Reflective Log: the best three weeks

London International Summer School

I did not expect these three weeks would end so quickly. It is the best experience I have ever got about basic journalism skills.

I had been interested in London International Summer School since last winter. I knew that in the UK there is another approach to journalism, especially to new multimedia, which is only developing in Russia. People still respect only newspapers and magazines, but I realized that you can make good content using a blog and sharing your articles on the internet.

I believe that this course was useful for me. First of all, I improved my writing skills. It is important to write short and informative sentences based on facts. On the other hand, I realized that your material should be creative and new for an audience. You should add some pictures, video and audio to attract attention to your texts, it makes your blog more interesting and diverse. Also you should add some tags and links so it would be easier to find your media content using search engines.

I ran a blog when I was 14-16 years old, but it was just like a diary with my thoughts about everyday problems etc. Now I know that a blog is a good platform for developing your journalistic skills and writing about something new you saw, something that can be useful for other people.

Here, in the University of Westminster, we were taught how to make a vox pop. Actually, it was a bit difficult, because almost all strangers on the street did not want to answer our questions. But it was an important experience, because talking with people is the base of a journalist’s work. I did a vox pop about London Parks and Places and asked people, in which places they prefer to relax.

I learned how to edit your multimedia project using Final Cut Pro. I used Windows Movie Maker for my slideshows before, but Final Cut Pro gives you more opportunities and features in editing, it has a lot of special effects, but it is easy to use this program. I did a small multimedia project about Queen Mary’s Garden in Regent’s Park. I like this kind of multimedia files, a mix of videos and pictures with music, and I tried to create the same.

Also, we did an interview with Rohan Daft, a director of communications at Richard James. He is very interesting person, and we told about his career in journalism and his journey to Spain. I am happy about this part of course, because we practiced our interviewing skills, which is also important in our profession.

I liked to write a review and an opinion piece. It was difficult to find a topical theme for my opinion notes, but I decided to choose a sphere about disabled people, because it is always significant for society. My review is about the world’s longest running musical “Les Miserables”. I was excited when I was writing it, because this theatre performance plays a big role in my cultural life, and I wanted to explain all my thoughts and emotions about it.

Also, we wrote a news story about travelling, using different media sources. I made my news update about Red Sea resorts, using The Telegraph and Travel More. It was useful to try to make a story, which includes all details from different sites about this subject.

All in all, this course affected on my plans of a career. Now I study at Moscow State University on Faculty of Journalism, and this summer’s experience will help in my further studies. I wish I could return to London one day and take another course about journalism. I found blogging interesting and useful thing, and I want to keep running my blog. Actually, I am interested in magazines, and I want to work there as a journalist, but maybe it would be online version or even magazine’s special blog.

Queen Mary’s Garden

Queen Mary’s Garden is a world-famous garden named after the wife of King George V. It is located in Regent’s Park. It is the largest collection of roses in London, 12 000 roses planted within the gardens. There you can find any colour of roses you like. Moreover, benches are available for visitors to relax and enjoy the gardens. The thing I like about Queen Mary’s Garden is that it is very calming, beautiful place, full of flowers’ smells. It is a good place for taking pictures, reading books in silence, and getting an inspiration.

British holidaymakers are avoiding Red Sea resorts

Photo: The Telegraph

The political situation deteriorated again in Egypt, due to the risk of further violent protests following the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, and FCO advises to avoid non-essential trips, including Sharm-el-Sheikh and Hurghada, as reported The Telegraph.

According to travel review site TripAdvisor said 20% fewer people were researching holidays in the Red Sea resorts even though the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is not warning British travels not to travel to the area.

“Despite the Foreign Office’s guidance offering some reassurance to those heading to the Red Sea, it seems that many UK travellers have opted for caution and put their plans on hold while the crisis in Egypt unfolds,” said a TripAdvisor spokesman.

Independent travellers to Egypt may take advantage of some offers there. For example, hotel prices have fallen in recent weeks. A one-night stay during July will cost £43 on average in Dahab, £73 in Taba, and £71 in Hurghada. On the other hand, now it is difficult to obtain adequate insurance.

According to Travel More, a spokeswoman for Thomson and First Choice said the operators could not give an indication on booking numbers to Egyptian resorts because they are in a closed period.

«Egypt remains a popular holiday destination for customers. July and August are peak season and demand for holidays remains strong,» she said.

London Parks and Places

This vox pop is about parks and places, which are popular among Londoners and tourists.

‘It it the music of a people who will not be slaves again!’

It is difficult to write an adequate review while you are feeling crazy emotions before watching the world’s longest running musical “Les Miserables”. Why crazy? Simple: since first learning about this musical, I have become obsessed with it.

