Hey you guyyys, as the first semester of my second year in Worcester has just finished (well... I still have to do loads of work but let's just say it's over and celebrate hah) I've decided to sum up (GET PREPARED TO SEE HUNDREDS OF PICTURES) my life, experience, school, travels, adventures, parties, food, work, well basically everything I have been up to since September 2014.
All right, so it all started in September 2014, when I arrived to Worcester, on a warm late summer evening and checked into a reception, received my room keys (more on the "halls" topic later on) and unpacked 1 big luggage, 2 small cabin bags and 1 horrendously huge parcel. Tbh, I already hate packing/unpacking as I have to do it approximately 246 times a year :--))
The first night, to be honest, was horrible, I even think I cried as I had NO CLUE what was going to happen and what was I going to do in a foreign country (despite already working in UK twice). BUT, I woke up next morning, all motivated and convinced this was the greatest idea I'd ever done so far. Ok, let's not analyze every day from now on...
September 2014 was all about getting to know people, lecturers, Uni, system, getting all the paperwork done, documents signed, part-time job sorted, living, Uni materials and the loan sorted, partying, going on trips, joining societies, engaging, socializing and making life-long friends.
All right, so it all started in September 2014, when I arrived to Worcester, on a warm late summer evening and checked into a reception, received my room keys (more on the "halls" topic later on) and unpacked 1 big luggage, 2 small cabin bags and 1 horrendously huge parcel. Tbh, I already hate packing/unpacking as I have to do it approximately 246 times a year :--))
The first night, to be honest, was horrible, I even think I cried as I had NO CLUE what was going to happen and what was I going to do in a foreign country (despite already working in UK twice). BUT, I woke up next morning, all motivated and convinced this was the greatest idea I'd ever done so far. Ok, let's not analyze every day from now on...
September 2014 was all about getting to know people, lecturers, Uni, system, getting all the paperwork done, documents signed, part-time job sorted, living, Uni materials and the loan sorted, partying, going on trips, joining societies, engaging, socializing and making life-long friends.
Halls
Well, this is not the part when I tell you how amazing it was, however, we met so many great people there, I am glad I had a chance to live on halls.
Nevertheless, sometimes you just happen to wake up 466 times a night before an important presentation as your flatmates are partying and making so much noise so even campus security has to turn up. Or you get woken up very pleasantly by a fire alarm, because someone (STEVE) is making pancakes at 4 AM and burns butter so the fire alarm is turned on. Or someone vomits on the staircase and the cleaning lady doesn't turn up as she is a cleaning lady but this isn't in her job description, so nobody cleans it and you just keep walking around a vomit for 5 days. Or your flatmates never take out the litter, or you don't and so on...
On the other side, when you run out of sth, you can always just go downstairs and get it. Or you can join random parties. Or meet new amazing people. Or if you can't fall asleep you can just go to kitchen and find your flatmate having a nice cuppa of hot chocolate. Or you can never feel alone as there is always someone. Or you can just wake up 5 minutes before the lecture starts as you live right on the campus (just in case you are not doing business- my case of course). In overall, it wasn't bad at all, it was a good experience, but I wouldn't come back to living on halls, especially when you experience the luxury of living in a city centre in a private apartment B-)
In case you are all wondering (I know you are not but..) I was paying about 85 £ per week O:-)
In October 2014 my dad came to visit me and we spent some quality time exploring Worcester and traveling for a bit together. Also, school started becoming a bit more serious than the previous month and we already had to submit assignments and do some group work. We were allocated in groups to work with throughout the whole year. I am so glad I chose my group. We had the best time, even though it was mainly on lectures, we laughed way too much. I had a chance to visit Morgan Motor Company factory, as we were working with Morgan for assignments, projects etc., and to see the whole production process live. Wonderful experience. I was lucky enough to get a part-time waitressing job in local buffet, which was, well, a good experience, but wouldn't come back probably. Lastly, I experienced my first Halloween in the UK.
Uni
In my first year we had two compulsory modules to attend- Marketing & Management and Economics & Finance (ugh, I am bad in math, so you can imagine why this was the least favorite module for me). Then I had Creative Communication (the module I enjoyed the most) and General English in the first semester/ Spanish in the second (if you plan on taking a second language module in the UK...well, don't). I only had school 4 days a week, working on weekends, classic :D I successfully managed to finish my first year at Uni!
In my second year I had 3 compulsory modules (well, ok)- Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations. I somehow did not enjoy the Marketing, Advertising modules as much as I did first my year as we covered a lot of a similar material. However, I found assignments really challenging and gained a lot of new information from the field. PR module was new for me, I found it interesting, however it was about 40 of us in the class (usually there is hardly 20 people), as there was only one Occurrence, so it was a bit noisy. We had to create a PR campaign, which was very educating and challenging as well. The last module I took was Preparation for a placement to help me secure a placement. We'll see if we get there (hopefully). Had lectures 3 days a week, worked for the rest (as always). When you get to that point in your life, you actually wonder whether you are in the UK because of a Uni or because of work. So this was my first semester of my second year at Uni, I am going on an Erasmus Exchange Programme to Leuven, Belgium for my second semester, which I am so unbelievably excited about. Will let you know how it's going. Don't worry.
