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English < Back Saskia Johnson I have always enjoyed reading and creative writing! Upon coming to uni, I developed a particular interest in the study of linguistics which I find helps me to analyse texts and even write my own. Lingo gives me the opportunity to become a better writer and discover what it's like to be a journalist, writing about the things I am passionate about. Latest Articles by this Author The Language of Lies: Exposing the Unreliable Narrator 18/03/25

Translating voices from the past Aidan Cross Saturday 17 February 2024 History, culture, and language go hand-in-hand, but what role does translation have to play in uncovering the voices of the past? The link between history and language is not just evident: it’s essential. Not only is the history of a place and its people is intrinsic to every part of society, including the language, but understanding a language gives you a much deeper understanding of the culture and history. There is a shocking ignorance in the UK about the rich and complex histories and cultures of other countries, informed by our own telling of history. What we think we know about history, our own and others’, is biased by the survival, interpretation, and translation of certain voices being privileged over others. The old adage “history is told by the victors” holds some truth, but translation can play a vital role in bridging this gap. The translation of museum and gallery exhibits, curator’s notes, guidebooks, and websites, as well as the translation of academic texts and published books can only enrich our understanding of history by allowing us access to different perspectives. How often have we seen echoed the old paternalistic, colonial belief that the British Empire, despite its flaws (read: slavery, oppression, and exploitation), brought “modernity” to the people that it subjugated? Is it any surprise that this is a pervasive opinion when for a long time people only looked to the English merchants, government officials, or military personnel, who directly benefitted from this system, to learn its history? Never mind the fact that this imperial, Eurocentric concept of “modernity” uprooted the culture and social structure of the countries where it was introduced. It is our role to question the histories that we’re told and how they have reached us. After all, history is best heard from the voices of those who lived it – and those who had this “modernity” imposed on them would likely have a different story to tell. This is not a novel concept. Conscious and concerted efforts are being made to recover these lost voices from the past and answer the question: who has been spoken or written over? Translation plays a key part in allowing us to access and fill in these missing voices from the past. Not only this, but history is made in the present day, and we need to ensure that all voices are heard and included. For example, the importance of translators and interpreters in allowing refugees to record their own voices and stories. Translation is not the answer to all of these problems, however, and in fact can be the cause of them. Just as everything that is recorded is done with a purpose, so too is every translation, with its own intentions and ideals, conscious or unconscious. Those who work with refugee voices, for example, must be careful not to let their own opinions influence or be inserted into the stories that they are recording. Moreover, a lot of what we know of the pre-Columbian civilisations in South America comes from Spanish translations by Christians of native sources, so there is a significant power imbalance underlying each of these texts which prejudices our understanding of them, and by extension the cultures to which they belonged. Although translation is a powerful tool for uncovering the voices of the past, it can also be – and has been – used to erase those voices. About the Author Related Articles Translating voices from the past Aidan Cross Copyright free images via Unsplash . For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: translation history culture language Aidan Cross Categories: Culture Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Liberal Arts < Back Kate Armstrong Kate is a final year student, she love the outdoors and anything sporty. She was inspired to write for Lingo following her year abroad in France. She was lucky enough to live in the Alps and the Normandy countryside where she realised her love for travel and nature! Latest Articles by this Author

Translation Studies < Back Charlie Bodsworth A nerd in every sense, Charlie was our 2023-24 Language and Linguistics editor. She completed a BA in Modern Languages with Translation Studies, including a year spent in Paris, and is soon to complete her MA in Translation Studies. She speaks French and has just started learning Japanese! In her spare time, she plays video games, watches movies, and spends plenty of time with her two gerbils. Latest Articles by this Author Interview with a Polyglot 10/06/24 Japanese: One Language, Three Writing Systems 12/04/24

