The life of a Second Year...

6.30pm- I'm afraid the life of a 2nd Year at AC can be very sad at times! It's a Saturday night and I'm sitting in the Uni room in the castle working. The Mocks start on Monday and I am nowhere near ready. Having said that, I don't think anyone is. I've revised since 10am this morning, stopping for lunch and supper. At one point my friend and I ran outside and around the Beast Garden. It was fun and also very refreshing to get out and do something silly. I was invited to go out for quick meal with some other 2nd Years tonight but I had to be disciplined and stay here. I have given myself lots of time off this week so I feel as though I must really work now. Everywhere on campus my co-years are doing the same, which makes me feel a little less miserable! We're all studying tonight whilst watching the 1st Years relax and remembering how nice it used to be. I'm looking forward to Project Week when we can relax and just enjoy spending time with each other for a while. Tomorrow will be pretty much the same as today but I'm meeting my friend at the gym in before Brunch. Tomorrow night is the North American National Evening and so that will be a good break as well. On Monday I only have English, and I have about 2 exams per day after that until the 29th. We're doing all the final exams in just over a week- it usually takes a month! I therefore know that the mocks are not a realistic representation of ourselves. However I don't think it's ever nice to fail!  Am going to work a little on French by reading the Le Monde website ( a sort of working compromise!). Love to all.

A good day

8.30pm- Good evening everyone. Today has been a good day (even though it is a Monday!). Assembly was long but entertaining and I had early lunch (always good). After codes I went with my Indonesian friend to the gym. Everyone was laughing as she has never been seen near the gym! The aim is to make it a weekly thing...we'll see! I enjoy going to the gym these days as it a good break from work etc. After the gym I did my laundry and practised my flute whilst it was drying. I had a very productive afternoon, it just had nothing to do with work or revising! This evening I've worked on a French past-paper which is very good preparation for mocks and the IB. I'm also making sure I practise writing about poetry for English. Tomorrow is one of my busiest days- full codes and then Service. I'm looking forward to Computer Club. We'll see if my lady can open and read the e mail I sent her! Am going to read Le Monde online (and then The Guardian!) before 2nd Year House Meeting at 10pm. Love to all.

It's coming....

10.45am- It seems to me as though everything is coming- mocks, Project Week, the IB, Uni... the list goes on. I realise that lately I have been thinking about time and the future a lot. I cannot help it and there are so many things at AC which provoke us to contemplate the future. We are only here for 2 years and for the first time in my life I know for certain that something which has been a huge part of my life will end. Where I live, who I live with and even how I live. But there's nothing I can do about it. In the immediate future we have to think what work do I have? How am I going to fit all of this in? etc. However we're also made to think about far bigger questions regarding the future- what do I want to do in my life? Where and how am I going to do this? I sometimes feel as though I should not 'plan' but then I realise that the things I want to achieve do indeed require some form of planning. For some reason I prefer to say I 'think about things' instead of 'planning things'!
    I am discovering  that life is all about balance. From when to work and when to relax to when to plan and when to take things as they come, it's all about balance. I don't think there will ever be a time when this does not apply. I should therefore thank AC for ensuring I realise this!
    The past couple of days have been hectic. I had full codes on Tuesday and then Service. It was great as always and my Computer Club lady sent me an e mail saying- "you have the most cheeky giggle"! So I replied and said that she was the cheeky one who made me giggle!  I loved my school session yesterday as well. I love working with the children and having tea with the teachers. They give me different things to do- yesterday was organising and giving out the milk and also running the 'Welsh' task. I genuinely feel like a teacher when I'm sitting at my own table with a pile of worksheets, surrounded by children asking ten different questions and calling my name. Trying to see how they're all doing is so hard!! The teacher said they'd like me to go on their next school trip with them if possible. I'll have to see when it is and if I can get time off from AC. It would be great if I could go.
     Maths Project deadline is tomorrow and I think I've finished. I'm not sure as I hear so many different things about the task! I also have a French oral to prepare for and some English work to do. I should really be revising but we'll have to wait and see. I have a flute lesson this afternoon as well. What was I saying about balance?!  Love to all.

Weekend, work and fun

10.40am- Hello everyone. Must be very brief as I have Econ in a minute. I had a lovely relaxing weekend. I saw my family on Saturday and chilled in PK for the rest of the time. I also managed to work (productively) which was good. I received another Uni offer as well. I'm only waiting for Bristol now.... Just need to keep working to get the grades. I have service this afternoon, which I'm looking forward to. The Board of Governors are here, we see them walking around and at mealtimes. Maths Project is my plan for tonight. I realised yesterday that I had typed some of my data incorrectly. Luckily I spotted it and have now re-done the calculations. Love to all.

For once, PK is not the best house!

9.15am- Morning everyone. I'm afraid PK, the newest and nicest house on campus has let us down. The heating hadn't worked all week but luckily came back on yesterday. It's been very cold outside and not much warmer inside! However, just as it was getting warmer, the water supply stopped. Yesterday morning there was a trail of ice running down Main Drive from the pipe outside PK. The pipe had split in the cold and workmen had to turn off the supply so we have no water. There is a little hot water left in the tank but not much. I had a shower in Gwynedd house last night, which was interesting. Most PK people are experiencing communal showers for the first time. The worst thing for me however, is that I can't get water to drink and I can't make tea! I don't mind going to Morgannwg to brush my teeth but not being able to pop downstairs for a cup of tea is what I miss most! We aren't sure when it will be fixed but we're all fine for now.
    AC Model United Nations is being held this afternoon. I'm representing Libya on the Human Rights Council. Before that I have another interactive French oral. I've prepared so it should be OK. My Econ teacher is unwell so I also have a triple free this morning-great as I can go over French. Love to all.

Time flies

11.30am- Good morning everyone. I can't believe how quick the days and weeks are passing! I have had a lot of work to do this week, particularly Maths and French. I just had a History test this morning and I think it was OK. Both of my service session were great yesterday and Tuesday. I spent most of Computer Club teaching my lady how to use her mobile phone! It was a lot of fun but I also realise how the younger generation lead a totally different life to elderly people. I think this inevitably causes a divide (of varying severity) in families and ultimately society as well. I love explaining the basics but it makes me realise how alien so many of the concepts used everyday in the media etc. are to a large proportion of the population. This is sadly one of the costs of the incredible technological development which has happened in recent years.  I did not work with my usual class in my school session yesterday as they were on a trip. Instead, I was put with the class above and helped with some art and craft and DT work. It was nice to work with a slightly different age group and it required a different approach. It was far more academic and I needed to be able to teach some harder things! I think I enjoy working with my younger ones and so I'll be back with them next week.  I have a flute lesson this afternoon and then I must practise for the French oral I have tomorrow. I have to roughly plan my days to make sure I allow enough time for different things. We are also voting in the Student Council Elections for the new Chair and Vice-Chair. The speeches were held on Tuesday night and there are some very good candidates for both positions. I'm sure we've seen future politicians and diplomats from all over the world.  Have early lunch and then Econ. It is actually freezing here, and not just outside! We've had some problems with PK heating and it has been very cold in the house. I found my fingerless gloves yesterday because I couldn't write it was so cold. The library is also really cold but that's what you get for studying in a castle I suppose! Will go to read The Guardian now. Love to all.