| About Andrea | Hi, I'm Andrea, born and bred in Rotherham, but I'm a third year student in September, at Leeds Met, doing Graphic Art and Design. I've been the Communications Coordinator on the university volunteering committee for the last year, and will be again for my third year. Volunteering has opened my eyes to what's really out there in Leeds, outside of the student bubble. My paid job as a security steward also brings a lot of variety; I get to work at all sorts of events from the Leeds Student Run, to the Edinburgh's Hogmanay! In my spare time I enjoy all the usual things of cinema, music, going out etc. |
Most of the beginning of the summer was spent working, but since I was working for the likes of Elton John, The Who, Guns and Roses, Westlife and Bryan Adams, I can't exactly complain or even call it hard work! I even bagged myself a boyfriend while at work, and since most concerts were outdoors, I got a tan thrown into the deal too. Bargain! I've also been busy with CALM (Community Action @ Leeds Met) producing their annual review, and helping out with Unity Day shenanigans (a community festival held in Hyde Park). It all got a little tense and stressy at one point, but come Unity Day everyone released a huge sigh of relief that everything went to plan.
 | | Student diarist Andrea |
This year, CALM ran the Broken Beatz Urban Arts Tent, which from what I saw went down a storm. I however, worked over at the kids area doing face painting. I and two volunteers from the Leeds Older Active People group spent all day painting about 80 kids, butterflies seemed to be the favourite of the day, with tigers coming second place. Before Unity Day had even got the chance to die down, I jetted off to Ibiza for the Radio 1 week there. When I told people beforehand that I was going to Ibiza, they would stare in amazement, then burst out laughing because I'm not exactly the kind of girl you would ever expect to go to Ibiza, but I have family out there so I took the chance to get away from the British weather for a while. I had such pre conceptions about the island; we see the "Ibiza Uncovered" programmes showing all the drunken yobs falling about all over the place, so I was pleasantly shocked by the reality.
 | | Everyone waving to me from Mambo |
San Antonio is a beautiful place, and our apartment had the most amazing view I've ever seen. We stayed above Cafe Del Mar, so had the view of the famous sunset strip, out over Cafe Mambo. All the people would gather for sunset, as the music built up to the moment the sun disappeared, and everyone would cheer and clap. Then the fire throwers and other performance artists would come out and entertain the crown as darkness fell. On the Wednesday my brother and I went parasailing, which was scary but I loved it, Thursday we went go-karting then to Bar M to see Zane Lowe doing his live Radio 1 show, then on the Friday, my cousin sent me out on her boat, plastered with Radio 1 banners, to photograph the Pete Tong audience at Cafe Mambo! Apparently to be used in a magazine, but we'll see. Saturday was spent shopping, and Sunday started with Vernon Kay's live show at Mambo, followed by a day on the beach. When it was time to leave I actually got upset, I had such an unexpectedly amazing time I wanted to stay, the chilled-out life and sunnier climate would be appealing to anyone. My cousin even offered me a design job out there so I plan to take up her offer after university. The trip really opened my eyes to what the world has to offer, and taught me to never judge a book by its cover! |
