纽卡的学期计算方法和国内的不一样。圣诞节之前算第一个学期，但是考试并不是都在放假前结束，开学后会继续考。大概是为了督促同学们不要荒废假期吧。考试期间是没有课的
听力和口语是放假前考试。读语言的口语考试一对一，有点像雅思考试；读预科或者是diploma则是group的形式，大家讨论问题（据说很多大公司也是采用group的形式雇佣员工）。听力是自己班的同学一起考，英语老师监考。写作是要求Academic English，一个半小时，比雅思的写作要难一些，会用不同形式的引用，要求注明作者，年份（反抄袭）。阅读和雅思类似了，三篇阅读，时间在1个小时到一个半小时之间，根据题目的多少决定。写作和阅读是大家一起考，有一二百人吧，会把学生的座位号贴在考试教室外面的墙上，到时候对位入座就好了。关于考试安排，通常会提前一个月左右发邮件通知，时间和地点。本着人力资源不浪费的原则，监考老师也是不多，一二百人，就四五个老师。但是和国内一样，避免自己老师看到卷子开绿灯，会把学生的名字贴住。但是预科的考试不会特别难，只要自己平常认真跟着学，就没有问题。
因为专业问题，我们的建筑考试是portfolio评估，这个就比较麻烦了，我做了三遍。因为对电脑不熟悉，之前也不会用Photoshop，老师也不给讲，就自学了。所以这个对于我而言，还是有些难度的。
Friday, 15 January 2010
Sunday, 3 January 2010
西方的圣诞节
西方人对圣诞节的重视程度相当于中国人对春节的重视程度，每到这时，学校放假，公司放假，满是一片合家团圆的景象。这个圣诞节我没有回家，虽然没有和当地人一起过圣诞节，但是也可以说两句。
西方人以红，绿，白三色为圣诞色，圣诞节时候每家都要用圣诞色来装饰。红色的是圣诞花和圣诞蜡烛；绿色为圣诞树，用杉或柏，再用五颜六色的彩灯，礼物，纸花装饰；圣诞老人则是红色和白色相映。到了25号一早，孩子们会跑到自己的圣诞袜前看圣诞老人给自己留下了什么礼物，圣诞袜是用来装礼物的，大小不一。正如中国人吃纯洁的年夜饭一样，英国人过圣诞节也很注重全家人围坐在圣诞树下，共进节日美餐。圣诞夜又称平安夜，圣诞夜必不可少的就是聚会。大多数家庭是家庭成员居在家中，公斤丰盛的晚餐，然后为坐在火炉旁，弹琴唱歌；或许举办一个化装舞会。
通常圣诞节前的一两天，商店会开始打折，之后一直持续到一月初。各位如果想趁这个时候囤积，可以大展身手。最多的折扣可以到五折，一般的也会有七八折，所以在圣诞节打折的时候买东西是一个不错的选择。
爱丁堡之旅
12月初，我与朋友结伴去爱丁堡旅游，并在当地人家里住了一晚来体验一下当地人的生活。纽卡地处较好的交通便利的地理位置（火车，地铁，飞机都是不错的选择方式），我们选择的地铁，从纽卡岛爱丁堡需要一个半小时左右的时间。
两天的行程中，我们去了爱丁堡城堡，格子围巾工厂，国家美术馆，国家博物馆，王子街公园，claton hill，乔治街，王子街购物广场，圣十字宫，市中心的哥特雕像，并在王子街欣赏夜景。爱丁堡城堡被誉为苏格兰的精神象征，已有几百年的历史了。现在爱丁堡城堡里不仅有历史的遗迹，还有几个博物馆来介绍苏格兰人民与侵略者的战斗历史，关于军事方面的，关于苏了兰人民生活方面的。格子围巾工厂在爱丁堡城堡门前的广场的拐角处，在这里可以买到极具苏格兰风情的格子围巾。国家美术馆里大多收藏的是油画，彰显了各位艺术家的不同风格，有的主力体现自然风情，有的倾向人物刻画，有的表现神话故事。国家博物馆里展出的是从远古至今的历史文物来表现苏格兰人民的生活进程。圣十字宫建于16世纪，之后作为英国皇家的下榻之地，不过其他时间也对游客开放，精美的装潢可以体会到英式的高级待遇。爬上claton hill可以看到整个爱丁堡全景，是个不错的休息，摄影之地。
爱丁堡之旅我们计划了两天，所以经典相对较多，如果只想玩一天，可以实现看好感兴趣的，一定要在地图上看好位置，但我们玩的景点大多都历史中心不远，步行也是可取的。
Saturday, 14 November 2009
纽卡斯尔的酒吧
这个星期六晚，我和舍友们一起去了一个离Henderson Hall 最近的酒吧。通常酒吧的服务台都会在门口附近，点好酒后就可以去找自己喜欢的位子了。 每个酒吧的装修各有特色，基本上都是典型的英国风格，优雅，温馨；灯光不会太亮，可以让人在工作学习之后好好放松一下。 在酒吧里你可以遇到形形色色的人：有的人想在一星期的工作之后放松一下，上司与下属的关系也不想办公室里那样紧张，他们谈论任何事；有些看起来比我们大一点的学生会在酒吧里讨论作业，论文。我们一人要了一杯酒，庆祝在这里充实又丰富多彩的生活。一小时之后，我们各自去找不同的消遣，有飞镖，桌球。我们与当地人聊天，他告诉我们，有的人每天都会去酒吧，有的人只是一个星期才会去一次，大家都是为了放松一下，与朋友聊聊天，不是单纯为了喝酒才去酒吧的。通常酒吧都会在11点准时关门，大大的减少酗酒。我认为这是一个很好的经历去更多的了解英国人的文化，生活，遇到更多的人，可以帮你更快的融入这里的生活。
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
We visited belasy Hall, Castle and Gardens last Monday, which is in Greek ancient, classical country house designed by Sir Charles. All of the buildings were made of stones. Belasy Hall is a 19th century country mansion. Picture 1 is the map of this group of buildings Stable Block is NO.1 in the map. There is a introductory exhibition at the gate.
