Flying Solo 2021

FLYING SOLO 2021

Photo: Chiara Marabese. Taken in: Tokyo, Japan

THE 10TH EDITION OF THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

CONTENTS

Flying Solo 2021 A Note from the Editors

03

Working in Aix-en-Provence

06

Studying in Lyon

10

It's Castilian, not Español

14

Valencia

16

Q&A

18

Photo: Tom Day - runner up in the Year Abroad photography competition. Taken in: Saint-Émilion, France

Travel on a budget with Katie

20

Top Tips for a great Year Abroad

22

Practice your language skills from home

28

My Suspended Year Abroad

30

The day I wrote on my German teacher's board

34

Alisha takes Austria

44

Expectations vs Reality

47

China - Interview

49

Mobility as an International student

Photo: Lizzie Mallett, winner of the Year Abroad photography competition. Taken in: Rotterdam, Netherlands

Japan - Double interview

51

China and Japan Photo Gallery

60

Links

64

Final Thanks

65

Photo: Morgan Cliff, runner up in the Year Abroad photography competition. Taken in: Nikko, Japan

Check out all the entries to last year's photography competition here!

Flying Solo

THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

2021 COVID ISSUE

A Note from the Editors Welcome to the 10th edition of the Flying Solo magazine presented by Newcastle University’s School of Modern Languages. Written by students for students, the Flying Solo magazine brings together the memories, experiences and tips of the Year Abroad.

This year has inevitably been a very different Year Abroad for all our students here at Newcastle. This year's edition features students in their third year currently on their (slightly amended) Year Abroad and returning fourth-year students sharing their experiences.

As a result of the pandemic, students were, unfortunately, unable to travel to Latin America, therefore, this year's edition does not feature any articles from this continent.

All the photography entries featured in this magazine are from the 2019/2020 SML Year Abroad photo competition. You'll also see that we've included QR codes throughout, which link to even more material. If you don't have a second device to access these QR codes, all the links can be found on a page at the end of the magazine.

We would like to thank all of our student writers and photographers this year and Director of the Year Abroad, Damien Hall for their contributions to this year's issue.

Enjoy!

Heather Simpson Heather Simpson

Anna Busà Anna Busà

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Flying Solo

THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

2021 COVID ISSUE

Abroad during a pandemic An unusual Year Abroad

WORKING IN AIX-ENPROVENCE

By Ellie Penson Hi! My name is Ellie and I study Translation and Interpreting with French and Spanish. Prior to Covid, I planned to complete a 6 month translation internship in Bordeaux, France and then jet off to Peru for 4 months to teach with a company called Volunteach. Most people's Year Abroad plans changed in one way or another, however I was one of the lucky ones.

Fortunately, I was able to complete my internship for my French placement online and continue to live in France with a host French Family. Plus, in the second semester of my Year Abroad, I was fortunate enough to attend the Universitat de València (my backup university) in person!

"During those weekends it definitely felt like I was living the year abroad lifestyle properly!"

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Regarding my internship, the virtual aspect definitely came with its highs and its lows. A high being translation work does convert nicely to online placements, as everything is done online anyway, I do not feel that I missed out on anything in terms of my translation experience. However, I remained quite isolated from my company and I felt nowhere near as involved with my colleagues as I would have been during an in-person placement, which was disappointing. However, at the same time, this did give me more flexibility in my schedule than the standard 9-5 day. Plus, my flat mates and most other Erasmus students in Aix were also studying online.

We often scheduled to meet to work together at the library or at a café - so I never felt too lonely!

An idyllic working day went something like this: running to the boulangerie on the corner to grab a pain au chocolat to start the day, then spending the morning working from home at my desk (if I had any meetings with my supervisor they would be during this time). I would then take a break for lunch around the same time as my fellow student flat mates and with my host family, all of whom were working from home too! In the afternoon I would walk into the centre of Aix to find a café to work in for the rest of the day. Once there I would sit translating, proofreading, or whatever my tasks that day were, whilst sipping iced tea, munching pastries and eavesdropping on the French conversations around me!

Socially, I was fortunate that there was a lively Erasmus network in Aix, so I made most of my friends from going to some of those events in my first few weeks. We then would spend the weekends together travelling around the Bouches-du-Rhône/Côtes d’Azur regions by bus, finding places to hike or new towns to explore. During those weekends it definitely felt like I was living the Year Abroad lifestyle properly!

Finally, I do not regret deciding to go on a Year Abroad during the pandemic. My internship is going to look very good on my CV when applying to jobs, as well as the resilience it took in the first place to carry out the Year Abroad in the midst of all the chaos. I have made some lovely friends and memories and advanced my linguistic and cultural knowledge in ways that I could never have done from the UK. A concluding top tip: It is important to not keep comparing your experiences with what they could have been without Covid, that is quite frankly fruitless. There are still some wonderful memories to be made!

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Studying in Lyon

By Kitty Henry

I am a third-year Combined Honours student studying French and Politics and I have been studying at Sciences Po in Lyon. I began with classes online in September 2020, and I began to attend in-person lectures in January of 2021.

Deciding to do my Year Abroad during a pandemic was not the easiest choice but I am so happy that I chose to do it, as I have absolutely loved it! I was told by Newcastle I was unable to go abroad until January 2021 due to Covid. I found this news slightly frustrating as I was aware that I would not be able to physically move to France until January. Nevertheless, I decided to keep myself busy and continue to improve my French in the meantime.

From the months of September to January, I attended my French university classes online. I had an online French tutor twice a week and an etandem partner through the LRC at Newcastle.

Although small, these things helped my French language and kept me busy! In late November, Newcastle gave me the all-clear that I could go abroad. So, at the end of December, I travelled to Lyon. Travelling during the pandemic was less hassle than expected. I took the Eurostar from London to Paris and then the train from Paris to Lyon. The journey was relatively easy.

