Steve's sandbox

Author: Steve Evans

  • Oktoberfest 2015

    A few weeks ago I went to Munich to visit my friend who is spending the first part of her year abroad there and to attend something that had always been on my bucket list, Oktoberfest.
    As I mentioned, my friend is currently living in Munich, and knowing that she was meeting me at the station was the one factor that got me through the ghastly 6 ½ hour train journey from Berlin to Munich. I do usually enjoy travelling, especially by rail as I can lose myself in my thoughts staring at the passing scenery out of the window, but unfortunately the sun went down 3 hours into the journey, so all I could see was my own restless reflexion. Also my impatience was intensified by my tiredness after a 7 hour shift with excitable foreign children (who I do love, but of course these factors combined do tend to make one tired).
    I arrived in Munich at around 22:40 to see my smiling friend waiting for me on the platform, amongst hundreds of drunken locals and tourists with glazed over eyes, wearing Lederhosen and Dirndls (traditional Bavarian clothing). Despite their drunkenness, they were in good spirits, which brightened up the first part of the long journey back to my friend’s house, which is in a village called “Aying” which is 25km Southeast of Munich. Unfortunately by half way through the journey the majority of Oktoberfest-goers had left the train, so I was naturally very happy to arrive in her village. Aying for me was a dream. It confirmed every idea I had in my head of a traditional Bavarian village, equipped with Stunning Dachhäuser, a blue and white Maibaum (may pole) and a famous brewery (Ayinger bräustüberl). This in comparison to the sprawl of Berlin was a breath of fresh air, literally.
    The following day (Friday) my friend was working early, but I lay in to sleep off the horrific journey, and then proceeded to explore some of the city by myself. The journey into Munich centre didn’t disappoint, the daylight uncovered charming Bavarian villages and miles of stunning countryside. In Munich city centre I could recognise a few names of areas from a college exchange years ago, this however did not mean I could go without a map (After 2 years in Manchester and a month in Berlin I’m still hopeless at navigating in big cities). Not knowing exactly where to go, I left the train at a random station, which happened to be next to the river Isar, where I sat on the riverbank and ate a Pretzel for lunch, embracing the culture as ever. After a few hours of aimlessly wandering around, taking in random sites, I realised that my phone battery was going to die, and being the 21st century, I would need it. In desperate need of a plug socket, I wandered around the city, but this time with purpose. I sneakily looked in every restaurant and café to see if they had one, and after about 30 minutes I came across a quaint coffee shop on a quiet back street. I ordered a cappuccino and sat watching the world go by. A few people came and went, but it was an old Bavarian woman who particularly stood out. She said something to me, and in that one moment I doubted all of my German abilities. Through her heavy Bavarian accent I could barely make out a word, my contribution to the ‘conversation’ consisted purely of hopeless head nods.
    6pm came and it was time to meet my friend from work, and then we were to head off to Oktoberfest. I can honestly say this was one of the most fun nights I’ve had this year. We entered the mystical land of Lederhosen, beer and Reibekuchen in awe and regretting not having our own dirndls. Pessimistic that we wouldn’t get a table inside the large tents we sat outside, but this wasn’t lacking in atmosphere. We drank traditional Bavarian beer and conversed in a mix of German, English and Spanish with a group of people from across Europe. 2 Maßes (aka 2 litres of beer) later and tipsier, we succeeded in entering on of the largest tents in the festival (which can hold up to 10,000 people). We entered about half an hour before closing time, but we still had time to dance on the tables and soak in the atmosphere. I’ve never been surrounded by people so happy and friendly. On leaving the tent it became apparent to me that although 2 maßes doesn’t sound a great deal, in actual fact for a girl of my size 2 litres of beer is a lot. I was truly ‘besoffen’. I won’t go into detail, but let’s say being sick on a train platform wasn’t my proudest moment. Despite this, the night was a success.
    On Saturday my friend didn’t have to work so we were free to explore Munich together, which although tourist filled, was very beautiful. We walked around the city centre and found ourselves going down less busy, back streets full of character. We found a small Italian coffee shop, paramount for nursing our beer-induced hangovers. Later in the day we decided to succumb to the pressure, and perhaps hint of jealously and buy dirndls. When people ask me where I bought my Dirndl from, I’d love to say some traditional shop specialising in Bavarian-dress in an alpine village, but in actual fact we bought them from the Hauptbahnhof for €25, and we proceeded to put them on in the train station toilets. Unfortunately Oktoberfest was just too busy on the Saturday and getting around was virtually impossible, so we decided to go and pretend to be German elsewhere and went to a restaurant and had schnitzel and beer. Well, when I say we had beer, I mean I had one sip and instantly was reminded of the events on the platform the previous night. So Apfelschorle it was.
    The following day we had to be up bright and early as I had a 10 hour coach journey back to Berlin. Yes, 10 hour. But for €15 we would all do the same. I did quite enjoy parts of it, it was a beautiful sunny day and we covered a lot of Germany so I saw a lot of beautiful landscape, but 10 hours of staring out of a window will give you a bad neck and a lot of tiredness. So as one can imagine, the moment I arrived back into Berlin was wonderful. The weekend in Munich well and truly re-lit the flame I had for Munich as a 17 year old following my college exchange, and I have every intention of returning for Oktoberfest next year.

