Are you going home for Christmas?

Have you thought about what you will be doing over Christmas?  Will you be going home?  Or are you planning to stay in the UK? 

There are over two thousand international students who represent 100 countries at University of Central Lancashire.

True, not all of us celebrate Christmas, some come from cultures that celebrate Christmas in different ways while for others Christmas is not celebrated at all. Whatever it maybe it is hard not to experience some element of Christmas as the holidays approach.

Shopping windows filled with Christmas decorations and unbelievably attractive sales find students queuing up to buy their presents for Christmas or something special for their loved ones back home.

But some students aren’t as fortunate to return home for the holidays. Students who can’t go home at Christmas can find themselves in a difficult place without friends or support structures around.

Thirty three year old Jude Nwagbara, who is pursuing his postgraduate studies in Human Resource Management said he won’t be going back home in Nigeria this Christmas due to financial constraints.

“Home is far from here, it isn’t easy going back and forth whenever you want to. I will be spending my holidays in Preston. I think it should be fun as long as I my friends to celebrate with.” he said.

But most of the international students have agreed that they would love to know and experience how Christmas is celebrated in Britain.

First year International Journalism students, Pang Yanrong and Kerstin Tschernigg excitedly quip that they love learning about the culture here as it is wonderful how various people celebrate Christmas differently.

“I am going to buy a plastic Christmas tree and decorate it and sing carols in different languages!” said Kerstin.

They plan to have a mini Christmas celebration in advance before they part ways for the holidays.

Kerstin Tschernigg said she will spend ‘actual Christmas’ back home in Austria. “I am going back to my home country and plan to celebrate Christmas traditionally with my family. I will go to church at 10pm. Before that we'll exchange gifts, sing under the Christmas tree and have dinner together.” she entailed.

While, Pang Yanrong won’t be going back home to Singapore but instead will be heading to Munich for Christmas to visit her cousin who is studying there. “I don’t think it is worth the price of the flight to fly back to Singapore for a week or so and back again.”

Uzondu Izidoro, Business student from Nigeria said he is most likely to stay back in Preston as well. But he did go on to add that no matter where they celebrate it Christmas is a time for families and friends to celebrate the holidays and share memories of warm celebrations and delicious food.

If you wish to experience a traditional Christmas with an English family, you can. Christmas Hospitality is an organization that allows you to spend the festivity with a Christian family who are willing to share their traditional Christmas day: a time of festivity, celebration, family times, and the remembrance of a very special birth.

This is open to all international students of any or no religion and there is no charge involved. The scheme has been running since 2004 and the feedback from students has all been positive. To register log on www.christmashospitality.com. Although, numbers may be limited by the numbers of host families available and the places will be allocated in the order in which registrations are made.

If you are planning on staying on-campus over Christmas then you must look at the recommended list of events lined up for you this Christmas.

But no matter where you are, here’s wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous year. 

(This feature was originally published in PR1 Magazine on 29th November 2010)

PR1 is University of Central Lancashire's Student Magazine.

To read issue: http://issuu.com/jamesbutlin/docs/pr1issue61

Film Review: MegaMind - "I Make Bad, Look So Good"

Directed By: Tom McGrath , Cameron Hood

Cast: Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, David Cross, Justin Theroux

We have all seen a clichéd hero-villain plot where the good guy always beats the bad guy and of course gets the girl. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the super-villain won for a change?

That’s exactly what screenwriters Alan Schoolcraft and Brent Simons asked themselves when they came up with the initial concept for Megamind, the animated adventure from DreamWorks being released on December 5th.

Megamind is a satirical take on the superhero genre focusing on a down-and-out super villain (voiced by Will Ferrell) who finally destroys his arch nemesis, Metro Man (Brad Pitt) during one of his many botched hostage plots involving news reporter Roxanne (Tina Fey), who may remind you of Lois Lane from Superman.

Lost and depressed without an enemy, he creates a nemesis, turning to Roxanne's lonely cameraman Hal (Jonah Hill) into Metro City's next big superhero, Tighten.

Unfortunately for Megamind, Tighten turns into one of the biggest villains who decide to utilize his new power against humanity as revenge for the lifetime of rejection he has endured for years. Megamind is left undecided; can he defeat his own diabolical creation? Will the evil genius become the unlikely hero of his own story? Will the super villain get the girl, this once?

Besides the noticeably A-list voice cast, Megamind is written by Alan J. Schoolcraft and Brent Simons who take in their dexterous plotting that guarantees there’s never a dull moment while director, McGrath takes good care that the action doesn’t cross the line from the energetic to the simply exhausting.
Overall, the film stands as one of the best arguments in favor of 3D over the past couple of years that feels like mature, restrained, even natural use of the technique.

Moreover, if Megamind lives up to expectations, audiences can be sure that there will be a follow-up adventure. “I think Megamind creates a world that has a lot of possibilities story wise,” said McGrath in his interview with comicbookmovie.com.

