Issue 29

Gli stereotipi italiani p.13

(Re)building the Third Rome p.3 Sim, Sou Portuguesa (e Chinesa) p.12

Chair

Emily Darby

Secretary

Imogen Burgoyne

Treasurer

Charlotte Lau

Social & Publicity

Kirsten Kitchener

Creative Designer

Fiona Milena

Kozlowska

Proof-Readers

Shade

Owomoyela

& Kate Ezard

Current Affairs

Michael Curzon

Travel

Megan Nicholls

Culture

Maria Allon

Food & Drink

Flick Hemming

Life & Style

Alex Jo Brown

French

Holly Hunt

Spanish

Rebekah

Quixano

Henriques

German

Lily King

Italian

Flick Hemming

Catalan

Cecilia Hallpike

Russian

Robert Miller

Chinese

Charlotte Lau

Portuguese

Isabel Baldwin

Editor’s Note

Front Cover Photo: Lake Louise, Alberta Maria Allon

Featured Photos:

1. P, 33, Linyi 临沂, Olivia Anne Hallsal

2. Gli Stereotipi Italiani, Flick Hemming

3. Cinc consells per visitar Girona, Cecilia Hallpike

culture as we take you on the ultimate Québec road-trip, while we also feature a fascinating account of how one writer’s linguistic abilities lead her to discover first-hand one family’s refugee story during her year abroad near the Austrian-Italian border. And those are just some of the fantastic pieces we have on offer for you this month, I wish I had space to write about them all!

Dear Readers,

A lovely warm wintery welcome to this, our November edition of the Linguist. Wrap up, get cosy, grab a hot beverage of your choice and get stuck into our 29th issue. We have lots of exciting and interesting reads for you to get into!

This month we are featuring a journey across some of the best places to visit and lavish hidden gems from across Europe and further afield. Venture down to Italy to discover Florence’s fanciest rooftop bars before jetting off to Girona for some top tips, ranging from how to scramble up to the cathedral used in Game of Thrones, to the best place to practice your Catalan. In Life and Style, find out how to have the perfect night out in Madrid and more importantly, where to find the best churros y chocolate! Our next stop is Galicia where you can find out seven facts about the Northern region of Spain and just what a ‘hórreo’ is and why there are so many of them. But if Spain isn’t your destination of choice, don’t worry! In this month’s Travel section, dive head-first into Canadian

theuoblinguist.co.uk

On a final note, I would like to thank all of our fabulous writers, editors and proofreaders for their contributions and hard work this term, we wouldn’t exist without you! If you’re reading this as someone who is interested in getting involved, please do not hesitate to contact us on our Facebook page @TheUoBLinguistMagazine, we will be more than happy to answer any queries and always welcome to hearing and publishing your stories! I would like to also give a big thank you to the rest of the committee team, Imy, Kirsten and Charlotte, who have been working hard behind the scenes to make all of this possible and not least our fantastic designer Fiona for making everything look sleek as always!

I hope you are having a brilliant first semester and as usual look out for events on our social media as our team have been working hard to create some exciting social and fundraising events coming your way very soon!

Happy reading,

Emily Darby, Chair of the Linguist

Emily Darby

Как обойти стороной Старбакс в России?

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about the magazine, our writers or have comments you wish to share about the articles, then feel free to check out our Facebook, Twitter & Instagram pages or email us. We’re always looking for new writers and contributors, so don’t hesitate to get in touch!

CURRENT AFFAIRS

(Re)building the Third Rome: Orthodoxy in Russia

The Moscow skyline today is striking. It is hard not to be impressed by the foreboding Seven Sisters and towering figures of Lenin, clashing starkly with the cold steel and glamorous sparkle of the city’s new central business district. Yet some of the newest and most ornate structures punctuating the city’s crowded canopy hark back to a distant, prerevolutionary past.

The resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church has been one of the most visibly dramatic changes to shape Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In Moscow, this has been manifested through industrial-scale church construction, with Patriarch Kirill having promised some 200 new churches by 2020. The impacts of renewed Orthodox strength on the city landscape is impressive. The implications for Russia, however, are far more complex.

To understand the importance of the reemergence of a visible religious orthodoxy, we have to consider just how new and strange it is. Until 1991, Soviet policy had nothing short of obliterated the Russian Church. Cathedrals were systematically destroyed, or converted into libraries and other secular public spaces to suit the needs of the proletariat. Among the most noteworthy of these was one of Moscow’s defining monuments, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The iconic white marble walls and gold-laden dome, which had taken over forty years to build, were blown up in 1931 under Stalin’s orders as soviet atheism was enforced. Plans were made to construct the notorious ‘Palace of Soviets’ in its place, but due to the abrupt arrival of war and economic difficulties, it was never realised. Instead, the site was curiously transformed into the world’s largest open-air swimming pool. Only in 1990, when Soviet power had begun to wane, were plans drawn up to reinstate the Cathedral. After receiving donations from over one million Muscovites and with government support, the monument was resurrected where it stands today as one of the most important central spaces in

by Joshua Robinson

Moscow.

The historic reconstruction of the iconic Cathedral set the tone for hundreds more such projects across Russia. New domes and bell towers have sprung up all over the country, and don’t just represent a renewed interest in architecture. Government-funded church building manifests a key component of President Vladimir Putin’s nation-building project - a bid to create an ‘idea’ of Russia, and forge a national identity in the vacuum left by the collapse of the USSR. After dismantling the ideologies and associated symbols of Tsarist Russia a hundred years ago, the Soviets fashioned a strictly atheist identity for the new communist super-power. Citizens were encouraged to unite around newly fashioned common values such as the importance of the collective above the individual, hatred of the bourgeoisie, and global proletarian revolution. Soviet propaganda fiercely attacked the Church’s excesses and corruption, reiterating Marx’s designation of religion as ‘the opium of the people’, and instead pushing its own ideology. This is still physically manifested in the thousands of statues of Lenin and Marx sprawled across Russia’s cities. The statues have since lost their meaning, but churches are taking their place to dominate public spaces. Russia is being rebranded as a strong religious country with traditional morals and great national pride, the escalation of right-wing nationalism and intolerance of sexual minorities being some of the more unsavoury consequences of this. Russian state media now frames events through a narrative of Holy Russia against the decadent West, a discourse that Putin is very keen to encourage. Although there is some genuine desire for the much needed restoration of old churches, whether Russians will buy into this publicly-funded identity project remains to be seen.