"I am so happy I chose to do my Year Abroad, I absolutely love it!"

Here in Lyon, I live with three French people.

We live in the centre of the city, on the Presqu’île, between the two rivers: the Saone and the Rhone. In France restrictions in place for several months, including the closure of bars, restaurants, museums, and a national curfew. At times, the Covid restrictions have made my placement seem very difficult. As you can imagine it’s hard to meet new people and find ways to socialise! However, I have met some amazing people out here, with both the local French people and other international students that I met through the Erasmus programme. I speak French with both groups of these friends which is cool and helps me to continuously improve my linguistical abilities!

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So how have I made the most of my Year Abroad Experience during the pandemic? I have embraced every opportunity I have during my time here in France. I think it has been important to keep on reminding myself that although I am not undertaking my Year Abroad in normal circumstances, it is so important to just make the most of my opportunities out here and have fun.

I have explored the city, visited many neighbouring towns and areas and spoken French wherever possible! I am particularly enjoying the travel opportunities. In particular, I have been on trips to Paris, Montpellier and Bordeaux so far. I am also going to Marseille next week [w.c.

10/05/2021, ed.] with some friends.

Although certain places have remained closed; I have made the most of the open places! I have officially explored all the parks and the yummy patisseries in Lyon!

Overall, I am so happy I decided to undertake my Year Abroad this year, I have made some unforgettable memories in Lyon with some great people whom I will never forget. It has been hard at some points with the Covid restrictions; however, I do think I’ve made the most of it and I would recommend Lyon as a city to anyone thinking about studying or living out here!

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"It's Castilian, Not Español" Laura Cahn's experience in Barcelona Barcelona rightly earns its reputation as a city bursting at the seams with people (especially tourists), joie de vivre and things to see. Well, nearly a year and a half into a global pandemic and whilst its prepandemic spirit is bubbling under the surface, the city has a distinctly different feel to what we are used to. Experiencing a somewhat dulled down version of Barcelona has been really unique and whilst the strict COVID measures imposed by the Generalitat de Catalunya have rained on the parade, I know that seeing this stripped back version of the city is once in a lifetime. I’m sure we can all relate to the frustrations of the COVID pandemic, but we also know, ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’ and, thankfully, I can say that although the reality of my Year Abroad is far from my original plan and expectations, I’m having a really positive time!

My year abroad in Barcelona has been a truly memorable experience for me. I’ve been enjoying my studies at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra and immersing myself in my short but very sweet time in the city. I found a great room in a shared flat through Idealista.com (a very lucky find) that I share with 5 other international flatmates. I’ve managed to meet new people and make the most of everything the city has to offer- albeit the abrupt ending to evenings with the 10 pm curfew….

As a global community, we have all experienced the whirlwind of uncertainty that Coronavirus has brought us in 2020-21. These have most definitely been ‘unprecedented times’, however, there is no doubt that the year abroad has been resolute in its faithful promise of being an ‘unforgettable life experience.’ If a global pandemic wasn’t testing enough, Brexit propelled December 2020 into the top spot for the most hectic month I’ve ever experienced. The European Union had imposed a UK travel ban due to the new COVID variant, flights were cancelled at short notice, PCR tests were nearly impossible to book, and Brexit was threatening all students’ statuses in the EU. Facing all of this, I spent my first Christmas abroad without my family. Once the initial stress had subsided, I ended up having a wonderful time. So, whilst London was in tier 4 and England’s strictest lockdown was looming, we were quite smug spending a sunny Christmas day on the beach. Not to mention we made an emergency pitstop at the English supermarket for some very overpriced mince pies and Bisto gravy granules to accompany our Catalonian cava!

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During the pandemic, the best way to explore Barcelona has been through our stomachs. So, as all Guiri’s here do, I’ve been making the most of the outdoor terraces to drink plenty of caña’s and vermouth’s alongside a vegetarian’s staple tapas order of patatas bravas, pimientos de padrón and a pincho de tortilla de patatas. Following the true Spanish routine, these lunches finish around 4-5 pm and are often followed by a trip to la Playa de la Barceloneta, el Parc de la Ciutadella or meander through El Born or el Barri Gòtic. Unsurprisingly, just as we’re getting into the swing of the Year Abroad it feels like it’s almost coming to an end.

Therefore, heading into these final summer months, I’m excited to explore the Catalonian region and tick off the final must-see sites in the city!

It is a widely known fact that Barcelona is the capital of the autonomous region of Catalonia, but one that I feel is not paid particular attention to by non-Spaniards. This is something that I wish was more recognised outside of Spain for two main reasons. Firstly, having lived in Catalonia for 8 months now, it’s essential to emphasise the strong ideological and societal importance of the Catalan culture. In fact, it’s more than a culture, it’s an identity that is proudly boasted and upheld in the entire region. Secondly, and very much linked to the latter, asking ‘¿cómo se dice en español?’ will be answered with a very discontent side-eye. In other words, ‘Spanish’ isn’t a language here- it’s Castilian or Catalan and this distinction is expected to be made. For this reason, I’d reluctantly say that Barcelona is perhaps not the most ideal destination in Spain to become fluent in Spanish in the limited time that the Year Abroad offers. Of course, Castilian is spoken by everyone, but the ardent Catalan culture here means that its language, culture and societal norms are the default expectation in the city. Additionally, the city is

remarkably international which is amazing in most aspects - other than the fact that I find myself speaking more French than Spanish!

Moreover, ‘el Independentisme’ is well established in Barcelona, with most young Catalan people associating a large part of their personal identity with the political and social sentiment of the pro-independence movement. Therefore, it’s happened on some occasions where if you can’t speak Catalan, they’d rather speak in English than in Castilian. To be fair, this is rare, and Barcelona is well-known for its friendly, outgoing and welcoming locals; nonetheless, Catalan is still the dominant language everywhere. The politics of Catalonia are complex and deep-rooted, whilst I am personally sympathetic to el Independentisme, I am consistently impressed by the vehemence of Catalonians in their calls for autonomy and selfgovernance.

