| UEA, Norwich What�s that? It sounds like a country in the Middle-East. Actually it�s the University of East Anglia based in Norwich. There are currently about 13,000 students studying there and it is one of the most improved universities in recent years. By the way, you�re thinking of the UAE, which is in the Middle-East. Sorry! You're not affiliated with it in some kind of way are you? How did you guess? Yes, I�m one of the lucky 13,000 and jolly glad I chose to come here. You know, UEA has some of the best departments in the country for subjects such as Creative Writing, American Studies and Environmental Sciences. That�s mighty impressive, but why should anyone want to go to Norwich in the first place? Good question, but Norwich is actually one of the safest cities in Britain, it has a long and interesting history and it is certainly not the yokel-populated backwater that Alan Partridge will have you believe. Hmmm, I�m not convinced, I actually like Alan Partridge. History is all very good but I want excitement! You said you were a student yourself; what do you do for fun? Fun? You don�t know the meaning of the word until you come to Norwich! Not only is there a plethora of pubs, bars and clubs in the town-centre, but also the new fully refurbished Union Pub on campus. My friend, you haven�t lived until you�ve been to the LCR! Sounds like a piece of video equipment but I expect you�re going to tell me it�s not. You�re right. It stands for the �Lesser Common Room� but is the name we give to the Thursday night disco; it�s a real cheese-fest! Even the nastiest mingers can pull there! Sorry? Doesn�t matter. So you�re trying to tell me that Norwich is in fact a place worth a visit and that the UEA is the hub of activity? My word I think he�s got it! UEA may be concrete hell for some people, but for others it�s a home, a workplace and a place to make merriment. You�d be surprised how fond you become of the familiar, even if it is a 1960s architectural fumble. It seems to me like you�re becoming institutionalised. I�m beginning to feel that way myself. Oh Chesney! -Tom Queree, 2002 |
| Passnotes, No 1 |