1st year of university

It would seem that my first year of university is over (with the exception of my essays being due in in a few weeks). Like most things it’s gone way too fast, although that may be partly down to us only having 2 semesters, each being 12 weeks. I’m sure most other uni’s get a 3^rd semester, in some ways I guess I shouldn’t be complaining about that but I have to admit I do like my life up here… most of the time. It’s been an eventful first year, a lot of ups and a few downs thrown in for good measure, have to say I preferred the 1^st semester to the 2^nd. I wondered before I came to uni if I would feel a bit out of place being a few years older than the majority of the students, but mostly I haven’t at all, apart from when my friends bring it up and make a joke out of it, but they’re just jealous.  I’ve met a LOT of people over this 1^st year and I’ve definitely made some great friends, I sincerely hope that they will stay friends for a very long time in my life.

A lot of people I know are saying that uni has changed them, I suppose at their age it will, the lifestyle is like nothing they’ve known before, for me it’s a bit different and I can’t honestly say that I think being at uni has changed me, the only think I think I can say has changed in a bit is I feel a little bit better about myself and who I am because I’ve been around a lot of people who seem to like me and of course that’s a nice thing to feel. I’d say being at uni has given me a renewed thirst for life, and I’m genuinely excited to see what comes from my 2^nd and 3^rd years here. I move into a new house in September, going to be living with 7 other people, that will be an experience I’ve never had before. I’m excited for it but at the same time I feel a bit sad to be leaving where I am currently, living with my current housemate Chris and his dad has been great and I feel very lucky that I got to live here, it’s unusual to be spending your first year of university in a house which has a family atmosphere, most students will have lived in halls and been lumbered with neighbours being whoever they got and living off ‘student dinners’ (I’ve seen a lot of noodles during my time in the halls) whereas I almost feel like part of a new family here and have got to enjoy the cooking of two rather good chefs, I’m certainly not complaining! It’s just a shame that there is a screeching unmerciless bastard face of a parrot who lives here as well, he is a parrot who has taken a particular dislike to me for reasons I don’t know and uses his power of producing ear piercing screeches when either he sees me come into the room or when he knows I’m trying to sleep in to tell me just how much he dislikes me. Everyday I spend with him I grow more intrigued as to what parrot stew would taste like. But noisy parrots aside, I feel really lucky to have found such a great home for my 1^st year and I’ll take with me some very funny memories of mine and chris’ antics when coming home drunk and stealing signs from the neighbours and putting traffic cones in the taxi before they drive off! 

I’m not sure how the next 5 months will pan out for me before I’m due back at uni in September, but hopefully I can sort out my work situation and start preparing myself for my 2^nd year.

Until next time…

Travelling

I've been fortunate enough in my life, and in particular the last few years to visit a lot of places in the world. In 2005 I did Camp America and got a place in a county in Florida called Ocala, located about 2 hours drive from Orlando. I spent 3 months there, it was one of the best times of my life there and I'm happy to say I still keep in contact with some of the people I met there. 2 years ago with my girlfriend at the time I also got the opportunity to visit New Zealand which is easily one of my favourite places in the world, it is a country divided not just by the gap between the north and south islands but by the culture. I went to places where it is almost the same as walking down the street in any big town in England, nothing too unique or strange, but then I also went to areas of the country totally dominated by Maori culture. I was amazed to see how this kind of culture still exists today and still manages to operate as they have always done despite the western worlds clear influence over the country. I went to a traditional Maori village where I had to be inducted into their tribe in order to set foot in their homes and social areas. I'm sure it's a common thing for them to do for the tourists and I highly doubt they'll remember me if I went back and would probably try to induct me again, but still it was nice to feel part of something like that. I think people can often be very naive about other cultures that exist around the world and can often be very dismissive of them, most of us will believe that our own culture is the only one worth adhering to, but personally I love being around things that are just a little different to what I'm used to because it reminds me that the world is actually quite cool and there is such a variety in how people choose to live their lives. I even found the culture in America different to over here in the UK, obviously not quite as extensively as the Maori people but still enough to make me feel like an alien in a strange land. I'm still fascinated by all different cultures and different ways of living and I would highly recommended it to everyone on this planet to go travelling at some point in your life just to see something a little different to what your used to.
While in New Zealand I also had the opportunity to go canyon swinging, which is a bit like bungee jumping except they swing you over a canyon rather than just let you drop straight down. I didn't realise until after I had done it that it was the world's biggest one too. I'm proud I did it and I have the dvd of me doing it to prove it, but I definitely shat myself a little bit before I was swung. I wouldn't say that canyon swinging is a must for everyone but hey it's a good thing to have on your social CV.
Until next time...