Jukebox Musicals

Jukebox Musicals Artists Featured in Jukebox Musicals ChaptersEarly Jukebox MusicalsThe Jukebox Musical Gains TractionThe Jukebox Musical Matures, DiversifiesThe Future of Jukebox MusicalsOnce upon a time, the novelty of musical entertainment was a box containing wax or paper cylinders that, once a coin was deposited into the machine, the selected song would play.Early versions of these machines predate the radio but once radio broadcasting went mainstream â€" meaning that music could be had for free, the pay-to-hear music boxes became the go-to device for listening to popular songs while at one’s favourite hangout.Those boxes were called jukes or jukeboxes.They presumably got their name from the American South, from the Gulla-Geechee language spoken by the Creole people, who would go to juke joints to drink, dance and generally get rowdy.By definition, juke or jook means rowdy, disorderly or wicked.Fascinating history lesson but what does it have to do with musical theatre? Great question!At the height of their popularity, these juke boxes, no longer confined to the bayous of Louisiana were installed in every venue possible, from dance clubs to dive bars â€" the places where carrying at least a knife was advisable.In the US, where their popularity soared, they featured in malt shops and restaurants where kids congregated after school, and they always contained the latest hit records by all the top stars.A single jukebox might contain five or six records each from Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley and Fats Domino.From those random groupings of songs â€" some from the same artists, it wasn’t much of a stretch to compile a single artist’s, group’s or year’s music into a choreographed stage show, with or without a storyline.It helped that musical films such as An American in Paris and Rock Around the Clock were wildly popular; if they could make money by presenting loosely associated collections of songs, why shouldn’t a repertory company or performing troupe?And so, the first jukebox musicals were crafted… Car lActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £55/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors NatashaActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £45/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ElifActing Teacher 5.00 (10) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CalumActing Teacher 5.00 (15) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ChristopherActing Teacher 5.00 (9) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors LowriActing Teacher 5.00 (8) £85/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors DanielActing Teacher 5.00 (6) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors CiaranActing Teacher 5.00 (5) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsEarly Jukebox Musicals Elvis Presley's music, so often featured in jukeboxes, inevitably would become a new musical Image by blitzmaerker from PixabayObviously, recording artists could not exist until there was a way to record them. And then, once recording methods were established, who would become a recording star would be decided by public opinion, reflected in record sales.Finally, there had to be enough records by said artist to fill a respectable number of slots in a jukebox.The long and the short of this analysis is: jukebox musicals could not exist before the mid-20th Century.Admittedly, early efforts at weaving a single artist’s work into a musical were paltry; in fact, most of the early attempts yielded musical revues rather than anything remotely resembling the day’s Broadway shows.The lone exception to the shows put together in the 70s was Elvis, a 1977 production that detailed his life and career. Ticket sales were no doubt driven, at least in part, by his legions of grieving fans; he had died that year at only 44 years of age.You might wonder about Beatlemania…Indeed, the Beatles were quite popular and their music was ‘covered’ - performed by other artists. Inevitably, the Fab Four’s popularity led to their being the subject of a Broadway musical.This Broadway production, which ran from 1977 to 1979, was remarkable for nothing if not its technical aspects.Against the backdrop of the turbulent 60s, Beatles music played as various newspaper headlines and video clips of newsworthy events flashed on multiple screens, topped by headlines that roughly corresponded to the same time the song being played was popular.In that sense, Beatlemania too was a revue, even though it broke barriers for its innovative use of technology.Trivia question: why weren’t the Beatles’ musicals considered rock/pop musicals?The Jukebox Musical Gains TractionMany believe that Mamma Mia!, the sensational musical comprising of ABBA songs was their first foray into weaving a musical out of their chart-toppers.As well-loved as this engaging show is (you can stream it or rent it; some devoted fans have even bought their own copy of it!), it was not the group’s first time adapting their music and lyrics to suit musical theatre; Abbacadabra was.If you’ve never heard of it, there’s probably a good reason: the show was created as a children’s television programme and the songs were altered to be more suitable for young audiences.For instance, the slightly menacing Money, Money Money became Mon Nez, Mon Nez, Mon Nez â€" My Nose, My Nose, My Nose â€" a song topic that would no doubt thrill any child between the ages of two and five!By this time, Disney Studios had firmly established themselves as American film musical producers for that demographic. They satisfied English-speaking audiences's craving for musicals (and, later, audiences of other languages) and ABBA filled any gaps for musicals that the American musical producer left.Rather tellingly, the ABBA men w ent to collaborate