"There is no doubt that the year abroad has been resolute in its faithful promise of being an unforgettable life experience."

Notably, at the end of February, the passionate demonstrations sparked by the imprisonment of Spanish rapper Pablo Hasél saw barricades, street fires and mass protests gridlock the city. It also highlighted another big difference between other European cities I’ve visited which is the heavy police presence. Tensions are all the more heightened under the eagle eyes of la Guàrdia Urbana, la Policia Local and Los Mossos d’Esquadra. Between the protests and governmental elections in February and the firm enforcement of COVID rules, interactions with the police are not uncommon. It is fair to say that regardless of the region in Spain, one thing that everyone on the Iberian Peninsula shares has in common is their bold passion and dynamism.

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Valencia

By Magda Bergier

Before going on my Year Abroad, I was unsure what to expect. Should I be apprehensive? Or mainly excited? Was it going to be the best time of my life or the most challenging one?

I love how active people are here in Spain and Turia Park is Valencia's pride and joy when it comes to running routes! I have discovered a new hobby – my passion for jogging. I couldn’t imagine my life without it now!

Countless times, I had heard students speak glowingly of their international Erasmus experiences. However, I couldn’t help but be nervous. The reality was, I had little to be nervous about. I am currently on my year abroad, studying at the Universitat de València and I am having the best time of my life. I have always loved Spain in general, however, the city of Valencia has really knocked me off my feet! I do not feel that my experience could have been any better (COVID pandemic aside).

Despite lockdown restrictions in Spain, I have still managed to find fun things to do here every day. For instance, I have fallen in love with Turia Park. It is a very large open park situated in the centre of the city. For me, it is a very inspiring place as people are always doing a variety of different activities such as socialising, relaxing and even having picnics with their families. It is also a space where people come to exercise. From yoga and meditation to athletics and the zip wire, there is something here for everyone!

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Besides Turia Park, I love to spend time in La Playa de la Malvarrosa. It is a wide, fine golden sand beach where people go surfing, practice yoga and enjoy the beautiful Valencian sunsets. Although I love spending time in the enriching spaces of the city, what really has made my Erasmus experience special has been the people.

Before my Year Abroad, I didn’t know anybody here in Spain and now I have a group of friends who are like family to me. We particularly bonded over our love of travel, enjoying a trip to the city of Javea on the Costa Brava during Easter time. We were fortunate enough to rent a large villa with a swimming pool. Other trips I have been on have included mountain climbing in Calpe and cherishing the breathtaking views from rooftops in Madrid.

"I am having the best time of my life! "

Not only have I been immersed into Valencian and Spanish culture, but I have also enjoyed aspects of French and Italian culture. I spend so much time with my friends from Italy, that I now understand many Italian words. My Spotify playlist now includes Spanish and French music artists!

My year abroad has allowed me to appreciate individual differences, whilst embracing something new! What I love the most about my Year Abroad, is that everyone is so different. It has been the people and the memories that I have made with friends that have been my favorite part of my Year Abroad and I will cherish them forever.

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Flying Solo

THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

2021 COVID ISSUE

Top Tips Making the most of your Year Abroad

Q&A We asked second-year Newcastle students for their questions about the Year Abroad.

Returning fourth-year students Heather and Anna give their insights.

What’s your best advice for how to meet new people?

Anna: You will have probably heard this a thousand times, but get out of your comfort zone. Especially if you’re studying, you will have plenty of opportunities to talk to people in between classes or during group projects. You can also try joining societies (although they may not be called societies and not be as well advertised as they are in the UK, if you ask around and keep your eyes open you may still be able to find some) or extracurricular activities organised both by your host university or other institutions.

Heather: Put yourself out there! Even before going on my year abroad, I had already joined Facebook groups and hunted out fellow Newcastle students that were going to the same place. You can get in touch with the Year Abroad team to find students going to the same place as you – this might ease your nerves slightly. I would also suggest sharing a flat or living space. Great flatmates can really enrich your overall experience. It’s very much like starting university, you have to be proactive – speak to people in your class, ask your colleagues to go out for after-work drinks, start up conversations with people in the university canteen.

Have you stayed in touch with anyone you met during your year abroad?

Anna: Yes! I have made so many friends that I still talk to, and we also have a WhatsApp group we use regularly.

Heather: Absolutely. As well as my friends from England, I also made friends from Spain, France and even Norway. Although I may not see them regularly,

I still stay up to date with them on social media..I would also recommend downloading LinkedIn (if you haven’t already) and adding any work colleagues on there. It’s a great way to network and stay in touch with people that you have met when moving in professional spheres.

How long did it take you to settle into life in a new country?

Anna: It took me a few weeks to fully adjust to life in France. Although I didn’t have a hard time adjusting to life in a new country per se (my previous experience moving to the UK helped a lot), getting used to how things worked at my host institution was still a challenge. The French system is very different to what we’re used to in the UK and it can take a while – and some help – before you fully understand it, but once you do it’s pretty easy to settle in.

Heather: When I first arrived in both Spain and France, I felt like I was on holiday. Whether it be slathering myself in tanning oil or rushing to the Carrefour to buy my first French baguette, there wasn’t much that distinguished me from your average tourist. However, after a few weeks, the culture shock kicked in. Suddenly, I found myself resenting the relaxed Spanish way of life that I loved a couple of weeks ago and desperately missed my family and friends back home. However, in both instances, this period did not last long. I would think how lucky I was to be living abroad. You learn to adjust to your new way of life. Everyone’s experience is different; however, Newcastle Uni and the Year Abroad Team are always available to support and guide you with any challenges that you may face.

