Once I got there, I started to calm down a bit. The first thing I did once I got off the plane was look around and that’s when I found where all the students were going through customs to register their residency. They wanted to know where you were staying and what school you were attending.
To this day I remember the address of my address and room number. I was in Woolf College, which was a living on campus for Post Grads. There were three buildings each labeled (A – K) Where J was suites with either kitchenettes or large rooms where the rest are small rooms. I opted for the large room, so it matched my room back room, I also asked for a room on the top floor with a nice view . The room I got faced the forest and was on the top floor and was one of the larger rooms.
Once I got there, there was someone waiting for Uni. of Kent students and a bus. The bus ride to campus was 2hrs. I just looked out the window and listened to others talking till we got there. To help with jet lag they had us do things to get ready for campus life. Like they had us, register and get all the finical aid and classes settled and get accommodations paid for the first term. Before all that we were told where each of our buildings was where we would be living. So we all went to our places to pick up our keys and drop off our suitcases. After all was said and done, a bunch of us headed over to setup our banking. I opted for a Savings and Debt account this way I can put my accommodations money aside once I got my loan money and put the other half in my savings. After that we went to get our bus pass to town then we went into town grabbed a bite to eat and walked around and headed back.
I had made one friend before I headed there. I did this via society website. I was a member of the SFC (Science Fiction Fantasy Cult) Society in which they show cult movies and SCI-FI movies. I was also a member of the Hogwarts society, this is where I met all my friends. I knew I all ready had meetings setup with my International Disability Advisor starting soon, which was good he got me setup with a few things and help me get settled and had me meet with a Therapist to help me adjust with the dealing with people and how to adjust.As the days went on things started to feel a bit more easier for me. The one thing that took some time though was jet lag, especially with my 2hr class which was from 2pm to 3pm than break from 3pm to 4pm than back to class at 5pm to 5pm, in that hour break I would go back and grab something to eat to get some energy than grab a short nap like 15mins. This way I was refreshed for the 2nd hour. Keep in mine most all of my other classes were only a hour and I didn’t have classes back to back till next term.
My Routine
What I would do to adjust was, since I had a lot of free time. I would walk around campus, grab a bite to eat or just go into town and walk around and enjoy the sites like a tourist. I would meet up with friends or just chill on my own. My Wednesdays were reserved for my Hogwarts society meetings. I would meet my friends from Hufflepuff which was the house I was sorted into. Hufflepuff was one of the bigger and better houses, they did more things together. Also at the time, the head of Hufflepuff who became a good friends of mine.
University life took a while to get used to. It took almost 4 weeks to adjust to lag and get comfortable with my surroundings. What I would do is, every day morning I would go to class, after class I would drop off my stuff and walk around campus. Maybe do some exploring. One of my favorite things to do is go into town center and walk around.. They have the old brick roads and stores on both sides, there of course is a McDonald’s and a Starbucks, but unfortunately no Canterbury mug just a London and England one which I had to buy and send home to my folks.
I tried to stay out of my room to absorb the atmosphere. I had weekly meetings with my International Advisor, which helped me settle in and get adjusted. I had 1 classes (Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri) with Wednesday being my off day. This was also my Hogwarts meeting day, we would meet. Now each house of the Hogwarts society would meet in a different restaurant. The house which I was in was Hufflepuff met at Mungos and we would meet at 5pm than head over to our meeting to see what activity we were going to do that night.
I felt kinda weird because I was the oldest in the society, and everyone else was a undergrad and I was the only Post Grad in the society. I know what you’re thinking.. Why not join a society for Post Grads or for the older students.. I was part of the Graduate Association but all they planned was a trips.
Now for me, the word routine was foreign. Which meant I needed to write things down to remember or set alarms. Thank God for mobile phones. I used my phone to set alarms for me every morning I so to get up at 9am so I am ready and showered by 930 to head out the door.