New Experiences #56 - #59
W/C 18th June
New Experience #56: Work Experience With My MP
The morning after Beach Break, I was in the Liberal Democrats office in Cardiff for the start of a week of work experience with Jenny Willott, MP for Cardiff Central. I was involved in small but important admin tasks, such as briefing the MP on local news, whilst I was given the chance to talk to different staff in the office. My highlight was watching the fascinating mix of people coming in to the Constituency Surgery on the Friday and I was impressed by Jenny, who was hard working, genuine and very likeable. She even bought me a (embarrassingly hot) curry for lunch on the last day to thank me for my week’s work.
Rating: 3/5 As I may go into politics in the future, I found it very valuable to see how much work goes behind an MP as well as the totally un-glamorous side of constituency work.
New Experience # 57: Meeting A Rapper And Ex-Child Soldier
“The only music I used to hear was guns and bombs”. The words of Sudan’s Emmanuel Jal as he talked to a room of campaigners at the Arms Trade Treaty youth conference in Westminster. I have long been a fan of the ex-child soldier, now a rapper-cum-activist, and was overjoyed to hear he was at this event promoting the Control Arms campaign. I managed to speak to him after his talk and he gave me, not only his autograph but his number so we could ‘keep in touch’. A lovely man, a talented rapper and a hugely inspiring speaker.
Rating: 5/5 It was a really special moment for me and I hope we can indeed keep in contact and work on a project together in the future. Check out his We Want Peace campaign.
New Experience #58: Collecting Olympic Kit
So I’ve been given training (New Experience #40), my information pack and a CRB check, so the next step on the Olympic volunteering ladder was kit collection. I eagerly entered the allocated venue and strolled confidently into the hall to try out the clothing, knowing I would be seen wearing it in front of thousands of Olympic Football attendees in a matter of weeks.
Rating: 2/5 It’s bright pink.
New Experience #59: Welsh Music Festival
On yet another rainy Saturday, I spent a very pleasant hour at the free Welsh Language Music festival, Tafwyl, in the grounds of Cardiff Castle. My all time favourite Welsh instrumental band Y Niwl played a stonking set and I chatted yn Gymraeg to some S4C peeps wanting to know about Welsh Learners’ experiences of the channel.
Rating: 3/5 Cyfle gwych i siarad Cymraeg a gwrando ar cerddoriaeth dda iawn. Next time, I’ll bring a brolly.
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IMAGE: New by chrisinplymouth
