Bell-ringing : Yoko part 2

 

Bell-ringing is one of the more unusual volunteer opportunities that SCAN has advertised to students this year. We didn't know quite what to expect, so were very happy when a video was posted by a student on our facebook page. We then received an email from the bell-ringing group, updating us on the students' progress below. (We love to receive feedback so if you have a Newcastle University student volunteering with you, please do drop us a line!)

 

Yuri started with us in May after our first promotion with you and has been a brilliant student.  She is about to return to Japan on the 28th of December so we will lose her as a ringer.

Last Friday I organised a ringing session and then a meal at the local pizzaria.  This was for Yuri to say thank you and give her a gift. Yuri's English was poor when she arrived but I have worked with ESOL students and many of the bell ringers are teachers retired or active. 

 

Yuri has helped by ringing for weddings and special services too.  I have taken her to visit other towers and our Captain Geoff White wants to take her to Newcastle Cathedral to ring this Sunday.

 

Yoko, I hope will make the same friends Yuri has made through bell ringing.  This I think is an advantage to foreign students who have no family where they are studying as well as any other student volunteer.

(photo of Jesmond bell-ringers from a youtube video)

 

 

Having heard something from the host organisation, I asked Yoko for the student's point of view : what is it like to take part in an activity such as bell ringing for the first time?
 

I heard about bell ringing from SCAN’s website and also my friend from INTO at Newcastle University told me it’s very nice. We were in the same course. And at that time I was just arrived into Newcastle and I was looking for something to do with local people so I thought “fantastic, it’s a very nice project” and I decided to join it.

How did you get there, did you take the bus?

I took the metro, because it’s in West Jesmond – but I could walk from my house!

At first I was wondering what’s going on! Bell ringing? I didn’t have any idea about bell ringing.

I went there and they are five or six people and they say they are bellringers and, hmm... It takes place in a church and there are five bells and the people pull on the ropes. People pull the bell according to some melody – a rhythm. To begin with people start counting in their heads, so you think 1,2,3 -  and actually I don’t really have any idea how! I still need to do some study!

The first time I couldn’t do anything as I didn’t have any idea. Then I had a small practice with one of the more experienced people. He gave me an induction and I practised first.
 

I’m thinking of the poor neighbours - when do you do it?

It’s on Friday. We do it for an hour, or more, and then we go to a pub, have a drink, have a chat. Actually I want to continue to join bell ringing because the people there are so nice and I feel secure when I talk with them. When I say something they listen to me, so I find it comfortable to stay with them. Some are retired people I guess. I think it’s a very nice opportunity to communicate with local people and I invited two friends, and they too said “it’s so nice!” - they want to come back.
 

A third blog post will follow, concerning Yoko's volunteering on international work camps.

If you would be interested in bell ringing, or any of SCAN's external volunteering opportunities, then click here to sign up, or email scan@ncl.ac.uk.