The UoB Linguist Issue 44 - Meet the Team!

Editor's Note

Welcome to our first issue of 2022/2023!

I’m Emily, the Chair of the UoB Linguist magazine this year. I am going into my fourth year of studying Spanish, Italian and Translation at the University of Birmingham.

This issue is a special “Meet the Team” edition, which introduces you to our new committee, section editors and proofreaders!

Now in the 11th year of the magazine, it is an honour and a privilege to be the Chair in my last year of university, and to be working with such a fantastic team I first heard about this magazine when I was a fresher in 2019, which led me to becoming the Secretary the following year, then the Life & Style Editor during my year abroad in Italy I have loved being a part of the magazine’s journey these last few years. Like so many of our readers, I am a travel lover and language student, so it is very exciting to be part of a magazine that celebrates exactly these things.

In a world in which talks of the pandemic and Brexit still prevail, travelling and conversing in foreign languages has never felt so important The UoB Linguist Magazine brings to light these topics by sharing and celebrating students’ experiences of taking on exciting adventures, discovering new cultures, lifestyles, cuisine and languages

We provide both foreign language articles and an exciting range of English language pieces, so whether you are keen to practise a foreign language, or you want to feel inspired by a travel story or a foreign language film, there is something for everyone!

In this issue, all of the articles are written by our team members about their own memorable travel experience. Take a look at our inspiring articles such as our Portuguese Editor’s 'memorable' time in Brazil, our Creative Designer's year abroad in Japan, as well as stories from Morocco by one of our proofreaders and the Life & Style Editor!

The UoB Linguist Magazine is completely written, edited, designed and managed by students In our regular issues, articles are written by students across campus who take an interest in anything travel or language related If this sounds like you, we would love for you to get involved! You can write in any language, including for our English language sections. As this is a magazine for language learners, all our articles are proofread by native speakers, so we encourage linguists at any level to write for us! Use any of our social media links or our email address to get in touch if you are interested in getting involved. Finally, I'd like to say a big thank you to my fellow committee members who have been working so hard over the summer, despite us all living in different countries across the world on our year abroad, so that the Linguist Magazine continues to deliver fabulous content to all of our UoB readers.

I hope you enjoy reading our “Meet the Team” issue!

EMILY

chair & iTALIAN EDITOR

Travelling Around Tuscany: The Beauty of Spontaneity

I’m Emily, the Chair and the Italian Editor of the Linguist this year I have spent the last 10 months studying at the University of Padova in the North East part of Italy

My friend and I decided to travel around Italy as a way to celebrate finishing our winter exams Given that you can take a train to pretty much anywhere in Italy, we decided to go on a spontaneous trip around Tuscany, home to the cities of Florence and Pisa. As it was February and low tourist season, we could book cheap hotels last minute Our first stop was Florence It was an hour and a half direct train from Padova and we booked a low budget hotel for two days in the middle of the city centre We were immediately taken aback by the beautiful Renaissance architecture, particularly the Duomo and Giotto’s Tower On the second day, we visited the famous Uffizi gallery and the Accademia gallery. We just had enough time to visit the stunning Boboli Gardens adorned with grottos, sculptures and fountains

On our last night, we had wine in a local enoteca and met a Scottish girl who we ended up spending the whole night having spritz with in a Florentine piazza On our third day in Tuscany, we took a two hour train to Siena, a medieval town known for il Palio, a horse racing tradition For lunch we had bruschetta under the sun in the Piazza del Campo, where Il Palio takes place. Afterwards, we went to a medieval castle where we had a stunning view of the Tuscan hills freckled with charming beige houses. Lastly, we made sure to try the traditional cuisine: a heart warming Tuscan soup and Chianti wine Our final stop in Tuscany was Pisa. We only planned to spend half a day there, as our priority was to see the iconic leaning tower

However, we actually ended up spending the full day there as there was a huge delay with the trains, something that is very common in Italy. We had to take a different train two hours later, but halfway through the journey we realised we had taken the wrong train, like so many other passengers because of the chaos with the delays. This led to us being sat at a random train station for an hour in the middle of a thunderstorm whilst waiting for the right train Spontaneity doesn’t always pay off! Whilst looking at the map, we saw that Pisa is very close to one of the most famous tourist destinations in Italy, and one of the most beautiful: Cinque Terre, meaning “Five Towns” This little gem of a place is located in another region called Liguria Each village is dotted with tiny colourful houses that have the illusion of being stacked up on top of each other Given that they are fishing villages, there was an abundance of tasty fresh fish, and the region is also famous for its focaccia We took a train from La Spezia, where we were staying, to the first village, Monterosso al Mare, which is known for its turquoise, crystal clear sea On the second day we saw two villages, Vernazza, which has a famous focacceria, and Manarola, where we saw a gorgeous sunset as we sat on some rocks right by the sea It was a perfect way to end our 6 day trip. This short and sweet trip was definitely the highlight of my year abroad in Italy, and despite the chaos of Italian transport, it is something that is so worth doing

