Reasons why I chose Southampton

“It’s big enough to be a city, yet small enough to be a community” 

I’ll be honest with you, the University of Southampton was not my first choice.

I remember how crushed I felt having narrowly missed out on my grades and feeling like it was ‘the end of the world’ and that ‘everything was falling apart ‘- but of course, it wasn’t!

In hindsight, coming to Southampton was one of the best decisions I have ever made and my degree  has undoubtedly been the best three years of my life.

Here are my top five reasons I love Southampton and am proud to be here every single day:

1. Reputation

Well, this has to be first, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t be proud to gain a place in one of the top 15 UK universities and in the top 1% worldwide!?

As a founding member of the Russell Group, it is clear that the University of Southampton is committed to research excellence and high calibre teaching.

I love the flexibility of courses at Southampton. It was one of the very few places that would let me minor in a language and let me take part in the Erasmus exchange programme, despite majoring in a subject outside of Modern Languages. This opportunity has been one of the highlights of my degree and I realise that this was a very unique opportunity that I am extremely grateful to the University for allowing me to have.

Inside Rouen's Grand Cathedral

Even if you want to try a new language, thanks to the Southampton Language Opportunity, you could learn a language completely free of charge outside of your course. Free intensive one-week courses are also run in June if you wanted something to do in Southampton post-exams!

2. Everyone knows everyone!

I never realised the Southampton bubble would be so small… and I love it.

Everyone seems to have a connection with everyone– which makes for an excellent social life! I love bumping into friends wherever I am on campus (even at Hartley library)!

Stopping to have a quick chat and occasionally catching up with people I haven’t seen for a while really makes my day and makes me feel part of a tight- knit student community.

 3. Inclusive societies and roles

There is no denying that certain societies at universities have a reputation for being particularly ‘cliquey’ and require some form of disgusting initiation to gain membership into this élite squad. I heard this especially applied to sports and dance societies where there is a culture that some ‘aren’t good enough’ to join - but at Southampton, there is a real emphasis on inclusivity.

It is even possible to turn up to a society event or ambassador role once- just for a laugh! For example, within my role as a Student Ambassador, I was selected to feature in a Christmas photo shoot!

Kickstarting my modelling career!

4. Ideal location 

As a vibrant coastal city with a renowned port, there are many events to attend that may not be available elsewhere, such as the annual Southampton Boat Show.

Plus you have the beautiful New Forest, Winchester, Bournemouth and Portsmouth nearby!

Petting some donkeys in the New Forest!

5. Nightlife

Last but certainly NOT least- Southampton’s nightlife!

Home of the infamous Jesters (voted the worst nightclub in UK, but a real student favourite!), 50p pints, and brand new bars and restaurants, the city’s social life is brewing.

The cultural scene is also particularly strong here at Southampton with regular live bands playing at Talking Heads, art exhibitions dispersed in numerous galleries around the city, and regular performances at Nuffield Southampton Theatres. We also have the brand new WestQuay Watermark opening as I type, and West-End shows touring at the Mayflower Theatre!

So, if like me you like to pack in as many societies possible into your free time whilst still finding the time to work and secure a top degree, then Southampton is the ideal University for you!

I hope you decide to join us!

Aditi

Witch hunting in Burley

With the end of October approaching fast and deadlines starting to line up, especially the dreaded deadline to hand in my dissertation abstract (!!). I have more than enough to fill my days up with. That’s why it’s nice when I get an excuse to do something else and go on a small adventure!

This weekend I went on a small adventure to the New Forest and a little village called Burley. I hadn’t heard about Burley before and that it is supposedly quite famous due to witchcraft in the 1950’s.

And if you, like me, haven’t heard about it then I will explain what it is all about.

In the 50’s a woman named Sybil Leek lived in the village. She was a so-called 'white witch', which means that she was a witch using her powers for good and not evil. However, the locals did not appreciate this and it eventually forced Sybil Leek to relocate to America, where she continued to pursue studying astrology and the occult.

The locals might not have liked it back then, but today it actually makes them great business – especially now that Halloween is coming up!

