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Articles by Meryl Hanmer
Ryanair: A different perspective
As a frequent flyer and constant traveller, I have flown across the globe with around 7 different airlines (inc. British Airways, EasyJet, Emirates and Wizz Air) but my airline of choice is always Ryanair. In the past 24 months, I have caught 18 flights, 15 of which were with Ryanair. Below are my top reasons why I love Ryanair and believe that they don’t deserve all the bad press they get.
Travel Hacks: Fly like a pro
Despite being a frequent flyer myself, I’ve never enjoyed flying. I’ve always found it such a hassle, but because of flying so often (about two or three times a month) I’ve managed to find a few little tricks, that not only make flying that bit more bearable but also a little bit cheaper (who doesn’t love cheaper!!!!) Prioritise …. Price or comfort?
Epilepsy: All your questions answers
November is epilepsy awareness month. It’s important that everyone understands the condition that is epilepsy, who it affects, what triggers a seizure and what to do to help someone who is having a seizure. Below are some of the most common epilepsy questions Within our brain, there’s constant electrical activity of cells sending messages to each other.
Should failure to act be considered a crime?
When considering the law of criminal acts, the clear majority of legislation involves actually committing a criminal act i.e. murder, battery, rape. However, there are certain laws which make it a criminal offence to not do something. For example, under the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to, without good reason, fail to cooperate with a breathalyser test when requested. Additionally, certain relationships constitute a legal duty of care.
THE ABERFAN DISASTER
On the morning of October 21st 1966, the young students of Pantglas Primary school stood for assembly singing the well-known hymn; all things bright and beautiful. By 9:15, all students were in their classrooms ready to begin their last classes before breaking at midday for the highly-anticipated half-term holiday. However, earlier that morning at approximately 7.30 am, the first miners arrived for work on the mountain behind the village.
COFIWCH DRYWERYN
In 1965 a small Welsh village in Gwynedd, north Wales was drowned to quench the thirst of an English city. In 1956, a private bill sponsored by Liverpool City Council was brought before Parliament with the intention of backhandedly developing a water reservoir in the Welsh valley of Tryweryn for the sole intention of supplying water to Liverpool. The proposal included the flooding of the Welsh speaking village, Capel Celyn; one of the last remaining Welsh only speaking communities left.
LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE: How to start
In an increasingly globalised world, the learning of at least one foreign language is something that all culturally engaged individuals (should) aspire to. To learn a foreign language not only opens doors for you in terms of employment, but it also opens your mind to a new way of thinking, as well as new people, new cultures and new experiences.
Travel Hacks: Which Apps to download and why?
Organising flights, accommodation and activities can be a stressful task to endure, but today in 2018 there is an abundance of apps which make it all so much easier. But with so many apps to choose from, it is hard to know which are truly practical and which will simply be an unused drain on phone storage. Below are seven apps which guided me from day one through my travels and which I continue to use to this day wherever I am.
Staying healthy while travelling: Keeping fit and eating well
Travelling is medicine for the mind, the body and most importantly the soul. It feeds our desires, inspires our imagination and provokes our feelings and yet as those who’ve embarked on the wondrous feat of travel and adventure will know, it is not always glamorous. Wanderlust leads us off the beaten path to unimaginable beauty, but along this path you experience unexpected amounts of bumps, bruises and stresses.
VARSITY VICTORY CONTINUES - Monday round-up of kickboxing and boxing
Monday 23rd April certainly marked the most exciting Varsity day so far with two huge crowd pleasing events: kickboxing and boxing. Both events received massive support from Swansea supporters and both teams reclaimed the winning trophies for another year. Kickboxing was the first event of the evening, taking place in the pavilion and drawing a strong crowd of around fifty Swansea supporters.
SUCCESS ON THE RIVER TAWE - Swansea’s second point towards the shield
A successful start to Varsity 2018 as Swansea secures its second point towards the shield. First the men’s cycling claimed victory on Wednesday 18th in Carmarthen and on Saturday 21st at Swansea Marina, rowing secured victory once more against Cardiff. In total, five races took place along the 1,600m course on the river Tawe. Novice women were first to take the stage, followed by the novice men.
