May in Durham

I finally handed in my last summative and now, gotta prep for my six exams this month.

I have been feeling a bit tired lately because I worked so hard on these summatives. But you know, sometimes you have to slow down and take care of yourself. Since it gets quite intense in terms of work and I can’t really slow down because of all the material I have to learn, I’ve modified my behavior or just reinforced some of my habits for exam periods.

• I avoid earphones when I get out of the house in the morning. I take them off and focus on my breathing and being aware of my surroundings. It gives time to focus and reposition yourself, take a step back and ponder a bit. The weather right now is great in Durham, still a bit cold relative to France – I’ll give you that-, but it is green everywhere and you can hear birds just about everywhere. It’s a very nice feeling to just be present in the moment in such an environment.
• Mealprep! Yes, I’ve become more efficient at it. Exam period is NOT the time to start one of these weird unhealthy diets where you try to only eat small portions and only veggies. Don’t forget your protein and, every so often, carbs!
• HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! You have to keep your brain going during all of this studying. I carry a water bottle everywhere and I go to the bathroom a ridiculous amount of times but it is essential!
• Library=work vs home=chill : I made a rule for myself. I think that this reduces the level of stress and maintains a certain balance. However, other people may have a different strategy. In my case, I work all day long in the library, but once I exit, I force work and even the thought of workout of the rest of my day.

Other news? Well, small story. As I’ve already mentioned, the weather is getting much better in Durham and it lightens up the mood of everyone despite the stress of exams. My roommates came back yesterday afternoon with a bunch of fairy lights and fake grass to turn our backyard into a small paradise. We stacked some Tesco boxes and made a table out of them, put a candle and flowers on top, put a chair on each side and now we have the proper spot for a speed-dating reality show. Very cute!

A Strategy to Study @ Billy B

Exam period is upon us and I have been trying to figure out the best way to get things done in order to manage all of these assessments in a very short amount of time. In my case, I need to study at the library in order to actually do work. Once I get out, it’s caput. So here are some tips to get through all of this:

1. Get to the library early! If you want to find a seat in the main library during this period, start going early at the end of April. I’m a morning person, so I manage to get here at 8 a.m. No obligation to get there so early but just know that by 10 AM, the library is already half filled!
2. Find a spot with daylight. I used to work on the fourth floor, where you wouldn’t get that much sunlight. Sunlight helps you stay awake and is just generally quite agreable.
3. Bring your liquids. Everyday, I bring my own coffee in a thermos and one of these Starbucks reusable cups. I also bring tea bags to make a warm cup of tea in the afternoon: we have a tap for hot water in the library cafe.
4. Bring FOOD. Snacks, big lunch package, treats… whatever you name it, bring it. You will be happy to have your life supplies in this library and not spend too much money on food in the cafe.
5. Keep hydrated! We are all working hard here, keep water next to you to keep your brain fully functioning while figuring out what to do with all of these books and articles and attempting to write your 2000-words summative.
6. Print and review. If you have an entire course to revise quickly, in most cases, the documents on DUO will be enough to provide you with the content needed for revision. Select all of the slides, put them 2 to 4 on one page and put them in PDF to print. You’ll be able to make a quick review.

That’s it for now!

Have a great day! I have to go back to studying…

BACK IN DURHAM

Hey you all!

I came back to Durham a week ago and there are so many things happening!

First, summatives and exams are coming up. I have two summatives due at the beginning of the term and six finals exams all along May up to the 29th. So, although vacation here is about a month long, I decided to come back about two weeks before the start of classes to really get in there and study for May.

Second, the weather is getting really nice, here! We had about an entire week of warm weather, 20 degrees Celsius and above and full of sun. When I make my way to the library, I don’t even put on my earphones anymore because I just want to be present and listen to the birds chirping in the morning. I ended up working on Whitechurch’s terrace in the morning because it was already so warm and sunny! Btw I highly recommend their coffee and food. Delicious! Their americanos are strong and very aromatic. Their cappuccinos are soft to perfection with a touch of chocolate powder. Oh and their bagels ! for all tastes!

Third, I discovered there are so many other spots to study!

• Whitechurch is actually quite a nice spot, especially on sunny days, when you can go on the terrace.
• For Easter’s Sunday, the library was closed so I ended up studying in the engineering building because a friend of a friend had a roommate who had a card giving access to that building.
• The Cathedral’s library is very nice and quiet! Great if you are heading downtown and just want to pop in for one or two hours of holy quiet studies.

Ok I’ve been vibing to Beyonce’s Lemonade album on Spotify for the past two hours and I’ve got a caféine overdose from my homemade coffee. Gotta get to work! Program of the day:

• Behavioural and Experimental Economics: design an experimental study to solve the flaws of previous papers
• Macroeconomics: answer the following question: what are the relative successes and shortcomings of the literature on endogenous growth theory?

