March 12, 1999
I can scarcely believe it, but the end of the term has come. I’ve been in England for ten weeks, and have completed a Period Paper in the English and Related Literature department of York University. I’ve also run around playing tourist in York itself, attended a Highlander: The Series convention in Birmingham, and even gone to London with the York Student Cinema to a film festival.
No wonder I’m ready for Spring Break!
Joking aside, it’s been a good term, overall. Getting my feet under me in a different culture and a different school system hasn’t been all fun and games, but now that I’m a bit more acclimatized, I’m looking forward to my one remaining term here. I’ve got a group of pals to hang out with (who I’ll miss when I leave!), have a better feel for how the system works, and know where to go to buy my groceries (the Kwik Save on Hull road doesn’t have a fantastic selection, but does have great prices).
There are plenty of things to love about school here. In the English department, at least, the class load is much lighter (one course at a time!). There are papers to write, and (although not for visiting students) a final exam, of course, but once you figure out how much reading your Tutor actually expects you to do (as opposed to what he or she puts on the reading list), there isn’t quite as much work to do as it might seem. My Tutor this term has been wonderfully flexible, and although it’s a little frustrating to not have clear-cut due dates, it’s nice to have a bit of leeway when things get hectic. The dorms aren’t fantastic, but it’s awfully nice to have a linen service and someone to clean my room once a week. The social life on campus here is much more active than I’d expected. There are parties every week, often more than one, and the bars scattered around campus are great social hangouts. Not being much of a drinker, I hooked up with the Cinema Society, which is full of some of the nicest people I’ve met since I got here, and has actually given me a social life. The city of York is a blast to explore, especially when you know a little of the history.
But all that isn’t to say there are some things I miss about life back home. For starters, most things here are a lot more expensive than they are in the States (Doc Martens’ boots are a notable exception). A regular CD costs about 14 pounds, which is close to $20! I can’t get some of my favorite candy here (I miss Wonka’s Everlasting Gobstoppers, dagnabit!), either. I miss running down to Santa Monica to see the Red Elvises with my friends (but I’m expecting a copy of their new CD in the mail shortly, which will help that problem a little). I miss the variety of fresh fruits and veggies you get in California. And not having a phone in my room is more of an annoyance than I’d expected.
As you can see, though, the good outweighs the bad by quite a bit. This term has been a blast, and next term is shaping up to be fun as well. Plus, of course, I get five weeks off between now and the beginning of classes. Yup, five weeks. I’ll still be writing this column, though; it’ll just be about my adventures as a tourist in the rest of the UK.
For those curious about the Highlander con, check out my Con Report.
Got questions about student life in England? Write me.
