A university field trip experience: Politics and International Relation in Brussels, Belgium

I went to Brussels as part of my Politics and Governance of the EU module last year. It is, most definitely, one of my most memorable experiences from my time at university so far. After spending a mere three days with people from the class, it surprised me how well one can really get on with those whom they’ve previously thought of as simply a familiar face they see from time to time in lectures.

The module’s aim is to provide students with a working knowledge of the history of European integration, of the main institutions of the EU and the EU policy process. The field trip was a stakeholder visit that allowed young people to discuss some of the key current issues confronting the EU’s future direction: its democratic legitimacy; its enlargement, the Eurozone crisis and other current challenges.

We made our own travel arrangements to and from London St Pancras. Thankfully the way there was smooth and I didn’t run late. We arrived 50 minutes before the train’s departure for security checks.

Belgian Waffles for 1 euro!

We stayed at the Sleep Well Youth Hostel. We were lucky as we didn’t have to sleep in mixed rooms with ten or twelve people per room! I packed lightly as we had to carry our bags with us all day on the Wednesday. The towels and toiletries (shampoo etc) aren’t provided at the hostel but we were able to borrow towels (for 1 Euro) which I did to save space in my bag.

Day 1

We must have arrived in Brussels around midday. We had lunch at a small restaurant at the Grand-Palace. I managed to get myself steak & chips and a beer for 10 Euros! Everywhere was pretty close, so after a short walk we made our way to the European Commission office. The Commission’s role is to defend the interests of the union. Its role on paper is to effectively the driving force of European integration.

Group picture at the European Parliament visit

Day 2

Our schedule was pretty jam packed on the second day. We spoke to a representative from the Committee of the Regions which gives voice to the regions and cities in the European Union. We found that there are 350 members from the 28 EU countries. When one thinks about the effort that must go through communicating through translations, you really can appreciate the challenges that Union has to go through.

What I enjoyed the most about this day was meeting with Jean-Christophe Filori. At the time of the visit, he was head of a unit that deals with Turkish issue of membership within the European Commission. The honesty of his opinion, that it is not accession that the EU prioritises but the consideration of whether the state in question follows the Copenhagen criteria first and foremost, was refreshing. You don’t have to agree with what they’re saying, but hearing the opinions of Brussels politicos nevertheless makes European politics less distant.

Inside the European Parliament

The field trip took place in spring. I must say that this was the perfect time to hold it as the weather in Brussels was absolutely divine! I must’ve averaged at 23 degrees with not a cloud in the sky! It was also fantastic of the trip conveners to let us have time to wander around the area. I think this is when the group most bonded.

Basking in the sun outside the European Commission office

 

Belgian Beer 101

Day 3

The last day was spent visiting the Eurochild office and the UK Representation in Brussels (COREPER- Committee of Permanent Representatives).

Eurochild is a network that promotes the rights and well-being of children and young people. Talking about the interests of young people in Europe was incredibly mind opening. Europe is a wealthy continent and has abundant resources to provide for children who will grow to make up the foundations of its society. However, at the time, the Euro crisis with Greece begged the question of whether or not the European Commission had time to consider other things in its agenda. I had the chance to mention this issue during the visit. It is true – the question of finance was indeed priority at the time, but what the EU must always keep in mind is investing in children is both a moral obligation and an economic priority. The youth are, after all, Europe’s solution to its ageing demographic.

The UK Representation in Brussels (COREPER- Committee of Permanent Representatives)

I would absolutely consider working in Brussels when I’m older. The UK has representatives working there. The picture above shows when we were given a talk about what policy making involved when working with the EU. In short, there are a lot of priorities that is considered. It is effectively a relationship based on bargaining and consolidations. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – Politics is the study of humans with differing opinions that is made to work through negotiations.

Free time spent at the Grand-Palace Square

You hear a lot of negative news about the European Union in the media. Britain leaving the EU (or ‘Brexit’ as some media outlets aptly put it) is once again becoming a hot topic in politics; the Conservative party adamant to hold an in and out referendum by 2017. Allowing us to have a first-hand meeting with the policy-makers within the Union made its complicated institutions a little less ‘mythical’. The field trip is an excellent example of how Southampton maximises the learning experience of its students.

A video of the trip!

The Department of Politics and International Relations (PAIR) and School of Social Sciences paid for our accommodation and travel. All we had to bring was our travel documents, money for the metro and for food. I wanted to mention once again my thanks to the department and to the University for financially supporting the trip – it really was just fantastic.

If your department offers a field trip like this, don’t miss the chance and take it. It will really make your university experience!

Rylyn

Let's talk about mental health

This is something that I’ve wanted to write about since I started writing for Life at Southampton, but I have always managed to think of something else to write about…perhaps to avoid talking about mental health.

At the end of second year I suffered a series of panic attacks and was subsequently diagnosed with anxiety and depression. I hadn’t wanted to admit that I was struggling; even day-to-day tasks were becoming difficult and even just talking to people or leaving the house to go anywhere other than the library was becoming impossible. I convinced myself that I was just focusing on work, I was just busy and under a lot of pressure – that how I was feeling was normal. It wasn’t until I hit a crisis point that I went to the GP and admitted something was wrong. Since then things have gotten better, and I wish I had spoken to someone sooner, before I let it get as far as it did – but it’s still hard to talk about.

My experience, it turns out, is similar to the experiences of so many students, not just at Southampton but all over the UK. The transition to University is one of the most dramatic transitions that young people today face. Countless studies have shown that the prevalence of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders are significantly higher amongst student populations – yet somehow, unbelievably, mental health isn’t something that’s commonly discussed before you move to University. For some reason, we still have this concept of mental health disorders as something you can ‘just get over’.

