All the hashtags: Update

Well hello there lovely readers!

You may remember I did a few blog posts at the beginning of the year around the hashtags #100happydays and #readwomen2014. And then, in true Naomi style, I got bored of them. Well, actually, that's a little unfair. I had technical issues with the #100happydays one that meant it was just too annoying to try and post everyday, so I decided to do '1 Happy Month' instead, then gave up. And I'm still doing the #readwomen2014 thing, I just haven't posted about it.

Check/connect with my Goodreads for more on this, but to sum up - I've still been reading women this year! 

My 'to read' Bookshelf.

So far all the books I've read have been by women. I've managed to get through:

Jojo Moyes - The Girl You Left Behind

Audrey Niffenegger - Her Fearful Symmetry

Dorris Lessing - The Grass Is Singing

Sarah Langan - The Keeper

Charlotte Bronte - Jane Eyre

Sylvia Townsend-Warner - Lolly Willowes

Philippa Gregory - The Kingmaker's Daughter.

I'm also currently reading The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. The Kate Morton and Jojo Moyes books were books I borrowed from friends, and were both the 'Richard and Judy' type books I'd probably normally avoid. They've been quite good though, and this is actually the second Kate Morton book I've read, having finished The Forgotten Garden after leaving uni last year. The rest were a mixture of things on my to-read list based on recommendations from other books or articles I've read, all of varying genres and subject matters. I'm very interested in issues of diversity, and my bookshelf is no exception! I also have a few books on my 'to read' shelf (my actual, physical shelf) that I picked up in Sainsbury's, which were among the bestseller types. Again, I would normally avoid these, but I know Joanne Harris is readable, and the others were Scandinavian and therefore automatically get 5 star ratings from me. (My sole ambitions in life are to become a superhero, and to be Swedish. They're both tricky, hence why I have a whole blog dedicated to being lost in life). The moral of the story is: so far, books with flowery covers are not always bad, although I'm still a total book snob and am yet to even attempt reading anything by Katie Price* or which looks like it might be of the same shocking quality.

*Actually, this is a lie. I did once read a Katie Price novel that I got free in a magazine out of pure curiosity, and it was the most predictable, unimaginative, ridiculous yet utterly compelling thing I've ever read. It was like a car crash: I hated every second of it but somehow I had to keep reading!! But now I have suffered through this for your sake and I can tell you it's not worth it. Ditto for 50 Shades of Grey. And the sequels. Don't look at me like that I'll read whatever I damn well please! 

*smiley halo face*

I do intend to add some more reviews, but they're quite time consuming so I'm not making any promises. I enjoy writing them though, so if I do get a spare few hours, or if I feel particularly strongly about a book I read, I will definitely write one. 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, please do feel free to interact in the comments if you've anything to add :)

Don't forget to read women!

Love love love,

Naomi

English Language Assistant (ELA), Amiens

Well hello there lovely readers!

AHHHH! I told you I would have some exciting news soon!

Although, the exciting news I have is not the exciting news I thought I might have. Basically, I've been applying to do a year abroad via the European Voluntary Scheme. This is essentially a load of do-gooding organisations througout Europe, who do valuable work with lots of different kinds of people, animals, and environments, who advertise for long-term volunteers to come and help them in their work. It's essentially a funded place, costs paid by the volunteer are limited, and it's a great chance to get lots of fabulous experience. I've been applying for placements within gender equality, refugee work, and, in one case, with the European Movement Latvia, who work to encourage participation in European political arenas. Not long ago I had a Skype interview with the EML, which was terrifying as it was very last minute, and I've not had any responses to my applications so far. I did the interview (I HATE INTERVIEWS), and it actually went quite well. Moreover, they told me I was one of only 5 interviewees out of over 50 applications - so already I think its a success. Anyway, I got an email about a week later to say I hadn't been selected for the post, but I was fairly certain of this beforehand anyway, as they were looking for someone who could be competent in Latvian within 3 months. Pah, I'm British. We don't do languages. So anyway, in general the interview was a positive experience, and it's left me feeling a bit better about the dreaded 'I' word. Yeugh. 

(Also, my interviewer said I had a "wonderful" blog. Woop!)

SO, I hear you say, WHAT IS THE NEWS?

Well, I had also applied to be an English Language Assistant for a year through the British Council. Last Friday I got an email to say I'd been put on the waiting list for a place, as all available posts had gone to French students who are required to do a placement as part of their course. They explained how things worked and also said that I'd find out by the end of September. Then, a mere few days later, I got a phone call to tell me that someone had dropped out, and I'd been selected as the replacement! So, long story short, I now have to apply for an International Child Protection Certificate, and then I shall be working as a Language Assistant in a Secondary School in Amiens from October! :D 

This is my 'OMG it's cool but now I have to try and remember how to speak French!' face.

And before anyone even so much as whispers the 'T' word: I still have no intentions of being a teacher.

So there we have it. No closer to having a plan for life, but at least the period from October 2014 to June 2015 is sorted. Just got to earn enough money to make it possible beforehand, and then deal with having nothing to come back to at the end...!

I'd still really like to volunteer with the EVS (mentioned above) though, so maybe I'll just never come back! 

Hah, how often do I say that?

Also, I'm now not sure where this leaves me on the New Years Resolution front, where I vowed to get an actual graduate job this year.This isn't a graduate job - however, I am once again doubting whether I actually even really want a graduate job. I mean, BLEEEEUUUGH!! They mostly sound so boring!! I just don't think I'm a real job kind of person! I still secretly harbour hopes of running away with my Latino lover and learning to Flamenco. Who, for the record, looks like Antonio Banderas in The Addams Family/Interview with the Vampire. 

This is probably so inappropriate. 

Ha, I'll leave you thinking about that as I go and try to re-learn French!

Au revoir mes amis!

Love love love,

Naomi