Photo credit: http://copticocc.org/site/wp-content/uploads/ 2015/05/ 3

CULTURE Spending a Summer in Calais

In the summer of 2018, 3rd year French and Italian student Abi Wyatt spent 3 months volunteering in Calais with the organisation Help Refugees. Culture editor Maria Allon met with Abi to discuss her experiences and find out more about what we can do to help refugees in Calais.

Maria: Can you tell us a bit about the organisation that you volunteered with and how you got involved with them?

Abi: Help Refugees is an incredible charity with over 80 projects across Europe and the Middle East providing humanitarian aid to displaced people. In Northern France, Help Refugees works together with 7 other organisations to support around 500 displaced people sleeping rough in Calais and around 1,500 more in Dunkirk (although this number is growing rapidly), including families with children as young as 2 months old. I personally got involved with Help Refugees thanks to the Guilty Feminist podcast, who are long-standing advocates of the organisation. I spent half my time in Calais working as the donations co-ordinator. I came into this role during a crippling period of donor fatigue. The warehouse was empty, and I felt an enormous weight on my shoulders as I tried to fill it. The other half of my time was spent distributing non-food items – in other words, we did our best to respond to the current needs with the limited resources we had available to us.

M: Most students spend their summers travelling, going to festivals or working, so what made you spend your summer in Calais?

A: Weirdly, it didn’t feel like I was missing out on any summer fun! Volunteers live together by the sea a few miles from the centre of Calais. The caravans leave a lot to be desired, but camping with your friends, swimming in the sea, sunbathing on hammocks and having bonfires and vegan BBQs every night is a pretty sweet way to spend a summer! Of course, these memories are often bittersweet, tainted with the reality of why you’re spending your summer in Calais.

Even the rat-riddled, shabby warehouse is a beautiful, fun place to work. The volunteers are the most incredible and capable people who will restore your faith in humanity at the exact moment you need it most. Where else would you find teenagers confidently leading teams of volunteers twice their

age, or cooking rice for 1,500 people with only a few weeks training?

by Abi Wyatt

M: What surprised you the most while you were there?

A: The French police. Whilst I wouldn’t call myself an anarchist, I’ve always respected authority, so I was surprised at the level of hatred I felt towards them within only a week of being in Calais. When the Jungle was demolished in 2016, Macron declared that there wouldn’t be another. However, ever since, French authorities – funded by French and British governments – have been enforcing extreme measures in the name of preventing refugees from coming to and settling in Calais. This mainly involves confiscating and destroying shelters and personal belongings on a daily basis. Such inhumane treatment of refugees is most often perpetrated by the CRS – the French riot police – who hold a reputation among many as the government’s hired thugs. They are also known to harass and intimidate volunteers. I was vaguely aware that the French state fails to provide basic humanitarian aid to the refugees in Northern France, but I was surprised to find that they’re actively, and often illegally, preventing aid workers from providing this aid themselves. Perhaps it was naïve of me, as a European citizen, to be surprised that French law enforcement cannot be trusted to act lawfully.

M: What can other students do to help refugees in Calais?

A: Educate yourself. The media has forgotten about Calais since the eviction of the Jungle, so most Brits are unaware that there are still refugees enduring inhumane living conditions and police brutality. Awareness is the first step towards change. Following Help Refugees and reading their suggested media is a good way to start. And, of course, I would strongly recommend volunteering in Calais – if only for a week.

Understandably, volunteering may not be an option, but this doesn’t mean you have to be a passive spectator of the crisis. We need to make some noise. Spread the word on social media, write to your MP/MEP, go to protests, sign petitions, participate in Help Refugees’ Choose Love movement, raise money, volunteer in the UK or overseas, or organise donations drives – solidarity comes in many forms.

FOOD & DRINK

Booze With Views: A Guide To Florence’s Fanciest Rooftop Bars!

Calling all fellow classy drinkers out there! We all know that a year abroad is simply not complete without a candid, golden hour Instagram post of you cradling an Aperol Spritz, whilst ensuring that your chosen photographer is successfully capturing your ‘good side’. Besides, where else would we showcase the jeans-anda-nice-top purchased from Zara when we should’ve been attending lectures? So sip back, relax, and allow me to guide you through the most Instagram-able rooftop bars that Florence has to offer.

During my delightful year of living la dolce vita, my most frequented bar was La Terrazza, located on the top floor of the department store La Rinascente. This very much unhidden gem is situated within the heart of Florence’s Piazza della Repubblica. Its views stretch from the breathtaking Bobboli Gardens to your left, the bustling Piazza below, the iconic Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to your right, and even across to the toned Italian waiters who you might just happen to run into on a Tuesday night at Blue Velvet. It is also worth adding that the bar’s wine glasses are rather generous in size, which is always a bonus! La Terrrazza is perfect for those post-shopping Spritzs’ as its conveniently situated right next to the beloved H&M, Subdued, Brandy Melville, and of course- ZARA. Let’s be honest, we all know that the Erasmus grant will run out sooner or later, so you might as well go down in style!

However, if you are looking for a livelier rooftop experience, then Flo’ is the one for you! Flo’ sits at the very back of Florence’s

by Jessica Repetti

most famous viewpoint Piazzale Michelangelo , transforming into a busy club by night. Though the drinks are expensive, they are of high quality! During the evening, all kinds of fancy Florentine people flock to this bar to socialize surrounded by a panoramic view of the twinkling, illuminated city. The experience is truly heavenly. So get ready to party under the stars, whilst sipping on your gin and tonic, browsing for the perfect Paolo to complement your Lizzie Mcguire moment. This, is what dreams are made of.

