England vs France: Football uniting nations in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks

So I'd thought I'd steer away from the direct travel writing to share my thoughts on the aftermath of the Paris attacks in terms of the recent football match between England and Paris. Having visited France on many occasions, I do love the culture and history of some of the amazing cities in France, including the iconic Paris.

I must admit that I'm not the biggest football fan in the world, but after the tragedies of what took place on Friday night I thought it would be uplifting to watch my home country England take on France in a long awaited friendly football match. I knew that it was going to be one of the few football matches I'd watch knowing that it wasn't just about winning. It proved to be so much more than that. The horrendous terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last week Friday 13th November have brought so much pain and loss to some many families and friends of the victims. Our hearts break for the 129 victims who lost their lives and the 300 people who are currently injured, many of which are fighting for survival. The tragedy left the world speechless, questioning how a group of people could commit such horrific acts on innocent people. Thus it is true what they say, human beings are the deadliest mammals on the planet. Will there ever be world peace? Terrorism leaves even the atheists and agnostics to rely on nothing but hope and prayer. However, the England versus France football brought the two nations together in a globally recognised sport. Even with England winning 2-0, the real victory was solidarity which is what this game definitely brought to our attention.

Following the Paris attacks, the safety of the crowd was extremely important. Fans were advised to go to the stadium early due to increased security measures which was reassuring not only to people attending but to those watching worldwide. When tragedies like the Paris attacks occur, you can't help but worry about the events to come. With France declaring that they are now at war against ISIS, there is a sense fear for the safety of our nations. As I was enjoying the match, I couldn't help but think about the threat of terrorism to Wembley stadium that night, filled with hundreds of people who came out to watch a thrilling game of football. You can't help but think that these terrorists are constantly going to target places or events with the most amount of civilians. This attitude and fear can easily lead you into a state of paranoia especially with Wembley being a place so close to home, I couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like if the Paris attacks were repeated there and the thought alone petrifies me. Yet this is what terrorism aims to do - it imposes fear and causes pain. But we can't let terrorism win. Terrorism is inhumane and must be defeated. I personally refuse to live in fear and paranoia which is why I thought this match was so important. It showed power and unity through sport which gave a sense of hope and restored some faith in humanity. Football is very much a sport associated with rich, arrogant men who cheat on their wives and spend all their money on cars whilst kicking a ball now and again. However, the England versus France game, showed a different side to football in the form of unity. But most importantly, it showed terrorists that these nations are more defiant and powerful than ever.

The match

Despite these recent terrorism attacks in Paris, the French federation wanted to go along with the match last night which was highly commendable considering the unfortunate circumstances. Although a few players had admitted that they were reluctant to play, many of them wanted to go ahead with it mainly for symbolic reasons. Some of the French players had even lost family and friends during the attacks, such as Lassana Diarra whose cousin was unfortunately killed during the attacks. Diarra received a standing ovation when he came on as a substitute and played very well considering the circumstances. 

It was clear that this match was definitely much more than a game of football. With the Wembley arch lit up in French tricolours and the English fans displaying a mural of the French flag in the stadium, it was clear that the game was a symbol of solidarity and strength.  The English fans even joined in with the French singing their national anthem 'La Marseillaise' as the words were displayed on big screens around the stadium, A one minute silence took place as a sign of respect for the 129 people who tragically lost their lives at the hands of ISIS. Floral tributes were brought forward by Prince Harry, president of the FA, and the English and French players united in a circle in the middle of the football pitch holding arms in a symbol of union. It was a beautiful and highly emotional moment which demonstrated the power of nations when brought together.

To my surprise, the match was exciting and engaging from start to finish and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I tend to zone out of football after the first 20 minutes, but I had my eyes glued to the screen from the moment the first whistle blew. Once kick off was under way, the crowds were incredible. The roars of enthusiasm and the singing chants uplifted Wembley and gave the stadium the atmosphere it needed. I won't go into the gritty details of the match mainly because I'm not exactly a football expert. What I can say is that England played fantastically, which was somewhat shocking to me considering they had on of their youngest squads ever to play. It was lovely to see them set off to a good start which followed throughout the whole game. They had plenty of possession of the ball as well as some pretty good shots in the goal area. France's defence wasn't at their best and just 5 minutes before the end of the first half, 19-year-old Tottenham Hotspur player, Dele Alli scored a wonderful goal on his first Wembley start and made his mark with an electrifying shot.  Wayne Rooney, who was on top form for the whole match, soon followed suit in the second half as he volleyed and scored his 41st goal in international football aided by Alli. The teamwork from the England squad was phenomenal and it was lovely to see them play so well. I felt that the France were lacking aggression and passion which is understandable on such an overwhelming and emotional match day.  They did play well and fair, but it was clear England wanted that ninth victory at Wembley.

Despite it being a difficult night for them, France were tremendously grateful for the support demonstrated by the English fans. French manager expressed his gratitude and gave England manager Roy Hodgson a hug at the end of the match. Both agreed that this match was more about solidarity and a chance for a moment of communal grief.

One thing is for sure, this match was definitely not a normal game of football. England came out victorious but it was France that won our hearts,

#PrayForParis

#PrayForTheWorld

#AllLivesMatter

Why Students Should Study Abroad

Although I've always liked travelling from a young age, I never thought I ever want to experience living in a different country. I mean, I love going on holiday but it's always nice knowing that you've got a ticket back home. However, one of my most inspiring and forever memorable travel adventures was having the opportunity to live and study in Miami, Florida. 

