My Memory Box

Just moments before settling down to write my weekly post today I rediscovered an old purse that I keep at the bottom of my draw. I like to collect tickets for events and such that I have been too and keep them in this purse for safe keeping. It’s something I’ve been doing for a couple of years now, and obviously right at the front was my most recent purchases – my UEA adventures! I say you could call it my own personal ‘memory box’.

All of my collection so far!

As you may be able to make out above I have tickets to a whole variety of concerts such as Beyonce to far lesser known bands such as Yellow Card. I’ve even got tickets for when I went to see some comedians, including Michael McIntyre and Miranda Hart! These are things that I will never forget about, and will want to remember for the rest of my life. By now you’re probably thinking what does this have to do with UEA? Well I just wanted to show you my ‘addiction’ to attending big events and going to gigs. I’ve always preferred to spend my money on days out than material things. This was therefore a big factor for me when choosing a university.

UEA tickets!

If you’re like me, and are always looking for something to plan for and look forward to, then UEA can provide you with just that. As I’ve shown in the above picture, these are some of the events I attended where I managed to not lose the ticket to the realm of the LCR floor. I have mentioned them in previous posts, but for those of you who are new to reading I’ll give you a brief idea of what they where.

First was the freshers events.
– Zane Lowe (Radio 1 DJ)
– The Network – A t-shirt party (A MUST for those looking to go out in freshers week!)
– Martin S Taylor – Hypnotist, a very alternative night out and very very funny.
– Bio Winter Ball – A formal dinner I helped to arrange as part of the Biological Sciences Society.
– Example – Need I say anything for this one?!
– LCR events such as the UV rave and The Hogwarts Social which I blogged about recently!

Now these are just a small handful of things going on at campus. I hear there are lots of things going on at the waterfront – UEA’s club in the city. So keep an eye out if/when you’re here, and enjoy yourselves!

The School of BIO

This week I thought I would focus my post on the academic side of university life. With exam timetables soon to be released, and many of us setting up revision timetables (with hopes of sticking to them) I have really become focused on the opportunity I am having within my degree.

For those of you who read my posts regularly, you will know that I’m currently on the foundation year Biological Sciences course. Sometimes I feel there is a bit of a stigma around the ‘foundation year’ but that really isn’t the case. For those of you prospectively looking into studying a foundation year course at UEA, you will know that it as a fantastic bridge onto a course for those who have not had the opportunity to study it previously, and also for those who have been effected by extenuating circumstances. I will mention something I heard on my first day here at UEA, and that you can use this extra year to really good advantage. To prospective employers it tells them that you worked an extra year longer than most and thus shows dedication to your degree. I personally feel more comfortable going into my first year now as well as I have already adapted into ‘university life’ and the transition from college. Something I found particularly helpful for my course is that I have had lots of practice on writing up scientific reports for lab work, that I think I may have struggled with next year otherwise. It has also allowed me to find areas of the course that are my strengths and weaknesses, so I know what will require more work and revision in the future.

In general, I hear lots of great things about the Biology degrees here at UEA. Due to being on the Bio Soc Committee I’ve had lots of opportunities to talk to 1st,2nd and 3rd year students studying a variety of the Biology Degrees and gain some advice for the coming years. Most comment on the challenges that the degrees bring, but I look forward to that. If you found the degree easy, it would feel like a waste of money and time. Challenges give you a chance to learn and think in different ways. For most, the favourite contact time they have on their course is the lab work. With so many specialist practitioners to work alongside with at UEA, it is no wonder why. There is a wide variety of new equipment meaning lots of available practicals to take part in. My experience so far is that they are very well taught and explained, so you can begin to understand machinery that you may need in a future career! I also find practicals a great time to talk to lots of different people, and gain new perspectives on the work you are completing that you may not have considered. Thinking ‘outside the box’ is definitely well encouraged here at UEA.

If you are a prospective Biology student looking to study here at UEA, I welcome any comments or questions I could help with, just enter them below 🙂

I will leave you with an image that is biology related (which only seems fitting). I’m no artist but I’m really proud of this one.

