41 posts tagged “university of glasgow”
On December 2, I entered the world of the master.
A master of what, you may ask? A Master of Letters — all 26 of 'em!
Jokes aside, our graduation from the University of Glasgow was one of my proudest moments. I don't think that I stopped smiling all day. Many people remarked at how happy I looked and, my hand to God, I truly was.
See for yourself below or watch the ceremony in its entirety on the University of Glasgow website.
It was a bittersweet occasion that marked our final week in Glasgow and the end to the greatest year of my life.
Isn't my street cool?
It's especially cool at 8:30 a.m. when the temperature is below freezing!
Nick was the only one of us in trousers.
Here he is eating a breakfast yum-yum from Gregg's.
We were among the first of the graduands to get to the university that morning.
Which gave us the opportunity to pick up our gowns and take loads of schlocky photos.
Every shot had to be perfect for our mothers.
I think that my flatmate Chris and course mate Jose looked the best of all of us.
As more people began to show up, I ran into more of my course mates.
Tyler, the only other Southerner in the Creative Writing Programme, came back from Texas with his dad to attend graduation.
And we're back to the schlocky graduation photos.
This one is in front of the Kelvingrove Museum.
Here, we experiment with the Sears technique.
In this photo we try the "peace sign" pose but somebody forgot to give Jose the memo...
Awkward.
These guys do a really good job of conjure the spirit of the Hogwort.
Just before the graduation ceremony began, more than 200 graduands were herded into a room,
organized by department, and given a seat assignment.
This is what we eventually looked like.
Then, the balcony began to fill.
Alissa, who didn't "walk," took photos from this section of the historic Bute Hall.
Nick conveniently sat right behind me, although we studied on different courses.
This enabled him to snap a lot more photos.
Most of the graduands followed the program so diligently.
I think a lot of it was based on the narcissistic pride of seeing our names and titles in print.
I was so proud!
Here I am about to receive my masters, as my mother said, "grinnin' like a possum."
The Chancellor of the University tapped each graduand on the head with a velvet pillow to grant us our master.
Alissa called this getting "bonked."
Words cannot express how happy and present I was in this moment.
One of the best days of my life!
Graham, Nick, Emily, Jamie, and James lining up to get "bonked."
Nick, next in line to get his master's.
Natalie, Graham, and Nick just after receiving their degrees.
At the close of the ceremony.
Nick still snapping away!
Afterward all the graduands and their families congregated for photos and mimosas.
I love Europe!
Genevieve, my course mate, with our convenor, esteemed editor and poet, Michael Schmidt.
Here I am along with my lecturers Zoe Strachan, Elizabeth Reeder, and convenor Schmidt.
"Don't cross the streams!"
Still so happy.
Alissa, who unfortunately didn't participate in the ceremony, in Natalie's regalia.
The gang posing with our degrees.
I'm going to miss these folks.
As my European adventure comes to a close, I've been met with many a random question about how I made my move abroad. When I was applying to grad schools overseas two years ago (I can't believe it's been two years!) and doing some research on how to do so, I found online resources surprisingly slim. That is why I've constructed a list of helpful advice to potential expatriates. After all, only 18% of Americans have active passports, according to a Central Intelligence Agency report. Expats are among the few and the proud!
University of Glasgow West Quadrangle. Photo courtesy of ZenCollegeLife.com
Personally, I left long-term employment, a four-year relationship, my family, my friends, and my dogs (with my mom). I'd be lying if I said these hurdles were easy — they weren't — and I'm aware that some people are just not prepared to do such. However, the lessons it taught me were priceless: I can accomplish anything through hard work and sacrifice, the only bounds are those which we impose on ourselves. This excludes walking through walls, telepathy, and making myself invisible, of course.
My point is, if you put in the effort — that is, if you jump through all the necessary hoops, incur the debt, and make all the sacrifices — the dream will most likely happen. Honestly, even though I'm $35K in the hole after a year-and-a-half of studying abroad, I wouldn't trade my experiences (or my master's degree) for the world.