French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 2/2 : The Long Five Years Jess Henrys Friday 26 August 2022 Welfare Secretary Jess continues her interview with born-and-bred Parisian, Stella, to gain an inside perspective on President Macron and what the next five years could look like for France. Read part one here. We had talked about some lighter things - Paris, places, people, pastries – but a cloud hung over the conversation. The elephant in the room was the President. Well, not the president himself, but Macron’s re-election to the French presidency just a month before was still present in people’s minds, especially in a room full of students. I broached the subject with Stella. J: Shall we talk a bit about politics? S: Yes, let’s talk about it from my very left-wing French perspective! [laughs] No no, I will try my best to be objective in my answers. J: Well, we’ve seen the election in the past month [24th April 2022]. Can you share some of the general thoughts and feelings in France before the election, that you saw or that you heard? S: There was a lot of tension, and sadly, a lot of anger. I think that most French people don’t find what they need or what they want in French politics. Macron has been elected at like, 58 percent… it’s very low against the far right. But actually, he was elected by, like 30 percent of the French people, the rest of them haven’t vote or have voted far right. There are a lot of people who are feeling abandoned or not listened to. It explains the rise in racism or homophobia or these things. Macron was re-elected with a majority of 58.55% of votes, versus Marine le Pen’s 41.45%. It is a narrower margin than his victory over her for his first term in 2017, and with a turnout of only 72% (the lowest in over 50 years), left-leaning individuals like Stella are naturally worried. S: I think the media aren’t being fair, which is a dangerous thing to say, but I think they are doing a bit of sensationalisme. There has been some analysis of which parties had access to tv interviews and magazines. The far-right had, like, 40 percent of it and the far-left was not listened to at all. It has been very discredited because the far-right has the shock factor and such a huge audience. I believe so many more people voted for them because it was all they saw. There is a sense of injustice in France from a lot of people, which I think is fair. It’s justified. J: How do you think those sentiments have changed after the election? S: I think a lot of people are resigned, like, let’s go for five more years of this. This is going to be a long five years. J: What do you think the next five years will look like for France? S: Like the last five years. A rising in disparities between French people who are just going to want to attack people more. A rise in violence towards women and homophobia and… Macron knows that he is a president for the rich and it’s just going to get worse. He does some things right, I’m sure, but he has to make things better. National hospitals are so poor, for example. There was recently a professorial concours – the exams taken to become a teacher – and they’re lacking almost 100 professors in each subject. A lot of schools will be lacking teachers and not be able to teach properly because the teachers are treated so poorly by l’État. They are not well paid, the conditions are awful, they don’t get to choose where they work or anything. This is going to be a long five years. night falls over Paris, photo taken of the lights of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides dome, as seen from the Montparnasse Tower J: How does this differ in the Outre-Mer? (French overseas territories) You have family there, can you tell us a bit about those places? S: I think the main difference is that the people don’t really see themselves attached to France. Very often, legislation doesn’t apply in the same way there than here. For example, during Covid, we had a curfew, and theirs lasted a lot longer than ours did, but their restaurants reopened before ours. It’s different because it’s so far away. Back there, my aunt has lived [in La Réunion] for a while and adopted the Créole lifestyle. People call France La Métropole, as if it’s another country, it’s not really home. I would say that they have a lot of grievances. The Outre-Mer is marked by the remnants of colonisation, and they are discriminated against in a few things. Life there is very expensive. Groceries mostly come from France, and they don’t really access their own products there. People are poorer but the cost of life is higher. But I feel like, because it’s Créole, it’s like… they help each other out all the time. I think maybe it’s a trait of poorer populations, so I don’t want to fetishise it, but it’s a beautiful way of living. This is La Réunion - I don’t want to speak for other parts of the Outre-Mer because I know that some of them are very angry towards La Métropole. La Réunion… it’s okay… even though there’s obviously lots of problems. Where I come from, it’s annoyance but not anger. J: Thank you for talking about these things. If you were running for President, what politics would you make? S: [laughs] I don’t think I should ever be President. I think I’m rather a violent person and I would be so annoyed at all the hardships of politics and the negotiating and everything. I would go crazy. I would probably say some very rude things towards people I should never ever be rude to! J: And just to confirm for the record that all opinions expressed have been the opinions of one Stella Cabaret and not of the whole of France, or of this language magazine. S: Obviously! I do not mean to speak for all French people, everything I have said has been mine and mine only and not objective, of course. J: Well, thank you for sharing those thoughts with us! S: It was a pleasure. Stella sits in the window of my Paris apartment in her signature blue denim jacket and holds up a peace sign [end of interview] For more information on the French presidential elections, and how they work check out a comprehensive article by our editor-in-chief, Niamh, here . [all photos by Jessica Henrys unless stated otherwise] About the Author Related Articles A l’isoloir: what you need to know about the French Elections Niamh Woodhouse "El silencio de otros": 45 years of the Amnesty Law in Spain Aidan Cross French Connection: An Interview with a True Parisian Part 1/2 : The City of Lights Jess Henrys Images provided by Jess Henrys. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Jess Henrys France Politics Macron Elections Categories: Interview Global Affairs Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Culture Spotlight: Hispanic Society Niamh Woodhouse Tuesday 25 October 2022 For our first installment of Culture Spotlights, we spoke to Emily Brown, Hispanic Society's Publicity Sec, to find out more about Hispanic culture, what it means and how UoN students can experience it on campus and around Nottingham. Can you describe your culture in three words? Vibrant, community and fun. Tell us about your culture for someone that has little to no knowledge of it Hispanic culture has community, family and friends at the heart of it. Hispanic traditions are super important, and they are a great excuse to celebrate with good food and music. In Hispanic Society, we place really high importance on bringing people together, Hispanic or not, and show them why everyone should get involved! It is a vibrant culture that is welcoming to all, with a strong focus on spending time together and enjoying life! What would you say is the best thing about your culture? There are so many reasons why Hispanic culture is the best, it's difficult to just pick one! I would say that the variety within the culture is one of the things that makes it so amazing. From one Spanish speaking country to the next, the customs, accents, food and music vary. I think this is what makes the culture so vibrant and diverse- it's pretty difficult to get bored! Is there a way to experience your culture in Nottingham? Yes! We have a great range of weekly activities that allow everyone to immerse themselves in the Hispanic community. A personal favourite event of mine is Latin Thursday (in collaboration with Colombian and Mexican Society) which takes place on the first Thursday of each month in Mooch. The aim is to get everyone speaking in Spanish (native speakers and learners) and it's a great way of meeting new people too! Our weekly cultural and social events are also all aimed at bringing the Hispanic culture closer to all of us. The other week, we had an event focussed on learning new Spanish slang- we all came away with lots of new vocab that will definitely come in handy for travelling to different Spanish speaking countries. As a committee, we love the Vida by Lorentes restaurant near Lace Market, as they serve a great range of tapas and paella dishes that we can't get enough of! Our President Cesar is there most weeks! Do you have any events/socials coming up where students can have a taster of your culture? Yes! We have a special event happening on Thursday 27th October as part of the Black History Month celebrations with 3 guests speakers presenting about a specific element of Afro-Latino culture. It will also include some salsa dancing too! Latin Thursday happens on the first Thursday of every month, so the next one will be 3rd November. It's also the Hispanic Music Takeover at Mooch that night, so it's going to be a good one! Keep an eye on Hispanic Society's instagram so that you can keep up to date with all of the great events they have got coming up! About the Author Related Articles 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse European Music Festivals to Attend This Summer Niamh Woodhouse I Went to a Naked Orchestra: A Review of Carta by Monica Calle Niamh Woodhouse Header image provided by Hispanic Society via Instagram. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Niamh Woodhouse Hispanic Events Categories: Culture Cultural Spotlight Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson Thursday 17 November 2022 Recipe of the week with @ems.homecooking will teach you a new dish from around the world. This week's dish is a vegan pasta bake – an easy and student friendly dish that can be enjoyed by all. Serves: 2 Difficulty 2/5 Time: 30 minutes Who doesn’t love a hearty pasta bake after a long winter’s day? With a crispy cheese top layer, the crunch from the broccoli and the meatiness of the “sausages”, this dish is a perfect mouth-watering meal. While this dish is simple, it is full of flavour and hearty goodness. The special part of this recipe is that the ingredients used don’t have to be the same each time, it is very easy to throw in a bit of everything out of the kitchen cupboard (within reason of course…!) Ingredients 1 medium onion 3/4 stems of broccoli 1 pepper 2 cloves of garlic Half a jar of tomato passata 1 tbsp of tomato puree 2 tsp of harissa paste (optional) 2 portions of pasta (I used penne, but any pasta shape will work) 3 vegetarian/vegan sausages Cheese to top (optional) Salt and pepper 2 tsp paprika Chilli flakes (optional) Olive oil Method Heat oven to the temperature the sausages require to cook. Place sausages in the oven. While the sausages are cooking, in a pan on a medium heat sweat off the onions and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add in the paprika and cook off for a couple of minutes, stirring to combine with the onions and garlic. Chop the peppers into pieces and add them into the pan with the onions and garlic. Again, cook until they’re soft. Meanwhile, boil a pan of water with a sprinkle of salt ready to cook the pasta and broccoli. When the water is boiled, add in the pasta and cook for the required time (usually about 10 minutes if using dried pasta). A few minutes before the pasta is ready, add the broccoli to the pan of tomatoes and cook. In the pan with the onions, garlic and peppers, add in half a jar of passata, tomato paste and the harissa. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Then, add in the cooked broccoli, pasta and sausages, chopped into pieces. Place the mixture into an oven proof dish, cover the top with grated cheese and put it under the grill or in the oven for a few minutes until the cheese has melted and starts to crisp. Dig in! For more savoury and tasty treats recipes, follow @ems.homecooking on Instagram. About the Author Related Articles Recipe of the Week: Shakshuka with Merguez Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Chicken Curry Emily Dawson Recipe of the Week: Vegan Pasta Bake Emily Dawson Images provided by Emily Dawson. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Emily Dawson Cuisine Cooking Pasta Vegan Categories: Culture Recipe of the Week Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Weekend Getaways: The Lake District Gabrielle Wroe Monday 17 March 2025 Why not take a quick weekend getaway with your friends? It’s the perfect escape for busy students in need of a break from constant studying. A weekend trip lets you unwind, recharge and discover new places- sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery to shake off the uni stress! Even if it’s just for a day or two, there are some great places to visit on a low budget. As a student, I’ve found that small trips are incredibly worthwhile. University life can be stressful, and taking a break to recharge is essential for your mental well-being. A perfect staycation that I highly recommend is the Lake District, which remains one of the most idyllic and tranquil places I’ve had the pleasure of visiting. Last spring, I ventured there for the first time with my partner, spending a weekend in the charming village of Dent. The Lake District is easiest to reach by car, with a scenic drive of around 2.5 to 3 hours from Nottingham. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry! There are also several train stations dotted around the region, making it accessible from various parts of the UK. Trains can be a cheaper alternative if you have a railcard along with student discount. During our trip we stayed in an affordable Airbnb for three days, which was ideal – it gave us the perfect balance of comfort and affordability. Airbnb is a great choice for budget friendly stays, but you could also look for B&B’s or hostels which could save you a bit more money. The Lake District is the perfect destination if you love hiking and the outdoors! Anywhere you stay in the Lakes has countless walks and hiking routes with picturesque views, so you’ll never run out of places to explore. Whether you’re intermediate or beginner, the Lake District offers trails for all levels of experience. If you prefer gentle strolls, I recommend taking a trip to Lake Windermere, which has beautiful views and offers a flat walk. There are also more challenging climbs such as Scafell Pike, England’s highest peak that promises breathtaking views. Also, in many villages there are local pubs and cafes that offer meals with a cozy atmosphere, which is perfect after a day of hiking. If hiking isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other activities such as boat rides across the lakes, local markets and lots of charming little shops and cafes. The area is very rich in history too, so there are a handful of museums and historic sites that you can explore if you aren’t too bothered about the walks. Whether you're seeking adventure or just a short trip with friends, the Lake District offers a perfect weekend getaway. About the Author Related Articles Header image is copyright free and courtesy of Unsplash. Article images provided by Gabrielle Wroe. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Travel Travel Guide England Categories: I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy. Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! Barbara Dawson average rating is 3 out of 5 Lovely tasty dish. Try it you won’t be disappointed. Time Published Aunty Liz average rating is 3 out of 5 Very tasty and cheap. I often have this for tea! Time Published BETTS average rating is 3 out of 5 Being a bilingual family (French mother and British father,) living in France I thought your article was extremely interesting . Have you research on bilingualism ? It seems that when the mother is British and the father French and they both live in France their children seem to be more bilingual than when the mother is French and the father is British . This is what we called mother tongue , isn't it ? Time Published Niamh average rating is 3 out of 5 Such an interesting article! Time Published LOAD MORE

International Media and Communication Studies < Back Gabrielle Wroe My name is Gabrielle and I'm a third year studying International Media and Communications. I love travelling, photography and music, I really enjoy going to concerts with my friends. I was drawn to Lingo as I love writing and wanted to expand my skills. Lingo also covers many topics that I am interested in and allows me to learn about different cultures which I find super interesting. Latest Articles by this Author Weekend Getaways: The Lake District 17/03/25