on several stage musical ventures…As the Swedish group’s star was rising, the American musical was still looking backwards. That decade, two retrospectives premiered: Always… Patsy Cline and Buddy â€" The Buddy Holly Story.Both musicians had died very young and in plane crashes. As they were much revered, the best way to pay tribute to them was to write new musicals about their life and art.Still, not all was tragedy on Broadway, even if the rest of the decade’s jukebox shows was spent on looking back. Two shows, The Leader of the Pack and Return to the Forbidden Planet both featured sounds from early 60s rock’n’roll.It seemed, for a while, that the jukebox musical was doomed to hindsight… until just before Y2K. As disco ruled the airwaves, so to did it feature in musical productions Image by Pharaoh_EZYPT from PixabayThe Jukebox Musical Matures, DiversifiesFor most of the 90s, jukebox musicals continued their trend of looking back. Among the titles of that decade were:Saturday Night Fever â€" the stage show based on the 70s smash filmDisco Inferno: loosely based on Dante’s work, it featured music from the disco eraForever Plaid: male vocal harmony groups of the 50sThe Marvelous Wonderettes: female vocal harmony groups of the 50s and 60sFive Guys Named Moe was based on a musical short from the 40sBoogie Nights: the lone British offering of the decade (save one), which also showcased music from the 70sAnd then came Mamma Mia!It obliterated any record set by Rodgers and Hammerstein â€" it out-performed both The Sound of Music and The King and I, legendary shows by those ‘song and dance’ producers. It surpassed Beauty and the Beast for the number of shows played.Rumour has it that, on any day of the year, you can find tickets for Mamma Mia!, put on by any given theatre company, anywhere in the world.The show is raucous and fun, ultimately relatable to anyone who grew up during the disco era, anyone who has ever been a single parent and anyone who longed to discover who their absent parent really is.And, of course, anyone who likes to be a part of the show: for its encore, the cast invites the audience to stand and sing with them!Mamma Mia! did for the jukebox musical what Phantom of the Opera did for book musicals: it made the genre appealing, accessible and relatable. No longer would musical theater be targeted to patrons of certain sensibilities; Mamma opened the floodgates to the greater public.Audiences have never been hungrier for musical entertainment.The first decade of the new millennium brought forth more than 40 musicals of this type; some showcased the music of a single artist or group, such as Tonight’s the Night, featuring the music of Rod Stewart or Jersey Boys â€" the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.Others addressed an era or facet of popular music, such as Rock of Ages (80s glam metal) or On the Record (Disney songs) â€" although there is some debate over whether that last should be considered a true jukebox musical or a revue.As you might guess from some of these titles and/or descriptions, these shows do not have the gravitas of My Fair Lady or Fiddler on the Roof.But then again, the times are different and audiences want feel-good familiarity, not concept musicals that will make them think or preach at them. With her more than 60 years worth of performances, Cher certainly deserves her own musical! Image by skeeze from PixabayThe Future of Jukebox MusicalsThe glory of jukeboxes didn’t last long. Portable radios and, later, portable devices pretty much cancelled out the jukes’ practicality.They did enjoy a brief resurgence when compact discs came on the scene; today, they still enjoy a bit of a novelty effect thanks to their MP3 format, which allows the storing of more music, more compactly.Still, the Golden Age of jukeboxes, and of the music they featured, is long gone. Does the same hold true for jukebox musicals?We need only to look at box office receipts for The Cher Show (2018) that depicts her life and songs. It ran for just over a year and won several Tony Awards. It is not an original Broadway show; rather, it premiered in Chicago and then joined the catalogue of Broadway musicals for that year.Is Cher a bit too dated? How about Britney?Once Upon a One More Time is a story abo ut princesses, set to the very pop music of that former Disney star. Its debut is set for next spring, with Keone as the choreographer.Did you enjoy the film Clueless? It’s not exactly Mean Girls but it does feature similar elements and songs from the film. It opened off-Broadway last year; talks of it going international are underway.Do you like Cabaret shows? You’re in luck! Moulin Rouge is headed your way in about a year; don’t miss out on your chance to buy tickets.Fact is, everybody is now getting in on the act: French artists put on Hit Parade, Mexico staged Si Nos Dejan and German artist Udo Lindenberg broke away from his rock roots to become writer and artistic director for Beyond the Horizon.In this decade alone, Take That regaled us with The Band, Richard Hawley gave us Standing at the Sky’s Edge and The Spice Girls treated us to Viva Forever!None of them are Tony Award winners. None of them is quite of the same calibre as West Side Story, even though they mean to speak to a more youthful audience, as West Side did.Clearly, with titles ripped straight from Top 40 charts, we shouldn’t expect grandiose opera or anything that compares to the likes of, say, a Gilbert and Sullivan production.What you will get is a hefty dose of fun and perhaps a dash of reminiscence… and, if you’re in luck, perhaps the best musical adaptations ever conceived.If you find it hard to distinguish between operas and musicals (don’t worry, many think they are one and the same!), you need our exposé on the different types of musicals…