Lucy Rowen Secretary & Spanish Editor

Navigating Najac: A Day in a Fairy-Tale Town

Hi! My name is Lucy, I’m going into my fourth year at Birmingham studying French, Spanish and German. This year I will be taking on the roles of Secretary and Spanish Editor at the Linguist I am really looking forward to being a part of the team especially after enjoying reading the Linguist throughout my first three years at university When I think of memorable travel experiences, what first comes to mind is the fact that since the pandemic I feel so much more fortunate that I am able to travel. I have just finished my year abroad, studying in Toulouse, in the South West of France for semester one, Tübingen in South West Germany for semester two, finishing off the year in Alcalá de Henares in Spain, for a four week language course. Despite the challenges of this year with countless Covid tests, paperwork and visas that were necessary to travel, I have often found myself this year thinking about how I did take travelling for granted before Covid Over the last twelve months, I have had the opportunity to discover the countries that I have been studying in (with the help of cheap rail fares and deals that we do not benefit from in England), and my mindset has really changed after these crazy two years I not only visited well known cities in my time abroad, but also went on day trips to nearby towns and villages, which, realistically, I would never fly to France or Germany to visit. Some of my most memorable travel experiences this year have ended up being in these towns, that I had never even heard of before my time abroad One that comes to mind is a tiny town in France called Najac.

An hour and a half train journey away from Toulouse, this fairy tale town is on ‘must see’ lists, when looking up day trips in the area I admit, I was not counting down the days until this trip; it looked like a lovely place, but I was more excited for trips to Bordeaux or Montpellier

Upon arrival, we were the only people to get off the train and suddenly saw the huge hill that we had to climb up to reach the town. It was a clear, sunny November day and despite it being winter it was relatively warm What struck us immediately was how unbelievably quiet this town was (especially in comparison to the bustling streets of Toulouse) and it was entertaining to see the confused locals, not used to hearing any language apart from French It was a relaxing day, sitting in the sun, admiring the views that spanned for miles and strolling around the beautiful, traditional French streets After reaching the castle, the main attraction of the town, we realised it was closed, only being open April to October We took some photos of the views, drank a diabolo (grenadine and lemonade trust me on this) and headed back to Toulouse Despite it not being the most eventful day trip, it is one of the most memorable and I realised the beauty of travelling to places that you never normally would I continued this in Germany too, visiting many tiny towns and impressive historical castles.

On my return home to the UK, I would like to experience more places in and around Birmingham (admittedly I spent most of my first year on Broad Street or on campus) I have loved visiting so many places this year and I have learnt so much about different countries and cultures So here’s to more travelling, and to finding more hidden gems like Najac!

ISABELLA IACONO TREASURER

Year Abroad Highlights

Hi, my name is Isabella and I am learning both Spanish and Italian here at UoB I have just come back from my year abroad so when Emily told us that the theme for this article would be about memorable travel experiences, I knew it would be an unbelievably difficult task to choose just one experience since there had been so many in just this year alone So, as hard as it was, I narrowed it down (and thought I’d cheat a little) and chose two experiences: one from each part of my year abroad

For the first part of the year I spent it studying in the small but gorgeous city of Granada For me, living and exploring Granada has been by far one of my favourite travel experiences from this year abroad. Yes, I know it is slightly biased as I had been living there for about five months, however, the city has this medieval charm to it which I had never experienced before, and is perhaps why it was so memorable; wherever you go in the city you know you are undoubtedly surrounded by untouched history from the past What also surprised me about Granada was that it was just a stone's throw away from the Sierra Nevada I had never been skiing before in my life but as I was living right next to a mountain range, I thought it would be foolish of me not to try

So, I thought to myself, since my birthday is in the winter, what better way to spend it than trying something exciting and new, and as soon as it hit December I dragged my friends up the mountain to spend the day gliding down hills of snow Well, gliding perhaps is a bit of a stretch, tumbling is more accurate, but regardless of my lack of skill I had a great time!

The second semester broug about a new country and a new city: Rome Being one of the biggest capital cities in the world, the Eternal City certainly provided many of my favourite experiences from my year abroad Whilst I didn’t quite fulfil my Lizzie McGuire fantasy of riding round Rome on a Vespa, living there for five and a half months was a truly amazing experience in itself

However, ironically, my most memorable travel experience in Italy actually took place in the more unknown region of Puglia My most memorable experience was when I had the opportunity to jump off of a boat, into the crystal clear blue water of one of Puglia’s beautiful beaches, surrounded by all the friends I’d made throughout the year Not only was this a once in a lifetime opportunity, but also it was one of the last times I got to spend with all of the amazing people I’d met in Rome To be able to share that moment with all my friends was truly what made that experience so unforgettable. As I said before, choosing just two experiences was a struggle but I think I chose well Although I mentioned only these experiences, there were so many others that I wish I could have written about too, not just from my year abroad but from other times I have had the opportunity to travel the worl However, the memories I mentioned earlier are by far the most unforgettable. I was lucky enough to travel to some amazing places and meet some amazing people and these memories mirror that They were experiences so unique, exhilarating and joyful so I know I will cherish them forever

CAITLIN GAUL

PUBLICITY OFFICER & Travel editor

My Lebenslanger Schicksalsschatz

I’m Caitlin, I study Spanish, French and German and I’m excited to be this year’s Publicity Officer and Travel Editor for The Linguist!