Speaking of dreams, next up is the vegan rooftop paradise which goes by the name: Floret. What makes this rooftop bar so unique is that it offers a cleansing type of cocktail. It’s all very brunch-esque here. The rainbow-resembling concoctions have mysterious names such as ‘Floret Mule’ or ‘Seaside Stories’. In fact, Seaside Stories is a shining example of their healthier cocktail option, infused with mango, goji berries, and chia seeds, there’s just enough room left for some gin. Floret, located on top of yet another large store, is a magical realm of health and random flamingo sculptures, oozing with colour, and people wearing yoga pants who seemingly engage in regular exercise. This idea of placing open air bars on top of a department store does appear to be quite a popular Florentine notion. But its most astounding and Instagram-able feature is not, funnily enough, their ‘Safari Sunset’ cocktail, but its upclose angle of the beautiful renaissance cathedral. You will practically feel the toxins escaping your body just by sipping their purifying beverages, whilst gazing at the gigantic gothic architecture stood before you.

I hope I have encouraged you to visit this breathtaking city and all its equally characteristic rooftop bars. I would also like to warn you that though the recommendations I have listed may not be well suited to student budgets, I found them to be well worth every single penny. After all, booze with views almost always are.

LIFE & STYLE

Impressions of the UK

Every country is unique in its own way! So in the following article I want to tell to you some interesting and funny first impressions from a Bulgarian student in the UK…

1. British people drive on the left side of the road. The rest of the world drives on the right side of the road!

2. Christmas is the most important holiday on the island and December is the most anticipated month. However, in Bulgaria everyone is waiting for the hot summer. (Actually, when it’s summer, we are too hot and want the winter to be back; when it’s winter, we are too cold and want the summer to be back).

3. In Bulgaria, we eat french fries with white Bulgarian cheese and salt, whereas in the UK people eat them with an unreasonable amount of sour vinegar!

4. In the UK, when you have a birthday, all your guests are responsible for the party and the food, and the birthday boy or girl should give everyone a small sentimental gift as a memory of that day. In Bulgaria, the birthday boy or girl is the one

A Night in Madrid

Everyone knows the Spanish do things later than the English, and their nights out are no exception. Things won’t kick off until around midnight, at which point you can leave wherever you’re staying and stroll to a local bar, with the permanently supportive warmth allowing you to be unencumbered by coats and jackets. Being a capital city, there is a multitude of quirky cocktail bars and pubs with live music to choose from. So if you have an overwhelming desire to sit in a hammock above a sandy floor whilst listening to Reggaeton, then you can rest assured that your needs will be catered for.

3am is typically the prime time to move onto a club. It’s also a good time to practise some Spanish if you know any, as the combination of loud music and alcohol-infused Spaniards will provide you with the least pressurised environment you could wish for. Come closing time - usually around 6am - it will still be a nice temperature outside so there’s no need to

by Angelina Paseva

throwing the party, and only the guests should buy them presents for their special day!

5. If you want to wash your hands and face in England normally, forget about that! The taps for hot and cold water are two separate ones, and you either get burnt or frozen!

6. The most requested piece of personal information in Bulgaria is your unique identification number. In the UK, the most requested one is your postcode! I would die if I had to write out one of those ever again, I’m tired of it!

by Sarah Cayless

rush back home, especially when you can mingle outside with your new-found friends and see how many of them you can trick into thinking that you are actually Spanish (just with a real gift for English accents).

If you have survived that far then the best part of the night is still in store for you. Churros y Chocolate –the Spanish equivalent of cheesy chips. Chocolatería San Ginés is the most famous place to go, but any café will do. Simply make your way there with whomever you have accumulated on your adventures and submerge yourself in the strangely complementary combination of both those finishing their night and those beginning their day. By this point the Metro will be up and running again, so you can join everyone on their morning commute as you finally head home.

European Tap UK Taps

TRAVEL

Québec by Road

Québec isn’t well advertised outside the region itself, but it’s definitely a road-tripper’s paradise as far as variety goes. The ultimate road-trip starts off from Québec City itself; hire a car from Discount Rentals and drive yourself down to the Charlevoix region. The drive itself is pretty straightforward, as there’s a motorway which literally runs straight along the length of Canada. Also, as Québec is so massive and sparse you really won’t hit much traffic which makes it all the easier for us Brits to drive on the right-hand side of the road. After driving for about 2 hours through rolling hills and forests (watch out for the moose!) you’ll hit Charlevoix and the highlight of eastern Québec: whale watching. Jumping on a zodiac is going to cost you about $45 but I promise it’s well worth the money. You’ll end up on essentially a rubber dingy, speeding along the Baie de Gaspé. Perhaps the most incredible thing about the entire experience is being able to see up to 7 species of whales in the wild, including belugas. I’d recommend doing this as a day trip from Québec City, as there’s

by Eleanor Williams

stunning views, and La Grand Allée for an authentic québécois night out. Just 15 minutes outside of the city centre, on the banks of the Saint-Lawrence lies Le Parc de la chute Montmorency. The park is ideal for experiencing the Canadian outdoors and is home to Québec’s tallest waterfall. Higher than Niagara Falls, Montmorency falls is really worth a visit. Park at the top of the falls and take the trail crossing the bridge down to the bottom for a leisurely walk or, for adrenaline seekers, there’s the option to zipline down. Either way you’ll get an incredible view of the falls. In my opinion, it’s worthwhile taking the $5 cable car back up to the top of the falls for another perspective.

definitely needs to be the ultimate fairy-tale city; Québec City itself. situated on the banks of the Saint Lawrence river, the Château de Frontenac hotel towers high above the city and it definitely makes you feel like you’ve been dropped into a Disney movie. It’s worthwhile walking down to the Vieux-Port and taking a stroll up the Petit Champlain which happens to be the most instagrammable street in the world. Obviously, when in Québec, poutine is also a must. Having spent most of my time in Canada meticulously trying every possible poutine joint, I can assure you that Frite Alors! just off l’Avenue Cartier is the best. Other things to do in the city itself include Les Plaines D’Abraham for some

The final stop on your road-trip should definitely be Québec’s most famous city: Montréal. Boasting the largest underground complex in the world, including the Eaton Centre, with over 175 shops, there really is something for everyone and it’s the perfect rainy-day plan. Above ground, the streets are somewhat reminiscent of Paris with an American twist, and the Notre-Dame Basilica is a perfect example of this. Just on the outskirts of Montréal are other highlights including La Ronde six flags theme park and the Biosphère museum.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of everything to do in Québec; there are always events and festivals going on, and new activities with each season, which gives you all the more reason to keep going back!

