London

Those events were remarkable, as all participants are almost spasmodically trying to make friends fearing that one could become a living example of the rumoured lonesome last-year students, who failed to make any social bonds during their studies. I am truly not sure if such students exist, or they are only hoax stories embedded into student sub-culture. It’s almost funny how such catalysed networking works. Also, it’s worth noting that I don’t know anyone who really found any new friends.

Although, I regretted that I came here for the ISOP at first and that I should have arrived, as the majority of the students, one week later, I have to admit that I realised that this week was genuinely useful for me, as to my advantage I got to know the UCL campus and the local area. But maybe, more importantly, this week turned out to be the only time since I moved here when I had the time to roam around London and explore my new home city. As soon as the term started, there was less and less free time I could spend wandering through the city streets. The first week was mostly without any teaching but was uncomfortably hectic, as we were getting at least somehow familiar with how the university works and getting to know each other. The first chaotic week swiftly turned into next weeks, which started quite promptly filling up with lectures and studying.

The education system at British universities is quite different from the Czech one. Here, student life is full of self-studying with a relatively low number of lectures and only four modules per term (at least in the first year). I like this education system and to be honest, it was one of the major reasons why I wanted to study in the United Kingdom. This system also paid off to me as soon as in the second week, because I was introduced to another phenomenon truly typical for the start of an academic year – the `Freshers’ Flu`. Alongside hundreds of other students, I was infected by some flu virus manifesting itself by awful coughing and fevers. I was wasted for a few days and stayed in my bed until the fevers stopped. Then I again joined the lecturing marathon (which was filled up with strong and loud coughing of ill students even for the next few weeks) to miss as little lectures as possible. Anyway – from the beginning of the term I have very little free time to explore the wonderful City of London, respectively I waste a lot of time by procrastination, which I am trying to get rid of systematically, but it’s a tough fight.

Luckily, there is the 24/5 open UCL Science Library study space which I grew quite fond of. Science Library, where I can work at least somewhat productively, together with Wolfson Study, a study space with beanbags good for afternoon rest, became my favourite places at the campus, where I spent most of the time between my lectures.

The majority of the time when I’m not at the campus I spend at halls, in my room, which is decent not only for watching Netflix but also for working. Over the quite short period when I live here, I have managed to adjust the room to my needs and pretty much settle in. The only drawback is that the campus is far away (it’s an hour walk, and the tube is roughly twice as fast) and although I live almost at a tube station I prefer to walk, as I genuinely dislike the London Underground. It’s always swarming with people; it’s dusty, sweaty and what’s more, it’s way too much expensive. To be honest, I like the walks to and from UCL, as they wake me up in the morning and relax me in the evening. The whole walk situation is even more enjoyable as my route goes around the Buckingham Palace and the Piccadilly Circus. I always feel weird when I walk there because whenever I was here as a tourist, I could have never imagined that I would ever live here.

London and its atmosphere are quickly going under my skin. I am genuinely happy that I’m studying right here and I cannot wait for the adventures which are yet to come.