SUNDAY VARSITY ROUND-UP - Archery & Rifle
Sunday 22nd April saw the first day of multiple competitions for this year’s Varsity competition. Archery was first to take place in the morning, followed by rifle in the afternoon. The first event of the day was the hugely supported archery competition which boasts two huge successes. Not only did they win overall securing our third point towards the Varsity shield but it was also the clubs first ever win against Cardiff at Varsity.
CYCLING SUCCESS - Swansea’s first point towards the Varsity shield
Wednesday 18th April saw Swansea’s cycling team secure our first point towards the overall Varsity shield. Lead by men’s captain Kacper Gorski and women’s captain Izzy Whiteley, Swansea’s cycling team rode to overall victory and their fifth consecutive Varsity win against Cardiff. For the first time, Swansea was fortunate to host a home competition for the cycling thanks to the new outdoor velodrome track in Carmarthen which opened late in 2017.
LANGUAGE STUDENTS Making the most of your year abroad
Embarking on your year abroad is both daunting and exhilarating in equal measures. It is without doubt the most exhilarating fifteen months of my life as I hopped from city to city, country to country and yet was also the most stressful, struggling with a lost passport and terrorist attacks! For language students, the year abroad is not simply a chance to party abroad, but an essential element in language mastery.
Are we ready for varsity? - Find out what the captains have to say
RIFLE: Glen Dighton How have you been preparing for Varsity? Trials for the Varsity team are usually straightforward and now have a good idea of people’s average scores from the winter semester competitions. We have been pushing our top shooters with intensive training days and scrutinising everything from the ground up. Anything that you’re anxious about?
PRE-YEAR ABROAD NERVES and how to calm them
No matter how confident a person you are or how well prepared you feel, there will always be that niggling voice of doubt in the back of your mind, “what if it all goes horribly wrong?” Unfortunately, this is an inevitable feeling that almost everyone goes through. Personally, I went through an emotional rollercoaster in the build-up to my departure, one moment bursting with excitement and the next anxiety would surge through me.
On track for Varsity: Women’s cycling team make their debut
Since coming to Swansea University in the 2016/17 academic year to study sport science, Izzy Whiteley has made it her mission to build a stronger female presence within the university cycling club. In the two years since Izzy has joined us at Swansea, the cycling club has gone from a year on year consistency of only one female member, to now four female road cycling members. Thanks to a united effort, the club eagerly awaits the debut of its first women’s team at the forthcoming Varsity event.
The battle of two brothers - Swansea vs Cardiff sibling rivalry
Varsity is the most eagerly anticipated event of the year for our university sports players, all of whom are training hard to prove themselves against our Cardiff rivals. Yet whilst everyone else awaits a battle with unknown rivals, Euan Deamer, Swansea’s fencing captain awaits competition from his own brother who is the lead foilist fencer for Cardiff University. Euan and Luke Deamer are brothers on opposite sides of the fight during this year’s Varsity competition.
Understanding: The Swansea Titans
The Swansea University American football team, ‘The Titans’ are a force to be reckoned with on the field, year after year out performing their toughest rivals. In recent weeks, their training regimes have been rigorous, their commitment undeniable and with Varsity fast approaching their confidence is unwavering. After joining the Titans in 2014 as a linebacker, Tom Mann has risen through the ranks to become this year’s club president.
Belgium: At a glance
Bearing the scars of centuries worth of wars, battles and invasions, Belgium is a place of pilgrimage for all those looking to understand, remember and mourn such events. This country demonstrates great sensitivity when it comes to honouring fallen soldiers and places heavy importance on keeping their stories of bravery and courage alive.
TRAVEL HACKS: Picking the perfect hostel
Although the thought of staying in a dorm room with complete strangers is a daunting prospect for many, (it certainly was for me the first time I did it) hostels are now without a doubt my favourite places to stay when travelling. Whether travelling alone or in a group, hostels give you the opportunity to meet lots of new people, enjoy a social environment and of course, save money.
