Author: Becky

What We Discovered in India: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

This week we thought we would write about what we learnt in India. When we were at Visthar we learnt a lot about social issues including the social positioning of women, domestic violence, the economy/poverty and the environment. This was all so informative, especially as it was taught on the basis of a discussion.

For us both however, what we learnt the most came from the things we saw when we were travelling independently. We went to a lot of temples which obviously taught us about Hinduism, Sikhism and Christianity in India. One place which will stay with us forever and which we learnt more from than any lecture or book could ever teach us was when we went to a slum in Mumbai called Dharavi. We had been to many slums before we went to this one however, there was something about Dharavi which will always stick with us. It is often called “the biggest slum in Asia” and it really is huge. Huts were built on top of other huts and you could see how crowded everyones living spaces were. When we walked through, we felt humbled by what we saw. There were children as young as 1 playing outside right next to a sewer and it was clear to see that people who lived in Dharavi didn’t have many material possessions. What they did have however, was massive smiles on their faces. Everyone we saw smiled at us and spoke to us, despite the fact that they did not understand English and we did not understand Hindi. Through gestures and facial expressions we managed to connect with the children that we saw which was a very touching experience.

One of the hardest things to process, when we went to Dharavi, was the fact that it was a city situated right next to the large economic hub of India which was built up of sky scrapers, fancy cars and posh restaurants. The contrast was really hard to deal with, especially as we knew we were from a society which favoured the big economic hub. However, we were able to use this experience in our dissertations and we could incorporate what we learnt into our work.

Although we travelled all over India over the two month period, Dharavi is a place which we will never forget and is somewhere which greatly impacted upon us both. If you ever go to India definitely steer away from tourist destinations sometimes: you really do learn more seeing how different groups of people live. It is something which we will always remember and will always be relevant to us. We think our perceptions changed around the problems many people face in the world and this experience definitely made us realise that there is a lot more to life than what you see on the surface.

Becky and Katie x

Living in town: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

We thought we would write about something which you won’t have to think about until the end of your first year (unless you choose to live off campus from the start) – living off campus.

In second year you do have the chance to request to stay on campus, as quite a lot of people do. However, you also have the opportunity to move into town. For us both, deciding to live off campus was a really good decision.

It is good to sort out who you want to live with quite early on (around November / December time) as a lot of houses will be taken up quickly. You might be happier living with your flatmates from campus, or you could choose to live with course mates / society friends. In Lancaster there are lots of agencies to choose from, most of which rent out houses which hold anything from 2-10 people.

When looking for a house, location is obviously key. Make sure you pick somewhere close to a bus stop (within walking distance) and somewhere not too far from town as you don’t really want to be walking home for ages in the cold after a night out!

Living in town is very different to living on campus. Firstly, you probably won’t be living with so many different people surrounding you – this can be quite nice as you do develop really strong friendships. Secondly, on campus everything is a quick walk away (shops and bars) whereas living in town means that you have to venture out a bit more and discover places in the town itself…(such as, pubs and restaurants).

For us both we preferred living in town as it felt like there was a separation between uni and ‘going home’. This is nice because it means that it is easier to relax at home as you aren’t surrounded by uni and the thought that your lecture room is only a 2 minute walk away.

If you do end up living in town, bus services are really regular to get to uni. There are different buses which take different routes to get to uni so wherever you live you will probably be on one of those routes. A return to campus from town is around £2.40, or a bus pass is also a good option for the year if you will be travelling to campus a lot.

If you have a car and drive to uni from town it takes approximately 10 minutes and it is easy to park on campus for £1 a day.

Some people do choose to stay on campus for their whole time of being at uni – this is tempting as it is convenient and makes life a little easier in the mornings. But, if you do choose to live off campus the chances are you will really enjoy it – just pick your housemates wisely and make sure you feel comfortable with them.

Becky and Katie x

The Floods: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello, hope you had a nice Christmas!

We thought we would write about something that happened before Christmas but is still affecting Lancaster and the surrounding areas – the floods.

As per usual it was raining a lot in Lancaster (the weather is something you will have to get used to – especially if you are not from the north of England). On one Saturday night there was a power cut and everyone thought it would not last long however, from Saturday onwards Lancaster was a bit chaotic. There was no phone signal, nobody had any electricity and no shops were really open. It was a bit scary however, everyone seemed to see the funny side to it and just tried to carry on as normal (as much as they could). People were queuing to use phone boxes and it felt like Lancaster had gone back in time.

It turned out that the electricity box which powers Lancaster had become flooded – leaving nearly every home without electricity. The uni was shut for the last week of term because of the floods and all coursework deadlines / exams were postponed until January. Even though the whole flood saga was not good, it did show good community spirit and everyone clubbed together to help each other out. Everyone was talking to one another and people, whether you knew them or not, we’re making sure everyone was okay and was helping out where they could. The uni handled the whole situation really well and made sure that everyone was safe.

It’s good to know than whenever a problem as large as that one occurs Lancaster uni, and Lancaster as a whole, deals with it well!

Hopefully the flooding will soon stop across the north of England and everything will go back to normal!