How To Make Smart Prep For Your Ongoing Chemistry Exam

How To Make Smart Prep For Your Ongoing Chemistry Exam 0SHARESShare Learning Science is a great matter and could be mastered, once you know how to approach its branches and what best you could do in your exams. You need to know the ways and tips to master learning Chemistry since it is a mind twister with its symbols. Online tutoring services offer their best in this scenario. Some tips for chemistry learning and winning in the exam Know the equations and symbols well beforehand and rehearse them many a time: Do not get confused with Chemistry symbols and use flashcards to remember them with ease Do not postpone Chemistry problems: Learn to apply your mind and do Chemistry problems once they are assigned to you. Or, you would get stuck in the middle. While balancing the equations, have a clear mind and do not get confounded. Go step by step Have regular study habits: Learn Chemistry every day and concentrate on your topics for the day with seriousness. For, Chemistry concepts demand rapt attention from you in your class and homework hours and once you lose the thread, you tend to miss most of your Chemistry work. Ask your teacher queries once you get them in your mind. Sit with your peers and work out difficult areas with them promptly after class or in the evening to avoid getting messed up in the last stage Do not cram for the exam: Schedule your time table for your Chemistry exam and go by the topics day by day. Make sure you learn the topics thoroughly and do not have any illusion about the concepts. Write out what you understand: While dealing with Chemistry equation or sum, write down what you understand so that you could make most of the task and answer promptly with understanding. Sheer abstract imaginings in Chemistry would not work out and you miss certainly miss some important points which may be the essence of the task Read the instructions and questions carefully before answering: Spend a bit of time in reading the questions and then answer. Correct understanding would definitely pave way for good scores in Chemistry exam. The best way to ace Chemistry exam is seeking the help of an online Chemistry tutors from a reputed institute like Tutor Pace and gain considerable tips from them to excel in your Chemistry exam. [starbox id=admin]