So, the first message that I want to get across is: if you notice that you aren’t coping well, that your habits have changed, you’re becoming withdrawn, or eating differently – talk to someone.

 The first point of contact could be a friend, your GP (the GPs at the University Health Service were extremely knowledgeable and helpful), or Enabling Services within the University (who run drop in sessions from 1pm to 3pm Monday to Friday during term time).

Also Masters students, PhD’s and Postdoc’s, listen up! Those studying a PhD are the most at risk of developing a mental health disorder, so all of this applies to you as well.

If you speak to your GP, they might recommend that you seek out some form of counselling, either through Enabling Services (which is free) or through NHS Steps2Wellbeing (also free), which offers counselling and treatments such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for various illnesses.

Something that has frustrated me immensely is the cliché that an eating disorder is only anorexia or bulimia, and that it only affects women. This is not true! Men and women are equally at risk of developing an eating disorder, which can manifest in any number of different ways. What’s important is that you recognise that you know you best. If you notice that your eating habits have changed, or that you feel differently about food, that’s when you need to talk to someone. Eating disorders are best cured right at the start, before they have time to take hold and do irreparable damage.

The key thing to know is that you are so not alone, and that in Southampton there is so much help available.

For instance, the University has launched a new counselling service where students have been trained to act as ‘buddies’ for people who are finding it hard to adjust. They are trained in confidential listening techniques and have loads of advice for students who don’t know what to do next.

Charities such as 'Student Minds - Southampton' offer support groups, events and training, and runs campaigns aimed at raising awareness. Visit their Facebook page for more information.

The University offers a number of specialised treatments and outreach services so that there is ALWAYS someone for you to talk to, at any time, in Southampton.

Emma

Interviews, press conferences and transferrable skills

All of Rylyn’s talk about the careers fair and employability in general got me thinking about my own future this week, just in time for some rather exciting opportunities to float my way.

Getting wrapped up in the University itself is always a fun and rewarding experience, and my course alone has given me plenty to keep busy with; but every now and then, especially now that I’m hurtling through my final year here, thoughts seem to shift towards what on earth I’m going to do when I leave. I’ll be honest, it’s a scary prospect - anyone who said otherwise would very likely be lying - but this week I came to the conclusion that almost everything I’m doing will have some worth when I’m out in the big wide world, hunting through the job market.

On a more basic level, the social experience of University has certainly had an overwhelming effect on how I engage with other adults in general, and sticking to numerous deadlines - whether they are for assignments, my own projects, or even this here blog - has definitely helped to master those pesky organisation skills.

More obviously though, I’ve been given the opportunity over the past week to embark on a couple of exciting ventures which, in themselves, have proven to be more directly useful in tooling me up for that eventual job hunt.

The first of these opportunities came in off the back of my coverage of this year’s London Film Festival for The Edge - which I talked about in more detail in my last post - wherein I somehow ended up in a room with some of the film industry’s most celebrated figures, to support the release of Universal’s new film Steve Jobs.

A press conference for the new Steve Jobs film proved incredibly star-studded.

Maintaining your cool and suppressing the urge to ‘fanboy’ whilst staring in total awe at Danny Boyle, Kate Winslet, Aaron Sorkin and Michael Fassbender is surprisingly difficult, but somehow I managed it.

It quickly became an exercise in professionalism; if I wanted to really pursue a career chasing film (which I very obviously do) then being casual around some of the industry’s current greats would no doubt be expected.

In fact, after a while it grew a lot easier, as it became clear that these individuals were just people after all, and for all the fame and glamour that surrounds their lives, they are - on the most basic level imaginable - simply just other human beings doing their jobs; following their own careers. Lesson well and truly learned.

Accidentally bumped into the man himself outside afterwards. 

Professionalism was maintained, fear not.

Exciting venture #2 then came just a few short days later in the form of more journalism-based fun, when I was given the chance to chat with even more interesting people currently working in film in a few shorter one-on-one interviews. Whereas it was slightly easier to remain calm here since the “talent” (apparently this is industry speak for ‘person of interest’) were a lot more low-key and everything was done over the phone, such things did present some new challenges.

Chatting to someone you’ve never met before at length one-on-one can be pretty tough, especially when you can’t see their face, so this one became all about communication: being as precise and clear with my questions as possible. Whilst, at the same time, juggling a phone in one hand, a semi-ancient voice recorder in another, and shouting as audibly as possible into both.

Rest assured, things seemed to go relatively smoothly - other than the fact that mere minutes before one was due to take place, the fire alarm in the Student’s Union building went off leading to some mad dashing around. Luckily, Highfield Campus has plenty of quiet spots though and I managed to duck into the University’s Valley Gardens. Despite apparently breeding busy-ness by its very nature, silence is never far away here in Southampton.

The glorious Valley Gardens (photo courtesy of ex-blogger Joanne’s old post - found here)

These experiences definitely gave me a wider insight into what may prove to be my future career, and it was a nice release from the stresses of course reading, ahead of the impending first round of assignments. Maybe job-hunting won’t be so scary after all.

Ben

#LoveSouthampton

You may or may not be aware that the University has been running a campaign on Instagram and Twitter known as #LoveSouthampton.

Basically, students and members of the public post pictures that represent why they love Southampton on Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag. I think it is a brilliant way to show the city from all its different sides!

I know myself that some of the pictures the University has been retweeting and ‘regramming’ are from places I yet haven’t seen, so it’s also a great way to get inspiration on what to see next around the city.

I decided to put my own little twist on it and share some of the reasons to why I love Southampton on this blog.

1. Southampton Sunsets

My list is in a completely random order, except for this one, which without doubt has to be my number one. Southampton has some of the most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen and it is a pure joy walking home from the bus and seeing the sky looking like this:

Without being cheesy, I should probably add that there’s no filter on these pictures. Some of my friends from Norway live down in Ocean Village this year and the sunset from the docks is absolutely spectacular at times. Top tip: go down to Mayflower Park on a cloud-free day and see the sunset from there.