  • Tag der deutschen Einheit

    3rd October. Since 2004 many people of my generation will think of mean girls when someone says this date, but in Berlin and Germany this date has a very different, less trivial meaning, “Der Tag der deutschen Einheit” i.e. the day in 1990 when East and West Germany reunified and became Germany once again. I was very lucky to not only be in Berlin on this date, but in 2015, as this marked 25 years since the reunification. In order to celebrate a free festival was put on in front of the Brandenburg gate, in which performers including singers, dancers and an orchestra entertained an audience of thousands.

  • I’ve Arrived in Cadiz! Peter Horton, September 2015

    ¡He llegado en Cádiz!

    Después de unos problemas en el aeropuerto (me perdí uno de los pocos trenes ese día) eventualmente llegué en la ciudad más antigua de Europa. Calles pequeños y viejos con edificios antiguos y grandes en cada dirección me confirmó que he decidido vivir en un laberinto, con la posibilidad que me perdía totalmente en la hora. Podía viajar entre las varias plazas a Bar Samir en lo que encontré a mi dueño nuevo, fue muy difícil porque el hombre alto tiene un acento fuerzo y gaditano. Después de un tour de la ciudad llegué a mi acomodación nueva, es un piso pequeño y pintoresco con un suelo de mármol y postigos de maderos muy grande, inmediatamente se recibí por dos chicas españolas que son estudiantes en la universidad de Cádiz. Después de Antonio (el dueño) salió, nos introducíamos and todos teníamos un montón de preguntas antes de que podía descargar mi equipaje y disfrutar mi piso nuevo. Más tarde en esa noche las chicas me decían que salían a una fiesta y me pedían que yo vaya con ellas pero, desafortunadamente me había levantado a las 3:00 y por eso tuvo que dormir. Sin embargo me decían que tenga que salir con ellas la próxima vez para conocer a más gente española. El día próxima me levantaba y había decidido a explorar la ciudad que parece exactamente el mismo cómo un laberinto. Estoy viviendo en el parte de la ciudad más vieja, en el centro del metrópolis del medioevo, y cada calle dirige a una plaza o otra. Eventualmente, encontraba el mercado, la corazón de la ciudad, y yo no pienso que mucho ha cambiado aquí desde los siglos de los moros o los romanos. La comida parecía tan buena y mis despensas estaban tan vacías, que tuvo que comprar mucha comida fresca y local para el piso. La gente del mercado gritaba muchas palabras que a mí me parecía que aun los gaditanos no comprendían, pero estaba tan feliz que había probado a hablar en el español que no me molestaba mucho. Empiezo a trabajar a lunes cómo práctica de Marketing y estoy no sólo emocionado sino también nervioso a utilizar mis habilidades de español profesionalmente. Publicaré otra vez después de que he pasado más tiempo aquí en Cádiz pero al momento estoy muy emocionado a explorar y disfrutar mi hogar nuevo.

    I’ve arrived in Cádiz!