The story of Sybil Leek found in a shop in Burley

Burley is in the middle of New Forest and not far from Lymington, which I’ve been to before. By car it took us around 30 minutes driving there and despite the village being very small there are a few things you can do.

We visited all the local shops where they among other things sell Burley homemade caramel, which is so nice it's worth the trip out there alone! There are also a couple of places to eat and it is a perfect spot for a Sunday lunch.

The locals went to not wanting to be associated with witchcraft to now having shops based on it!

I did not see any witches, but we did meet some New Forest ponies and even drove past some wild pigs. On the way home we stopped by beautiful Lymington for a coffee and some antique shopping.

Some of the villages in New Forest have amazing antique shops where you can find so many nice and unique things like jewelry and home decorations.

The best part of all of this is that we left home around 11am and got back right after 4pm. In other words, you don’t have to set off a whole day for this. This goes for most of the villages in the New Forest; they are all so easy to get to.

Now I have some more inspiration to what I can dress up as for Halloween and I hope you might be inspired to explore the New Forest!

Alexandra

My summer holiday so far

I’m not sure where the time goes, but after thinking I’ve been off university for one month, I just realised I’ve actually been off university for two months! So far it has been filled up with many new and fun memories that I thought I’d share.

For anyone who reads this blog regularly, you might remember that I started off by going home to Norway for a couple of days with the boyfriend.

However, with almost a month left of my tenancy I didn’t see the point in staying in Norway whilst still paying for my house in England.

So back to Southampton I went, where I got to experience the one and only Craig David at the Common People festival, which I’ve already written a post on.

I also went to Marwell Zoo for some exploring. Who said the zoo was only for children? It is most definitely not! If you fancy meeting some lions, cheetahs, zebras or monkeys this is where you should go. Marwell Zoo is not far from Southampton at all, and there are bus connections, but again it’s probably easiest to reach by car.

My boyfriend James and I decided to put our relationship to the real test and go bowling in Millbrook. I forget from time to time how fun bowling actually is and this is a great option instead of going out during the weekend. As far as I know you can go bowling in Millbrook and Eastleigh in Southampton. I lost, but I’ll be back to restore my honour!

We also went on two short day trips to Hythe and Muddiford – both very nice, although it’s a lot easier reaching Hythe with the ferry rather than driving. Unfortunately, I was sloppy and didn’t take any good pictures from either of the places. But I guess that just means I have to go back again soon, which I don’t mind at all!

After a great month of adventures it was time for me to go back home to Norway and although the places I’ve been to since then are a lot less reachable than the previously mentioned, I think they are worth mentioning.

I’ve recently been on a little road trip in Norway with my dad. If you’ve seen Norway on a map you’d know it’s quite a big country and there are still loads of places I haven’t seen. We drove the Atlantic Ocean Road and ticked off some small cities I haven’t seen before along with the beautiful fjords which I never get tired of seeing. If you’re interested, there are actually cruises going from Southampton to Norway. I haven’t been on them, but at least I know the destination is beautiful!

Right after I got back from the road trip I went to Romania where I’m currently blogging from. I can’t really say it has been proper summer weather in Norway or England, but at least here it is sunny and about 30 degrees every day. I’m not complaining about the heat just yet.

Happy summer!

Alexandra

My top five places to watch Euro 2016 in Southampton

Football has always been something I love to watch, but it wasn’t until I moved to England that I actually watched a full match. Since then, I have downloaded a couple of football score apps, so I can keep track of how the Saints are doing when I can’t watch the game.

Regardless of whether you’re into football or not, it’s hard to not have noticed that the Euros have started in France. As Norway didn’t even qualify this year, I have to be true to my second and third home country and cheer for England and Romania.

Most people might be back home for the summer by now, but if you are in Southampton and you need some good places to watch the Euros, I’m going to share my top five favourite spots!

I’ve tried to not mention the obvious student hot-spots, like The Stag's or other pubs/bars on or around campus. Instead, hopefully, I’ll be suggesting a few places you haven’t heard of before.