Montmorency falls from a viewpoint

A Minke whale spotted on my Zodiac trip

View of Le Château le Frontenac from Les Plaines D’Abraham

FRANÇAIS Enter the Captivating World of Madmoizelle.com! de Léa

Saltet

Madmoizelle.com is a French online magazine which is definitely worth a look. Created by Fabrice Florent in 2005, Madmoizelle.com displays a multitude of interesting topics, such as culture, music and literature, but also lifestyle, well-being and sex, among other topics. The articles can help you to forget about your daily problems or even help you to solve them!

Over the years, ‘Mad’ (short for Madmoizelle) has gained popularity and offers a huge diversity of subjects!

Indeed, if you ever feel curious about a topic, whether it’s something that is happening in your life, or something you’re interested in and would like to know more about it, you can always look at the website and find lots of responses to your questions!

This magazine can inform you about some serious issues within society, such as rape culture and bodyshaming, but it can also make you laugh, with articles such as ‘Les trouvailles d’Internet pour bien commencer la semaine.’ You can also find ‘10 raisons de se réjouir du retour de l’Automne,’ ‘Les sorties Netflix du mois d’Octobre,’ and even ‘la procrastination ça a (parfois) du bon!.’ These are just three titles among hundreds of articles! But just reading articles would be too easy! In fact, Madmoizelle is also on Youtube, with over 644k subscribers. Many editors of the website have also created their own personal channel. So, if you are interested in make-up, you could check out Manu – Madmoizelle; if you want some tips on your daily-life and want to have a good laugh, I would

definitely recommend Charlie – Madmoizelle; or if you have questions about sexuality, you could watch Queen Camille - Madmoizelle’s videos Madmoizelle has around 25 editors, each having their own area of specialism, and after reading their work a few times, you’ll feel like you know them.

Of course, if you don’t feel like reading articles or watching videos, you can just listen to the podcasts on the magazine’s website or podcast app, in which case you should listen to ‘Laisse-moi kiffer’, a podcast hosted by four editors of Mademoiselle. You can really find something that resonates with your ideas and links to your own life experiences. In fact, the many readers of Mad’ have created a whole community, in which they can exchange their ideas about various topics and questions and meet other like-minded people.

I really recommend looking at Madmoizelle as I think it is a good way to improve your French; the articles, videos and podcasts can greatly improve your reading and listening comprehension. Moreover, the topics are quite easy to understand as they are mostly about everyday life so you won’t struggle with the vocabulary.

By the way, Madmoizelle is sometimes called a ‘feminist magazine,’ but guys are more than welcome to discover its content as well! For example, the editor Mymy created, for the first time in December 2017, a new podcast entitled ‘The Boys Club’, in which a man is interviewed fortnightly about the way he sees masculinity.

So, grab your softest blanket, prepare some hot chocolate, make yourself comfortable and come discover the world of madmoizelle.com!

theuoblinguist.co.uk

Madmoizelle

An der Frontlinie der Flüchtlingskrise

Als ich nach Südtirol zog - in die Nähe des Brennerpasses – wurde mir unvermeidlich klar mit der Flüchtlingskrise in Berührung zu kommen. Jedoch konnte ich mir überhaupt nicht vorstellen, dass es mich so stark hineinziehen würde. Nach einem Tagesausflug in Innsbruck befand ich mich auf dem Weg nach Hause, als ich am Brenner umsteigen musste. Der nächste Zug kam erst in einer halben Stunde. Der Schnee war knöcheltief. Also suchte ich nach einer warmen Wartemöglichkeit. Im Warteraum bemerkte ich drei italienische Soldaten. Dies war nichts außergewöhnliches; schlie β lich befand ich mich am nächstgelegenen Bahnhof zur österreichischen Grenze. Erst beim Hinsetzen bemerkte ich zwei andere Personen. Eine muslimische Frau mit Kopftuch und ein jüngerer Mann in meinem Alter. Die Soldaten versuchten (mit dem Schwerpunkt auf versuchten), dem Paar auf Englisch Fragen zu stellendoch vergeblich. Die beiden Reisenden verstanden nichts. Ich versuchte meinen Kopf unten zu halten, damit sie mich nicht bemerkten. Deshalb vertiefte ich meine Nase in meine Facebook-Neuigkeiten. Nach ein paar Minuten kam einer der Soldaten zu mir herüber. Mein erster Gedanke war: „Er möchte, dass ich gehe“. Aber nein. Auf Italienisch fragte er mich, ob ich Deutsch sprechen würde. Ich sagte:“Ja“. Er fragte mich, ob ich Italienisch verstehe. Wieder sagte ich ja. Dann fragte er mich, ob ich für sie übersetzen könnte. In Hunderten von Gesprächen und Handouts zur Vorbereitung meines Auslandsjahres wurde etwas Vergleichbares nicht geübt.

Einer der Soldaten stellte Fragen, die ich ins Deutsche übersetzte. Als die Frau auf Deutsch antwortete, übersetzte ich ihre Antworten ins Italienische, damit die Soldaten verstanden. Ich war wirklich verwundert, wie dieses Auslandsjahr meine Sprachkompetenz erweiterte.

