Life As An International Student In Sheffield
Boon Siang Kueh, Singapore
It all began when both my elder brother and sister decided to come to UK for a degree. I was tempted to pursue a degree from UK as well. Get away from the hot weather of Singapore, avoid the great pressures in local universities, experience a different life, have fun and get a prestigious degree.
I have no problems about which course to choose because I knew what I want. I have a diploma in Civil and Structural Engineering and I can get a direct entry to second year or third year in Scottish Universities. Now, it is a matter of which university to choose.
I wasn't very sure of which university to choose. The first clue I had, was a list of universities recognised by the Singapore Professional Engineers Board. However, there were still many universities to choose from. Then the next question was which universities are well known for the course you want.
The first impression University of Sheffield gave me was its name. It sounds like a good university. I approached my sister for her valuable knowledge on UK universities and she said it is a good one. From the Internet, I found out that Sheffield is very well rated for most of its engineering courses. University of Sheffield is also well rated for other courses, but I wasn't concerned about that. There were other better universities for my course, but am I up to it? Given six choices, I decided to apply for University of Sheffield.
I made a daunting choice for a course in University of Sheffield, a course slightly different from the one I had in diploma, but I was turned down. However, I am glad that University of Sheffield offered me an unconditional direct second year entry into Civil and Structural Engineering. I took up the offer happily.
First few days
From a tropical country, the first few days in UK had been very exciting, but a drastic change. Perhaps many people would think that getting away from the watching eyes of your parents would be the best encounter ever in your life, but the tendency of you missing someone you love will be there. Luckily, I brought photos of my family, my friends and most important of all, my most beloved girlfriend.
I would say that I am very lucky to know a local family before I first came to UK. I got to know them through my sister, who had studied in UK for five years. They were really nice to pick me up from Manchester airport and put me up in their wonderful English house. It's a shame that I don't know their exact address, but at least I know that they are living somewhere near Manchester. Their daughter, a 'sister' to my sister, brought me to many places of interest. They are one of the very friendly British in UK who had helped me to prepare everything I needed for my university life, and were even so sweet to drive me to University of Sheffield.
On the way, they told me how much they like Sheffield, and they were not the only ones who have told me that.
International Student Orientation
I am glad that I had attended the international student orientation programme. It was in the international student programme that I got to know many friends and learn many things about English culture. Of course, I got to know how to get about in Sheffield. I still remember the most interesting treasure hunt I had ever participated. Every participant was instructed to take a tram into the city centre and hunt for 'treasures'. The price of a pound of bananas?! The colour of the roof of the theatre?? Interesting things to hunt for. However, that was how I got to know the city centre.
If you have not got any boyfriend or girlfriend, perhaps the international student orientation programme would be a great place to find someone of your dreams. I really got to know many international students from all over the world. Sorry that I have forgotten most of their names. Too many names to remember for the little brain of mine. But I definitely remember some beautiful faces. Hmm… Should I feel regretful for having a girlfriend before coming to UK? Definitely not! She will kill me!
The thing that truly surprised me during the student orientation programme was when I discovered that University of Sheffield does not have a big fence. The university campus is totally different from Singapore. University of Sheffield is in the city itself. If you are in the hall now and you want to get to the student's union, you have to walk through some residential areas and bypass the hospital before you can get there. Fancy going to the engineering department? Walk further down; see the bank, cross the street and walk along another street lined with pubs. See the hairdressing saloon, turn left and there you are. It is a long walk though.
The Struggle
The great struggle of my life began when the term started. For the first weeks, I could hardly understand what the lecturers were teaching. It weren't the theories or concepts that I could not understand, but it was their English. Despite the fact that I had been studying English as my first language for more than 10 years, I simply could not understand their British ascent. To make things worse, some lecturers scribble which made their handwritings illegible. Even if you could make out what it was, do go through the notes back at home, because you are bound to misread the handwritings.
It took me many weeks before I started to understand British ascent and the lecturers' handwritings. The mixing around with my British housemates did help me a lot.