I like to hope you can tell what it is…

UEA 2030

This week, UEA launched a 24 hour time slot giving students, staff, alumni and public alike all the chance to have their say in what they believe UEA should be in 2030.  Many suggestions have been posted here. What do you think about some of the things being said?

I love the idea given on this page about rooftop gardens, it would be a great way to continue to support the local wildlife in Norwich. UEA is renowned for it’s support in degrees such as environmental sciences and this would further reflect this. Plus, it’s space that isn’t being used and I’m sure many would volunteer to help create it (if not just for an excuse to climb on the roof and see the views). I wonder if maybe we could grow our own produce for use in the cafes on campus, it would save money and the fresh produce would taste delicious!

Another point brought up is about whether or not UEA should aim to be a part of the Russel Group. I can see the advantages to this but more the disadvantages. I fell in love with UEA because it was different to most universities I’d seen before. The Russel Group universities are considered ‘elite’, they achieve world class research and students achieve top results. However, UEA is already elite to me and that is because of their motto ‘be different’. This opportunity to voice our opinions on UEA 2030 alone is something quite unique. Our involvement with the community around us is brilliant, and allows us to stick to what’s important about what we achieve here at UEA. Would joining this group ruin our integrity? I loved UEA because it felt accessible, whilst still being a top university. Rather than intimidate me with status, UEA welcomed me with support. Whilst great education is very important, it is not the main focus. Personal health and well-being is taken very seriously here, and I think this is why our students are so successful. Having never attended a Russel group university I can’t say much for the lifestyle there, but I do wonder if by putting such a status on UEA, we would lose our ‘difference’.

However, we all know what we would really like UEA to be, and that’s free.

Just as a side note – next we will have to figure out what we’re gonna do in the year 3,000 when we’re all living underwater (busted reference). We won’t be able to use pens or computers then will we?

UCAS Fairs and Open Days

This week I thought it would be good to write about how I came to be here at UEA. I came to an open day a couple of years ago, and the most vivid thing I can remember is walking down chancellors drive (what I know it to be now) thinking ‘how am I ever going to find my way around this place?’. I was already envisioning myself here before I’d even applied! I fell in love with the busy atmosphere. Everywhere you go on campus there is always someone milling around, and it was a very different experience to college. It felt a lot more independent and mature, and the people I met were always smiling and very welcoming.

After I applied through UCAS, my college took us to a UCAS fair at the University of Essex. UCAS fairs have representatives from hundreds of Uni’s all in one place. I must admit I was always quite shy at these things so didn’t really ask as many questions as I should have. I’d advise to grab prospectuses from as many Uni’s that catch your fancy. If you feel confident enough, ask them about specific things such as their accommodation etc. However, remember these people have a job to promote their University. When you get back, read over the prospectuses, pick a few favourites, and research them more online. Get a feel for their rankings on websites such as Uni Stats – where you can compare courses at different university’s, and also courses at the same university. Pick some university’s with higher grade requirements to have something to aim for, and some with low as an insurance. Talk to people you may know who have gone onto university, see if you can find someone who attends one you are looking into. Although keep in mind the only real way to know how much you like a university is to attend an open day.

The second time I visited UEA was for my interview for the course I am currently studying. It was a very different experience to the first as I felt so nervous, so wasn’t really taking notice of my surroundings like before. It’d been a while since my first visit so I couldn’t really remember much about the university anyway, but both my mum and dad were invited to come along with me so I was glad they had the opportunity to see UEA. Once the interview was over, I got to have a tour of the campus and see some of the accommodation, so it was like a half open day. It just reaffirmed my love for the place. Another great thing about bringing parents/carers is that they tend to ask the questions you may not think of, like where the launderette is, and supermarkets. These things probably wouldn’t have crossed my mind, so I’d definitely advise bringing someone that can help you think of the important things. If no one can attend, maybe get a list of things before you go of things that you need to know. Make sure you speak to some current students as well (there will be plenty of opportunity to do this), find out what it is they’re enjoying about studying there, and also what they’re not! See if they have any advise on certain things you’re worried about (or ask me 😉 ) and then you should be in the right position to make your decision.

