michellegajewski

[michellegajewski]

Sense and Sensibility

[Original Post]

Genre: Drama, Romance Release Year: 1995 Director: Ang Lee Notable Cast: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant

Overall Rating:  4 / 5 - Exceptional

Sense and Sensibility is among the many film adaptations of Jane Austen’s novels throughout the decades. While some would deem redundant, each retelling contributes something unique to the Austen universe – Colin Firth in a wet, white t-shirt, anyone? – the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility offers a brilliant star-studded cast that has the right chemistry to pull off this Austen classic.

Emma Thompson and Kate Winslet make the perfect pair of Dashwood sisters, portraying ‘sense’ (stoic Thompson as Elinor) and ‘sensibility’ (emotive Winslet as Marianne). As the older, and obviously-already-a-spinster sibling, Elinor manifests a cool demeanour, despite her father having just died and his fortune passing to his son Henry from a previous marriage. This means that Elinor, Marianne, their youngest sister, and mother are left destitute and searching for a new home, while Henry and his snob of a wife, Fanny, move into and effectively take over their estate. Marianne, on the other hand, is quick to wear her heart on her sleeve, clearly ignoring Fanny and making her disgust of the whole situation well known.

This unfortunate circumstance might prove valuable when Fanny’s handsome brother arrives for a visit. As with any Austen novel, our protagonists’ love-interests are vital to the narrative, and Hugh Grant’s acting style works perfectly with Edward Ferrars’ charming-gentleman demeanour , though it’s hard to tell if he’s hiding something. He and Elinor quickly establish an attachment, much to Fanny’s disapproval.

Now in their new ‘cottage’, it’s Marianne’s turn for suitors to woo her. Col. Brandon, portrayed by Alan Rickman, is the unlikely hero in Marianne’s story, as Harry Potter fans know him to be. An older gentleman who falls in love at first sight with the whimsical Marianne really doesn’t “inspire” love from her, at least at first. Instead, she almost literally gets swept off her feet by John Willoughby, played by Greg Wise, after twisting her ankle. The two begin an overtly passionate relationship (at least for the time period), much to the chagrin of Col. Brandon who knows Willoughby as a scoundrel for leaving a girl pregnant with no intention of marrying her. On the day the Dashwoods assume Willoughby will propose… he announces that he must head for London at once, leaving Marianne completely heartbroken. With many unsuspecting twists and engrossing drama, this is perhaps Austen’s best story to bring to the screen.

While the romance subplots may be considered the main premise of Sense and Sensibility, it’s really about Elinor and Marianne’s relationship. Always at odds with each other and what real love should look like, both sisters learn that it’s necessary to balance both ‘sense’ and ‘sensibility’: Elinor shows signs of emotion when Mr. Ferrars finally confesses his love to her, and Marianne learns that subtle signs of affection can be a great deal more meaningful than superficial, grandiose gestures. It is satisfying to see these changes as Thompson and Winslet do such an amazing job in subtly changing their characters’ behaviours: Elinor loosens her self-restraint when communicating with those around her, rather than maintaining a rigid, outward attitude, and Marianne becomes less melodramatic with her interactions.

Much like Austen’s book, the film brings to life the harsh realities for women in regency England through exclusion from inheritance and careers and the dependency on finding a suitable husband. This is particularly apparent when Elinor makes the comment to Mr. Ferrars, “You talk of feeling idle and useless. Imagine how that is compounded when one has no hope and no choice of any occupation whatsoever […] You will inherit your fortune. We cannot even earn ours”. The abrupt change in the Dashwood’s circumstances is immediately evident through the downgrade in their living conditions and wardrobe. The film shows Elinor speaking to the family’s large group of servants prior to moving into their quaint cottage, and the fabrics that she and other members of the family becomes duller overall.

The complexities of not just the main characters, but also the supporting characters, is seamlessly exhibited through their dialogue and body language, holding the viewer’s complete attention for the duration of the film; otherwise, even looking away for a few seconds means missing key detail. Hugh Laurie, while only in a handful of scenes, perfectly exemplifies this with his portrayal of Mr. Palmer (it might have something to do with him being married to Professor Umbridge, though). The camera often pans to him for a second as he gives sarcastic and scathing looks or comically mutters hilarious lines under his breath, but the viewer later learns he just has a gruff demeanour and a caring soul. It is easy to connect with the protagonists and enjoy the pitfalls of the antagonists due to the brilliant portrayals each actor brings to their respective role. The cast is really what shines through in this adaptation and is further highlighted with appropriate classical music and beautiful cinematography that shows off England’s lushness. Each time I re-watch this movie, I know it will be a completely immersing experience.

It’s no wonder this film is considered a classic. The cast brilliantly brings Austen’s work to life, with each actor’s own charms enhancing their respective character’s, making this Sense and Sensibility adaptation one of my favourite Austen films.

[michellegajewski]

We can rent a cottage in the Isle of Wight

After all the hard work of writing papers, it was time to have some fun! One of my best friends since high school came for a weeklong visit, so of course we had to take her to all sights. To combat the jetlag, we went for a walking tour of the campus, followed by a large dinner at the amazing American-style burger joint called 7bone (can they please open one in Canada!?) and drinks at my most favourite pub ever: The Hobbit.

Me and Rosa

Fellowship cocktails at the Hobbit

The next day we were off to Winchester where we got a tour of Winchester Cathedral, the Winchester Museum, and stopped in for a pint at the oldest pub in England. The Cathedral tour was extra special as Jane Austen is buried there, and we’re huge Jane Austen fans! Later in the museum we dressed up in some medieval garb and took silly pictures.

