2013-05-22T12:33:54-04:00 Polly Grice http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/author/index.php?author=polly-grice Copyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Polly Grice Good old fashioned elbow grease. tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2843104 2013-03-11T19:00:00-04:00 2013-05-11T05:12:01-04:00

Polly Grice http://www.huffingtonpost.com/polly-grice/ The Only Way is Essex) and student motto 'YOLO' are probably my top three. But there's one phrase that really is like a red rag to a bull. "That's SO gay".

Let's recap here. Gay does not mean stupid. It is not a synonym for rubbish, or offensive, or trashy, or unfortunate or unlucky. It never means any of these things, and it's high time we stopped treating it like it does.

Associating the word gay with such negative meanings associates the very state of being gay with negativity. This is entirely unacceptable. If children really are the future, then I worry about what's to come if my generation and those younger than me find such casual, everyday homophobia acceptable. Because that's what it is. Homophobia.

Who can forget former Radio 1 presenter Chris Moyles declaring a ringtone "gay" on air a few years back? By "gay", he meant something along the lines of 'stupid and annoying', he certainly didn't mean the phone was homosexual, which is what 'gay' actually means. In another incident, Ofcom decided that Moyles "promoted and condoned certain negative stereotypes based on sexual orientation" when he ridiculed gay singer Will Young in a high-pitched voice. They said his actions were "hostile" and "pejorative" and had "potential to cause considerable offence". He denied he was homophobic, the BBC denied he was homophobic, we all forgot about it and bid him a fond farewell when he left Radio 1 rather than calling him out for his unacceptable behaviour as we should have done.

Here is a man who was listened to by millions of teenagers. He sent a message to those teenagers that it is okay to use the word 'gay' to mean 'stupid'. It wasn't then, it isn't now and it should never be. I'm not blaming Chris Moyles for inventing the usage of the term, it's everywhere and that's half the problem. It's just one in a long line of examples.

LGBT equality has never been in the public eye more than now. Countries around the world are legalising equal marriage, LGBT history month in February was a success and awareness campaigns to end homophobia are picking up steam every day. So why on Earth do tolerate this pejorative abuse of language?

Having spent an entire day recently looking at the way the LGBT community is represented across the media, being disgusted at how little LGBT voices are heard and how homophobic attacks are not reported as often as they really should be, I felt dejected about the level tolerance we have in our society. Looking forward to a relaxing night, someone then told me that the fact I had to work the next day was "gay". I give up.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.2605167 2013-02-05T19:00:00-05:00 2013-04-07T05:12:01-04:00

Polly Grice http://www.huffingtonpost.com/polly-grice/
1. Giant's Causeway
Northern Ireland is famous for the Giant's Causeway, the most popular tourist destination in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage site to boot. Whether or not you believe the unusual rock formations were created by an Irish giant and then ripped up by his Scottish rival, the Causeway and its surrounding coast are a must-see for any visitor.

2. Stunning Scenery
The drive down to Belfast from the Causeway passes through a number of scenic towns where you can get out of the car and go for a leisurely walk on the beach. The rugged coastline provides the kind of scenery you don't really find in England and there are plenty of quaint tea rooms to try some local cuisine, like soda bread, with a cup of tea.

3. City of Culture
Londonderry (or Derry as it is known) is the UK City of Culture for 2013, and has a full itinerary of events, exhibitions and festivals. Download a programme from www.cityofculture2013.com to see what's going on.

4. Fun for the kids
Back in Belfast itself there's no shortage of things to do, whether you visit with a loved one, with friends or with family. The W5 science museum keeps little ones (and not so little ones for that matter) entertained with its hands-on approach to science.

5. The Titanic
The Titanic Belfast walks you through the stories of the ill-fated passenger liner. Opened in March 2012 at a cost of £77 million, Titanic Belfast is a museum like no other. A variety of galleries guide you through every stage of the Titanic's construction, voyage and sinking with interactive exhibits and even a ride through a recreated shipyard which shows how the Titanic was built.

6. City Sightseeing
There are plenty of opportunities to sightsee in Belfast, with the Parliament Buildings of Stormont being particularly grand. The Albert Memorial Clock in the city centre is also surely worth seeing. Belfast's very own Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Memorial Clock tower visibly leans to one side and the City Hall, now unfortunately synonymous with the flag riots, is also a beautiful building, with gardens which are the perfect place for a picnic in the warmer months.

