A wonderful feeling a self pity will engulf you and all those around you. ‘Why oh why’ will echo along those corridors and shakiness becomes a natural motion. CURES

Self pity continues. Self pity increases. Self respect decreases.

It doesn’t matter too much as first lectures are always filled with handouts and pointless bureaucratic talk.

 

Could be a dirtily smug feeling but also one of total regret and the beginning of year of piss ripping from friends. Who knows? It’s up to those beer goggles to decide.

 

This first visit is really the decider. If you happen to do some work on this first occasion, you may just be in with a shot for the rest of uni being a focussed success. But the likelihood (especially for freshers) of this happening is not very high as the library is more a place to socialise, smoke, plan for work sessions for the next day, and drink lots of Covent garden soup. We all meant to work but the fact that there are other students there – does not make it a very conducive work space –more a like a sober party – odd notion but totally addictive.

 

A totally important time in one’s student life. This can really go drastically wrong. You need to find your perfect place and stick to it. For me it was the Lace Market’s Clay Oven the whole way. Their cheese and garlic naan rocked my world but maybe not my love life…

 

Town does exist in days as well as the nights. It may feel odd to cut the umbilical chord connecting you to your various campuses but it is a must in order to retain contact with people other than students and to taste true Nottingham. The more boho side of town is the Lace Market boasting most of the city’s boutiques and vintage clothing stores. This is also the place to be for arty films and good coffee houses. All the other parts can be easily navigated around but just don’t forget to seek out the few great delis and to avoid the pikeys around their version of gourmet…Burger King…or Wimpey on a flush day.

 

Basically all you need to know is that this a student zone of two halves. You are either a Lenton Boulevard fan which means you allegiance lies to the Bag of Nails and Happy Return Pubs. It also means you are a ‘Sainsbury’s at Jackson’s’ foodie. Or you an upper Derby Road kinda student - meaning The Peacock and El Gaudo’s take your drinking money and your food budget goes to Co-op on a poor day and to the deli, Park Stores, on a wealthy one. It’s your call.

 

There is an unwritten rule. Taxi drivers hate students and so in turn it is only fair we hate them. The golden rule is always get it put on the meter from the start of the journey and if you don’t give any shit you shouldn’t get any shit back. Just don’t puke.

 

Smoke of what I hear you cry? I don’t know is my answer, but whatever it is, be around good friends and it all float by harmlessly enough.

Now this is a strange one and is highly personal to all. I found myself feeling hugely disorientated and also unable to fully explain to my family what everything at uni was actually like. Just try and cope with the transition from uni to home as best you can because your split life has officially begun. NB. This is also the start of none of your friends ever being at home at the same time as you (unless previously planned) so get ready to get close to your folks.