{"id":732,"date":"2023-02-24T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=732"},"modified":"2023-02-23T22:55:29","modified_gmt":"2023-02-23T22:55:29","slug":"that-one-time-my-department-let-me-go-on-a-fun-trip-eiff-travel-journal%ef%bf%bc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbiw.co.uk\/wordpress\/blog\/that-one-time-my-department-let-me-go-on-a-fun-trip-eiff-travel-journal%ef%bf%bc\/","title":{"rendered":"‘That one time my department let me go on a fun trip’ \u2013 EIFF Travel Journal\ufffc"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

Written by Ema Gramnjak, Translated by Gwenllian Jenkins<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Despite it being late June, I’d still check my university email box to see if something interesting would come up. I was in luck! Theatre, Film and Television Studies department (TFTS) sent out an email offering a free industry pass to Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF). As a Film student, I was over the moon. Not only would that be my first industry festival, but I\u2019d also get to visit Edinburgh again, which I had the chance to fall in love with the first time I went.<\/span>
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I put together a short paragraph explaining why I should be given one of the five free passes and sent it off to Kim Knowles, the department\u2019s experimental film lecturer, who has a long-standing working relationship with EIFF. Now I had to wait a week. It was nerve-wracking, however, seeing the email from Kim saying I got offered one of the passes made up for all of it.<\/span>
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Travelling on a student budget<\/strong><\/span>
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I tried to travel as cheaply as possible. My \u2018student budget\u2019 consisted solely of my pay checks and being late on one month\u2019s rent; no maintenance loans or parental allowances. I\u2019m not promoting skipping your rent, but I was not going to miss out on this trip.<\/span>
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I took the train from Aberystwyth to Birmingham and a night bus from Birmingham to Edinburgh. On the way home I took a plane from Edinburgh to Birmingham, and in the end, I was lucky enough to have a friend drive me back to Aberystwyth, instead of staying the night and catching the first train back in the morning (the day I was coming back was the day the Rails decided to strike).<\/span>
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The night bus sounds like a nightmare, but it was the cheapest option and also let me spend three whole days in Edinburgh instead of two (keep in mind I had a shift the day I set off and the day after I came back). What I would recommend is, firstly, fully charge your phone before getting on the bus, because you might sit down where the outlets don\u2019t work, as I did. Secondly, if you can, take up both seats for greater comfort. Thirdly, bring one of those neck pillows, or at least a soft hoodie to roll up. Finally, pray you don\u2019t end up travelling with three football fans that like to talk in the middle of the night about the league.<\/span>
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Regarding my stay, I found an amazing hostel on Booking.com called The Baxter Hostel, whose location is conveniently a five-minute walk from Princes Street and the Scott Monument. Not only was it one of the cheapest options, but it also had breakfast included in the price. I will definitely book with them again when I go next time.<\/span>
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Dining wasn\u2019t something I\u2019d try to save money on, but it also doesn\u2019t have to cost you as much as your room did. If McDonald\u2019s is the place you\u2019d opt for, go for it, I won\u2019t judge. However, The Baxter, like many other hostels, offered pamphlets of local cafes and restaurants, which is how I found a lovely street food place, The Snax Caf\u00e9. I went there every day – for less than a tenner you could get a main, chips on the side, a drink, and a dessert! Aside from that, there are quite a few places that offer student discounts, so keep an eye out for those.<\/span>