Tea for two

Winchester Catheral

Of course we had to do the stereotypical tourist things as well, such as going to Stonehenge, doing the Roman Bath and Bath Abbey tower tour and obviously the traditional London stuff. Despite the windiness, we took a river tour of the Thymes with a guide that was all about the banter, followed by an unreal view from the London Eye.

Stonehenge 

Bath Abbey

Roman Baths

Buckingham Palace

London Eye

And what visit would be complete without a trip to the Isle of Wight, my new favourite destination. We explored Queen Victoria’s home of Osborne - an extravagant palace with a matching extravagant garden. Her nine children were spoiled to boot too with a very adult-like cottage where they would tend to their gardens, bake cookies, and head to a private beach. Words honestly cannot describe how beautiful this place is, and I would gladly go there every weekend just to walk around the grounds.

The week went by way too quickly and soon I had to say bye to Rosa. It was so wonderful to have a friend from home come to visit and it made me just a little bit more home sick and anxious to go back to Canada and see everyone.

[michellegajewski]

Wakacje w Polsce i na Ukrainie (Vacationing in Poland and Ukraine)

As fast as February went by, March also flew by. School winded down for the month long Easter break and AJ and I took the opportunity to visit my family in Poland for the holidays. While many of my Canadian friends have the luxury of having their aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents close by, all of mine remain in Poland.

We spent two weeks with my mom’s sister and her family, who fed us waaay too much! But we couldn’t complain since it was all delicious and with all the walking around we did, we needed the energy. My family and I took AJ around to see some of the highlights in southern Poland, including Lancut Castle, Auschwitz, the Salt Mine near Krakow, and even see my Ukranian cousin and her family in Lviv, Ukraine. Our brains were stuffed with information from all of these places since they all offered knowledgeable tour guides or thorough audio guides - so if you ever want to know more about visiting these places, you know who to ask.

Łańcut Castle

  The buildings in Town Square date back to the 15th century, but the fire of 1527 destroyed most of the Gothic architecture.

Lviv Coffee Mining Manufacture: You had to wear hardhats to walk through the mine, and there were various cafe stops underground which was super neat.

  Views from atop the City Hall tower.

  Kryjivka Restaurant. A password is required to enter the UPA styled bunk. Historical politics aside. It`s a very neat place to visit!

  They even have war-time stuff out back.

Fun for the whole family.

Lviv Handmade Chocolate Cafe

Anything you can imagine in chocolate form!

Lviv Theatre of Opera and Ballet. A river actually runs under it.

One of the most beautiful buildings I`ve ever been in. 

    Squad goals: achieved

The House of Scientists: a former casino 

Fun Fact: behind one of the mirror panes is a secret compartment with a bottle of wine and a note staing that the finder may enjoy the beverage as long as it’s replaced. The compartment was long forgotten until the mirror was restored – and yes, a bottle of wine was still in there.

Fam

For Easter, AJ got to experience a traditional Easter, filled with 6am mass, a Polish Easter breakfast, and then a trip to babcia (grandma’s) house. It was so nice to be around family and to introduce AJ to everyone. Normally it’s too expensive for my family to visit us in Canada and my mom and I only sparsely visit, so living in England is definitely a plus to stay connected to my roots.

Rzeszów Underground Tour

  Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp

  Wieliczka Salt Mine where everything is sculpted from salt

The Chapel of St. Kinga

  I spotted a dragon!

Our vacation didn’t last too long though; after two weeks it was time to head back to Southampton and get to writing papers! With three papers due once school started again, we didn’t have time to do much else.

[michellegajewski]

Sweet 26

No matter what country I find myself in, February never fails to be a busy month! Between my birthday, school, and other extra-curriculars, this month has been the most challenging. By the time I returned from the Netherlands, the month was already ⅓ over! Now was the time to think of my first birthday celebration away from home. AJ made it extra special by getting us tickets to my favourite football team AFC Wimbledon, a football club owned by its fans and arguably the greatest fourth tier English football club in the history of football. It wasn’t just tickets to the game though, he got a whole hospitality package that included a three-course lunch that was much fancier than I expected as well as tickets in my stand of choice: the John Green stand!!! Wimbledon beat Luton Town 4-1 to boot! It was an amazing day and one of the best birthdays I’ve had in years.

Nerdfighter pride.

With Haydon the Wimbledon Womble.

Fab birthday present if I do say so myself.

So now the mid-winter escapes are over and it’s back to the daily grind. My involvement in various societies has taken on a significant chunk of time due to upcoming competitions and performances. Long Course Nationals for swimming took place in Sheffield over the weekend after my birthday. I was super eager to attend as I haven’t competed in almost a year (injury then constant illness since moving here has kept me from the pool way too much). In hindsight, it might not have been a good decision to go. Three whole days spent at a pool away from home for which I only had one event in was precious time I could have spent elsewhere.

On top of that, the dance societies have their annual “Pure Dance" show (where all thirteen dance societies put on a recital) the first weekend of March, so rehearsals have been added and regular times have been increased. I’m beyond thrilled to be taking part in a ballet and jazz number, but I’m learning the hard way that I don’t quite have the energy I once had to be so involved in ALL the things. I still have duties for a few other committees I sit on too.

Pictures from Pure Dance:

Essentially, this month has been an eye-opener for me. I’ve put too many expectations on myself based on how active I was back home, but there’s only so many hours in a day, so many days in a week. Being bombarded with so many novel experiences has made me almost forget why I’m here in the first place: to study law! But things will wind down for the Easter break when I’ll be able to re-focus my energy once more.

