Hello again!

I have made it back to England! I mentioned in an earlier post that I was going traveling with my sister to Switzerland and Norway for two weeks. The trip was amazing. We met loads of different people, young and old, from all over the world. Traveling throughout the cities was super easy because of the great public transportation that Europe has to offer. It was very interesting to see how different countries function and interact. Living in England, with so many different cultures nearby, is a great opportunity to broaden your understanding of different places and break free from the American bubble.

With the help from my sister, I have now moved into my new house off campus! I am living with five boys, all from my house last year, so we shall see how that goes 😉 I have been off buying new bedding and kitchen supplies. For all those moving in now, Debenhams is a great place to get bedding, cosmetics, house supplies, all sorts of things that you would need. For more kitchen and house supplies there is a good store right across from the main bus station in town in the White Lion Walk. They have a good section for students as well. Both of these stores are easy to access via the bus or there is a car park in town as well. For computers, TV’s, or printers, I went to PC world which is easiest to access by car. It is not in the main part of town, but is only about a 5-10 minute drive from campus. They have a wide selection of gadgets and are well priced.

I have mentioned this before, but now that Freshers week is upon us I shall mention it again. In order to get a UK SIM card, I had my phone unlocked. I went to Tescos and use their service. My plan costs me about £12 a month for essentially unlimited texting, calling, and data. The added bonus of using Tescos is I get points on my Tesco Clubcard each month that I can use to redeem rewards. To open a bank account, I used Santander which is located on campus. I opened an international student account which has worked swell for me. The only difference I can remember between an international account and a regular one is I have to pay an account fee of £5 a month. Furthermore, make sure to get your wifi device from the school early! Last year they ran out and had to order more. Meaning the kids who didn’t get them early, couldn’t use wifi for their computers or gaming consoles for a week or two. Lastly, if you live off campus (ex. Manor Park), I suggest getting a bus pass. You can purchase one online through the university. It works for all the Arriva busses and is much more economical if you plan on using the bus frequently. However, if you do live on campus, I don’t think you will need one. I bought one last year and I rarely used it because I stayed on campus and the town is very easy to just walk to.

My last words before I sign off: enjoy Freshers! It is a great experience and the perfect time to meet new people. It can be overwhelming at first trying to essentially restart your life in a matter of a few days with trying to get a new bank, new phone, new room, new friends, and in a new country, but it is well worth it. Everything calms down and gets more normal the more you settle in. Get involved at the Freshers Fair and sign up for societies and teams. I am excited for all of you for your new journey. It is going to be fantastic 🙂

As always if you have any questions, please email me! I am happy to answer all the questions you might have.

Bye for now,

Holly