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Sight-seeing and people-meeting<\/strong><\/span>
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There is a lot to see just on foot. Edinburgh is filled with monuments and parks, Calton Hill being one of my favourites, as well as the ever-busy Royal Mile. However, if you have a soft spot for souvenirs like me, try to stay away from the gift shops (if I had the money to buy a proper Scottish kilt, you can bet I would).<\/span>
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Fortunately for us, the Edinburgh Fringe, a comedy festival, takes place throughout August, and EIFF happens to take place in the middle of it. Not only did we get to go watch exceptional films that have yet to hit the cinemas, but in our spare time, we could enjoy whole spectrums of street performers, musicians, stunt performers, comedians, and theatre assemblies.<\/span>
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I went to a free improv show by the Bournemouth University improv society and did some audience participation. Every one of them brought something fresh to the table, and together they made a very fun group. Something told me I should properly introduce myself after the show, and my gut feeling was right. They immediately took me in. We went to more shows together, we went for drinks, and I joined them in exploring Edinburgh Castle. A big part of trips like these is meeting like-minded strangers to create experiences with, and I can tell you now that those guys made mine so much better.<\/span>
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If there\u2019s anything to take from this travel journal, it\u2019s that whatever opportunity presents itself to you, University-induced or not, you should take it. While you still have the energy to make these kinds of memories, don\u2019t sleep on them. The department will most likely be sending another email about the EIFF 2023 this upcoming June, and you can bet I will try to get myself another one.<\/span>
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\u2018Yr unig adeg bues ar drip hwyl gyda fy adran\u2019 \u2013 Dyddiadur Teithio EIFF<\/strong><\/span>
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Er iddi fod tuag at ddiwedd Mehefin, o\u2019n i dal i gadw cip olwg ar fy e-byst o\u2019r brifysgol lle bod rhywbeth diddorol yn dod trwyddo. Mi o\u2019n i\u2019n lwcus! Roedd Adran Astudiaethau Theatr, Ffilm a Theledu (TFTS) wedi anfon e-bost yn cynnig tocyn diwydiant am ddim ar gyfer G\u0175yl Ffilm Rhyngwladol Caeredin (EIFF). Fel myfyriwr ffilm, ro\u2019n i\u2019n gwenu o glust i glust. Nid dim ond gan mai hyn fyddai fy ngwyl diwydiant gyntaf, ond hefyd achos byddaf yn cael ymweld \u00e2 Chaeredin unwaith eto, fe wnes i ddisgyn mewn cariad gyda\u2019r lle y tro gyntaf i mi ymweld.<\/span>
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Ysgrifennais baragraff fer yn esbonio pam y dylwn i ennill un o\u2019r pump tocyn am ddim, a\u2019i anfon at Kim Knowles, darlithiwr yr adran mewn ffilm arbrofol, sydd gyda pherthynas cryf yn gweithio gyda EIFF. Roedd yn awr rhaid i mi aros wythnos. Mi oedd hi\u2019n gyfnod llawn nerfau, ond, roedd darllen yr e-bost gan Kim yn datgan y cynnig am un o\u2019r tocynnau i mi gwerth pob munud o boeni.<\/span>
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Teithio ar gyllideb myfyriwr<\/strong><\/span>
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Ceisiais teithio mor rhad a phosib. Roedd fy \u2018nghyllideb myfyriwr\u2019 yn cynnwys ond incwm o fy swydd a bod yn fis yn hwyr ar daliadau rhent; dim benthyciad cynhaliaeth na chymorth wrth fy rhieni. Dydw i ddim yn awgrymu colli taliad rhent, ond mi o\u2019n i ddim am golli allan ar y trip yma.<\/span>
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Fe wnes i ddal y tr\u00ean o Aberystwyth i Birmingham a dal bws n\u00f4s o Birmingham i Gaeredin. Ar y ffordd adre, cymerais awyren o Gaeredin i Birmingham, ac yn y diwedd roedd yna ffrind a oedd yn medru fy ngyrru yn \u00f4l i Aberystwyth yn hytrach nac aros y noson a dal y tr\u00ean gyntaf y bore trannoeth (y diwrnod o\u2019n i am ddychwelyd oedd y diwrnod cychwynnodd y streiciau tr\u00ean).<\/span>