Choosing only one memorable travel experience to write about after just finishing a year abroad jam packed with travel in France and Germany is a difficult task An experience that I particularly cherish though was during my semester in Heidelberg, Germany Amongst my close knit group of Erasmus friends in Heidelberg was a German student called Andi Andi is from a small town in Bavaria called Dinkelsbühl, not too far from a town called Rothenburg ob der Tauber (the latter is deemed one of Germany’s prettiest places, so naturally we were keen to visit) Andi invited us to go and stay with him in his hometown for the weekend and suggested that we visit these beautiful places along the way So that’s what we did A few trains later, Andi’s family kindly picked all (ten) of us up As one could only expect from the filming location of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ and the place that inspired ‘Pinocchio’, Rothenburg ob der Tauber was nothing short of spectacular After picnicking in the shade of the town’s medieval walls, we strolled around the idyllic streets and revelled in the beauty and tradition of this untouched German treasure Waiting on the doorstep when we arrived back to Andi’s was the rest of his family, greeting us with a warm welcome of hugs In no time, we were taken to the outside terrace which was filled with a long table lined with fresh fruit, baked goods straight from the oven, and bread with chives and tomatoes picked from the garden. After basking in the evening Bavarian sun, we ventured into Dinkelsbühl for an evening tour Of course, Rothenburg was wonderful, but there was something about here that felt so special Perhaps it was the pinkish evening sky, or the tour guide who sang to us and took us to a variety of pubs to try their specialty beer, or the locals waving out of their windows, or the fact that as a group we were simply together, appreciating the hometown of where one of our friends grew up Heading back home, all slightly sleepy and content with the day's events, we went back to Andi's for more homemade food

10 little beds had been prepared for us up in the attic, and with the sound of cockerels as our alarm the next morning, we enjoyed breakfast treats with fresh juice and coffee after waking up With an above 30 degree day ahead, the plan was to enjoy a nearby lake. An afternoon of swimming, joking around on the Total Wipeout style inflatables and slides, playing beach volleyball, and reading all together was so refreshing Before heading for the train back to Heidelberg, Andi’s family had once again prepared a dinner full of traditional German food like Schnitzel and asparagus to name a few, followed by a dessert of homemade waffles We all sat down along the laid out tables and discussed in disbelief how dream like our weekend had been The kindness and generosity shown to us by Andi’s family was staggering. Andi taught us the saying Lebenslanger Schicksalsschatz, (a phrase actually used in the sitcom How I Met Your Mother) which, in typical German fashion, is composed of multiple smaller words, and it is difficult to find an exact English translation Literally translated as ‘life long treasure of destiny’, Andi described it as a phrase you use to describe a memory of an event or person which happened unexpectedly and that you cherish very much. In a way, I look back on this little weekend as my own Lebenslanger Schicksalsschatz; one full of childhood like joy, enjoying the company of my international friends, feeling part of a German family who did nothing but look after us like their own, appreciating the breath taking beauty of the places we experienced, and one that I’ll always remember Although our journey home was full of delays and problems, we were all on the back of such a euphoric weekend that, in the end, we didn’t even notice.

LUCY BRADSHAW CREATIVE DESIGNER

Tourist-Free Japan!

I’m Lucy, the Creative Designer for this year’s magazine I study Spanish, Japanese and Translation at Birmingham One of the reasons I chose to study Japanese was the unique opportunity to study there, knowing that it wouldn’t be very likely I would get the chance at any other point in my life

After waiting two years down to Covid, travelling 10,000 kilometres didn’t strike me as an easy feat; in fact I was terrified Once I got to Japan, that all changed. It took me four hours to get through the airport with all the documents and Covid testing but once I reached the bustling streets of Shinjuku I knew that this trip was going to be unforgettable I lived in the suburbs and Hitotsubashi’s campus was full of greenery that offered a relaxing break from the city which quite literally never sleeps (made me wonder how much Tokyo’s electric bill is) The turtles on campus always brought a smile to my face, even when it was 40°C and I had forgotten my mini hand held fan I loved being able to experience two sides to Tokyo. I loved being able to explore without the streets being packed full of tourists! One of the first things I did when I arrived was go up the Tokyo Skytree, and get a view of the entire city at night. The pollution in the air means you can’t see any stars over the city but the lights from windows and displays and monuments seem so endless it would outshine the stars anyway. Tokyo is huge, which is something we all know but I didn’t really grasp that concept until I arrived It took me an hour and a half to get into central Tokyo from my town in the suburbs, and it was so stressful crossing at Shibuya’s Scramble Square I had never seen so many people in one place at the same time This utter size of Tokyo may have been a cause of a lot of stress (especially morning rush hour trains), but it just means the city had so much to offer

I have been to so many themed cafes where I met an immeasurable number of cats, shiba inus, minipigs and even one capybara, also the Moomin cafe and I even went to a penguin bar I have tried real sushi, ramen, matcha flavoured everything, okonomiyaki, yakitori, omurice, and melon pan but my favourite has to be the convenience store fried chicken (Lawson’s is the best, hands down). I got to go to Tokyo Disney, Disney Sea and Universal (twice!) There is an endless list of things to do in Tokyo, let alone the whole country! I got to see Mount Fuji, Godzilla, Osaka Castle and an endless number of shrines Some of my favourite moments were when I travelled outside of Tokyo. Osaka is a much more relaxed city and it was actually a relief to see graffiti on the walls The people are much more sociable and I loved the energy of the city. I loved being able to go to Hakone and see the countryside; climbing up the mountains and breathing the fresh air that you really can’t get in the city

I really don’t think my words can summarise the beauty of Hakone; it had me stunned to silence!