2. Southampton Docks and the waterfront

Speaking of the docks…

Since the docks and area close by (Ocean Village, Oxford Street etc.) are some of the places I like the best in Southampton, I can’t avoid mentioning them! Although the docks here are very industrial, it is still a cool place to visit or go for a walk around. As mentioned, Mayflower Park is great for sunset spotting, but also cruise ship spotting. You can also walk out on the pier where the ferry to Hythe goes from to get a good view over the Solent and any ships sailing in or out. During November there is a Bonfire Night event down by the docks at the Mayflower Park with fireworks, which was very enjoyable last year. Go if you can! It’s on Saturday 7th November this year.

3. The University’s campuses

I think I have expressed my love for Highfield Campus before in a blog post, but Highfield is not the only campus the University has which is worth a visit just because it is super nice there. Unfortunately, this semester I have no lectures at Avenue Campus, but Avenue is definitely one of the nicest places to be. Boldrewood Innovation Campus is the newest addition to the University and, although I probably never will have any lectures there, the buildings could be taken straight out of a picture in an architecture magazine, so if you (like me) enjoy architecture, then a visit around Boldrewood should be on your list.

Avenue Campus, home to the Humanities.

One of the Boldrewood Campus buildings, as seen from my bus journey.

4. The different events organised by the University and SUSU

A lot of students can probably relate to speed-reading some emails from the University and Students’ Union about different events, just because we get so many emails and notifications all the time.

Last week I went to one of the Distinguished Lectures the University organises and I almost got very cross with myself, asking why I haven’t gone to one of these before! I had the privilege of listening to Sir Mike Rake talking about Britain and the EU and it is was one of the most enlightening lectures ever. I loved every second of it and I learnt so many thingswhich were not only interesting for me on a personal level, but definitely will be very helpful for my course in the future.

It definitely made me more aware of all the unique possibilities we have through the University and motivated me to attend more of these events and lectures. SUSU also organises fun events around campus like this one which took place two weeks ago!

The Guide Dogs visited campus a few weeks ago with some Guide Dogs in training, thanks to SUSU.

5. The Saints! 

It’s almost a bit ironic that I put Saints as one of my reasons to why I love Southampton, because three years ago I couldn’t even watch a full football match without getting bored. Moving to England made me appreciate the football culture a lot more and the Saints game we went to last year was such a great experience that when my bank account allows me I will be back at St. Mary’s Stadium watching another game. Until then, many of the pubs and bars in Portswood are good places to watch the games coming up and the 'Sofa Score' app has been keeping me posted about how the matches go when I'm not in England.

 

A Saints game at St. Mary's  stadium

 

6. Bedford Place. 

Last year for me, Bedford Place was synonymous with clubs like Orange Rooms and Buddha Bar…and not too much more than that. I never spent any time there during the day time and it’s not until very recently (like this week!) I have realised how nice it actually is there. Although I have nothing at all against major coffee-chains, I like finding local cafes with a bit of soul and exciting menus. I already knew you could find this in Oxford Street, but as it is far away from my flat it is not my go-to place during the weekdays.

At the moment, I actually think Bedford is better for a late Sunday breakfast than any other place in Southampton. Just look at what I had for breakfast last Sunday!

Apart from this you can find many other cafés and local clothing and shoe shops. Let’s not forget the most important place, the best sushi place in Southampton: Nara is located in Bedford Place.

I could go on with this list for a while - maybe I will write a 'Part Two' post to why I love Southampton later on this year! Either way, I hope this maybe inspired someone to go and see more of Southampton or grasp more of the opportunities we have through the University.

Remember to share your pictures on Instagram and Twitter with #LoveSouthampton!

Alexandra

Advice from the Business Fair and the Careers and Employability Festival

Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet some of the country’s Top 100 graduate employers at the University’s Business Fair 2015. The Business Fair is part of the Careers and Employability Festival, which is running on campus until 3rd November and involves career fairs, workshops, talks and presentations. The festival is open to all undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Careers fairs in particular are a really good way to meet companies and their student recruitment teams.

You can turn up to the event without booking a place and you’re welcome to spend as much or as little time there as you want. As soon as I walked in it was packed with students eager to chat to prospective employers, and it was clear that the employers and their representatives were just as eager to chat to the students too which was incredibly encouraging.

The PWC stand… proud sponsors of the Business Fair! 

Preparing for the fair…

I got a lot of excellent advice at the ‘Prepare for the Fair’ workshop that the Careers and Employability team ran. What I took away from the workshop boosted my confidence in approaching the exhibitors today: these companies have actively booked to attend the fair – they really do want to see you!

It is acceptable to attend the event not knowing every single detail about the exhibitors. However, since there are 100 stands, having done some research on the companies helped narrow down who I wanted to visit. This meant I had more time to make the most of seeing those I was truly interested in and ask them some pre-prepared questions – questions that the company website can’t answer for me.

Nick and Ali – part of the Careers and Employability Services team who organised the event! 

The University’s Careers and Employability Services team said this year was one of the busiest they’ve had. The service plays a pivotal role by working closely with students, staff and potential employers to enhance student employability skills. If you’re uncertain about your future, these are the guys to chat to!

 

What should you research?

 

I clicked on five or six company websites the night before and checked out their company values. I looked for buzzwords on their recruitment pages to get an insight of what a company is looking for in graduates. I found that ‘technology’, ‘independence’, ‘teamwork’, ‘confidence’ and ‘client-facing’ appear a few times online as well as being mentioned by the recruiters I chatted to yesterday. This was an easy way to find out if the company’s values fit in with yours.