    After a few mishaps at the airport (missing one of the few trains that run each day) I eventually found myself in Europe’s oldest city. Narrow, cobbled streets and old, tall buildings in every direction confirmed that I had come to live in a labyrinth, with every chance I would be completely lost within the hour. I managed to find my way through the numerous “plazas” to “Bar Samir” where I met my new landlord, sure enough I was in at the deep end as a thick Cadiz accent bellowed from the bearded man. After a whistle-stop tour of the city we arrived at my new accommodation, a cosy and quaint flat with marble floors and big wooden shutters, immediately I was greeted by two Spanish girls, both students at the University of Cádiz. After Antonio (the landlord) had left we made our introductions and we all had a mountain of questions for each other before I was able to unpack my suitcases and settle into my new home. Later that evening the girls told me that they would be going to a party and asked if i would join them, unfortunately the 3:00 AM wake up was too much for me and I had to insist that I go to sleep; however, they demanded that next time I join them in order to meet more Spanish people. The next day I woke up and decided to explore the wonderful maze that is Cádiz city. I am living in the old part of the town, in the centre of the medieval metropolis, and every corner I turned seemed to take me to one square or another. Eventually, I stumbled across the market place, the heart of the city, and I don’t imagine much has changed since the romans and the moors occupied the town many centuries ago. The food looked so good and my cupboards at home were so empty that I couldn’t resist picking up bags and bags of fresh, local produce to take back to my flat. The people working the market stalls all threw words at me that I think even the locals would struggle to understand but I was very happy with myself for trying to communicate with the locals that I didn’t mind too much.

    I start work as a marketing intern on Monday and I am both excited and nervous to be using my language skills professionally. I will post again after I have spent some more time here in Cádiz but for now I am excited to explore and settle into my new home.

     

     

  • Neue Erfahrungen – Eleanor Winstanley, September 2015

    Also bin ich seit drei Wochen in Berlin, und diese drei Wochen sind einige der ereignisreichen meines Lebens gewesen. Weil ich nich zur Zeit darüber schrieb, werde ich über den Sprachkurs schreiben, den ich in der ersten Woche besuchte.
    Einwöchig absolvierte ich einen Sprachkurs in der „Did-institut“ im Stadtzentrum Berlins. Dort verbrachte ich dreistündig intensive deutsche Unterrichten pro Tag. Ich blieb bei einer Gastfamilie. Vorher meldete ich mich bei meiner Gastfamilie, die mir die Wegbeschreibung nach ihrem Haus im Nordosten Berlins (Prenzlauer Berg) gab. Als ich in Berlin ankam, entschied ich mich mit einem Taxi hinzufahren, eher als öffentliche Verkehrsmittel, da ich verschwizt und verwirrt war, und einen schweren Koffer dabei hatte.
    Bei meiner Ankunft beim Haus, wurde ich vom „Gast-Vater“ begrüßt, der dafür sorgte, dass ich mich wohlfühlte, und mein Deutsch komplimentierte, was meinem Selbstvertrauen half. Später ging ich mit der Frau raus, mitder ich mein Zimmer teilte.
    Am Montag Morgen ging ich in die Schule, ohne zu erwarten, was passieren würde. Ich wurde in ein Klassenzimmer begleitete, in dem ich und mehrere andere neue Studenten eine Prüfung machen mußte, um unser Deutsches-Niveau herauszufinden. Nach zwei Tagen wurde ich von „B2“ zu „C1“ umgezogen, was mir sehr gefiel. Nicht nur konnte ich in der Klasse Deutsch üben, sondern auch mit den anderen Studenten, weil alle der Leute zusammen auf Deutsch redeten.
    Obwohl das Sozialleben beim Sprachkurs sehr gut war, konnte ich daran nicht immer teilnehmen, weil ich eine Wohnung finden mußte. Die ersten Wohnungen reichten nicht, meistens weil sie unmöbeliert waren, und ich bleibe nur 4 Monate, also wäre es sinnlos. Trotzdem waren die Besichtigungen echte gute Möglichkeiten, um Deutsch zu üben und unterschiedliche Vokabeln zu erfahren. Außerdem führte ich zum ersten Mal ein deutsches Telefongespräch, das immer mir abschreckend gewesen war.
    Am Mittwoch der ersten Woche besuchte ich den Kindergarten, beidem ich 4 Monate arbeiten werde. Dort war das Deutsch ganz überwältigend, weil ich zum ersten Mal in einem ausländischen Arbeitsumfeld war. Die Leitungun erzählten mir, dass ich bis zum folgenden Montag eine Wohnung finden musse. Zum Glück zog ich später in die Wohnung ein, die ich am jenen Tag besuchte. Die Wohnung ist klein aber schön, und befindet sich in Kreuzberg. Dort wohne ich mit einem Mann aus Berlin, einer Frau aus Hamburg und einer bilingualen Frau aus Frankreich (ihre Mutter ist Deutsch). Mit Muttersprachlern wohnen hat sich als sehr effektiv erwiesen.
    Zunächst war es sehr schwierig mit allem neuem Deutsch Schnitt zu halten, deshelb stelle ich jetzt eine Liste auf, darauf ich alle neue Vokabeln schreibe, die ich gelernt habe. Jetzt habe ich mehr als 150 Wörter. Außerdem ist mein Handy auf Deutsch erstellt, und ich höre jeden Tag deutsche Musik an. Diese Zeit in Berlin zeigte mir soweit, dass ich viel zu lernen habe, sondern auch dass ich es schaffen kann.


    ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
    So, I’ve been in Berlin three weeks now, and these three weeks have been some of the most eventful of my life. As I didn’t write about it at the time, I’m going to write about the language course I did in my first week.
    In one week I completed a language course in the “Did-Institut” in the centre of Berlin. There I spent three hours each day doing intensive German lessons, and I stayed with a guest family. Beforehand I contacted the host family, who gave me the directions to their house in north-east Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg). When I arrived in Berlin, I decided to travel there by taxi rather than with public transport, because I was sweaty and confused and had a heavy suitcase with me.
    On my arrival at the house I was greeted by my “Guest-father”, who made me feel at home and complimented my German, which boosted my confidence. Later I went out with the girl with whom I was sharing a room.
    On Monday morning I went into the school, not knowing what would happen. I was lead into a classroom, where I and several other newcomers sat an exam to test our German level. After two days I was moved from “B2” to “c1”, which I liked. Not only could I practice German in class, but also all of the students spoke German to each other.
    Although the social life on the language course was good, I couldn’t always partake as I had to find a flat. The first few apartments didn’t suffice, mostly because they weren’t furnished, and I’m only staying for 4 months, so it would be pointless. Despite this, the viewings were opportunities to practice German and find out different vocabulary. Also I made a phone call for the first time in German, which had always been daunting to me.
    On Wednesday I visited the Nursery where I will be working for 4 months for the first time, The German there was very overwhelming because for the first time I was in a foreign working environment. The management team told me that I had to find a flat by the following Monday. Luckily I moved into the flat which I saw that same day. I live there with a man from Berlin, a girl from Hamburg and a bilingual girl from France (whose mother is German). Living with native speakers has proved very effective.
    Initially it was very difficult to grasp all the new German, so I starting keeping a list of all the new vocabulary I’ve learnt. I now have more than 150 words. Also my phone is set to German and I listen to German music every day. This time in Berlin has shown by that I have a lot to learn, but also that I can do it.

  • Shalekhet

    Last week I visited the Jewish Museum in Berlin, and was extremely touched by this piece. The piece is made up of over 10,000 faces made of iron in a large empty space, with little light seeping through. These faces represent the mass killings of ‘Forgotten’ Jews across Europe. It’s possible to walk on these faces, which gives one more of an indication of the sheer loss of life.

  • Imogen Page Jarrett – Case Study, Beijing China 2014-2015

    My name is Imogen Page-Jarrett and I have just finished my year abroad in Beijing, China. The past year would have not been quite the same incredible experience without the assistance of the John Speak Trust, and I would first and foremost like to thank them for their consistent help and support.

    My home university, the University of Cambridge, runs a one year exchange programme with Peking University for all third year students. This programme offers courses in modern and classical Chinese, translation, writing, newspaper reading as well as Chinese literature. It was really fantastic to be a part of a truly international student body at the School of Chinese as a Second Language, with students from all over the world coming to Beijing to learn Chinese.

    Originally from a small countryside village in the East of England, seeing the sheer scale of Beijing was a big shock to me. We were based in Wudaokou, a student area full of hustle and bustle, neon lights, bars, KTV parlours, shopping centres and of course, traffic jams. I soon discovered Beijing is a city where, if you are willing to face the crowds, you can do, see and eat pretty much anything you should fancy. It’s a city teeming with possibility. I shared a flat with my classmate, a Chinese friend and several different international students over the course of the year.