The Alexandra 

I promise I haven’t picked this just because the name is cool, but the Alexandra or ‘The Alex’ is actually on the list of the 25 best places to watch the Euros in the whole of England!

It’s located on Bellevue Road, which is just off London Road. If you’re looking for proper English football spirit, then this is the place to go. Their outside area is filled up with seats and screens, but it still gets quite crowded, so an idea is to come in good time before the game starts. Considering they have proper old video games and a huge collection of board games to choose from too, spending a few hours here won’t be hard.

 

The Social 

Located in Bedford Place, The Social is one of my favourite bars in Southampton. During the England game last Saturday it got quite crowded downstairs, but not to worry; they have an upstairs bit as well where they also show the football.

The Social is probably a bit pricier than what students normally are used to, but its free entry and a nice atmosphere there, so well worth a visit regardless if you are watching the Euros or not.

The view from my first class seat during the England game at the Social last Saturday. 

Ninety degrees 

Ninety Degrees, or just ‘90’s’, is just around the corner from the Social and with £1.90 for a pint on Sundays, this is where my boyfriend usually goes to watch the football during Premier League season. Since he is a local I trust his word that it’s a good place to watch sport, although I personally have never been there to watch the football. They also do food in there, so you can wine and dine to the football.

Yates's

I’m sure Yates's is the definition of proper English football spirit and that’s why I include it on my list. Have you ever walked past Yates's before a Saints game? If you have, I’m sure I don’t need to explain further why it is on this list. Yates's do food as well as cheap drinks and is located on Above Bar Street.

The Bedford Arms 

Last, but not least – The Bedford Arms is quite similar to Yates, just located in Bedford Place. You can get a cheap meal deal or some not-so-pricey drinks along with the football. Again, if you are looking for the English football spirit in a pub, this is a good choice!

My boyfriend James and I. I’m wearing his England shirt from when he was 11!

I hope you're now inspired to go and find your new favourite place to watch the Euros this year! Enjoy watching the games, and good luck England and Romania!

Alexandra

On being an 'adult in training'

One of the joys of being a student is the strange limbo it puts you in; somewhere in-between being an adult, and the deep recesses of your childhood. Sure, you’re out in the big wide world, possibly far away from home, most likely fending for yourself like some sort of regular, fully-grown human being…but at the same time you’re also not quite past the point of total responsibility. An ‘adult in training’ almost.

This may not be true of everyone, but it’s certainly something I’ve noticed recently, specifically in third year, now that I’m on the very cusp of giving up education altogether. The thought of being a full-blown adult, without any “I’m a student”-style excuses, is at times, sort of a scary one. It’s also deeply exciting too, but the desire to cling on to childhood wherever possible is certainly a trend that’s quite noticeable in a large number of students.

After all, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. If you’re about to see your childhood off for good, you might as well see it off right; ease in to your adult future in the best way possible. Celebrate your former existence as a child one last time.

The large majority of this year has been spent trying to find a way to do this effectively, and last week a few friends and I stumbled across something which certainly set us on our way to total grown-up acceptance: Playzone.

Playzone is a children’s play area and activity centre located somewhere between Southampton and Portsmouth. It’s also, however, one of few places of its kind in the country to open its doors to students.

Some friends and I making the most of the Playzone slushies!

Yes, on select days of the week for a certain amount of hours in the evening, students can pay a sensationally reasonable fee and tackle the ball-pits and vertical drop-slides of their childhood once again. There are even slushies on sale, for that full sugar-rush experience. Few times before have I managed to find such an accurate recreation of childhood: everything from the painful burn of the rope ladders to the terrifying heights of the plastic slides was intact. And you know what? It actually taught me a pretty valuable lesson.

It feels like a major part of being a student is clinging on to the past and the freedom of childhood, but the second you find it again (here, at Playzone, somehow in its purest form), you realise just how much more fun being an adult is. Sure, you get to run around and be totally carefree as a kid, but you never really get to do anything hugely meaningful.

Embracing childhood is fun but slides aren’t the secret to everything!