Just to finish off, to keep you updated on university life, I give you a couple of pictures I got from last Tuesday at the LCR. It was harry potter night and a lot of my flatmates and course-mates were out as a lot of us had the Wednesday off. There were photos with the sorting hat that told us what house we were in (gryffindor for me!) and also group photos against a green screen – shown below. There was also a very cheesy mini game of quidich, where you had to throw a ping pong ball through a very badly made wire hoop and land it in a cup full of sweets to win them. There was some competitions for best dressed, but I didn’t get to see the winners, although there were some fantastic costumes in the place. The LCR offer fancy dress nights every Tuesday, and they are definitely something I’d recommend going to at least once! I think it’s the walking dead in a couple of weeks…

EXPELLIARMUS

Poor Jake got his head cut off by the logo!

Norwich Castle

After wanting to visit Norwich Castle since being here, I finally got the opportunity to this week thanks to a great friend of mine. From experience of the ‘museums’ I’ve been to back home, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Often you wander around for half an hour (tops), look at some shiny armour and you’re done. However, my experience at the Norwich Castle museum was pleasantly very different.

A photo of the Castle I took on the day.

If you are a student at NUA (the arts university in Norwich) you get free admission, which I think is a good offer. Normal prices are £6.50, but we went after 3.30 when it only cost £2. We thought an hour would be plenty of time to look around, but we were very wrong! Norwich has so much history behind it, it was very fascinating seeing how the castle used to look and see the findings from excavations of the site. There was even examples of old games people used to play. I’d recommend to any one in the area who hasn’t been to give it a visit. I plan on going back as we didn’t manage to get round the whole castle in the hour we had.

The ‘kings view’ from the Castle out onto Norwich city center.

There was also one of the most random things I’d ever seen in the Castle. There was a board filled with bits of paper where children had written about how they had found their visit. Most were saying they enjoyed it, but below is a picture of one of them that I felt I had to share as it made me laugh.

Kids say the funniest things, right?

Before our visit we had lunch in a place called Patisserie Valerie where they sell some beautiful sweet treats. I personally had the most beautiful strawberry and custard tart, which had a cake filling and a hot chocolate, because I’m weird and don’t drink tea or coffee. Again, I would also very highly recommend treating yourself there!

Yum!

I thought I’d finish with a lovely sentiment today. My flatmate, who joined us the beginning of this year from Australia, kindly made me this beautiful origami flower. She’s very talented!

Radio 1’s Big Weekend

As you may know from some recent posts, I am going to be Maid of Honor for a friend in mid-August. Well, as a side update, we went and bought her dress and mine last weekend! So that is one less thing left on the to do list. I’m looking into things to do for the hen do now, an idea of mine is to go for a spa day in Elveden Center Parcs. Any other idea’s for things to do in or around Norwich for an event like this? Nothing outlandish please!

Back to things more university related – I can now definitely say that the work level has jumped up a notch this semester! I study Biology, Chemistry and Maths as individual modules on my course, and whilst I found first semester fairly easy going, I can’t say the same for the second. I’ve found I’m a lot more interested though, possibly because it is a lot more challenging. University will challenge anyone at some point, maybe that’s one of the reasons most people enjoy it so much. For an example, first semester involved mainly AS level maths, and now we have moved straight into A2 with hints of further maths as well! I am on a foundation year though so I did expect this part to be intense. It is necessary in order to get us all up to the right level for next year. I dread to think how I’m going to find next year… but I know this year will give me the right ‘foundations’ (punny) to start next year in the best position I can.