Ready? Set… Go!

Assignments & exams at Durham University

Info on DU system: I may have mentioned this before. Durham University has year-long courses with two types of assessments: formatives and summatives. Formatives are an assessment like any other, except the grade you receive does not count towards your final mark. Summatives, on the other hand, do count and may be worth 30% to 70% of your final mark in most cases.

Process of writing a summative: Billy Bryson (main Library of DU) officially becomes my husband in these periods. I usually get overcaffeinated after overspending at Starbucks in the Calman Center and get to work around 9:30 in the Library. Sometimes, it’s 10:30, depending on whether I go to the gym or not. But the point is: I have my spot, my coffee, my computer, my homemade lunch – I know, I am on a whole new level of organisation-, and water (gotta keep hydrated!). Now it’s up to me to stay focused for the day, figuring out how to write a few paragraphs with decent structure and content.

The resources in Billy B and on their website are huge: you’ll likely find an unlikely book in there. Usually, I find so many good books for my topic that I end up with an unexplicably high pile next to me. If I do not read all of them, at least it looks like I am working hard. Fake it till you make it!
In the case where I have some questions, departments are close enough so you never have to walk too far to see a professor. Too lazy? Then email them. Surprisingly, most of my professors would answer in a matter of minutes or a few hours at the most. So I went up to my Modern Philosophy professor to ask him a few questions about my essay. I have to admit, I ended up doing a monologue and somewhat answering my own questions but the thing is, he encouraged me to develop a more critical point of view on the topic I was writing and encouraged me with my ideas. I came out of his office more energised and confident about my writing. Go see your professors! They want to see you and help you during their office hours. I did not realise it until my second year but it is just so easy to drop by their office to ask questions in a relaxed manner… and then switch on to a conversations going from your grandparents and the weather to protests of 1968 and democracy.

Note on DU staff: As I have definitely mentioned in my previous articles, Durham University’s staff is quite successful in helping students. I had a bit of a hard time at the beginning to understand the assignment submission procedure, since it is a completely different system relative to that of McGill University. For assignments, DU has specific requirements in terms of writing, structure, formatting and submission processes. Had a bit of trouble figuring all these things out, but ultimately, I was grateful for the staff and professors which make themselves available and help you out to find solutions if you mess up the submission process a bit. It’s all right, we don’t all do things right every time and they understand that. So got a problem or any questions? They’re here.

Visiting York

If there is one advantage to Durham, it’s that it is close to some great places! At the beginning of March, I went with a friend to visit York for the day. Turns out, York is wonderful and if one only has one day, you will still manage to see a lot of interesting things. We immensely enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.

Simply buy your train ticket- you can find some at very student budget affordable prices), hop on a train and make your way to the great city of York in the early morning. Once you arrive, maybe you may be hungry and wish to have some breakfast or even brunch. Consider trying out the Perky Peacock! It’s right next to the train station, close to the river; you have a great view and you feel like you’re inside a minicastle tower. Quite the feeling! And the food… avocado perfectly fused with a touch of butter on thick toast. The coffee? Brewed on the spot and on point.

 

Once your stomach is satisfied, you may want to head downtown… You will see beautiful buildings with old fashioned signs in narrow streets made of cobblestones. Are you a fan of Harry Potter? I believe that’s where they filmed some scenes.

Try to find the central market. You’ll find food for all tastes and the funniest names for pastries! If you are a fan of sweets, chocolate and such, you will be entirely satisfied. And let’s not forget the tea! Just shops full of shelves and shelves of tea… (suggestion: Hebden Teas). If you are more into the mood of settling down and enjoying some tea in a beautiful decor, most people will suggest Betty’s.

Oh and if you’re a fan of old books and editions, you will probably find your fit there as well !

If you’re into architecture and just get stunned by the beauty of each cathedral you encounter (like I do), go check out York Minster’s cathedral. It’s history goes back to the 7th century!!! It is being partly renovated but it is for a quick clean up. The white and gold of the ceilings along with the symmetry of the joining arches, which I still consider unbelievable considering the time during which it was built, is absolutely breathtaking. Yes, I could stay here all day just staring up at the ceiling, don’t judge.

There are activities for all tastes. York has shops from big brands as well as more local shops. The center is easy to get around and very agreeable.

It took me a bit of time to realise it but if you come to Durham, you will see that it is very easy to buy a cheap ticket and get to some great places!

 

 

Business x Economics Ball

Hey there again,

Last Friday, I had my first ball! It was exciting and I had a lot of fun!