[michellegajewski]

ik heb het erg druk gehad (I’ve been very busy)

I’ve finally managed my first international trip since coming to the UK! Back in the fall, the law school circulated information about a Food Law Winter School taking place in the Netherlands in February. Naturally, this caught my attention because a) the mention of the Netherlands! But most importantly because b) food law is why I decided to do law in the first place! I really could not believe how perfect this was opportunity was!

The winter school took place at Wageningen University, a world-renown school for all things food related. My journey began at midnight when I took the bus to take me to campus where a coach bus would take me to the airport - but not without two long stops along the way. Normally it's a two to three hour journey to get to London, it took me six. The plane ride from Stansted to Eindhoven only took a mere 25 minutes! Luckily Dutch transportation is much more frequent and punctual, so I didn't have to wait around for trains or buses once I arrived. Still, it took a whopping 13 hours total for me to finally get to the room I was staying in! Everyone always says how easy it is to travel within Europe, but be assured it is very time consuming!

Dutch students had the week off so those of us attending the winter school were able to sublet their rooms. I was fortunate enough to have the most awesome roommate, Lisa! Lisa was so extremely friendly and outgoing. One night she even made me Dutch meatballs in satay sauce. Apparently the Dutch really love peanut sauce. In return, I made a rather delicious poutine even though I had to forgo cheese curds for mozzarella.

Dinner!

Dinner with Lisa (in the middle) and her friends.

Back to the food law course though - it was intense! We had five full days with lectures and workshops. They were all so fascinating and useful, especially the lectures on toxicology, halal foods, and labelling laws, and they really helped me refine my career goals. It was also wonderful meeting like-minded individuals from all around the world! The food law winter school was without a doubt a major highlight for me since moving to Europe.

The university’s library.

My new friend Devieka who travelled all the way from India!

I cycled every day to the campus as did the rest of the student body it seems – such a great workout!

Friday night I had to say goodbye to my new friends and head off for a weekend adventure in Amsterdam! AJ and Amy met up with me in a super-stylish loft apartment not too far from the city centre. As soon as I stepped out of the train station, I gasped at just how beautiful the city was and couldn't wait to explore!

The view from my bed.

Saturday morning we set out to find breakfast to fuel our walk-filled day, and boy did we find an amazing place called Bagles & Beans! This place serves an amazing variety of healthy foods and delicious bagels. We actually ended up coming here for breakfast everyday it was that good.

Fun Fact: Putting chocolate sprinkles on bread with butter is a really popular thing here, so naturally this breakfast came with chocolate sprinkles.

We spent the rest of the day walking around Amsterdam. We stopped by a little pop-up market after breakfast where I found a Southampton Titanic calendar that I just had to buy. Once we were done at the market, we headed towards the Anne Frank House where the line was insanely long! We decided to come back first thing Sunday morning instead. We then continued on towards the Rijks and Van Gogh Museum where we decided we didn't actually want to venture into. Along the way we stopped for a photo op with the bench from The Fault in Our Stars – me being a John Green fan I couldn’t pass the opportunity! The long walk from our loft to the museums exposed us to such beauty of the city that we were content simply walking around.

I found it amusing that the market was selling British royal family merchandise when the Netherlands have their own royal family.

The Fault in Our Stars bench!

The Rijksmuseum

Just another busy day at the I Amsterdam sign.

Holland has the best waffles in the world, hands down, but shhh don’t tell Belgium.

Eventually we found ourselves in the red light district. It's not quite as provocative as it's been made out to be, but it's also fascinating to see so many signs and advertisements that are considered taboo elsewhere. It was here that we decided to venture into a couple museums since they were relatively inexpensive and the museums were open late (walking everywhere took up a lot of time!).

Royal Palace of Amsterdam

The next day we woke early to be able to get into the Anne Frank House. We arrived a little before the museum opened and already there was an hour long line-up. The wait was worth it though. Despite all the commodification of the house, it was still surreal to be in the house, see where the Franks, van Pels, and Fritz Pfeffer stayed for over two years.

Afterwards we went on a canal cruise tour all around Amsterdam. I actually kinda fell asleep for a good majority of it (it was calming okay...) but for the parts that I was awake, it was a great way to see a different perspective of the city. On our last day, all we managed to see was Holland's tallest wooden wind mill, right on the other side of Amsterdam. It was a spectacular weekend, even though the city was so busy! I guess Amsterdam is a popular tourist destination year round - for good reason.

Patatje oorlog: fries with peanut sauce, mayo, and raw chopped onions. Amazing!

De Gooyer Windmill – the tallest wooden windmill in the Netherlands

[michellegajewski]

London, Bath, and Beyond

It’s now almost time for me to return home for the holidays, so I’ve been cramming trips around England as much as possible to make up for the lack of travelling earlier due to sickness. I mean, I can’t go home after three months and have never left Southampton! The past weekend, I managed to check-off two of what I consider the “must-see" cities in England: London and Bath. First stop was London.

Westminster Abbey

The Inns of Court Society organized this trip, so being the law students that we are, we ventured around Westminster to see the Supreme Court and Parliament. We had the opportunity to look around two courtrooms as well as an impressive and educational display in the basement filled with various gifts from other countries – Canada included!

Did you know the UK did not establish the Supreme Court until 2009?