Things I Wish I Knew Before Going Interrailing Rachel Lara Hoddes Sunday 14 July 2024 Rachel gives us a comprehensive list of everything she wishes she had known before setting off on her interrailing adventure, sharing her top tips and tricks for a smooth-sailing rail holiday. Interrailing is an incredibly popular travel option nowadays, with around 350,000 students applying for passes annually. I myself have travelled as a student in Europe twice now, so I'd like to think I am somewhat able to share with you a list of tips and tricks for enjoying the fast-paced holiday style preferred by our age group. These range from common sense tips to surprising insights, as even though travelling can be super exciting, it can also be stressful and tiring. Dehydration: Don't Underestimate It This may seem obvious, but intense travelling, especially in hot and humid conditions, can lead to dehydration. It is crucial to stay hydrated to avoid exhaustion, as the last thing you want is to be trekking round a foreign country armed with your ghic and Google translate, only to be referred to completely the wrong service due to language barrier (definitely not based on a real story)! Planning regular drinking intervals, carrying electrolyte packets, and considering locations with water fountains is key to ensuring you can stay healthy and remain active throughout the trip. Additionally, avoid day-drinking and consuming too much caffeine (this may be rich coming from me!), as they can majorly dehydrate you. Factor in Melt Time Constant travel and activity can be exhausting, particularly with disrupted sleep from night trains or noisy hostel roommates, so it is important to have a space to decompress. This doesn't have to be at your accommodation, but putting in headphones on a train sometimes just isn't enough. So, this year, whilst travelling with my friends, we factored in what we called "melt time". We would find a quiet location as a base and split off, some opting to sit with headphones in and watching the bags whilst others would wander off alone to take in some solitude. It really helped us all recharge and ensure that we weren't (too) snappy. Dietary Requirements When travelling in a big group, there are likely to be a lot of dietary requirements. From allergies to religious restrictions to even veganism, we often found ourselves in need of very specific foods. We found that using websites such as "Happy Cow" and learning specific food-related words in local languages to find suitable food options. I would also recommend finding a Lidl or equivalent supermarket to stock up in safe snacks and drinks so that everyone always had something they could eat. Overwhelming Itinerary The main goal of interrailing is to see as much as possible in a short amount of time. To do this, a lot of planning goes on to ensure that everyone involved gets what they want out of a location. But for me personally, I get overwhelmed by a busy itinerary, particularly as things can be so unpredictable when travelling. Trains can be late, people can fall ill, and sometimes you just need an extra lie in. To combat this, I joined the trip late, opting to do only 1 week instead of 2 as despite really wanting to go to all locations, I knew I would get overwhelmed and burnt out due to the amount we had planned. Know your limits! Another thing worth considering is doing a walking tour on the first day of arriving in a location. These are super useful as they allow you to properly experienced a location and gained both cultural and historical knowledge. It also means you can return to locations that caught your eye and assess whether some of your main interests prearrival are actually worth the excursion. And they don't have to be expensive too! Many tours are free with a tip basis so you pay what you think the tour was worth after participating. Also, it's worth downloading some of Rick Steves' free audio guides which provide concise and informative city and attraction tours. Navigating Conflict In every high stress environment, conflict is always going to arise. And travelling, despite being super fun and rewarding, is also stressful. Cohabiting in close proximity with a range of personalities, dietary requirements and routines can be a recipe for dispute - but that's okay! What is important though, is to make sure that you're looking after yourself and others. The best way to do this is by ensuring you're communicating effectively as a group, and setting boundaries for your physical and mental health. Conclusion Since beginning university, I have tried so many new and rewarding things, but interrailing has definitely been one of my favourites. The cherished yet often ludicrous memories I have made will last a lifetime, and I certainly recommend it to anyone with a thirst for exploration. However, it can be difficult and often exhausting, so I hope my tips will help you on your exploration of some of the world's best train routes. About the Author Related Articles Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? Chloe Brewster How to Navigate the Navigo: A Guide to Paris Transport Charlie Bodsworth Beyond Creatures: Unveiling Pokémon’s Multicultural Universe Jasmine Johal Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Rachel Lara Hoddes Travel Travel Guide Trains Categories: Travel Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

