The Dutch festival of Sinterklaas is my favourite festive occasion of the year, but in recent years Sinterklaas has received a lot of international criticism for the use of blackfaced characters called ´Zwarte Pieten,’ ´Black Petes´. I will explain how Sinterklaas is celebrated, what the debate surrounding the Zwarte Pieten entails, and what the Netherlands…
Category: Culture
Why Living with a Host Family in Madrid Made Me Fall in Love with Spanish Again
By Maria Allon How do I apply for a student metro card? Will my new colleagues be patient with me (and my rusty Spanish skills)? Where will I live? These were just a handful of the many anxieties and uncertainties I had before beginning my semester in Spain. I thought I had already tackled the hard…
Hunting Down a Picture Perfect Panoramic of Any City
By Maria Allon As a self-confessed hoarder, I’ve collected holiday keepsakes since I can remember. From the garish blue Teletubby backpack five-year-old me bought with pocket money in Portugal, to the extensive collection of pencils that lives under my bed back at home, I can’t not bring a memento back from my adventures. That being…
Per Ardua Ad Alta – Through Difficulties to Glory
By Cornelia Sennewald (Originally published in Culture, Issue 17 May 2016) Before I came to Birmingham, I was not the person I am now. I had started studying English and Art at the University of Cologne in order to become a teacher. In September 2015, I was granted the opportunity to continue my studies at…
Why a 4-week Summer Intensive Course was the Best Part of my Year Abroad
By Grace Kirby For those of you studying 2 or 3 languages and are yet to complete your year abroad, this is for you. Before my year abroad, I was very wary of the fact that I had to do a summer course. I was worried that it wouldn’t be enough time to learn about…
Five artists to look out for in 2020
By Jane Herbelin At a time when access to culture is no further away than your pocket, it would be a shame not to make the most of it. Younger generations are as incredibly creative in their work as they are in putting themselves out there! From Instagram, to museums, here is a list of…
From Real Madrid to Birmingham City
By Roseanna Conway This time last year I was preparing to go to Madrid for my year abroad, a compulsory part of my English Language and Spanish degree. The prospect was daunting, so much so that there were times when I considered not going at all. One year on, I’m very grateful I conquered my…
The Hidden Positives of a Year Abroad
So, what is the truth about the infamous year abroad? You may have guessed the answer pretty quickly: in short, it’s not what you expected. It’s more.
Three top tips for your year abroad in Paris
by Tiana Phillips I’m sure most students planning a year abroad will be familiar with the slightly daunting feeling of uncertainty leading up to their departure. For me, it’s almost a year on from those initial few months of stress and paperwork, and now I’m a mere three weeks away from the end of my…
Spending a Summer in Calais
By Abi Wyatt In the summer of 2018, 3rd year French and Italian student Abi Wyatt spent 3 months volunteering in Calais for 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. Can you tell us a…
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