Now that all the Tony Robbins-esque musings are out of the way, let's get down to the practicalities. The following is a list of helpful tidbits I've collected since moving to the United Kingdom and thus entering the expatriate lifestyle.
"Uni."
Most master's degrees in the United Kingdom and Europe only take a year to complete. This little-known fact, along with a high standard of educational excellence, is what draws thousands of Americans to UK universities yearly.
Take time with your application. There will be some simple and fairly obvious scholastic equivalents to note. For example, elementary, junior, and high schools are called primary and secondary schools in the UK. Another helpful thing to note is that UK schools and university do not utilize the same GPA system as the United States does. Often times marking systems vary between schools, universities, and even within academic departments. The University of Glasgow operates on a marking scale from A to H, with degrees that vary from 22 to zero. Usually, the admissions office will make your transcript conversions for you, though some applications will ask for you to do it yourself.
After you've completed your application, the next big step is the cover letter. I truly believe that my cover letter, along with my portfolio are what got me into so many UK universities. I wasn't exactly a bad undergrad but I did have a few instances where I kind of effed up — a semester of snoozing through Chemistry or a summer of boozing through Biology. If you're like me, your cover letter can help clear up these blemishes and set you apart from the rest of the application masses. Get a trusted friend or coworker to proofread your final copy and thank them with a small gift when you get accepted.
Housing.
Once you're accepted to university, then you
must next consider accommodation. If you're a prospective student,
chances are, your university will promptly
offer housing following your placement confirmation. Don't live in
student housing if you can help it. Even though my anxious mother begged me to "play it safe" and even though it really did seem like a good idea at the time, in the end it was a mistake.
Sure, I met my future flatmate Alissa through dorm life and, through Alissa, my wonderful boyfriend Nick, but all and all the experience was expensive, intrusive, and I felt like I had regressed a decade.
Trust me, you'll save a lot money by merely staying in a hostel for the week after you arrive (you only need a couple of days, really), going on Gumtree (look under the "Flats to Share" section), and shooting off some e-mails. Nick did this and found a flat within a day. Anything is possible as long as you put forth the effort.
Afraid of psychos and maniacs? I understand the inborn American paranoia that tells us that meeting roommates online is just asking to get hacked to bits but it's safe, I promise. Really, almost everyone does it like that in the UK. Just make sure you live with other students, as cities charge an exorbitant Council Tax for non-students.
Visas.
They're
expensive and you can't apply for them until three months before you
actually move. They're a real pain in the rear — time-consuming, confusing, and mountains of paperwork. In order to get a UK Visa, you must provide proof of an offer
from a UK university, proof of accommodation or the funds to get an accommodation, and proof of funding.
Funding.
This one is a doozy. I went through
Sallie Mae for my Stafford and Grad PLUS loans. I wouldn't recommend
getting the Grad PLUS because the interest is very high. It does however give you some added cushion and reduce the stress of finding a job immediately after you arrive. It also increases your level of debt-related stress upon arriving back home.
Stuff.
Conveniently, most accommodations in the UK are furnished, unlike many places in the States. That means all you really need is a bag of clothes and some toiletries. Or not. After all it is Europe.
Jokes aside, sell or give away unnecessary junk before leaving the States. You'd be surprised how much you don't actually need. Honestly, I put a lot of my irreplaceable stuff in a climate-controlled storage unit in Texas but, in retrospect, I could've tossed a lot of it.
A printer, desk lamp, blankets, pillows, and towels? Don't bring 'em. You can buy everything you need once you're overseas.
Clothing
The most important item you could bring with you abroad, aside from the obviously legal and monetary necessities, is clothing. Especially in the UK, where meteorologists are always wrong and the weather varies by the minute, proper clothing is key.