Since starting here, I feel like I’ve clocked up a whole bunch of thoughtful and worthwhile experiences which have really built my character. Running around Playzone was certainly a laugh, but if I had been doing exactly that for the past three years, I wouldn’t have had anywhere near as much fun overall.

The most positive moments of my life as a student have come from the times where I feel like I’ve really grown as a person; when I’ve felt myself actually growing up.

So although most students might just feel like some in-betweener, only half-way to adulthood, that’s ultimately the best part. It’s the one time in your life you have the freedom of a child but the intent of an adult, making for quite possibly the most exciting three years imaginable.

Ben

Catching some culture in Southampton

A super important part of being a student is learning. You could even say that that's exactly what makes a student a student. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we have to be hitting the books every five seconds; there are plenty of other ways to learn. For example, taking in the arts.

This week, as something of a reward to myself for finally finishing off the first draft of my dissertation (at long last!), I decided to take in some of Southampton's culture and headed off to a show at the city's biggest theatre, The Mayflower; a towering behemoth that up to this point, I had, for some bizarre unknown reason, entirely ignored. It's very easy to just assume that all the biggest and brightest shows only go on in London, and that every other city simply pales in comparison, but this week I was proven incredibly wrong.

First of all, The Mayflower is actually pretty huge. It's semi-hidden behind the train station and part of the newly opened Mayflower Halls, but when you get inside - much like a TARDIS - it opens up very impressively. In fact, it's the biggest theatre on the South Coast!

My girlfriend and I all dressed up ready for Rocky Horror!

My girlfriend and I were lucky enough to catch one of the touring performances of The Rocky Horror Show, which has been doing the rounds around the country for over forty years now, and yet Southampton's taste of it all still felt just as spectacular as one put on in the capital. Everything from the set designs to the sound system proved worthy of even the biggest of shows.

The whole experience reminded me of just how lucky I am to be living in a city like Southampton - one large enough to boast impressive culture like the Mayflower, yet still small enough to navigate through quickly, cheaply and easily.

Few other students will likely find themselves living walking distance from a theatre housing such major productions, and with the slightly smaller, though still thoroughly incredible Nuffield Theatre buried in the heart of Highfield Campus too, it only strengthens the pulling power of Southampton's culture.

As I said at the beginning of this post, learning is just as much about experiencing new things as it is about reading and writing essays, especially when art is concerned. Surely a city that offers this much opportunity to get involved with such experiences, is a city worth learning in?

Southampton, I think I love you. Far less soppy posts next week, I promise.

Ben

A road trip to Lyndhurst and the New Forest

I have mentioned a couple of times Southampton’s prime location in terms of visiting surrounding areas on the South Coast. Last weekend I had the pleasure of ticking a few more places on my ‘to-see’ list. Although we did the trip by car, some of the places mentioned here are easily accessible by train, so there’s no excuse not to go!

The New Forest has been on my to-see list for a long time now. I originally wanted to go before Christmas to see the Christmas market there, but with no time it had to wait. Christmas or not, the New Forest is definitely worth visiting. Peaceful and beautiful are my two key words to describe it. If you enjoy walks on The Common you will love the New Forest. However, wearing white trainers to the New Forest isn’t the best idea – so the only thing I would say is to bring wellies! It wasn’t raining on Sunday, but it was still quite muddy and wet and most people there got the memo and were wearing wellies. It’s not the end of the world if you don’t, but it makes you very dependent on following the main path. With that being said, the New Forest is huge so it will differ depending on where you go.

A  New Forest Pony!

A beautiful view

This brings me to Lyndhurst! Why have I not heard about this place before? The town centre is so lovely with small shops and family-run cafés - it’s perfect for a little day trip. Among other things, they also have a Maserati and Ferrari showroom there for car-lovers who would like to look at pretty cars. Even I found it very cool, and I’m not too fascinated by cars!