Supreme Court emblem that represents the national plants of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Afterwards we toured the Great Hall of Parliament and learned the rich history of the development of law and parliament in the UK. We also got to walk through the House of Commons and one of their voting rooms! If you’re a history buff and find yourself in London, definitely do not miss a tour of Parliament!

I was completely exhausted by the end of the day, but early the next morning was time to head to Bath.

Bath Abbey

Bath is a magnificent city with unique architecture and famous for its Roman baths. AJ, Amy, and I travelled with the Erasmus Society that provided us with a convenient list of must-sees. The Christmas market was taking place so sadly we didn’t get to cross off much on the list, but all the more reason to go visit again! The Christmas market was HUGE. It was seemingly never-ending with more and more stalls appearing with each turn near the Bath Abbey. It was so much fun exploring the maze of chalets, enjoying mulled wine with mince pies, as well as buying heaps of delicious fudge to enjoy later (five minutes after purchase is considered ‘later' right?).

Most importantly though is the connection Bath has with Jane Austen. I am a huge Jane Austen fan, so Bath has been on my bucket list for ages! The famous author lived in the city for five years, which served as inspiration in her later works such as Northanger Abbey and Persuasion. We managed to catch one of the last tours of the day after we exhausted the Christmas market. Towards the end of the tour, we got to dress up in Regency style clothing and take pictures, however I learned I would totally not fit into their dresses due to my huge swimmer’s shoulders! I liked the hats though.

Next week I’ll be heading back to London to catch a plane back home. Even though I haven’t exactly experienced homesickness, I’m beyond excited to see family and friends for the two short weeks I’ll be there. Unfortunately once I come back from break, it will be time for exams and other assignments, so really the holiday will be bittersweet. At least I’ll get to cuddle my dog though!

[michellegajewski]

Christmas Markets

So my previous outing to Winchester was too brief. The once capitol of England is too full of history, magnificent shops, and beauty to just visit once in the dark! Now that Christmas is approaching, Christmas markets have been springing up all over and Winchester is no exception. The event comes highly recommended by locals, so of course I had to see for myself while also further exploring the city!

The market takes place on the Winchester Cathedral grounds every year. Walking around the cathedral made me feel like I was in The Nightmare Before Christmas: the gothic architecture and gravestone scattered around juxtaposed with the German inspired Christmas market is definitely not something I can experience back home! The cathedral itself is one of the largest in England and truly is a site to behold, but unfortunately we couldn’t go in as it was a Sunday and services were running.

The market was a lot of fun to explore. There are rows and rows of little wooden chalets which showcase numerous hand-crafted goods and of course, lots of food! Mulled wine, mince pies, roasted chestnuts, and so much more was easily accessible and absolutely delicious! I definitely left feeling that Christmas spirit. The market also has an ice-rink in the centre.

After the market, AJ, Amy, and I ventured to a nearby pub, The Royal Oak, known to be one of the oldest pubs in England! It was the perfect ending to our day trip.

A week later, the three of us ventured to a Victorian Christmas Market and a dockyard tour in Portsmouth, a city that continues to serve as an important naval area. It was a guided tour with other students and we learned so much from our guide Richard! First we went to the Mary Rose Museum. Built during King Henry VIII’s reign, the ship served from 1512 until 1545 when it sank during a battle. The museum houses what remains of the ship that was salvaged in the 1980s, which is about one-third of the hull! What makes it even more extraordinary is that the ship was buried in mud! It was undeniably amazing getting to see the ship and its artefacts, and even remains of the crew! The museum offers such a surreal look into the past and how the sailors lived (and died).

What remains of the Mary Rose.

Next we went aboard the HMS Victory. Launched in 1765, she served as a flag ship for the Royal Navy in many battles and is known as the world’s oldest warship that is still in commission.

Our last ship stop was the HMS Warrior, the first British warship to be made of an iron hull. Launched in 1860, the Warrior was part of an arm’s race between France and Britain at the time. Richard said that once the Warrior launched, the British didn’t exactly have to use the ship as its sheer presence was enough of a deterrent to keep the French at bay.

It was still sunny when I managed to snap this picture of the Warrior!

Lastly, we explored the Victorian Christmas Market. There were people dressed in traditional Victorian garb all around and lots and lots of vendors! I even got a glimpse of Queen Victoria herself! Of course I can’t forget to mention all the food and a cute Christmas tree maze! Unfortunately it began to rain in the early afternoon so I didn’t snap too many pictures.

I had so much fun at the Winchester and Portsmouth Christmas markets that I hope to visit one or two more before I head home for the holidays!

[michellegajewski]

There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays

The holidays are over and it’s now time to get back into work mode (and back in the UK!). I had a wonderful two weeks home in Canada, although it was much too short considering AJ and I had to divide our time between both our families that live three hours apart.

Someone was surprised to see me!

Being away for three months made me appreciate things I often took for granted a whole lot more, such as just having the ability to be around family, friends, and of course my dog! Some more surprising things I didn’t know I missed until I got home was my bed, Xbox and PlayStation 2, either of which I haven’t even touched for about a year, and just being around my stuff (which ironically I swore to get rid of when leaving because there’s so much of it!). I was so happy to be able to drive my cute little Honda again as well! Hopping into my car, driving to a 24/7 Tim Hortons, Shoppers Drug Mart, or grocery store at night is something I sorely miss having the ability to do to avoid the day time hustle and bustle. Furthermore, a new Tim Hortons opened just a block away from my house! Not fair that it wasn’t built years earlier! Costa in the UK isn’t bad, but they, nor any other coffee chain, can quite compare to Timmie’s offerings (I miss timbits and iced capps).