“There are a lot of stories you can tell from the point of view of the villain other than just the relationship between good and evil.”

(This article was originally published in PR1 Magazine, Entertainment Section on 29th November 2010)

PR1 is University of Central Lancashire's Student Magazine.

To read issue: http://issuu.com/jamesbutlin/docs/pr1issue61

Film Review: Gulliver’s Travel

Directed By: Rob Letterman

Starring: Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Catherine Tate

5/10

Gulliver’s Travels is yet another remake of the classic tale based on the 18^th century novel by Jonathan Swift of a man who ends up on an island, and he’s HUGE!  So what sets this latest version new Gulliver’s Travels apart from the rest? For one, it stars our ever so talented Jack Black who will be playing the big guy.

In this epic and modern tale Gulliver (Black), a mailroom clerk at a New York newspaper bluffs his way into an assignment about the secrets of the Bermuda Triangle, he is then hurtled to an undiscovered land, Lilliput, where hilarity will no doubt ensue! At first enslaved by the diminutive and industrious Liliputians and later declared their hero but soon learns that it’s how big you are on the inside that counts.

This 20^th Century Fox film is set to hit the big screens this Christmas of 2010. There’s a mixed response when it comes to its release, some critics say that if you’re a Jack Black fan or care for some live-action family adventure, you should definitely give this flick. While, others say that judging from the posters and trailers it looks like a fake movie similar to Funny People or Tropic Thunder, leaving room for disappointment.  

(This article was originally published in PR1 Magazine, Entertainment Section on 29th November 2010)

PR1 is University of Central Lancashire's Student Magazine.

To read issue: http://issuu.com/jamesbutlin/docs/pr1issue61

Contemporary Art, Museums and Galleries, Who Cares?

As you approach Preston's Market Square, it’s hard to miss the stunning Neo-classical building which was designed by James Hibbert (1833-1903) to house the Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library. 

As you walk into the grand 117 year old building, it is quiet, comfortable and engulfed in a history of its own. You're greeted with smiles from the art shop which leads to a cafe that is surrounds itself with exquisite artefacts. As you ascend the two storeys of the Museum, you will experience the story of Preston unfold before your eyes.

Harris Museum and Gallery is a host to several community engagement projects that strive to intrigue Preston’s diverse community through a wide range of local organisations on creative, tailor made workshops, projects, talks and tours. These projects are funded by Renaissance North West and are in association with six hub museums and galleries namely Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester Museum, Whitworth Gallery, Bolton Museum, Tullyhouse Museum and Harris Museum and Gallery.

A constant proportion of 16 million adults in England alone, visit museums on a yearly basis, said The National Survey of Culture, Leisure and Sport, Annual Report (2006).

Who Cares? is one such community project which explores the positive impact that museums and galleries can have on our lives. The research will be completed by 2011 but ongoing outcomes of this project can be seen in and around the museum.

“Who Cares? is a project that targets young adults and working people thereby trying to gauge how museums and galleries affects their well being,” said Kyra Milnes, Access and Inclusion Manager at Harris Art Gallery and Museum.

It includes several workshops and exhibitions such as Sharing and Learning: A Touching Experience, Fun, Food and Fabric, Stories of the World and Reminiscence sessions.

Sharing and Learning: A Touching Experience is a ceramics project in partnership with Galloway’s Society for the Blind and Coppull Parish Church School. 

“This project works towards educating the community in understanding that visual impairment is a disability and not an inability. Often, people with visual impairments are excluded from the making of art, so during this project young people were educated through working collaboratively with visually impaired adults to create ceramic artefacts,” said Viv Booth, Project Manager from Galloway’s.

Fun, Food and Fabric, a creative textile project in partnership with Sahara Preston’s African Caribbean Women’s Group, featured in the Embellished: the Art of Fabulous Fabrics exhibition in Harris.

Stories of the World is a graffiti project in collaboration with young people at Beneast Training Ltd, this will be featured as a part of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad project for young people.

While, Reminiscence sessions involve a specialist team of volunteers, trained to facilitate reminiscence sessions on a monthly service to local care and rest homes. They take them themed boxes of Harris objects and artefacts out into the community and use them to trigger memories. 

Harris Museum and Library

Student opportunities to gain some experience

There’s a wide range of volunteering opportunities at the Harris, in all departments of the museum. “At the Harris, we always need volunteers to help the team develop the program, assist curators, aid with talks and tours and get involved in several projects,” said Milnes.

If you are student aged below 25 years, you could get involved in the ‘Young Harris-Youth Arts Group’ where you get to meet at least once a month and work on creative projects relating to the Harris using art, performance, poetry, animation and music.

For more information you can visit www.harrismuseum.org.uk or contact 01772 905 412.