If you are a car enthusiast, Beaulieu is only about 10 minutes away from Lyndhurst. If you haven’t heard of it, it has a very cool car museum. We didn’t go in, as we thought we’d save it for the summer when it’s warmer outside, but this is apparently a very cool place and I’ve only heard good things about it. Beaulieu in itself was also a very nice place to drive around and we somehow ended up in Lyndhurst without noticing, so it’s all very close together. However, this is probably easiest to do if you have a car.

Driving through Lyndhurst 

A trip out to the New Forest is so easy and I would highly recommend it.

On a different note, I know that most students here probably received their exam results yesterday, so I would like to go a bit off-track and just remind you that if it didn’t go as well as you’d hoped, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t let it ruin your motivation for semester two! Remember that the University has plenty of help to offer if you need someone to talk to.

Alexandra

Post-exam motivation

On these grey days with exams hanging over most of our heads, I bet I’m not the only one who feels very tired. As this blog post is being published, I’m having my last exam and it would be an understatement to say that I’m looking forward to being done!

I have been thinking about what I want to do when I finish my exams. After all, I have almost a week off and I’m not planning on going back home to -16 degrees in Norway!

The best thing I could think of would be to go to a spa and just stay there for a week, but that’s probably not the best idea on a student budget! I am, however, planning on some extreme relaxing time, catching up with TV shows and highly needed sleep. However, a week off shall not be spent just being in bed. Or at least, I’m trying to convince myself of that.

I woke up to this picture sent to me by one of my best friends back home and quickly decided I will stay in England for my days off. 

For my week off I’m planning on going somewhere here on the South Coast where I haven’t been. I have mentioned it before, but from Southampton there are so many trains and coaches you can catch, so now it’s just a question of where. I’m thinking about going to nearby cities like Portsmouth, Winchester, or maybe Salisbury and see Stonehenge, but any other suggestions are also highly appreciated.

Bournemouth, 40 minutes by train away from Southampton. Send me some sunshine, please! 

Strangely enough, I’m also looking forward to semester two. It’s a fresh start in a new year and that in itself is quite motivating. It’s also a bit daunting, since I’m halfway through my degree and I have no idea where the time is going!

Semester two of second year is also very special, since this is the semester we are applying for exchange in third year. This is something I really want to do and Southampton has so many good exchange opportunities for all the different courses that it’s hard to choose where I want to apply. To my knowledge this has to be done by February so, it’s quite soon!

I’m also going to take a bit advantage of all the wonderful opportunities offered to us as students here at Southampton and attend one of the many workshops Enabling Services are offering. Did you know each Monday they arrange something called Mindful Mondays for students? I have never been, but from the description I found on the event details, it looks like something I could find useful.

Last, but not least – I’m actually excited to get all the things ‘I will do it after exams finish’ done. This includes a deep-cleaning of our house, go proper food-shopping and getting registered at the Doctors. Yes, I was one of the lazy ones who didn’t want to stand in the queue outside the Surgery, but luckily I can register all year around.

I hope everyone’s exams are going alright and that in the deepest sleep deprivation and that you all at least have something to look forward to after exams!

Alexandra

Visiting Southampton's Christmas Market

Where on earth has the time gone? It feels like it was just Halloween last weekend and now it is suddenly December. I’m going home in less than two weeks, which is crazy and also very exciting. November for me is a month where I find myself missing home a bit more than usual and with all the deadlines I have had in the last month it’s been hard to really sit down and actually realise that my favourite holiday is coming up; Christmas!

Originally, I was planning on writing my blog post on the Winchester Christmas market, because from what I’ve heard, Winchester was the place to go around here for a proper German Christmas market. I don’t doubt it and I will definitely be making my way up to Winchester this week (hopefully). However, I ended up visiting the Southampton Christmas Market this weekend.

This year’s market - they are actually calling it a Festival -  is absolutely worth a visit and, like last year, located on Above Bar Street (just outside West Quay). All the Unilink buses stop in a walking distance to it, if you don’t live in the city centre.