I also considered what it really is that I want to get out of the Fair. For me, it was to see whether or not there were any graduate opportunities for me in the business industry as a Politics student. I have found that, actually, not having a degree with Maths, Science or Management is not a hindrance. A few of the exhibitors I spoke to did History, Psychology, English and Sports Science at university and still landed jobs in companies that are Business focused. Of course, different students have different objectives for attending and it is true that you won’t always get what you want, but this is the opportunity to start that.

The INEOS stand. INEOS is a global producer of petrochemicals and speciality chemicals, and looks for opportunities to make a company achieve further through acquisitions. 

My top 4 general questions were:

1. I study Politics – will I be able to fit in with you with my background?
2. Why did you choose to work for this organisation?
3. What skills do you look for in a graduate applicant?
4. How can I apply and when are the deadlines?

Some recruiters such as INEOS are especially looking for students with a background in finance and technology. I spoke to Hannah who has been working for INEOS for a number of years now. She had a background in the sciences that aren’t particularly focused on petrochemicals. She was the treasurer of her canoe society back at her university and she mentioned that it may have helped satisfy the mathematical requirements of the job application! When I asked Hannah what the top thing is that they are looking for in a graduate she gave me two answers: someone who is independent and someone who thrives on a challenge.

The Excel Programme stand. 

The Excel Southampton Internship Programme stand caught my eye. Their schemes offer a wide range of paid internships during term time, Easter and summer holidays based both on campus and within a variety of external organisations. It’s fantastic to see the University of Southampton teaming up with local and nationwide businesses.

I also had the pleasure to chat to Natalie and Hayley who were volunteering at the Target Jobs stand. Target Jobs has a large choice of internships, placements and graduate jobs. They also give expert advice on how to get hired. I myself am subscribed to their mailing list and it is incredible how many work experience opportunities are out there for us students.

Natalie and Hayley at the Target Jobs stand. Natalie is a 2nd year Psychology student and Hayley is a 4th year doing History, both study here at the University of Southampton. 

Ultimately, attending the Fair is a two-way process; you need to find an organisation where you can work at your best, so you really need to understand why you might want to work for a company.
What is it about them that attracts you? Is it their values, profit, clientele, or company benefits?

Overall, I think chatting to company team members is going to be helpful in my job applications. It has given me a good indication of what type of people employers are looking for. What’s more, some graduate recruiters did actually attend the event today – who knows, they could be the ones deciding whether or not to hire you! Just remember to check out the application deadlines for internships and graduate jobs. Some close in November which, when you think about it, is incredibly close. Quite frankly, I would not have known about this had I not gone to the Fair, so I’m glad I went.

Hooray for freebies!!

Go ahead and impress employers with your preparation and enthusiasm.

See you at the next Careers Fair!

Rylyn

Colouring isn’t just for kids any more

I don’t know how many of you will have noticed, but something new and wonderful called ‘colouring therapy’ is becoming a major trend at the moment. Colouring books are no longer relegated to containing simple pictures and found only in the kids section of stores, but now contain beautiful templates for ‘grown ups’ to colour in.

My current collection of colouring books…

If I had one rule that I wish I had lived by throughout my undergraduate degree, it’s this: look after yourself. Not just eating right and sleeping enough; I mean find something that you can do that’s just for you. Take the time to be good to yourself. The new academic year is just getting started and believe me, particularly for us postgrads, it goes from nought to a billion in about two weeks.
Figuring out that one thing that really makes you smile now will help so much when the pressure of deadlines and whatever else is weighing you down.

Some examples…

When I bought my first book, it was a moment of madness in the summer when I had a lot of spare time and had gotten bored of playing The Sims. I’ve always loved doing creative things, and particularly loved painting when I was younger. However, I learned fairly quickly that I had absolutely zero skill at drawing, which, since I’m a perfectionist, meant that I soon lost interest in art. But colouring? Who’d have thought it - it makes the perfectionist and the creative person inside of me so happy.

It turns out that colouring is a really great way to completely de-stress. In the summer I wasn’t stressed, just bored, so colouring was just a fun way to pass the time. Now that I’ve started my Masters, colouring is something I do basically every evening, sometimes just for ten minutes, sometimes for two hours, and it completely takes my mind off everything. Deadlines, coursework, my job, whatever I’m worried about (which can be stupid amounts for no reason), it all goes away for a little while.

Who doesn’t have that child inside of them that just wants to put on some TV and colour something in every now and again? I love that it’s become a thing for older people to do. I love choosing my next book even though I’m only a third of the way through the first one. Sometimes I start and don’t finish, sometimes I spend hours painstakingly filling in every last detail, sometimes I stay within the lines, sometimes I don’t. I guess my point is that it just doesn’t matter; it’s just something simple, fun and engaging enough that you forget about everything else for a little while.

Emma

Balancing the fun

It comes as no real surprise that now we’re somehow already three weeks into term, things are starting to heat up. Every single time anybody, staff or student, asks me how I am, I end up replying with just one word: busy. And right now, I really mean it, for a whole number of reasons.

I should probably point out now, before we get any further, that I am very much one of those people that enjoys being busy. I actively seek it out and thrive on the very act of being busy. Not everyone’s university life will be this hectic; that’s the beauty of your time here, it’s exactly what you make of it and if you don’t enjoy that sort of thing, you really don’t have to follow such a path.

But for those who enjoy wrapping themselves up in as many activities as humanly possible…well, this is your time to shine.

As my last post will have no doubt indicated, lectures are now in full swing - all of my four modules (dissertation included) are well off the ground and the corresponding reading/writing/doodling is ticking away nicely. Thus, in a dramatic turn of events, I have well and truly found my feet with work. Everything else however, is a little more up in the air.