Ich weiß nicht, woher die beiden Angesprochenen kamen, aber meine Vermutung war Syrien. Die Frau gab an, sie würde seit drei Jahren in Deutschland leben. Ihr Sohn wäre jetzt herübergekommen und sie versuche nun mit ihm nach Deutschland zurückzukehren. Weil er keinen

von Elizabeth Bushell

Aufenthaltstitel im Schengen-Raum hatte, saβen beide wegen der aktuellen politischen Situation nun am Brenner fest. Beide waren mehrere Male über die Grenzen geschickt worden. Die Italiener waren bereit, sie nach Österreich zurückzuschicken. Als sie in Österreich angekommen waren, wurde ihr Sohn zu einer Befragung mitgenommen. Seine Fingerabdrücke wurden abgenommen; er wurde fotografiert und mit seiner Mutter ohne Erklärung nach Italien zurückgeschickt.

Versteht mich nicht falsch, Leute. Alle Argumente in dieser Debatte sind nachvollziehbar. Wenn wir überhaupt keine Flüchtlinge akzeptieren würden, wäre das eine Katastrophe. Eine unterlassene Hilfeleistung. Wenn wir jeder einzelnen Person, die an den europäischen Küsten angespült wird, ein Aufenthaltsrecht garantieren, lösen wir einen Goldrush aus. Hinzu kommt, dass es sehr wahrscheinlich ist, dass sich in einer Mischung aus Flüchtlingen und Einwanderern auch einige psychisch manipulierte Extremisten befinden. Jedoch erst als ich diese Frau traf, erkannte ich, wie blind ich zuvor war. Großbritannien hat eine der am besten gesicherten Grenzen der Welt. Nicht nur wegen der Patrouillen oder den Investitionen in Grenzschutz. Wir haben Glück, weil wir eine verdammte Insel haben. Menschen können nicht einfach hinüberschwimmen! Letztendlich spielt meine eigene Meinung zur Flüchtlingskrise keine Rolle. Ich habe wahrscheinlich ein oder zwei Mäntel gespendet, aber die Situation hat mein tägliches Leben nie beeinflusst.

Das Schlimmste daran war, dass die syrische Frau und ihr Sohn so nah am Ziel waren! Von Innsbruck nach München sind es nur zwei Stunden mit dem Zug. Nur zwei Stunden. Doch jedes Mal, wenn sie in Österreich ankamen, wurden sie zurückgeschickt. Vielleicht bin ich zu liberal oder empfindlich. Tatsache ist, wenn Großbritannien durch politische Unruhen, Krieg oder Extremismus zerrissen wäre, würde ich jeden Tag dafür beten, dass andere Länder uns helfen würden.

Original English:

https://elizabethenroute.tumblr.com/post/ 167835720776/coming-face-to-face-with-therefugee-crisis-living

theuoblinguist.co.uk

ESPAÑOL

Cómo superar el desafío de hablar

de Rory Saxon

¿Os gustaría charlar con hispanohablantes cara a cara cerca de la universidad? ¡Podéis hacerlo! Hay un grupo de intercambio de lenguas que tiene lugar en “El Borracho de Oro”, un bar de tapas en Edgbaston, cada martes a las 7. Se puede ir a pie desde Vale Village o en tren desde Selly Oak a Five Ways. Sentía que mi nivel de español hablado era más bajo que mi lectura y escritura y quería mejorarlo. Por este motivo busqué maneras de practicar mi fluidez al hablar y lo que encontré fue este grupo en la página web Meetup. Por supuesto estudiar un idioma hablándolo con personas nativas tiene muchas ventajas, por ejemplo: podéis escuchar e imitar cómo hablan entre ellos. Éste es el método natural de aprendizaje y puede ayudaros a hablar de una manera más auténtica. Por mi experiencia con este grupo, yo diría que los hispanohablantes pueden explicaros los matices idiomáticos y culturales, y hablaros sobre la

vida en sus países.

Entiendo que a veces los estudiantes de idiomas tienen miedo de conocer a hablantes nativos puesto que yo también he tenido ese miedo… Sin embargo, no hay nada que temer en este grupo gracias al carácter amigable de sus miembros y al hecho de que son pocos. Además, después de dos o tres sesiones, seguro que vais a desarrollar una buena relación con los miembros más frecuentes y estaréis más cómodos.

La última cosa que quiero compartir con vosotros es sobre la comida. Varios platos típicos de la cocina española están disponibles en este restaurante, incluso los clásicos y otros platos que tal vez no conozcáis, pero que también están riquísimos. Yo recomendaría probar las tapas - son apropiados para una reunión social y, hay una oferta especial cada martes de dos por uno. ¡Buena suerte a todos aprendiendo español!

Siete hechos interesantes de Galicia de Rachael Jones

Quiero compartir con vosotros siete cositas que aprendí viviendo con una familia gallega durante dos meses. Esta comunidad autónoma se encuentra en el noroeste de España, al norte de Portugal.

La importancia del marisco:

El fruto del mar tiene tanto significado que aún se usa la palabra “ostra” en momentos de sorpresa, disgusto o risa.

Fiestas de todo:

Estuve en Galicia durante julio y agosto, la temporada con más fiestas. Las fiestas sirven para celebrar sobre todo la comida gallega o vino (las hay del pulpo, del pan, del albariño) y ofrecen una oportunidad ideal para experimentar la cultura gallega.

La diversidad de paisaje:

Junto con las playas maravillosas de agua clarita y ciudades antiguas como Santiago y La Coruña, Galicia es también el hogar de montañas llenas de árboles grandes, creando vistas verdes inolvidables.

Los hórreos:

Estas construcciones típicas de Galicia eran usadas

en el pasado para almacenar granos de maíz. Parecen una casita sobre de cuatro pilares de piedra y los verás en todas partes de Galicia.

Historia celtica:

En Galicia se pueden encontrar recuerdos de los celtas. Su historia se muestra mejor a través del sonido predominante de las gaitas en música tradicional gallega y la joyería celta vendida en sitios turísticos.

Los peregrinos:

La zona es bien conocida por el Camino de Santiago y es cierto que hay un flujo constante de peregrinos. Se les puede encontrar con mochilas enormes y caras agotadas mientras exploran las vistas increíbles del paisaje.

