Diploma period, weekend....etc.

2.30pm- Hello everyone. I'm in the Universities Room at the moment- the warmest and most modern room in the castle! I got up quite late this morning and went to the gym with my dormie. We then went to Brunch a little later than usual and I've been working since then. I ran through my TOK presentation with my partner, and so we are now ready for that tomorrow. I worked most of the day yesterday as well. I revised for Maths and E Systems tests which I have this week. I must also continue preparing for my English oral and do some French work. Last night was "Cinderfella"-  an annual AC event and the proceeds go to charity. Two boys from each house dress as girls and have to perform various tasks and demonstrate different talents. I helped dress our PK guys beforehand and helped them change during the show. I think I'll say it was an interesting experience!
     I went with the PTA to see Twilight on Friday night in Bridgend. I am not a huge Twilight fan and until recently would never have dreamed of paying to watch it! My interest in it is clearly growing as I've seen half of the first film, the second one in French and then went to watch this one in the cinema! I just enjoyed going with my friends and we had a good laugh. I think the occasion got to me as I found the film very enjoyable!
     The Second Years had the Sustainability Conference on Thursday and Friday. I thoroughly enjoyed it on Thursday but found Friday was not as good. I attended two interesting workshops on Thursday- one discussing the economic aspects of sustainability (in a wider context of all problems facing the world) and another on growing your on food. My Econ teacher ran the first workshop and an AC graduate who now works in the food industry ran the second. We planted some seeds and she taught us lots of nice little tips for growing your own crops. She's moving to London to design and create a roof garden soon- sounds so exciting. I can't wait to have my own house and garden! A farmer from West Wales also gave a lecture on organic and sustainable farming, which I found very interesting and inspiring. There was also a very interesting Question Time-style panel debate on Thursday afternoon held in the Bradenstoke Hall. Two of the speakers were from Cardiff University- one was a Professor of Engineering, the other of Economics. The third panel member teaches at UCL and is a member of the IIED- International Institute for Environment and Development. It was a fascinating debate covering many issues and concluded with the question "Is now the time for the end of money?". The poor engineer looked terrified!     My first workshop on Friday was about Fairtrade clothing but I found I already knew most of what the lady said and so did not find it that good. In the afternoon we made chutney with home produce and my hands smelt like garlic and chilly for the next 24hours! The man from IIED gave a lecture on Friday and showed us all of the scary statistics on climate change. There were many graphs demonstrating all kinds of things-  emissions from cities and countries and also the different things which are included in various calculations. During the conference, the conversation often reverted back to Capitalism, Consumption and Western attitudes. I've been left with the realisation that Sustainability is one part of a very big situation which cannot continue in the same way for much longer.
      I really must go now. I want to do as much work as possible before the East-Asian National Evening tonight. Love to all.

Rainy day

9.40am- Good morning! Yesterday was the busiest day of my week, but also very enjoyable. I had a full day of codes, followed by Service and an Activity. I don't go to lunch on a Tuesday as I know the menu and prefer to eat in PK before rushing off to Service. Yesterday was a very big day for my Computer Club lady as we set up an e mail account and she sent an e mail! She was so happy- I just love my sessions with her. After that I went to the library to work on my TOK Presentation for a while. After supper I had my Felting activity and we prepared some natural dyes for our pieces. I will start my final piece, a scarf, next week. I then went to the Music department with my Italian friend to listen to her play the piano. She is performing in a concert next week and it was wonderful to hear her practice. By the time I got back to PK at 9.30pm, I was tired and in need of a shower! I still did a little work and had a 'tea-date' with some of the Second Year girls at check-in.
    Today is the last day of codes this week as the next AC Diploma Period starts tomorrow. First Years have started their Critical Engagement conference today (we did it last year) and our Sustainability Conference starts tomorrow. Should be interesting. It also means I will have some more time to work (hopefully!). I have TOK in a minute and then Service straight after codes. I am going to my school session so should be good. Love to all.

Another week begins...

12pm- Hello everyone. I had a lovely weekend and so I am now ready to start the week! The Friday Lecture on Friday was amazing- John Abbot gave us his views on how educational systems around the world are failing. It was fascinating and I hope to write more about it on here one day. I had a fantastic Friday night with the PTA (my group of friends). We had so much fun (and food!). I went to Cardiff on Saturday with one of my Dormie's. We relaxed, ate and worked a little. It was so good to get out from AC for a while. Saturday night was also lots of fun. We had the 17% Ball (as 17% of AC is gay) and had to go with a partner of the same sex. I went with my Turkish friend and we 'double dated' with girls from Israel and Itlay. We had lots of fun getting ready, cooking and then Sosh in the Bradenstoke Hall for a couple of hours. So after I'd been to the gym yesterday morning I decided to work. I prepared my TOK presentation with a friend and also revised History. I just had a test on Tsarist Russia, which is fascinating as I've never studied it before. I also managed to become gripped to watching Pride & Prejudice with my Dormie last night. I've seen it so many times but still love it and seemed so much better than work!
    I have early lunch now, then TOK. This afternoon I have a Flute lesson. I will then work A LOT this evening! Love to all.