Understanding: Boxing
With the recent boom in popularity for boxing, not only as a sport to take part in but as a spectator sport, there is sure to be a record number of students desperate to watch the Varsity boxing matches in the refectory on Monday 23rd April. Our Swansea boxing club have been determined to achieve victory once again this year, engaging in a demanding training regime.
SOLO TRAVEL: It isn’t as scary as you think!
Whilst I understand the desire to share treasured moments abroad with friends, there is an equally compelling case why solo travel makes the acquisition of precious memories even more special. Travelling alone is now easier and safer than ever, due to the interest in this sector skyrocketing; the travel industry now heavily caters to the needs of the solo traveller.
THE POST-TRANSLATION PROCESS ― what is it and why is it useful?
Last time, in ‘THE PRE-TRANSLATION PROCESS – what is it and why is it useful?’, I debunked the myth that translators dive straight into the translation process upon receiving an assignment. I gave an outline of the four processes preceding the actual translation of a text that can help improve the finished translation’s quality. This time, I will take you behind the scenes of what happens to a text in between the finished translation and the delivery to the client.
THE PRE-TRANSLATION PROCESS - what is it and why is it useful?
There is a lot more to translation than meets the eye. The essence of the translation process is to transform a piece of text from one language, the source language (SL), into another, the target language (TL). However, there is far more to consider than many people realise: there is so much to contemplate and decide before the actual ‘translation process’ can begin. There is an entire process to consider first.
Translation vs. Interpretation
Both translation and interpretation operate with the aim of converting information from one language to another, therefore these are two closely related linguistic disciplines. Many elements link these fields together, but the most significant factor that distinguishes the two is the service medium: interpreters translate the spoken word and translators translate the written word.
Losing my Mother to Cancer
On the 7th January 2017, I was half way through my year abroad; studying in Valencia. Up to that point, my time abroad was filled with moments that I wish to remember forever, but on that night I received news that I desperately want to erase from my memory. It was on that night that my mother broke the news to me that she had just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and it was terminal.
Sweden: At a glance
From every direction, the most inexplicably beautiful landscapes await in the sparsely populated Nordic country of Sweden. From the steep alpine peaks and flowing rivers in the north, to the rolling countryside and countless beaches in the south; from the alluring archipelagos in the east to the rocky coastline laden with hidden lakes in the west, Sweden cries out for the adventurous and nature loving alike.
TRAVEL HACKS: packing your backpack
Packing is one aspect of travelling that many people dread doing. It’s all too easy to either pack the wrong things or pack far too many things. When I began my journey travelling the continent I made many packing errors, but soon learnt what essentials I needed and what items to ditch! Padlocks I never stay in a hostel that doesn’t provide lockers in which I can safely store my bag whilst I’m not in the room.
My top five European destinations
Europe is famous as the continent of culture; with centuries’ worth of history and tradition entwined in every city or each country. Many British students neglect to appreciate the glorious beauty that lies on their doorsteps; mixed in with the magnificent architecture and countless museums are the naturally splendid landscapes which offer both peace and tranquillity and exhilarating adventures.
Travelling on a student budget
How I visited twenty-six countries in a fifteen-month period on a student’s budget. After finishing my final exam of my second year, I packed my bags and embarked on a fifteen-month journey across the European continent. Over this period, I lived in three cities, toured twenty-six countries and visited sixty-seven cities/towns.
Poland at a glance
Each year, more and more visitors are drawn to the great Polish cities, including Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk. Each city offers its own take on the country’s turbulent journey through the ages. Having said that, Poland is not short of natural attractions, from the Masurian lake district in the north-east, to the Tatra mountains in the south, each as equally enticing as the vibrant cities.
A festive nightmare
From a young age, Christmas has always been my favourite time of year; there was nothing I loved more than watching Christmas movies, going Christmas shopping and of course eating extortionate amounts of chocolate. Most especially though, I have always adored the shining beauty of Christmas decorations that adorn our homes, shops and streets every year in the build up to ‘the big day’.
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