Japan is definitely a place I’d love to return to; I don’t feel like I managed to see half of everything on my list

I was so grateful I got to experience even a small part of such a beautiful country, I don’t think I could ever forget it

EMMA CROSSLEY PROOFREADER

My Most Memorable Moments in Morocco

I’m Emma and I’m one of the proofreaders for the UoB Linguist Magazine this year I am a final year Modern Languages student of Spanish, Catalan and Translation. My love of languages most likely stemmed from my many experiences abroad in Spain throughout my childhood so, naturally, Spain will always have a special place in my heart

My two years abroad in Spain have facilitated travel opportunities ranging from spontaneous day trips in local villages to exploring the Iberian Peninsula, from bathing in the Costa Tropical to crossing the ocean to visit Morocco. Due to its proximity to the south of Spain, I’ve been fortunate to have two separate holidays in Morocco so far this year the only times I have left Europe. My first trip was utterly unforgettable After months of border closures, me and nearly 100 other Erasmus students embarked on our journey to Morocco, starting with one of the largest cities in the country Fez The central part of the city, known as the Medina, was full of culture and traditions The streets were narrow and lined with tradesmen selling anything from souvenirs to spices to fabric for headscarves One particularly memorable experience from this trip was upon entering a leather shop when we were handed a sprig of mint leaves We realised this was entirely necessary upon stepping outside into an open air tannery with a distinct musty smell a sudden change from the warm nuts and spices usually smelt across the Medina Within this first trip I also had the opportunity to visit the Sahara Desert and even sleep a night under the stars in a tent It was during this night with no city lights that I realised just how bright the moon shines as we all laid down on blankets and could see each other perfectly

We arrived there by camel and left early at 7am by camel too Travelling across the sand dunes while overlooking a sunset has to be one of my most unforgettable travel moments so far.

My second trip to Morocco was to Tangier, a coastal city from which you can see Spain in the distance In this city I was able to see some more of the natural beauty of Morocco, such as the Caves of Hercules and Cap Spartel (a viewpoint where the Mediterranean Ocean meets the Atlantic Ocean). Plus, I believe the best way to make the most of your experiences abroad is by fully immersing yourself and daring to try new things I did this by trying snails from a street vender during the sunset while overlooking the sea, which was possibly the highlight of this trip

While in Tangier, I was also able to try other traditional food such as msemen (a type of flaky pancake eaten for breakfast, often with honey) and seffa (vermicelli pasta with chicken, cinnamon and icing sugar) Also, as an avid tea lover, one of the things that stands out to me about Morocco is their passion for tea too. Wherever you are, there are always some tea shops serving freshly brewed cups of green tea with mint and sugar, which I highly recommend trying

My favourite thing about Morocco is just how welcoming and unique it is As it is such a large country, each time you visit you learn new things about the culture and lifestyle, which fuels a passion to discover and explore more I still have some of the largest cities in the country left to visit, such as Casablanca and Marrakesh, and I look forward to those unforgettable experiences, too.

Charlotte Maxwell Proofreader

A Day in the Life of a Corsican Local

Hello! My name is Charlotte Maxwell, and I am one of your proofreaders for this year This September I’ll leave for my year abroad I’m starting in Paris and then moving to Monaco, undertaking an internship in both locations I’m half English and half French My mum comes from the French island of Corsica which I have visited every summer of my life As such, I am finding it too difficult to pick just one happy memory on this island and think I would do better to describe what I see as a perfect day in Corsica hopefully you’ll get a glimpse into why Corsica is home to some of my favourite travel memories Being so close to Italy, and having once been ruled by the Italians, many people would argue that Corsica seems more Italian than French But something very French that you’ll find dotted all over the island are the boulangeries

To begin my perfect day in Corsica I would take an early morning stroll to pick up a selection of viennoiseries (my favourite being the pain au chocolat) One of the things I most look forward to whenever I come back to Corsica is the smell of the freshly baked pastries and bread that hits you as soon as you step into a boulangerie

Having enjoyed my traditionally French breakfast I would prepare for a day along the coast Corsica is famous for having some of the most beautiful beaches My mum likes to say there is no need to take a 10 hour flight to the Caribbean when you have Corsica just 2 hours away!

Taking a boat for the day is the best way to explore Corsica’s beaches as so many of them are tucked away or have no road access My beach of choise is Cala d'Orzu, found along the west coast of Corsica What makes this beach so special is the water Never in my life have I seen, nor do I think I will ever find, a beach with such perfectly turquoise blue sea I can happily while away the time just swimming in this pool like sea, but if you want more, you’ll find some superb snorkelling in the surrounding rocks To end my perfect day, I would head into the old town of Ajaccio Before sitting down for a delicious meal, I would take time wandering the streets of Corsica’s capital Corsica is famously known as being the birthplace of Napoléon, so it is definitely worth taking the time to visit his townhouse which is full of facts and stories about the Emperor

If sightseeing isn’t for you, just wander the pastel coloured streets of the old town The buildings are trapped in time and are accompanied by the beautiful backdrop of the sea For dinner I would head down to the old port where you will find a selection of port side restaurants It is true that the port can get quite busy, particularly in the peak of summer, but the crowds only add to the lively and colourful atmosphere

As a bonus, if you time your dinner correctly, you may even be able to enjoy your moules frites while admiring the sunset!

