University visits

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Magic Mouse

DD is home for the weekend and it’s lovely to hear her talk so enthusiastically about her course. I just hope she can overcome the homesickness in time.

She seems to have hit it off really well with one of her flat mates but she does go home most weekends which is a bit of a shame but that might change in time as travelling can be a costly business.

She’s also met friends on her course but I don’t think they’ve done much socialising outside yet but I’m hoping that will come.

She’s not a big drinker so not interested in the party life but did go into the city for student shopping night last week. They hit the shops then went for a meal and had half price meals and two for one cocktails which she enjoyed. She much prefers to go for a nice meal and one or two drinks than to be out clubbing all night. I’ve told her to do whatever makes her happy.

She’s really looking forward to going into school for her placement. She has a reading afternoon at a local school the week after next and then a two week placement in November.

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I’m sure she will overcome the homesickness MM, especially as she seems to love every other part of her uni life. I’m sure you are enjoying having her home and feel reassured to see her again

I don’t think Georgia knows about student shopping night in Bristol, I will let her know about it as I’m sure she would be interested too

[Melbatb]

Lovely to hear all the updates!

DS has now been gone for almost 7 weeks (he is in HK). Obviously it has been a big change for him - new continent, completely different culture, taking his degree in a language different to his 15 years of school.

He is really enjoying it! He changed two of his options three weeks ago - he was on a special programme but wasn’t enjoying it. Thankfully he realised it in time - just! He is now doing two maths options which will lead him to being able to do the options he wants next semester. I was impressed with how maturely he dealt with it! It meant he also had a lot to catch up on!

Socially he has met a group of like minded people - from all over the world. The students seem to split into three groups - the locals, the mainlanders (Chinese) and the rest of the world 😂 He has joined the athletics club and also was invited to the AI group.

He is in a shared room of three but says it is fine. He gets on with his room mates but doesn’t socialise with them so much!

Obviously the current difficulties in HK makes it difficult to explore at the weekends. DS is waiting for us to go over in a few weeks to see more of HK. Probably because we will pay 😂🤪

He is good at keeping in touch - much better than we expected. I am so proud of how he is managing! My little boy is all grown up 🥰

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Melbatb

Lovely to hear all the updates!

DS has now been gone for almost 7 weeks (he is in HK). Obviously it has been a big change for him - new continent, completely different culture, taking his degree in a language different to his 15 years of school.

He is really enjoying it! He changed two of his options three weeks ago - he was on a special programme but wasn’t enjoying it. Thankfully he realised it in time - just! He is now doing two maths options which will lead him to being able to do the options he wants next semester. I was impressed with how maturely he dealt with it! It meant he also had a lot to catch up on!

Socially he has met a group of like minded people - from all over the world. The students seem to split into three groups - the locals, the mainlanders (Chinese) and the rest of the world 😂 He has joined the athletics club and also was invited to the AI group.

He is in a shared room of three but says it is fine. He gets on with his room mates but doesn’t socialise with them so much!

Obviously the current difficulties in HK makes it difficult to explore at the weekends. DS is waiting for us to go over in a few weeks to see more of HK. Probably because we will pay 😂🤪

He is good at keeping in touch - much better than we expected. I am so proud of how he is managing! My little boy is all grown up 🥰

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I’m so pleased to hear how well he has settled, you must be so proud of him as there has been such a big change for him.

It’s a shame he isn’t able to explore HK at the moment but definitely safer that he doesn’t for now. I’m sure you can’t wait to visit him xx

[DisneyDaffodil]

Nearly another week over, how is everyone’s children settling now? How is everyone coping without them?

DH and I are still in Spain, it’s been a lovely relaxing week with lots of sunshine. It’s been strange not having Georgia with us, but it’s also been very nice to spend the time together and just pleasing ourselves on holiday. I wondered if we may find it too quiet and be bored but it’s really been good for us both.

Georgia has been in touch daily, she is very busy with her course and her days are pretty much filled with lectures etc She is finding it difficult to manage the time a bit as she wants to cook most days for herself too as she doesn’t like microwave meals and pot noodles, but she is coping and cooking very nice meals. She is still rather homesick and not making a lot of friends which she is worried about. She has a couple of girls she chats to now and has been out with but I don’t think she’s made a main friend yet. She tried another society or two with mixed results, she said a couple are pretty full of year 2 and 3 students so haven’t been the most welcoming but a couple of groups haven’t been so bad and she is continuing to go to these to try and find more friends.