I have made sure I’m very strictly organised in terms of balancing revision and completion of assignments. Something I have found that helps this is I have a giant year calender on my wall, that  I have put all of my deadlines onto. It helps me to plan my evenings around what is a priority. I also always pack my bag for the next day the night before so I can make sure I have everything I need, especially in terms of paperwork and background research for workshops. My desk is always neat when I do any work too, as it helps me to keep focused. Lets just hope I carry on in these habits…

I’ll end with the news that everyone is talking about this week in Norwich, the announcement of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend coming to Norwich! I feel like these events are following me, first example coming to the LCR, now this. What makes it more perfect is that it is on the 23rd and 24th of May – which just happens to be the weekend of my birthday. So fingers crossed for me to win tickets, I’ll keep you posted! I really hope I get the opportunity to go as I think it will be one of the biggest musical events Norwich has ever hosted, and I’d love to be a part of it. Plus, what better way is there to end your first year at university?

Semester 2 Begins!

As some of you may know, I am currently already reaching the end of week 1 of semester 2. My first thoughts when sitting down to write this post was when people told me how quick university would go, they really weren’t lying. I already feel like my first semester has gone by in a blink, before I know it I’ll be onto blog post 100 – scary stuff! I don’t feel as if I have wasted a single part though, it has all been exactly what I thought it would be and more :-).

It’s been a bit of a mish-mash week, settling back into the routine of lectures and such-like. I feel alot more settled in due to coming back earlier and having my room sorted out beforehand though. I have a few pictures to share with you of my journey of coming back, which I’m sure you will all enjoy. Some of you will remember back to one of my first posts, showing the amount of stuff I brought to university to start with. Well I’ll happily let you know this term started no differently, I am stocked high with cans of drinks and snacks (courtesy of Mum) that will keep me going through those coursework and exam deadlines no doubt.

Travelling in Style

Driving Back

The first picture is of my Mum and I, driving in style. FYI, the sun was really bright driving back so that’s why we’re wearing the sunglasses! They’re also my little sisters which is why they are so big. The other is of the windmills that I pass every time on my journey to Norwich, they usually mark roughly the half way point, so I thought it seemed fitting to put it in this post, as I am now roughly halfway through my first year!

I have not received any major bits of work to do thus far, so I have took the time to do the usual and hang out with some friends. I have been dying to put up the following photo which was taken shortly before I beat my friend Jack at pool! He gets a bit stressed about things like this so it makes it all the more fun 🙂

Beating Jack at Pool 😉

I am going to be doing some pretty great practicals in biology and chemistry this semester that I might write a little about for those of you who may be interested. I started this week by culturing some bacteria that we are going to be studying next week once we have allowed them to grow. Practicals like this is the sort of stuff I really enjoy and one of the many reasons I decided to take my course. Staff are very supportive and helpful as well. Before coming here I felt nervous that I would look stupid if I didn’t know how to do something in a lab, but in fact I should never have worried. They much rather you ask and do it right, than don’t and do it wrong. It reminded me of some silly experiments I used to do in secondary school. I vaguely remember once going onto our school playing field and putting Mentos in coke bottles until they fizzed up and exploded. I don’t really remember what the point of that was but it was fun nonetheless. Can you think of any crazy experiments you used to do back at school? Or about any crazy science teachers you used to have?

Early Return

I’d missed Norwich so much that I decided to head back a week early and spend a few days here (with no commitment to university work!). A couple of people were still milling around in my flat building, but overall the university campus was dead quiet. There wasn’t the usual bustling students and teachers wandering around, or people sitting on the steps eating lunch in the square, which felt a bit bizarre. It was oddly comforting though, because I still felt comfortable and at home even with the place being so quiet. I thought I would hate it being so empty but it didn’t bother me in the slightest.

One of the days I spent with a couple of flatmates, Jack and Neringa, wandering around Norwich city centre and really exploring some of the places I’d never seen before. I probably wouldn’t have seen them either if it wasn’t for Jack who, coming from Great Yarmouth, knew a lot about the town already.

Me hiding from the camera in Biddy’s Tea Room – link to website in post! Highly recommend.

Thrift Shop

The two pictures above show some of the places we explored that day. We visited the cutest little place called Biddy’s Tea Room (Link to website here -> http://www.biddystearoom.com/home/4584550845). I tried green tea here for the very first time! I really enjoyed it, it was really tasty. They offer all sorts of teas, for example Neringa had a Cherry Bakewell Tea! The decorations in the place were beautiful, it is full of what I call ‘nic-naks’ and really makes the place special. I would highly recommend visiting it if you’re around the area.

