Life at Bellerbys College

Counting Down to the Olympics!

Posted by Shiny

The games will start in about 100 days. Recently, the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch has passed through Hong Kong and quite soon it will be relayed in my hometown. What an exciting event!  It is a pity that I can’t go back to China to witness it, but I’ve been to the torch relay in London roughly one month ago.  It was such an unforgettable experience.

On the last day of the Easter holidays, we four boys went to London to witness the relay of the 2008 Beijing Olympics torch.  Although we knew it would be snowing on that day, we didn’t feel cold with few clothes on due to the great passion on our magnificent significance.

Just after we got on the 9:17 train to London Bridge, the weather started roaring with a heavy snow.  On the way to London, everything was white with almost 3 cm of snow.  It was the heaviest snow I’ve ever seen in Brighton, and also in my life.  It was unambiguously an unforgettable experience to the people who have been living in South China for a long time.  So taking photos and chatting have become our ways for refreshments.

It was raining and snowing in London's China Town by the time we reached there.  But it didn’t reduce the number of enthusiastic people who were keen on seeing the event.  People were holding British, Chinese and Olympics flags, either in the rain or in the shops.

The police were already there and metal fences had been set up on two sides of the path that the torch will be passing through.  We were excitedly waiting on both sides regardless of the weather as we believed that no matter what sorts of weather we were going to encounter, the torch would be relayed successfully by the shields of the athletes.

How Hard it Can Be to Get a Visa

Posted by Ksenia

Happy Valentines Day everyone!  Hope you all had a great time!!

This week was marked by our short trip to London.  Actually me, three Chinese boys, and three girls – from Ukraine, Moldova and Russia are going to Italy this half-term as a part of United Nations Association of Bellerbys.  Our final destination is Rodi Garganico but we are flying through Milan and Bari.

Rodi (I believe you have never heard of it) is a small city on the cost in the south east of Italy. We are going with Mrs Arulraj and will be having a great time with Italian students from the local fashion college.  I will tell you everything about this trip in my next post (something to look forward to during the half term…. Ok, I understand you have some more exciting plans).

So we went to London to get our Italian visa.  And of course it was just impossible for me to go without doing something stupid.  Firstly the night before I did not bother to check my documents thoughtfully. As the result when I was already in lift ready to ran to the station (as usual I was “a bit” late) and I decided to check everything just to be sure… I realised that I forgot my passport (what may be cleverer? To go to embassy for a visa without a passport!)  So I ran back home, took my passport…and then I was not “a bit” late anymore, I was very seriously late!!!  (It was me who said to others not to be late in the first place).

That morning I made my personal record – I reached the Brighton station in less then 15 minutes. Usually it takes me about 25.  Finally I was just a “bit” late again.  Luckily we had already bought our tickets so we caught our train and everything seemed to be fine.  We all were a bit sleepy because we had to get up really early (our meeting at the station was arranged at 7 o’clock). We were happily chatting all the time and the train arrived on time. But it was just a beginning of the story…

One Week and a Bit More of My Life

Posted by Ksenia

Hello my dear readers!  Hope you are enjoying your time as much as do!  Before I forget – if you have something to say or to ask – please to not hesitate to leave comments.  I will be very happy to answer you!

Ok, last time I wrote that my mum was coming.  It was great!!  She was in Brighton for few days and every evening after college I went to meet her, we had a nice dinner in a restaurant and a long chat, of course!  Obviously I did not do much work, but my teachers were real angels – very understanding as usual.  On Friday we went to London by train.  That is very convenient, only 50 minutes and you are in London Victoria!  What did we do in London?  I think the answer is quite predictable…  Like every female human being, me and my mum love shopping!

But London is much more than just great shops – after visiting our favourite places we decided to find an unusual restaurant to eat.  I’ve been to London so many times but I could never find China Town, do not ask me why.  I am absolutely hopeless and never know were to go.  But this time we were well prepared, we followed the map and finally succeeded!  That is really a great part of the city which does not look British at all and there were so many restaurants there, that the choice was extremely difficult.  But the food was really worth it!

We also visited Tate Britain Gallery (something for our cultural development).  I was very pleased to see some paintings of Brighton.  One of them was done two centuries ago on the exact place where Brighton Pier is situated now.  It was such a strange feeling to see it…  I also really liked several pieces done by artist called Rossetti.  Surprisingly he was born in England, even though his family name sounds Italian.