Wild Packs!

Vague speedy update!

Yesterday evening the University sent out an email about a summer camp programme called Wild Packs, which is basically an organisation that has connections to tons of summer camps around the States, and you can apply through them and they try and find you a placement on one of these camps! I have wanted to work at a summer camp for ages, and was thinking of applying for next summer (2015) so I'd have enough money saved, because the one I was looking at, Camp America, was pretty expensive. But Wild Packs is actually cheap - you only pay for flights, they provide food, laundry cost, internet, accommodation, and they also pay you for working there so flights will be refunded basically anyway! Plus, you don't have to pay to submit an application like you do with Camp America.

So, I applied this morning, and you put down things you're interested in or have experience with, so I put down theatre (though obviously I'm not an expert but I've been in quite a few pantomimes which was great fun!), videography and archery (which if my mum is reading this, she'll laugh but I have tried quite a few times and it is fun!).

I actually got a call a few hours later about my application and the lady I spoke to, Kate, was super nice! She talked about what positions that were available and set me some 'homework'. Because the traditional 'camp counsellor' role is really heavily applied for, she suggested maybe going for a teaching thing. Now, she mentioned teaching archery and one of my 'homework assignments' was to do some more archery so I'd feel competent teaching children, and she had a point when she said they wouldn't exactly be experienced and said most of them would only want to try it out because of The Hunger Games. However I'd rather not teach archery because a) I'm not great and b) Being responsible for  kids with bows and arrows is not a happy prospect for  me.

But she mentioned maybe helping in the media department (my homework if I want to do this is submit a video, but although I can do that, I'm not an expert and my editing skills would not be amazing compared to others), or finally I could write about wanting to do a pantomime with the kids at camp because it's not a huge thing in America. This is my favourite option because panto is great for everyone - I'm definitely not a good singer or actor but with panto it doesn't matter! I'd love to be a part of helping kids put on a pantomime, especially if they have no idea what exactly a pantomine is!

Or, alternatively, I could help out at a camp for children with autism, which I would really love to do. I've had quite a lot of experience in this area and it wouldn't involve me being heavily responsible for teaching kids something I'm not amazing at myself!

Either way, I have to complete one of these homework assignments and edit my application, and this is going really fast but I'm super excited! I might not get the placement but the great thing is that you don't have to pay anything until they accept you onto the programme, so it's free to apply!

Hope you're all well and will keep you updated!

Paige :)

Life Update!

HELLO!
I have done a few things since the last post! Have another bullet point list:

• Visited Bath Abbey for a twilight tour (which is BEAUTIFUL) and climbed to the top.
• Went to Nandos!
• We have officially established Pizza Sunday (which is today!)
• Saw Let's Buy Happiness at Moles
• Saw Kitten and Bear, F.U.R.S and San Cisco last night at Theklai in Bristol - which is a BOAT
• Watched two Leonardo DiCaprio movies with Naya, Lewis, Paige and Pete, and had my mind blown by Shutter Island
• Had my first experience of Bubble Tea, which is actually pretty good
• Attended two Amnesty sessions
• Cooked burgers and wedgies with Paige and didn't burn the kitchen down
• Did laundry multiple times with nothing bad happening (yet!!)
• Organised to do an online shop with Naya at some point in the next day (saves money and time! Horray!)

And most importantly:
I had a group interview on Friday (I didn't get the job for the Bath kids club back, by the way, so that transportation money is lost) and I was super nervous about it but I found out four hours later that I got the job!!! :) 300 people applied, 150 were asked for interviews and only 60/70 got offered the job! YAY!

So that's a life update, sorry it isn't detailed or anything - I have a lot of work to do and should probably get back to it!

Hope you are all good!

Paige :) xx

Week One

Hello!

This blog post is probably going to be a bit all over the place, but I'll try and make it coherent!

My timetable is quite empty at the moment, I only have two/three hours a day (except Wednesday where I'm completely free) while most people in my flat have like four or five. Next week I start Spanish so that's something extra but I think Psychology has a lot of hours outside class, as does Sociology which I chose as my optional module. I also joined the University's Amnesty society which I'm really excited about. My lectures are great but a lot of work. I think after so long not doing anything it's a bit of a shock having to do work again that isn't revision, especially because it's quite different at University because it's so much more independent, with reading outside of class and prep before hand. My first sociology lecture was today and it was a lot of information, pretty overwhelming, but really great, and I met a student who is here from Italy who seems really lovely, as well as a few people on my course who also picked Sociology.

Like I mentioned in my previous post, on Monday Pete and Paige and I watched Django Unchained and on Tuesday the Psychology society showed Fight Club. Both were obviously great and I'm glad that clubbing isn't going to be a thing for a while because although Freshers was fun I still don't completely adore it. My flat is actually having a board game night tonight and it sounds so sad but I'm so excited because board games are really fun! I spend most of today on public transport because I had an interview (!!) for a Bath Saturday club for disabled children, but the interview was in their Bristol offices. This meant I had to get:

1. A bus from campus to Bath station
2. A train to the main Bristol station
3. Another train from that station to a smaller station
4. A taxi to the offices
5. A bus back to the station after the interview
6. A direct (thank god) train back to Bath station
7. A bus back to Campus

But this actually went really well. I am now an expert on public transport! I think the interview went really well as well, but it was my first job interview so for all I know it could have been awful. I hope not, and the people were really nice so now I just have to wait for them to get back to me in a week or two. Even if I don't get it the experience was good, though I could have done without so much public transport!

Like I said, tonight  my flat are having a board game night which I am unashamedly excited about, and on Monday the film society is planning a cinema trip which I'm going to with Naya, Pete, Paige and the other people in the society. Not sure what film it is, but if it's How I Live Now then I might cry with happiness because the film society get cheap tickets and I realllly want to see it! Then on Tuesday is a pub quiz (basically I am super excited that clubbing isn't on the horizon any time soon and I am fully aware how sad that makes me sound) with Lucy, Laura, Naya, Pete, Paige and whoever else wants to come with. I was planning on relaxing this weekend but I have a lot of Psychology reading to do so that might not work out as well as I hope...

Enjoy the rest of your week! :) 

Paige x