Overcoming the British ascent and the scribbling were just a minor essay. The terror had just begun. Everyone in Singapore knows that any healthy Singaporean male has to sacrifice two and a half years of their youth to National Service. Being too devoted to Singapore, I spent three years instead in the army. For three years, I had never bothered what gravity is, what Newton's law is and what is the objective of differentiation. My brain was like a 1971 Volkswagen Beetle's engine, left in the cold for ages. I had to put in so much effort to 'overhaul' this 'old engine' of my, bringing it back to life. It wasn't easy, especially for a direct entry to second year student. Every technical jargons and calculation procedures were like very old friends whom I had not met for many years.
The British
British are well known in the world for their sense of humour and friendliness, and no doubt about that, especially the elderly. They have never failed to make me laugh. They love to offer their help to anyone. My friend told me, there was once he went shopping and had bought lots of stuffs. He laid down everything on the floor, waiting for another friend when a helpful old man came to him and offered to carry the things for him. The helpful old man was so old that my friend thought; perhaps he should be the one to help him instead.
I have been to London and Manchester, but Sheffield's residents impress me the most. They are always the most friendly, helpful and humorous people.
The Weather
Perhaps any student from the tropical countries would say that they are going enjoy the cool weather in UK. However, I would say it is not going to be very true. It would be very nice if you are on a few weeks tour, but not for months as a student. Miser like me don't like spending loads of money on thick clothing, that would only be worn for two years, and turning on the heater for too long, must be able to endure cold. But I have learnt that spending 50 English pounds on a good jacket is worthwhile after all.
British always complain about rains. UK is famous for rains in Europe. But I have always felt that UK never rains. It drizzles. I never get drenched walking in the rain from my house to my department. However, these rains always drench my mood.
Life now in Sheffield
Life in Sheffield can never be any better now. I am living in harmony with my housemates, four British and a Malaysian. We joke together, play together and eat together. All thanks to the only female in our house, I learnt to make lasagne, pizza and even bread. I can never be healthier. I eat well and do lots of exercises like swimming, badminton, table tennis, basketball, to name but a few. But now I am certainly going to miss these exercises because the sports hall is closed for renovation. Live with it for the time being and the university shall have a better sports hall in the coming academic year.
Into the second semester, my '1971 Volkswagen Beetle engine' is up and running now. Although I can understand the British ascent and read those scribbling, I have to cope with another problem - my concentration in classes.
Life is not perfect
As the saying goes, "Nothing is perfect". Life can be great in a whole new world, but there are definitely things around to upset you. This may not be true, but I discovered something about local students. And almost all of my Asian friends are experiencing the same problem as me. Local students tend to leave their used cookeries and utensils all over the kitchen for weeks. Even for months, to the stage that the utensils get mouldy. I was very fed up with my housemates initially and certainly did make a lot of noise. However, this has never hindered the good relationship between my housemates and I, because they do their washings when I tell them to.
Things are very expensive too. English pound is one of the strongest currencies around the whole. When you look at the price tag, the number looks small, but it means big money. Everything down here is more expensive than in Singapore except a few things, milk, bread, beer, wine and cars. That's about all. If you are hoping to have your traditional meal everyday, give up that idea. It is going to burn a hole in your pocket. The cheapest and best food is traditional English food. Bread and butter in the morning, fish and chips for the day and pasta for the evening. Still living expenses is Sheffield is already one of the cheapest you can find in UK.
Grab the chance
If you have a chance to come to UK for further studies, grab the chance. It is a wonderful experience and I have no regrets about getting a degree in University of Sheffield. It is also a great chance for you to tour Europe with all the students' discounts, the Student's Union has a STA Travel branch, and certainly experience the real Christmas.
You are not just getting a degree here, but learn to be independent and have fun. You will love the social life down in Sheffield if you are a person who likes to drink and stay out late at night, because the Students' Union in University of Sheffield has been rated as one of the best in whole UK. You will brush up your cooking skills, if you are going to stay in a self-catering accommodation.
University of Sheffield would be good enough for anyone looking for any course, as long as the course is available. However, I strongly recommend you to University of Sheffield for engineering courses, if you are not those highly intellectual people looking into Imperial College. But I still do recommend if you are.
Boon Siang Kueh, Singapore