The last meal at Pearson Airport.

I also brought with me some goodies to the UK since I couldn’t find them in the shops:

·         All-natural peanut butter

·         Pancake mix (pancake mix in the UK make crepes)

·         Coffee Crisp chocolate bars

·         Buckley’s cough syrup (they sell it here but I couldn’t find it)

·         Zinc lozenges

·         Protein powder I had leftover since it’s extremely expensive here.

The rest of the world is really missing out.

Of course, shopping is made all the more difficult in a new country when a) you don’t know where to look and b) you don’t have a car that can take you anywhere. Our bus routes are limited so we’re making do with what we have available. It helps that the major grocery stores do deliveries; it’s just a more limited selection prone to poor substitutions. However, I didn’t have too much time to dwell on the holidays and Canadian luxuries, exam season starts after the holiday break!

First semester law exams at Southampton do not count for the overall grade – they’re a practice and preview for what’s to come in the summer. Nevertheless, it’s stressful to have any type of examination after the holidays, and especially when dealing with jetlag. On top of these mock exams, we also had our first graded assignment: the moot. Moots are where law students get to dress up and advocate a case in front of judges, barristers, or other legal professionals. We had to prep our assigned arguments, find relevant cases, and submit skeleton arguments and authority bundles – all of which was graded. It was all very formal and pretty intimidating. Even though I managed to overcome my nerves and do well, I still don’t think being a barrister is for me. Thankfully that’s not the only career route law students can take!

Now the new semester has started and I can’t wait to get back into a routine again!

[michellegajewski]

Sherlock – The Abominable Bride

[Original Post]

Genre: Drama, Mystery Network: BBC One Season: Christmas Special Notable Cast: Amanda Abbington, Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin Freeman Release Year: 2016

Overall Rating: 4 / 5 - Exceptional

It’s now been two years – that’s right, TWO WHOLE YEARS – since the third season of Sherlock aired its glorious three episodes. The cliff-hanger finale made this two year wait all the more excruciating, and although we still have to wait a year for the next season, this full-length Sherlock Christmas special is just enough to tide fans over.

“The Abominable Bride” begins with a recap of the show (starting in 2010 – how has time flown!) and follows up with a “but what if…” journey to Victorian England for a more traditional take on Sherlock Holmes (seeing as this is the time period Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the original Sherlock stories). It’s interesting to see how the set and even parts of previous scripts are “down-dated” to fit the era. Most of our favourite characters make at least one appearance, a couple of which are in unexpected ways. But don’t worry if you can’t recognize them, the episode will give you a “flash-forward” to jog your memory.

The mystery in this episode is just as compelling as those before it: a killer ghost on the loose? But how?! While I admit the ‘solution’ to said ghost is disappointing, the episode isn’t actually about the ghost. Although the episode may come off as filler for the first 75 minutes or so, it does eventually become clear how the Victorian narrative fits the overarching Sherlock plot.

It’s really the last 15 minutes that kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what the heck was really going on. The storyline jumps around more than it should, which somewhat deters from the otherwise excellent storytelling that is expected from the series, but nevertheless, by the end, I was completely satisfied with the result. The performances by the actors further enhance and bring everything together to make for a convincing story in the last stretch of the episode. In particular, Andrew Scott continues his bone-chilling portrayal of Moriarty so incredibly that I’d be scared to meet him on the street.

One major issue that continues from the previous seasons is the lack of strong female representation that this episode even self-references (the on-going joke of Mrs. Hudson not saying anything because John never gives her any lines in his published stories). I hope that this awareness means that the next season will give a bigger role to Mary and Molly, and even if Lara Pulver were to reprise her role as Irene Adler, it would be much welcome.

“The Abominable Bride” is practically everything one could want from a Sherlock Christmas special: “the thrill of the chase, the blood pumping through your veins”, the characters, the supernatural story, the “timey-wimey stuff”, and not to mention the Victorian garb. Watching this episode is a great way to start off 2016.

More Sherlock posts.

[michellegajewski]

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

[Original Post]

Genre: Action, Comedy, Spy Release Year: 2015 Director: Guy Ritchie Notable Cast: Henry Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander

Overall Rating:  4.5 / 5 - Brilliant

I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of spy movies. The genre has become cliché with the same plot points and elements appearing over and over again, from films like James Bond toMission Impossible. I really can’t take these movies too seriously anymore, but lucky for me, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. offers a well-balanced design of action, humour, espionage, and most importantly, it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The premise of the film isn’t new. The audience is thrown into the midst of the Cold War after the opening sequence bombards us with historical footage of the Second World War and the rise of the Soviet Union. The basic premise of the film is that East and West must work together to stop a nuclear threat. While the opening bit itself is masterfully done, it’s unnecessary since many films take place in this time period (we get it! It’s typically Russia versus the US and nuclear war is a constant threat! We can’t trust anyone!). However, I can accept the time period because 1) the film is based on a television show from the 1960s and 2) the costumes throughout are phenomenal! There’s less than a handful of movies were I’m blown away by the costume design, and this is one of them. The combination of the well-tailored American suit, Eastern European turtleneck and newsboy cap combo, and of course the outrageously colourful 60s outfits of the three main characters is a delight to behold. Honestly, I distracted by the outfits – but in a good way! The whole film is pleasing to the eye in general.