Jess Haines Life & Style Editor

Memories of Morocco

My name’s Jess and I am the current editor for the Life & Style section of The Linguist I am about to start my final year as a Modern Languages student studying French and Spanish, having just come back from a year studying at the University of Huelva in Andalucía, Spain

During my year abroad, I was extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to go to Morocco twice the first time organised by myself and some friends and the second time on a tour by a student travel company. Both experiences were very different but both as memorable as each other The first time I visited was to Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. After a long and sleepless night spent at the airport, we boarded our flight, which landed at 5:30 a m local time!

As soon as we landed, we got picked up by our pre arranged transfer, who then took us to our Riad (a traditional Moroccan guesthouse) Despite the very early arrival time, the owner was very friendly and allowed us to check in early, even giving us breakfast which consisted of French pastries, Moroccan mint tea, fruit and some different types of traditional pancakes (Msemen and Beghrir). Our Riad was located in a Medina (traditional market), which had hundreds of stalls selling shoes, bags, jewellery, oils and paintings. The downside to staying in the medina was the fact that it was like a maze, with many different alleyways and dead ends, and because we couldn’t use our mobile data (due to very expensive roaming charges), we very quickly had to remember our way in and out using different reference points.

Over the following few days, we explored the rest of the city, attempted to go to the beach

(it turned out to be too windy thus it felt like being in a sandstorm), and took a day trip to Casablanca, where we visited the Hassan II Mosque (the second largest mosque in Africa)

About a month later, I spontaneously booked to go to Morocco again, as a few of my friends had booked to go on a trip with a company that organised everything

This time, we went via ferry to Tangier, which took about an hour and a half from Algeciras As soon as our boat docked, we went to a beach to ride camels at sunset, which was a very unique experience!

The following day, we visited the blue city of Chefchaouen, which was located in the mountains about an hour from our hotel This city ‘blue’ me away the colours were so vibrant, and all of the stalls were selling beautiful products I ended up buying a sequined cushion cover and some beaded earrings We had a guided tour by a local guide called Toto, who claimed he was friends with Prince William and David Beckham on Facebook!

On our last day, we had a guided tour of Tetouan, and then went to a Berber pharmacy where we saw demonstrations of natural remedies using different oils, herbs and spices, with the claim of healing common ailments We then bought our last few souvenirs and headed back to the ferry port, eventually arriving back in Huelva around 3:30am! Overall, I feel incredibly privileged to have had these opportunities to explore Morocco.

Personally, I would recommend going on an organised tour, especially for safety and the ease of not having to worry about catching trains or buses I would love to return to Morocco one day as I felt like there’s so much more to see!

Emma Gardner Culture Editor

Magical moments in charming Croatia

My name is Emma and I am about to start my fourth and final year of studying Modern Languages (French and Spanish) I have just returned from a year abroad studying in Grenoble, France I am really looking forward to getting involved in the Linguist and reading all of your wonderful articles!

When I waited in the flurry of queues at the airport in June, I had no idea what to expect of my trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia My friend and I had booked it quite spontaneously, eagerly lapping up the discounted flights and cheap accommodation by the beach I must admit I didn’t really know much about Croatia, but my horizons were about to be expanded. When I arrived, I was greeted with a wall of thirty degree heat, accompanied with a cool sea breeze and the hustle and bustle of a very vibrant city. Dubrovnik. It is probably most famous for its role as a filming location for the hit series, Game of Thrones

It also stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which recognises its breath taking medieval architecture and old town Walking through the old town is a truly enchanting experience At each corner, you are greeted by the smell of Croatian cuisine, which boasts an impressive array of fish and meat dishes alike

Particularly worthy of a mention is the local cuttlefish risotto, a creamy rice dish that is completely black in colour, dyed by the ink of the cuttlefish Certainly, a local delicacy that everyone should try in Croatia. You would not be in Dubrovnik if you didn’t explore the myriad of coves and beaches during your trip A glistening stretch of cool, blue water is not far away

This is the perfect way to cool down if the Croatian summer heat gets a bit too much for you There are also plenty of natural caves and arches to swim through if your curiosity gets the better of you On that note, there is a plethora of day trips to go on to see what the surrounding islands have to offer An all day boat trip to the various islands, with a meal included, is both an affordable and unforgettable experience

A trip to the striking Lokrum Island will allow you to swim in a saltwater cove, see the peacocks, or relax on the seafront with a nice cocktail

If it’s culture you’re interested in, Dubrovnik is the home of the Red Museum, which provides an enigmatic way to fill up a rainy afternoon

The museum showcases Croatia’s modern history, whilst also painting a realistic and engaging picture of what life was like under the communist regime of Yugoslavia. It is interactive and certainly provides an exciting antidote to the typical tourist activities on offer in the city Ziplining also offers a fun way to see the magnificent views of Dubrovnik and its surrounding areas from high above. It is something a bit different, and a way to put yourself out of your comfort zone and try something new

Dubrovnik will always be a very memorable travel experience for me, due to several reasons The people of Dubrovnik are some of the most welcoming and helpful people I have ever met They were always on hand to offer travel tips from a local, or to furnish you with a shot of grappa, a highly alcoholic brandy!

Furthermore, the stunning scenery and delectable cuisine are two more reasons for Croatia being such a noteworthy place to visit

KATY DOOLAN CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITOR

Paris - The Cité of Love

As a French student, going to Paris is almost a rite of passage, and there's a good reason for it Back in Year 12, my French class and I (around 12 people in total, sadly) were lucky enough to spend around 5 days in the capital and I cherished every minute of it.

