Revision...Exams...Stress...Coping?!

It turns out you can go to the other side of the Atlantic, a completely different country on an entirely new continent and still your university will insist that you participate in exams. Completely shocking and unfair, right?! It's like they want you do well and get a degree or something instead of just have a ball meandering around this brand new world you've landed yourself in...Well, I have two exams and an essay that will all be completed by Tuesday so I thought what better way of procrastinating than doing a post that compares the American university system with the English one, with some potentially helpful revision tips thrown in.

The two biggest differences I have found between the English and American university systems are the amounts of assessments and when students begin to specialise. In England, as soon as you finish your GCSEs you hit A Levels which are around 4 subjects that you study in depth. After A Levels comes university, when you only study one or, in some cases like mine, two subjects. I'm doing History and Criminology as a combined degree at Keele which requires you to gain 120 credits in each subject come graduation, with one module being worth 15 credits and each year needing you complete 8 modules. This usually turns into 4 modules per semester with a little room for electives, such as the study abroad module I had to take last year. Ultimately though my focus is upon Criminology and History and not a lot else, even when it comes to electives I am restrained to the humanities (which I'm happy with as science and maths make me cry) and foreign languages.

In America however, there are 'core' subjects that are needed such as English, Maths, Sciences and History no matter what your degree will be in. Some smart people can take dual credit classes in high school to get these core ones out of the way but most end up doing them at university. This, along with the fact that degree declarations are not mandatory until just before graduation, means that people can find themselves taking much longer than the standard 4 years to graduate. If, for example, you wish to declare your degree in one subject but struggle to get into those classes, you could end up waiting for the next semester that class is open so graduating later or trying to find another subject that you happen to have the credits to graduate for and declaring that. It's all rather complicated to and I am very glad that us English students don't really have to go through it especially as American students pay tuition fees by the hours they take, rather than the £9,000 standard we have to pay each year in England.

None of that has really affected me though, I picked 4 classes that matched up with Keele's curriculum for this semester and voila, I am the happy student of Texas History, Europe in the Nineteenth Century, Intro to Global Analysis and Managing Criminal Justice Organisations, at UTSA. I say happy in that I found them all interesting, my professors were great, especially my ones for European History and Global Analysis. However, the assessments were far more intense and regular than that of Keele. This may be due to the fact first year does not count towards your degree in England but everything counts in the States, so when I return to Keele I could take this all back! I'll let you know. Anywho, if you're planning on studying at an American university then prepare yourself for never getting a break. Unlike in England when you may have 2 or 3 assessments a term, you'll have around 4 or 5 minimum along with pop quizzes and participation and attendance grades will actually be given and count towards your final grade - a lot. If you have a busy week, you can't just skip a chapter of reading and catch up later because then you won't be able to discuss in class and answer aimed questions, very embarrassing especially when you're brand new and stand out because of being foreign anyway. It is worth it though, I have definitely picked up the work ethic that I lost for a little bit and hope to goodness it sticks with me through the madness of socialising, working and cheerleading back at Keele.

Now for my revision tips, I am on course to get an A and 3 Bs (though 2 of those Bs may easily become As if my revision has worked) so I feel I am not completely inept and revising for exams. I need 2 As and 2 Bs to get a 3.33 gpa which would equate to an English 2:1 - here's hoping! I hate tests as much as the next person, especially multiple choice ones. I would much rather write a paper everyday for a week than do 20 questions of multiple choice. However, life isn't up for that so here are my revision tips:
1. Make notes throughout the term
Every time you have to read something for class and are actually in class, take notes!! No matter how bored you are and tired, making notes then will save you so much agro later on as you won't have to reread chapters or flick through powerpoints, all the information will be right there for you. Also, it has been proven that handwriting notes helps you retain the information better than typing them.
2. Notecards. 
Literally, the saviour of my educational experience. Rewrite the notes you've been making all year that are relevant to your exam on notecards a few days before the exam and go over them a few times a day. I currently have the pattern of read notecards, watch an episode of Dexter (having finished How To Get Away With Murder - both are incredible whether you're a crime nerd like me or not, you'll be on the edge of your seat).
3. Snacks
Because when are snacks not important?! Seriously though, when you're stressed about exams and assignments, forgetting to eat is unfortunately incredibly easy to do. Snacking however, will keep you fed and alert as well as constantly giving you something other than reading or writing to do. Drinking water, though rewards pints of beer are totally allowed, regularly falls into this as well - incredibly important!
4. Exercise
And no not just to stop all the snacking from making you fat, but working off all that excess energy that stress and brain work brings with it. Go for a walk, a run, lift weights, do 10 press ups, whatever, just DO something that isn't work and gets your body moving.
5. Don't hide away
I purposely have set up camp in the kitchen of our apartment for a few reasons; it means that if people are watching what I'm doing then I feel I have to work so I don't need to explain why I'm not working but also it means that I see and talk to my friends regularly. That is incredibly important. A quick hi, how's your day can really help keep you positive when your drowning in exam induced doubt.