Elevator to Success Internal Drive a Key Ingredient - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Elevator to Success Internal Drive a Key Ingredient - Introvert Whisperer Elevator to Success: Internal Drive a Key Ingredient Elevator to Success: Internal Drive a Key Ingredient Recently I had an epiphany -drum roll, please. An internal drive to succeed is the secret sauce of a fruitful career. Personality type or education levelâ€"both factors can determine the difficulty that individuals will face when finding success, but education level or emotional make-up will not doom an individual to a fiery pit of failure. The importance of internal drive gets sidelined a tad. Children get taught the value of hard work, but parents, teachers, and dramas tend to drive home the importance of a formal college education far more frequently. The college will teach equip with the knowledge, the skills, and the credentials to succeed. Not used to or too shy to talk in front of crowds? College can help with that. In fact, college and success are so firmly linked together that when you type college quotes in Google Image Search, most of the quotes shown have nothing to do with college. Here are a few examples: “There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.” “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” “Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings.” “Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.” The quotes present college as the only path to success, a risky venture that will pay off, and an ambitious act. And college can be all of those things, but we do ourselves and our families a disservice if we don’t realize college is not the only path. Need evidence? Washington State University’s infographic Surprising Starts to Successful Startup lists 13 different entrepreneurs who founded ten amazingly successful companies. 5 of the 13 entrepreneurs never finished college. Kevin Rose (Digg), Mark Zuckerberg (FaceBook), Janus Friis (Skype), Michael Dell (Dell), and Steve Jobs (Apple) all found success without a college degree. The fact that college isn’t the key to success is the secret I wish someone had shared with me before I spent 40K on a technical writing degree that taught me how to write and how to occasionally communicate with other human beings in a professional manner. Three years post-college, I have a pretty good wage at an internet marketing company. An internet marketing company who is more than willing to employ individuals without a college degree. It kills me a little. Do you know how amazing my wage would be if I wasn’t drowning in student loans? I’d be well on my way to swimming in piles of cash like Scrooge McDuck. And with 7 out of 10 college grads in the same student loan trap, individuals consider if they can obtain success without a formal college education. Let’s go through the evaluation process now. Do you want to pursue a career in engineering, law, or medicine? College is the only option. Formal education will prevent you from operating with faulty knowledge, potentially botching very serious life-changing trials, or constructing an unsafe bridge. Do you have the money to attend college? College can be a time of exploration. You have the money, why not take classes. Some of them might reveal a new passion. Historically, you’ve thrived when expected to utilize textbooks or other resources to teach yourself. When attending college, you have professors and your fellow students to teach you complicated concepts. Without college, there is a higher chance you will not have peers or mentors to help you grasp the concepts you might need to succeed. Do you have the internal drive and dedication to pursue your dream? Will you continually pinpoint new skills to learn and new opportunities to pursue while holding down a full-time job? Do you have the willpower to dedicate three, four or five hours to improving yourself? Or will you put off learning about CSS or proper writing technique to watch the latest episode of Arrow? The ability to learn and the willpower to persevere are hard to cultivate and hold on to. And that is partially why our society believes that college is often the best option. College is like a booster pack. Professors, faculty, and students offer support to individuals who might struggle with learning the skills necessary to succeed. They will pound the information into your head over and over and over again if necessary. They will give you oral assignments to help you shake your discomfort of public speaking. And they will offer tests, disappointed looks, and failing grades in angry red ink to motivate you to succeed. In a society filled with distractions and fun activities, college is the safe path. Without that booster pack, many might not have the motivation to do what’s necessary to succeed. I’m not sure if I would have had the confidence in myself, the communication skills, or the self-restraint to continually improve myself without college, but I do know that it can be done. How well do you think you’d fare without a formal college education? Guest Author Bio: Samantha Stauf is an introvert who spends her time reading, working to develop a freelance career, and wondering why she sunk herself into student loan debt when she’s surrounded by successful people who never attended college. You can find her on Twitter with the handle @Samstauf. Do you know what your next career step is?   Many people don’t. I want to help you accelerate your career by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my eBook on how to construct your Career SMART Goals â€" that will help you put together your actions and keep you accountable.   Get your copy now and start your action plan today: CLICK HERE Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleash your professional potential.

4 Ways Technology Can be Used in the Classroom

4 Ways Technology Can be Used in the Classroom There are many tools, apps and programs you can use to take your teaching to the next level, but dont forget about those that allow students to share their work and knowledge with you and their classmates. Here are four types of toolsand examples of eachthat go beyond the traditional to achieve 21st century learning: Online presentation tools Tools like Google Slides let your students create, edit, collaborate and present what they learn. They can snazz up their presentations with embedded video, animations and design. Mind mapping tools The mind map helps students boost those brainstorming, idea organization and visual learning aptitudes. Check out mind mapping tools line Coggle and iMindQ. Digital publishing tools Your students can transform their hard copy projects into digital books or zines with tools like Flipsnack or iSpring Flip, which convert and combine various documents into online flipbooks. Interactive writing tools Transform that essay or book report into something visually exciting. Storybird uses illustrations to inspire students to write and publish their stories. Quill offers writing and grammar activities that you can weave into your lessons and discussionsplus you can add independent practice opportunities. ReadWriteThink is a great resource for all kinds of interactive, online literacy tools. Technology has impacted education in every way. Make sure youre incorporating it into your students learning experience from start to finish. Look around onlinethere are endless options! See how Huntington can help your students succeed.