Formals and balls are apparently a big thing in Durham. There is one happening all of the time. The dress code depends on the event. Balls, the fanciest, will usually require a black tie attire. So ladies, bring your gowns; and boys, take your suits!

We had planned to go to this ball a month in advance. We reserved, ordered our menus, got all payments straight. After one month of impatience, the day finally came.

After getting high heels from New Look – yes, they actually do the trick- , hair straightened at Enzo’s and meeting up with my friend, I headed back home with her to get ready. Prep took quite a while, I admit…

At 7PM, we are all headed to the Radisson Blu Hotel. Beautiful place! We head in and see a red carpet leading to a big reception room. Our coats are taken and placed on hangers. We finally move to the table for a cup of champagne and wander around, taking pictures. It’s lovely to see everyone in their beautiful suits and dresses. Some wearing mask for the occasion. Did I mention it was a masquerade ball?

Soon enough, we swiftly pass on to another room, across which round tables are spread. The room is of a dark blue light, the tables decorated with golden and silver confettis, tall glasses ready to be filled with wine… There it is, table #15! We all sit down and the meal begins! Oh and the bread… I have to ask them where they get their bread from! I had no shame asking our server if they had any bread left in the kitchen.

The meal, quite nice: soup, followed my chicken and veggies, finishing with panna cotta. It’s wonderful, sharing a meal with your friends, all dressed up, laughing and chatting after having anticipated this evening for a long time.

Once the meal was over, we had a live jazz band playing for a while. Great music! Everyone went on the dancefloor and started dancing. They smoothely switched between music genres all along the night.

The night ended with everyone satisfied. I was glad to have gone to this event!

Walking like a penguin and looking Vintage

So… It snowed. Since two days we’ve gone through alternative processes of admiration and trauma. It was:

• snowing: yes, fun and gorgeous to look at from inside the house
• hailing: dont go outside without something over your head
• raining: typical UK, still love you

Being determined as I am- you can call me crazy at this point-, I decided to go to the gym. GETTING to the GYM was more INTENSE than actually WORKING OUT at the gym. I had my timberlands (timbs for short) on and these shoes were enough back in Canada for me to go walk in the snow during winter. But dear Lord, they could not face the ice of Durham. I was sliding my way to town at this point!

One hour later, I go back. Ate, was not so productive for about half the day and spontaneously decided to go to that Vintage Fair at the Durham Student Union. Guys, so many coats!!!

The Vintage Sale occasionally happens all along the year. They keep on restocking during the day so don’t worry about coming in late when you think all of the good stuff has disappeared. More bags of clothing are coming through the door while you’re thinking that. Also, different system from most vintage thrift shops. The price you pay is based on the weight of the overall clothing you are buying. 15 pounds per kilo! I’m just saying, it’s a deal. To be honest, I find it more interesting to buy second hand now. We have much more information today about what we wear, especially how it is produced. I am consciously selective of what I choose to wear these days. Do you do this as well?

Lots of love,

Gabby

DurMUN 2019 Conference

Well, that was interesting! The conference is finally over after two days that totally KNOCKED ME OUT! The UN Security Council is intense, guys!

Friday: I was more of the day in the library already dressed for the Opening Ceremony because I was too much of a lazy person to go back home and come back… 5 PM comes, I go to the Durham Student Union to get my badge and props. It was quite nice to have a chat with other delegates. To be honest, it is always interesting to see the character of the person and compare it to the actual character of the country they are supposed to represent… I mean, a usually nice and easy going person needs to be strong in their representation of the US for example. People have expectations – I know, scary word- of you as a delegate. We get to the opening ceremony at the Cathedral (almost got lost on the way, lol) and listen to an introductory speech from the organisers. I have to be honest, these kinds of rooms are pretty instagrammable and I felt pretty fancy myself in a business casual attire, legs crossed, back straight, looking serious and determined during this ceremony. Would I be up to the role though?

The dinner hall for the DurMUN formal dinner was fancyyyyyy. Massive wood, humongous chimney, walls filled with portraits of academics and titled individuals dressed in their beautiful robes, round tables with perfect sets of silverware… After a few minutes of chat at the bar, the organisers advised us to get with our committees and pick a table. Once we settled, we got acquainted with one another of course. On my right hand side was the delegate of the Russian Federation. Wonderful individual, very posed and articulate, good conversation! On my left, the delegate of China. First Model UN, friendly, focused, charming. Overall, good company for this dinner.

Good and reasonable student as I am- lol-, I decided to go home and have a nice night of sleep before our first debate session, starting at 9AM sharp!