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How did you react if things didn’t go to plan?

Anna: The keyword here is flexibility. Covid has taught us all that no matter how much you plan, you will never be prepared enough. Not to worry though, most of the times the novelty of being in a foreign country makes problems seem bigger than they are. The best thing to do is take initiative. Don’t sit around waiting for your university or the company to deal with your problems, find possible solutions yourself. One more thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t be afraid to – politely – insist if you’re not being given the service or support, you’re entitled to. Of course, this doesn’t mean physically or verbally abusing employees, but many times companies will overlook the problems of individual customers or postpone solving them if they understand they will just wait for them to solve them.

Heather: Be adaptable. I know it’s hard but try not to have preconceived plans about what the year abroad will be like. For me, I spent a lot of time with my colleagues whilst working in Paris. We sat and ate lunch together every day for one hour and a half.

They were all native speakers and it was easy to get lost in their quick speed conversations that not even binge-watching Les Anges de la télérealité could have prepared me for. Don’t be scared to carry on studying languages whilst living abroad. I began watching French Netflix to make sure I was constantly in French mode. This really helped me engage in those long lunches.

How did you ensure that your language improved?

Anna: I tried to surround myself with French speakers from the very beginning, especially since most of my classes were at least partially in languages other than French. I also went to the Integration Weekend organised by the university’s Students’ Union, where we spent three days doing Harry Potter-themed activities. I was the only non-French native and although it may not sound like much, I can guarantee that fully immersing myself in that environment really boosted my language abilities (plus I learnt so much Harry Potter-related vocab!!)

Heather: It was a case of immersing myself in the language. I made sure to order in French and Spanish when in restaurants, even when the waiters spoke English. I continued to watch French and Spanish Netflix in my spare time. I also opted to study French

whilst at university in Spain to keep on top of it (check with the Year Abroad team if this option is available to you). You will practice a lot of the language when speaking with people from work or university.

How did you deal with homesickness?

Anna: I didn’t feel homesick for that long, partially because I was already used to living abroad and partially because I made friends very early on.

However, when I did feel homesick, I called home or tried to distract myself from exploring the city. I was also lucky enough to have holidays quite often and Mondays off in Semester 1, so I was able to go back to Italy very frequently and I even managed to go to Newcastle twice!

Heather: I stayed in regular contact with people from home. Facetime is your best friend! Even when you are having the time of your life abroad, it is important not to forget the people back home.

They are only a phone call away and I made sure to go home and visit once a semester. I also found that lots of people wanted to come and visit me and get a taste of my life in France and Spain.

Likewise, you can visit your university friends living in other cities and Europe during your year abroad. Homesickness can be hard but it is also often short-lived. Building a strong support network in your host country will help you to get through it.

What’s your advice for sorting out accommodation?

Anna: If you’re studying, have a look at what your host institution offers. Many universities have either their own accommodation or a partnership with private accommodations. This will help you avoid fraud and meet students just like you! They might also be able to send emails around to other exchange students so you can arrange to rent a flat together.

Heather: Check with your university or internship company to see what they recommend. See what other students are doing – you can join Erasmus Facebook Groups and buddy up there. Websites such as SpareRoom and Idealista are also really useful. It may be a case of booking an Air B&B for a couple of weeks whilst you find somewhere. Be prepared that in big cities such as Paris you may be paying extortionate amounts of money for small spaces.

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Travel on a budget with Katie

By Katie Irving

Often on a tight budget, Year Abroad students can’t always afford to splash out on luxurious weekends away. After being sent back to the UK when the pandemic hit, I learnt the importance of making the most of what you have and the risk of regretting what you didn’t do.

I was living in a small town in the north of France, so on weekends, my priority was getting out! (That is unless I wanted to go to the market, the (only) pub or the single film screening at the tiny cinema.) Even from a small town, travelling was surprisingly easy. Basing my recommendations on a small backpack and even smaller budget, here are some tips for your year abroad travels:

Explore transport options (FlixBus and BlaBlaCar) Pre-pandemic, using the FlixBus to travel was my favourite weekend pastime. Tickets cost as little as 1 Euro and although not always the speediest option, it was a great alternative to expensive trains. Through the FlixBus app, you can book journeys, even on the day of travel. There is no need to print tickets; you can download them to your phone.

However, even though France’s neighbouring countries are part of the Schengen Agreement (which allows free travel for all EU nationals), bringing your passport is recommended in case some drivers ask to see it. Be sure to also check your visa if you need one (this will likely be the case if you don’t have an EU passport) to know if you can enter countries other than the one you got your visa from during your time abroad.

Book hostels Admittedly, before my Year Abroad I had never done this. Booking hostels, especially for expensive areas, like Paris is a great idea. If you’re not keen on getting cosy in a room with strangers, you often have the option of booking a private room, at a lower cost than most Airbnb and hotel stays. Hostels have great reception services that can recommend activities, generally a common kitchen and a place to leave luggage too. If you want to be in the centre of town, they will save you a big chunk of money.

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Join Erasmus Facebook groups Even though Brexit has inevitably changed the way we travel, there are so many Facebook groups for students on their Year Abroad. I searched for Erasmus, year abroad, international students and TAPIF (the American equivalent of the British Council scheme) to find groups.

They often had conversation events, cheap weekend trips and tours for everyone to join, regardless of your university, country of origin and age. These groups are great if you ever want to meet others online before arriving, organise accommodation, ask for advice and research jobs.

"I learnt the importance of making the most of what you have and the risk of regretting what you didn't do"

Research free events In France, museums and exhibitions are free on every first Sunday of the month. Save the expensive museums for this date and book in advance if necessary. This great initiative can save you a pretty penny when visiting art galleries too. Most museums in Paris are free for students under 26. Please note that this initiative is for EU nationals, so post-Brexit this may change. However, there might still be a chance that they’re free for British nationals too!