    The freedom extended way beyond the capital. Although China does not yet have many budget airlines, its bus and train services are some of the most extensive in the world and well subsidised by the government. This means travelling around this huge nation is cheap and relatively care free, as long as you plan in advance.

    With the help of the scholarship from John Speak, I have been to the fishing villages in Xiamen on the south coast, celebrating Chinese New Year with a local family to the sound of firecrackers exploding outside the door. I have drifted in a bamboo raft down the Yangtze river surrounded by rice paddies and craggy mountains. I have seen a panda with my own eyes in Sichuan, and held a snow fox in my arms at the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin.

    I have wound my way from the old town of Dali to the remote Shangrila on the the Tibetan border. I have swam in the ocean in Qingdao, strolled along the bund in Shanghai, and felt the magic of the sparkling fairy lakes near Jiuzhaigou National Park, not to mention stood in awe of the sheer slopes of Tiger Leaping Gorge and the snowy peaks of the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in Yunnan. And that’s not to mention the amazing food!

    Aside from having fun, I also had the opportunity to intern during my year abroad. For 9 weeks I was made part of Daimler China’s CEO Office. The internship involved statistical analysis, proofreading and drafting of emails. Mainly, however, I was responsible for organising internal events for the finance department. My boss was German, but almost all of my colleagues on the work floor were Chinese. This was a great chance to learn about the Chinese workplace and some of their office practices (which were usually highly bureaucratic!). It was also a huge insight into how Chinese customers’ wants and needs differ to European ones, as well as Asian automobile trends. For example, I learned Daimler’s truck sales are declining. This is interesting because it reflects the fact the construction sector there is slowing down. In turn, this tells us the Chinese economic boom is no longer progressing as rapidly as before.

    Of course, I experienced some barriers to living in Beijing. I would say my primary concern was the air pollution. Considering London’s pollution never exceeds 60 PM 2.5, it’s hard to believe Beijing often reaches 200, and in winter can climb to even 1000! Being a minority in a foreign country can also be a challenge. Due to the comparatively few numbers of foreigners in China, you will always stand out. It is sad for me to accept that however long I live there, however good my Chinese may become, I will always be considered an outsider. From time to time, the sheer number of people and the scale of the city was very tiring. I hate to think back on how much time I spent on the subway or in traffic jams.

    In the future I plan to return to Beijing or Taiwan to complete a masters in Chinese law. I hope to eventually find a job working in China and definitely plan to be in Asia long term.

    I would thoroughly recommend the John Speak Trust to anyone planning an experience abroad. The financial assistance and constant advice and support really enhanced my experience. Again, I cannot express my thanks enough.

  • 走到天边 To the End of the Earth – August 2015

    丽江-虎跳峡-香格里拉

    你可能要问问，能走到天边吗？

    我说的天边是中国的边缘，那就是香格里拉。香格里拉实质上就是指云南的迪庆藏族自治州。 想到那个偏僻的地域，火车也不螚坐。爬小山丘上白鸡寺去，一望无际的草原呈现在眼前，给香格里拉一种西部风情的感觉，像美国西部沙漠中的孤立小镇似的。

    小牛仔，老沙龙酒吧呢？想也别想。这里看不到牛仔裤，只能看到少数民族鲜艳的服装。这里买不到美国啤酒，只要喝藏族的青稞酒。

    “不必到西藏就可领略藏族风情”。迪庆不仅有西藏高原雪山峡谷的风貌和藏族风情，还可领略到内蒙古大草原“风吹草低见牛羊”般的壮丽景色，让我想起“回到拉萨”那首郑钧的歌曲，“在雪山之颠把我的魂唤醒”。

    怎么来到这么偏僻的地方呢？走进香格里拉我们决定先去虎跳峡。虎跳峡以‘险’闻名天下，这里不仅山险，水更险，但对我来说，更险的地方更具挑战性，才让我向前。

    我们沿山路前行，一尺宽的小经，脚下是深不见底的悬崖，偶尔不小心碰落一颗小石头要很久才能见到它落进江心激起浪花。我们小心翼翼地靠近岩石，慎重前进。一路上，大家不说一句话，只有手劲和眼神在互相传递着内心的思想。终于，我们到达了虎跳峡的最高点，28拐的高点，这才发现冷汗早已浸透了所有的衣服。

