Life at Bellerbys College

Finally, I am back to my Bellerbys blog ;)

It’s really nice to be back to my Bellerbys blog after such a long time.

I know that it’s my style to start the blog with these words “Time is flying really fast!” To be honest living far away from family I realized that every second we have in this life is valuable.

It’s my second and crazy busy A2 year at Bellerbys Cambridge. It’s my second year here and I still feel that Bellerbys was a reasonable choice for me. I got my offer from University College London which is really good. I think Bellerbys gave me a very good basic preparation for my future which is essential if I want to be successful in the future.

I have to say that I won’t be like I am today without my amazing teachers at Bellerbys. They are Jasmine (our A level manager). She is a great person. Jasmine really cares about students and I never feel down because whatever happens I know that she can help me so solve my problem. My subject teacher James for History, Alex for Politics and Chris for Maths - are absolutely awesome :D They help me a lot with my studies and university application. I remember my crazy busy weeks when I was applying to universities and writing my personal statement. James and Alex helped me a lot. Of course without my tutor Marie I won’t have such an amazing reference. She is an expert who guides us through the whole UCAS process.   

Moreover I feel that at Bellerbys I learn but also play. We can learn hard and play even harder. In my A2 year I try not to do so many things and concentrate more on my studies but it seems that here I can combine both. I am still doing my job as Bellerbys Times chief designer and participating in many school activities. It’s a great thing to do after school because I can spend time with my friends from another campus – Manor. I like being busy as it helps me to keep going! 

I feel that my second year is going even faster. At the moment I am really enjoying my days in Cambridge because it is a great place to live and study! Well, to be honest I just love it :D

 

Welcome 2012! :D

 

Life in Cambridge is full of amazing activities. We have some great events with the Cambridge Vietnamese Society (Vietsoc). I think it’s great to be a part of these communities because it is really nice to meet people from your own country and to catch up with all friends. We often have cultural events such as Charming Vietnam or Cambridge Open day for Vietnamese students.

At Bellerbys we have parties. For example Christmas Party at Queens Campus. As members of SRC – School Representative Council we all try to have more activities at school in order to make people close to each other. Activities are fun and are often free. We play games, sign songs and dance.

During weekends sometimes we go shopping and eat out. Cambridge is not small but I think I can find everything here. It’s great to chill out with friends on Saturday and have some amazing cakes and coffee or tea with milk. I think drinking tea in a small coffee shop, talking to friends about everything and just having fun is my favorite thing to do.

Sometimes I can even go to formal dinners at Cambridge Colleges with my teacher. This year I went to the Chinese New Year Formal with other students and my history teacher – James Underwood. It was a really nice dinner. We had a chance to experience the Harry Porter word. It was a formal but very friendly dinner with candles like in the Harry Porter movie. I think it’s a great thing to try while I am staying in Cambridge.

I feel that life in Cambridge is always going and it’s full of fun activities to do. I love it and really enjoy it!  

10 months in Cambridge :X

Posted by Tien @ Bellerbys Cambridge

The time is running too fast… I am always saying this. Time will never wait for us. It’s just flying. It’s June now and I cannot believe that 10 months ago I came to Bellerbys Cambridge. Now I am nearly ready to go home and enjoy beautiful summer. It sounds great and I just cannot wait to see my parents.

But before that I want to say something about my 10 months here, in Bellerbys Cambridge. To be honest I had a good year, full of memories!

First, I want to talk about my school. I had great teachers and I really enjoyed my lessons.  Here I learned to love my subjects and to have a real passion to what I am doing. 

I keep saying that I love politics and politics is my passion. That’s why I love politics lessons. My teacher, Alex is really amazing. I am learning British politics but at the same time I can discuss international politics with my teacher.

I have to mention History as well because A Level students usually do not take history. No doubt that is very difficult but it’s even more than interesting. I really like this subject because history is the combination of everything.