When arriving in a new place, I usually head to the tourist information centre if there is one. The staff there will have all the knowledge about free events, especially for students or under 25s.

These are just a few points about how to make the most of your Year Abroad. I think we all agree that the past months have taught us how quickly things can change, so if you are travelling soon, be safe, have fun and make the most of it!

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Top Tips for a great Year Abroad

By Anna Busà

Save up before leaving Especially in big cities like Paris, you’ll often be offered weekends away or student holidays either abroad or somewhere around the country. Whatever grant or bursary you’re given (if any), it probably won’t be enough to cover all living expenses plus more expensive activities like these, so make sure you have enough money saved up to enjoy at least one of the many trips on offer. An example? At ISIT Paris (Higher Education institution teaching languages, translation and interpreting), they offer a Weekend d’Intégration (Integration weekend) every year at a secret location in France. In 2019, it was called WEIgardium Leviosa, and it featured Harry Potter themed activities and a clublike atmosphere at night, with a DJ playing music until 5-6am and an open bar!

Look out for posters Most activities and societies won’t be advertised via email, but you will see posters up on the walls for all sorts of things, organised by the uni, the students’ union or third parties. Not sure what’s on offer or how to join? Just ask a local!

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Chat to local students This is probably one of the easiest ways to make friends is to start a casual conversation before or after class. The limited number of societies available will mean that you won’t have as many opportunities to make friends with the same interests as you, so take advantage of the time you have while waiting for teachers outside the classroom, you won’t regret it!

Say yes to opportunities You’ve probably heard this already, but it’s a crucial point. Whether it’s that new sports team, a night out or just lunch with some people from your class, taking every opportunity you’re presented with will not only force you to speak your target language and give you an opportunity to make new friends, but it will also potentially be a source of new cultural elements to explore and, why not, maybe a new hobby! Pro tip: drinking games can be a great way to improve your language skills and get an insight of your target culture. Learn one, improve your listening skills and think about why that particular game is popular in that country, or teach one, improve your speaking skills and observe your friends' reactions – the choice is yours!

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Practice your language skills from home Suspended or cancelled Year Abroad? Returning to Fourth Year? We've got you covered!

Newcastle University's Language Resource Centre As a Newcastle University student, you have access to the Language Resource Centre (LRC) regardless of your course of studies (meaning even students outside the School of Modern Languages or Combined Honours can use it) or language skills. It is located inside the Old Library Building on Main Campus and all you need to do is fill in an online form and access to the venue will be added directly to your student card. Inside, you will have access to multiple language-learning software, like Sanako Pronounce, which will help you improve your pronunciation skills.

However, if you cannot or do not want to physically go to the LRC to study, not to worry! Many of the software resources they offer are also available remotely, including Sanako Pronounce Live, uTalk and Transparent Language. Some are accessible with your Newcastle University credentials, while for others you will need to contact the LRC for access, but no matter what you choose, you will have plenty of material to learn and improve!

Do you want to know more? Check out the LRC page on the university's website!

© Newcastle University 2021

The LRC also organises free language classes through the University Wide Language Programme (UWLP) for Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish (normally Present-in-Person, held online in 2020/21). It is worth noting that these tend to fill quickly and that you might not always be able to get a place in the class you want to attend, so it would be a good idea to keep an eye out for application dates if you want to secure a place. Not to worry though, you will also have access to the Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) programme, where you will have the opportunity to attend conversation groups and one-to-one informal speaking practice sessions led by first-language level speaking students, or Online Tandem programmes with both international students studying at Newcastle University or students from universities all over the world!

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Erasmus Living A more literal take on “practicing from home”, the idea for Erasmus Living sprung from manager Lucy’s own experience: after spending a year abroad during her studies as a languages student doing French, Spanish and Portuguese, when she returned she lived with French, Spanish and Portuguese students, which she claims “saved” her final year.

Erasmus Living offers house and flat shares to both UK and International students, giving you the opportunity to improve your language skills in the languages you already know or discover new languages and cultures.

The great thing about it is that matches are not randomly made: once you have applied, you will schedule a videocall with Lucy to chat about your interests, preferences (e.x. if you would like your flat mates to be quiet people or into partying, what area you would like to live in, etc.) and languages studied.

This information will be used to base your matches on. You will then be presented with a few options of places to live in and you can choose the one you like best.

They also have very flexible contracts for one or two semesters, with bookings being for individual rooms rather the entire house or flat and all bills included.

They also provide you with kitchen equipment and bedding.

Unfortunately, they do not offer anything in Jesmond due to the bad feedback they have received from European students, but you still have many more areas to choose from!

Head over to their website for more information!

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Flying Solo

THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

2021 COVID ISSUE

THE WORLD & ME The magic of living abroad as seen

by Newcastle University students

MY SUSPENDED YEAR ABROAD

By Seraphine Mackie

Well, I think it is safe to say that this year has changed all of our scheduled plans. In my case, I planned to study at the University of PUCRS (Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio do Sul) in Porta Alegre in the South of Brazil for the first semester. I then planned to work in either Ecuador or in Mexico (I was yet to decide!) during the second.

Many people say that the Year Abroad is the highlight of a modern language degree and so my excitement had been building for years, even prior to starting uni. Hearing the news that all my plans had been postponed, inevitably made me feel sad and disappointed. However, the student community here at Newcastle really helped me to lift my spirits and stay positive. I spoke with my friends and fellow coursemates, and we worked together to stay motivated in the situation. Since I was unable to go to Latin America, I decided to suspend my studies for a year, postponing my Year Abroad for the next academic year (2021/2022). My Suspended Year Abroad has allowed me to gain valuable life experience, teaching me not to take life too seriously and that things do not always go to plan.

