Mind the Gap - Part II

Etiquette

If your experiences using the city buses and university-owned shuttles at school are anything like mine were, they may go a little like the following:

It’s the end of class and you need to get across campus to your next lecture that starts in fifteen minutes. You walk to the bus stop where there are already people waiting. There might be some semblance of a line, but most of the time it’s a clump of people standing around. Once you reach the bus stop, you try to determine where you want to stand because you’re hoping the spot you choose happens to be the exact location of the bus or shuttle doors so you can make sure you get on before the driver deems it too full to accept any more passengers. When the bus pulls up, everyone else has the same notion and tries to shift to this “golden spot.” At this point, there probably isn’t any type of line at all and there’s a free-for-all mentality. You see people walk up and stand near the front of the clump, and you think to yourself, If that person makes it on and I don’t, I’m going to be pretty upset. The bus pulls up, the doors open, and someone will try to walk up the steps before the people trying to get off can make it down. He or she probably gets yelled at by the driver. After the last person gets off people start filing into the bus, filling the seats. Once the seats are full, then the standing passengers move down to the end of the bus so that more people can fit. At this point you’ve either made it on or will have to wait for the next bus.

Even though there is usually some chaos in these situations, there is a protocol for using the buses. People getting off at the stop should be allowed to exit before the people entering; if there are many students waiting to use the bus, passengers should squeeze into open spots to make more room; etc. Many of the same rules apply to the Tube in London (along with any other public transportation). For those who have used subways before this information may be old news, but there are some things to remember when using the Tube:

The left side of the escalator is designated for those who want to walk and get to the top or bottom faster; the right side is for those who want to stand and wait. Probably the biggest way to look like a newbie is to stand stationary on the left side of the escalator. Most likely a line of people in a hurry will form behind you, and you’ll experience throat clearing, exasperated sighs, or perhaps a few dirty looks. So if you’re in a rush, walk up the left side. If you’re not, then stand to the right and enjoy the multitude of advertisements on the walls. This was a new concept for me. I didn’t experience any death glares, but during my first trip I was gently instructed by a family member (a local) to stand aside when someone came up behind me.

Let the passengers exiting get off the train before you try to get on. As with buses, it’s polite to let them leave before entering. There will be enough time for you to wait and make it on the train before it leaves the station. Although, this doesn’t seem to stop some people (for some reason usually with rolling suitcases) from barging past other people to get on as soon as the doors open.

Make room. Once again as with buses, if it is rush hour and there are a lot of people waiting, shift down the train car so that more people can fit. In college it was always aggravating to see huge gaps of standing-room space on a bus pulling away because someone hadn’t shifted down to make more room. The same can be said of the Tube.

Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll have a much nicer Tube experience. Plus, there is no need to search for the “golden spot,” as the door spots are marked on the platform.

-L.

Father Christmas and Roasting Chestnuts

Spending Christmas in the UK can be rather difficult for students studying abroad.  If you are one of the precious few who can afford to fly back home (and want to) then good for you! Now stop reading.

However, if you can’t go home due to income restraints or don’t particularly want to spend your holiday with crazy Aunt Beth or drunk Uncle Tom (and who could blame you), then there are several avenues for you to follow!

The first: You are by yourself and your friends have all gone home. This is the most difficult of the three.  It’s hard to not have anyone to spend Christmas with and being a Christmas lover, I found it especially difficult.  My second year abroad I was by myself.  Instead of crying in my eggnog and listening to “All by Myself” playing over and over a la Renee Zellweger in Bridget Jones’ Diary, I went out and bought a two foot pre-lit Christmas Tree, a mini bottle of champagne, and some thrift store decorations. I decorated the tree, roasted duck breasts (overcooked actually), and had mimosas.  It was actually pretty fun!  I took a walk and talked to friends over the phone and wasn’t too heartbroken.  You just need to think outside of the box and fill your room/flat with enough comforts and treats to get you through holiday.  It became one of my favorite memories.

The second: Your English friend has invited you to visit with his/her family over the holidays.  It’s important to keep an open mind here.  You are not with your own family and these are not your traditions but that doesn’t make them any less entertaining as long as you expect nothing more than to enjoy yourself.  It’s a great way to learn more about the culture and to ensure that you make some lasting memories!  It also gives you the opportunity to explore parts of the country you might never have visited and if worse comes to worse, it can make an interesting story.

The third: Your friends from home come to visit you!  This can be heartwarmingly lovely or teeth-grindingly nightmarish.  My first year abroad, my best friend from the US and her other best friend (who I had never met…) flew to England to spend Christmas with me.  After making a lovely mess decorating gingerbread houses (see the amazing creations below...mine's on the left) and opening presents, we went to stay with my English friend and her family in London.  And while it was lovely to see them, I found it difficult to completely welcome them.  It was my experience and they had the misfortune to intrude.  It took a day for me to realize that England doesn’t belong to me! Groundbreaking! Once I shifted my attitude around a bit, things ran much more smoothly and I found myself glad that they came.  Remember that while they are there to see you, England is running a close second.  Or you are just the excuse.  Either way, it’s not all about you!