Time flies....!

11.15am- Good Morning! I'm sorry I haven't written on here for so long- I keep meaning to write but then I never get time! This week has been a very busy but overall enjoyable week so far. On Sunday we elected a new House Rep as it was time for one of the Second Year Reps to stand down. My Japanese dorm mate has done a brilliant job over the past year but I'm sure the new Firstie will be just as good. I visited my Nanny on Monday as it was her Birthday. Mum and Dad came to pick me up and it was good to be able to see her on her Birthday. I have also been busy with some Peer Listener issues this week. In addition to that, I have had normal codes, worked and been to Service and Activites. I'm making a scarf in my Felting Acticity.  My Computer Club session was great- I introduced my lady to internet shopping! She still has some trouble with navigating the mouse and typing but I can see that she is improving each week.  I had a lovely School Session yesterday. I helped the children learn to use money and played 'money' bingo! I also helped the teacher with some more administrative things like sending letters home etc. I now appreciate how difficult it is to be a primary school teacher as every week I have about 6 five year olds waving scissors around, pulling my clothes and calling my name! My children are usually very well behaved however -they're just lovely little things with lots of energy and not always the best idea of how to use it! There first student concert of the year was last night, and it was fantastic. It only lasted for half and hour but three very talented students performed- one on the violin, harpsichord and  the marimba. My Danish friend performed a composition he had written for the marimba. It was amazing. The performance was recorded and will be sent off to the IB as they are all music students. I did PSHE with the First Years last night as well.  I had a practice English Oral exam this morning. The actual one for the IB will be in the beginning of December but it is very worthwhile to start preparing now. We all recorded ourselves and then played it back. I am going to do many more practices before the final one so it should be fine.
     I am going to go to the gym after codes today and then I have a Peer Listeners Meeting this afternoon. We don't have Open House in PK tonight as someone has tampered with the fire extinguishers and they have to be replaced. It is so stupid and unnecessary and so we will be having a house meeting to discuss that instead. Must go. Hope everyone is well.

Exciting news!

Hello everyone! Today has been an important morning.I have received my first Uni offer- from Exeter! I checked my e mail during my first code free and there was an e mail from UCAS saying there had been a change in my application. I can't believe it!! I rang Mum and Dad and they are very happy! It's a conditional offer of 38, which should be fine. I'm so excited!!!!!!!! Love to all.

The end of the HAT!

11.20am- Good morning everyone. I sat the HAT yesterday morning and I think it went OK. At least, I do not feel as though it was a disaster! I actually enjoyed it and found it very interesting, but obviously challenging. There is now nothing else I can do in relation to applying to Uni as I am sending my submitted written work in today. All I can do now is wait..... Whatever happens, it has been an interesting experience!
      It does mean that I can now focus on my IB once again.... and specifically my TOK presentation. I have been given the date now (in a couple of weeks) so I'm glad I can prepare in my own time. I'm working with a friend, which is great as we can discuss and bounce ideas off each other as we work. I'm very excited about a lecture I will be going to this evening. Jack Fairweather, a former AC student and now award winning journalist and Harvard professor is going to talk about his new book. The book is called " A War of Choice" and charts the story of Tony Blair's Iraq War. Fairweather was The Telegraph's bureau chief in Baghdad during the war and so it will be fascinating to hear his experiences and opinions. I am also keen to meet him as he studied History at Oxford and then became a journalist..... just what I would love to do!!
     My dorm is on Open House duty this week which means we have to organise and prepare the food for Open House tonight. As it is the week of Halloween and we are having Halloween Sosh tomorrow, we have decided to make Toffee Apples. We will be busy doing that for a while tonight but it should be fun.
     I have TOK next and will see the first TOK presentation in my class. I am keen to see exactly what a TOK presentation will be as I'm still not too sure of exactly what is expected- there seem to be so many conflicting opinions. Love to everyone.

Half-way through Third Term!

4pm- Hello everyone. I'm back from my wonderful break, which was a great combination of Paris and home. I had an amazing time and found the break from work and AC was just what I needed. I think most of us, especially Second Years, have come back feeling refreshed after the break. And it is only five weeks until Christmas break! I can't believe I'm approaching the end of Third Term! I have my HAT exam tomorrow for Oxford and so I have been doing past-papers for that. I find them really interesting and whatever happens I will learn something from it. I'll do my last past paper tonight and then I'll just get up as usual tomorrow but instead of going to codes, I'll go to the Bradenstoke Hall to take the exam. All of the Oxford entrance exams are happening tomorrow and so I have friends taking the BMAT, ELAT, etc. It's only a two hour exam and so we'll go to codes and service as usual afterwards. I have just had service this afternoon and it was lovely as usual. I thoroughly enjoy teaching my Computer Club lady and we always have a giggle! Going to do some Maths homework now and then go off to supper. Love to all.