It started with the rush of arriving In the morning we were bustling down to London, cramming our suitcases and bags onto the train and drowning ourselves in overpriced coffee before we set off for the Eurostar It was thrilling just anticipating the arrival whatever we would do there would be unforgettable and I knew I'd love it

As we arrived in the evening, the sky was black and the air was cool Granted, it was January, so we couldn't complain The first sight we'd see would be the Eiffel Tower, lighting up the sky with its golden sparkles I felt awe struck in that moment; it was surreal to rush off a packed train and step into such a spectacular view Not to sound like a complete cliché, but it truly was magical just appreciating this feat of architecture I felt so privileged to even have the opportunity, simply because I'd chosen to study French. It opened up my eyes to see where the language could take me, and that learning a language is far more than just linguistics, but also a step into another culture, and everything that culture has to offer.

Throughout the trip, I never failed to be impressed at all the marvellous landmarks we were seeing Wading through crowds of people to see the Mona Lisa, sitting in the piles of books in Shakespeare and Co (a household name for bookworms) and visiting Le Père Lachaise Cemetery everything was beautiful Even ordering a crêpe in French felt special! Of course, Paris isn't just its cultural sights The forgotten estates (sometimes called cités) are just as much a part of the city as the Sacré Cœur.

It's important not to get too carried away romanticising a city where people who are desperately struggling are pushed to the side because neglect is not as profitable as grandeur We briefly passed through a banlieue, but the differences are immediately noticeable. The buildings may be less appealing than those in the city centre, but the residents were especially helpful and kind

The banlieues are estates in the suburbs, populated by a number of 2nd or 3rd generation immigrants whose parents settled in after the Second World War to help France rebuild its economy The residents have little access to good job opportunities because of their living environment, and their education is notoriously poorer than that of the more affluent areas The trip has always resonated with me because of those contrasts. Whilst the foreign tourists can come and admire the beauty of the city, the people who have lived on the outskirts have an entirely different lived experience, and it's an unrecognisable world they live in which is sadly swept under the rug. Although I wanted to continue learning French for the culture, it would be unjustified to ignore the marginalised people of the city, and I realise now that language and politics are inseparable

Not to sound like a complete cliché, but it truly was magical just appreciating this feat of architecture

Sophie Isbell Catalan Editor

My Monkey Temple Experience

I’m Sophie the Catalan editor of The Linguist this year. I’m about to go into my third year studying Spanish, French and Catalan For as long as I can remember, travelling has been somewhat daunting to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love experiencing new cultures and testing out my ropey new language skills with the locals it is merely the fact that I am absolutely terrified to step foot on a plane which has been a slight limiting factor

However, this year I decided to push myself to the extreme I boarded the 19 hour flight to Bali, Indonesia to embark on the trip of a lifetime, one which certainly would become my most memorable yet

After a copious amount of chamomile tea and a pep talk from the cabin crew, we finally landed in one piece I was immediately encapsulated by the overwhelming vibe of the island: everyone was so friendly and laidback which made us feel so welcome We spent the first few days acclimatising we wandered the manic streets and discovered the breath taking beaches, with every corner we turned uncovering another unique and awe inspiring element of the tropical paradise

Without a doubt the most incredible experience I have had to date was visiting a monkey forest and temple. I had absolutely no idea what to expect We were sternly told not to touch/entice the monkeys at all for obvious safety reasons, so when three came bounding towards me and climbed up my legs I genuinely thought I was about to die (but apparently this was safe?!). Bali is a predominantly Hindu country a religion which worships Hanuman, the monkey God, meaning that monkeys are sacred on the island. For this reason there are many incredible statues in the forest which represent the energy surrounding the temples The sheer vastness of the forest was incredible in itself, but the history and culture behind it were what really made this experience so unforgettable

This trip really inspired me and my love for travel and I can’t wait to carry on exploring more of the world in years to come!

Hello, my name is Megan, and I am going to be this year’s French Language Editor and the Food and Drink Editor. I study Advanced French and Intermediate Italian and have just finished second year so I will be working remotely on The Linguist from Bologna, Italy during my year abroad throughout the 22 23 year However, looking back on my holidays and travel I couldn’t help but be slightly inspired to write about the almost nostalgic memories of the original Covid 19 national lockdown

I thought I would write about one of my most treasured family holidays; a Lake District ‘staycation’. If you’ve ever travelled to the Lakes, I’m sure you know that it is completely unlike anywhere else in the UK The views from the M6 as you enter Cumbria are almost unparalleled and after five months of ‘staying home’ and ‘saving lives’, I could have gone anywhere away from the confines of our house on holiday and been satisfied. On a very early, very dark August morning, the five of us crammed into the car amongst the raincoats and woolly hats (well prepared for the Lake District weather).

The journey from Exeter to Cumbria is a long, yet simple one, following the motorway all the way up, and surprisingly it felt like we were there in no time. Staying in a large cottage belonging to a friend of my dad, our first thoughts on arrival were ‘where is the nearest lake?’. Having been brought up in South Devon, beaches feel somewhat like a second home for me I find there is no greater peace than being on, in, or around water (maybe that’s the Pisces star sign), and the Lakes are like a haven for me Barely leaving any time to unpack, we headed straight down to the shores and dove straight in

Our staycation in the Lakes may not sound particularly spectacular to many well travelled students, but it contributes to many of my most valuable memories, as I find that time spent relaxing with family is worth more than any flashy trips to the other side of the world For me, money spent does not always equate to the best time away.

