Living in Essex - First Term

This is my home in England. No, not the boat. I live in a lovely student accommodation next to the river, where some people live on houseboats. On the photo the river looks just like a mud bank, that's because we're so close to the sea that it changes with the tide. Along the river I can either walk to the neighbouring village even closer to the ocean, or walk downtown. I live in a really old, small town with a lovely riverbank and teeny tiny shopping streets. I usually take the bus to campus, but I could also walk there for about 25 minutes. And the campus is huge!!! So many buildings, shops, restaurants, offices.. It's like the university's own town. It's definetely a big change for me, because back in Germany I was at a private business school with only one building and a small garden.

Essex Business School

If this is what the public business school here looks like, how come my private one back home was such a disappointment? England, with all my heart, I really do love you!

Campus

I have come to love this university so much. Already during fresher's week I've met so many new people who have become my friends! I have joined the LGBT* & Friends society, where I have met some amazing and unique friends. I checked out Badminton and now I meet up to play Badminton and Squash on a regular basis. I joined the Writing Society and go to the meetings every single week, I feel so at home with this group of people, it's amazing! I went to the postgrad mixer and made a friend I went on a few lovely excursions with, who I get great support from. One of the excursions was a trip to Cambridge, I'll tell you more about it and show you some pictures in a later post. I joined the Catholic Community on campus and it's the best experience with religion I have ever made. It is completely different to church and mass back home in Germany. It is so open and relaxed and I really feel part of the family. I also took part in a one hour Mindfulness workshop. I made a friend there and also signed up for the full time seminar this term. I am really looking forward to it!! So you can see, I have met some amazing people here at the university and I just feel part of a great community. Last term I also had one of the greatest modules I have ever had. It was called Writing Magic and gave me so much inspiration for poems and stories I want to write. If you want me to share some of my pieces with you, either here or on YouTube, please tell me, I would love to. And last but not least, I finally began to learn Russian, a language I always wanted to learn! This term I have three modules, plus the Mindfulness seminar and the Russian course. I will start preparing my dissertation and continue playing Badminton and Squash, meeting up with the Writing Society, joining the Catholic Community and seeing my friends.

The beautiful surroundings

If you want to support me in my 1000miles as fundraising for charity and donate money to Mind-The Mental Health Charity:

Fundraising for Charity

Announcement:

From now on I upload every Friday at 5PM (that's 6PM in Central Europe).

My uploads will alternate between YouTube and my blog.

Also, on the last of every month I will upload my monthly gratitude project on YouTube.

So stay tuned!

Have you seen my latest YouTube video?

Life as a "tourist" POEMS

I am reading three of my English poems to you :)

 

 

 See you next week!
Jen
xx 

London (or Moving to England)

For years I knew I would eventually move back to England. After graduating with my Bachelor of Arts in Summer 2016 I was planning and thinking and organising... Would I work or do a Master? Where? I applied in several different cities both for jobs and universities, I got accepted in various places and had to make up my mind. And in September I finally decided to do a one year taught postgraduate degree in Translation and Literature (English - German) in Essex, and the moment I made my decision I instantly knew it was the right choice.





I packed my bags and the last September weekend my Mum and I flew to England. We stayed a couple of days in London before taking the train up to Essex, my new home!

 

















We didn't really do any sightseeing because we've both been to London so many times before. So what did we do?

We went shopping in Westfield, we had a lovely walk around London Bridge, Borough Market, Southwark Cathedral and along the river. We also had a nice walk on the Isle of Dogs, and another through Green Park and St James's Park.

After that we had a well deserved break. We enjoyed the most delicious food and drinks at the Sanderson Hotel where they organised a Mad Hatters Tea Party - how amazing is that???!!

It was delicious!! And it was a lovely time in London. But I was so excited for October 1st, when we took the train up to Essex. I love my new home with all the amazing people I've met!! And I will definitely tell and show you more of it, so hang on ;)

At the beginning of this week I also uploaded a new YouTube video for you, in which I chat to you about my life and goals, about this year and my love for languages. If you like it, you would make me very happy if you give it a thumps-up and subscribe to my channel.

If you want to support me in my 1000miles as fundraising for charity and donate money to Mind-The Mental Health Charity:

JustGiving 1000miles in 2017 Mind The Mental Health Charity

Lots of love
Jen

2016

Hello! :)

The year is coming to an end, time to get sentimental. After moving from Spain back home and especially after I graduated - yes, that's right, I finished my undergrad!! - I didn't really find the time for my blog. That made me really sad, so I'm absolutely positive to restart it in 2017! I am so ready for the new year and everything I'm going to experience. I plan to upload a blog post every other week and I also have a monthly YouTube series in mind, so stay tuned. I am really optimistic 2017 is going to be a fantastic year! I will finish my postgrad and start to work full time, I am excited!!

I prepared two lists for you representing my year 2016. The first one is the reading list I already promised you one year ago!!!