As for my course- MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, in overall, the lectures are educating, fun, interesting, you are supposed to do a lot of reading at home (well, tbh ain't nobody get time for that, but we try!) and then in the lectures, you go straight on working in groups on some projects/case studies/activities (-not always, but in my course usually). The assignments are either essays or presentations (except from the exam from Economics and Finance in my 1st year!! :-/). Sometimes you have to spend the whole night in Peirson to do them. Research, research, research, referencing, referencing, research, referencing and so on. It is all about these two "Rs". The best feeling is when you receive a good grade from an assignment. As for the campuses, I've had almost all of my lectures in the city campus (the one we call Hogwarts) and only few on the main campus, where the halls are.
Oh my, this post's already getting long! I do apologize, but I just want to say everything haha. Ok let me make it shorter.
In November 2014 me and Marie traveled to Barcelona, where we had the best time in our life. You can see the whole adventure HERE. Just a little preview, for those, who haven't seen it yet.
I bet you have to click on that link to Barcelona's post now :-)
In December 2014 I went home for a Christmas Holiday, however before leaving Worcester, the International Committee organised a Christmas Party, which I was a part of. I was volunteering as a part of a Non-Uk Student Committee and helped to organise events and meetings, where I met so many incredible people. It was a great fun, shame I had no time in my second year to join them again...but will do in my third year, I promise!
In December 2014 I went home for a Christmas Holiday, however before leaving Worcester, the International Committee organised a Christmas Party, which I was a part of. I was volunteering as a part of a Non-Uk Student Committee and helped to organise events and meetings, where I met so many incredible people. It was a great fun, shame I had no time in my second year to join them again...but will do in my third year, I promise!
When we arrived in January 2015 we had just one week of lectures and then 2 weeks off again. So we grabbed the opportunity and went to Dublin! You can check our Irish adventure in Dublin right HERE (if you haven't done so yet). However, I am still going to show you a bit to tease you.
February and March 2015 were all about Uni, assignments, lectures, working, being in Worcester. With our International Committee I had a chance to take part in organising a Chinese New Year, which was a truly unforgettable experience.
However, in April 2015 we did a bit of a traveling as we had Worcester Week (week off school). We went to Bristol, which is the city we fell in love with immediately. Moreover, it was my birthday so I spent an amazing day with my friends, woke up to a beautiful morning with a cake from my best friend and was really emotional all day long.
Spring 2015 in Worcester was beautiful. We spent a lot of time in the nature, having some time before all the exams started and to take a break from all the studying.
We mostly studied till the end of May 2015, when we had our last exam. And holidays could start! Before heading home in June 2015 me and my friends went on a hike to Malvern Hills, me and Marie went to Cheltenham and Birmingham and lastly, I visited my brother in Brighton. More pictures from our June in the UK HERE. What a lovely end to first year at Uni!
To those, who have been brave enough to have made it till here, I do congratulate you and am assuring you that from now on, it is going to be pictures mostly!
Let me just quickly recap my second year. I arrived to UK in middle August to get a job. I got a job in a restaurant, where I met so many incredible people and spent a lot of fun time with them during our shifts and after work. My sister came with me and we had wonderful time together, we traveled, danced, eaten, laughed and were freezing as well. School was pretty hectic, new obstacles overcome, assignments uploaded, Erasmus confirmed, new friendships made, loads of hours worked, bedroom shared with ma mate, money earned, experience gained, places visited, many nights partied, lots of Maccies eaten, floods seen, both my parents visited... and it all went so QUICKLY and I couldn't believe I was leaving... which was hard to be honest.
sooooo, basically... SINCE SEPTEMBER 2014 I have....
I HAVE MADE SOME GREAT FRIENDS
I HAVE EXPLORED THE BEAUTY OF WORCESTER
I HAVE MADE 2 OUTFITS FOR HALLOWEEN
I HAVE DONE LOADS OF GROUP WORK AND PRESENTATIONS
I HAVE DRUNK A LOT OF DRINKS AND EATEN A LOT OF FOOD
I HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 SEASONS OF THE YEAR
I HAVE GONE TO COUNTLESS PARTIES
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.... and that's it! You've made it to the end of this post!
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.... and that's it! You've made it to the end of this post!
Being an international student is a truly wonderful experience. I cannot be more grateful to be here, in Worcester, studying what I enjoy and hope am good at, combining school with work, being independent, going on an Erasmus to Belgium in January, traveling, living life "in English", speaking languages, coming across countless cultures and backgrounds, sharing everything with my amazing friends, parents, and colleagues. I am thankful for everyone being here for me and being a part of my adventures. I'll keep you updated.
Love to you all
Michaela xx