Is a ‘staycation’ all that’s needed to beat lockdown blues?

MEGAN GODDARD French and food & Drink editor

Tori Jackson German Editor

My First Solo Trip to Seville

My name is Tori, and I am the new German Editor for the Linguist I’m a final year Modern Languages student and spent the last year studying abroad in France and Germany. So many people swear that solo travel is the best thing you could ever do You get out of your comfort zone, explore a new place, and learn about yourself. But even after hearing so many great things about it, I just didn’t think solo travel was for me It seemed scary and lonely, and I thought, what’s the point of going on holiday when you’ve got nobody to do anything with? But after a semester of living abroad in a city where for the first few weeks I didn’t know anyone, the idea of a solo trip didn’t seem so intimidating anymore So, in March this year I packed my bags and set off for a solo adventure to Seville, Spain for perhaps one of my most memorable travel experiences to date After spending a long weekend in Malaga, I said goodbye to my friends and headed off on my own to Seville Waiting at the bus station in Malaga, the nerves began to set in My knowledge of Spanish is limited to say the least and my brain was in a flurry as I scrambled to navigate the bus station Eventually I located my bus, settled into a window seat, and relaxed as I watched the Spanish countryside race by. In just under three hours, I arrived in one of the most gorgeous cities I’ve ever laid eyes on Seville is a beautiful, ancient city, a melting point of European and Islamic history and architecture, with cobbled streets, colourful buildings, and sweet smelling orange trees I spent my first day wandering through the quaint streets of the Old Town until I reached the Catedral de Sevilla. I climbed what felt like a thousand steps to the top of the bell tower where I was rewarded with stunning views of Seville set against a backdrop of sepia toned skies dyed an orangey brown by dust blown in from the Sahara.

By the time I got to the hostel, I was shattered and could have easily gone up to my room and spent the rest of the evening alone, but I plucked up the courage to go and sit in the common room I'm an introvert by nature, so I was nervous to meet new people, but as soon as I sat down, I realised I

I never should have worried I was immediately invited into the conversation and before I knew it,’d made friends from Colombia, Germany, Belgium, and the US A couple of people were going out for tapas and invited me to go with them We ordered so many dishes: spicy patatas bravas, garlic prawns, pork marinated in whiskey sauce, bread, salads, and of course a few glasses of red wine When I embarked on this solo adventure, I’d pictured myself eating alone every evening Instead, here I was, sat around a table sharing food and stories with strangers.

After dinner we went to a local bar to see a free flamenco show I’d never seen flamenco before and wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was completely blown away! The performers were insanely talented, using their voices and bodies in ways I’d never seen or heard The applause was deafening By the time the show ended it was past midnight, but one thing I learned about the Spanish is that they live for the night time, and the night had really only just begun! We headed out to another bar where we drank beer and Tinto de Verano until the early hours, before going to a little club in Feria where we danced until closing It was raining heavily by now and our clothes got soaked through on the walk back to our hostel, yet our spirits were high, feeding off the energy of good music and great company I’ll always remember Seville as the place I stepped out of my comfort zone, the place where I made temporary friends and lifelong memories. This city has my heart, and I’m certain I’ll be back again soon

Grace Macleod EDITOR

Barcelona: THE JOY THAT COMES FROM THE UNKNOWN

Hello, I’m Grace and I am a third year student of Spanish and Mandarin, currently embarking on my year abroad. I will be the Mandarin editor this year Having very limited experience of writing more than ‘the library is west of the classroom’ in Mandarin, I am excited to explore a new space of journalism within the language.

There is a certain cyclical nature of this article, I am sitting at Heathrow airport frantically distracting myself before I board to begin a new life in Santiago, Chile My friend says it's very Carrie Bradshaw of me, I would argue it's just poor time management But I will begin this story in an almost identical place This time three years ago, I was sitting at Heathrow waiting to board the plane to Barcelona It was my first time travelling alone as I was 18, but nothing was too scary thanks to my sweet naivety, so off I went without a plan The day I landed it was humid, the air thick with smoke and a strange yellow light hung over the city It was October, tourists were sparse, people walked with purpose; they had somewhere to be and something to do I wiggled through the streets, struggling to hold all my bags and constantly being asked in English if I needed help

I was the ugly duckling in a sea of beautiful Spanish swans Although this made me nervous, after spending a few nights in a hostel I managed to find a job as an au pair in the city and moved in swiftly It was the perfect opportunity, easy hours during the day and lots of free time in the evening and weekends to be able to explore the city

My first Saturday night, I went to the local charity shop and bought a pair of velvet flares, a bottle of 2€ Don Simon sangria (if you know, you know) and made it my mission to make at least one friend After joining Bumble for friends, which I would recommend if you’re somewhere new and struggling to meet people, I met Emma.

My whole world view was about to change We met in a bar in El Raval where the walls were laden with fur and the bartenders decorated you in jewels We drank wine and talked all night before catching the metro home in the golden yellow light of the city. From then on it was street markets and second hand clothes, books and coffee, discovering the joy of meeting new people together. Everything managed to align in the most perfect way, and the city became our space to run This meeting recently led me to California where I went to visit Emma and her family as we have continued to stay in touch even now Although this may seem like a very small experience, it was life changing. It showed me how cities are simply buildings until they are filled with memories, how clothes and books are objects until you have someone to share them with, how your life can change, and the world suddenly becomes smaller in a single night. That is why this was a very memorable trip for me, and as I move on to this next solo travel trip I am reminded of the joy that comes from the unknown.