My history teacher, James Underwood is one of the best teachers. I learn a lot from him, not only history but simply how to think, how to look into problems and how to solve them.  I found that Bellerbys gave me not only knowledge but it helped me a lot to grow up. It’s new me now! :)

Second, Bellerbys is a place where we can do thousand of after school activities. I have a lot of interests. At Bellerbys Cambridge, we study hard but party even harder! It’s so important to combine everything in our life. We have everything thanks a lot to Ross and now Jasmine. As a member of SRC (School Representative Committee) I hope that we will make our Bellerbys even a better place. I feel proud that we have a lot of activities and clubs here.  Next year it will be even more. Thank you, Ross (our boss) and Jasmine who just love her job! :D

Third, 10 months in the UK. I want to say that living far from my family I realized that it’s so important to have GOOD friends. I am a lucky person because I met great people here.  I cannot imagine my life without my friends because they are my second family. They are always with me and always support me.  Maybe I am not telling them every day that I love them so much but deep inside my heart I am extremely happy to have such amazing people as my friends! I love you all! :-***

I will miss my college, teachers and friends but we all will be in taught! :D

And after the summer we all will be ready for the next amazing year in Bellerbys Cambridge! ;)

  

 

Tien is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Cambridge

Bellerbys Cambridge GRADUATION Dinner – Masquerade

Posted by Tien @ Bellerbys Cambridge

On the 13th of May we had a super fun graduation dinner. The dress code was masquerade! ;) We had great time… dinner … dancing … chatting to friends …

The graduation dinner was organized by SRC – the School Representative Committee. This year we had a PROM. We also had music club performance which was brilliant. We also had prom king and prom queen.

The evening was great but the most important thing is that we all have a chance to be together. I know that my friends are graduating this year so it was really nice to spend time with them. Here are some pictures!

   

   

 

 

 Tien is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Cambridge

Кембридж! :X

Posted by Tien, from Vietnam, studying @ Bellerbys Cambridge who has blogged for us in Russian!

С утра, за исключением выходных привычно прихожу я в школу! Друзей встречаю, милых и родных… здесь светил мир, как в первый день творенья… пролеты коридоров, залы, классы… здесь все подвластно только вдохновению, разумно, мудро, чисто и прекрасно!  - эти мысли приходят ко мне в голову, когда я думаю о своей школе здесь, в Англии.

Я много раз писала про свою жизнь в Кембридже, про школу, про друзей, про учителей…, но еще ни разу не писала по-русски!

Я приехала в Беллербис колледж в сентябре и вот уже живу здесь почти год. Я сама из Вьетнама, просто выросла в России, точнее в Санкт-Петербурге.

Я всегда говорю, что время не просто бежит, оно просто летит очень быстро! Мне казалось, что впереди целый учебный год, новая страна, новая культуру и конечно же новый люди. Но удивительно, я не почувствовала какого-то шока… Англия конечно же не Россия, но все равно, есть что-то схожее. Я сразу же познакомилась со многими ребятами и вскоре мы уже все сдружились! Хорошо, когда встречаются добрые и отзывчивые люди!!!

Если говорить о Кембридже, то наверное всем сразу придет в голову Кембриджский университет, красивый замки. Нет сомнений, что Кембридж – это очень красивый, не большой интернациональный город. Мне очень нравится Кембридж, так как здесь очень спокойно. В центре города всегда кипит жизнь, как и во многих больших городах. Много магазинов, большая библиотека, рестораны, кафе, кинотеатры, клубы, бары… но с другой стороны, в Кембридже очень спокойно, нет суеты, это все-таки город студентов, кругом маленькие и очень уютные дома.

A eсли говорить о школе, я бы сказала, что меня все устраивает. У нас хорошие учителя. В классе примерное 7-10 человек, поэтому учителя могут уделять внимание каждому ученику. Это очень помогает, особенно когда мы в чужой стране и когда все предметы на английском! Я сразу же почувствовала поддержку со стороны учителей и мне это очень помогает!