The storyline itself isn’t exactly compelling but manages to stay intriguing and well-paced throughout. It’s the ensemble of characters that keep the story going. No character is truly as they appear, so it makes for a fun guessing game to speculate everyone’s motives – even the three protagonists. The shenanigans the unlikely trio get into in various European destinations is what makes the audience feel invested in the story. The chemistry between Henry Cavill, Armnie Hammer, and Alicia Vikander makes us root for them as a team, even if they’re not the nicest of people. Their performances are enough to forgive the film for not having enough of Hugh Grant in it.

I can’t say this movie isn’t as clichéd as other spy films, but the presentation is more entertaining primarily through dialogue, action sequences, and the film knowing it’s not a serious spy movie. The comedy aspect and excellent performances is really what makes the film stand out even more though. It’s the perfect balance between contrasting elements, much like the film Snatch (also directed by Guy Ritchie), which will make me more than happy to rewatch The Man from U.N.C.L.E. anytime.

[michellegajewski]

Why Southampton?

A common question my friends and family had for me when they found out I was moving to Southampton for law school was, “Why Southampton?” Out of the five schools I applied to, what drew me to this city and university the most?

Firstly, the J.D. pathway option was highly desirable since both AJ and I want to return to Canada after our two years. No other university that we applied to offered this, and although there’s really no difference between a J.D. (juris doctor) and the traditional LLB (Bachelor of Laws) in the grand scheme of things, it’s best to have the initials that are prominent in one’s own continent.

Secondly, the campus where the law school is situated is beautiful. Back in the spring time when AJ and I made our rounds, Southampton was our last stop after a gruelling week long journey to a handful of other cities. At this point we were both exhausted and wanting to sleep the day away, but there was a certain je ne sais quoi about the campus when we arrived. Not that I didn’t like the other places that we visited, but somehow, walking around in Southampton felt almost like home.

No one from the school was expecting us, as we were told all tours are self-guided, so we just showed up. We took a peak into the law school where almost immediately we were greeted by members of faculty who took the time to speak with us – and they even got us goody bags! After discussing the finer points of the accelerated course, the law school, and Southampton in general, I left feeling like this was it. This was going to be the place I spent the next two years. Surprisingly, I had my heart set on another city up north, and we even spent the best part of our week there, but the morning and early afternoon in Southampton really took a hold on me.

Lastly, the University of Southampton is a top-notch school. Boasting as a top 1% UK university, Southampton is an original member of the prestigious Russel Group (famous for receiving high funding and doing quality research). It is also commonly one of the top 100 universities in the world. Faculty and staff are knowledgeable, approachable, and helpful as well. Students also seem to generally be more involved on campus than what I’ve been used to back home, which is refreshing! I really think the University of Southampton was the best fit for me.

[michellegajewski]

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November

The fifth of November, commonly known as Guy Fawkes Day, is a big deal here in England. For those of you who don’t know, the day commemorates the failed attempt of blowing up Parliament (Google can give you the whole history!). There’s weeks of fireworks going off every night and even during the day, and bonfires! There were plenty of events happening around Southampton, but I opted to venture into Winchester, a beautiful historic town full of culture and just a mere eight minute train ride away.

The celebrations began in the city centre where droves of people gathered from all ages for the bonfire procession. Most people, even kids, were carrying around lit torches that made me super nervous for my hair since we were all tightly packed on the street.

AJ, our friend Amy, and I

The procession then slowly migrated to the site of the bonfire at a nearby park. This was the largest bonfire I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately it was too dark to take a picture of the skilfully stacked firewood before the blaze, but it honestly looked like a comfortably sized two-story house! We were standing pretty far back, but still could feel the heat radiate onto our faces – which was great because by this point it was getting rather chilly.

It took the fire a bit to really get going, and once it began to die down, there was a spectacular fireworks display. Growing up in Windsor, I’ve been spoiled with one of the world’s largest fireworks display that happen on the Detroit River every June to celebrate Canada Day and Independence Day. Winchester’s fireworks were pretty comparable and infinitely surpassed my expectations. After dealing with sickness for the majority of my time here thus far, it was such a treat to be able to go out and enjoy this English tradition!

[michellegajewski]

The Infamous Freshers’ Flu

Soon after arriving in Southampton, I caught the infamous Freshers’ Flu, a (cute) expression used here in the UK when someone becomes sick within the first few weeks of school, or in my case, for over a month.

It all started the morning after my first swim practice here at the end of September. I woke up with that weird feeling in my throat, sweaty face, and a promise of stuffiness to come in my nose. Alright, I thought. I’ve been taking zinc that has helped me stave off colds both back home and in Poland before, so how long could this last? Seemingly forever. After a week my stuffy nose levels went down, throat was back to normal, but a nasty cough took over and breathing became difficult and painful. After a week of my lungs bothering me, I decided it was high time to finally register with the GP and find out what was up. “Must just be a nasty virus” the GP told me. “It should clear up in one more week.” And indeed it did. By the end of the week, I was beginning to feel like myself again. No body aches, less coughing, breathing felt fine. Five days. Five full days of feeling pretty okay, not coughing up my lungs, and managing to get to a couple of swim practices…

I must be allergic to the pool or something because the morning after my last swim session, I woke up with that feeling in my throat again. “Oh no…” I whined to AJ, “I think I’m going to be sick again.” That evening the pain in my throat was unbearable; not to mention the worst body aches I’ve ever experienced from a simple cold. A couple ibuprofens later, I finally managed to fall asleep. Another two weeks of sickness and a visit to the GP just to find out there was nothing that could be done, I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel well into November. I was ready to move back to Canada to be with my own kind of germs again and stop this vicious cycle. The second round was much harder on my system, affecting my eyes and ears this time as well, only reminding me that I’m not as young as I used to be!