Hope these tips help! Let me know if they do and best of luck to those of you doing exams and remember if you don't make an effort then

Oh Canada...

Around ten days ago, the 27th November, was the holiday of Thanksgiving in America. Although, historically it comes from when the pilgrim fathers landed and white America at least began to grow, today it literally is a day of encouraged giving of thanks. People often spend it with their families and loved, those that they are most grateful to have in their lives. Even though I am very appreciative of those I have come to know in Texas, those I am most thankful for in my life are dotted around the UK or chilling (literally) in Canada. Therefore, I decided to spend the holiday weekend (Thursday-Monday) in Ottawa, Canada with Alex.

San Antonio airport stylises itself as an international airport, however, the amount of direct flights it has to other countries are limited and very expensive, therefore I knew that I would have at least one change of plane going to and from Ottawa. When I booked, it turned out I would have two changes on the way back and only one on the way there. However, when I arrived at the airport, my first plane was delayed for more than an hour and my connection time was only 50 minutes, which is usually plenty of time, unless of course you're delayed. Thankfully (optimum word of the moment), I was a found a new route to take: San Antonio - Houston - Toronto - Ottawa and I would arrive a couple of hours later than expected. It was very annoying however, I could take my plane to Houston immediately and was transferred free of charge so no huge complaints. 

My day had started at 3:45am as my plane was supposed to be at 7:16am and I had a 25 minute walk to the hotel where the shuttle bus would pick me up from. Why not get a taxi I hear you cry? Well, the taxi would have been around $10 more expensive, which is a lot of money at the moment as I am finding there is quite a large amount of term left and the end of my savings... Also, the housing I live in has very secure gates and unless the taxi company has been given the code to get in, we have to let them in but as I am only using my phone when connected to wifi here, I would have had to stand in the cold morning for ages to make sure I didn't miss the cab - not worth it. All this meant that I was rather tired, especially with the slight stress of changing planes, so I was really looking forward to a three hour nap between Houston and Toronto. However, I ended up sat next to a lovely Turkish lady who only knew around 5 words of English - no kidding. I managed to gather that she had been travelling around the Southern states and was now off to Toronto, she also has three children and a selfie of her and I on her phone - awesome! I am really glad that I managed to keep my patience even though I was tired and not fall into patronising her as I attempted to explain things, especially as the air hostesses clearly could not be bothered. 

When I finally made it to Ottawa, Alex was there to greet me and we went straight to his student house which was about 2 mins walk from the university, 5 mins from a pub that did an amazing breakfast and 7 mins from a Subway. I loved that you could walk around everywhere, something that I have really missed and craved for in San Antonio. It was also, only 12 mins walk from the pub/bar we ended up in that night, after I had taken a nap and been given presents, with most of the friends he has made. They were all incredibly welcoming and lovely to me the whole weekend. 

instagram.com/laufrancesmccann13

As Alex only remembered once he'd got me my presents, I could not take food back to the States with me as I only carried hand luggage, this meant a big bar of Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut had to be eaten everyday - boss!

