Students' and Parents' Experiences
Thoughts of a Czech Mother
"I must write and thank you, FATFREE, for everything you have done for me! I never believed all those claims I've read about, but having tried it for myself, I have lost 20 stone, and have a new man and a new life! Thank you, FATFREE!!"
Mrs E X Buxom, Buxton
"Sheffield is exactly like all the letters on the internet say about it! I never quite believed them.. I always thought the accounts of what it´s like here were way too good to be true. Well, they´re not. I just want to tell you once again that I´m so happy here: Thank you so much for everything... for the fact that I can be here. I really, really appreciate it so much!!"
Anna, Sheffield University
Two songs of praise, but which one is true? Looking at them next to each other; they both seem like invented advertisements. The first one, however, really is made up. The second is quoted directly (with permission) from an email we recently received from our daughter, now studying in her first year. It was a lovely letter to read, and you can imagine how glad we are that she is enjoying herself so much.
Her impressions have been overwhelmingly good. She is a foreign student, so she took part in the introductory course offered to foreign students that ran a week before term started. She wasn't keen to do it at first. She thought she would be made to go to talks she wasn't interested in, and forced to socialise when she didn't feel like it. In fact, it turned out to be an excellent ice-breaker into life at Sheffield. She was met at the airport using the "meet and greet" scheme, so she was taken directly to her lodgings, which meant she didn't have to worry about finding her way around an unknown country and strange city on her first nervous day. The course itself was full of interesting and useful talks ranging from psychological advice on being in a new country and away from your family, to helpful tips on the British and practical advice for this country. The social events were fun and well organised, and it was inspiring for her to see that it was Sheffield students themselves who were so actively involved in devising and supervising the entertainments. That week gave her a foundation of security. She learned how to get about in Sheffield, saw something of the region around the town, and made friends. So settling into her hall of residence a week later was a lot easier for her.
She has also been amazed at the range of activities available in Sheffield. She's tried out glass painting, ceramic painting, various types of dancing, has joined a choir, tried yoga and enjoys the sports centre and pool as well as skating in the town ice rink. All that is besides the cafes and other social events organised by friends, or by various societies. Having grown up abroad she is surprised and pleased at how friendly and sociable the English are, and how they make an effort to make strangers feel welcome among them. A big bonus in conjuction with evening events is the night bus organised for women. It makes her feel a lot more secure to know she can catch the cheap bus to take her safely home in the dark.
And finally, of course, the reason she's there: her studying. She is doing languages and enjoys her lessons and lectures. Some have been literally worth writing home about!
We feel a bit lonely without her, but it makes it so much easier knowing she´s so happy and suspecting that she will continue to be so.
Janet Wingate