Еще я бы сказала, что моя школа именно в Кембридже – это самая лучшая, так как у нас очень много кружков, это спорт, иностранные языки, йога … кружки на любой вкус! Каждый ученик может создать свой кружок, если он этого хочет. Мы не только получаем знания, но и развиваемся!

Мне  очень нравится здесь, потому что здесь я учусь, получаю знания, здесь встретила замечательных друзей! :)

Tien is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Cambridge

What is Special About Bellerbys Cambridge?

Posted by Tien @ Bellerbys Cambridge

Again I want to start my blog with a sentence: I can’t believe it’s my 6^th month here, in Cambridge. After such a long time living here, in Cambridge I am sure that it was my good choice and of course I really enjoy my life here!

You may ask me what I feel. OMG! It’s Cambridge. As you all know Cambridge is one of the most beautiful places. I live here now and I feel like living in the Disney World. Many people think that Cambridge is so small and boring but for me it’s the best choice. It’s not really big. True! But here you can find everything you need. I always go to the city center. There are two big shopping places, a lot of restaurants, cafes … so I am sure that international students won’t miss traditional food.

The main thing is that I love my school here! Bellerbys Cambridge is a friendly environment. I have best teachers ever. They are all so friendly and nice. Small class is one of the most important things for me. We have only 3 students in History class, 3 in Politics and only 2 in Russian. It’s good as teachers can pay more attention to each student and we feel more close to our teachers. It’s really cool!

About choosing subjects – as I said a long time ago, I am doing History, Politics, Economics, Maths, Russian and new extended project. To be honest I felt a little bit scary when I realized that I choose the most difficult subjects. Yes, to be honest they are not easy but in the reality they all support each other. I am studying American Presidents in History so politics is really useful in this case. Politics and history always link so it’s really useful for me. At the same time, learning politics I realized that economics is one of the key factors in every country and every nation. That’s why understanding economics I can also easily analyze political situation and understand the situation in the world.

One more thing, Bellerbys Cambridge is full of clubs and extra class activities. We have music, art, sport… Every student can find what he/she wants to do. Or even if we want to establish our own club … we are more than welcome here at Bellerbys!!! ;)

When I have time I also do voluntary work for Cam Sight. We help blind people. Before doing real job I went to voluntary practice where other stuff from Cam Sight teaches us how to work, how to help blind people. Of course it’s amazing to help others but at the same time it’s great to know that I can do something useful! I really enjoy it!!!

So it’s what I am doing here, in Cambridge.

Exams are coming soon!!! I hope I will have great time!!! :D

Tien is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Cambridge 

Christmas Holidays in Cambridge!

Posted by Tien @ Bellerbys Cambridge

Every time when I start writing my blog the first thing I want to say is … “OMG! The time is moving too fast! It’s running!” It’s already my fourth month living in Cambridge and my first New Year and Christmas far away from my family!

This year I decided to stay in Cambridge during holidays because I want to study and of course it was nice to be with my friends!

As a member of SRC – School Representative Committee, I organized some Christmas activities for students who decided not to go home and enjoy cold weather in the UK.

During holidays we went ice skating at Parker’s Peace – it’s a very big green park in Cambridge, bowling at Cineworld, cinema to see Gulliver’s Travels, out for lunch, dinner...

I am sure that for all of us unforgettable moment was ice skating! It was extremely fun because for all of us it was our first time standing on ice and try to skate. We all were trying to stand and even walk. But it was not easy!

We didn’t have time to go to other places in the UK as we wish to. However, we all had great time with our classmates and friends.

Being with my friends, talking and drinking hot chocolate I realized that when you are far away from home and when you don’t have school every day it’s so lonely.

In this case friends are the most beautiful thing in your life. They are like a bunch of flowers adding sweetness to your life and making you feel happy and warm!

Just some simply activities with my friends from both Manor and Queens Campuses were really nice. It was a good chance for us to see each other, to chat, to have fun and not to be along during cold days!

Tien is studying A Levels at Bellerbys Cambridge