So that’s been my sad start in Southampton. Things are much less fun while dealing with sickness and school becomes infinitely harder to focus on.

On a positive note, registering with a GP here is very simple. I filled out a form, gave it to reception, and managed to make an appointment for the next day to see someone. The healthcare system here is quite similar to Canada’s. Every student applying for a visa that lasts over six months is required to pay a health surcharge, so we can get basic health services from the country’s universal healthcare system throughout the duration of our stay. The major difference though is that the “surgery” (clinic) I go to doesn’t have tens of people waiting at any given time, and both of my appointments were right on time!

AJ is the real MVP in all of this though – making me tea, taking notes for me when I couldn’t attend a lecture, and being patient with my crabbiness – not sure how I would’ve survived without him!

[michellegajewski]

I Chose the Law Life; The Law Life Didn’t Choose Me

Law lectures and tutorials are now in full swing! I didn’t realize how much I missed school. Most of those close to me know that I vowed never to go back after finishing my master’s degree, yet here I am (a gluten for punishment I guess). Other than some dry lectures, the course has actually been mentally stimulating. Unlike back home, ‘modules’ (classes) run for the full year, but there are some ‘half modules’ as well. The year is divided into semesters, but all that means for us law students is a schedule change in the new year. As I am in the accelerated two year program, rather than the typical three year, I have less choice with my modules.

In first year, all students must take Legal System and Reasoning, Constitutional and Administrative Law, Criminal Law, and Law of Contract. Each module comprises of a two hour lecture and a one hour tutorial per week, so despite what everyone tells me about the UK having less “contact time” and more independent study, it’s a tad too much contact time from what I’m used to. My schedule also has awkward breaks between lectures that are too long to hang around campus, but too short to go home, so either I make sure to bring along ‘light’ work and leave my heavy textbooks at home so I don’t drag them around all day, or I rush home then back to campus! And the commute isn’t exactly short. It makes it hard to settle down and focus on the tasks at hand most days.

In the second year, I’ll have to take Equity and Trusts Law, Land Law, Law of Torts, Law of the European Union, and Constitutional Law of Canada (for half the year). As for the other half of the year, there are plenty of interesting sounding modules to choose from, but I’ll worry about that when the time comes.

Besides courses, there are a handful of law societies to get involved with, such as The Law Society, Inns of Court, Lawyers without Borders, Mooting Society, and a group representing Aspiring Solicitors. This year we’re also trying to get a Canadian Law Students society up and running – there’s so many of us Canadians in the program!

Forget about the other societies I’ve decided to join, trying to stay active with just this bunch really adds on the workload, but it’s worth it! The Law Society runs a negotiation competition where teams of two are given a client and scenario, then must negotiate with the opposing team to reach an agreement that both parties can be happy with. Inns of Court run a speed mooting competition (basically pretending you’re a lawyer in an appeals court). Again, participants are given a scenario then must argue their points in front of the judges as to whether or not an appeal should be dismissed or not. Both competitions take place on alternating weeks, so there’s a constant need to prepare! The speed mooting also serves as practice for the compulsory moot all first years must partake in in January. I’m pretty nervous for that one! But I’m grateful for all these wonderful opportunities outside of course work to further immerse myself into law. I’m sure these experiences will prove to be invaluable.

[michellegajewski]

Induction

The two week law induction is now over! I can’t wait to finally settle into a routine, because the sporadic nature of the induction schedule did not do my health any favours. A harsh cold hit me and continues to linger, so having an erratic schedule did not do me any favours. I’m very disappointed I had to miss some tasters and socials, but that’s how life goes.

As I’ve previously written, the law welcome talk was insightful and helpful, and the introduction lectures, although a bit boring, served as a decent refresher. I have forgotten what it’s like to be an undergraduate student again; the professors lecture at you when one can simply read the powerpoint and textbook. The tutorials though are more to my liking, as they resemble graduate seminars and students can actually have a discussion. Of course, this mixed method is great for first year students who are new to the whole university thing.

Other than a couple dry lectures, the rest of induction was great. Two activities in particular proved to be super useful. First was a library exercise where students had to partner up and go on a scavenger hunt of sorts to learn how to do legal research. The task seemed daunting at first, since the majority of had no idea what we were doing or familiar with the specific websites. We were given a large bundle of papers with a mixture of instructions, tips, other information, and our assignment, so it took a bit to orient ourselves (and we were only given two hours!). However, once my partner and I started the hunt, things became easier and the librarians reassured us that the whole process would soon become second nature.

The second useful activity was team building. Unlike with labs/tutorials in social sciences back home, law students spend the entire year with a single set group throughout all tutorials. We all got to meet beforehand, learn about each other, and tackle some group problems in an informal setting. This definitely eased my anxiety and allowed us to loosen up before tutorials start. Having led a handful of sociology labs as a graduate assistant, I know how difficult it is for students to work together, debate, and feel comfortable speaking in front of each other during these types of sessions, especially if they don’t know each other. Going into our first tutorial with a handful of friendly familiar faces definitely made me full more comfortable speaking up in discussion than I normally would. As I’ve mentioned, tutorials are a lot of fun and really deepens understanding of the topics at hand. I’m very excited that we’ll finally be immersing ourselves further into the course!