This past week has seen me broaden my horizons further and take on an exciting new project in the form of a Surge Radio show. Having conquered print and visual media, radio seemed like the next logical step. With the University’s award-winning student radio station attracting attention from BBC hosts Chris Stark and Scott Mills last week, it seemed like the perfect time to get involved. So, our SUSUtv-lead film opinion show ‘Reel Opinions’ made the jump from the screen to the airwaves, and despite a few technical mishaps (soon to be ironed out), playing music and chatting live on air was a surprisingly exhilarating experience.

So much so, in fact, that it’s about to become a regular occurrence; make sure to tune into Surge Radio at 8pm every Tuesday to hear yours truly playing some of the best music film soundtracks have to offer!

The Reel Opinions team feeling at home in the Surge Radio studio. 

Now drifting back to my first love of print media; the past few weeks in fact have seen some interesting and exciting developments. Back at the University’s own student entertainment magazine, The Edge, we’ve been working hard on gathering together the designs for our future print issues, whilst the second of the year has finally arrived in all its glossy glory.

Our first printed magazine of the year flew off the shelves during the Bunfight and the Freshers’ fayre - so much so in fact that we don’t have a single copy left - and we’re hoping for equally great things from this latest effort. Wrestling with Adobe InDesign for many, many hours is definitely worth it when this is the end product!

The cherry on the cake, however, is something that has been stealing almost every free hour of time I’ve had since late September. Yes, in spite of warring lectures and design deadlines, the last month or so has been largely populated by trips into our nation’s capital in order to cover the 2015 BFI London Film Festival for The Edge.

One of the many perks of being the magazine’s Film Editor is handling press contacts, and this year we were granted an all-access press pass to all of the films screening as part of the festival, meaning I’ve been to a lot of free screenings, and have been writing a lot of corresponding reviews. It’s a pretty hefty undertaking, and it has meant cramming in work at every available opportunity (even whilst standing up on trains), but that’s all part of the fun.

My press badge for the festival - my most valued possession. 

After all, this is what University has really been about for me recently; juggling responsibilities and balancing the fun. There are so many incredible opportunities being offered up by the University, and with this being my (deep breath) final year here, it seems only sensible to embrace as many of them as physically possible. I’m sure that soon enough I’ll have a bit of a rest - the festival comes to an end this weekend so there’s plenty of sleep scheduled for then - but until then I’m still firing on all cylinders, and loving every minute.

Ben

A student laundry survival guide

I know moving away to university is the first time that many students will wash their own clothes, and this alone can be quite daunting. Even though it wasn’t for me, it was the first time I couldn’t give my silk shirt to my mum or other more “delicate” clothes. Hence, I had only myself to blame if anything didn’t come out of the washing machine in the same condition as it was put in.

That’s why I have decided to share my guide on how to survive doing laundry and getting the washing done properly! I should probably mention, I do not take any responsibility for any ruined clothes – you should always follow the washing instructions attached to the clothing item.

Hopefully you already know that you need to separate whites from colours and delicate fabrics from cotton. This is important; I know some people (Ganesh, this is to you) like to wash whites and colours together, but don’t take that risk – it’s very annoying when your white socks go pink!

Whether or not you have done some washing before, it’s always a good idea to get to know the machine you are using. The ones we had at Mayflower Halls last year were pretty simple to use, but didn’t have too many washing options, so make sure you choose the right temperature.

Choosing detergent

 

I thought there was a jungle of different detergents to choose from back home in Norway, but it wasn’t until I stood alone in front of the washing till at Asda last year that I really understood how many different detergents you can get! Take note that not all washing machines have a tray on the top where you can put the softener and you must never put the softener directly in the machine as you will end up with soap stains everywhere. My advice is to buy four different detergents; one with a softener, one without a softener (for the clothes who shouldn’t have softener added), one for whites and one for woollens/silk. If this sounds expensive or too much you can propose that you share with your housemates and split the cost.

Cotton and synthetics 

 

Use a 30 - 40 degrees normal wash setting. Remember to turn your clothes inside out so the colour doesn’t fade away and use washing bags for underwear or clothes made of thin fabrics, so zippers don’t ruin any 'fragile' clothes. I have always heard as a golden rule that you shouldn’t wash your jeans on more than 30 degrees.

 

Silk and woollens 

 

This is the tricky one and I am still always slightly scared when I wash silk and woollens. If I have a stain on any of my items made of silk or wool, I always hand wash it first and then put it directly in the washing machine. I usually always put everything in separate washing bags, but this is probably not necessary. Remember to put it on the special care setting for woollens and do remember to use special detergent and softener for silk/woollens.

Bedding and towels

 

 Wash these separately from the other items. With bedding and towels, when it often can pass a week or two before you wash them, I like to wash them on 60 degrees and I always use plenty of softener.
Training clothes – Although training clothes can be washed together with regular cotton and synthetics, you should be aware that trainings clothes shouldn’t be washed with softener as it ruins the fabrics. I know some washing brands have started to make softeners specially made for training clothes, so consider buying this, or simply wash training clothes together with other items that shouldn’t be washed with softeners.

Drying 

 

I found the washing machines in halls to be more than good enough to get my clothes properly clean, but the drying machine and I were not best friends. When using the dryers it is best not to overfill it and if you have the option when washing to give the clothes an extra spin, do it. If you are in Halls this means you choose the Superwash or Superwash Plus program on the machines. If I remember correctly, the Superwash Plus program is slightly more expensive than a normal wash, but it might save you from turning your room into a drying rack.

Worst case scenario, there's no shame in calling home and asking for help!

Alexandra

Catching up with Southampton Alumni

Recently, I have had the pleasure to chat to two people who graduated from the University of Southampton. I spoke to Pete and Rachel about memories of being a student. Both now work for the Civil Service and both absolutely loved their time here!