"The student community here at Newcastle really helped me to lift my spirits" Whilst I waited for the COVID situation to improve, I returned to my home country in Italy. I am originally from the heart of Tuscany in a small village called Montisi. I wanted to keep my independence, so I decided to move away from my hometown, to the delightful city of Arrezzo. I found a job working as a babysitter and private English teacher and rented myself an apartment. As much as I am enjoyed being back in the Italian sun, I miss the city of Newcastle, student life and my friends. We have all stayed in touch through regular video calls. I am particularly excited about our student reunion – it will definitely be one to remember!

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The real challenge has been keeping up with my language skills. The LRC here at Newcastle is great. They have a Tandem programme, where they match you to native students in partner universities. I have met native speakers and been able to regularly practise my language skills.

Speaking with native speakers has made me feel as if I have been immersed in their home country. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing about their culture, explaining food rituals and teaching me common slang. It almost feels as if I was there with them (despite being sat in my home). These conversations have also helped me with my social skills and my confidence. It has been really great to interact with different students around the globe!

So, what has been the highlight of my COVID Year Abroad? I have learnt to live without regrets and to take advantage of every opportunity open to me. I have learnt the importance of being proactive rather than staying locked in limbo and waiting for opportunities to fall into your lap. I started teaching English online, successfully completing my TEFL qualification which I am sure is going to help me in the future. Although the world may have stopped this year and changed all our plans, it has also allowed for new opportunities and enriching cultural experience. I now feel more resilient and prepared for my career after uni – now knowing how to deal with life’s unexpected events. Despite not having gone on the Year Abroad that I originally planned, in the future I plan to travel to Spain and Portugal to practice my language skills. It may not be the exotic shores of Mexico or Brazil, however hopefully I’ll meet some Brazilians or Mexicans along the way!

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The Day I wrote on My German Teacher's White Board

By Beth McClelland

A small anecdote to say that the magic of the Year Abroad can be in the small victories, not just the gorgeous Instagram feeds.

In August 2019, I packed my life into three suitcases and travelled to Angers, France, where I would study at l’Université d’Angers.

It’s a gorgeous city, and every day I was amazed that I was privileged enough to live there. The early weeks were the year abroad days that everyone talks about: about the continental sunshine, the new friends, the funny jokes you finally understand in a foreign language, the sunsets at the lake, the bright and colourful Instagram feeds… It was amazing.

Then we settled in, the novelty of being the new English student wore off and I had to take part in French university like every other student. It was hard. Culturally, the university experience is very different. French university for me was much like secondary school… No essays, no referencing, no reading really, just turning up to the class and contributing. As someone with anxiety, speaking French, or worse German, on the spot in class felt impossible.

My German teacher was a very tall man with a very deep voice and his style was to pick on people to write on the board in front of 30 pairs of beady eyes. I avoided this like we all avoided Coronavirus in March 2020, but one day he told me it would be my turn next week. I spent the whole week dizzy with stress, checking my German translations with anyone who knew a word of German, and on the day, I said no. I felt so bad that I emailed him after the class to apologise. He was fine with it, and actually found it funny! A game emerged where he’d pretend to ask me, I’d look terrified, he’d laugh and move on. It sounds cruel but it was in good spirit. “Beth, the day you write on the board will be the biggest honour of my life”. I laughed awkwardly and moved on.

"The magic of the Year Abroad can be in the small victories, not just the gorgeous Instagram feeds"

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Then, one Tuesday in Semester Two, 6 months after getting to France, I decided to be confident. I knew everyone, the translations felt a little easier, and honestly, I thought if I do it once, he won’t ask me again. He gestured the pen towards me, I nodded, he stopped in his tracks, then clapped. The whole class erupted in laughter and cheered me on. And I wrote on the board and couldn’t stop smiling afterwards. Writing on the board probably seems so menial to everyone else, but for me, it embodied the biggest struggle of my Year Abroad: my confidence. I let it stop me so many times, but the days I pretended to be confident in front of my peers mean more to me now, a year after leaving France (thanks Corona) than the amazing trips I went on.

There is so much pressure to live a preconceived idea of the perfect Year Abroad.

What I learnt is you have to make the experience what you need. If that’s getting on a train or bus to a different city every weekend then do it! If that’s making friends with locals and sitting at a coffee shop all day, do it!. For me, it was finally finding some self-confidence by writing on a board.

The day I wrote on my German teacher’s board was the best day of my Year Abroad.

And I’m more than happy with that.

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Alisha takes Austria

By Alisha Paige As I ticked off the last bits from the checklist my mum had written for me before setting off to Manchester Airport, I felt a sense of relief knowing I was going more prepared than I had been for the first part of my Year Abroad in France just 6 months prior. Emergency ginger biscuits? Tick.

Yorkshire Tea? Tick. A tin of beans for when you forget shops don’t open on Sundays and you have nothing in? Tick. However, no checklist could have prepared me for the email I received from the FCO just 4 weeks later, requesting my return to the UK due as a result of the outbreak of a global pandemic.

Read all about Alisha's time in France in Flying Solo 2020

That’s the thing about your Year Abroad, no matter how much preparation you do beforehand, you will always find yourself faced with new and unexpected experiences. For the record, these don’t usually end up in the mass evacuation of a cohort from different countries.

Whilst my time in Austria was short, it certainly didn’t go without its new experiences. Primarily thanks to the friends I made while I was there.

Within less than 72 hours of my arrival, I had already been roped into partaking in the annual carnival with the school by the headteacher, I had agreed to go skiing with my landlady and I had been given a list as long as my arm of foods I “needed” to try by my first class of students.

My experiences didn’t end there though, I also had the chance to climb a mountain (the Austrians argued it was a hill, but I beg to differ), visited a climate change protest and consequently ended up in the local paper. I tried Schnitzel, visited Vienna and Linz, went out on a lake in a boat and had to visit the doctors after an insect bite!

Looking back, I am still not sure how I managed to fit it all into just 4 weeks!