    抬头看看位于对面的玉龙雪山，只见山顶上白雪皑皑，给山峰披上银色的外衣，分不清哪里是山，哪里是天。低头往下看看滚滚而去的江水，感觉虎跳峡太壮丽了，在高耸的雪山面前，才发现自己的确太渺小了。

    在路认识了许多马夫，他们没两天都会爬28拐一次，年龄最大的连有50岁以上的，但比我爷爷身体强得多。虽然工作艰难，生活条件简单，但是都有很阳光的态度。他们的世界范围那么小，以山上的小村庄为中心，也不了解虎跳峡之外的生活如何。我觉得这样简朴的人可能比大城市的还幸福。

    香格里拉给我留了印象最深的地方是其佛教文化。 除了那个白鸡寺我们一家还参观了其他几个小寺庙。虽然年久失修，但是有一种迷人的魅力。范围小，游客不多，很正宗的。回来了北京去参观雍和宫的时候，光鲜的外在有点空空的，没有香格里拉的喇嘛庙好看。有一小场景特别难忘，那就是在白鸡寺展示的小佛像，估计有一百多个小佛像摆在门口，表情都很神奇，在那个安安静静的屋里真让我感动。

    为了让我记得梦幻般的香格里拉，我买了几个纪念品，其中有衣服、珠宝饰物还有一张挂毯。

    我在此想表现我对John Speak的万分感激，让我过去12个月能享受这么多新鲜的东西，让我能旅游到这么多地方，没有这个奖学金我这一次来中国交换真的会缺很多。

     

    ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

     

    Lijiang-Tiger Leaping Gorge-Shangrila

     

    You might be wondering, can one really travel to the very end of this earth?

    The end of the earth I am talking about it the outer border of China, the middle kingdom. Shangrila, to be precise. Technically it should be referred to Zitai prefecture in Diqing Tibetan county of Yunnan. If you wish to reach that remote place, not even a train can take you there. From the Baiji temple atop a small hill overlooking the city, you can see grassy planes as far as the eye can see. Shangrila has almost the feeling of a town in the American Wild West, lonely in the midst of a desolate desert landscape.

    But try and find some jeans or a saloon bar in that place? No chance. The locals only wear traditional clothing, and instead of beer you’re more likely to come across barley wine.

    There is a saying which goes, ‘you need not go all the way to Tibet to experience its culture’. In Diqing, there is not only an abundance of snowy peaks and steep valleys in true Tibetan style, but also magnificent grassy planes reminiscent of Mongolia’s vast nomadic landscape. It reminded me of the song “Returning to Lahasa” (the capital of Tibet) by the singer Zheng Jun, in which there is a line “the peak of the snow mountain brings my spirit to its senses”.

    How did we reach such a remote location in the first place? Upon arrival in Shangrila country we decided to head for Tiger Leaping Gorge, a place renowned for its rugged hazardous terrain, with precipitous cliff faces and a roaring torrent rushing through the length of the valley. However, the danger factor makes it more of an adventure and definitely pushes you further.

    We followed the tiny mountain path, seemingly only inches wide. Below us was the unfathomable precipice, and every so often someone would accidentally knock a small stone which would fall down, down down. Only minutes later would you see it splash into the frothing current. Cautiously we made our way, keeping close to the cliff edge.

    No one dared say a word, concentrating only on our hand movements and keeping a close watch on our steps. Finally, we reached the highest point, the top of the 28 bends. It was only then we realised we were completely drenched in sweat.

    Looking up, you could see the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain on the other side of the valley, but all that was really clear was the crisp snow caps on its peak, a kind of silvery blanket. I couldn’t tell the where the sky ended and the mountain began . Looking down was the surging stream. Tiger Leaping Gorge was so breathtaking, and with the towering mountain in front of us I realised the extent of my own insignificance.

    On the way up we met a lot of horse-keepers. They said they did the climb once every two days, even though some of them were over 50 years old. However, I think they were a lot stronger than my own grandfather! Although they lived a tough life, they had a very positive outlook. Their universe was in some respects limited, revolving around their mountainside village, not quite aware of what lay beyond. On the other hand, I feel like they were much more content with their lot than a lot of people who live in the big cities.