[michellegajewski]

Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley - The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet: A Novel

[Original Post]

Genre: Young Adult Literature Author: Kate Rorick, Rachel Kiley Publisher: Touchstone Type: Novel Year Published: 2015

Overall Rating:  3.5 / 5 - Good

The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet aren’t quite as epic as one might expect, but to be fair, this is a new Lydia, not the wild party animal that we were first introduced to at the beginning of the YouTube series, The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (LBD), a modern-day adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. After the show’s paramount success (and Emmy win) alongside the well received companion novel The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet, fans of the LBD universe wanted closure for the unlikely fan-favourite character, and Pemberley Digital delivered it.

The story takes place a few months after the George Wickham scandal. Lydia is now in counselling, finishing up courses at her local community college, and has plans for a future career. Although her adventures aren’t the ‘epic’ we’d come to expect of her, readers are taken on a different type of epic adventure with Lydia’s self-discovery and further personal growth. She’s still recovering from the heartbreak and betrayal, lost in a “why did this happen? Why did he do it?” state of mind. Of course she’s wondering how George could have taken advantage of her and tricked her into making a sextape, but she soldiers on. Readers get a peak into her counselling sessions, college life, and even a trip to New York City, all while trying to figure out her life.

Kate Rorick and Rachel Kiley, from the LBD writer’s team, did a commendable job in their storytelling. The mixture of introspection and Lydia’s interactions with a wide range of characters make for a compelling narrative. It is easy to sympathize with her, and even relate at certain points. Lydia faces issues with family, frenemies, prospective love interests, and ultimately, disappointing herself and learning how to move forward with all her different mishaps. It’s a wonderful journey to take with her as she discovers her own faults and finally gets the closure she deserves.

There is a handful of cameos and mentions of the rest of the LBD characters, though it’s hardly worth mentioning them. Although Lydia is written beautifully, the other characters fans love come off as flat, even Lizzie. Additionally, the plethora of new characters don’t appear to have any Austen ties from what I could tell and came off as one-dimensional too. So many new characters are introduced that it becomes hard to keep track of them. A standout though was cousin Mary (remember her?). She has a prominent presence in the story that is both satisfying and enjoyable as she serves as the perfect foil for Lydia.

Admittedly, I listened to the audio version of the novel, since I moved across the pond for school before the books shipped. The audio version is a treat since it’s narrated by Lydia herself: Mary Kate Wiles. Her voices for both familiar and new characters have a fairly good range, but Lydia’s voice is different in the novel than what I’ve become accustomed to in the show for most of the story. I take that this is a subtle indication of Lydia’s transformation, since a few sentences come out in Lydia’s old cadence, but I miss that voice. It just didn’t completely feel like Lydia while listening.

Fans of the LBD who became invested in Lydia’s story will definitely enjoy this read, regardless of its flaws. It didn’t leave me the most satisfied, but I was more than happy to tag along for the ride. For those who are bigger fans of “Dizzie” and “Jing”, the novel doesn’t significantly add to Lizzie and Darcy’s romance, but we do get brief insight into how Jane and Bing’s relationship is going. Even for those not familiar with the LBD, The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet is a great coming-of-age story that’s definitely worth a read, though it’s best to watch the entire show first.

More The Lizzie Bennet Diaries posts.

[michellegajewski]

The Inexhaustible Variety of Life

Looking back on the second week of freshers, I can’t believe how many activities I’ve managed to pack into a short period of time. As mentioned in my previous post, AJ and I attended a classy wine and cheese social and a Great Gatsby dinner and dance. I must say, people here really know how to throw a proper soiree! In particular, the Great Gatsby event was completely decked out in 1920s décor and all attendees dressed for the decade! As we ate, we were serenaded by The Pink Champagne Sisters (I highly recommend checking them out on YouTube) to further set the mood. Dinner was once again prepared by the Michelin trained chef that catered for the Murder Mystery Dinner and it was phenomenal – I wonder if I can bribe the chef to cook for us at the flat… After dinner came the dancing that alternated the music between contemporary top 40 and swing classics. It was truly a night to remember.

Along with freshers’ events, AJ and I took to checking out various sports and societies for their free ‘taster’ events. First was the Quiz Society. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the society showed us newbies the various quiz games and styles they use. I admit that a lot of the questions stumped me, especially the British-centric ones, but nonetheless I plan to attend future events! Model United Nations was another society I didn’t know what to expect from, since I didn’t participate in it in high school and my previous university didn’t offer it until I graduated. I was only able to stay for half of the meeting, but it looks like a society that will likely become a regular on my roster.

As for sports, everyone who knows me knows I wouldn’t skip out on the swim team. Their taster was intense due to the sheer number of people who turned up! Sadly, I’ve been spoiled by a newly built world-class facility back in my hometown and the University of Southampton’s pool doesn’t quite hold up. It’s a bit of a disappointment, but I know I’ll get used to it soon enough.

Other than swimming, I hope to take part in a number of dance societies as well (there’s over 10 at Southampton!). Although my broad shoulders don’t show it, I danced for eight years (ballet, tap, and jazz) and have been severely missing it for a while now. The one dance taster I’ve attended thus far was for jazz, and like swimming, it was packed! The crowds at tasters have made it a little difficult to fully enjoy and immerse oneself in the activity, but it sure is a great way to make new friends who have a similar interest! I’m not the only sporty one though, AJ managed to make the university’s basketball team!

There were so many more societies I had planned to meet with, but unfortunately there were many overlaps with them and a cold had me rundown for the better part of the week. There’s a handful more coming up this week, but for those missed, I’ll have to slowly make my rounds in coming weeks.

Now that the wild ‘fortnight’ of freshers is over, it’s time to settle on school and my studies. Time management will be essential, but it’s nothing I’m unfamiliar with.