What and What not to Bring - you don't need as many jeans as you think! - socks and underwear are good and helps laundry last longer - lots of kraft dinner and instant noodles make the caf food bearable! - plates, forks, spoons and cups/mugs are KEY - a duvet cover (IKEA) will brighten up your room and make it your own - family photos make great wall coverings - you can buy your paper and school supplies at the castle shop but it's quite pricey - do not bring blank white paper for the printer, the sizes are different in Britain - all your sheets and towels are provided - bring the clothes you usually wear - not the ones you think you will/should. - bring all the toiletries you're going to need. Even toothpaste is expensive. - you'll need a bag you can sling over your shoulder for carrying all your stuff on field studies. Think an umbrella, packed lunch, gum, notebook, mp3 player, extra sweater... it can get pretty heavy! This is for Guys and Girls! - if you have sheet music and an instrument - bring them! - a laptop is a great idea but if you can't get one there are plenty at the castle and the computers they rent are good Tips for Travelling - check online and do your research, but keep in mind that spur of the moment isn't terrible - decide how much money you've got to spend and pick your countries early on - the earlier you decide and plan, the cheaper it's going to be - travel with friends you trust - if you know you need a big group then do that. If you think you're going to need to travel in pairs, do that too! - a flight out of Stansted is usually cheaper than one to Gatwick - but make SURE you factor in the cost of a taxi and transportation to Stainsted Airport - there are a few ways to get to Stansted - the taxi is most desirable, but only if you're travelling to and from in groups of 4. Otherwise, a taxi to Polegate (nearest train station) with a ride to Victoria is usually the way to go. From there you can take a train to the airport or you can do what I always did - from Victoria you can catch a comfortable, warm bus to the airport. My preference for a nice ride. - before you go away - post on Student Chat. Someone else might be going to an airport and you might be able to split a cab. - donate information to Eugene's library shelf - send lots of postcards - hostels aren't always the cheapest way to go - there are city guides online. It's a good idea to print them off before you leave the castle so that you can take yourselves on walking tours instead of spending a lot of money on a prearranged one. - walk on/Walk off bus tours can go either way. Pick a reliable one.. - walk - go to London a LOT and see everything you can there - buy a student rail card for the train. You will make it up several times over. It's worth it! - consider staying late after a field study to London and seeing a show - there are several cheap ticket booths and some of my best memories of London are late nights with my friends - if you have a hangout and neighbourhood you like in London you'll feel special. (Rendez Vous in Leicester Square and the coffee shop on top of the book store across Trafalgar were mine) - make use of every weekend. If you say you're not going to go somewhere because you plan on studying, you won't end up studying and you'll regret staying home alone. Trust me. The Truth Behind the Brown Sauce - Bring non-perishable food from home or get it at ASDA - The food is always better at the beginning but you'll get used to it being bad :) - If you want something - ask! They much just have it. - After our first mid term trip Kitchen Staff announced that nearly 200 spoons had gone missing. Housekeeping took all cuttlery from rooms over the break and while many of the utensils were returned to the caf - lots of people lost their own forks and knives. So. Bring your own! And put it away when you leave for more than a week. - If you get creative the food's not bad. An inedible looking chicken breast might make a great pita sandwhich. - Vegetarians had to work really hard to get food that was full in protein and healthy, too. - Beverages are not the same as they are at home. - use the mugs instead of the cups - they wash them and it's better for the environment Communicating with the Folks Back Home - get your parents msn - if you've got a webcam they're great - otherwise, it's not a big deal - getting your parents to call you is good - but a hassle since you have to book a phone - there are several different kinds of phone cards and programs - find the one that works for you - Telus and Bell have "Call Me" cards so that you can call home and it will go on your parents bill - this can get pretty pricey but it's the most convenient - your ISIC card works as a great, recharable phone card that you can add money too and call from all over. All you have to do is go online before you travel and find the new number to use when you're in another country. The same goes from the "Call Me" cards. - a microphone headset that you can hook up to your computer lets you talk over msn or aim to your family or anyone else. It doesn't cost anything - but you might get evil stares from your roommate if you're not respectful. - many people had cellphones and found them useful, but these people were usually making friends with British people and used their phones to call in the country. Otherwise, it does make it easier for your parents to get a hold of you - but is that really what you want? |
| At the summer orientation Queen's provides for castle kids (SOAR) one of the former students encouraged us to get a digital camera and put the pictures online for our friends and family. I thought it was a really good idea and so I went home and looked into all the different picture sites and possibilities. Being a perfectionist, I eventually realised that I wasn't going to be happy with a set format so I started My Year Away. It has been a lot of work and an excellent procrastination tool - but I hope it serves its purpose. This section is designed to help prospective and future students plan their year and get ready for the time of their lives! |
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| Things I Wish I'd Known... (and other wise words from Castle Kids!) |
| Look below for: - What and What not to Bring - Tips for Travelling - The Truth Behind the Brown Sauce - Communicating with the Folks Back Home - Money, Money, Money! - What they NEVER tell you - Living at Bader Hall, and Surviving - The top 10 Reasons you should study at the Castle - Yes, I said "Study"! |