January:

Los hombres que no amaban a las mujeres - Stieg Larsson (The girl with the dragon tattoo)

February:

Love you more ( A Detective D D Warren novel ) - Lisa Gardner

Catch me ( A Detective D D Warren novel ) - Lisa Gardner

March:

If I stay - Gayle Forman

Lovesong - Gayle Forman

Afterwards - Rosamund Lupton

April:

Post Mortem "Tränen aus Blut" - Mark Roderick

May: 

Perfect Match - Jodi Picoult

Like a charm - Karin Slaughter

June:

Frontera - Jordi Sierra i Fabra

A place called freedom - Ken Follett

July:

World without end - Ken Follert

August:

The Survivors Club - Lisa Gardner

September:

The Big Dipper - Kristín Marja Baldursdóttir

The Other Daughter - Lisa Gardner

October:

Summer at Little Lava: A Season at the Edge of the World - Charles Fergus

November:

The Soldier's Wife - Joanna Trollope

December:

Sensenmann - Claudia Puhlfürst

Did you read any of these? How did you find them? Are you wanting to read any of these and need me to go into detail for some in particular? Please tell me! And I already have such a high pile of books I want to read in 2017. I don't think the pile is ever going to get smaller. It is just growing and growing and growing... There are just too many good reads out there. I'm definitely planning to give Anna Karenina another go and I also have a few audio books I want to listen to. What's your opinion on audio books? Can you recommend any?

Here is a short overview of what I did and accomplished and experienced throughout the year:

January:

I was living in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain at the time, doing my semester abroad in International Tourism Management.

February:

I finished my stay in Spain and came back home to Cologne, Germany, to continue my studies.

March:

I had my final exams and successfully finished my last semester at university, with only my Bachelor Thesis / dissertation ahead of me.

April:

I turned 22.

May:

I wrote my Bachelor Thesis about the German perception of England as a destination with the research question "To what extent does the German perception of England reduce it to London, stereotypes and prejudices?".

June:

My godson got baptised.

July:

I spent my summer at home figuring out what to do next, and where.

August:

I graduated.

September:

I flew to Spain to watch my friend getting married.

October:

I moved to Essex, England to do my Master in Translation and Literature.

November:

I met many amazing new people, became part of the Writing Society, LGBT&friends and the Catholic Community, started a Russian course and played a lot of Badminton and Squash.

December:

I spent my Christmas holidays back home with my family.

It was a very eventful year and I am really happy. I am in a good place to move on and start the next year, pursuing my goals.

What are your plans for 2017?

I wish you all a happy new year and a good fresh start!

Lots of love

Jen

Mauritius

Aloha!

Are you enjoying the summer so far? Sunshine, beach, adventure, holidays...?
No? Then let me introduce you to an awesome destination! Yes? Let me tell you anyways! ;)

MAURITIUS:

Mauritius is a paradisiac insular state in the Indian Ocean made up of several islands, with its capital city Port Luis on the biggest island called Mauritius. Other islands include Rodrigues, Cardagos-Carajos and Agalega. Mauritius is surrounded by  the world's third largest coral reef, creating the perfect landscape for butterflies, palm trees and mangrove forests. The islands are perfect for diving or boat excursions, often whales can be seen. The islands host many nature reserves with exotic, endemic and almost extinct animals and plants. Some of the islands are of vulcanic origin. More than 150km of white sandy beaches and lagoons make Mauritius a dream destination! The island has a tropical climate with the average day temperatures not falling below 20 degrees Celsius in WINTER (which is from June till September by the way).

Tell Me Travels organise summer holidays in Mauritius for young travellers. They offer two packages: The Explorer Tour & The Comfort Tour. Both will leave you with 2 weeks full of fun, making friends and new experiences, enjoying the summer of your life! They include transportation (excl. the flight), accommodation and food as well as an itinerary full of happiness! Beach bonfires, catamaran rides, sacred temples, snorkeling, kayaking, bustling markets, foam parties.... And of course you can also book extra activities such as scuba diving, sky diving, spa sessions and so much more! Sounds like a great summer? Then find out which package is perfect for you!

The Explorer Tour:

Bonfires, speedboat, lagoons, feeding monkeys, waterfall, beach bbq, glass bottom boat ride, snorkelling, swimming... this sounds like a lot of amazing activities to you? This is just what's happening in the first three days! Be ready for more adventures every day, such as a catamaran ride, hiking, a tasting at the Rhum factory, volunteering, spotting flying fish. I would say Mauritius can offer almost everything the adventurous young traveller can dream of.

And oh, did I mention? YOU CAN SWIM WITH DOLPHINS!!!

The Comfort Tour:

The Comfort Tour offers the same highlights as The Explorer Tour minus the rather sporty activities such as hiking. Instead you can enjoy spa sessions and a trip to a traditional market. With both tours you get days to rest. Or, if relaxing isn't really your thing, there are loads of extra activities you could do, like for example renting a scooter or go-karting.

Ready to visit Mauritius? Then contact me or comment below and you get a 5% discount when booking with Tell Me Travels.

Hope to hear from you.

 

Love you. Bye.

Jen