The show’s first performance was on 8 October 1985 in London. Nowadays it takes place in Queen’s Theatre on Piccadilly Circus.

HISTORY

«When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums,there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.» (‘Do you hear the people sing?’)

Les Miserables a sung-through musical based on the novel of the same name by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, and original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel.

According to Wikipedia it is set ‘in early 19th-century France, it is the story of Jean Valjean, a burly French peasant of abnormal strength and potentially violent nature, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his starving sister’s child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a kindly bishop inspires him to, but he is relentlessly tracked down by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, Valjean and a slew of characters are swept into a revolutionary period in France, where a group of young idealists make their last stand at a street barricade.’

A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE

20 July 13′ Les Miserables Performance

I may have been obsessed with the show, but I am still naive about how to book tickets in London. If I knew that all tickets are sold-out every day on every performance, I would have bought tickets in advance a week ago. I tried to buy a ticket to Saturday’s play on Thursday, and it was my lucky day, because I bought the last ticket!

My place was in Dress Circle, and there was a good view of the stage. So, if you want to see Les Mis, it would be better if you buy tickets week prior to the show. Friendly cashiers in the theater will help you to determine the best place in the hall for the best price and the most appropriate day.

THE PERFORMANCE

The main hall in Queen’s Theatre

I was so excited. I could not believe it was happening with me. To touch history. To see that a lot of people around the world only dream to see. I realized that a lot of my dreams came true here, in London, and Les Mis is one of them.

I do not think it was wrong that I saw the film “Les Miserables” (2012) based on this musical before the original performance. I have known all songs, all characters, I fell in love in almost all songs, charming melodies…and the best thing that could happened is watching this musical live.

But, was it going to be an anti-climax? Could anything live up to my expectations?

You can understand my emotions, if you are crazy about music and musical theatre, you will expect a lot from a show such as this. When the orchestra started to play the main theme and then “prologue”, my heart just stopped beating. I was immediately plunged into the atmosphere of 19th-century France.

My favorite songs are “I dreamed a dream”, “In my life”, “On my own”, “Do you hear the people sing?”, “Red and Black”. The order of songs in film is different from the musical. For example, in the film Fantine songs “I dreamed a dream” after she became a prostitute, and in the musical – before it. The film’s version is better, because you can see the whole situation of humiliated woman. All the songs are so emotional that I can not imagine how well actors can perform day-to-day.

«In my life she has burst like the music of angels
The light of the sun
And my life seems to stop
As if something is over
And something has scarcely begun» (‘In my life’)

I liked Javert, because he is an example of bad character who is not alien to genuine human emotions. The most tragic character is Eponine, the girl, who had a good childhood, but the worst adult life. She loves and does not require anything in return, she can sacrifice herself for happiness of beloved man.

Also I must mention the main character – Jean Valjean. The great person, he shows how wide and rich can be human’s soul, how people can change their destiny and life.

I want to notice good decorations. For example, I like the building-transformer that turned into barricades in act two. Also, in scene, where Eponine brings Marius to Cosette’s home, there are beautiful huge wrought-iron gates. All the scenery surprised by its scale and reasonableness. Sometimes there were special effects on the barricades. Gunshots, explosions, smoke…it was close to the real battle and even scary. (Photo: The Times)

Act two, ‘on the barricades’

Watching the musical, I compared it with its film version. It was interesting to me that theatre’s cast and film’s cast have similar voices, especially Gavroche. I even thought that theatre’s actor (Charlie Dillon) plays in the film. It is wrong, but both actors have similar manners of playing. I believe that film is also good, because it shows us all sides of “Les Miserables”, for example, the most popular scene, where Fantine’s hair was cut for money for her daughter. On the stage it was behind singing ladies, and audience did not see it.

All in all, it is must-see musical. I am sure that you will not waste your time in vain. My crazy emotions were, in the end, justified.

Opinion: London for disabled people

Walking in the centre of London, I often notice that there are a lot of disabled people on the streets. On first look, nothing special, but I was interested. I realized that people with disabilities in England just have a different mentality to those in Russia. They go out more. They use restaurants more. Why?

It would seem that their lifestyle is not so different from life of able-bodied people. There are far more opportunities for disabled people in London. This city has all equipment and services for people with different kind of disabilities.

For example, I was shocked by woman who came to the London Eye with a wheelchair. Besides, she was in an oxygen mask and without an accompanying person. Without help, she was able to get into the Eye’s cab and then get out from it. She was like an ordinary person, she just wanted to go sightseeing.

A sign for disabled people

In Russia it would be unusual and maybe ‘heroic,’ because Russian people with the same health problems in almost all cases just stay at home or in hospital. Of course, all of them deserve respect and care, but they can learn Londoners and London’s facilities.