Saturday: My bed is my best friend! It is so comfy I considered snoozing. But then I calculated that I would need to rush. I needed to shower, have breakfast, iron my outfit, put on make up and pass by Starbucks before actually entering the building… Yeah, I don’t want to rush. The hardest part is getting out of bed. COME ON!

1 hours later…

Finally out the door and on my way. Of course there is absolutely no one in the streets at this hour. You know what, I should have known. It is a Saturday, are students, even chairs and organisers in this conference, going to arrive on time, you think? Naaahhhh. Realised only a few were in our attributed room and had plenty of time to go get coffee with the delegate of the UK. Of course, I come in with my avocado-toast-yoga/meditation-fan-I-think-I’m-so-cool-for-doing-modelUN-and-I’m-drinking-starbucks-white-girl look and order a Americano grande, black ofc. By the way, I should check this strategy again because I think this type of lifestyle is not sustainable in many aspects.

Anyways, get back to the building and we are finally settled! We hit the first topic: the crisis in Venezuela. Funny how things you actually debate about during the conference can change in real life while you are doing it. So while we were negotiating on what the Security Council should agree on to bring back the situation to a more peaceful state, the crisis got worse, more people were killed, different countries rushed to recognize one of the two governments. CONFLICT INCREASED! We got blocked on our working papers for HOURS! We ended the day with two passed resolutions, exhausted from repeating, defending, attacking… However, the most important thing you realise in Model UN is how hard it is to get people to agree on something, especially when the UN, even at the level of the Security Council, cannot force anyone to do anything! To be fair, our Chair and Secretary General were quite happy about our success at the end of the day.

Note: I wish I could have filmed the final scene of the first day. We were all so tired we could not stop laughing for 10 straight minutes, with Venezuela calling the US a “capitalist pig”, speaking of cheap cocaine and oil; when we tried to start a dialogue with him; or some other indecent speech, every few minutes.

Sunday: And back at it! It is the last day and we have three hours left to pass our resolutions on reforming the R2P (responsibility to protect) doctrine. Obviously, coffee was part of the equation. To be honest, I was slightly smiling while waiting in our committee room: only the UK, US and France were present. Think about how many things we could have passed if no one else had shown up, especially Russia. However, Russia, South Africa and Japan actually managed to join us! However, we did miss Venezuela, although he could be extremely annoying at times while saying things such as “All the US cares about is oil, oil, oil! If my country didn’t have oil, you wouldn’t be interested.” or “I have accepted the fall of my country into absolute chaos, yes absolute chaos my friends.”

Negotiations went smoothly. Everyone had done their research, we were all in a really collaborative mood and we were all searching for a middle ground (not sure whether that would really work out in the real UNSC). We brought some reforms to the R2P doctrine and managed to pass a third resolution despite a tough disagreement between Russia and the US on the wording used to describe the allowance of military interference in specific cases.

We finally headed out to the Debating Chambers for the Closing Ceremony, got our tickets and took some photos. I was overall very pleased by this conference. It was intense all the way but it is a really stimulating event. I highly recommend to at least give it a go while in uni.

Lots of love,

Gabby

JANUARY VIBES

I never get tired of this view… *sigh*

RETURN and DurMUN

And I AM BACK! I apologize for the time since I last posted!

HAPPY (late) HOLIDAYS, by the way!

Of course, after my last tutorial of the term i.e back to mid-December, I rushed home to finish preparing my luggage and arrived to the train station just in time to hop on a Crosscountry. Yes, I had a few plans… Quite a good vacation, really! Spent the holidays going from England to Canada to Belgium to France; and barely two weeks ago, I came back to Durham, having gained a bit of weight due to all this holiday food and freshly motivated for this new term.

What am I excited about for this term at the moment? If I had to cite only one thing, it would be DurMUN! For those of you who don’t know, Model UN is a simulation of the United Nations where you have delegates on different committees (eg Security Council, Human Rights…). It is a conference that usually lasts three full days. Usual procedure: you apply to a position, for example “Delegate” and choose the committee on which you’d like to participate. If your delegate application is approved, you will be attributed a country you must represent, as well as a committee. Model UN is a great opportunity for those interested in the UN, politics or anything related. It’s the chance for you to develop your skills in many domains: leadership, diplomacy, negotiation and decision-making!

I had participated in Model UN as delegate of the US back in my high school. I then went on to be a Committee Director for the Model UN at McGill, my home uni. As I was preparing to go on exchange to Durham University, I suddenly wondered whether they had Model UN. And of course, they did! I decided to apply last summer and they responded about 10 days ago… And as a matter of fact, I will be representing France on the Security Council! I have to admit, I am super excited!

Perk: the Model UN will be taking place in the room used by McGonagall in Harry Potter…

Anyways, you will know more very soon. Stay tuned!