Moving in…
Student experience 2 October 2014
Hi my name’s Jess, I’m 18 years old and I’m from a town in North Wales called Connah’s Quay. I’m studying the 4 year maths course. It’s a scary prospect and this will be my first year as a student in Manchester… but having the opportunity to chat about the beginning of my journey while living here is pretty exciting.
Driving into Manchester was like traveling through time from being surrounded by fields to being surrounded by crowds of people and cars. After getting lost, twice, we finally found the way into the halls. After picking up the keys and the laundry card, which I’ve yet to use, we started moving my stuff. Let me tell you, this was like moving into a sauna. After 5 flights of stairs, going upstairs to find the heating on was sweltering. Waking up in the morning with a layer of sweat isn’t pleasant. After awkwardly meeting my flatmates for the first time, I mean what do you say to someone you’ll be sharing a flat with for the next year? Well after I’ve gotten to know them, I think it’s fair to say that I like everyone, and there’s such a mix of people. From medicine to French and Italian studies, there’s no one that really does the same thing, and I love that about Manchester. The variety of people is amazing, back home everyone seems to do the same thing every day. Being here for three days feels like a week back home.
It’s fair to say that my first night in Manchester fell very short of my expectations but Sunday night made up for it with the fresher’s wristband in Deansgate. It was slow to start but after seeing my best friend from home, who conveniently goes to the same university and lives round the corner from me, and a few other friends from home, the party really got going. By the end of the week, like most first years, our flat has the fresher’s flu. The night before the first proper day at uni, all anyone could hear was coughing throughout the night. Let’s just say Pangaea was well worth it. In the space of a week I’ve gone from drinking vodka and coke to swigging Chesty Cough medicine like there’s no tomorrow.
Well, wish me luck for the first real week of university, after looking at my timetable I think I’ll need it!
Leave a Reply