Whichever of these scenarios you happen to fall into, try to be flexible and open.  Only then will you have a pleasant holiday with little to no homesickness. Have a Happy Chrimbo!

-S.

Mind the Gap – Part I

“Mind the gap.”

(source)

If you’re going to be living in or around London, you’ll be hearing this phrase a lot. Even if you aren’t going to be studying in London, there’s a good chance that you’ll visit the city for fun or for travel through the Heathrow or Gatwick airports. Whatever your reason for being in the city, the most economical and easiest way to get around London proper is through the Tube, or the Underground. The Tube is London’s subway system that runs through the heart of the city all the way to the suburbs (picture New York’s subway). It’s convenient for many reasons: it’s a cheap form of transportation; it has many stops around landmarks, tourist destinations, and major parts of the city; and well, it’s more fun (and usually faster) than waiting around for a bus.

“Mind the gap” is a warning to passengers regarding the gap between the subway train and the station platform. Upon arriving at a stop, the doors open, and a pleasant-sounding recorded voice reminds you to watch your step. It’s also painted on the edge of each platform as a visual cue. If you use the Tube enough, the phrase might become engrained in your psyche, and you might find yourself mouthing the words before the voice comes on over the intercom. The expression is so popular that it has entered into British popular culture. There are even souvenir items like shirts with the Underground logo and words “Mind the Gap” printed on them. Probably not the best gift option for the uninitiated though. Imagine going home and giving such a shirt to a friend who has never heard the phrase:

You: “Here, I bought this for you. Isn’t it funny?”

Friend: “Oh cool, thanks!”

          [Looks at shirt]

“…I don’t get it.”

-L.

Hostels, Hostels, Hostels

Ah, the hostel. If you plan on traveling during your time abroad, hostels will most likely become your best friend. Unless you’ve already experienced staying in hostels, you may have some connotations in regards to them: sites of horror movies, places frequented by backpackers with questionable hygiene, and so on. While you might find some of these stereotypical travelers in them, hostels are frequently used by younger people like you who are taking a trip while studying abroad. Hostels are also the cheapest option for those on a budget and who are planning to visit a lot of places. If you only plan on taking a couple trips during your stay in the UK, you might want to look into more traditional, nicer hotels. But for those who intend to see a lot of places, or those who just want to get the experience, should look into hostels.

The most important thing to remember when using hostels is to do your research. A good and popular site to use is Hostelworld.com. There, you can search for hostels (and hotels and guided tours, among other things) by criteria such as city, open booking dates, price range, and number of people in your party. As with any other travel booking site, pictures of the places are posted. Probably the most useful aspect of Hostelworld.com is that you can read user reviews and ratings. These are essential in getting a feel for a hostel, as you can read about how secure other travelers felt when staying at the location, its proximity to landmarks and transportation, and the amenities it provides like free breakfast. (The breakfasts aren’t fancy, but what student doesn’t like free stuff? Plus, a breakfast provided by the hostel will let you spend more on meals later in the day.) Once you’ve found one that suits your needs, it’s easy to book through the site. I never had a problem with reservations made through the site, but I always printed out the booking confirmation number just in case.

Other things to remember when using hostels:

Be aware of who you are traveling with and how many people (i.e., strangers) with whom you are comfortable sharing a room. Is your group large enough that you rather get a private room together? Are you traveling alone or in a pair and open to having roommates? Adjust your room preferences accordingly. Hostels have rooms ranging from private (housing about four people) to large dorms, depending on the size of the hostel and layout. Dorms are the cheapest room options and provide a way of meeting new friends, but there is a greater chance of being grouped with people you might have concerns about. This is rare, but it can happen; a friend and I only once had to ask to change rooms. In terms of security, if you have personal items you don’t feel comfortable leaving in the room, most hostels have a safe behind the service desk or lockers where you can stash important items.

Be open to surprises. Reviews and pictures can only reveal so much. I had some surprises while traveling, none of them expected but none of them posing a huge problem either. For instance, a friend and I had picked a hostel in northern England to spend the night at that had good reviews and was newly upgraded. It turned out to be very nice: still smelled of new wood and the mattresses weren’t sunken-in in the middle yet. After a long day of traveling, I wanted to shower before bed. Upon entering the women’s bathroom, I found that the shower curtains were completely clear. As in: These shower curtains are only here to stop water from spilling out on the floor, not for privacy. Not one for communal showers, I ending up waiting out the day until I got back to my own flat and private bathroom. That’s something I wouldn’t have found out from reading reviews, unless someone specifically wanted to write about it. I also walked in on what seemed like a makeshift hair salon in a different hostel once. One girl was sitting in a chair with a smock on getting her hair cut by another girl right in the middle of the bathroom. Interesting, to say the least.

-L.

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Our blog is designed just for you: the first-time study abroad student in the UK. We're here to help you prepare for the most unique experience of your life. As former study abroad students, we'll share tips and ideas, as well as personal stories from our time in the UK. So grab a cuppa and let's get going!

-Shara and Lauren