YEAR ABROAD TALES: A Reflection on Being LGBTQIA Abroad Grace Whitaker Friday 18 March 2022 This time in the Year Abroad Tales we hear from Grace as she tells us her experiences as a LGBTQIA student on a year abroad and her advice for others like her. Firstly, I’d like to preface this article by saying that I identify somewhere between bisexual and lesbian, but I’ll usually just say I’m gay. Although I am openly gay, I haven’t personally ‘come out’ to the majority of readers of this magazine, so this acts as an easy and convenient way for me to come out. My experience of being LGBTQIA abroad has differed vastly. Before starting my year abroad, there was not one part of me that considered that living in France and Spain as an openly gay woman would be at all different to that of England. Other countries like Russia or those in South America? Of course. But Western Europe? Surely not, right? I spent the first 3 months of my year abroad working in a medium-sized town called Annecy, approximately 40 minutes from Geneva and the Swiss Border, very close to the Alps and their ski resorts. It is a stunning place to live: surrounded by the most beautiful mountains and lake, it often felt like a fairy tale. It was also an incredibly rich and conservative area that inevitably incurred equally conservative attitudes and opinions. Although France legislatively maintains secularism, I knew that the Catholic church is prominent and has a firm homophobic standpoint. But since gay marriage was legalised over 8 years ago, I (maybe naively) did not believe that my sexuality would be problematic. View of Lake Annecy That was until I arrived and began working in Annecy. After a fairly seamless first couple of weeks, I was chatting with my boss and we ended up discussing the topic of marriage. Now, I had not really suspected my boss of having homophobic views, but I decided to take the plunge and ask him how he felt about the legalisation of gay marriage in France. His response was this « Je crois pas que les homosexuels devraient se marier ou avoir les enfants. » (I don’t think that homosexuals should marry or have children). An intense wave of panic hit me. He then continued by saying that for him, it was better for a child to be raised by a single parent than two parents of the same sex. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. This man had no qualms in sitting in his office delivering a hate speech. From that point onwards, I proceeded to act as ‘straight’ as possible when it came to work, primarily dressing more feminine. The eyebrow slit had to grow out, my cargo pants and chain were left at home. I even had a call with the Year Abroad team later to explain the situation I found myself in. I have to say they were incredibly supportive and understanding, they most definitely reassured me. Unfortunately, views like this were not confined to the older generation. There were people of my age who held a similar level of homophobia. For instance, I met a girl who, in all seriousness, asked me whether I thought it was the ‘natural’ instinct for a woman to sleep with a man. Or there was a guy who told me I simply couldn’t be gay since I didn’t look like the lesbians he had seen in the past. Even to this day, I can’t believe I encountered such conversations. Having paused and realised that this article has become rather depressing, I will say that a) I did in fact meet some wonderful people in France who without a doubt helped me forget about all of this and b) it does get better. On the topic of getting better, let’s move on to Spain. At the time of writing, I have been living and studying in Valencia for a little over a month and it has been incredible. I had always assumed that my experience in France and Spain would be similar but the difference in attitudes here is startling. I walk around and see pride flags hanging from balconies. There is an amphitheatre and benches painted in the colours of all the different pride flags. There is a rainbow heart stuck on the door of my faculty. There’s a popular gay club that hosts drag shows. I happily hold hands with the girl I’m dating without receiving stares or comments. I feel comfortable, safe, and accepted here. It’s liberating. Amphitheatre in Valencia, with the steps painted in rainbow colours. I will say that whilst my experience in France has been tainted, I certainly did not let it ruin it. If anything, it gives me something to joke about. But for any LGBTQIA members reading this article who are on their year abroad or about to embark upon it, I know it can very mentally exhausting to not always be living your true, authentic self. Do not hesitate to reach out for support. My DMs are always open. If you'd like to share your unique experience of a year abroad, get in touch with us on Insta (@lingomag_) or send a submission into lingo.magazinesubmit@gmail.com ! About the Author Related Articles Barcelona’s Hidden Gems: Live like a local and escape the tourists Mhairi MacLeod 48 Hours in Seville: Spain's Sunny City Niamh Woodhouse Barcelona’s must-visit Cocktail Bars Rosie Loyd Images provided by Grace Whitaker. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Living Abroad France Spain Grace Whitaker LGBTQIA Categories: Travel Year Abroad Tales Feature Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE

Is sustainable travel possible during your year abroad? Chloe Brewster Wednesday 16 November 2022 To coincide with the current COP27 summit, Chloe considers the possibilities of travelling sustainably during the year abroad which can potentially produce a hefty carbon footprint. At a time when the devastating realities of climate change are increasingly apparent, living sustainably is not just a distant ideal, but a necessity. Travelling is often perceived as a major source of pollution – undoubtedly not helped by cheap flights – and there are increasing calls for people to reduce their use of polluting modes of travel to save the planet. This raises the question: how do you travel sustainably during your year abroad? Is it possible to travel without leaving a massive carbon-emitting footprint? As this article will explore, the answers are not necessarily straightforward, but sustainability is not an unattainable goal as you embark on your travels. Reaching your destination A key image that springs to mind are flights – who hasn’t posted an Instagram story of the view out the plane window at the beginning of their travels? However, air travel is the complete antithesis of sustainability and releases huge amounts of carbon emissions; for example, The Guardian estimates that one flight from Manchester to Barcelona generates a significant 259kg CO2, and undoubtedly emission rates are considerably higher the further you travel. For many year abroad destinations (including Asia and South America), air travel is almost certainly the only means of transport, so it is difficult to find a sustainable alternative. Travelling cheaply with Ryanair from Stansted Airport - but at what price to the environment? On the other hand, students who are spending their year abroad in mainland Europe have more options, notably Eurostar which travels to Paris, Brussels, and Amsterdam. If your destination is neither of these capital cities, you can opt for coaches such as Flixbus or Blablacar, both of which are cheap and eco-friendly. Yes, travelling by coach can be exhausting (i.e. overnight journeys) and it isn’t an option for the faint-hearted. But Europe is ahead of the curve by offering sustainable modes of transport for the masses without costing a fortune, and you couldn’t better immerse yourself in European culture by travelling more sustainably. Or you could opt for trains within your host country; the affordability of rail cards (some for youth, others for local regions) further incentivises people to use public transport in a way to which we are not necessarily accustomed in the UK. Ultimately, whether you are studying or working in Europe or beyond, keeping air travel to a minimum is a major factor for reducing your carbon footprint. Don’t feel too guilty for flying to your destination if that’s the only option to get there, but be mindful about the frequency with which you fly (either home or elsewhere) – for example, is it really necessary to fly home for a weekend? Would it be sustainably wiser to fly home for a longer period of time, such as during the Christmas holidays? Sometimes, it is easy to be tempted by a cheap getaway (and we are all in need of a holiday occasionally!) but living and travelling sustainably can require some self-discipline (and possibly some sacrifice). Travelling within your host country Once you have navigated the tricky waters of travelling to your destination, it is remarkably easier to travel sustainably within the country where you are spending a semester or year abroad. It is highly unlikely that you will bring a car with you to your host destination (keeping your hold luggage below the weight limit is challenging enough), so that immediately eliminates one threat to you carbon footprint. Using public transport – as mentioned previously – is the way to go to be as sustainably conscious as low as possible. However, it is of course easier to travel sustainably within cities or bigger towns compared to small towns or even villages. Cities usually offer a wider range of public transport, such as trams or even biofueled buses, so there are clearly inequalities between urban and rural environments in terms of sustainable travel. Regional train to Luxembourg from Belgium One popular (and healthy!) way of keeping carbon emissions low (or zero) is cycling, which is quite common in many European cities where you can even rent a bicycle on a monthly subscription. Several French cities, including Paris and Strasbourg, run their own bike-rental services to encourage more sustainable travel habits among its citizens and visitors, which is often cheaper than purchasing a monthly bus or tram pass (although those sustainable modes of transport are not to be overlooked). All in all, being a sustainable traveller against the current backdrop of an environmental and climate crisis is not an easy task. However, any gestures that we can make – however small they may seem – are indeed better than doing nothing at all. While getting to our destination are important, it is what we do while we are there for months at a time which matter on a daily basis, so research ways in which you can get around your host destination and the country before you leave the UK, as well as investigate any alternative ways of getting there if you can avoid air travel. It might seem daunting, but you can travel sustainably and happily! About the Author Related Articles Taiwan Diaries: Quarantine Rosie Loyd Why you should visit Strasbourg Chloe Brewster YEAR ABROAD TALES: the highs and lows of au pairing Mhairi MacLeod Copyright free images via Unsplash. For more content, follow us on Instagram , and like our Facebook page for more articles and information on how to join the Lingo Team. Have an article ready to send in? Submit it here . Tags: Chloe Brewster Sustainability Environment Trains Year Abroad Categories: Travel Analysis Share: Let us know what you think 3.0 150 Article ratings average rating is 3 out of 5, based on 150 votes, Article ratings WRITE A COMMENT Thanks for submitting a comment! LOAD MORE