    What left me with the strongest impression in Shangrila was the Buddhist culture I saw there. Apart from the Baiji Temple I mention, there were also a lot of other little monasteries we looked around. Although some of them had fallen into disrepair, they had a kind of charm to them. They were small, without too many visitors, and very authentic. When I went to Lama Temple after returning to Beijing, its polished exterior felt empty somehow, and definitely didn’t live up to those little places in Shangrila. There was one scene which stayed with me in particular, a display of Buddha statues arranged at the entrance to Baiji temple. There must have been over a hundred wise smiling faces, which gave the peaceful temple a very mysterious and holy feel.

    Before leaving, I brought a few souvenirs to remember the place by, including some clothes, jewelry and a wall hanging.

    I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the John Speak Trust for everything they have given me this year, for giving me the chance over the last 12 months to see so many amazing things and travel to some incredible places I would have missed out on otherwise. My year abroad really would have been a different tale had it not been for their wonderful help.

     

     

     

  • Graham Moulson – Case Study 1963 to 1964

    At age 72, looking back and having studied several foreign languages I have learned that language learning is similar to a jigsaw puzzle; learning one foreign language certainly helps when learning another.  “Once you start dreaming in a foreign language it means you must have learnt it”. I was fortunate to have an Italian Professor who provided one hour tutoring before work; no books, no dictionaries, just conversation in Italian.  He was a wonderful teacher and I was fortunate to have him.

    In 1963, age 20, I was travelling to Italy by train to start a six month John Speak Trust Scholarship to help improve my Italian.  At the time I was working for a Bradford Wool Merchants.  My accommodation was provided by the Biella family who kindly allowed me to stay at their family home in Biella.  Upon my arrival, I recall the cultural differences were a real shock although I found the Italian people to be very welcoming and very reassuring, this being a major factor during my first few weeks abroad.  I discovered that absorbing the different culture came hand in hand with learning to speak the language.   As a condition of the Scholarship, in addition to my language studies, I worked voluntarily for the largest wool combing company in Italy, Pettinatura Italiana, Vigliano Biellese.  Working and living with the locals certainly improved my Italian; I learnt a lot of the local dialect and colloquial Italian too!

    Upon completion of my Scholarship and now fluent in Italian, I remained in the wool trade and joined H Dawson Sons & Co (Wool) Limited in 1965 and returned to Biella, Italy in a new management role.  I later became a Company Director taking on the responsibility for Dawson’s office in Italy and travelled extensively to Spain, Portugal, Middle East, Iran, Pakistan and India.  My Scholarship definitely helped in my preparation for the change in career and the additional responsibilities that came alongside that.

    My philosophy in life has always been to look forward, not back.  The wool trade is a way of life, not just a job.  I have made many wonderful friends around the world, many of whom I have revisited following my retirement.  Travel in the Middle East in the 1960/70s could be lively and exciting to say the least, with many countries undergoing social conflict and political upheaval; however I found that not everything you hear and see on the news was always correct and the reality on the ground was often different.

    I am also very proud to have been an active member of the John Speak Trust Committee for 25 years, 17 of which I was Chair, standing down in 2010.

    Being a keen skier, I am regular visitor to Italy and have kept in contact with many friends and colleagues overseas throughout my international career.  I continue to use my Italian regularly and also speak reasonable Spanish which I learnt after retiring from Dawsons in 2002.  One of my passions is singing (choral music mainly) and it is an unexpected bonus to be able to sing in the above and other languages.

    I am very pleased that the John Speak Trust continues to provide financial assistance to UK language students.

    I would definitely recommend any students considering studying abroad and intending to go into the export (of UK goods and/or services) trade to go ahead and apply for a John Speak Scholarship.

    Accepting the Scholarship was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  The process is simple and uncomplicated – a no brainer!

    The benefits speak for themselves.  I have enjoyed a very long and successful career in the export trade and will always be grateful for the opportunities the John Speak Trust provided.

    Graham Moulson – June 2015

    Graham Moulson

  • Oliver de Planta – Case Study, Germany 2014 – 2015

    During my studies at Sheffield Hallam University I undertook a year abroad in Germany from June 2014 to March 2015.

    I began my year abroad in Munich, Bavaria working for Robert Bosch GmbH then for the second half I moved to Berlin to work at Siemens AG. The scholarship from the John Speak Trust afforded more freedom during my time abroad and assisted towards my day to day living and travel expenses.