After visiting Stable Block, we went to the Main Hall(NO.2 in the map), which is two-story Greek style. The Main Hall was built in 19th century. The columns at the gate are Doric order. However, the columsn in the hall are form Ionic order, the columns on the first are Tuscan. On the ground floor, there are some dinning rooms, library, rooms for relaxing or playing. There are still some romms for servants and nurseries. On the first floor, all of the rooms were used for sleeping. The windows are towards the Southeast to absorb more sunlight.
On the way to the castle, we enjoyed the magnificent gardens. Personally, I think the plants can make the environment more quiet, interesting, especially there are some monolith and spring in the gardens. In the gardens, unaltered for two hundred years, thousands of exotic species can be discovered. Sir Charles Monck designed the dramaticly romantic Quarry garden-a series of ravines, corridors and pinnacles, and his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, enriched it with all manner of rare and exotic plants. Picturesque landscaping covers thirty acres, which includes magnificent rhodedendorons, and see forever changing seasonal delights. For instance, snowdrops, gorgeous summer blooms or golden feay hues.
Finally, we reached the dramatic, well-preserved medieval castle(No.3 in the map) with rare wall-paintings. The right of castle was built in 14th century, the rest of them was built later. Now the entire castle is unfurnished and maintained in a condition of benign decay, with only necessary structural maintenance undertaken. Althouth there are no ceilings, floors, roofs in the left castle, you still can see the mark that people left such as cooking area.After entering the older castle, the strong stone construction is still in good condition . The stairs are very thin to spare more space to the rooms. There is a sculpture in on the second floor, called Lucky Spot that made by Stella Mccartney in 2003. Made form 8000 swarovski glass crystals, the work was painstaking and intricate, as each wire had to be numbered and carefully positioned on the stainless steel panel above. It forms an ethereal, yet solid mass and as light floods in through the castle’s medieval windows, the crystals produce brilliant prismatic patterns across the walls.
