A year like no other

Looking back, I still wonder how I managed to pack most of my previous life in one medium suitcase and a 50 litre backpack. I arrived in Glasgow around 11 pm after a gruelling 35-hour bus ride, full of hope, which dissipated rather quickly upon what I saw at my new accommodation. The only item besides the closet and table in my room was a bed with a mattress on it and my tiny bathroom was barren and sans any equipment, as was the kitchen. After a few days without a blanket, towel and dishes, and after a day of no toilet paper, I finally managed to settle down. I was literally flabbergasted when I experienced the University of Glasgow through the eyes of a Fresher right the next day. The incredible number of clubs and societies introduced at the Fresher’s Fayre was outstanding. To this day I am sad that it is physically impossible to join in on more activities than I currently have. I am eternally grateful to The Kellner Family Foundation for their support, without which I would have little chance of studying here for much longer than part of a year.

Now I have been in Glasgow for over 2 months and the end of first term is getting closer, bringing with it the looming threat of the December exams. By now I have already fallen into the habit of a daily schedule with little sleep, leaving to school in the morning and mostly returning in the evening. I tend to have a pair of lectures daily with two labs thrown in each week, leaving me little space to be bored in. Sometimes the material is so exciting that I often wonder whether taking on 80 credits worth of courses this semester wasn’t a bit too much. I spend most of the time in-between lectures in our amazing Library, getting to work with many books and online scientific journals.

There are assignments to give in each week. These are one of the primary reasons why I haven’t had much time to actually explore the city, but I am working on improving my daily schedule to allow for some more freedom. Currently I am working on a report on the relation between bacterial motility and the application of certain toxins. We hope to explain why each of the three toxins used affect the movement of bacterial cilia through time based on our findings in previous lab sessions. I am pretty excited and worried at the same time, though. This is our first shot at an actual scientific report and even now everything must be perfect, meaning correctly applied graphs, referencing sources, right language and structure, and so many other technicalities.

I find the psychical rest from assignments I need in playing as 1st Flute in the Kelvin Ensemble, a student orchestra here at the University. We play pieces ranging from a Mexican Danson by Marquéz to music from the movie “Up”. I do my best to practice the parts, but I often have to choose between music and revising for lectures. I let off steam on Karate sessions twice each week, slowly remembering how to move from my past years. I haven’t practiced any martial art since 6 years ago, rendering my technique rusty enough to be obliged to start as a beginner. My first grading for the yellow belt will be in 3 weeks, my first concert with the Ensemble just a bit earlier. All my other time is spent either cooking goodies for my lunches and suppers, or enjoying my blissful, albeit short, sleep session. Exams are hurtling towards me faster than ever and I just hope I live through the next month to visit my family back in Czechia and afterwards find a part-time job here in Glasgow.