I believe that all disabled people’s problems in Russia come from lack of opportunities. Comparing two capitals, I think that in London disabled people live more comfortably than in Moscow.

Relief plates for blind people

Pedestrian streets have relief plates at the ends of the streets and at the entrances to buildings for blind people. Also, public transport in London (buses, cabs, tube, railway) is wheelchair accessible and carry assistance dogs at no charge.

People can go anywhere in London by different types of transport without the level of discomfort found in Russia. Moreover, I saw a lot of call-boxes for people in wheelchairs. Telephones are set low so disabled people can use them. Usually these kiosks are marked by special sign.

A call-box for people in wheelchairs

The most interesting thing about opportunities for disabled people is culture life. I saw a lot of people with disabilities in every museum, in theaters, in parks and shopping centers. Museums and theaters are equipped with special lifts and toilets. In malls there are big changing rooms for disabled people with place for wheelchair, chair for assistant, and low-set hangers.

Also museums have offers for blind people. For example, it is good that all exhibits in V&A Museum are accompanied by descriptions in the language of the blind. Besides, you can use audio apps and learn more about historical heritage. There are no borders in social life of disabled people in London, they can get all what they need.

Description for blind people

Information about theaters you can find on THEATRE ACCESSIBILITY. There you can also find more information about traveling in London for disabled people.

Moscow accessibility for people with disabilities is in progress now. There are rampants in tube and near buildings, the same sighns on streets etc., but I think that Moscow social and culture life is not adapted for disabled people completely. I believe that it is a matter of time, and Moscow will solve these problems if it is able to learn experience from other cities, for example, from London.

Q&A: Rohan Daft

Rohan Daft is a director of communications at Richard James and an author of the book “Menu Del Dia” that is about Spanish dishes.

He started a career in journalism as a freelance writer and gossip columnist for the London Evening Standard. Then he spent about 6 years in Barcelona, where he asked people about traditional Spanish cuisine and interesting local products. As a result of the research, he wrote his popular «Menu Del Dia». Now he is a blog editor at Richard James. He writes about models, new updates, new collections and the latest fashion shows.

Rohan Daft

— What is your educational career?

-I didn’t go to a university. In school I started writing for newspapers, I was enjoyed, and I started to work on the gossip column in The Evening Standard. It was an interesting experience. I listened to different stories, talk with different people and wrote articles about them. You always can teach yourself to write.

— How important is it to have an ability to write for journalists?

— I think that newspapers are more interested in ability to tell the story and to think quickly and be creative. If you start to be a journalist, your job is come up with stories. You could be a brilliant writer, but not a good journalist.

-How do you promote a personal blog about fashion?

-If it is like an online magazine, you can attract advertising and make money on it. Frankly, if you are online, you want to be commercial.

-What is the best thing about London?

— I like the mix people. I think London is very creative, it has a great energy.

-And what is the worst thing here?

-I think the price of property, because it means that only wealthy people can buy houses and flats, especially in the centre of London.

-What inspires you in London as a journalist?

-Well, I do not work as a journalist so much now, but I think London is the fantastic city and it is home to me. When I lived in Spain 6 years, I did not miss England, but I missed London.

-How can you describe British style in a word?

— It can be called “understated”.

— What are your plans for the future?

— I am really happy doing this. It is interesting, I like the people I work with. I actually like the product which is important. I could not do for something that I did not like. I did enjoy journalism, but now I have interest in working for RJ and I want to continue doing it.

-Do you wear clothes from Richard James?

-Yes, now I’m dressed in its light blue shirt and socks.

Magicians in the heart of London

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

London has always been famous for its entertainment in the streets. Mimes, street theaters, musicians, living statues…at night the city always looks like a big amusement park. My attention was drawn by another side of this fun. There are several magicians on the bridge near Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Every day they show the same trick: a small ball is hidden in one of the three glasses, magicians quickly move them, and people should guess where the ball is. A player should stake some money before he says his answer. If it is right, a magician returns player’s money in the double amount. It is quite simple and clear.

However, this harmless game turns into the fraud for profit. All of these magicians know basic techniques of man’s distraction. The most popular is a request to increase the cash rate. A person always agrees to do it. While he is getting the wallet out of his pocket, a magician is quickly rearranging the glasses. The most interesting thing is that other people sincerely prompt that the ball was rearranged, but players do not believe it. In the end they just lose their money (some cash rates are £ 20-25). It’s a pity that people who always gamble do not understand that they are cheated in the heart of London, though you can figure out the problem of your permanent loss in a 5-minutes observation.

Free pass to the carnival

free pass to the carnival.

Carnival

London through Instagram

The Instagram London Pool On this page you can find many photos of various parts of London.