After visiting Stable Block, we went to the Main Hall(NO.2 in the map), which is two-story Greek style. The Main Hall was built in 19th century. The columns at the gate are Doric order. However, the columsn in the hall are form Ionic order, the columns on the first are Tuscan. On the ground floor, there are some dinning rooms, library, rooms for relaxing or playing. There are still some romms for servants and nurseries. On the first floor, all of the rooms were used for sleeping. The windows are towards the Southeast to absorb more sunlight.
On the way to the castle, we enjoyed the magnificent gardens. Personally, I think the plants can make the environment more quiet, interesting, especially there are some monolith and spring in the gardens. In the gardens, unaltered for two hundred years, thousands of exotic species can be discovered. Sir Charles Monck designed the dramaticly romantic Quarry garden-a series of ravines, corridors and pinnacles, and his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, enriched it with all manner of rare and exotic plants. Picturesque landscaping covers thirty acres, which includes magnificent rhodedendorons, and see forever changing seasonal delights. For instance, snowdrops, gorgeous summer blooms or golden feay hues.
Finally, we reached the dramatic, well-preserved medieval castle(No.3 in the map) with rare wall-paintings. The right of castle was built in 14th century, the rest of them was built later. Now the entire castle is unfurnished and maintained in a condition of benign decay, with only necessary structural maintenance undertaken. Althouth there are no ceilings, floors, roofs in the left castle, you still can see the mark that people left such as cooking area.After entering the older castle, the strong stone construction is still in good condition . The stairs are very thin to spare more space to the rooms. There is a sculpture in on the second floor, called Lucky Spot that made by Stella Mccartney in 2003. Made form 8000 swarovski glass crystals, the work was painstaking and intricate, as each wire had to be numbered and carefully positioned on the stainless steel panel above. It forms an ethereal, yet solid mass and as light floods in through the castle’s medieval windows, the crystals produce brilliant prismatic patterns across the walls.
Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens
We visited belasy Hall, Castle and Gardens last Monday, which is in Greek ancient, classical country house designed by Sir Charles. All of the buildings were made of stones. Belasy Hall is a 19th century country mansion. Picture 1 is the map of this group of buildings
Stable Block is NO.1 in the map. There is a introductory exhibition at the gate.
After visiting Stable Block, we went to the Main Hall(NO.2 in the map), which is two-story Greek style. The Main Hall was built in 19th century. The columns at the gate are Doric order. However, the columsn in the hall are form Ionic order, the columns on the first are Tuscan. On the ground floor, there are some dinning rooms, library, rooms for relaxing or playing. There are still some romms for servants and nurseries. On the first floor, all of the rooms were used for sleeping. The windows are towards the Southeast to absorb more sunlight.
On the way to the castle, we enjoyed the magnificent gardens. Personally, I think the plants can make the environment more quiet, interesting, especially there are some monolith and spring in the gardens. In the gardens, unaltered for two hundred years, thousands of exotic species can be discovered. Sir Charles Monck designed the dramaticly romantic Quarry garden-a series of ravines, corridors and pinnacles, and his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, enriched it with all manner of rare and exotic plants. Picturesque landscaping covers thirty acres, which includes magnificent rhodedendorons, and see forever changing seasonal delights. For instance, snowdrops, gorgeous summer blooms or golden feay hues.
Finally, we reached the dramatic, well-preserved medieval castle(No.3 in the map) with rare wall-paintings. The right of castle was built in 14th century, the rest of them was built later. Now the entire castle is unfurnished and maintained in a condition of benign decay, with only necessary structural maintenance undertaken. Althouth there are no ceilings, floors, roofs in the left castle, you still can see the mark that people left such as cooking area.After entering the older castle, the strong stone construction is still in good condition . The stairs are very thin to spare more space to the rooms. There is a sculpture in on the second floor, called Lucky Spot that made by Stella Mccartney in 2003. Made form 8000 swarovski glass crystals, the work was painstaking and intricate, as each wire had to be numbered and carefully positioned on the stainless steel panel above. It forms an ethereal, yet solid mass and as light floods in through the castle’s medieval windows, the crystals produce brilliant prismatic patterns across the walls.