Here’s what we chatted about:

Name: Rachel Councell

Graduated: 1989

Studied: Mathematics 

So, where did you stay in Southampton?

“I graduated in 1989. I lived in Connaught Halls in my first year, down Burgess Road in my second and at Montefiore Halls in my third year. I liked both Connaught and Monte for different reasons, however I found Connaught great for the first year as it was nice to have meals cooked for me. Block B was an amazing place to live in – the rooms were very big.”

Did you have any favourite modules? 

“I enjoyed my statistics modules. My favourite ones were to design and analyse surveys. I’m fascinated by them and the way you can devise something to collect info and how choosing the right sample and asking right questions in a certain way has an impact.”

What did you do outside of academia whilst you were a student?

“I did some fundraising and I used to volunteer at the day nursery back then.”

What is your best memory of Southampton? 

“The nights out and the student discos at the main Students’ Union building. Jesters was alive in 1989…”

What can you remember from that?

"…Not a lot.

I also remember the Frog and Frigate pub near the docks. Back then we had no email, no social media… we relied on telephone calls and letters to schedule nights out. There was simply no way to meet people online.”

How did you get to where you are now in your career?

“Hard work. After I finished University I worked in retail, then I joined the Civil Service and became a temporary assistant statistician. After passing the Civil Service selection board fast stream I worked at the Department for Education and looked at 1st year primary school performance modules. I also undertook a part-time Masters.

What I learnt in my undergraduate degree has helped me as a statistician. We didn’t need IT skills that much when I was at University since we didn’t really use computers then. However, it helped to have learnt problem solving skills.”

If you could change one thing about your last year of University, what would it be? 

“I wouldn’t be so worried about getting the right job at the end of University. This is time to focus your mind. You can make mistakes – it’s OK to make mistakes. You don’t have to make everything perfect.”

Thanks Rachel!

Name: Peter Benwell

Graduated: 2009

Studied: Politics and International Relations 

Did you have any favourite modules?

“I found Russell Bentley’s American Power (PAIR2009) module really interesting. When I was at University, I enjoyed learning more about foreign politics more than British politics which is ironic since I work for the British Government now and just absolutely love it.”

Did you join any societies? 

“I was part of the Theatre Group (TG). I worked with different types of people and personalities during my time at the society. It proved to be really helpful since it taught me more about collaboration skills.”

If you could change one thing about your last year of University, what would it be?

“I would’ve started my dissertation earlier. You will get it done in the end but it helps to start as early as you can! Also, to make the most the student lifestyle. With your workload you can forget to have fun. Of course you can still go out and make friends when you graduate but your social life when you leave University is just not the same! I remember every Wednesday we used to have AU Nights…”

AU Nights?

“Athletic Union nights when drinks were at their cheapest!”

What advice would you give to students that you wish someone had told you when you were one? 

"To not expect to get the perfect job straight after uni… It’s not the end of the world if you don’t. And also to start your dissertation as early as you can! I cannot express how I wish I’d have done exactly that."

Thanks Pete!

Chatting to Pete and Rachel made me realise just how much I’m going to miss the University when I go next year. It was comforting, however, to hear them say that it would not be the end of the world if I don’t get my dream job straight after graduation. In fact, most people don’t. You could travel, continue onto a Master’s degree or take a gap year volunteering. Life is an ongoing development, not just about graduating and getting the perfect job.

As for me, my second week of the new term has been exciting to far. Here are the best bits:

I went to a Nepalese Momo Party…

Courtesy of the Nepalese Society

If you’re wondering what a “Momo” is, it is one of the most popular dishes in Nepal. It is dumplings stuffed with meat or vegetables and dipped in a variety of sauces. I chose the spiciest dip which, immediately after consumption, I realised to have been a grave mistake!

I went to a Burlesque and Cabaret Show at The Bridge…

A glass of wine, candlelight, and fun performances on stage: a perfect way to unwind with friends.

It was a luxurious evening with mime performances, classic burlesque dancing, and magic tricks.

And, I sang karaoke at The Stags…

Norah Jones here I come…

Thursday Karaoke at the Stags is very popular at the Union. It gets pretty packed and cheerful which is what makes it so good! It doesn’t matter if you’re not the best singer. Trust me, I’m not either but I still went up and slayed 'Don’t Stop Believing' (perhaps literally, even!).

It was a good idea to simply indulge in more chilled nights out my friends since the readings and assignments will soon pile up one by one if I don’t get stuck in.

I hope you’re all settling in very well indeed!

Rylyn

Finding part-time work in Southampton

Freshers’ Week (or fortnight!) has sadly come to an end and the reality of another year at Southampton is dawning. For many this is the time to get serious about studying and sorting out your life here. For some, it also means looking for a job.

I have worked since I was 16 and I have always loved having a part-time job and earning my own money. When I first came to university working was a necessity, not an option. My student loan didn’t even cover my rent, let alone living expenses and I hate asking my parents for money, so that meant finding work.

In first year I had absolutely no idea how to apply for jobs, although I had worked since I was 16, I came from a small town where the two jobs I had were discovered through word of mouth, and needed no experience. So…where to look, what to apply for, how many hours could I afford to work a week, what did I need to be earning to survive, and what even was minimum wage for 18 year olds?!

SUSU 

I have never worked for SUSU but after walking round campus it’s obvious how many students they employ. From the SUSU Shop to The Bridge, SUSU could be a perfect way to fit employment in with your studies, especially since it works with term-time dates and around your timetable too.

Friends love the fact that SUSU will fit your hours around your timetable

Bars and Clubs

 

My first port of call in first year was Gumtree. Although admittedly not a great site for finding serious work, it’s actually pretty good for finding part time work, particularly in bars and clubs.

