It’s exam time, which means I’m trying very hard to concentrate on writing essays and studying – honestly, I am! But after at least four hours of racking up words for an essay, and at least five cups of tea to keep myself going, I’ve finally succumb to distraction. After checking my email, and then …read more
In the Eye of the Storm
I think the eye of the storm is a good metaphor for my mood right now. Yesterday I handed in a Literature Review and then this afternoon I had my Japanese speaking exam, which was only 5 minutes long (though I put in quite a bit longer than that preparing for it!) It feels good …read more
Easter Break … Now Panic!
Apparently we had 3 weeks off over Easter, but it sure didn’t feel like it! There was a lot I wanted to get done, but somehow I’m already back in classes with little progress made on my assignments. I’m pleased to be back, as lectures continue to be excellent, but I’ve reached the point where …read more
Blake’s view: Nobody likes 9am lectures
Do I have any complaints about the course? No, not really. Okay, nobody likes 9am lectures. Lectures and seminars are only an hour long, and sometimes I find myself wishing they were longer. The timetabling isn’t always great, which has left me with breaks of several hours. But no matter, I’ve filled in the gaps …read more
Blake’s view: American Studies
I’ve already built up a collection of blog posts, but I’ve not taken the time to really say what I’ve been studying this year. So, for anyone interested in American Studies, here’s a quick overview of what I’ve studied in Year 1. Early US History (the settlement of this new land, the Revolution and the …read more
University? Get the facts.
It won’t be news to you that University tuition fees have gone up, and fees of £6,000+ a year for UK students seem daunting. That’s why I would really recommend that you are sure University is the right choice before joining – taking a gap year in order to make an informed decision is surely …read more
Lost in the Moment
At the beginning of this term, I noticed on the University LookUP page a short course called ‘Mindfulness Meditation’. I’ve always been intrigued by meditation so I signed up and gave it a go! We’ve been meeting once a week for the last 6 weeks and we had the final session yesterday. (It was completely …read more
Waking Up Too Early, Maybe We Could Sleep In
Hi all. I just thought I’d better post an update. There are loads of things I could write about, but everything just seems very hectic at the moment! It’s not that the second semester is any harder than the first (it isn’t any easier, mind you!), but I just feel really exhausted at the moment. …read more
Happy Birthday Dickens!
200 years ago, on 7 February 1812, Charles Dickens was born right here in Portsmouth, at 1 Mile End Terrace, Landport, Portsea – now 393 Old Commercial Road. His family had been stationed here by the Royal Navy, although his they moved back to London in 1814. It seems there is a lot going on …read more
Blake’s view: A Degree of Choice
In Ilin’s latest post ‘Getting back on track’, he said, “If anyone who has not made their choice for a course next year reads this, I would suggest them to think carefully what they might like to do. A decision as important as this one might shape one’s entire life. Therefore, opposing a parent, for …read more
About Blake
Hi I'm Blake! I'm studying American Studies and I'm in my first year here at Portsmouth. Read this blog to find out more about me and life at Portsmouth.
View my blog posts about..
Recent Posts by all bloggers
- "It's the clichés that cause the trouble." Kathryn
- It's the Little things ... Fran
- Exam time - need tea! Blake
- Deadlines! Kathryn
- Good news! Kathryn