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nekare at 11:07pm on 04/01/2009 under the student exchange nightmare
nekare at 11:07pm on 04/01/2009 under the student exchange nightmareOkay. I'm leaving for England in two weeks and a half, and I'm already scared out of my mind. I'm a really apprehensive person, just making my timetable for school sends me into fits of nervousness, and now, hell, I'm really, really afraid. Like, I know it's only a semester and that I'll have a fantastic time once I'm there, but right now? uuuuuugh, fear. I've never traveled or lived on my own, and I've never been away from my family for more than a week, and I get horribly tongue-tied about speaking in English with natives (I know, I know...) and, dunno, stuff like that.
So, um, I would really appreciate tips for starting to live alone and whatnot and settling in in a different country. Stories about your first weeks in college/moving out/going abroad for long times/etc, etc would be really appreciated as well. HELP ME GET LESS NERVOUS, YOU GUYS. PLZ. ;_____;
(I just had to check my timetable and realized I'll have to look for a bazillion people to get into new classes, since I wasn't accepted in all of them or something? Didn't quite get it but I'm sort of shaking and yes I probably need therapy or something but it's a bit late for that, isn't it?)
So, um, I would really appreciate tips for starting to live alone and whatnot and settling in in a different country. Stories about your first weeks in college/moving out/going abroad for long times/etc, etc would be really appreciated as well. HELP ME GET LESS NERVOUS, YOU GUYS. PLZ. ;_____;
(I just had to check my timetable and realized I'll have to look for a bazillion people to get into new classes, since I wasn't accepted in all of them or something? Didn't quite get it but I'm sort of shaking and yes I probably need therapy or something but it's a bit late for that, isn't it?)
(no subject)
Seriously I freaked before I went to Holland for my exchance year but once I was there it was okay. Just try to keep sane the last few weeks.
And I found living without my family and friends so much easier than I d have thought.
Admittingly it sucked not finding new friends, but hey, you re in England and no hermit, so thats different.
Im so convinced it will be great. And you're supposed (!) to be excited, so its all good.
(no subject)
it's totally normal to be scared out of your mind. But once you get there, it's really incredibly freeing. Like, everything is an adventure. Everything is new and even making your first meal by yourself is sort of momentous, you know? I don't know how to make you less nervous except to say that you're going to get settled in really really quick and you just have to enjoy yourself and remember that everything (even getting lost on public transit) is going to be a new experience, so don't be afraid to try new things. When's the next time you'll get to go to school abroad? It's so incredibly exciting!
(plus you're a super nice, incredible person who's an artist on top of all that. Everyone's going to LOVE you, just wait!)
(no subject)
Also...
I get horribly tongue-tied about speaking in English with natives (I know, I know...)
You're English is as good, if not better, than mine. And I'm a native speaker. And an English Lit major. :P
(no subject)
... anyway. >_> it's natural to be nervous, though, as this is a huge Thing. but you should totes try to be nervously excited rather than afraid. and your English? ahahaha you're better than i am, and i've spoken the language my entire life. :P
(no subject)
Vas a comienzo de semestre, no? Porque entonces habrá mucha gente en tu misma situación. A mi me resultó fácil conocer a gente (y eso que soy increíblemente introvertida y rarita), porque todos estábamos igual. Creo que ha sido la vez que menos me ha costado conocer gente y conseguir un grupito de amigos, go figure. Seguro que a ti te pasa lo mismo. Y no sé que tal serán los ingleses, pero los irlandeses se portaron maravillosamente bien y no me pusieron problemas para cambiar asignaturas y pillar otras (consulta en la students' union o en la international student office). Lo mismo me pasó con las 4 irlandesas con las que compartía casa.
Al principio cuesta un poco, pero ya verás como vale mucho la pena, y seguro que conoces a un montón de gente nueva.
and I get horribly tongue-tied about speaking in English with natives (I know, I know...)
A mi me pasaba exactamente lo mismo, pero piensa que la mayoría de ingleses no hablan más lengua que la suya, así que valoran que tu lo hables ni que sea un poquito (y tu inglés es mucho mejor que el mio entonces). Y ya verás como se te pega el acento, hee (yo pensaba que habría perdido el mio, pero sigo hablando con acento irlandés) :D
Ya sabes que estoy a un tiro de piedra (o casi). Acabo de mirar por curiosidad y hay vuelos Leeds - Barcelona por 8€ :O
ps. y consigue un adaptador de corriente antes de irte. Yo no lo hice y tardé dias en encontrar un sitio donde los vendieran :S
pps. y ahora que me acuerdo, te recomiendo que te apuntes a algun club o society dentro de la universidad, que seguro que los hay. Yo estaba en la internacional y en la de excursionismo, y es una manera de conocer gente.