During my first year I worked in the coatroom of a local club. It meant getting to work for 10pm and leaving at 2/3am (if we were lucky), every Friday and Saturday. For the night owls amongst you this might sound ideal, but for me it was pure torture. It wiped out my entire weekend as I spent most of Saturday and Sunday in bed recovering from the late night, but I stuck at it, made friends amongst the staff and the pay kept me going. There are plenty of clubs and bars in the city to choose from if this seems like your kind of thing!

Restaurants

 

After finishing first year I decided that I wanted to stay in Southampton for the summer and find a job in the city, as I was unlikely to be able to find work back home. I headed out into the nearby high streets with my CV and a determined attitude. I spent one day handing out my CV and by the end of the day I had 3 job offers in various restaurants. For the next two years I was a waitress, working 20-25 hours a week (mainly at weekends), earned more than enough money to keep myself going and fortunately had a boss that understood that university came first.

I’d recommend handing in your CV by hand, and aim to go in the morning (10-11:30) or in the middle of the afternoon (3-3:30) on a weekday, not a weekend. You want to go when they are the quietest and the manager is most likely to be available. Don’t just hand your CV to a member of staff and then wander away - ask to talk to the manager, engage them in a conversation, show them that you are comfortable talking to strangers and are a friendly and approachable person. If you are not friendly and approachable, and don’t like strangers, then a job in the service industry isn’t for you.

Another important tip is to make you CV as short as possible, and avoid phrases like “I give 110%”, because it doesn’t read well. The CVs that stood out to us were the ones that fitted onto one page but still showed the key aspects of your personality and your achievements. Most restaurants (particularly chain restaurants) have their own training program and so don’t require previous experience. Don’t be afraid to go in and show them that you are capable of doing the job.

Tutoring

When I graduated from my undergraduate degree I no longer wanted to work at the restaurant - instead I wanted something that was more flexible where I could set my own hours, so I set up a profile for free on a website that connects tutors with potential tutees. I now have two regular students and have had more offers that I had to turn down due to a lack of time. Perhaps more suitable for postgraduate students (a certain level of expertise is required) than undergraduates, tutoring is actually super fun and a whole new set of skills. Plus the pay is fabulous; you set your own wage so you can expect to be earning £15-30 an hour, depending on your level of skill.

I love being able to set homework and write quizzes

 

Consultancy

For those interested in research, the University of Southampton has hundreds of active research projects which hire interns and consultants all year round, not just over the summer. Ask your lecturers and keep an ear out for what’s going on in your department. I currently work as a consultant for a Microsoft project run through ECS Partners and again, it lets me set my own wage and my own hours, and working from home is a treat compared to walking around a restaurant all day.

There are also opportunities at the University's Temp Bank, and as a student ambassador too.

Right, that was a pretty comprehensive summary, and in reality there are so many jobs out there that you really don’t have to settle for something you aren’t comfortable with. While some people love working in bars and clubs (and there enough of those jobs out there), really think about whether or not it’s for you before committing yourself to it. Most importantly, make sure that your boss is aware that University needs to come first, and they can’t expect you to just cover someone’s shift if it’s at a time that you have specified you can’t work.

In my experience, finding a job has never been too difficult and as Southampton has a huge student population, many employers are used to hiring students and are understanding about them going home for the Easter break and working around their University timetable.

Happy job hunting!

Emma

Finding your feet with work

With those distant, hazy memories of Freshers’ Week now very much in the past, the time has finally come to dust off those pens and notebooks and actually knuckle down with the real reason that we're here - that shiny piece of rolled-up paper otherwise known as a degree.

Despite plenty of exciting society-related things going down this week - from film festival coverage for The Edge, to the start of filming for the second season of our SUSUtv show Reel Opinions, the biggest event was, as you can probably guess, the start of lectures.

In fact, amongst all the socialising and the society-related fun, it's surprisingly easy to forget about that elephant in the room that is your course. True, we're still a fair few weeks away from our first assignments and all that much more complicated stuff - but I've always found (at least at first anyway) that starting strong with both work and organisation helps you feel on top of things right from the off, and saves a lot of stressing further down the line.

This past week marked my first return to lectures since April, which I'm sure you'll agree, is a pretty significant gap academically. Diving into that first week's set reading head first then may have initially been a bit daunting, since despite some dissertation work over the summer, my brain was still a little sluggish. What I found pretty quickly is that working (to use that cheesy, age-old analogy) is like riding a bike - you honestly never forget. I realised I wouldn't have got this far - to the University of Southampton of all places - without at first knowing how to work hard. I didn't have to learn anything new, I just had to click back into that familiar mind-set. Rest assured, by the end of that first chapter, I had found my footing again.

In fact, by the time that first lecture finally rolled around, I was totally in 'the zone'. It was almost as if I had never been away.

Aside from lectures, filming for SUSUtv started again this week. 

This isn't to say that it's always this easy though. In fact, in the past (and especially when I first started here at the University) finding the right place and attitude to work was a little tough - but it's important to remember that as human-beings, we have evolved to adapt to our surroundings. When your Halls of Residence or your private-rented house get a little too noisy, there's plenty of quiet study spaces to hide away in. The obvious ones are Hartley Library and its smaller sisters just down the road on Avenue Campus and beyond, but there's also a whole bunch of other quiet rooms and hidden desks set-up to make sure you always have a secure place to work.

If the problem isn't space-related but instead more about motivation, there are plenty of support networks running through the whole University which can help you get a handle on things. Whether it's the SUSU’s Advice Centre located above The Stags, the Student Services building, your own personal academic tutor, or even - amongst Humanities students - your own peer mentor.