 

The only thing missing from this picture is snow

The Christmas market has something for everyone, no matter your age. For example, when I was there on Saturday they did a ‘Flying Santa Show’ which I can imagine was a fun experience for the kids who were there. Yes, Father Christmas was there and he flew over the market! According to my sources he does this twice a day, so it’s well worth a visit. They even have music!

I can see you, Father Christmas!

With the huge number of stallholders this year, I actually had to use Google to find out how many there are! According to Discover Southampton, there are over 40 stallholders this year. So if you are lost for ideas on what to get family and friends for Christmas, you should definitely visit as they sell proper hand-crafted things like jewellery, coffee beans, scarves and some really fancy hot water bottles!

In addition to this they have loads of places where you can get something to eat or drink. We especially liked the German Bar, which could’ve been taken straight out of any skiing facility in Norway! In addition to this, there were loads of places selling traditional Christmas food like ribs and turkey, so don’t worry about getting hungry either. They also had several stands selling candy, gingerbread hearts and other treats if you are in need of something sweet.

In all honesty, you don’t even need to go there to buy anything. It’s well worth a visit just for the experience and the gorgeous lights they have put up. Next on my list over Christmas markets to see in the nearby area is the one in Winchester and New Forest. Fingers crossed I will be able to see them both before I go home.

I hope everyone is starting to get into the festive mood even with all the deadlines everyone has before the holiday start. Fellow blogger Ben shared some lovely tips on spreading Christmas cheer on campus, so thank you, Ben – my housemate and I are now in the process of getting a Christmas jumper each! We might not be bold enough to wear it on campus, but at least we can spread some cheer around the house.

In the meantime between essays, coursework and reports, we are going to bake gingerbread, eat rice porridge and drink mulled wine.

Happy December!

Alexandra

My top five 'struggles' of being an international student in England

I have never regretted studying abroad at the University of Southampton - quite the opposite. I think it is one of the best decisions I have ever made (so far) in my life. However, moving to a new country is not just challenging on an emotional/personal level – it also means becoming accustomed to a new country.

It’s not as ‘extreme’ as it might sounds; for many people it’s just learning to drive on the opposite of the road or learning to use the self-checkout at Asda. But there’s definitely some small ‘struggles’ I bet every international student goes through.

This is a list of my ‘Top Five Struggles’ as an international student in England. Take this with a pinch of salt though - calling these issues a ‘struggle’ is exaggerated!

Cars driving on the left side

The annoying thing about cars driving on the opposite side of the road to what I’m used to is that, as soon as I get used to it, it’s time to go home! Then, when I come home to Oslo, I have to get used to the right-side driving again. Suddenly it doesn’t matter if I’m in England or Norway, because the struggle to not get run over is haunting me regardless of what country I’m in! With that being said, my impression is that British people have a more aggressive way of driving. Also, where are all the pedestrian crossings in this country? I’m talking about those proper zebra crossings with a proper green light in front of you, so you never find yourself in doubt on whether you can cross the road or not.

You don’t take card? Card-charge? What? 

If I remember correctly, only 4% of purchases in Norway are made with cash and Norwegians use bank cards absolutely everywhere. I have experienced on trips abroad that you have to buy something for a certain amount before you can pay by card, but I have never been charged everything from 5p to 50p to use my card.

This is probably why I found it very funny listening to people complaining about the 5p charge of plastic bags, but never one word about the charges for using your card. The plastic bag charge is something we have had in Norway for a good 10 years, so at least that’s a charge I’m used to. You can imagine I was thrilled to see that some taxi companies are finally starting to have card machines with them, because driving around looking for a cashpoint after a night out is not cool.

Queueing everywhere

This is absolutely not a negative thing, but definitely a thing I have had to get used to! In Norway you get on and off the bus / tram at whatever door you like, but here in England it is a different story. To be honest, I actually like this, so when I’m home and people don’t wait until I have been able to get off the tram I get extra aggressive and mumble something about how much I miss England! People actually follow the 'stand to the right, walk to the left' policy on escalators here and I love that too.