The next day we went for an amazing breakfast at the pub I mentioned earlier. It's called Father and Sons and HAS to be eaten at if you make it to Ottawa (which you should). For around $10 Canadian, I had a plate filled with bacon, home fries, sausage and toast, toast that I hasten to add that was not made with sweet American bread but darn tasty English like stuff with melted butter - delicious! Alex then had class but kindly, Clemence and Rachel, two of his housemates that are also studying abroad for a semester in Ottawa, took me to the mall not too far away. It was Black Friday, the maddest day of shopping with greatest sales of the year apparently, but this was a Canadian mall, Canadians have manners. Yes the place was busy and I got in everyone's way if they dared near Kat Von D's Sephora collection, but it was definitely not the anarchy American shoppers experience/avoid. Afterwards, Alex and I walked to Parliament, as Ottawa is the capital of Canada. 

It looks like Hogwarts!! And the flame at the front is an ever burning one, very symbolic as it sits in line with the Peace Tower (the clock tower). We wanted to climb the Peace Tower that day but unfortunately were too late, we were also too late for any remaining English tours of Parliament inside but we were just in time for the last French one. Now, Alex and I have not studied French in around 4/5 years, he has the slight advantage of having now lived in bilingual Ottawa for nearly 4 months but still French is neither of our strong points. However, the tour guide was lovely and spoke very clearly and not to quickly so we understood practically everything - yay! I was amazed at how many areas of the building we could wander around. Though of course there were guards and security about, I definitely felt a freedom to explore and learn there something I recommend other Parliaments pursuing, perhaps people would be more intrigued and interested by there governments if they could see them in action more freely. 

Afterwards we headed to the Market area where most of the shops, restaurants and bars are. We ate in the Auld Dubliner which did a fantastic stew and it almost poured a Guinness correctly! A guy sang and played guitar for about an hour, a mixture of Irish and Canadian folk songs, it made for a brilliant atmosphere. For dessert, we crossed the road to Sugar Mountain, a massive pic 'n' mix shop, I was in absolute heaven! I bought chocolate raisins and cola bottles galore and discovered chocolate covered gummy bears which HAVE to become a thing in the UK, they are delicious. 

The next day, Alex insisted on taking to try poutine at the best poutine place in Ottawa, Smoke's. It was soon tasty and incredibly filling. They haven't quite got the gravy down but the gravy, mozzarella lumps and bacon were top notch. We returned to Parliament to climb the Peace Tower but were told that unfortunately it had been closed early that day so instead we walked straight to the war museum. It was a pretty hefty walk, especially in the cold but it was worth it, the war museum has a fantastic collection that is laid out clearly and interestingly. 

I couldn't resist snapping this part of the exhibition because I'm a history nerd and well, scouse. On our way home, we went to the LCBO. It is basically a Costco for alcohol as alcohol selling is controlled by the Canadian government so is not sold in supermarkets as in the UK. 

I was amazed by the sizes of some of the bottles available and their really decent prices. After not being near alcohol really for 4 months due to American law, this was a big deal. That night, Alex's housemates joined us for dinner at the 3 Brewers. It is a really lovely restaurant that brews it's own, really tasty, beer on site. I was a little disappointed with the food, as the flatbread I ordered was sold to me as I kind of pizza but it did not really deliver nor did it fill me up but that was not to dampen my experience in the restaurant. 

We then headed back to the house where many more people joined us, two of whom I know from Keele and are also studying abroad in Ottawa. It was really great to have familiar faces in the midst of brand new ones though they all made me feel very welcome. One of my favourite nights of study abroad then followed, we went dancing until 2 in the morning! It was so much fun! I have always maintained that I don't alcohol to have fun but there is definitely something so relaxing about a couple of beers and Jack Daniels' and lemonades mixed in with a load of dancing and laughing that really chills me out, I love it! I also felt rather like a 

student. (See what I did there?)

The Sunday of my brilliant weekend was as busy as the other days. After trying out Subway's new rib sandwich, it's not that great to be honest, meatball marinara for the win! we finally managed to go up the Peace Tower and it was so worth it. The only other place to have as amazing views of the city is the top floor of one of University of Ottawa's buildings. The hodgepodge of architecture is a sight for sore eyes, I haven't seen another city like it and I've seen a fair few cities. The next sights we saw were at the Nature Museum, it interested me slightly less than that of the War Museum but it still had a great collection, particularly of dinosaurs. To commemorate our final evening, Alex treated me to a meal at Vittoria Trattoria in the Market area. It was a fairly swanky Italian but not so swanky I felt awkward not being in heels. On the way in, in fact, I was made to force my way past the Attorney General - the only Canadian without proper manners. The food more than made up for that though, the soup and pasta were homemade and phenomenal. 