Los furanchos:

Estos son hogares en los que los dueños hacen vino y transforman su casa en un restaurante donde venden el vino con comida casera. Muchas veces estos establecimientos tienen una mejor atmósfera y precios más baratos que los restaurantes.

theuoblinguist.co.uk

CATALÀ

Cinc consells per visitar Girona de

Cecilia Hallpike

dels Jueus, els Banys Àrabs, el Museu d’Art de Girona, el Museu d’Arqueologia de CatalunyaGirona i molts més!

I. Utilitza sabates còmodes! El barri vell està en un turó! Hi ha moltes escales i els carrers són empedrats. Per entrar a la catedral hi ha 91 escales! És molt possible que ja coneguis la catedral, es va utilitzar com a escenari per a Game of Thrones!

IV.Troba l’estació d'autobusos de Girona! És molt útil per anar a la Costa Brava i a altres parts de Catalunya. Podeu anar a la platja o a passar una tarda a Tossa de Mar, a Blanes, a Begur, o a Empúries. Hi ha moltes destinacions per explorar! Si voleu fer activitats de caire més cultural podeu anar a Figueres a visitar El Teatre-Museu Dalí. També, només es triguen 40 minuts a arribar a Barcelona amb tren... L'estació de tren es troba al mateix lloc que l'estació d’autobusos.

V. Estigues preparat per parlar català! Tothom parla català a Girona! És un lloc perfecte per practicar el vostre català. Tots els senyals, els cartells, els noms de les botigues i els restaurants són en català. Si voleu escoltar moltes converses us recomano que aneu a la Plaça de la Independència, on no només hi ha molts bars i restaurants, sinó que també hi trobareu moltes famílies i amics parlant en català al vespre.

II. Creua el riu! Hi ha molts ponts que creuen el riu Onyar. El pont més famós és Pont de les Peixateries Velles, o Pont Eiffel, sí, el mateix Eiffel de la torre. Des de cada pont, hi ha una vista diferente de la ciutat i els edificis de colors fan que sigui impossible prendre’n una mala imatge! També hi ha moltes atraccions per explorar, per exemple, el museu de Cinema, El parc de le Devesa i moltes botigues.

III.Aprofita al màxim el fet de ser estudiante!

A gairebé totes les attracios podeu tenir-hi un descompte o una entrada gratuïta! Només heu d’ensenyar el vostre carnet i sol·licitar l'entrada d'estudiant. Alguns llocs on podeu anar: el Museu d'Història

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Sim, Sou Portuguesa (e Chinesa)

Não é fácil falar sobre identidade quando a tua família é imigrante e as pessoas do país onde nasceste têm características físicas diferentes das tuas. E é essa a realidade em que vivi toda a minha vida.

Confesso que nem sempre foi fácil - apesar de não existir nenhuma barreira que impede a comunicação entre mim e eles, era, e ainda sou, julgada. Comentários como ‘já falas tão bem Português!’, ‘o teu Português é tão bom!’ são cansativos, e ainda os recebo hoje em dia, mesmo quando explico que nasci (e cresci) em Portugal. A verdade é que o facto de eu saber falar “bem” Português não é nada surpreendente quando uma pessoa nasceu e cresceu em Portugal. Será assim tão difícil de acreditar que por ter uma família de origem Chinesa não afeta, de maneira nenhuma, o meu nível de Português?

E só mais tarde percebi que não tem nada a ver com o facto de saberes a língua ou não. És diferente, logo, não pertences ao povo. És vítima dos estereótipos, de afirmações ignorantes, de acusações injustas, e alvo de admiração quando convém. Mesmo quando cresceste no mesmo país que eles. Quando comecei a estudar no Reino Unido, tive a oportunidade de conhecer pessoas da China, a origem da minha família. Porém, apercebi-me que, naturalmente, não me sentia à vontade. A verdade é que, apesar de partilharmos a mesma etnia, temos diferentes valores.

Apesar de ter essa conexão com a outra parte da minha identidade, inevitavelmente, comecei a sentir saudades. Saudade, a palavra tão admirada pelos estrangeiros, cuja não pode ser traduzida, pelo menos para a língua inglesa. Saudades de ouvir e

de Cristiana Wu

falar Português. Saudades de ver as típicas avós nas janelas das suas casinhas. Saudades do sol. Saudades da comida feita pela minha Avó Portuguesa, a minha segunda família (Nando’s, infelizmente, não consegue substituir um bom frango assado duma churrasqueira local). Por vezes, a alma de fadista invade-me, tornando impossível não escrever sobre as saudades e a nostalgia que sinto. Estudar em Birmingham certamente mudou-me. Comecei a dar mais valor ao país onde nasci, e concordo plenamente com o escritor António Lobo Antunes, que afirmou: “Cada vez gosto mais de ser Português e cada vez tenho mais orgulho no meu país.” Assim, apesar de não parecer uma típica Portuguesa, digo orgulhosamente que sou de Portugal. Acredito que um dia as pessoas não irão questionar mais sobre a minha nacionalidade e identidade. Posso ser muito bem ambasPortuguesa e Chinesa - sem ter de desistir de uma delas. Verdade seja dita, usufruo do melhor que ambas as culturas têm para oferecer. Tenho o privilégio de poder caminhar entre dois mundos completamente diferentes, compreendendo ambos. Nós, filhos da primeira geração de imigrantes, tantas vezes questionamos o que há de errado em nós e, ao mesmo tempo, enterramos os costumes e tradições do nosso sangue, porque dói termos orgulho da nossa origem. Questionamos: porque é que não somos totalmente aceites? E só mais tarde percebemos que a culpa nunca foi nossa, mas sim da sociedade a qual pertencemos, que aponta o dedo ao que é diferente.

Um dia, acredito que as pessoas irão aceitar naturalmente que pessoas de etnias diferentes podem ter a mesma nacionalidade que eles. A aparência exterior deixará de ser um obstáculo que impede a integração genuína numa sociedade. Afinal, no interior, somos todos iguais. O que ganhamos com divisões baseadas na superficialidade? A verdadeira beleza do mundo encontra-se em nós –nas diferentes tradições e culturas – e essa mesma diversidade deve ser valorizada e celebrada.

