So it was the second day at uni yesterday. It was quite strange settling into my bed and waking up into a new room, but having my home duvet and home pillows meant that it was very comfortable and familiar. So yesterday morning I woke up fairly early, about 8.30, and set off across the university to do various chores such as dropping off letters and getting my ID card, etc. The university is huge, with big open green spaces in it, and surprisingly beautiful considering its actually in the middle of a huge city. The campus is a good 15 minute walk away, and after all my chores I walked to the clock tower in the middle of the university to meet my friends.
This clock tower is actually the tallest free-standing clock tower in the whole of the UK, which is quite cool, and is very pretty. I met some of my friends from my old school who also came to Birmingham there, and we went to something called a Freshers Fair. This is where a series of companies try to sell their goods to you by wooing the students with free stuff given away, and big discounts, etc. For instance, dominos gave away a free slice of pizza for everybody, which was great!
After having lunch and talking to my friends for a while, I came back yesterday afternoon and spent time with my flatmates, getting to know them a bit better and just generally chillling. I skyped my family at about 4.30, where I could see a tearful Amma. It was a lovely call, though a bit sad, and with calling everyday its almost like im with there with them anyway.
After the call, I got ready to go out that night, and cooked my first meal of my university life. It was pasta with pesto, peppers and sweetcorn, and it was amazing (the above picture being proof) . Lots of people came over to our flat for a "pre-party". it was really fun, and nice to get to know people. We then all went to a club called Oceana which is in the centre of Birmingham. It was good though that there were free buses between the club and my accommodation, so I could come back easily. And after a very good night out, with great music and nice atmosphere and nice people, I crashed into my comfy bed yet again and was out like a light.
Today, I woke up early (7am, I hope everybody is suitably impressed because that is a stupendous feat for me) and I am ready for a timetable today planned by the medical school.
:)
University Life
My room
Tuesday 28 September 2010
Sunday 26 September 2010
The First Day
So today was my first day at the University of Birmingham. I have moved into my accommodation, and have found out that I am sharing with 2 guys and 2 girls. Its a pretty perfect combination, and all my flatmates seem absolutely lovely. The room itself is small, but I don't need more for my needs. Its a long room with a wardrobe, a single bed, a desk with drawers and shelves in it. The view from the window is wonderful, its all greenery and tennis courts can be spied in the distance.
My parents and I packed all my stuff into the car this morning with a lot of difficulty. The roof box was definitely needed, and even then it was a tight squeeze, and poor Kaustubh had to deal with stuff in the middle seat between us. We managed to get there in abut 2 hours, and found the accommodation very easily. None of us realised how big the Birmingham campus really is, and I think it was a surprise to my family how green and beautiful it actually is. There are a lot of red brick buildings around the campus, and some really beautiful and old buildings. The medical school itself is in a big building that looks very old, probably is over 100 years old.
So after our first impressions, it was time to pick up the keys and see if my belongings would actually fit into the room. To be perfectly honest, none of us thought it would be possible when we first saw the room. However, we persevered and got all the kitchen stuff in, and proceeded in taking out all the clothes and putting them on the bed. It looked a mess, almost as if a bomb had dropped into the middle of this small room.
Half way through packing I had to go to a welcome talk, where we were introduced to the various important people in the halls I am staying at, and all the procedures for events and clubbing and sports teams etc. I think I was actually very impressed by how there was so much emphasis on our safety. Though it was a bit of an information overload, it was useful. And the best thing was that by the time I got back into the room, Amma and Papa and Kaus had come up with a great way of putting away my extra clothes etc, by simply storing them in bags which i can rifle through very easily, and shoving it under the bed. Through this method, finally I could see the way all my stuff would fit into the room.
When we had all become tired, at about 6.30, we decided to go for food, and Kaus chose a Thai restaurant close to my university. It turns out that there are actually quite a few good restaurants within a few miles of where I am staying, including Michelin star restaurants. Through a very circuitous route, we found the thai restaurant and had a great meal together.
On getting back, we all felt very sad- me at leaving them and going on alone, they at effectively losing a member of their family to the inevitability of growing up. However, with the thought of seeing them in 2 weeks, I went to my room and cleared it up. Now, as I sit writing this, all my bits and pieces are where they should be, the floor is clear, the bed is clear, and I am feeling pretty pleased with myself.
To allay the loneliness, I went to a traffic light party my halls were holding. It was actually good fun, I got to know my flatmates a lot better, as well a few other people who I happened to mingle with. It gave me a very good first impression of the people in Birmingham, and of my future at this University.
So, at the end of a long day, I can sleep knowing that tomorrow even more is in store for me.
Kaveri
My parents and I packed all my stuff into the car this morning with a lot of difficulty. The roof box was definitely needed, and even then it was a tight squeeze, and poor Kaustubh had to deal with stuff in the middle seat between us. We managed to get there in abut 2 hours, and found the accommodation very easily. None of us realised how big the Birmingham campus really is, and I think it was a surprise to my family how green and beautiful it actually is. There are a lot of red brick buildings around the campus, and some really beautiful and old buildings. The medical school itself is in a big building that looks very old, probably is over 100 years old.
So after our first impressions, it was time to pick up the keys and see if my belongings would actually fit into the room. To be perfectly honest, none of us thought it would be possible when we first saw the room. However, we persevered and got all the kitchen stuff in, and proceeded in taking out all the clothes and putting them on the bed. It looked a mess, almost as if a bomb had dropped into the middle of this small room.
Half way through packing I had to go to a welcome talk, where we were introduced to the various important people in the halls I am staying at, and all the procedures for events and clubbing and sports teams etc. I think I was actually very impressed by how there was so much emphasis on our safety. Though it was a bit of an information overload, it was useful. And the best thing was that by the time I got back into the room, Amma and Papa and Kaus had come up with a great way of putting away my extra clothes etc, by simply storing them in bags which i can rifle through very easily, and shoving it under the bed. Through this method, finally I could see the way all my stuff would fit into the room.
When we had all become tired, at about 6.30, we decided to go for food, and Kaus chose a Thai restaurant close to my university. It turns out that there are actually quite a few good restaurants within a few miles of where I am staying, including Michelin star restaurants. Through a very circuitous route, we found the thai restaurant and had a great meal together.
On getting back, we all felt very sad- me at leaving them and going on alone, they at effectively losing a member of their family to the inevitability of growing up. However, with the thought of seeing them in 2 weeks, I went to my room and cleared it up. Now, as I sit writing this, all my bits and pieces are where they should be, the floor is clear, the bed is clear, and I am feeling pretty pleased with myself.
To allay the loneliness, I went to a traffic light party my halls were holding. It was actually good fun, I got to know my flatmates a lot better, as well a few other people who I happened to mingle with. It gave me a very good first impression of the people in Birmingham, and of my future at this University.
So, at the end of a long day, I can sleep knowing that tomorrow even more is in store for me.
Kaveri
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