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Er i\u2019r bws n\u00f4s swnio\u2019n erchyll, dyma oedd yr opsiwn mwyaf rhad a oedd hefyd yn golygu y byddaf yn cael gwario tri diwrnod llawn yng Nghaeredin yn lle dau (cadwch mewn cof, oedd gennaf gwaith y diwrnod cyn i mi fynd yn ogystal a\u2019r diwrnod ar \u00f4l i mi ddychwelyd). Beth fyddwn i\u2019n argymell fyddai, yn gyntaf gwnewch yn si\u0175r bod eich ff\u00f4n yn llawn cyn mynd ar y bws, achos mae\u2019n bosib bod yr allbynnau p\u0175er lle ydych yn eistedd ddim yn gweithio, fel y digwyddodd i mi. Yn ail, os yn bosib, cymerwch y ddau sedd i deimlo\u2019n gyfforddus. Yn drydydd, dewch a chlustog i\u2019ch gwddf, neu siwmper meddal i rolio. Ac yn olaf, cofiwch i wedd\u00efo nad ydych am deithio gyda thri o gefnogwyr p\u00eal-droed a oedd yn hoffi siarad yng nghanol y n\u00f4s am y gynghrair.<\/span>
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Yngl\u0177n a fy arhosiad, fe wnes i ddarganfod hostel anhygoel ar Booking.com o\u2019r enw The Baxter Hostel, a oedd wedi\u2019i leoli rhyw bum-munud i ffwrdd o Princes Street a\u2019r Scott Monument. Nid dim ond hyn oedd un o\u2019r opsiynau rhataf, ond roedd brecwast wedi\u2019i gynnwys o fewn y pris. Mi fyddai bendant yn bwcio gyda nhw pan af i nesaf.<\/span>
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Doedd bwyta ddim yn elfen y oeddwn wedi bwriadu arbed arian ar, ond does dim rhaid iddo gostio mwy na eich stafell. Os mae McDonald\u2019s yw\u2019r lle y byddwch yn dewis fel arfer, ewch amdani, dwi ddim am eich beirniadu. Er hynny, mae\u2019r Baxter, fel nifer o hosteli eraill yn cynnig nifer o bamffledi am gaffis a thai-bwyta lleol, sydd fel gwnes i ddarganfod lleoliad bwyd-stryd hyfryd, The Snax Caf\u00e9. Bues i yna bob dydd \u2013 am lai na ddeg-punt mae\u2019n bosib cael prif gwrs, sglodion ar yr ochr, diod, a phwdin! Yn ogystal a hyn, mae yna nifer o lefydd gwahanol sydd yn cynnig gostyngiad i fyfyrwyr, felly cadwch lygad allan am rheina.<\/span>
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Gweld golygfeydd a chwrdd \u00e2 phobl<\/strong><\/span>
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Mae yna lawer i weld ond ar droed. Mae Caeredin yn llawn cofgolofnau a pharciau, Calton Hill yn un o fy ffefrynnau , yn ogystal a\u2019r Royal Mile prysur iawn. Ond, os ma gyda chi awydd brynu anrhegion o\u2019r lle yn union fel fi, ceisiwch aros i ffwrdd o\u2019r siopau (os oedd gennai\u2019r pres, mi fyddaf wedi prynu Kilt Albanaidd go iawn, allwch chi rhoid pres arno fo).<\/span>
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Yn ffodus i ni, mae G\u0175yl Fringe y Caeredin, g\u0175yl comedi, yn cael ei gynnal trwy gydol mis Awst, gyda\u2019r EIFF yn digwydd reit yng nghanol o. Cawsom cyfleoedd i weld ffilmiau anhygoel sydd heb gael eu rhyddhau mewn sinem\u00e2u eto, ac yna yn ein hamser sb\u00e2r, cawsom cyfle i fwynhau ystod eang o berfformwyr stryd, cerddorion, perfformwyr styntiau, comediwyr, a grwpiau theatr.<\/span>
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Bues i ymweld gyda sioe \u2018improv\u2019 am ddim gan gymdeithas \u2018Improv\u2019 Prifysgol Bournemouth, a roedd yna gyfle i\u2019r gynulleidfa cymryd rhan. Daeth pob aelod o\u2019r gr\u0175p \u00e2 rhywbeth ffres i\u2019r sioe, gyda\u2019i gilydd roeddent yn gr\u0175p andros o ddigri. Roedd rhywbeth yn deud wrtha i bod angen i mi gyflwyno fy hun yn iawn ar \u00f4l y sioe, a roedd y teimlad perfedd yn gywir. Roedden nhw mor groesawgar i mi. Aethom i nifer o sioeau eraill gyda\u2019n gilydd, yna allan am ddiodydd gyda\u2019r n\u00f4s, ac fe ymunais gyda nhw wrth grwydro castell Caeredin. Rhan annatod o anturiaethau fel hyn, yw cwrdd \u00e2 phobl tebyg i chi a chreu profiadau gyda hwy, a fedrai ddeud wrthych chi bod y pobl yna wedi gwneud fy mhrofiad i mor dda.<\/span>
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Os mae yna unrhyw beth i gymryd o\u2019r dyddiadur teithio yma, yw bod unrhyw gyfle sy\u2019n ymddangos i chi, trwy\u2019r Brifysgol neu bridio, dylech ei gymryd. Tra bod gyda chi\u2019r egni i greu atgofion fel rhain, peidiwch \u00e2 chysgu ar y cyfle. Mi fydd yr adran mwy na thebyg yn afon e-bost arall am EIFF 2023 mis Mehefin yma, a mae\u2019n sicr byddaf yn ceisio cael tocyn arall i fy hun unwaith eto.<\/span>
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