The next morning was bittersweet. I am currently all over the place. I am swamped with exam work, I'm going to miss Texas, I hate that I have no more adventures until home time but I'm also incredibly excited to get home and see everyone and thing that I have been missing so much. The three flights back to Texas helped me get my emotions together and sort myself out a little, though watching Fault in our Stars may have definitely made me work out how to surreptitiously cry in public...

Much Ado About Everything

Raise your hand if you've been an awful blogger and not blogged in nearly a month...*sheepishly raises hand*. Many apologies but after the stressful fun of having my parents here, I was thrust into the madness of having two essays and two exams all on the same day, last Thursday so I was all over the place and panicking but now I can chill and chat.

Taking this much time also means I have to condense so much into one post you'll only get the good stuff no boring fillers!

The first 'good stuff' is my week the Daddy Mac and Mummy Mac as they're affectionately known in my phone book. I was so incredibly grateful that they made the big trip out here. I would definitely suggest to people who do something like studying abroad, try to get your parents to come out to where you are at in the middle of your time away because even if you don't realise it, it will be just what you need. Even though, as I mentioned in my New York blog, English people make me homesick, it's so worth it!! They even brought me Haribo star mix because America's silly and only does those gold bags of gummy bears. Also, having them here meant I could places and do things I probably wouldn't be able to otherwise. For example, we went all the way out to Houston to visit the Space Centre because dad's a massive kid about that sort of thing. His face literally lit up like a five year old's at Christmas as we wandered about the place, seeing all things space including the current astronaut practice centre and formerly used rockets. I personally, am utterly freaked out by space, it's just so expansive and scary, I can't get my head around it and quite frankly do not want to but I still adored it.

That's how you get a space shuttle from A to B across America - madness, right?!
We also had a long day out to the hill country surrounding San Antonio. On this trip we found ourselves in Fredericksburg which was first colonised by Germans, so has a large Germanic influence upon it unlike the Mexican influence on San Antonio. It was a classic looking cowboy town and I loved walking through it! We also got to nerd out at the WWII museum and saw an atomic bomb, never thought that would happen. On our way back we went to Luckenbach which has an official population of about three people. It consists of a shop, car park, bar, stage and dance hall, so the basics of life really! It was so quaint and there were old men bantering to each other in the bar in broad southern accents; I was weak at the knees the whole time.

Another day out that we had was to Austin, the capital of Texas. I really like Austin. You can tell that despite being the grand capital of Texas, home to all of the government buildings dating back to when Texas was a Republic, it is definitely the most liberal area. Down on 6th Street (the must visit area of Austin), there were bars, haunted houses, tattoo parlours, people with more than one colour in their hair! I flipping loved it.

My absolutely favourite activity was the daddy daughter bonding session at Nardis gun club. My dad is my favourite person on the planet, so sharing something that we wouldn't get to do at home and is so stereotypically Texan, it was a big deal for us both and we really enjoyed it.

(instagram.com/laufrancesmccann13)

It also helped that a practically got a bullseye and won! I'll treasure it all forever. Though not the bullet caps that I snuck out there as apparently, I'll never get them home on the plane...darn...

The rents left on the Friday after arriving the Sunday before, and I was rather sad to see them go. However, the Saturday evening kept me busy as my flatmates, Gabby, Hannah and I spent it downtown. We first stopped off at the Dia de Los Muertos festival and ate amazingly authentic Mexican food in a restaurant that ajoined the festival. Dia de Los Muertos, is a really fantastic (in my opinion) Mexican festivity. It celebrates the lives of those people who have past and really vibrantly combines death with appreciation of what has gone before. Afterwards, we wandered to the Indian festival that was also taking place. Unfortunately, I was too stuffed to check out the Indian food on offer (so I've put in an order for a takeaway as soon as I get home with mum and dad), but we all managed to take full advantage of the henna available.

Hanging out with my friends and my parents made for an absolutely great week and my friends and I have many more plans for fun before the end of the semester that I will be sure to catch you up with, hopefully more promptly too!

Also, you should all be aware that my ears have been loving Don Broco and Mallory Knox these past few weeks! Check them out if you haven't already :)