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ITALIANO

Gli stereotipi italiani

Ovviamente tutti gli stereotipi sono una totale generalizzazione e dunque non dovrebbero essere considerati come una rappresentazione della realtà. La razza umana è cosi brillantemente varia, che pare impossibile pensare che qualcosa possa descrivere un considerevole gruppo di persone, solamente visto e considerando che queste vivono in un certo paese e/o parlano una determinata lingua. Tuttavia, secondo me, gli stereotipi sono sempre molto interessanti e nascondono spesso un pezzo di verità, non importa quanto piccola. Tutte le opinioni qui riportate sono le mie, di una studentessa inglese di lingue, che si basa sulla sua esperienza personale in Italia e il contatto avuto con gli italiani. Tenetevi quindi pronti a prendere questi commenti con le pinze… Cominciamo!

In Italia, il cibo è il re. È risaputo che il cibo svolge un ruolo importante nella cultura e nella società italiana, ed infatti, questo si è rivelato essere vero; non solo perché mangiare è considerato generalmente parlando come un fatto importante nella vita di tutti i giorni, ma ho anche scoperto che la qualità e l’origine dei prodotti sono altrettanto importanti. Adoro poter entrare in un supermercato e trovare tantissimi prodotti cresciuti qua sulla terra italiana, così come adoro la varietà dei prodotti a chilometro zero. Da vegetariana veramente consapevole della sua mancata conoscenza relativa alla provenienza e alla produzione dei prodotti che mangio, ero davvero sorpresa quando mi sono ritrovata a stare in una famiglia dove i genitori insegnano ai loro bambini da dove viene la trota del pranzo della domenica. Mi ritengo senza alcun dubbio davvero fortunata di aver avuto la possibilità di essere informata su ciò che mangiavo. Inoltre, due ragazze che venivano dalla campagna del centro sud Italia e con cui vivevo, mi hanno portato dei cibi eccezionali, prodotti dagli animali delle loro famiglie, che avevano visto crescere e che trattavano con rispetto.

Inoltre, è vero che gli italiani in generale sanno cucinare perfettamente, e dopo 4 settimane in Italia, posso confermare che

di Flick Hemming

ci sono tantissimi programmi in televisione per imparare a cucinare e a fare nuove ricette, come per esempio ‘Bake Off Italia’, che è entusiasmante tanto quanto quello del Regno Unito, credetemi!

…e il caffè è la regina.

In Veneto, lo spritz ed il caffè si contendono per questa posizione! Lo stereotipo si basa sul fatto che, per gli italiani, vi è un modo italiano di fare il caffè, che sarebbe quello giusto, e c’è il modo sbagliato di è. Allo stesso modo, esiste il modo giusto di fare la pasta (aspettando che l’acqua raggiunga l’ebollizione prima di mettere la pasta dentro la pentola), ed esiste il modo sbagliato. Mi sembra uno stereotipo basato sulla verità, e adesso sono ancora più ben disposta ad essere d’accordo con questo stereotipo: il caffè lo fai bene se lo fai con la moka!

Gli italiani sono gentilissimi…

Ciò nonostante, proprio come tutti, gli italiani a volte possono svegliarsi con la luna storta ed essere quindi insopportabili; ma tutti i tiramisù fatti in casa che mangiavo a casa della famiglia che mi ospitava e le due brioche regalate dalla signora che lavorava nel mio bar preferito, sono i perfetti esempi della gentilezza italiana.

Gli italiani guidano male!

Secondo me, mi sembra più che gli italiani guidino molto velocemente in strade molto strette! Inoltre, le macchine vengono parcheggiate troppo vicine l’une dalle altre e che quasi toccano il marciapiede!

Pazzesco!

Comunque, fate attenzione quando non attraversate sulle strisce, perché per arrivare all’altro lato della strada rischiate di essere costretti a fare parkour sui cofani delle macchine parcheggiate per scappare da quelle che arrivano velocemente e sbucano all’improvviso sulla strada... Accidenti!

Ci sono tantissime cose della cultura italiana che la rendono così interessante, troppe da poter menzionarle tutte. È molto importante scoprire qualcosa e giudicare con i propri occhi, senza giudicare le persone che non conosciamo. Ritengo pertanto essenziale evitare di basarsi semplicemente sugli stereotipi e sui giudizi degli altri.

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延禧攻略—时尚界的“宫”略

前不久，热播剧延禧攻 略可谓是在国内外都掀 起了⼀波全⺠谈论清宫 的⻛潮。不知⼤家是否 有留意到，此剧其实在 服饰和配件身上都费尽 了⼼思。不同于以往的

宫⽃剧还珠格格及甄嬛传等，延禧攻略全剧⼏乎都以冷⾊调 为主，并且把在⽤⼩配饰区分宫⼥的地位上发挥得淋漓尽致。

我们不妨⼀起来看看此剧到底都有哪些时尚“宫”略。

⾸先，不得不提我们在看剧过程中似乎隔着屏幕都能感受到 ⼀股强烈的性冷淡⻛刮来。延禧攻略在服饰上⼤量采⽤了莫 兰迪⾊。莫兰迪⾊系主要以⼟⾊⾊系为主，⽐如裸⾊、浅驼、 浅灰等。这种⾊系能给⼈留下⼀种温柔、⾼贵的印象，与清

by Kristin Xu

宫宫⼥形象吻合，可以说是 ⾼级感⼗⾜了。

其次，延禧攻略在处理⽿饰配件上也是很有学问的。魏璎珞 初⼊宫时⽿饰只有⼀钳，但细观宫⾥地位较⾼的⼥⼦，她们 ⼀般都是“⼀⽿三钳”。其实，⼀⽿多钳源于史实，且在当今 时尚界⾥已被频繁使 ⽤，超模⼤表姐刘雯

