Since I have the time (stuck in London due to weather), I figured I should make this post now.
I’ve finished my first term at Leeds. It was an interesting few months with lots of fun, a little confusion, only occasional difficulties and a lot of new memories. Before I forget everything I did/learned/tried, I suppose I should write it all down.
1. UNI
University in England is quite different than in the US. And I like the system more, I think.
Firstly, classes are structured differently. I would have one lecture a week for 50 minutes and then one tutorial/seminar a week. The tutorials/seminars are 50 minute classes with only 10-15 other students from the lecture. Basically, it’s a time for discussion and debate. You can ask questions and argue and learn a lot more, I feel.
Second, there’s no busy work. By that, I mean there’s no random assignments that are due in every week just to waste your time. There aren’t even exams, actually. Everything is assessed with essays. You’re given the essay topics at the beginning of the semester and then you will either have just one essay due in January as a final or 2 smaller essays, one due in November and the other in January. Or you can have a “final exam”, which is just a closed essay writing in January. Basically, there’s just less busy work. Granted, you are expected to read more, but I like that because I can tailor my selected readings and essays to my interests.
Overall, I just feel like I learn a lot more and retain 10x more here than I do at PSU. In fact, I’ve never studied in the PSU library or even touched a book there, but at Leeds I frequent the library at least once a week and have been reading fascinating texts about sexuality, stigma, eating disorders, the UN, climate change, mental illness, business ethics and so much more.
2. FRIENDS
Coming to Leeds, I knew three Brits there. I met them last year when they were studying at Penn State. One, I had started dating at the end of the spring semester, and the other two were going to be his housemates. I was skeptical about it because I didn’t want to linger around with them. I wanted to meet entirely new people. It was one of the biggest motivations for me to go to England after all.
And I didn’t linger at all. Aside from bumping into my boyfriend’s housemates when I’d go around, I never saw them.
Instead, I made some fantastic new friends. I never made a good friend group at Penn State, and since coming to England I’ve realized that I mesh a lot better with English culture than American. So that’s a big part. Anyway, more on that later.
My friends at Leeds are an eccentric bunch. They come from all over the UK and have different tastes in everything: music, movies, politics, etc. But we all get on really well. For my birthday, they made me cake and took me out along with making me memorabilia plates and mugs to take back to America with me. They are the kind of people that I know I can rely on. In fact, one of them is letting me come visit him at his home in Somerset after the New Year.
3. TRAVEL
Perhaps I didn’t travel as much as expected, but it’s because I was having too great of a time in Leeds. And it wasn’t a mistake at all! I traveled to Ireland for a weekend, which was beautiful. It was a fantastic trip and I love the Irish now.
I also visited Austria. I went to stay with my friend, Chelsea, who was studying abroad in Vienna. Well it was a good time, and I ate my weight in German/Austrian sausages, it let me down a little. It was a pretty city, but it just didn’t feel like home. Maybe getting stranded there slanted my view, too. But because of getting stranded there I got to venture into Slovakia so I could fly out of Bratislava.
I’ve been to and around London loads, too. Since Bertie lives here when he’s not at Leeds, I have a place to stay and he’s been a great host. I’ve really gotten the hang of this city and it’s still my favorite place in the world.
4. LEARNING
a. Politics
The politics of Britain in…interesting. They had major riots in London and sit ins in Leeds in protest of the tuition cuts. Tuition prices are going to double, but I still have a hard time sympathizing since PSU is putting me $120,000 in debt. Still, it was fascinating to watch the events unfold.
I also learned that some English really despise the Royal Family, that half the Scottish want independence and that everyone picks on the Welsh. It’s a weird politics. And usually the British are complacent and mock it more than anything.
b. Culture
I adore this culture. It suits me so much better than American culture. First, the people are just better friends. They’re nicer. Americans tend to be shit friends more often than good friends. By that, I mean that they say they’ll do something or pretend to be your best friend even if you don’t know each other well and then not show up and disappoint you nine times out of ten. In England, I’ve found that while people are less likely to initiate a conversation with a stranger, they are much more genuine in their relationships with people. They will either be your friend or not be. It’ll be definite. You’ll know where you stand. And the ones that are your friends are much more reliable than anyone I’ve met at PSU.
Then there’s British TV. I never watch TV back home. Not really anyway. I don’t follow shows. Here, though, I am in love. They have these panel shows that are fantastic. They’re funny and intelligent. BBC iPlayer is one of my favorite inventions. Seriously.
Food. Yum yum yum. People who say English food is shit have never eaten it properly. First, their Chinese food is 10x better than ours on average. No contest. Second, they’re pizza is 20x better. I hate pizza back in the US, but here I go out to Pizza Express every Wednesday and have myself a delicious pizza pie. With dough balls, of course. Third, they have awesome bacon! Fourth, fish and chips, toad in the hole and bangers and mash are yum yum yummy. Last, there are more healthy options everywhere. Aside from chips. The English love their chips.
Drinking culture. It’s so different than in America. It’s talked about differently. People don’t have alcohol on some pedestal of holiness or something. They know what it is and that is that. People drink in a more relaxed manner. Pubs are very chill and just a nice night out. Clubs are, well, clubs. I don’t care for them much. But even the bars aren’t like the ones in State College where students insist on getting wasted and making fools out of themselves. Typically, they’re more relaxed and just fun. Oh, and it’s legal here. Which I think is a fantastic thing and that America has it wrong.
In terms of political correctness and all that jazz, Britain is so much more relaxed than America. They just have a much more chilled attitude and think it’s hilarious how uptight we are. I think it’s funny, too.
c. Life
1. When traveling, stressing yourself out doesn’t help matters. Even if you get stuck in a country where you don’t speak the language and have already gone over your budget and have class you’re supposed to attend back in the UK and are ready to cry, it’ll be OK. And it’s OK to cry.
2. It’s OK to ask for help. Even if you’re stubborn and proud, it’s all right to ask for help. Someone will always be there.
3. Even if you are super organized and a budget fiend, you will spend more than you plan. A lot more. And you will be angry at yourself until you realize it’s only money and you have to spend it on something.
4. The only thing you’re guaranteed to have in common with your flatmates is that you live in the same flat. You don’t have to be best friends and it’s perfectly fine if you’re not.
5. Every inconvenience will eventually be funny.
6. Bacon is easy to cook.
7. As is pasta. And everything goes with pasta.
8. There’s no point in comparing your experiences to someone else’s. As long as you’re happy and having a good time, it doesn’t matter what anyone else is doing.
Well, I guess that’s it for now. Wish I could insert some pictures, but it just won’t let me. Have a very merry Christmas!
Location: London, England
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Hi Natalie!
Am glad you’re enjoying hearing about Leeds! If you want to ask any specific questions, please don’t hesitate to email me.
Sam
I’m really enjoying reading your blog!
It’s brilliantly helpful, as I’m planning to study at Leeds next fall/spring.
I have friends from Leeds who are studying at PSU this year, and so I’ve heard loads from them about Leeds, but of course their pov is not quite the same as a PSU student in Leeds.
Please continue writing whenever you can! 🙂