Becky and Katie x

 

Money: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

As it is nearly Christmas / mid way through our final year, we thought we would write about the topic of money as it seems to be a big thing right now.

When you go to uni, whether you get a loan, a grant, a bursary or neither, learning how to budget your money becomes one of the most important things you will learn how to do. When we both first started uni, initially it was quite hard to budget our money in a way which gave us enough to do what we wanted to do for example – money for food, drink, bus tickets, train tickets, nights out, washing power etc etc. After a while you do get used to it but initially it is a bit weird as you find yourself thinking about things that you probably haven’t thought about before: like washing powder, tea bags, milk, cheese, bread etc. Buying things like washing powder, washing up liquid, bin bags etc are all very mundane but also very important so it’s always good to make sure you have enough money to buy them when thinking about money. In regards to food shopping – one thing to do is to take advantage of any deal or offer in a supermarket as you can actually save quite a lot of money in the long run. It’s good to buy non-branded stuff as it really is so much cheaper and it’s also good to makes sure that you don’t buy more than you need.

In terms of nights out: you genuinely can have a good night out in Lancaster without spending much money. Entry into the LUSU club is usually around £3/£4, and if you drink at pre drinks, you don’t need to spend much when you’re actually in the club. In terms of taxis, a taxi from town to campus is usually around £10 or there is the free sugar bus home after a night out which is always so handy to use and so you don’t need to splash out a lot of money to have a good night out.

We both have railcards and the are probably one of our best purchases ever. You can literally save so much money with them – whether you are travelling home or just getting the train somewhere for the day – you save 30% which really does make a big difference!

It is quite hard to explain what ‘money’ is like at uni, as everybody has different experiences but, money does become quite an important thing and as long as you spend it wisely / keep an eye on it, then you won’t have anything to worry about.

Merry christmas and happy new year!

Becky and Katie x

Essays: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

It has got to that time of year when essays are looming for us, so we thought we would write about how to deal with deadlines.

So..

In first year, each term you will have one essay per module that you take. Initially it is quite daunting as you have to really get to grips with time management as well as learning how to reference properly.

Once you have decided on your essay question (you are usually able to pick form a few) it is really good to meet with your tutor to go through your plan and to discuss how to write it in the best way. Tutors will always be happy to help you or to go through things with you, although they cannot read through your essay or tell you what exactly it is you should write – they will guide you in the right direction and you won’t feel completely in the dark.

When it comes to essays the first port of call tends to be the library. Your tutor will provide you with a reading list with useful books and they usually are really helpful so make sure you use them. The library initially seems a bit weird as it has a referencing system which, at first sight, doesn’t really make sense. However, after a while you really do get used to it and when you know what floor / section your modules books will be on you won’t have any trouble finding them.

Referencing is so important. Your tutors will go on and on about it but you have to make sure that you do it and do it properly, otherwise you will get penalised. It can’t be denied that it is tedious but as long as you make sure to reference as you go along, and not leave it until the last minute (a mistake we have both made) it will be much easier to do. Before starting university, you may hear  lot of talk about how difficult referencing is, particularly the Harvard style. However, referencing is actually fairly simple once you get used to it and if you do struggle with a particular style, there are others to choose from. Most tutors will agree that as long as you are consistent, you can choose whichever style suits you best.

Once you have written your essay and filled out the cover form (essays are handed in anonymously) you have to deposit your essay in a rather ominous looking postbox. It is really satisfying once you hand it in, and the fact that you can’t get it back once it’s gone means that you stop thinking about it. Just make sure you put it in the right box! You also have to upload the essay electronically onto the Department’s page. It is so important that you do this as well as handing in the hard copy because otherwise your essay won’t get marked!

Essays can be a drag and they make those last few weeks before the Christmas holidays extra slow, but you have to do them so you might as well try your best, put the time in and work really hard for the last few weeks and then your time off will feel even more deserved.

Saying this however, it is important to take breaks! Don’t stay up all night, every night, barely getting any sleep- trust us, it won’t be worth it. Essay writing is all about a good balance of work and rest. Your flatmates will likely be in the same position so you’ll all be able to help each other in maintaining this balance and then you can all celebrate well after.

They really are not as awful as they initially seem, just try your best and manage your time well and you will get the results you hope for / deserve.

Becky and Katie x

Settling into the PPR department: Becky and Katie

/ Becky

This week we thought we would talk about what it was like in the PPR department when we first started uni.

Once you get used to your timetable and knowing where your lectures are (which you quickly do) you really get into the swing of things. The first few lectures you have tend to be introductory, outlining the course and what you will be doing over the next term. The way you learn in uni is different to how you learn at college and school and initially finding your feet can be a bit daunting but honestly, after a while you really get used to it. You’ll find a style of note taking for lectures which best suits you.

