the polls, Macron is strongly out in front in the race to the Elysée. This advantage has recently been strengthened by his strong response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he does not have strong enough support to claim victory solely from the first round. So, the question is who will he go against in the second. Marine Le Pen looks to be the strongest contender, gaining more support after remarks came out from her far-right rival, Eric Zemmour, saying that he ‘admired’ Putin. Le Pen has also had controversy surrounding links to the Russian President, having to bin a number of flyers featuring the pair together. Nevertheless, her message on purchasing power, made worse by the crisis in Ukraine, has resonated with many, especially the working class. Then, currently polling at 14% is the far-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Melenchon’s principal policy is to change the political system, creating a 6th Republic. Even though he is the strongest contestant from the left, his vote suffers from the fragmentation on this end of the spectrum. So many parties representing similar political ideals lead to confusion and division amongst voters. As a result, the left once again are being shown to lack a strong foothold in this election. About the Author Related Articles A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse "El silencio de otros": 45 years of the Amnesty Law in Spain Aidan Cross French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years Jess Henrys Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: France Politics Elections President Niamh Woodhouse Categories: News Guide Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

  • Maya Selvadurai | Lingo Magazine

    Modern Languages with Business < Back Maya Selvadurai Latest Articles by this Author

  • Mental Health Awareness Week: What's Going on at UoN? | Lingo Magazine

    Mental Health Awareness Week: What's Going on at UoN? Holly Cromwell Thursday 14 March 2024 Holly talks about what is happening at UoN during Mental Health Awareness week, exploring events, support available, and student opinions. It’s Mental Health Awareness Week here on campus! Keep an eye out for your school’s mental health day for freebies and relaxing games. (Unfortunately, STEM students, we’ve noticed you tend to be left out here – is this your chance to talk to your Student Reps about it? You deserve free hot chocolate too.) There are also university-wide events to remind us to take time for ourselves, slow down for a second and prioritise ourselves in the face of the ugly, looming spectre of deadline season. Now, this week is not without controversy. Over the last few days, I’ve heard people describe it as infantilising or useless, a plaster over a bullet hole: student mental health is notoriously bad. This year’s House of Commons Research Briefing on it even suggests our mental health is up to seven times worse than our predecessors from 2010. The thing is, Mental Health Awareness Week is not supposed to fix things. Yes, the activities provided do tend to be based in mindfulness, but the point is to remind everyone on campus to take a moment and evaluate themselves. How aware are you of your mental health? How are you actually feeling at this moment? How do you feel about your university work, your pays-the-bills work, your relationships, your life? For some of us university can suck because it’s difficult, challenging, or full-on; for others, challenging may be an understatement. There may be things we can do to make it more accessible; there might not be. This is a chance to think about how you’re doing, and maybe even make a few changes to make your life a little easier. It took me three years to finally put in that support request my personal tutor recommended in first year, and another term to figure out how it actually works. Might as well start now. I’ll also take this opportunity to shout out resources for when things get tough. I’m on committee for Nightline, full disclosure, so I obviously want you to know our phone lines and IM system are open every night of term from 7 pm – 8 am whether you have something to talk about or just don’t want to feel alone. But Nightline is not the only resource you have: the university wellbeing service has a full directory you can find at this link ( Student Wellbeing ( nottingham.ac.uk ) ) and whilst a lot of it is now referral only, you can get that referral from the support and wellbeing officer attached to your faculty. You can find them through the link above or from the MyWellbeing section of the studentlife site. Go forth and find your freebies, but do keep in mind what this week is all about. About the Author Related Articles Protecting your mental health abroad Aidan Cross Surviving Language Student Life: Scheduling Jess Henrys You Are Not Alone Jess Henrys Images provided by University of Nottingham. For more information about Mental Health Awareness at UoN please visit the following website: University Mental Health Day - The University of Nottingham For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Mental Health Wellbeing Holly Cromwell Events University Student life Categories: Welfare Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

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