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One of the things I miss the most about my time in Austria, or my Year Abroad in general, was the sense of community I found in both the places I was located. Both times I lived in quite small villages, which meant most people knew I was new on the block, but in many ways that worked in my favour. People wanted to get to know me and since it was quite rural, very few spoke good English, meaning that I had plenty of opportunities to practice my German. However, I learned the hard way that “Peperoni Pizza” is in fact chilli pizza and not pepperoni as we know it here. (Note to self: Never assume a word with 1 letter difference means the same thing) Skiing was by far the best experience of my time in Austria. Even if my mum was sat cautiously watching her phone all day for the text to tell her that I was home in one piece (I am prone to accidents). I am still unsure how I came away unscathed, especially since I fell down numerous times. To be honest, I think I spent more time going from top to bottom on my bum than on my ski’s but that’s what your Year Abroad is all about, isn’t it? Trying new things.

" No Matter how much preparation you do beforehand, you will always find yourself faced with new and expected experiences" Looking back, my experience weirdly resembles my newfound skiing ability. It started on a high and before I knew it, I was plummeting down a one-way slope. However, despite the abrupt ending two things are for certain. Firstly, my Year Abroad gave me experiences I could have once only dreamed of. Secondly, emergency ginger biscuits really do make everything better! Especially after 3 cancelled flights, a train journey, several phone calls, 2 replacement flights and 17.5 hours of travelling.

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Expectations vs Reality Mobility as an International student

By Anna Busà

When I was preparing for my Year Abroad, I thought I knew exactly what to expect. As a foreign student studying full-time in the UK, I thought my experiences had already given me all the knowledge I needed to move to a different country, and that very little of the information provided would actually prove to be useful. However, not everything worked out as I expected.

While as an EU student travelling to an EU country I had some undeniable advantages, I soon realised life in France wasn’t going to be as simple as I thought. Of course, as an Italian in France various aspects of the local culture didn’t come as a shock to me, nor did the lack of organisation at my receiving institution and the subsequent need to actively look for information on things as simple as module structure and content or assessment information or deadlines.

"I was eager to engage in the culture and see how France would shape my personality!"

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Making friends is also one of the best ways to keep learning despite external unfavourable circumstances. From a national strike to Covid, having French friends meant I could have chats and videocalls in my target language and enjoy myself at the same time.

Pro tip: Do you like social media? Join challenges in your target language!

Ironically, what posed the most problems for me were not the aspects of French culture that I found foreign, but rather the ones that I found familiar. It’s weird, but it took me moving to France to truly understand how much I’d changed in just two years of living in the UK and how much British culture had become a part of me.

This made me even more eager to engage in the culture and see how France would shape my personality, but often as an exchange student you find yourself wondering how to do that. I was lucky enough to make friends (totally by chance!) on my first day of class, but don’t despair if the same doesn’t happen to you – there are plenty of opportunities for you to meet new people!

Finally, remember that Covid will pass, but you could still find yourself in situations where leaving your local area is harder than usual, like strikes or protests. While walking around could be more or less appealing depending on where you live, staying inside is not the only alternative. Try finding activities you can do nearby, like going to a park, a museum or the cinema. If there aren’t any in your local area, or if that’s not your cup of tea, try board games!

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China

Interview with Kaloyan Stefanov

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your course of studies?

Did the Year Abroad live up to those expectations? Why?

Hello! My name is Kaloyan Stefanov, I am 23 years old, and I am from Bulgaria. I studied Translation and Interpreting with Spanish and Chinese at Newcastle University from 2016 to 2020, and I am currently a postgraduate student at the SML. For my year abroad, I spent 11 months in Shanghai.

Oh, it far exceeded them! Shanghai is a huge city where you can find almost anything, and not once did I feel bored. Although classes started early (8:30 a.m.), they also finished early (11:45 a.m.), so I had a lot of free time. At the beginning of each semester, students had to sit an exam to determine their Chinese level so that they could be placed in an appropriate group. Admittedly, that system was far from perfect. However, we had the opportunity to attend other classes and request to be moved to a different group wherever needed. Thereby, no one had to endure overly difficult (or simple) classes. It took me a couple of months to get used to most things, but I didn’t experience any culture shock—I knew what to expect, and I am not easily ‘shocked’ by anything. Granted, there were certain difficulties and annoyances which I had to deal with, but my overall experience was highly positive, and I don’t regret my time in China at all.

What were your expectations before setting off to China?

Naturally, I was excited. However, I must admit that I was also slightly annoyed that students studying Chinese and Japanese had to spend two semesters in their respective Asian country, whereas other language students had the opportunity to spend each semester in a different country. This is understandable of course, but at the time I was under the impression that studying for a year in China would be monotonous and uninteresting. If I had been able to choose, I would have gone to South America for the second semester. As far as the language is concerned, I anticipated that classes would be very demanding, but simultaneously, I was convinced that the constant exposure to Chinese would be vastly beneficial.

"I will never forget the sense of tranquillity I felt that night in Wuxi"

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What’s your best memory?

And your worst?

I have many fond memories of my Year Abroad, but the one which immediately comes to mind is the university trip to Wuxi and Suzhou in May 2019. It was the end of the second semester, and I had already made good friends with several of my classmates. The whole trip was very enjoyable, but the single memory that stands out as the best is the first night of the trip. After spending the day visiting points of interest and savouring the local cuisine, two friends and I called a taxi which took us to a park near Lake Tai, far away from the city centre of Suzhou. There were almost no other people, except for a group of Buddhist monks who were leisurely strolling around. The weather was invigorating, with a refreshing breeze, and the sky was perfectly clear. The park’s serenity was in stark contrast to Shanghai’s bustling nightlife I had got so used to, and although the true highlight of my year abroad was my journey in July, when I travelled alone from Shanghai to Tokyo to Seoul to Beijing and then back to Shanghai, I will never forget the sense of tranquillity I felt that night in Wuxi.