(no subject)
(no subject)
I was terrified when I first moved away, but even though it was all new and also exhausting - talking to new people all the time was sort of crazy for me - it was also very exciting. All the little things, doing my cooking and cleaning and whatever, felt like an exciting novelty for a long time. I loved having a big new city to explore, loved having a university campus to wander about in. I have no doubt you're going to really enjoy yourself!
What I would say, is that there's actually no point in being nervous about it, just because you really don't know what it's going to be like and probably the best thing you can do is not have a lot of expectations. Things certainly didn't pan out quite as I was expecting! Not better or worse, but different, and it was easier once I realised that I didn't have to worry about whether things were going to plan or not if I just didn't have a plan at all.
♥ ♥ ♥ (But eee, you're coming to Britain! \o/)
(no subject)
(no subject)
From my experience, things you shouldn't forget: TOWELS (you never think of towels until you're butt-naked and wet and can't find anything to dry on), batteries, music player (I forgot mine and had to seat everynight, to sing myself to sleep. OH HOW ALONE WAS I), tummy medication just in case.
Everything else is replaceable. And you're gonna be FINE!!
(no subject)
- I don't know how things are organised in your student accommodation or what they say about it on their site, but I'd recommend bringing things like a plate or two, cutlery (I'm talking just maybe a couple of forks, spoons and a knife, not a whole set) and a mug, so that you don't find yourself having to eat with your hands the first few days, when you're busy and might not have the time to go shopping for that.
- Food! In my uni, they served free meals for international students during the first week so that was very helpful, but if yours doesn't do that then locate the nearest groceries shop as soon as possible, because buying sandwiches/meals gets expensive very fast.
- I've found that people are generally really nice and helpful, from random people in the street when you need directions or people at uni whose role is to help you anyway (see international students office and that kind of stuff). So there's no need to worry! ♥
- I get horribly tongue-tied about speaking in English with natives, argh, I hate when that happens, but really people have complimented me on my English even when I thought I was doing poorly, so you'll be absolutely fine.
- Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions.
- If you have flatmates, HIDE YOUR TOILET PAPER LOL LOL LOL.
- And lastly, get your bum to Manchesterrrrr.
(no subject)
*hugs*
(no subject)
*hugs* i know the beginning is rough, when you've so much to take care of. but i'm sure it'll be worth it.
as for teh nerves, i suggest short (max. 10min) hot baths (really hot), those helped me get through the time before my final exams last year. (hot showers also help, but not so much.) also: 15min walks in the evening, or better yet: run. if you want meds, st. johns wort and/or valerian should work and they don't do any damage. (valerian may make you tired, though, and st johns wort apparently needs 14 days to build up before it helps.) and, of course, distraction. (i loved that one, haha.)
♥ ♥
how long will you be in england again?
(no subject)
Well, I only have a shower so that's a bit of moot point, lol. I'm supposed to be taking back flowers, or whatever they're called, but I have a horrible memory and I tend to forget to take them. UM. I will try the walks, though - I could really, really use the exercize anyways.
Five months, and, I know, it's not even that much, but well. I tend to blow everything out of proportion. Thanks for the tips, hon. ♥ (and will I see you there? I'd really love to! Maybe in Easter holidays, once I'm more settled?)
(no subject)
quite the contrary, i think five months is a looong time for going abroad. i've been living in berlin for only three months now, and i still can't get over it *lol* seems like an eternity... but i got used to it! it's gonna be fine. and if it's not, you can always come complain to us, hehe. and if it really doesn't work out (which i don't believe), you can still say fuck it all and go home, no matter what people think. this is supposed to be a valuable and good experience for you, after all. and if it's not, then there's no point staying. but! i don't think that'll be the case. everyone will love you, you'll see. you'll be fine :D
okaay, let me see... i've classes and exams til mid-march, then i have semester hols for a month. i don't know yet what april, may and june are gonna be like, actually. but i'd like to go to england again, though i was thinking about going to london with a friend.. so if you really can't come to berlin to visit me, we could maybe meet up there? then again, train fees are so expensive in the uk... hmm... argh... we'll see. (but then, you'll probably wanna go to london anyways, no? and weren't we always talking about meeting up there? *g*) when do you have holidays? april, right? because i'm sure it'd be alright if you visited me then, since semester only starts then and i won't have so much to do yet. i hope. *g* so you can think about that as well.