Computer Science Glossary

Computer Science Glossary Computer Science means the study of the principles and use of computers. To learn more about computer science, a good place to start is Wikipedia. For other field-related glossaries, look at the vocabulary section oft his blog. To make your own field-related glossary, click here. Activities Listen and matchMatch audio definitionsMatch terms definitionsComputer Science vocabulary card game Listening resources Careers: The Real World of Computer Programming Reading resources A Day in the Life of a Computer Operator/Programmer Role Plays Computer Science role plays for learning coding concepts Grammar resources Online ESL grammar checker Computer Science Glossary appletA small utility or other simple program, often written in Java language and attached to HTML documents. applicationAn end-user program designed to perform a specific function. arrayData saved in a sequential form on a computer system. backupThe procedure for making extra copies of data in case the original is lost or damaged. bitA binary digit, either a 0 or a 1, used to represent computerized data. blogA regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style. browserA program that can display HTML files, used to navigate the World Wide Web. bufferA RAM storage location for temporary data to speed up an operation such as disk access or printing. byteEight bits. classAn extensible program-code-template for creating objects. clientA program or computer that asks for information from other programs or computers. cloud computingThe practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer. compressionThe re-encoding of data into a form that uses fewer bits of information than the original data. Computer ScienceAn academic field that studies the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems. cursorA movable pointer on a computer screen identifying the position that will be affected by clicking a mouse button or where typed text will be inserted. daemonA computer program that starts when a system boots that runs in the background, rather than under the direct control of a user. dataDistinct pieces of formatted information. databaseA collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. defragmentationThe process of consolidating fragmented data on a hard disk to make it work more efficiently. domain nameA name consisting of an alphabetical or alphanumeric sequence followed by a suffix and used as an Internet address to identify the location of one or more web pages. downloadThe transmission of requested data from another computer over a network. encryptionThe transformation of electronic information into an unreadable state by using algorithms or ciphers. fileA resource for storing information, which is available to a computer program and remains available for other programs to use after the program that created it has finished using it. file extensionA group of letters occurring after a period in a file name, indicating the format of the file. folderA virtual location where files can be kept. hardwareA set of physical objects such as a tower, monitor, keyboard, mouse, and so on. iconA small picture representing an application which can be activated by clicking on it. InternetA large computer network that facilitates the exchange and transfer of data between computers. Internet service providerA company that provides individuals and other companies access to the Internet. kernelA program responsible for managing requests from software and translating them into data processing instructions for the central processing unit and other electronic components of a computer. memoryThe internal data storage on a computer. motherboardA printed circuit board containing the principal components of a computer or other device, with connectors into which other circuit boards can be slotted. networkA group of computers connected to each other in order to send and receive data. Open SourceThe production and development of software by a public development community that is freely available to anyone who would like to use it or modify it for their own purposes. operating systemThe software platform required to run various applications and responsible for managing memory storage and data security. packetA portion of a message or data that is transferred over a network. peripheral deviceAny auxiliary device such as a computer mouse or keyboard that connects to and works with the computer. pixelOne point within an image. portA mainly hardware component that enables two computers to connect and share data. protocolA set of rules followed by two devices while interacting with each other. queryA request made by a computer to a database. renderThe process of using a computer program to generate an image from the information contained in a file. routerA device that forwards data packets along networks and located where two or more networks connect. scriptA list of commands that can be executed without user interaction. serverA computer or computer program that manages access to a centralized resource or service in a network. social mediaOnline tools that allow people to create, share or exchange information, ideas, pictures and videos in virtual online communities. softwareA program containing computer code that directs hardware to carry out a range of functions. software bugAn error or flaw in a computer program or system that causes it to behave in unintended ways. speech recognitionThe ability of a computer to identify and respond to the sounds in human speech. speech synthesisThe artificial production of human speech. support ticketA computer software package that manages and maintains lists of issues, as needed by an organization. touchscreenA display device that allows a user to interact with a computer by touching areas on the screen. upgradeA new version of a product designed to replace an older version of the same product. uploadThe transfer of data from one computer to a remote computer functioning as a server. URLThe unique resource locator address for a file that is accessible on the Internet. virtual memoryUnused memory on the hard disk employed by certain applications that need more RAM than is available. virusA program that can copy itself and corrupt the computer system or destroy data. web hostingA service that allows individuals and organizations to make their website accessible via the World Wide Web. wikiA website that allows anyone, using a web browser, to edit, delete or modify content on the site, including the work of other authors. word processorSoftware used to create, edit, format and print documents. Please follow and like us:

Political Controversy at its Finest

Political Controversy at its Finest Picture by DonkeyHotey via Flickr.com My favorite occasion to observe the ignorance of young people is during or after a political debate when opinions are expressed via Facebook statuses and updates. I cannot think of a more unprofessional approach to sharing your political views with your peers. I do believe that sharing ideas in an educational setting is crucial to expand the mind, but Facebook is not an educational outlet. It pains me to scroll through my news feed on occasion to see it flooded with unintelligently composed statuses from my peers or kids I went to high school with. How about, instead of bashing candidates for their seemingly dismal personalities, you read an article or two and actually learn about what they plan to do for our country. I, and your how many ever Facebook friends, dont need a play by play of the presidential debate. Really, we dont. As much as Id like to applaud your attempts at being politically involved, its difficult to overlook your lack of grammar and correct spelling. Your community college education has done you well. That was rude, but also true for some. Its really simple, if you dont know what youre talking about, dont go posting your thoughts all over Facebook just to get a rise out of people. In some cases, people do post some interesting information and share valuable opinions, but it is still very petty to do this through Facebook. If you want to make people aware of certain issues you feel strongly about, have an intimate discussion with friends or family, join a club, get involved in a local campaign, anything but heated comments on Facebook about abortion and health care that will make your friends hate you.

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving While Studying Abroad

How to Celebrate Thanksgiving While Studying Abroad Image via Pixabay.com I believe that celebrating Thanksgiving while studying abroad is worth the effort. Not only will you be celebrating a holiday that is special to your country, it can be a fun way to introduce your new friends to a holiday that is special to you. This can also bring together other American students that may also be feeling that tinge of homesickness. They might be at a loss of what to do when the fourth Thursday in November approaches. So, how does a student have Thanksgiving while studying abroad in a country that may or may not have the resources to have a “proper” Thanksgiving meal?   For starters… Gather friends, classmates, roommates, and teachers In order to celebrate Thanksgiving, you are going to need someone to celebrate with! Who better to celebrate with than your new “overseas family”? Ask the people you sit with in class if they’d be interested in helping you have a Thanksgiving dinner. Let your roommates know of your plans and if they’d like to join in. If you’ve had the chance to make friends with any of the local townspeople and students, you should let them know about your Thanksgiving plans and invite them to come and celebrate. Your teachers might even want to join. Of course, that’s going to be a lot of people to house for one dinner, so your next step in having Thanksgiving while studying abroad is to Find a place for the party Since dorm rooms can be notoriously small, you might have to consider other venues to host your Thanksgiving Day dinner. If your dorm building has a cafeteria or dining hall, you could entertain the idea of having it there. A public park could be a nice place or even a restaurant. The proper parties will have to be informed if you’re going to be eating at a place that needs to prepare for your arrival, such as a restaurant because of seating arrangements. If you opt to eat at your dorm’s building or another place that requires you to bring your own food, then food is the next thing you should plan out. Embrace your new home’s food and show yours It could be a fun idea to have everyone who is coming to Thanksgiving dinner chip in by bringing in a dish that makes them think of Thanksgiving or is special to them. This way, you’ll get to know your overseas family a little better and try some new and delicious foods. Encourage your new friends, locals of the country, to bring foods that they love, too. That way, you each get to share a little of your culture with one another. If you can’t find any traditional foods that you know how to make, try making something with the local cuisine by substituting ingredients by what is available to you. Get in the festive mood with some decorations Wherever you’ve decided to eat, you don’t want the place to look boring for the party. For decorations, ask some friends that you’ve invited to the Thanksgiving dinner if they wouldn’t mind going into town with you to buy some decorations for the dinner. It may be hard to find anything specifically Thanksgiving-themed in a foreign country, so another theme you could search for while in stores is a fall theme. Things like paper plates, napkins, streamers, signs, tablecloths, confetti, table decorations, candles, and candle-holders could all be bought in a fall theme to make your dinner look more inviting. Image via Pixabay.com Enjoy the experience Don’t get bummed out because you’re not at home for Thanksgiving. Missing your family and home is to be expected but don’t let it make you miserable and miss the opportunity to create a new Thanksgiving memory with new friends. Now is the perfect time to embrace the change that comes with studying abroad. Once you’ve got everything planned out, you’ll see that it is very possible to have a fun and exciting Thanksgiving dinner even while you’re studying abroad. Even if you’re miles away from home, you can still have a great time with the people you’re with and make some new Thanksgiving memories.