My worst memory is my arrival in Shanghai. I had booked accommodation several months in advance.

However, a couple of weeks prior to my departure, I discovered that my accommodation had been cancelled. I had to find new accommodation, which I only managed to do a few days before my arrival with the help of Dr Smith Finley (the Year Abroad Officer for China). Unfortunately, my luggage got lost during my connection in Moscow, and my phone and power bank died soon after I landed in Shanghai. The airport staff there were not particularly helpful. I was simply instructed to wait several hours for the next flight from Moscow to see if my luggage was on it, given that I didn’t have an address or even a Chinese SIM card. Luckily, an older gentleman lent me his travel adapter (the one I carried in my backpack was—of course—not working, and the rest were still missing in action!)

Thankfully, my wait was not in vain, and my luggage arrived later that day. I then took a taxi and—after an hour and a half—was dropped off at the car park of a random building 200 metres away from my accommodation! The driver explained that he had missed the turning and began urging me to walk back by pointing in the assumed direction of my soon-to-be new home while repeating ‘close, close’ (in Chinese). But I was having none of that. I pointed at my 60 kg worth of luggage (just a few kilos less than me!) and started repeating ‘heavy, heavy’ (in immaculate Chinese, of course) until he finally conceded and told me to hop back into the car. In his defence, it did take us at least 5 minutes to go all the way around so that he could take the correct turn, and it would have been indeed easier for me to walk to my accommodation… if I had known its exact location and I hadn’t had any luggage! Finally, to top it all off, the staff there were somehow unaware of my arrival, but they called the International Students Officer at ECNU (my Chinese university), and I was soon allocated the only available room.

What’s one thing you would tell students who are going abroad in the future?

No matter how prepared you are, something can always go wrong. In the words of Bear Grylls: ‘improvise, adapt, overcome’. And don’t forget to have fun!

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Japan

Double interview with Michael Bonney and Rachel Dale-Williams

Can you briefly introduce yourself and your course of studies?

What is one thing you wishe you could have taken with you to the UK? Why?

Michael: Hello! I’m Michael, final year student on BA (Hons) Modern Languages, Translation & Interpreting and I study French and Japanese on the degree.

M: The people I met. Absolutely hands down. I miss each and every one of them massively and I cannot wait until I can see them all again.

Oh, and also, the incredibly respectful culture they have. It was really liberating to walk around feeling completely safe no matter where I went. Though I suppose I couldn’t exactly have taken this with me in my hand luggage…

Rachel: Hi! I’m Rachel, a final year Modern Languages student studying French and Japanese!

Did the Year Abroad meet your expectations? Why? M: Japan far exceeded my expectations!

While I admit that the course that I did was very intense and involved a lot of studying in my own time, I met some friends for life, and I got to experience an entirely new culture that I absolutely fell in love with. Sure, there were quite a few tricky moments, but for each tricky moment I can easily tell you ten other fantastic experiences I had. While I know that there is still so much more to learn about the Japanese culture and the language, too, I think it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I grew so much as a result of it.

R: Ahh, there’s so much! It would be nice to have the Tokyo public transport system in Newcastle... You’d never have to wait half an hour for the metro to the beach again! I also miss the convenience of convenience stores. Tesco express is fine and all, but nothing beats 7/11 or Family Mart.

R: It far surpassed my expectations to be honest! I absolutely adored Tokyo. The first few weeks were really hard, and there were highs and lows, as there always are in life, but I definitely experienced far more highs in Japan. Tokyo is an amazing city full of new and exciting adventures to be had.

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And the one thing you will always remember about your Year Abroad?

M: While in Japan, I made friends with a Japanese guy called Kan through a language exchange programme set up by my host university and during one of the holiday periods, he invited me to go to his parents’ house in Kobe. It was a really incredible experience, being ‘part of a Japanese family’ for a little while and having to try to communicate everything in Japanese as well as I could. They really tried to make me feel welcome and, in the evening, took me up to the top of a mountain to stargaze. I remember looking out over the skyline of Kobe and feeling incredibly happy.

Funnily enough, there was also a shooting star just after I took this picture. You’d think it was something out of a movie! I’ll definitely remember this forever.

R: The friends I made!!! Everyone I have spoken to since coming back to the UK has said the same – that they’ve made lifelong friends from such different social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. It really does make you a well-rounded person to meet and get to know all these super interesting individuals. I’ll never forget playing Just Dance in the ground floor common room at 4am with about 20 other International and Japanese students (this happened most weekends to be honest...). The nighttime security staff hated us!

Check out the full interview here!

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China and Japan Photo Gallery

China

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These are silkworms!

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Japan

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Halloween is a massive thing in Tokyo!

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Links Year Abroad Photography Competition 2019/20 - Contents - page 2 https://www.facebook.com/media/set? vanity=205023906266136&set=a.2805428289559005 Language Resource Centre - Practice your language skills from home - page 20 https://www.ncl.ac.uk/language-resource-centre/ Erasmus Living - Practice your language skills from home - page 21 https://www.erasmusliving.co.uk/ Flying Solo 2020 - Alisha takes Austria - page 27 https://issuu.com/bradleyweatherhead/docs/flying_solo_2020 Full Japan interview - Japan double interview - page 34 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ygnQrak3EpUVNP9xJgzcgH_sPeZw25yY/view? usp=sharing

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Flying Solo

THE YEAR ABROAD MAGAZINE

2021 COVID ISSUE

Final thanks We would like to thank again all the people that contributed to this issue, from student writers to student photographers and everyone that helped us make this issue what it is.

We would also like to thank Dr Damien Hall, who supervised the project and helped and guided us every step of the way. It was much appreciated.

Your editors

Heather Simpson

Heather Simpson

Anna Busà

Anna Busà

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Flying Solo 2021