We also visited a couple of thrift shops. One was called Looses Emporium and was absolutely huge. It had the largest collection of antiques I’ve ever seen. We were in there for about an hour just looking around and finding strange and pretty things. It’s a pretty random thing to do with the day but it was weirdly really entertaining. It reminded me off when I used to go to B&Q as a child and I looked at all the different colour charts of the paints which used to keep me entertained for ages.

We then had lunch and drinks in The Bell Hotel – which I had no idea was a Wetherspoons! Again, something I may never have known if it wasn’t for someone showing me.

That just about covers my little Norwich adventure, I’m sure there will be many more to come! Are there any other interesting places in Norwich you think I should visit next time? I’d really appreciate some recommendations 🙂

Floor Wardrobe and New Years Eve

Although a week has passed now, I wanted to write a little bit about my night out for new years back home in Essex. I thought it would be a great way to compare one of the many differences between UEA and home! Even though they are only a couple of hours apart it is still surprising how different my life is in both places. I reckon it is mainly to do with the university experience being really unique from everything in general.

I certainly have not missed my parents telling me to do things which I’m sure is true for most people Hehe! I have missed being able to leave that jumper on the floor for as long as I like without my Mum or Dad telling me to pick it up. My room is quite small in Norwich anyway compared to home so I can use that as an excuse here for having a floor-drobe (floor wardrobe) ;-).

Friends From Home!

The picture above is of me and a couple of friends ready for a night out for new years eve. It was the first time I’ve ever really done anything for new years eve, as I’m usually not very bothered, and this was my first year of being 18! We had a great laugh and it was good to meet up with people and catch up with them after what feels like a very long time. However I couldn’t help but compare the night life to Norwich, and to be quite frank, it didn’t measure up! In Norwich, surrounded by hundreds of students you will always find someone new to talk to that shares interests with you, and the company always makes the night! Don’t get me wrong it was still a great night back home, but it wasn’t Norwich. I am so used to the clubs and bars in my town I think I found it a bit repetitive, but here there is always somewhere new to go to and try out (for better or worse). I think the student community also plays a big part in how and why it felt so different.

The night life is just an example here. General day to day things are just so different at university, imagine it as living with your best friends. I imagine and hope I can count some of the people I have met so far as being just that eventually! There is so much freedom and lots of responsibility (!) that comes with living on your own but I wouldn’t change it for anything 🙂

I Want More Sleep

Hello all! Firstly, sorry for the gap in updates but I’m sure you’ve all been just as busy as me over Christmas. It’s been a bit of a weird one this year. Due to my youngest sibling being 12 now, the excitement that usually comes with young children being in the family has been lacking! I’m the eldest of 3, and Christmas morning we were all rolling out of bed moaning about wanting more sleep He He. (I got a flashback of University writing that sentence.) However, don’t get me wrong, it was still a great few days that involved lots of doing nothing. Perfect!

I’ve been working a lot over Christmas at a small children’s play center back home, where I have been since I was 16. Working with children, especially at this time of year, is very rewarding! Although it can make you want children and not want them at the same time. It’s a great little part time job that allows me to top up my funds for university. I’d definitely advise trying to find a part time job when at university, as it is great experience and can ease a lot of financial strain. I’m lucky because I only live about 2 hours from Norwich so I’m now travelling home every now and then at weekends to work.

As Norwich is such a bustling town there are tons of job opportunities down there. At UEA particularly they have ‘Careers Central’ to help their students find employment – I’d assume most university’s would have something similar. Employment could even be with UEA itself. For example, my job is a student blogger. There are other opportunities within UEA such as student ambassadors as well. There is something out there for everyone, both in and outside of university, you just have to put yourself out there and work hard.

Sorry for the lack of pictures in this post but looking back I didn’t take any over Christmas! If you’d like to leave a comment below about anything you’d like to ask about my university experience so far, please feel free 🙂