就是代表之⼀。⼀部 剧能穿插如此细微的 服饰搭配细节，可⻅ 延禧攻略真的不愧被 称之为清宫剧历史上 的⼜⼀神作。

by Olivia Anne Halsall

Shanghai 上海has three campuses all within 1 km of each other. Right in the middle of this toddler triangle sits a small hole-in-the-wall eatery (⼩吃店 xiǎo chī diàn) serving Jiaozi (饺⼦ jiǎo zǐ) – boiled dumplings stuffed with meat, spices and herbs, along with exotic sides such as knots of dried kelp or duck’s neck. I first stumbled across “Authentic Shandong Specialty Jiaozi” (正宗⼭东特⾊⽔饺 zhèng zōng shān dōng tè sè shuǐ jiǎo) –the “Jiaozi Kingdom” for short, whilst walking home from my first day at work. It was a sticky midSeptember afternoon and I hadn’t yet found time to eat; that afternoon I ended up staying in the “Jiaozi Kingdom” for 3 hours slowly chomping my way through 50+ dumplings.

P – a friendly man named Beef Peace (⽜和平 niú hé píng) is originally from Linyi 临沂, Shandong Provinc ⼭东 and can usually be found stirring Jiaozi from a large pot of boiling water precariously balanced between the eatery front and the street. Since moving to Shanghai, P’s family eatery has become a

second home for me. In the evenings, his two children fill the room with laughter as customers come and go slurping, burping and chatting to one another.

Life at the “Jiaozi Kingdom” might sometimes feel monotonous stuffing, folding, pinching, stuffing, folding, pinching. Nothing changes, and the daily routine isn’t dissimilar. But like so many other holes-in-the-wall, the “Jiaozi Kingdom” not only provides the local community with a reliable, quick and cheap source of food, but it acts as a means of social inclusion, and it is this community that unearth Shanghai’s true character.

Can one empathise with Shanghai for striving for a modern, cosmopolitan and pristine city when the process of gentrification is stripping the city of its character and knocking the old out from under its feet? It’s impossible to say whether little holes-in-thewall like the “Jiaozi Kingdom” are likely to be under threat any time soon, but as fish and chips is to Brits, Jiaozi are to the Chinese – and they are here to stay.

theuoblinguist.co.uk

РУССКИЙ

Как обойти стороной Старбакс в России?

по Laura Ballard

Когда я впервые приехала в Санкт-Петербург, по правде сказать , что была разочарована . Я думала, что буду сразу погружена в русскую культуру, но первое, что увидела в зале прилета аэропорта Пулково, был светящийся зеленый логотип «Starbucks» - общепризнанная икона западного культурного империализма Кажется, Вы никогда не уезжаете слишком далеко от дома Тогда возникает вопрос: куда следует туристам отправиться за аутентичным русским кулинарным опытом?

Представьте себе, что Вы только что прилетели в Москву На борту Аэрофлота, как правило, Вас обеспечат полноценным питанием, но по прилету Вы совершенно голодны: хочется позавтракать и выпить свою законную чашку кофе. Дальше Шоколадницы искать не надо В этом и нет необходимости - они везде, на каждом углу и возле каждой станции метро . Складывается

впечатление, что это ответ России на глобальное доминирование Starbucks, за исключением того, что они открыты круглосуточно, и даже подают ужин.

корейски или винегрет, и любой десерт – всё выглядит очень вкусно и никогда не разочаровывает Меня обескураживает то, что эта концепция не стала популярной в Великобритании – жаль, что у нас нет чего-то подобного на территории кампуса (извините, но «Spar Meal Deal» просто не идет ни в какое сравнение).

Если захотите поужинать, рестораны грузинской

кухни очень популярны в России, так как они занимают такое же культурное положение, как и индийская кухня в Великобритании

.

Если в Шоколаднице

обширное

меню вас пугает, Теремок вполне Вам подойдет Это российская сеть быстрого питания, где в основном подают блины, кашу и традиционные русские салаты. Лично я бы посоветовала фермерский блин (с картофельным пюре, беконом, и огурцами), блин «Хачапури» (с грузинским сыром), а на десерт сырники или блины с малиной . Конечно , единственный вариант напитка, которым можно все эти блюда запивать, - традиционный квас или морс.

За недорогим и сытным обедом отправляйтесь в какую - нибудь столовую Это кафетерии

самообслуживания, ранее очень популярны

в советское время, и где, как правило, можно сытно пообедать всего за 200-500

рублей Столовая №57 на верхнем этаже

универмага ГУМ является одним из лучших примеров. Несмотря на большие

очереди, это одно из лучших мест, где можно поесть в Москве Я бы порекомендовала щи (капустный суп), курицу по - киевски , морковку по -

Хотя я люблю грузинскую кухню , особенно хачапури поимеретински , хинкали и чахохбили , должна сказать, что я огорчена тем, что её называют «острой» – если не считать соль и перец острыми приправами, то это далеко не так Это наводит меня на мысль, что концепция «острой пищи» очень здесь отличается от того, что есть в Великобритании, и заставляет меня скучать по пикантным карри и буррито, которые так редки в России Сложно даже найти острые специи в магазинах, так что, к сожалению, я не могу приготовить настоящую острую пищу самостоятельно дома Вечером непременно зайдите в караоке-бар. Они, кажется , более популярны в России , чем в Великобритании, и могут гарантировать Вам интересный вечер В Великобритании когда люди слышат слово «караоке», приходит на ум образ ужасного пьяного пения дрянных поп- или рокпесен, и общей забавной атмосферы Здесь к караоке относятся серьёзно , трезво , даже профессионально , и многие талантливые россияне приходят, чтобы исполнять баллады до самого утра Если Вы не уверены, что можете остаться до первого метро в 5:30 утра, подумайте о покупке превкусненькой шаурмы (или, попетербургски, «шавермы») чтобы протрезветь, и отправляйтесь домой невероятно дешевым такси «Яндекс».

Вот, как можно провести целый день в России не заходя в Старбакс и не употребляя никакого западного фаст-фуда В конце концов, какой смысл быть в России, если вы не едите как россиянин?