Here I am, updating this
blog after months again..(In my defence, I have been busy with assignments,
courseworks and exams.... Ah, the 'perks' of being a Masters Student) and while
my exams are still going on I decide to procrastinate, and what better way to
do this by writing!( because of course, updating my blog is waaay more
important than trying to think about the Bayesian Statistics exam I have in a
day.)
While trying to think of
an interesting anecdote I can write about, I draw a blank. Is there absolutely nothing worth
sharing or writing about?
I could write about the
recently concluded Indian Elections; but I do not want to inadvertently take
sides and then end up in debates over the internet. After all, defending your
stance is not an easy job!
(Although I would love
to write something about our Congress Vice President, the 'prince' of
India, how must he be feeling after seeing the party suffer its worst
defeat ever? Going by his expressions on the Result Day, however, I do not
think he even realized that the Congress has lost by that big a margin)
Yes! Stalling the
readers for a few minutes has worked, because now I am about to share with you
something no one would have ever before. Something that will, believe me, will
change your life ..
And now, imagine some
drum rolls please, if you will...
Life as a student at a
British University
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| No, this isn't my University. Wish it was though! |
What? Do I hear you
thinking that this is not at all something that has never been shared with you
before? That there are countless blogs/articles/video blogs/pictures (did I
miss out anything?) with the exact same title, and all of
which you have read/seen and you might as well consider yourself to be an
expert on the subject.
(In case you do not fall
in the category above, well , good for me!)
However, dear readers,
please bear with me, because my experiences as a student at a British
University are definitely not something you must have read about before.
First, for those who don't know
me, (because I like to believe that there are many people who don't know me, reading
my blog) a brief introduction . Formally, I am a Statistics student (yes I
love data, no I do not know how that data can affect your life decisions)
studying at the University of Southampton, UK. I have completed a Bachelor's in
Mathematics from the University of Delhi in India... but these things do not
define me. I am a person who loves writing, loves reading, loves eating (but hates cooking!).
Some find me friendly, some find me reserved, and I agree I am both...
In short, I am just like
any other person, trying to find her way in this world..
Life as a student at a
British University is everything I imagined it would be, and more. I thought
the professors here would be very knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, very keen.
Turns out, that's something you can't generalize. There are all sorts of people
everywhere, and I have some amazing professors here, but there are some who
could care less about the students and the modules. As a student you are
expected to be very independent and have the ability to work things out on your
own. This came as a rude shock to me, because , well , in India we had
always been offered things on a platter. ('We're spoon-feeding you!' was something
my professors always said, and then still continued to do that.) However, studies are
less rigorous here than expected (which is not to say that I am not completely
swamped with work!) You are not expected to memorise things, just understand
and apply the concepts. Again, this was a rude shock to the Delhi University
graduate who is writing this, as in her undergraduate days she only understood
and applied concepts that were 'important' (which translates as: This is
definitely coming in the exam, just learn this bit and you are good to
go)
The universities are
very hi-tech here, and essentially all work you do is on a computer. Now while
this is very convenient, it also has some major disadvantages. There are so
many options to procrastinate when you are studying on your computer! (Case in
point: now) There are just so many times a student will resist the temptations
before thinking 'oh, facebook for just 5 minutes, before I continue my work in
the other window' , or , 'I can chat with friends on facebook, watch a football
match , read the news, and study at the same time! Of course I
can!'; and since all of these options are now on the computer, there is no
shame associated with not studying, because, after all, you have your
work/study notes open in the other window. Of course I'm studying, how dare you
suggest otherwise!
One thing that I have
realized here is how community driven our society is. All Indians I have met
here are very helpful and friendly, and there is a sense of belonging when
we're all together; and I believe it is the same with students from other
communities. While it is true that people can relate more to people from their
own country/region, I never imagined I would make more Indian friends in the UK
than I ever did in India.. (yes, that's only partly true; but I am a
statistician..I can manipulate numbers to prove my statements!)
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| The University Interchange. I spend a lot of time waiting for buses here |
Oh and how can I not
talk about food. I don't think this has anything to do with being in a British
University though, I think it must be universally true. Everything is either
too expensive, too unsuited to my tastes.. or sometimes just too raw.(Imagine,
having to cook your own food! The horror! ) There come times
when you have some benevolent friends who sometimes cook for you; and then you
can't thank god enough for sending them into your life.
Then there are times
when you learn to get by with whatever limited cooking abilities you have, and
find comfort in your own cooked food. I have never felt more accomplished than
when I managed to successfully make a proper meal for myself; which just makes
me feel I can do anything and everything if I can cook. Bring it on! I
am ready!
To see the good side of
things, there are often some really ground breaking researches going on in the
university which inspire feelings of awe; and if you're lucky, one of your
professors might be the ones doing such awe-striking work. Seeing such inspiring
people in close quarters makes you humble and grateful for having such
opportunities. The options provided for learning are immense! I have
met such a plethora of people , and I have learnt so much about the world. I now know little
things such as everyday cultures and traditions that can probably be never learnt
through any amount of reading. Sometimes you just need to experience things,
because no piece of writing can ever truly justify the experiences of a
lifetime!