You need four quality things: a rain jacket, an umbrella, and a good pair of rain boots. Do not skimp on these items, trust me, you'll thank yourself later. Here are some of my personal suggestions:
- Marmot Precip - This jacket has been my best friend. I got mine for $60 on eBay new, but they typicallly go for $99.
- ShedRain WindPro stick umbrella - This durable umbrella goes for $40 and can withstand up to 30 mph winds without inverting.
- Sperry Top-sider Wellies - I love these boots. They've gotten me through the wettest, deepest, and muckiest Scottish puddles.
Jobs.
Jobs are great ways to learn about the culture, language, and idiosynchrasies of a city. If you're a student, your visa will most likely stipulate that you cannot work more than 20 hours a week during academic sessions and, believe me, you wouldn't want to work any more. Most places of employment will not offer a standard application form and will, instead, ask for a "CV," or Curriculum Vitae, in place of a resume. A CV is a bit more comprehensive than a resume, with a special focus on education.
Once you've acquired a job, your employer will require that you supply a National Insurance Number (NIN). The NIN is comparable to a Social Security Number and supports the National Health Service (NHS) scheme, which provides "free" or low-cost health care to every resident and visitor of the UK. A NIN isn't difficult to acquire but you will have to undergo a phone interview.
A phone.
A "mobile," as
it is called in the UK. Avoid pay-as-you-go. Some people may tell you that it is a good option, and it technically would be if you were only staying for a
three-month spell, but in all likelihood you're not. Get on a one year plan. It'll save you loads of time and money. Some popular UK service providers are: Orange, Vodafone, and Talk Mobile.
Money.
The dollar is weak. We know this. That means you basically have to save double stateside before your move. When you first arrive you'll only think in Dollars, which can transform even the most generous person into cheapskate. "I'm not paying £2 for a carton of milk – that's almost $5!"
Once you get in the pound frame of mind and stop using your greenbacks, you'll see that everything is relative. Getting a job helps with this.
Travel.
Do
as much as you can. You'd be surprised how prison-like UK towns can
become when you don't have a car. (insert inter-UK travel) That's why it's important to get out every once in a
while, catch a Ryanair (Europe's discount airline) flight, and go somewhere cool. Only thing about Ryanair
is that the deals seem really good, save the fact that they always fly
into commuter airports outside major cities and you always end up spending
about what you would've spent if you flew EasyJet. Doh.
Supermarket
Believe it or not,
Taxis
Avoid Black Cab and, rather, call a private hire.
I've lived in Scotland for just over a year and I've seen only a small fraction of the dramatic mountains, crumbling castles, crystalline lochs, and mythic biology that attracts so many to this ancient land. For this reason (and for someone's approaching 29th birthday), Nick and I are renting a car and setting off into the Scottish countryside for a four-day tour that will take us along the eastern seaboard, swinging left to Loch Ness, over the Eilean Ban, and onto a surely idyllic hike on the Isle of Skye.
Here's a map of our route, along with some of the anticipated highlights. Are you jealous yet?
I've been knee-deep in work on my final dissertation, a collection of approximately 600 lines of verse, of which I've written approximately 450 thus far, and I have until August 11 to finish.
After that, I'm on my way to the States for a three-week odyssey that will take me from Newark to Brooklyn to Yardley to Pittsburgh and on to San Antonio to see my family. I'm very excited about the upcoming trip, as it will be the first time that I meet Nick's family and the first time that he meets mine (at least my mother's half).
Photos from the past month to come shortly, I promise.
I've officially schlepped all of my belongings, not counting a few bottles of lotion and my favorite Calathea plant, to my new flat on Park Road and finally settled into Glasgow tenement living. The girls that lived in the flat before us were slobs. We moved into a dustbin, a trash-pit with mold on the walls, rubbish under the beds, and a year's worth of dirt on an surface flat enough to collect such. Slowly but surely, Chris, one of my flatmates, and I are sorting through the mess and making this foreign place a little less foreign.
