How Many Chuggas Before Choo Choo?: Travelling America by Train – Victoria Baines

Following the end of my course at UC Berkeley, my visa allowed me a month-long grace period to leave the USA. I knew immediately that I wanted to take advantage of that month to travel. All my friends were either going home or travelling with parents meaning I would have a happy few weeks of exploring America by myself. However, on my limited budget, getting a flight every few days would be impossible, and being unable to drive, a road trip was obviously out of the question. So, to the shock of all my American friends, I decided to travel by train.

Continue reading “How Many Chuggas Before Choo Choo?: Travelling America by Train – Victoria Baines”

Things I didn’t know [before my year abroad] – Abbie Stratford

If you’re a language student like me and you are going to embark on your year abroad this September, I’ve tried to put together a sort of list of things that I think would be helpful to know. Continue reading “Things I didn’t know [before my year abroad] – Abbie Stratford”

Fun and traditional…did you say festivals? -Mathilde Aupetit

With around 200 000 festivals each year, including 33 festivals now belonging to UNESCO World Heritage, Japanese festivals have become a national and worldwide institution. And yet, they are said to be struggling and progressively disappearing because of a growing disinterest from the younger generation, according to a study produced by The Japan Times in January 2018. Continue reading “Fun and traditional…did you say festivals? -Mathilde Aupetit”

My Semester at UC Berkeley – Victoria Baines

Admiring the Berkeley campus and the Bay from ‘The Big C’

I’ll admit straightaway that my reason for choosing to study in California could be boiled down to the appeal of being on the beach for six months. I knew that if I couldn’t get into my top choice campus, at the very least I could reconcile myself a few months of sun. Luckily, I did manage to get a highly sought-after spot at UC Berkeley, meaning that alongside spending my days under blue skies, I would be able to study at one of the most respected universities in the world.   Continue reading “My Semester at UC Berkeley – Victoria Baines”