Dan Fish Portuguese Editor

Not your typical day at the beach

Oi gente! I’m Dan “Salvador” and I’m the new Portuguese Editor from September I’m a second year Spanish and Portuguese student, meaning I’ll be spending the next 12 months dreaming of my upcoming year abroad from my cramped little bedroom in an 8 bedroom student house in Selly. Beautiful in its own way. For this article, we were asked to write about a memorable travel experience of ours, and for mine I thought I’d keep it subject orientated. I’m lucky enough to have been to both Portugal and Brazil, the two most “well known” Portuguese speaking countries Both have left me with countless memories, stories, photos of sunsets (over the beach, the rainforest, you name it!), and a very respectable suntan There is one experience that always comes to mind, although it probably isn’t one that’ll make you grit your teeth in envy I’m not talking kayaking through rainforest, sunbathing on Copacabana, watching the sunrise from Bairro Alto in Lisbon Take yourselves to a stunning little palm tree lined beach on a secluded Brazilian island, coconut in hand, the sun beating down, a crab scuttling by your feet Etc etc.

You’re lying there, feeling the warm white sand between your toes, hearing the waves gently rolling onto the beach. Except they seem to be more crashing than rolling You take a peek over the top of your sunglasses and notice that whilst you’ve been “resting your eyes”, the sky has turned from the former turquoise hue to an ominous dark grey, lined with angry looking clouds The wind isn’t caressing your hair anymore, rather blowing with the force of a hairdryer switched on max

As the waves begin smashing down, you don your sandy flip flops so quickly you’re effectively stumbling as you and your family rapidly collect and shake off your beach towels and head up the painfully steep hillside back towards your accommodation If you’re ever tempted to run 20 minutes up a tropical hillside in the middle of nowhere in Brazil through a heavy rainstorm in flip flops I wouldn’t recommend it A walk which had seemed so, so nice, tranquil, secluded (we’d even taken our time to savour every single moment on the way down) was instead, a muddy, slippy, soaking hell A combination of flip flops falling off again and again, blinded by the rain and your own soggy hair in your face, and of course watching out for any snakes or other similar monstrosities on the path around you.

I remember getting into the hotel almost as much as I remember the storm Clothes drenched to the skin and a selection of scratches and bruises, not to mention some very knackered flip flops

I’ve never been so happy to have a roof over my head Of course, followed by a heavenly cup of tea (British comforts, I know) and the warmest blanket I’ve ever snuggled under in my life But that’s the thing with travel, I suppose The most memorable experiences aren’t always the most enjoyable! Although I’ve always found it quite fun when things don’t go to plan I hope you enjoyed my article and I look forward to showing you more about Brazil and Portugal than me getting stuck in a tropical rainstorm!

Sophie Mash Russian Editor

Street Dogs and Whitney Houston: A Memorable Month in Tbilisi, Georgia

My name’s Sophie and I’m the Russian editor for this year’s edition I’m about to start my final year studying Spanish and Russian and have just finished my year abroad, coming back from Santiago de Compostela in Spain

Earlier this year, I was given the opportunity to study in Tbilisi, Georgia for a month which was practically a dream come true for me since I had heard so many amazing things about the city and watched so many travel documentaries, hoping that one day I’d actually be able to experience it for myself For a country that is so often confused with the US state, Georgia has so much to offer and is truly one of the most culturally interesting countries that I have ever had the pleasure of visiting.

After initially landing in Tbilisi, I was greeted by mountains surrounding me as far as the eye can see and stray dogs just starting to wake up on the pavement as the sun began to rise One of the most magical things about the city is that there are so many friendly and playful dogs on almost every corner If you feel brave enough to pet them (which it’s extremely hard not to), they will most likely follow you to wherever you are going for the next few hours and you’ll have your own little companion to explore the city with

Georgian food is definitely what visitors rave about the most, and for good reason! I was able to try many new and delicious foods such as khinkali (filled dumplings), shkmeruli (garlic chicken) and churchkhela (a string of nuts dipped in grape juice syrup), but one of the tastiest and most iconic dishes is khachapuri, a cheese filled bread which is served piping hot and, quite frankly, it is life changing One of the most vivid memories I have of Georgian hospitality was during our first road trip.

By chance, my friends and I managed to get a Bolt driver named Vazha who offered to take us not only to the location we were heading to anyway, but also to a nearby monastery and gave us a tour of the church and its grounds We learned a lot about the local area from him and he even gave us his contacts in case we wanted to go anywhere else in the country Of course, we took him up on his offer and decided to drive to Stepantsminda in the north of the country What we didn’t know though, was that Vazha was the single biggest Whitney Houston fan in the whole of Georgia and we sat through her whole discography at maximum volume for hours straight No matter where we stopped on our road trip, whether it was at a breath taking fortress or just a cow on the side of the road, we would always be met by his famous catchphrase, ‘Ну что, понравилось?’ (Well then, did you like it?) accompanied by the widest grin. Nothing and no one was exempt from a ‘Ну что, понравилось?’ moment and those three words made the trip all the more memorable.

Going to Georgia was such an eye opener for me and genuinely one of the best times I’ve had with new friends and new experiences, so it’ll always hold a big place in my heart