    Me and Münchner Gaudiblosn a Bavarian band that play at, among other places, Oktoberfest

    The opportunity to work abroad in a different environment was full of advantages both personally and professionally. There was so much to organize like accommodation, bank accounts, registrations and paperwork and all this in two of the three largest cities in Germany.  It was a lot to deal with, I was on my own, but I managed to sort everything out single handed!

    Not knowing anyone in a city when you first arrive can be difficult and daunting, and ironically I personally found it more difficult meeting people in larger cities!  But it’s very rewarding when you finally make new friends and more importantly some good friends. Persevering with the language can also be difficult, especially if one is living in a city where many speak English and always try to use it when they find out you are a native speaker.

    Brandenburger Tor

     

    Being in Germany didn’t only help me immerse in the German culture but also the cultures of other countries and the people, which I found extremely interesting, a positive side effect of trying to improve my German language skills.

    The Reichstag, Berlin

     

     

    I’m pretty sure that anyone who spends some time studying abroad would recommend the experience to others, I certainly would!  If you were offered such an opportunity I would definitely recommend you take it; I cannot think of any reasons not to.  Many of my friends in England think it’s unbelievable that I have lived and studied another language abroad.

     

     

    I would certainly encourage others to apply for a John Speak Trust scholarship and take advantage of such a wonderful opportunity.

    Oliver de Planta

  • Geoffrey Padgett – Case Study, France 1953

    In 1953 at age 22, I was fortunate to receive a Scholarship from the John Speak Trust to assist with my French studies.  The Scholarship provided a small amount of funding towards my travel, lodgings and food during six months abroad.   I received a mere £30 per month.  I worked in the wool trade (salary £233 per annum, Tax £6 and 4 shillings) and my employers felt time abroad would be beneficial to my career.

    My journey to France began by train from Bradford to London, Calais then to Lille, a city in northern France.  A somewhat dilapidated boarding house in Roubaix would provide my accommodation for the next six months.  In addition to studying French (as a condition of my Scholarship) I worked voluntarily, during which I learned every stage of converting wool into cloth, i.e. sorting, spinning, weaving and finishing.  I recall having to obtain a Visa, provide a ration book and report regularly to the local Police.

    The time I spent in France has proved invaluable throughout my career within the wool export industry.  My first business trip abroad was to Scandinavia travelling by train and boat, spending two weeks each in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark – quite an exhausting two months even visiting a mill inside the Arctic Circle.

    Thanks to my time abroad, I have always been ready to accept and adapt quickly to changes in language and culture in order to facilitate business activity abroad.

    I continue to use French in my daily life as well as speaking German and some Italian.  I have always felt it only polite to attempt other languages when visiting foreign countries.

    Being able to speak French fluently allowed me to converse on many subjects in depth and learn more about other cultures, e.g. North African countries such as Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco where French is widely used.  I have remained in touch with many of the friends and colleagues I have met during my travels and nowadays visit regularly for holidays.

    Learning a foreign language, working and living amongst native speakers has proved invaluable.  I did however find that learning a foreign language within a ‘factory floor’ environment did have its drawbacks too!  Unfortunately in the early days I could not always distinguish those phrases which are not acceptable in polite society. This came to light during a weekend break in Calais with a pen friend, his mother and close friends.  During the conversation,   apparently I had described my accommodation in a very unsuitable manner.  Following my detailed and somewhat rude description my penfriend’s female guests felt obliged to make an untimely embarrassed departure!

    For the 1957 Queen Elizabeth II State Visit to France I was asked to provide a short article about my Scholarship and time in France.  This was published in the official booklet for the Queen’s official visit Le Nord Textile 11 April 1957.  I was very privileged to have my story published and have kept a copy of the booklet all these years.  One of many proud and cherished memories.

    I remained in contact with the John Speak Trust, later serving as a Trust Committee member for 33 years of which 17 as Chairman.  After receiving financial assistance from the Trust all those years ago, it was an honour to be in a position to offer the same help to other language students who were starting out in their careers.

    I would recommend, without any hesitation, the John Speak Trust to UK language students.  Learning a foreign language whilst abroad, amongst native speakers, living and working within another culture has proved invaluable, an experience I shall never forget and an opportunity for which I will always be grateful.

     

    Geoffrey Padgett

    Geoffrey Padgett June 2015