'Here Comes The Sun'

Pah! The sun is not here! It's almost JULY and it is RAINING. Come on London!! What is this??
Still, I was trying to think of a song about summer for a good title - it was either my favourite song 'Here Comes The Sun' or 'Summer Lovin' from Grease (such a cringe inducing song that I have to be in an incredibly particular mood for!)  So, divine song versus cheesy musical song - 'Here Comes The Sun' wins.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. I've been meaning to write a post about my summer for a while. I've had lots of blog post inspiration recently (posts about odd things like Damien Hirst to come!), but was strict with myself and said I can't write any of them until I have finished this one.

Summer. Now I'm a university student it's actually quite an odd time. It's an adjustment to move back to an old life from another life far away (which is very different - I run my own house, work to my own timetable - essentially I do what suits me in an independent manner). I can sometimes feel like I'm not quite settled - I go to one place, gradually get in to my routine, and then I'm off to the other. It's tough to articulate this without sounding like I don't want to be home - I am really happy to be home, it's hard being without my family during term time (to lose proximity with your greatest source of support is hard). Being home is something I love but, of course, there is a routine I have to get back in to which takes time. Furthermore, there's the question of what to do with myself for three months? Again, the contrast is pretty strong - at university you know exactly what you're doing (going to lectures, dying in the library etc.) but with the three months at home I shape my time as I choose.

Summer 2012, what to do? As a student there's the task of getting the balance of doing some things that, frankly, look good on your CV and enjoying your free time. I think there's quite a good mixture that has been going on, and will continue this summer.

In terms of being a good student, I've got a few things to work on. I have been home for a month now and have been attending lectures at a Senior Executive Programme at London Business School. I am incredibly fortunate to know one of the lectures at the school who gave me the chance of following him for a while. Initially, the artsy student in me was wary and wondered whether Rachel the Art Historian would enjoy or benefit from observing a business course. I was so foolish to worry. The lectures have been so inspiring and intellectually challenging. I went in a blank slate and have come out with a greater understanding of 'the business world', which to be honest is in everything - my eyes were really opened. This enthusiasm has taken me over so completely that the lecturer I was following and I came to the delirious heights of discussing taking a Business MA at the school after my Art History degree. We'll see how things go... Focusing on at least getting an Art History degree is probably not a bad idea for the moment.

Later this summer I am also due to attend a course at The Courtauld for a week. The course focuses on German art from the Romanticists to the Expressionists. I am so excited it's unreal. Just doing my preparation reading has me in a state of euphoria. The first two years of the Art History degree at St Andrews, naturally, provide you with an overview of art from the Renaissance to Contemporary art - I can't wait for the opportunity to study the art of a particular culture, and various styles, more closely. I'm getting all excited and tingly just thinking of Caspar David Friedrich and Emil Nolde.

On a more minor level, there are some other things I'm trying to get on top of this summer that wouldn't really hurt me to do. I am organising returning to help out at Somerset House like I did last summer - the great thing about working for them is that if you have once you're in their system and can work when suits you. On a sadder note, I was prepared to take part in a cheese-making course this summer but that fell through. No homemade cheese for me - a tragic blow to myself and my foodie friends. I'm looking in to possibly taking part in a patisserie course instead - not the same, but I'm sure homemade croissants could never be a bad thing. On top of all of this, I'm retaking my driving test... Ugh. Yes, I'm trying again. After getting back behind the wheel I'm not as anxious and know I can drive - it's just proving to a stranger that I can without getting spooked. We shall see... I will not allow myself to be taking this test forevermore!

On the less intellectual side, I am lucky enough to be carrying out some exciting travelling this summer. In a couple of weeks time I will be spending just under a week in Croatia. I am staying with a couple of Croatian women my family has come to know (and love) through my father's work. They're all wonderful. I met the oldest of these women in my kitchen one morning when I groggily came downstairs for breakfast and was not aware she was in the house - we then spent two hours having the most bizarre but wonderful conversation of my life over a very long breakfast. I'm certain this trip is going to be just as spectacular as our first meeting. Then, later this summer I am travelling to Florence with my family. I went to Florence with the company AHA last summer and fell in love - I have now managed to convince my family that we should all go. I'm already fantasising about all of the art I will be able to see again, the beautiful streets and the food which is nectar from heaven (Italian cooking just makes British people look so incompetent). In Florence there is a bronze statue of a wild boar ('Il Porcellino') very close to Piazza della Signoria and apparently if you rub its snout you will return to Florence in your lifetime (I did this on my AHA trip) - who knew that this wild boar was so efficient? I'm impressed that I'm already back in a year! The final destination for my family this summer will be Portugal just before I return to university (I will seriously have something like four days to get myself together and say good bye to everyone in London before I'm back in St Andrews!) This was a wonderful spur of the moment Prosser decision. Once again, thanks to my father's work, he has a contact over there who suggested that we visit. I am so excited - I have been conscious that I really need to explore more of Europe and gosh what I'm just seeing of Portugal from books, the internet etc. just has my heart fluttering.

All in all, not a bad summer? My little sister has a game we play when we are stressed - we take it in turns to say one thing that we're looking forward to in the future - we spent a good half hour playing this game when thinking of the summer ahead. All of these magnificent experiences on top of catching up with friends and family! So, if the English weather could just get back on track, that would be marvellous.