-
Exams, new experiences, and the cold
By Hamish Russell (University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA). When -6 starts to feel like it’s not particularly cold, you know you’ve settled into New England – or so my new friends tell me. With the weather in the northeastern United States as bad as it has been, I’ve not been venturing out too often since my trip to New York – but a good time is still to be had. Encouraged by some of the Americans I’ve made friends with, I’ve started ice-skating fairly regularly. While fun for us, we’ve had a mixed reaction from some of the regular skaters because of some of our antics, which have included skating…
-
Maryland Bound
By Madeleine Taylor (University of Maryland, USA) The prospect of flying nine hours across ‘the pond’ for eight months is pretty daunting. There will be so much to adjust to and appreciate, and so little time to do so. Not seeing my family for that long is going to be difficult, but I am excited to strike out on my own and throw myself into life at the University of Maryland. After all, my well known motto is: You are a strong, independent woman. And I plan to fully realise this alter-ego on my trip (we’ll see how that goes). Packing was a struggle; how could I possibly fit eight…
-
Getting started in the USA
By Hamish Russell (University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA). Before I even left the UK I ran into some travelling difficulties… I knew I might have a troublesome experience at Heathrow when my passport was scanned at the check-in desk, only for the desk to erupt with flashing red lights. It turned out that the US State Department had put me on their high-security list to make sure that I didn’t have anything in my bags (I didn’t) to suggest I was planning on violating the terms of my J-1 visa – so be careful when packing would be my advice to any future visa holders. New York was brilliant, as…
-
Christmas Time Away from California
By Elizabeth Hardy (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA). Well, I seemed to have blinked and my first quarter is over and done with, wondering where on earth a third of my time in the states has gone. It’s been a while, so I’ll give a recap of what has been happening on the west coast. Thanksgiving and Black Friday were, certainly, an experience. I was lucky enough to be invited by a friend in my house to visit her family in North California (near San Francisco) for Thanksgiving, so we took the 8 hour journey from Santa Barbara to experience the other side of California life. I found North…
-
Thanksgiving in NY
By Helen Sheldon (Stony Brook University, New York, USA). Many times during my time studying abroad, people have invited me to their homes and have treated me like a close friend of years. My time in the USA has opened my eyes to the kindness of people who are not necessarily close to you, and the ease at which they accept you into their homes and do everything they can to help you feel comfortable and settled whilst living away from home in a different country. One family in particular accepted me into their home this Thanksgiving. I was fortunate enough to spend the 5 day holiday at one of…
-
First, Second and Third Impressions
By Hanan L’Estrange-Snowden (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA). So I have been here for a little while now, almost 2 months in fact! And I have done so much! I’ve been to Washington, Atlanta, the beach, watched American football, baseball, basketball, even soccer games, visited state fairs, written midterms, submitted papers, even taken the odd pop quiz, moved house, gained a room mate and eaten way too much food! I have to say I finally feel like I have settled in. When I first arrived, I really felt as if I wouldn’t fit it in but now I really don’t want to leave. I’m even annoyed that…
-
Learning how to learn.
By Elizabeth Hardy (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA). Happy belated Haloween! With midterms finally done and dusted, I guess it’s as good a time as any to tell you all about the different between the UK and US academic systems. So, let’s start with midterms. They sort of do-what-it-says-on-the-tin. I.e., an exam halfway through each module, just to see how you’re getting on. This highlights one of the main differences I have found – that there is far more of an emphasis on continual assessment in the states than in Manchester. For example, in one class I have had 3 scheduled tests, 3 unscheduled tests, a midterm and a…
-
Stony Brook University, NY. My home away from home.
By Helen Sheldon (Stony Brook University, New York, USA). It has been around two months since I originally posted a blog update about my trip abroad to the USA, and ever since I have been meaning to sit down and update it. The truth is that I haven’t had more than an hour to myself with nothing happening and no work to do since the moment I arrived – just the way I want it to be! It has meant that I haven’t kept up with my blog as much as I had hoped, but without further ado here it is. Arrival at Stony Brook University Study abroad exchange students…
-
Raleigh
By Matt Briggs (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA). Well, I’ve just realised I really didn’t pack very well for Raleigh. I brought jeans and long sleeve shirts as well as jackets and jumpers. I’ts been about 34 degrees everyday! It’s so hot. Other than the fact that I’ve been overheating all the time and getting sun-burnt and looking like a Brit on holiday, it’s been good. I’ve had my first set of classes now and it feels a bit more like school (which is nice). You get sent homework every class and it needs to be in the next week. I’m just getting used to doing work…
-
Overflowing suitcase…
By Hanan L’Estrange-Snowden (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA). So right now I’m supposed to be packing, but the process of over-filling my suitcase has made me reflect on the coming year and I thought that this would be a good time to start my blog. To be honest, everything feels quite surreal right now. I have spent so long planning and preparing that it doesn’t feel like it is actually going to happen tomorrow. The last few weeks I have been trying to ignore the tiny part of me that keeps reminding me that a year is a long time to be away. Even Christmas seems far…
-
Two Nights in New York
By Helen Sheldon (Stony Brook University, New York, USA). I currently have a couple of hours to spare before I take the train from New York Penn Station to Stony Brook University, so I thought it is prime time to write an update on my journey here to NY and my two nights staying in Times Square itself! I arrived into New York’s JFK airport Monday lunch time, and I had to travel an hour on the train and subway to the center of New York.. I could have taken a cab, but being a student again means I must save money where I can! The journey was rather painful…
-
Stony Brook University, NY- 3 Days To Go..
By Helen Sheldon (Stony Brook University, New York, USA). If you haven’t yet had chance to read the mini description on my profile, I will give you a quick summary of who I am, what I’m doing, and where I’m going.. I’m Helen, and am entering my second year of studying Pharmacology. I am studying abroad for one semester at Stony Brook University which is situated on Long Island, in New York, and currently have only 3 days left in the UK before I take my flight to the Big Apple! My suitcase is currently lying open on the floor, empty, aside from my cats asleep in it who seem…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
