Monday 28 April 2014

The start of Trinity term...

So, I am back in college for the final term of my first year at university and the joy of collections once again, which are tests at the start of each term yayyy (NOT). They were 'meh' and then I went out with my friends to celebrate. However, something happened on this night out that I am going to express with a lame poem.

They say that every girl wants a gay bestfriend,
A guy that she can talk to in a totally platonic way,
Who gives her insight into the male brain,
And keeps the night club sharks at bay.

But what is this girl supposed to say
When her gay bestfriend repeatedly tells her when drunk
That he sometimes looks at her and wishes that he wasn't gay?

Are the words true?
Or are they the senseless mutterings of an inebriated mind?
Indeed, what should this girl do,
To solve this problem that has plagued mankind?

Friday 25 April 2014

Reppin' da CU

 At the end of last term, I got made one of the reps for my college's Christain Union. Hooray! Praise God! My responsibilities will involve leading the weekly Bible studies and prayer meetings, organising CU events in college like Text-A-Toastie and trying to spread the message of what Christianity is all about around college. Daunting stuff but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! (Philippians 4:13).

Ledbury is beauts
  I had to go away for a training weekend in Ledbury with the other CU reps around the university and it was such a great experience to get away from the hustle and bustle of student life to focus on spiritual things. One of the main messages that I got during Reps'
Conference was through a song called 'Oceans' by Hillsong United and this song pretty much sums up all I aim to gain from being a CU rep, these lyrics especially:

'Spirit, lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you may call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour'.

I know repping won't be all smooth sailing and that I will face some challenges along the way but I hope that God will help me get through them.

Friday 18 April 2014

An Intervention

 'An Intervention' is Mark Bartlett's latest play, after hits such as his adaptation of Medea and Love, Love, Love and it is a captivating and  emotional masterpiece that will leave you thinking about it long after the lights go up. 'An Intervention' stars Rachael Sterling (Medea) and John Hollingworth (Our Country's Good) in a touching, funny story about what happens when you hate your best friend.

  The chemistry between the two leads is believable, electric and natural. The play's pace is never static as they bring Bartlett's exceptionally current and relevant script to life by exploring the hilarious and moving aspects of it equally. Stirling is heartbreakingly brilliant in her role, and through her character, the audience is made to reflect on the destructive and supportive parts of friendships; how little actions can go a long way and how it is better to have one friend than no friend at all and Hollingworth is perfect in his role as this friend.

  Furthermore, the minimalist lighting and set make it easier to focus on the dialogue, as well as the tough issues that are explored in the play such as alcoholism, the nature of war, health problems and so on. 'An Intervention' made this reviewer cry, laugh and cry some more and Mark Bartlett has truly outdone himself with this oeuvre.

Rating 4/5 ****

Wednesday 16 April 2014

Star-Crossed

  There are many things that I regret and am very bitter about when I think about Year 12, my first year of A Levels. I regret not taking my AS subject more seriously. I regret not saying 'no' more often; I would have avoided the stress of multiple commitments and responsibilities if I had done this. I regret doing five subjects but the subject that I am most bitter about is History. My course was American History so we did Civil Rights from 1945- 1968, then Presidents from 1968-2001. I was really excited to learn about this period because I find it all so intriguing and fascinating. However, unfortunately, I had a terrible History teacher who taught the course in a very poor way. So, I wasn't able to get much out of it, which was very sad. But enough dwelling on sad times, this post is about a new TV show that I'm really into,'Star-Crossed'.

  'Star-Crossed' is a sci-fi drama that is set in the near-future. It follows the romance between a human girl called Emery and an alien boy called Roman after his species, the Atrians, crash land on Earth. The aliens are rounded up by the humans and made to stay in a confinement camp known as 'The Sector', where they have curfews, locked gates, 24hour armed security and monitory devices to ensure that they do not step out of bounds. Ten years after their initial arrival, seven Atrian teenagers are chosen to be the first to attend high school with humans, on a trial integration programme.

 What initially drew me to the show is the way that similarities can be drawn between the 'Atrian 7' and the 'Little Rock Nine', and I had a nerd moment with myself because I remembered something from the sham that was my AS History year! (My rambling intro wasn't for nothing, folks).

The 'Little Rock Nine' were the first group of African American students to enrol at Little Rock Central High School, Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957, due to previous segregation laws. They were met by angry mobs, protests, verbal and physical abuse and had to be admitted under the protection of the US Army. It was a very difficult year for the African American students (one of the girls even had acid thrown at her!) but it was a very important milestone in the fight for equality and at least four of them eventually graduated from the school and went on to university.

  It is evident that 'Star-Crossed' took inspiration from this as the Atrian 7 are met with similar scenes and it can even be said that the human terrorist, anti-integration organisation that is shown on the show, the Redhawks, were inspired by the KKK and its alien counter-part, 'The Trags', the Black Panthers.The show deals with issues such as acceptance, intolerance and the fear of 'the other' that is inherent in most humans. Although these issues could be explored in more detail, instead of just taking a back seat to the predictable love-story, it's still a good show nevertheless. Furthermore, some critics have criticised the way that the only things that makes the Atrians seem 'alien' are the tattoo-like markings on their faces but I think this is effective as it shows how ridiculous prejudice is because there is no real difference between them and the humans.

  If you like the sound of 'Star-Crossed' and would like to check it out for yourself, it shows on Sky1 at 8pm on Fridays in the UK and there is something in it for everyone from cool futuristic shizzle to a bit of romance and an exploration of deep issues.

Rating- 6/10.

Tuesday 1 April 2014

The End of Hilary Term!

She looks happy but  I bet she's actually dying inside, like I was.
 I am home! It has been the longest term EVER. Hilary term actually ended on 15th of March but I didn't leave until the 31st of March as I stayed behind to work for college, for the annual alumni telethon. Those were probably the longest and loneliest sixteen days of my life and I am not being melodramatic. The job itself was so soul destroying and college is a totally different place without my friends and other students there. However, I made a lot of £££, got a bit of work done and learned a few lessons from the telethon and my second term at university:

1) I will never EVER work at a job that I hate. I was literally counting down the seconds until my shift ended.

2) I am good at talking to people and charming them over the phone to donate. So good, in fact, that I was rewarded with wine and chocolate eggs by my supervisors. It made me really start to hate myself, though. Too much hustlin' for me.

3) One of the alumni that I spoke to suggested a very interesting way of analysing the texts that I study; he told me that as a Christian, I should try examining my texts from a Christian perspective, as that will help me relate to the texts more and feel more about them. I have never considered that before but from now on, I will definitely be considering what a Christian would say about Baudelaire, Beauvoir and Laclos!

4) My college has always been the lovely, friendly and welcoming environment that I know it to be today, so yayy for Pembroke!

5) Never settle for second best: if your current friends don't treat you like you deserve and if there is an imbalance in your relationship, put yourself out there and find better ones. Trust me, they're out there and I definitely found some this term.

6) I learned how to stop being a doormat with the help of my family and great friends. If you feel that something is wrong, don't just take it. Speak now and stick up for yourself.

7) Boys are very very confusing creatures and I am still very confused about this whole 'love' thing. I mean, what even is love?

8) I'm still going out completely sober and having a lot of fun! Being 'the Mother' of the group is not as tedious as some think it is. As lame as it sounds, I love being there for my friends.

9) Access is still a big deal for me. A really big deal.

Now, to enjoy being home! I look forward to spending entire days in my PJs and just lazing about. LOL JK, I have collections to revise for and a whole lot of reading to do. But I'd rather not think about that right now...