While I was at studying at the University of East Anglia, spending a year abroad was not only a compulsory part of my American Studies degree; it was one of the highlights of my university experience as a whole.

In 2012, I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to spend a year abroad studying at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. I have to honestly say it was by far one of the best years of my life and was definitely an experience that I could never ever forget. Not only did I learn a lot of about American college culture, I developed as a person by enhancing my cultural awareness and independence by successfully adapting to a completely new environment.  I grew to know and love Miami, from the infamous south beach to the lively downtown district and not forgetting the beautiful Hispanic culture embedded in the city, it will always have a special place in my heart. To this day I still bore my family and friends about my year abroad, blabbering on about how much I love Miami and all the amazing things I experienced there. I saw Obama, I joined a sorority, I went to watch the Miami Heat play, I met Flo Rida and I even went to the Bahamas and Cancun, just to list a few of my personal experiences. Everyone has a different year abroad experience no matter where you are. However, you cannot just rely on the place alone; it is what you truly make of it. What you put in is what you’ll get out of it. Be open-minded, be safe and most importantly…have fun!

Sebastian the Ibis was our very own mascot

Although studying abroad is about having fun in a new environment, you must remember the main reason why you’re there. You need to study. As boring as it may sound, remember why you’re at university in the first place. Make the most out of studying in a new country. I took advantage of the unique courses offered at the University of Miami including Comics in the USA, Gay and Lesbian USA and the Italian Mafia and Drugs. Through hard work and my previous experience from UEA, I was able to quickly adapt to the US education system quickly and effectively, proven by the fact I successfully passed the year with a 3.84 GPA (equivalent to about a high 2.1/ First).

One of the most important ways to make sure you get the most out of your year abroad is to get involved in as much as you can. Go out and meet people, explore your new home and embrace the new culture. I ensured that I became fully involved in the American College culture. I went through the recruitment process of becoming a part of the Greek system and successfully became a member of one of America’s largest and ever-growing sorority’s, Kappa Kappa Gamma. By joining a sorority, I gained a large network of friends within a sisterhood; I took part in community service and supported our national philanthropy. My sisters encouraged me to strive for academic excellence, achievement and leadership, which I continue to do so to this very day. I also had the opportunity to witness the vigorous political fight for the 2012 election by having the chance to see and listen to Barack Obama and Mitt Romney speak at the university on separate occasions. As the US political system was deeply embedded in my degree, this was highly beneficial to me and I’ve always been a big fan of Obama and it was an honour and privilege to be in his presence. It was definitely a dream that came true.

Obama throwing up the infamous Miami symbol; the []_[]

By getting the most out of your year abroad you learn to become more independent and adaptable. I definitely grew up a lot and felt like I blossomed into a better person as corny as that sounds. It was a little scary at first, but once I was settled there was no stopping me. It was such a unique educational experience which I could never forget even if I wanted to. I lived a new life and had a new home and met so many different people from all over America and the world. I genuinely made friends for life and it's so nice to share memories of our year abroad to one another. 

Me and my sorority sisters on Bid day! 

Because of the independence and new found cultural awareness that you gain from a year abroad, it definitely stands out on your CV/ resume. Employers are very much drawn to those who study abroad because, from experience, it shows that you’re adaptable, daring and willing to challenge yourself which can easily be applied to the workplace. From my own personal experience, in many interviews people have been drawn to the fact I studied abroad and ask why I chose to do it, what I got out it and how my experiences living in a completely new culture can be applied to the world of work.

I became a very big fan of the Miami Heat basketball team 

I think the only downfall of studying abroad is the financial side of it. The University of Miami was one of the more expensive options for our study abroad program seeing as it is a private university where American students on average pay about $60,000 a year.  And we British students have the cheek to complain about the £9,000 a year tuition fees! Luckily for my year abroad, I only paid half a year tuition fees to my home university, UEA, and then paid for the Miami student accommodation, the meal plan, excess fees (athletic centre, gym membership, International student fee etc), my visa and my flights. My student loan didn’t cover this but luckily my daddy was very helpful and contributed to most of it. However, if it wasn’t for my daddy I wouldn’t have been able to afford to study abroad so you definitely need to take the financial costs into consideration. There were a lot of cheaper American universities to attend and most people were able to afford the year abroad with ease. I had my heart set on Miami before I even went to UEA and my daddy knew how much I really wanted to go so was determined to fulfill my dream which he did.

The overall hardest part about studying abroad for me was saying goodbye. It wasn’t just farewell to Miami, it was saying goodbye to the amazing people I met, the friends I made, my sorority sisters, my roommate and just to the experience as a whole. I found it hard to adjust back to ‘normal’ life and I felt like I was boring people to death blabbering on about my time away. Finishing my fourth year at university was really hard, especially as Norwich is so different to Miami. Being away from England for a whole year was surreal so stepping foot on home territory was hard to adapt to.  However, thanks to family and friends (and my dissertation) I was able to adjust back to regular life and still reflected on the amazing memories I had from my year abroad. Writing articles for my student newspaper enabled me to reflect on my year abroad and advise my fellow students about Miami as a city as well as encourage them to study abroad if the opportunity arises.

Saying goodbye to my Australian roommate Jessie was so hard :( 

So for all you students out there or those planning on going to university, I definitely think you should consider studying abroad or finding a degree where a year abroad is part of the course. It is by far one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It changed my life and I’m sure it’ll change yours.