British politeness

This is not to say that Norwegians are impolite, but it’s hard to compete with British people when it comes to politeness, hence why I constantly focus on not forgetting to say please, thank you and remember to use the right title when writing emails or talking to my tutors. Titles, for example, are extremely new to me; my old teacher just went under the name; John-Arve or J-A and my old headmaster was often referred to as; Tjossi-B. Going from that to writing ‘Dear Dr….’ when writing emails was quite daunting in the beginning.

Furthermore, in Norway if you accidently bump into someone in the grocery store, it doesn’t happen too often that people bother to turn around and say ‘sorry’. It’s something I didn’t use to think about before, but if I’m home and bump into someone and say sorry while they just walk off, I again mumble something about how much I miss England…

Tap water and gas stoves

Regardless of where in Norway you are, you can always drink water from the tap and it tastes better than Evian. Have you for example ever heard about Voss water? That is literally tap water in Norway and I never had any trouble drinking my recommended two litres of water a day before I moved. I love England, but this is one thing I hate. The tap water (in most places) tastes like a swimming pool compared to Norwegian water.

Then there are the gas stoves. I’m sure I just need some more practice on how to use them, but I always have to try at least two or three times to get the flame on everytime I want to use the stove. I’m always slightly scared the kitchen is going to blow up because I’ve heard so many scary stories about this! Luckily, I have a flatmate who is very proficient at using the stove in our kitchen and she’s always close by if I need help.

With this being said, it’s not all that bad. For example, as an international student here I have had the privilege of experiencing some proper British culture. Like last Sunday, Remembrance Sunday, one of my favourite days over here.

Not to mention the fact that I can be a tourist here forever and discover new places around the city of Southampton!

This is the Holyrood Church by High Street, I’ve probably taken walked past it 20 times, but never taken the time to go inside.

Are you an international student too? Feel free to share your own ‘struggles’ of living in Britain!

Alexandra

#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

Searching for private accommodation

In July I made the decision to move to the Big Smoke.

Granted, my move from Southampton to London is only a temporary necessity for an internship. An everyday commute to the capital would’ve been impractical and I’ve found myself settling in just fine in my double life as a metropolitan woman.

So today I thought I could tell you about my experience as a Southampton student looking for private accommodation in both cities. The comparison may be helpful for you one day!

Obligatory Big Ben photo 

Finding a room in London

The first step was a room search. I found my London room through a free house search website. The website allowed me to post an advert of myself which meant landlords were able to contact me themselves. This was probably a more efficient way of letting people know I was looking for a place – landlords are always looking to fill spare rooms. I went to about six or seven viewings and most rooms were decent sized with utility bills included in the rent. I was even able to customise my search based on my maximum budget and other preferences - look out for the ‘advanced search’ option when you go on these websites to do this!

For students with internships, house shares tend to be the cheapest way of getting accommodation. However there are other types of accommodation too; from bedsits to studios or one bedroom flats. It goes without saying that you must always go with someone you trust to these viewings or meet with whoever is showing you the place at a public area.

I was fortunate enough to find a room fairly quickly. The problem was that I was also unfortunate enough to get a room that suddenly became unavailable three days before the big move! That was pretty devastating. If, like myself, you get some work experience in the city and become unlucky in your accommodation search, there is never any harm in speaking to your manager about starting after you’ve secured yourself somewhere to live. The most important thing is that you find a place that is safe, comfortable, and within your budget.

The University has some valuable tips for those looking for private accommodation, wherever it is you're moving to. Looking through them really did help so you may want to check it out!

Monday morning motivation - courtesy of Transport for London! 

What to pack? 

The most challenging thing about the move was traveling with all of my things. I had to travel via coach so I stuck to the bare minimum. So I packed my clothes and shoes for work, pots and pans, a pillow and my alarm clock. I was surprised I managed it myself!

My entire life packed into two suitcases.

How different is the search for accommodation in London compared to Southampton? 

The University has plenty of advice outlets for students who need help in their search for accommodation in Southampton. The Students' Union also have a Housing Advice team to support you.