We are going into Bristol from the airport on Saturday to see her which I’m looking forward to. I don’t think she’s entirely settled yet, but she has days where she sounds happier than others and she’s trying hard to fit in but she’s not quite there yet

[shirley]

Josh has settled in really well. Much more relaxed and anxiety has lessend ever day. Only thing that's cropped up, is the 1st year work is the same as he did for his HND, which he got a A for. Me, personally would seek advice from tutor, but trying to get him to do it is frustrating. I don't want him paying 9K for things he has already done. If he was in Scotland then he would be goibg ito 2nd. But apart from that, and his flatmates having friends running along the hall at 4am, hes happy. Xx

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by shirley

Josh has settled in really well. Much more relaxed and anxiety has lessend ever day. Only thing that's cropped up, is the 1st year work is the same as he did for his HND, which he got a A for. Me, personally would seek advice from tutor, but trying to get him to do it is frustrating. I don't want him paying 9m for things he has already done. If he was in Scotland then he would be goibg ito 2nd. But apart from that, and his flatmates having friends running along the hall at 4am, hes happy. Xx

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That’s brilliant news I’m so pleased to hear he’s happier now. It is frustrating going over the same work though. Georgia has said she is covering a little of previous work but it’s far more complex. She’s been lucky with her flat mates as they aren’t too noisy if they come in late and are quite considerate, I just wish they were a little more sociable together

[dubletrub]

Molly is really settled in and has made a wide range of friends but like Georgia Molly hasn't made a best friend yet.
Back in June Molly's best friend here got herself a boyfriend and dropped her for him. All contact more or less stopped over night, it hurt Molly so I think she is being cautious and spreading herself out. Flat mates, course mates and Forge mates we call them. I hope it doesn't hinder her choice of house mates for next year.
Molly's work is all new to her and very long uni days and lots of work in the evening. She isn't really cooking for herself but she has always preferred pizza and pot noodles 😮

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by dubletrub

Molly is really settled in and has made a wide range of friends but like Georgia Molly hasn't made a best friend yet.
Back in June Molly's best friend here got herself a boyfriend and dropped her for him. All contact more or less stopped over night, it hurt Molly so I think she is being cautious and spreading herself out. Flat mates, course mates and Forge mates we call them. I hope it doesn't hinder her choice of house mates for next year.
Molly's work is all new to her and very long uni days and lots of work in the evening. She isn't really cooking for herself but she has always preferred pizza and pot noodles 😮

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I think Molly is right to be cautious about making best friends, it’s scary how soon they have to start looking for next year’s accommodation and finding flat mates though isn’t it? Great news that Molly is settling well and enjoying her course.

Georgia has just FaceTimed me and she is getting on well with 3 girls now and has said they all seem to be spending time together and she could see herself sharing with those next year. Of course, it may not be the same ones but it shows they are starting to consider their options already

My eldest son lived on pies and pot noodles for his first year in uni too, I think some seem to thrive very well on it 😂 Georgia has been quite adventurous and made spaghetti carbonara (which wasn’t a great success) and goulash (which was excellent she says) and her best meal was chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese served with cheesy mash and salad

[Stardust5]

Lovely to hear that they all seem to be settling in now, it certainly makes us as parents less anxious and happier that they are all fine.
Ben is getting on well, he has 2 groups of friends - his flat mates and then a group of boys from his History course. He hasn’t been out that much but did go into Canterbury to see the Joker and have dinner with the History friends. He is happy though but not really cooking as such, more like taking bits out of the freezer and sticking it in the oven! He is coming home this weekend, I can’t wait to see him and I know his little brother is so excited! particularly as he has been very poorly with Glandular Fever at age 9!

[Melbatb]

So nice to hear the updates! I think finding good friends is always a challenge.

Not much has changed for DS. He is revising as he has his midterms the week after next. He wants good results as it makes a difference as to his options in year two.

In two weeks time we will be on our way to visit him 🎉