In fact, that last one is actually pretty close to my heart, since as a peer mentor myself, I've seen first-hand the good a simple reassuring chat can do. Peer mentors are currently based in all Humanities subjects (although it's possible that other variations of the scheme are available to students from other disciplines) and our role is to basically act as a student liaison for new students. Working in small teams, we are paired with a number of new undergraduates to help ensure that they're comfortable with all aspects of university life - but with the pairings being subject-specific - there is a focus on work.

Peer mentoring even required some training - here’s a sneak peek. 

Understanding what is expected of you isn't always clear to everyone in the beginning, and it's perfectly natural to ultimately feel a little lost; we've all been there. Just remember that soon enough, you'll adjust, and if you're at all worried about that adjustment, there are literally dozens of people whose sole purpose is to help you.

So whether you're ready and raring to go, or you're still finding your feet when it comes to work, there's now even more reason to get excited. It might mean that we all have to get up a little bit earlier than we're used to, but this is what university is really all about. The true experience starts here.

Ben

Homesickness

Semester One has started with all its glorious 9am lectures, and the deadlines, tutorials and essays are here to stay. Although this summer holiday was over three months long, I still feel like it passed by so quickly. It’s strange to be back, but at the same time I have longed to be back at the University of Southampton for quite some time now. I know it’s still early on, but if there is one thing I wish I did more last year, especially in the beginning of Semester One, it is definitely that I had spent more time doing the required readings!

In those modules I did my readings for, I saved a lot of time when the essay deadlines started to line up. So, as a small digression, I want to remind everyone (especially new First Year students!) that doing your reading actually is important no matter what course you are on.

However, reminding you to do your readings is not the purpose of this blog post.

The subject of this blog post is actually something I think everyone is going to experience at some point during their first year; homesickness. Being homesick doesn’t mean that you don’t like university or that you want to drop out, so you should never be afraid to tell people that you miss home. After all, I think it’s perfectly natural to miss home in some way - I know I did last year.

Although I didn’t miss home as much as I had anticipated (sorry mum!), I definitely had my moments of intense homesickness.

I understand it can be harder for international students to adapt to a new country and for many people a second language, but it is all a part of a process. Two of my best friends who also study abroad have said the exact same thing; they miss home from time to time. They don’t need a particular reason, sometimes you just wake up and you miss home. Missing my mum’s birthday two years in a row because of University isn’t exactly the best feeling in the world, but it is a part of the whole experience. You will miss out on things at home and that’s it. I was lucky enough to be able to go home last year for 17th of May (which is Norway’s constitution day and a huge deal back home), but I know a lot of friends who couldn’t go back that day.

I’m sure everyone can relate to being the one person who couldn’t attend something and later seeing all your good friends having fun and telling you “Ah, you should’ve been here!” It just makes it worse.

Therefore, I wanted to share some tips on how to cope with homesickness.

If you are homesick, there isn’t a right answer for what to do, but these are at least things that helped me.

Growing up as an only child, I’m very used to coping with my emotions on my own, so I don’t really feel the need to be around people 24/7 if I’m sad in order to feel better. For me, the best cure was simply to be alone for a bit; to go for a walk with some music, watch a movie or text some friends back home. This was always helpful; I didn’t really need anyone to be psychically around me for things to feel better, but I totally understand that some people would prefer to be around people.

I do, however, think it is important to take some 'time-out' during your first year. Living in halls with many people is something everyone needs some time to accommodate to and no matter how much you like your flatmates. Sometimes it can be too much! When I came back from school back home, I was used to being home alone for at least a couple of hours and since starting University this has obviously changed.

Ask yourself, what do you need to feel better? Sometimes it can be time alone, time with other people and sometimes you might not even know.

If you are an international student, spend some time with people from the same country as you. I am a strong believer of not strictly just having friends from the same country as you when you study abroad, but being abroad is a big change and you are probably not the only one trying to adjust to all the new things you encounter when moving abroad. It’s easy to think Norway and England are very similar, but there are definitely some huge cultural differences that only people from Norway would notice and vice versa. Last year, Miranda and I made buns for 'Fastelavens' since we weren’t home and everyone bakes buns and fills them with cream on this day. Not that buns are a traditional Norwegian dish, but if you do miss home and food from home, why not make some of your favourite foods?

IKEA meatballs and mashed potatoes. Very Scandinavian.

On that note, keep up the (good) habits you had before moving. I used the gym back home frequently before I moved and although it took me a fair amount of time before I started going to the gym properly in England, it is one of the my favourite ways to recharge my batteries and get a proper break from my studies. Exercising regularly is just as important for your mental health as your psychical health, so don’t underestimate a run/walk or a trip to the gym.

Joining societies or sports teams can also be helpful. If you don’t know anyone from your native country, I’m almost a 100% you will find a society for it, and if you are looking for people with similar interest I’m 100% sure you will find a society or a sports team you can join. This is a great opportunity to meet people who you share similar interest with and to meet people across all the years and courses.

Skype/FaceTime/Viber/Whatsapp are essential. Regardless if you are twenty minutes away from home or twenty hours, if you miss your family or friends a quick call could be the key to feeling better. Luckily, the time difference between Norway and England is only one hour, so there’s not much planning needed, but if you do have a huge time difference, maybe set a particular time on a particular day to call home.

My mum 2000km away, but still in the same room as me. 

Make it feel like home. Your room doesn’t need to have four plain walls; it is, after all, your home away from home. My room last year in halls was filled with pictures and cards, very much like my room in Oslo. I loved getting parcels from home and I would always save all the notes and letters and hang them up. It doesn’t necessarily need to be exactly like this, but make your room feel like your room.

I hope this might help anyone experiencing homesickness and if not, I hope everyone is aware that the University offers support and help, like counselling, if you need someone to talk to. There are also people ready to listen at the Students' Union too.

My friend Miranda and I went to Bournemouth this weekend for the Surfing Society’s taster session. Off to the beach in October? We are not homesick just yet!

Alexandra