Southampton even has SASSH – a university-accredited student accommodation search engine. Made in collaboration with Southampton Solent University and Southampton City Council, it lets you search for student houses, flats and lodgings in Southampton. You can get in touch with the landlords themselves if you prefer not to go through an estate agent. It even lets you search for rooms in other towns and cities.

My student house in Southampton for this year, found through the SASSH website. 

A similarity between the two cities is that a deposit will almost always be required whenever you move into a new place. It is a good idea to sign a tenancy agreement between you and your landlord or whoever is letting you the room before you hand over any money to them.

It is a universal truth that moving homes is quite possibly one of the most stressful things we have to go through at one point in our lives… but this needn’t be the case! If you plan in advance and go to some viewings you are guaranteed to find yourself a nice place to live in regardless of what city you may find yourself in one day.

Stay safe and best of luck in your search!

Rylyn

The best thing about university is...

With a hand on my heart, the best thing about going to university is that you can never really know what you may find yourself doing at any point in your time here.

Since starting my studies at the University of Southampton, I never thought I’d be able to have the chance to do the things I’ve done, overcome half of the things I have challenged myself to, and never did I think I can become a blogger – but here I am!

And thus, here it is: my very first blog post.

I would like to introduce myself, if I may. I’m Rylyn, I’m a second year Politics and International Relations  student and by the end of my time here, I hope to better convince you why life at Southampton is, indeed, wonderful.

So… why Southampton?

In essence, it ticked all the right boxes!

Firstly, as a research intensive institution, my course in Politics and IR means I am around lecturers and professors at the top of their field. Not only that, but flexible learning means I have the freedom to pick modules that are incredibly interesting.

Secondly, the city itself is beautiful. It is big enough for you to always have somewhere to go and small enough for you to not feel alien to it. For example, WestQuay, one of the biggest shopping centres in the south with over 100 shops across 3 levels, is less than a 10 minute bus ride away. Its southern location means you get the best of British weather whilst being able to get on a direct train to the heart of London in an hour and a half! The proximity to the coast is also a plus!

A spontaneous trip to the beach!

Thirdly, Highfield Campus. Irresistibly lush with greenery and everything all in one place, you could sit outside and enjoy a cool drink from The Stags (The Students' Union's pub) in the summer, be there on time for your next lecture and enjoy a gym session to end your day. If you’re hungry there are many restaurants and shops on campus for you to choose from. You could enjoy a sit down meal at The Bridge or pick up a sandwich from The Shop. Not to mention other food establishments on campus like the Café, Piazza, and a street full of many more nearby!

A tour of Highfield Campus from the University's YouTube channel - useful for finding your way around!

Having spent my gap year working, volunteering, and deciding if university really was for me, I was sure I wanted academia to be a large part of my life. But moving to Southampton was initially daunting. I did find myself overwhelmed especially during Freshers' Week. For those who don’t know, Freshers' Week is the first introductory week of university where you move get the chance to meet your fellow first years, join societies, explore your new city and in general get accustomed to what your new home offers.

 Moving into my room at Connaught Halls at Wessex Lane

It is effectively when you are around new people 24/7.

You may be surprised to know that feeling overwhelmed is actually normal! I soon found myself enjoying the company of strangers who will soon be the closest friends I have ever had. The key thing to do here is to make the most of what’s out there for you. Just check out countless events listed on the SUSU (Students' Union) website.

But that doesn’t even encompass the limitless things Southampton has to offer in your coming-of-age.

It’s been two years since I started uni but I have found myself maturing beyond anything I could’ve expected. I have a small but dependable group of friends, know that my course is really what I wanted to do, and have a clearer vision of what my skills are. I’ve spent hours in the library after lectures and actually enjoyed it!

 A big hello from everyone here!

From workshops helping you plan the first steps towards a career (brilliant if you have absolutely no clue what you want to do with your life after university) to a large number of societies to join, university life thrusts you into getting to know yourself. In fact, one of the few things I wish I did during first year was go to the employability workshops hosted by the Careers team.

University is like a playground; an unpredictably wonderful playground with lots of smart people like you. Growing as a person in such an environment is something money cannot match.

Rylyn