Linfield students studying around the world
It’s been a couple months here and the homesick is really starting to kick in, especially since the holidays here and I am not around to spend it with my family. Luckily, my grandparents are flying into London and I will get to spend Christmas with them.
Cierra
While I work in a emergency room, I have never been a patient in a emergency room but, sure enough, a couple weeks into my time here in England, I had to make a visit to the emergency room, or as they call it here, A and E, which stands for accident and emergency.
I was walking to get on my bike for a indoor cycling class when I slipped on water and fell to the ground. I am not even sure the logistics of how I fell or what I got caught on, because when I stood up I felt fine. However, everyone was screaming there was blood on the ground and when I looked down there was actually quite a lot of blood. Unsure where it came from, I began looking everywhere when I saw my right pinky finger and became faint. My whole nail was ripped off and hanging on by a thread. I think I was in shock because it didn’t start hurting till the class instructor and sports trainer started cleaning and wrapping it. Without getting into too much gorey detail, let’s just say it wasn’t pretty and there was someone screaming – me. Once the trainer wrapped it up, he told me to go to the A and E. So, I called up one of the other girls who came here with me from Linfield and we walked there. Luckily, the hospital is right next to campus.
When I got there it wasn’t too busy, at least not what I am use to seeing at my job in the American ER, but it was a whole lot more complicated to find where the ER was. It felt like I walked the whole hospital to fine it. I went up to the counter to check in and she asked for my surname (last name), I told her I am not from England but she said I should be in the system. Apparently, everyone in England when you first arrive, or born, is registered with the National Health Service (NHS). I didn’t know this. So, therefore, I was not in the system and it took some 5 registers to figure out how to check me in without being registered with NHS. Let just say I learned my lesson and went to register with NHS after. Anyways, I got checked in and waited about 45 minutes. The nurse practitioner checked out my finger and, after realizing I need it to be numb because I was screaming every time she touched it, put my nail back into the nail bed and wrapped it up. I went home all better, at least I thought.
The next day I was curious what it looked like, I mean I am a nursing student after all, so I unwrapped it….. and it was very very purple. I didn’t think that was normal so I asked a friend who is a EMT and they suggested going back. So, I did and sure enough the X ray showed it was broken.
The crazy part of this whole experience is that I went to the emergency room twice and never once was asked for insurance, money or anything. WHATTTTTT? That is something you don’t experience in America for sure.
Moral of the story, watch where you walking because having a broken finger hurts and showering with a finger cast isn’t fun.
Cierra
I have never experienced anything so mind blowing as the University of Nottingham, since I am not use to such a big school. The University of Nottingham is probably over 20 times the size of both the population and area of Linfield. There are so many students that security guards had to be at the orientation-week fairs for crowd-control and the orientation fairs included so many free gifts that students were walking around with tote bags full of free goodies.
What is even crazier, is the number of buses available to take you around campus and to the different campuses. At Linfield, it takes less than 10 minutes to walk from one side to the other. However, I am glad there is a bus because I live on one of the campuses and all my classes are on another.
Below are some pictures of The University of Nottingham. Both older and more modern buildings can be seen.
Displayed is a brown wood and lots of glass -windowed bowl shape building with thin, steel, vertical beams. The building is surrounded by a small river of water with a small bridge to get to the building.
Beyond orientation week, the first first week of school provided some new learning experiences. After the introductions to all my classes (here they are called modules), I realized 2 main things: the majority of classes are graded on one end of the module exam or essay and while they do speak English, some words are spelled differently then in America. For example, in the UK, they spell behaviour and colour. In contrast, we spell it behavior and color and Linfield’s classes are based on exams and coursework throughout the module, instead of one big essay or test.
My History of Science professor showed us a cut-out of Einstein’s blackboard he wrote on when he taught a lecture at the University of Nottingham, probably nearly 100 years ago. However, it is in German so I cannot read it, but I will be writing a research paper on Einstein, so maybe I will look into what that blackboard says.
It’s taken me a while to adjust to all the differences. I definitely have been feeling like a outsider here, but I have met some amazing people from all different backgrounds as the University of Nottingham has a high international population. I have really enjoyed meeting so many new people. I even have become friends with a girl studying here from Texas, which is a crazy coincidence since I grew up in Texas. I guess even in a big school, it’s still a small world.
Cierra
After a long awaited 324 days since I found out I was selected to study in England , I am glad to say I finally made it to the University of Nottingham. Overall, I have to say it was a very smooth sailing trip. Not even a single delay, which came as a surprise, because I have terrible luck flying internationally.
I definitely was jet legged at first as it is a 8 hour difference from Oregon, so that took some getting use to both in adjusting my sleeping schedule and in figuring out times to talk to family and friends back home. I been here a few weeks now though, so I think I finally got the hang of it.
I arrived in England to the typically English weather of clouds, rain and cold weather, but after the heat we endured this summer in Oregon, I am not complaining about a little cold. I am very happy about it.
It truly is gorgeous here especially the country sides we drove through on the bus ride to the University of Nottingham from the airport. Since arriving however, I have realized it’s only rained a couple times and, typically, it’s been sunny and in the 50s, if we are taking Fahrenheit or in the 10s, if we are talking Celsius. Therefore, I have been able to walk around the town of Nottingham quite a bit to soak up beauty of temporary home for the next few months. England really is gorgeous and full of history.
When people ask why I choose England out of all the study abroad opportunities that Linfield provides, I tend to always say because of the history, and because they speak English, so I didn’t have to learn a new language. However, England English can be a lot different than American English, and even if you try to pretend you are English, people can easily tell you are American by the accent.
Yet, people love complementing American accents and love to ask you a bunch of questions on what America is like because what they know about America comes from movies. I have had to reassure people that college in America isn’t just one huge frat party like television portrays.
There is so much more I have learned and experience since being here and I had quite a eventful first week of school. Let’s just say culture shook is a real thing, so watch out for new entries and I will update soon!
PS: Dorms are a lot smaller than what I am use to at Linfield but you do get your own bathroom and mini fridge so that’s a big win in my book.
Cierra
For the past month, I have been preparing for September 21st, 2022. The day I, and 3 other girls, fly 3 hours 43 minutes to Dallas, Texas then 8 hours 56 minutes to London, England. I am grateful to have traveled internationally a few times before and know what to expect but never have I had to pack and prepare for 4 months away in a different country.
So far, I have to say that picking out classes was the peak stress mark. So many options and things to consider from how the classes are graded to if there are prerequisites or certain requirements. Although, I think I was finally able to pick a great selection and I am excited to see what university is like there, especially the teaching styles.
In terms of everything else, I am grateful for the support and the preparation IPO and previous England participating students have given us. Without them, I would have been lost and forgotten a lot of things, especially little things such as getting voltage converters, a medical check-up, and an international phone plan before I go. In addition, the other girls and I have been chatting with each other about what to pack. I have to say jackets and rain boots have been at the top of the list.
I want to say, what a crazy time to be heading to England as the Queen, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned 70 years (longest in England history) has recently passed away. However, to be able to witness some of the impacts her death has had, to be able to get money with her face still on it before they start changing it, and to see the impacts of her son, King Charles III, becoming king will be fascinating to me. I love history and England is definitely the place for such exploration.
I have never been so stressed and excited at the same time as I now count down the days, hours, and minutes till I arrive at the airport for my flights. Thank you, IPO for this adventure opportunity. England here we come 🙂
Cierra