Stable Block is NO.1 in the map. There is a introductory exhibition at the gate.
After visiting Stable Block, we went to the Main Hall(NO.2 in the map), which is two-story Greek style. The Main Hall was built in 19th century. The columns at the gate are Doric order. However, the columsn in the hall are form Ionic order, the columns on the first are Tuscan. On the ground floor, there are some dinning rooms, library, rooms for relaxing or playing. There are still some romms for servants and nurseries. On the first floor, all of the rooms were used for sleeping. The windows are towards the Southeast to absorb more sunlight.
On the way to the castle, we enjoyed the magnificent gardens. Personally, I think the plants can make the environment more quiet, interesting, especially there are some monolith and spring in the gardens. In the gardens, unaltered for two hundred years, thousands of exotic species can be discovered. Sir Charles Monck designed the dramaticly romantic Quarry garden-a series of ravines, corridors and pinnacles, and his grandson, Sir Arthur Middleton, enriched it with all manner of rare and exotic plants. Picturesque landscaping covers thirty acres, which includes magnificent rhodedendorons, and see forever changing seasonal delights. For instance, snowdrops, gorgeous summer blooms or golden feay hues.
Finally, we reached the dramatic, well-preserved medieval castle(No.3 in the map) with rare wall-paintings. The right of castle was built in 14th century, the rest of them was built later. Now the entire castle is unfurnished and maintained in a condition of benign decay, with only necessary structural maintenance undertaken. Althouth there are no ceilings, floors, roofs in the left castle, you still can see the mark that people left such as cooking area.After entering the older castle, the strong stone construction is still in good condition . The stairs are very thin to spare more space to the rooms. There is a sculpture in on the second floor, called Lucky Spot that made by Stella Mccartney in 2003. Made form 8000 swarovski glass crystals, the work was painstaking and intricate, as each wire had to be numbered and carefully positioned on the stainless steel panel above. It forms an ethereal, yet solid mass and as light floods in through the castle’s medieval windows, the crystals produce brilliant prismatic patterns across the walls.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
The impression of Newcastle
On the one hand, the majority of the business street and prosperous areas are in the city centre or beside the River Tyne. These groups of buildings are crossed, however, others are scattered. Most of the enterprises in the city centre have two levels. There don’t exist some office buildings that have lots of floors, which makes the space become wider. Though some shops are new in the city centre, but there are still some ancient typical European buildings, for example, church and ST Thomas. The purpose of urban planning is clear. To provide people with a quiet living condition and a convenient working condition, which lets people can enjoy life and throw themselves into work meanwhile. A lot of scenic spots are near the city centre or River Tyne. At the same time, lots of the fast food shops make it convenient for people to visit. Some buildings are old. Most of the buildings are classical. Masses of the architectures don’t use lime to cover the surface, sometime even make part of the bricks unfold inside, such as Robinson Library. But the newly-built buildings cotton with the old buildings. They don’t damage the style there. Many architectures’ roofs are inclined, which make it quick to drain off water, especially express in the old small buildings and private houses. The most significant impression of Newcastle is River Tyne. There are several different style’s bridges across it. Some bridges are ancient, others are modern. They unfold the changing with the time.
On the other hand, a lot of grassland are distract from the city centre, which are located among the private houses are far from the city centre, which have been built in the several decades. The houses are similar to each other which makes foreigners easy to be lost.
The shape of the walks likes make city centre as the centre, then diffuses towards every direction. The walks are two-way street, which are adapted to the population there. The roads were built according to the landform. Part of the walks aren’t straight. There aren’t clear sign between roads. The material to pave roads are made by bricks or stones because of the climate there. It is easy to drain off the water and makes air moist.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