7. Shopping
Shopping is also a pull for visitors to the city, with the Victoria Square Shopping Centre providing a home to a number of retailers including All Saints, Calvin Klein and Kurt Geiger. What is extraordinary about the centre though is the view from the top. Visitors with a head for heights can climb the spiral staircase up into the dome on the top of the centre for a 360° panoramic view of the city.

8. Castles
From Carrickfergus to Enneskillen, it seems like you can't go anywhere in the country without stumbling upon some kind of medieval fort. Apart from being beautiful pieces of architecture, most castles also have a museum so you can learn all about their fascinating history as well.

9. If it's good enough for the Starks...
Hit TV series Game of Thrones is partially filmed in Northern Ireland, and fans will be able to recognise many of the locations as beaches and castles around the country. There are even rumours of a bus tour in the works.

10. It won't break the bank
You can fly to Belfast International with Easyjet for as little as £26 one way from London Southend, or fly Stansted to Londonderry from £18.99 one way. If you're not a fan of flying, Stenalines do ferry crossings from Cairnryan in Scotland over to Belfast, with single fares starting at £79.]]> tag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2012:/theblog//3.1960675 2012-10-12T19:00:00-04:00 2012-12-12T05:12:01-05:00

Polly Grice http://www.huffingtonpost.com/polly-grice/
A simple internet search brings up thousands of volunteering opportunities. For a two week placement in Thailand building classrooms you could be looking at spending £699, which doesn't include flights, food or even a ride back to the airport when you've finished. Of course as with anything it does pay to shop around. The next company in the search results which specialises in projects in Africa charges a £125 "booking fee" plus £115 per week to work with street kids in Kenya. Again, this doesn't include flights, visa costs, insurance, transfers or all of your meals. A more cynical person might wonder where all this money actually goes.

So why exactly is it all so expensive? At the end of the day these organisations, like any businesses, exist to make money and the service they provide is undoubtedly a good one. Many people are nervous of travelling alone to unknown continents, so it's much more reassuring to have someone organise it all for you, meet people before you go, and know that if there are any problems, there's someone to call. That's understandable, but you can't help but feel these companies are taking advantage of genuine young people who want to make a difference to those less fortunate than themselves. How on earth can it cost so much to stay in a country where most people live way below the breadline? If housing is so cheap, and you can get a good meal a day for 50p, where did this £699 come from? The need to cover your own costs is undeniable, the locals shouldn't have to pay for you to be there, that's not the point of volunteering, but there's a line between paying your way and lining the pockets of an internationally based agency.

More and more people are beginning to despair at the exorbitant costs of volunteering abroad. Is wanting to donate your time and skills to a worthwhile project without paying any more than you have to such a ridiculous idea? After all, you are working for free. There are lots of people who feel this way, and we're starting to see former volunteers setting up their own organisations aimed at enabling young people to volunteer around the globe without it costing them an arm and a leg. Idealist, an American based organisation funded by donations and grants, aims to create a world where "every person who wants to help another has the ability to do so". They provide links to volunteering opportunities from every corner of the globe, and while some do charge a fee, there are literally thousands which don't.

Idealist aren't the only ones to offer this service though, Help Exchange (or Help X as it's known) offers free volunteer work overseas in exchange for room and board. These tend to be less typical placements than you might associate with gap year volunteering (lots of farms and hostels), but for people looking to travel inexpensively, it's a gold mine of opportunities. All volunteering placements are reviewed by people who have already stayed there and you're given the hosts contact details so you can get in touch before agreeing to anything. All you have to do is make your way out there. Although in some extremely poor countries it's not unheard for the hosts to ask to a small daily contribution towards the cost of having you, it's nowhere near what the mainstream agencies charge.

The sheer cost of volunteering overseas puts many young people off, but with free volunteering organisations everyone's a winner. The charity or project gets an enthusiastic young person and the volunteer only has to pay the actual costs of their placement. As someone who has participated in a free volunteer program, I can assure you that it's incredibly satisfying. Not only that, but because I didn't have to spend my life savings on the trip, I'll definitely be doing it again next summer, the only question is where.]]>