Explaining seminars: Along side lectures you will have seminars for all your subjects. These can be quite different to what you have experienced before. Depending on the size of your module, seminars can have from around 9-20 people in them, lead by a tutor from the department (in second and third year seminars are usually lead by your lecturers). They are usually discussion based, going over topics which you will have studied in that week’s lecture, as well as going over the weeks reading for that topic. Even though it can seem like a bit of a drag sometimes, it is so important to do the readings as they really do make a difference to your learning and understanding. Everyone is usually quite quiet as it can be quite intimidating talking in front of everyone, especially when you might be with people who you have never seen before. However, you should bite the bullet and if you have something to say then just say it because 1) someone else will be thinking what you’re saying and 2) usually if one person speaks, it gets the ball rolling and other people start to contribute too which makes for a good and more interesting discussion. Tutors will be willing to help where they can, especially around the time of your essays and exams however, just worry about that when it comes to it.

As well as seminar tutors you will have an academic tutor in the department and student reps. You will meet up with your academic tutor once a term and discuss how you are finding the course / any issues or questions you have and how you are in general – they are usually quite informal meetings and academic tutors really will help you all that they can (they also are the ones who will write your reference so it is worth keeping in touch with them). Also in the department there are student reps who nominate themselves, from your course, in your year (it could be you!), to represent all the students on that course – if you have any problems but don’t feel your academic tutor / seminar tutor is the right person to talk to about it then your student reps will be the best people to talk to and they can give advice and pass on information to higher authorities if necessary.

As well as getting used to your new home, social life etc, you have to get used to the work load and managing your time. Doing three subjects in your first year really is not as daunting as it sounds – as long as you manage your time correctly then you really will be fine. Generally: for each subject you will get one reading per module per week as well as a essay at the end of term. Balance is key here but, it really is possible. Everyone is in the same position as you and so many people will be willing to help if you are struggling, so don’t panic at all.

If you have any problems at all, in regards to your course, changing modules or anything else, there are so many people who you can go to so don’t be afraid to speak up. Your lecturers, tutors and everyone in the department wants you to do well but most of all, want you to enjoy your time at uni – so they will do all they can to make this happen.

Becky and Katie x

Our first weeks at Lancaster: by Becky and Katie

/ Becky

Hello!

We just thought we would share some of our initial thoughts and experiences of our first few weeks at Lancaster uni and with the PPR department.

Lancaster university has nine different colleges (a bit like Hogwarts) and you become a member of one of them. Being in different colleges obviously our experiences aren’t exactly the same, however we both lived in the halls of our colleges in first year and so our situations were quite similar.

Becky: I was really excited to start uni but obviously nervous too and the thing I was most nervous about was who I was going to live with. When I first arrived everyone was really nice and I just kept on telling myself that everyone else was in the same position as me. After a few days everyone ‘came out of their shells’ and we started to become more comfortable around one another. Fresher’s week was full of activities and talks and me and my flatmates attending pretty much everything together. Even little things like cooking together in the shared kitchen helped friendships to develop. It was so important that everyone was just themselves and put themselves out there, even though sometimes it was quite daunting I feel that participating in as many things I could with my flatmates made a difference to my overall experience of first year. It was good to know that at the end of the day I could go back to the flat and feel comfortable around people. Obviously not everyone gets on with everyone but, if you are yourself, the chances are you will make friends really easily and click with people who you never thought you would click with.

Katie: For me, I had felt ready to move to university for a long time. However, it was only when my parents pulled onto campus that the nerves hit. Who would my flat mates be? What if my flatmates don’t like me? Will it be awkward? But as soon as I started meeting everyone I was going to be living with for the next year, I soon relaxed. Everyone there was as apprehensive as I was, and also as keen to make friends, so instantly we all had something in common. Plus, I don’t know why I was worried about it being awkward because there’s so much to talk about! The first few hours of conversation in the flat was about whee everyone was from, what they’re studying, what they did that summer, etc. It’s natural to be nervous, but rest assured that once you get to your new flat, it will soon feel like home. Your college will also play a major role in getting you settled in. Each college will hold events throughout Freshers’ week, and during the whole year, which are great opportunities to get to know other people in your house and college. In my Freshers’ week, we had several fancy dress nights including animal safari (I was an elephant) as well as events during the day.

Both of us settled in well, despite initial worries and it seems as if this is the case for nearly everyone we have met.

As well as settling into our accommodation, we also had to settle into our courses too. After having initial talks from the department and meeting the lecturers some faces became familiar. At Lancaster, in the PPR department, you have to do three subjects in your first year (1 major and 2 minors). This seems like a lot but it really is very manageable. The subjects don’t have to be directly related to your Major which leaves you the option to explore other avenues if you wish.

As faces became more familiar we gradually began to feel a part of our subjects and the department. Whenever we were struggling everyone was willing to help whether it was other students, our lecturers or our academic tutors. Facebook groups were made so that people in our subjects could talk to each other and ask each other questions – neither of us ever felt like we were stuck and alone. As we started to get used to the style of teaching in the PPR department, everything seemed less daunting as it was a big transition from sixth form. Everyone in the department was so friendly and you could ask anyone anything, and if they didn’t know the answer they would direct you to someone who would.

This week’s little piece of advice: be yourself. Uni is such a great opportunity, both academically and socially so don’t waste time hiding who you are: put yourself out there and you will make friends and meet some of the most amazing people. It is okay to be nervous of course but, after a while these nerves will shrink and you will look back and wonder what you were ever even nervous about.

Just don’t worry!

Becky and Katie x