Happenings in Hullywood

So, I'm back in Hull, back at uni, which means I have work to be doing, hence blogging. Becky Read BA Procrastination Studies.

I've been back in Hull for a while, working at Uni doing a range of things from showing excitable year 6's round the university and trying desperately to enthuse groups of year 9 boys that uni really is exciting, to persuading a group of year 12 students that the HE day they are attending is far more exciting and beneficial than Flamingo Land, which is where the rest of their school are. Despite this, I really do enjoy work, there's something about when a child comes to you at the beginning of the day thinking they aren't clever or rich enough to go to university or university isn't for people like them, then through talking to you they go away wanting to go to university, full of ambition. That's a day well spent I think. 

I also volunteered at Freedom Festival which was amazing, tiring and very very damp.

So, Fresher's week, which uni have rolled into a 3 week festival this year. I worked Arrival's day, moving in all the Freshers into Halls and Houses, it was really good to be part of the same team that welcomed me into Halls, 3 years ago now. However I'm a boring and old 4th year so went to absolutely none of the planned Fresher's nights but did manage a cheeky trip to Welly and Piper. Saw Frank Turner at City Hall who, as usual was fantastic, if you haven't ever listened to him, do, right now. 

Well, I started back at uni a few weeks ago, was mildly excited to go back to my first lecture in a year and a half. Forgot a pen and had no paper, so much for the new organised 4th year me. However, I am really enjoying being back, well mostly, I don't think 9:15 lectures or the subjunctive tense will ever enthrall me. 

I'm doing a module in Paris, which is based on the difference between the suburbs and centre of Paris and how this is depicted in film, literature and other art. I must say, I've probably never enjoyed a module at University as much as this one. However, it is just making me realise how much I miss Paris, I think I might even miss my little room and brothel-esque curtains, I know, big claim.

Aside from lectures I seem to be spending the rest of my time, sleeping, in the gym or in the library. 4th year is wild. I've been on a few nights out, but my fresher self would look down in disgust at the fact I went for a nap before pre-drinks the other night and woke up the next morning, having totally missed the entire night out. I've finally managed to find myself a Brownie group, they're lovely and brighten up my Thursday evenings every week. Attempting to fit visiting my lovely friends around my life is proving difficult but I have managed to fit in a cheeky Jamboree reunion in Newcastle and headed down to London last weekend. 

Other news: Hull Fair happened and it was as fantastic as usual. I've applied for around 4 million jobs, had 1 interview; awaiting rejection. I am trying to plan life after uni by attending careers fairs and the like, booked a meeting with the careers service and can not for the life of me remember when it is. NTS: buy a diary. 

Well, that's life. I should probably do some work now. 

Hull Fair Face.

The Post Jamboree trying to get back to normality phase...

New blog. Apologies in advance as this is likely to contain less fun photos of my many jaunts abroad and more long rants about everyday life. 

So those of you who know me will know that I spend a vast majority of my life talking about Jamboree. Then I disappear for 2 weeks, photos appear on social media of me looking tired and covered in dirt, then I return and talk about it some more. 

Norjam closing ceremony

To be honest Jamboree always has been and always will be one of the highlights of my year. To those non-Scouting/Guiding folk, Jamboree is like a huge international camp for Scouts and Guides of all ages across the world, the best way I can describe it is 'It's like a festival but it's a week long and we all wear neckers'. 

This year I made the possibly foolish but definitely worthwhile decision to do 2 back to back Jamborees; WINGS'14 held in Windsor, followed by NORJAM2014 held in Norfolk. There was a point travelling between the two camps when I forgot how to function and thought that I was going to die of exhaustion but I made it through. I joined a 1500 strong team of staff at each camp, from site services to climbing instructors and chefs to stilt walkers to deliver a diverse and exciting programme of activities to 8000 young people from across the UK and the rest of the world. We work so very hard in the day and then go twice as hard in the evenings. I had 2 of the best weeks with some of the greatest people I know.  

NORJAM'14 Staff Bar Team

In the past 4 years and the 6 Jamborees I have attended I have made some of my closest friends, I can spend 1 week a year with them and know that when I see them again we'll start exactly where we left off (usually drunk). You can attend a jamboree alone and within 20 minutes have friends who you'll stay in contact with for life. Scouting and Guiding is responsible for me having some of the most amazing experiences and sharing these experiences with people from across the UK and around the world. People often ask me why I'm still involved in Scouting and Guiding and I can't express in words how much of a different person I would be without it; it has shaped and continues to shape me in every aspect of my life. 

Now I'm suffering from extreme Post-Jamboree blues, still finding living indoors odd, still feeling oddly naked without a necker and still feeling strangely clean. Roll on next year.