On the upside, the location is ideal, the view from my bedroom is amazing, and the size of my closet is enough to make any clothes collector drool. Everything else will be sorted in due time — and plenty of cleaning, antifungal, and disinfectant products.
Thanks to everyone who sent their positive thoughts and prayers to Nick while he was in the hospital and continue to do so throughout his recovery. Since Thursday, he's been souped up on Co-dydramol and Diclofenac Sodium Enteric and I've been: tying shoes, buckling belts, cooking meals, washing dishes, and cleaning rooms.
On Easter Sunday we attended mass at St. Peter's Partick, followed by a scrumptious traditional Eastern European feast of perogies, ham, kielbasi, and potato latkes. While I was cooking, Nick, in all his one-armed splendor, was sneakily making me an Easter basket stocked with a various assortment of chocolates, a package of Maynard's Wine Gums, a box of chewing gum, and some fancy cider.
Frankenstein's monster after surgery.
Nick recovering nicely.
The Easter "box"sket
Easter dinner... half-eaten.
This Thursday, in honor of International Women's Day, I will be performing as part of a "Women and Animals" event at the Glasgow Women's Library in association with the Creative Writing Programme at Glasgow University.
Poet Jennifer Williams opens the evening, followed by performances by Laura Tansley, Helen Sedgwick, Kirsty Logan, and author Mandy Haggith (Last Bear, Paper Trails, Castings).
The cabaret-style event is free but please reserve a place by phoning the library at 0141 552 8345 or emailing info@womenslibrary.org.uk.
Glasgow Women's Library, Second Floor
81 Parnie St., Glasgow, G1 5RH
Women and Animals.
Last Thursday, 5 March, the editorial board of From Glasgow to Saturn, the official online literary magazine of the University of Glasgow's Creative Writing MLitt, celebrated it's 2009 relaunch with performances from featured writers in the Edwin Morgan Creative Writing Room.
The event was a total success — so successful, in fact, that the editorial board decided to host a monthly reading party for every issue. More details to come.
Classmates Nikki Cameron and Arthur Ker were among the featured readers.
What good friends!
(L-R) Nick #2, Alissa, and Nick #1
Editorial board member, classmate and friend Genevieve pours the wine.
I drink the wine.
Nikki reading her piece "Moonlight"
Richie Murby reading his piece "Sky Lanterns."
Richard Pye reading his piece "Anatomy."
Sam Tongue reading his poem "Ferry."
Shannon McGarvey reading "Storm Fishing For Souls" for John Jennett
Arthur Ker reading "Hot and Happy Chips."
Editorial board member, classmate, fellow Texan, and friend Tyler Brown closing with some words of encouragement.
Alissa posed with the Creative Writing room dragon.
Nick #2 with the dragon.
Editorial board member, classmate, and friend Jose holding the creative writing dragon.
Cimei and the dragon.
Nick #1 and the dragon.
Genevieve and the dragon.
Wine, Shannon and the dragon.
Nick #2 holding "How to Kill A Dragon" and Jaime actually killing the dragon.
Deciding to nix the Alps idea (out of the mere guilt of pretentiously saying that I was going to the Alps, I'm sure), I am headed to Barcelona and onto the Pyrenees to try my hand at some good old-fashioned Andorran sport and fodder.
I'm actually only spending a day skiing in the Pyrenees and then I'm off to Barcelona for a weekend of hedonism, Spanish style. From what I've gathered about Spain, I'm pretty sure that this means staying up to 11 a.m. drinking wine and doing pills. I keed, I keed.
Serendipitously, I just reconnected with an old friend from Texas, who actually lives in Barcelona with his fiance. I've known him since 1999, and it's been five years since I've even seen or talked to him, so it will be good — albeit, very strange — to meet up for our ten-year reunion. If someone told me five years ago that the two of us would reconnect in Spain, I wouldn't have believed them. Then again, I could say the same thing about my life for the past six months.
What a beautifully crooked road I travel on!
A view of the Pyrenees
Barcelona at night.
