Back to Glasgow

For instance, the average rent has gone up incredibly. When I came in September I was rather shocked at how much landlords were charging for rooms and flats. As a result of this, the beginning of this year was quite hectic and difficult for me as I was searching for an acceptable room with a moderate price-quality ratio for two weeks. But then I did and now I am already well settled. The flat is quite close to the University which always helps. The rise in prices did not, however, affect only flats. Food, public transport and beers are also more expensive than they used to be.

Another big change is observable in the city infrastructure. Because of the Commonwealth Games that took place in summer, Glasgow Council invested heavily in the city and the streets are now better-kept, there are more benches, bike stands, better roads, refurbished subway stations and facilities, new construction sites, more trees planted, the Forth and Clyde Canal has been renovated, etc.

Next, there are also many more students than two years ago. This is apparent especially on Monday mornings when there are queues in front of the library. This is a very strange image and I am always impelled to shake my head. From this follows the fact that it is ever harder to find a free computer in the library.

Furthermore, there has been more sun in the past 2 months than in my first two years in total. Everybody here says this has been the best and mildest summer and autumn in years. It is also uncommonly dry.

As far as my studies are concerned, I am in my final year and the workload reflects this fact. I am much busier than I was in my first two years. Some say in Social Sciences, one can relax for the first two year but it is at the end that the matter really starts to be serious. This is certainly true in my case. Apart from the traditional essays, I need to be continuously working on my Dissertation which is a challenge. Consequently, I do not have so much social life and free time. The library is the place I spend most of my time in. Nonetheless, this is kind of expected, is it not? So I am trying not to moan too much and make the most of my time here given these circumstances. Let us hope that it will all work out well and I will successfully hand in all the assessment due in this semester, including the Dissertation. And then, it is Christmas time!