November 2010

Reviews: One Day by David Nicholls

November 30, 2010 Stacey Cosens

Although this book has been out for over a year, it has gained mass interest in the past few months, staying put high in the bestsellers list, with a film starring Anne Hathaway already in production.

The book follows two best friends Emma and Dexter, students at the University of Edinburgh after a post-finals fling on July 15, 1988. Over the next twenty years, we revisit them each St Swithin’s day and follow where they are with their lives.

While working class northerner Emma moves to London and finds herself working at a rubbish Mexican restaurant before becoming a teacher, middle-class Dexter travels Europe before falling into a media career, eventually becoming a (very bad) TV presenter with an alcoholism problem.

The book is a wonderful nostalgic view of the recent past, and is sure to conjure up your own memories of the 80s, 90s and early 00s. You’ll find yourself glued to this page turner, excited to find out if this obviously destined couple ever do end up together.

Reviews

‘South Africa changed my life’

November 30, 2010 Cherry MacKenzie

In our winter issue, Cherry reports the story of Katie, a 26 year old accountant who decided to travel for three months in South Africa.

Here’s a sneak peak:

“Last year, I decided I wanted to change, I broke up with my boyfriend of two years and that was the final straw which made me realise I wasn’t the person I wanted to be.

I decided I really wanted to go abroad, not on a luxurious five star holiday, but a more meaningful break. I know it sounds clichéd but I wanted to find myself. I decided I wanted to go on a volunteering break to help people in third world countries. It’s something I have always wanted to do but never had the confidence or the time to actually do it.

I started sifting through pages and pages of information on gap year websites, as I knew volunteering is a common thing for students to do. After spending many evenings researching what it was I wanted to do, I eventually narrowed it down to working with children overseas. I emailed a few companies who got back to me with placements they had on offer. And it was as easy as that.

One placement in particular caught my eye. It was working with AIDS orphans in South Africa. The company was called Global Adventure Projects. Making the final decision about going was difficult for me as I had never done anything remotely adventurous in my life. I have never been a decision-maker at work or in a relationship. This type of whim just wasn’t me, but I didn’t dislike it. In fact even making the decision to go was hugely exhilarating.

You want to volunteer but you’re not sure where?

Whether you are looking to gain some work experience, help others less fortunate than yourself, or simply experience a new culture, then volunteering is definitely for you. There are lots of different places you can travel to and lots of different projects you can get involved in. Firstly you must think what you are interested in, if working with children is a real passion of yours then why not volunteer in South Africa and help with AIDS orphans like Katie did. If you are a keen sports person, why not coach football to children in Morocco? What ever you decide to do, the experience will be truly rewarding.

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