Hello,
I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday, passed all the exams and is slowly preparing for their year abroad. As most of you probably know, I come from the Czech Republic so my life abroad didn’t start after finishing my second year at UofG, but two years before when I first came to Scotland. A couple of weeks ago I got asked by @housemateshq on Instagram if I was willing to do an interview with them and I said yes. When I saw the questions, I realised that sharing my adventures not only from Spain but Scotland too might give a new interesting perspective to my life abroad.
1.What made you want to study in Glasgow and what are you currently studying?
To be honest, my first choice was Heriott-Watt University in Edinburgh because my friend was there. However, I didn’t get accepted and Glasgow University was my second choice. I must admit that not giving up on studying abroad and going to Glasgow has been one of the best decisions of my life. Glasgow is a welcoming place with an abundance of opportunities for everyone. I believe that if it wasn’t for Heriott-Watt’s rejection, I wouldn’t have matured as much as I have. Besides, who wouldn’t want to study at Hogwarts? I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover, but the uni’s appearance was a great plus.
I am studying Spanish as single honours. I wanted to do a joint degree in Spanish and English, but the university didn’t let me do it as there was a time clash between some subjects – a thing UofG could improve. Luckily, I already speak English fluently (with a wee Scottish accent) so it’s not that a big deal. I know it may seem a bit odd …Spanish in Scotland? Why? Well, simply because UofG is a great place to study! One of the top universities in the world and very student-friendly. There’s loads of extra curriculum activities and countless clubs you can join, so you never get bored.
2. How did you book your accommodation in Glasgow?
I couldn’t decide whether to go abroad or not and hence left sorting out the accommodation till the last minute. Going abroad can be very intimidating, which it was for me, especially because it was my first time going to a place where I knew literally no one (an article about this here). Therefore in August, a month before university was about to start, I made up my mind and started chatting with some guys I found on Facebook. They were looking for a flat too, so we decided we’d find a flat together which we did, even though it was an overpriced sh*thole (sorry for the word, but it depicts the flat perfectly). I stayed there for the first semester and then moved in with my classmate from English Language. His flat was much nicer, better situated and cheaper. Moreover, we’ve been really close.
A tip: Don’t leave it till the last minute! All the good and affordable places will be gone!
3. How did you become an ambassador for the university?
That’s another ‘I guess I was lucky’ story. I don’t know why, but everytime I make a huge life-changing decision, it is right before the deadline. I came across this email saying we could apply to be ‘Go Abroad Ambassadors’ of our uni and I thought it was a great opportunity as I’m keen on taking pictures, videos and writing. We had to fill out a lengthy form, including a few paragraphs about ourselves and a 30-second video promoting our university. I took the video the day before the deadline, although it’s true I was working on it the whole afternoon. A week later I got an email saying I was chosen. I confess I even shed a tear as another dream just came true.
P.S. click here to watch my amateur UofG video and the first video I’ve ever edited (don’t judge (: it’s more like revealing a secret rather than showing off my work)
4. What is your favourite thing about the city?
Its architecture and people. I come from a little village so moving to such an enormous city was a huge change. People don’t judge you for what you’re wearing, how you look or for your opinions. Everyone is open-minded and supportive. The city itself is absolutely stunning, especially the student’s area and the campus. If I had to give a list of my favourite places in the city, it’d be the Kelvingrove Park (great for workouts!), Ashton Lane, the university gym and the university library.
5. What are the main cultural differences you have experienced in Glasgow compared to Spain?
Punctuality and going out. I believe Spaniards are well-known for postponing everything for later ‘mañana, mañana’. Unfortunately, this influences their punctuality too and whenever I am meeting someone, they arrive 10-30 minutes late. And I hate waiting, so you can imagine my face when they finally show up. I’ve never had this problem in Glasgow and I still haven’t got used to it. As for going out, Spanish people love it, just like Scottish do. It revolves around junk food, alcohol and singing&dancing to typical Spanish songs. They’re definitely less reserved than Glaswegians. They don’t care about your personal space and kiss/hug you whenever they see you. What I like about their gatherings the most is that they don’t mind the age differences. Children, teenagers, young adults, grannies – they all have fun together. In my view, this can be very enriching for both younger/older groups. Children can pass on their easiness and adults their wisdom. In contrast, Scottish folks tend to go out with their peers, what a pity.
6. How have you benefited most from the experience of studying in Scotland?
I would say that there are many advantages to studying abroad and especially in Scotland, but I will mention how the Scottish educational system benefited me. After high school, I first went to a university back home, in the Czech Republic, but I didn’t like it at all. The subjects that I chose, the professors’ attitude, the timetable… it was a nightmare. At that time, a good friend of mine was praising her studies in Edinburgh and naturally, I got inspired and wanted to do the same. As I don’t come from a rich family, Scotland was a great choice because the tuition fees are paid by the government (if you’re from the EU). On top of that, I liked their educational system. You finish uni in May, you have loads of free time (as you’re expected to study on your own a lot) and you have to write many many essays. Thus, it taught me how to manage my free time, how to study independently and also how to write. Before coming to Scotland, I hadn’t written anything. I’m not saying I’m a pro now, but at least I can forward a message (hopefully clearly) and that’s the goal, isn’t it?
And what would be your answers to these questions? Similar or completely different? Let me know in the comments below!
This article was originally written for the University of Glasgow and published on their blog.
Hasta pronto,