How to get the best from a university open day

How to get the best from a university open day Choosing which university is right for you isn't easy, which is why utilising university open days are essential in helping you make the right decision. Not only do open days show you exactly what is on offer but they also give you wider view than you'll find in a prospectus or online. Key reasons to go to an open day To see what the campus and local area are like To gauge whether the course at this university is right for you To speak to staff and students and ask questions you may have about the university. To view student accommodation on offer To go on a tour of the university To see what kind of student support is on offer When are open days? Open days start in the summer and occur in the period before the UCAS application deadline. There are also open days throughout the year and after Results Day in August for those going through clearing. Check out the university website to see when this next open day is happening. What happens on an open day? Firstly don't worry, you won't be left wandering around alone when you arrive. All universities set up a timetable of talks and tours for would-be students and their parents. This means you'll have a planned itinerary ahead of arriving of things to do if you choose to. While you may not want to do everything, it does pay to do the crucial talks and tours such as: Talks from the department you are consideringThe admissions talk The student ambassadors talk The university and accommodation toursUCAS and financial talk What else should I do? Talks and tours aside, do take time to explore the university and view it through your own eyes. This is because you need to work out if this is the best choice for you. So do take some time to see the university and area on your own to get a feel for it. Consider: Are all the facilities up to date? Is there a good variety of student groups on offer?Is the local area interesting? How far is the university from your home? What are the student facilities like on and off-campus?Do you get a good feeling about the local area and university? Questions to ask the university staff Next, be ready to ask questions to the staff leading the tours and talks. This is an integral part of any open day as it's through these questions that you will start to build up a clear picture of what life will be like at this university. Questions to ask include: How much self-study do I need to do outside of lectures?How much tutor support will I receive each term?How is the course assessed - exams, course work - both?If I don't meet the grades, is there still a chance I could be offered a place?What careers support is there for undergraduates?How much counselling support is there for student mental health?What's in place for safety on campus? Questions to ask student ambassadors Equally, student ambassadors can often offer you an alternative insight that university staff can't about what attending the university as a student is like. Good questions to ask are: What has been the best and worst thing about university for you? Is teaching support good?Is the local area suitable for students?Is the student social life good?Are you happy with your accommodation?Are sports facilities varied?What does the student union provide? It's always worth going to 3 or 4 open days and maybe even revisiting one before you fill in your UCAS application or choose via clearing. Remember to take notes about each open day you go to so all your open days don't merge into one. All open days are free to attend, but places must be booked so go through the websites to check when they are happening. If you need support with any A-level subject we can help with everything from Maths Tutors, Physics tutors, History Tutors and more.