Should I stay or should I go?
So, you’ve unpacked and somehow managed to squeeze all your clothes into the unspeakable Erasmus wardrobe. You’ve made your room feel a little bit more like your own – there is no room for any more of those terribly ‘art school’ cushions on the bed – and you’ve survived your first Tesco ‘trek’. Everything is done and now the long week that is Fresher’s is spread out in front of you, seeming impossibly empty with nothing to busy yourself with – there are only so many times you can rearrange those cushions.
All you can think about is home; your big comfy bed and the friends, family or partner you’ve left behind. They have never seemed so far away.
So, how are you going to stick it out? You are determined to get your degree – you’ve wanted to be here since you came to that first open day nearly a year ago and you’ve worked your ass off to get here.
The best thing you can do is make a home from home and establish your second family quickly. If you’re not a big partier, tell people and do something else instead. Movie nights, takeaways, ‘cuppa-tea’ time, Sunday lunch at ‘Spoons or late night Tesco runs break the ice on those first few days and stop you from isolating yourself.
By Wednesday though you will probably have considered using your student loan just to get the train home every weekend. Try to resist clicking the ‘Book Tickets’ button for now (but if you can’t, make sure you’re on Trainline; it’s usually cheaper), grab a Starbucks-to-go instead and explore Winchester. The quicker you get to know it, the sooner it will stop seeming like you’re just visiting.
Retail therapy is always a good option, but Fresher’s Week is about Freebies so don’t blow your weekly budget just yet. By the time you get to Friday’s Fresher’s Fayre, you’ll quickly realise how homely WSA seems compared the daunting Highfield Campus. Before you jump back on the bus back to Winchester though – a ‘University of Southampton’ hoody is a must – get cosy with your housemates and a cuppa (a huge mug is essential) and before you know it, it’ll be Christmas. Phew!
Written by Megan James