Art of Matter

With the growing art movement in Dubai, X V A Gallery has pioneered Middle Eastern art in Dubai. Since 2003, it has been one of the foremost contemporary art galleries in the Middle East. The brainchild of Mona Hauser, owner of X V A Gallery, the fair is now in its fourth year and aims to showcase the best the region has to offer.

X V A artists have recently exhibited in the 2009 Venice Biennale. Art Abu Dhabi 2009 and the Unveiled: New Art From the Middle East’ exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London. This year, the gallery has four remarkable exhibits between 17th January to 5th May 2010. Two art exhibits, Abdulnasser Gharem: Restored Behaviour and Al Braithwaite: Hall of mirrors ran simultaneously, between 17th January to 10th March.

Abdulnasser Gharem: Restored Behaviour, the first major solo show by acclaimed Saudi artist, Adulnasser Gharem, restored behaviour will showcase recent ‘stamp’ paintings, installations and photographs from a series of site specific performances made in and around the artists home in southern Saudi Arabia. Al Braithwaite: Hall of Mirrors are Braithwaite’s portraits of modern Middle Eastern figureheads present a powerful message about the geographical realigning of power in the 21st century. An unusual mixture of modernity and tradition.

Bastakiya Art Fair returns for its 4th year from 15-21 March 2010. Dubai’s only fringe art fair, BAF has a global reach with a focus on Middle Eastern contemporary art. BAF promotes gallery collaboration and artistic unity with Dubai’s art community, plus the fair attracts International artists, collectors and curators. With a series of brunch talks curated by Rose Issa and a wide range of exhibitions including national art pavilions fro Iraq, UAE, Pakistan, Lebanon and Iran, BAF successfully showcases the best of the best emerging talent in Middle Eastern contemporary art.

A Double Exhibition between the 4th April to 5th May, allows us to preview a return of the well loved Lebanese artist Moussa Tiba and a debut in the UAE for German-born-artist Carolin Kropff.

BAF and X V A Gallery guarantees to satiate everyone’s artistic sensibilities and is definitely worth your time.

Glimpses of the Fair

 Bastakiya, Dubai

Art Gallery at BAF

¬Orginally written for an art magazine project that explores contemporary art in the Emirates¬

Dear Africa: new book launched

¬Original Article published in University newspaper- Pluto¬

http://www.pluto-online.com/2010/10/dear-africa-students-launch-new-book/

A book of letters between Lancastrian and African children is being published by UCLan students.

Letters to Africa is a riveting collection of letters exchanged between more than 250 children from Lancashire, Kenya and Zambia, as well as contributions by UCLan students and renowned authors.

The aim of the book is to exemplify a side of Africa never seen before.

The book is a charitable project and all proceeds will buy educational resources for the African schoolchildren in Kenya and Zambia.

Project Manager Debbie Williams, explained what she wants the book to achieve.

“By publishing this book we hope to bridge the cultural divide between UK and African school children by giving them a chance to tell us about their lives through letters, drawings and photographs,” she said.

“This is a completely unique venture. There are a lot of projects and publications about Africa written by adults and experts but none which allowed the children who live there to speak directly about their environment, daily life and their future.”

This eight month project is a collaborative effort of second and third year students from UCLan’s publishing, photography, writing for children, children’s illustration, linguistics and sport science. Photography student, Gemma Nolan, even won a BBC Wildlife photography competition for her close up of a lion in Kenya.

Letters to Africa is supported by celebrated children’s authors Lauren St John (au­thor of The White Giraffe), Mary Hoffman (author of Amazing Grace and the Stravaganza series), Ifeoma Onyefulu (author of A is for Africa) and others, who have all contributed to the book.

This 145 page book proves to be an exceptional resource for primary school teachers and the creative curriculum helping students discover Africa through cultural anecdotes, fun facts, journal entries by visitors who have exchanged engaging tales with the Maasai people and equally captivating fiction accompanied with beautifully captured local photography.

Concurrently, since its publication in August 2010, it has been long-listed for Channel 4’s TV Book Club. What makes Letters to Africa even more

The UCLan Publishing House has joined hands with charitable companies such as The National Literary Trust to help them promote this spellbinding book and have also started working on a second instalment focussing on the social and environmental changes in Kenya.

You can purchase your copy at Blackwell Bookstore (Student Union) for only £9.99.

***

The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity that transforms lives through literacy by working with individuals who struggle with literacy and the professionals that support them.

One in six people in the UK struggle to read and write. Poor skills compromise health, confidence, happiness and employability but with better literacy, everyone can succeed in life.

That is why the National Literacy Trust campaigns to improve understanding of the importance of literacy and to help individuals to understand the importance of literacy in their lives.

Night Is Here

As dawn turns to dusk,
the night settles in.
Shining, glimmering
With the moon up high.
>
Feeling the nights wind on my face,
Deep in thought,
Lost in fantasy,
I ponder.


Unsure, unaware, unbound
I wander up and down
To seek answers to questions
That I ask myself
Day after day
And night after night.