The best decision of my life

If you want me to summarise my one academic year life in Reading, I probably will use three words to highlight this unforgettable experience here: challenge-able, self-developed, enjoyable. Coming to the University of Reading for this year is absolutely the best decision in my life.

Firstly, it is challenge-able as I am a student coming from China, where people speak a totally different language and share different culture and traditions. So going to a completely different country and using a different language to study and live for the first time on my own is really a big challenge. But when I came here, all faculty I met here were so kind and nice, that they help me to adapt myself into this new environment so quickly.

When it comes to my second word, my point is that the University of Reading has made me a well-rounded person. During time here, I learned how to cook, how to organise my life in order, and also how to make friends with people coming from different countries. Also, I developed a lot of skills academically as I finished 5 research papers here all on my own and for most of them I got a first class grade.

Finally, life here is really enjoyable. As Your Halls Life and Study Abroad have organised so many activities during my staying here. These activities broadened my horizons, helped me get a deeper understanding in the UK and also allowed me to meet my best friend, Connie! There is never an end for my staying and memories here at the University of Reading. I will cherish all my memories here and definitely will come back one day in the future to thank everything happened here. If you are also a student who considers about an exchange program, Study Abroad Programme at the University of Reading is really a nice choice.

Reading, my one and only

The University of Reading was my fourth university in fours years. After the first year in Prague, studying philosophy of art in the historical centre of Prague in a class of 20 people, I moved to France, to study at the University of Nantes. In the first year, we were 900 students taking the degree in English on the old campus of concrete where we had to fight for our places as only 50% of students got into the second year. For the second year, I transferred to Toulouse, where the level of English was very demanding, and during the second semester the university had been closed due to the university strike for four months. I therefore had plenty of time to prepare for my Erasmus in Reading. I had been looking forward to it more than I could admit, because I knew how easily things could go wrong. But this time, I was more than lucky.

The University of Reading received me with open arms. From the beginning, everything went so smoothly; the administration, the settling down, the accommodation. I instantly fell in love with the beautiful green campus. I felt very cosy in the St George’s Hall, where I had a chance to share the flat with another Spanish Erasmus student, and students from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the UK. I think this was the first time I actually went through the cultural shock of how people can perceive reality differently. On the other hand, we were all students with shared the devotion to our studies and struggles of everyday university life. We spent some amazing times together cooking, celebrating birthdays, or visiting some of the many restaurants in Reading. After two years in France where I always felt like a foreigner because of my Czech accent, on the University of Reading campus I felt at ease thanks to its international and welcoming ambience.

I was surprised by the low number of contact hours. I was used to 20 to 25 hours per week whereas in England it was only 9 in my case. But I grew to appreciate it, because it allowed me to study the specific topics while spending long hours in my favourite Library@URS building, which does not close apart from Saturday night. As my degree does not exist in England my modules were spread across four departments within second and third year . I found it extraordinary. Some of them were easy, and some of them almost impossible  i.e. a 3rd year politics module when I have no background in political studies. But I think that this is exactly what an experience of living abroad should consist of and I am grateful for it.

I had also a lot of free time and that was my favourite part about my year in Reading. There were so many options! I chose boxing. I actually had the idea to pick up boxing before leaving for Reading, and I found out about the boxing society before my departure. I cannot easily describe how much I enjoyed and appreciated it. Maybe because boxing has this aggressive side, the atmosphere in the gym was very calm, friendly and concentrated. The society made a real effort for girls to feel welcomed in the gym and the president of the society, Vincent,and other members of the society, who trained us, were patient and kind. I believe that my enthusiasm was seen as I was rewarded as one of four most improved boxers.

I also decided to try apply for a job on campus, because I always liked the job of barista and I thought of it as of a great opportunity to meet a lot of different people and gain confidence with my English. Which is why I felt very lucky when I got the job. The process was so easy! I applied through Campus Jobs which was linked with my University account, went for an interview and after four induction sessions I happened to work on a Friday afternoon alone in the Library@URS building cafe. It had a great effect on my sense of belonging. This is the reason why the smell of the freshly blended coffee is definitely one of the strongest memories of my Erasmus year. I was again so lucky with the team of supervisor (thank you Renata and Jason for being so nice and patient with us!) and coworkers.

I chose Reading for its accessibility, as I needed to be able to fly to France and the Czech Republic often. It was magical to go to a concert to London and to come back on the same night to my own bed. I loved the visits to Oxford. But apart from one trip to Edinburgh I did not really travel around and it feels right. Because I felt, after a long time, at home. I believe that the University of Reading is an amazing place to stay and live. The everyday life it has so much to offer. One can leave a party at 2 a.m. in the Students‘ Union and come back at 11 a.m. for a farmers market for fresh vegetables which is literally spread on the dancefloor. You can spend hours in nature, while still being on the campus. Get a first for your hard work. Or become a boxer. And barista. And get to meet so many extraordinary people from all over the world. In the end, and I am so much grateful to my university in Toulouse for sending me to Reading.

Thank you Reading for being my one and only.

Your friends are never far away on campus

I could probably try to explain my time at the University of Reading in words and still not fully be able to explain just how incredible it was. However, I will try my best to give you a taste of what it felt like to study and live on the University’s Whiteknights campus.

I myself lived across the lake that is on the campus, which made me incredibly lucky as the view from my room consisted of trees, grass and water. Extremely calming, something that most definitely came in handy the (more than a) couple of times I got stressed. The whole Whiteknights campus is covered in trees, meadows, flowers and little rivers. This provided for excellent morning walks or for a great excuse on those many days where you really should be studying, but the weather is just too nice.

The best thing about campus life, aside from the great grassy views (can you tell I’m a nature-lover?), is that your friends are never far away. Just a quick text and 5 minutes later you are having a coffee at one of the cafes on campus. The community feel that the campus provides makes sure you never have to feel alone. There is always someone to hang out with between classes or something new to try, e.g. the food stalls or the fruit and veg market on each term time Thursday. As most of my friends stayed on campus for the full day, working together in the Library easily became the norm. With many cups of coffee, studying became incredibly fun, even during exam time.

However, if you feel like you need to get out of the studying drag and into some more fast-paced living, London is only half an hour away by train. I got used to going to London twice a month as a self-proclaimed, well-deserved break from studying. London quickly became a second home and it was great to have the time to explore the lesser known parts of the city.

Reading is situated in an ideal area of England as there are many direct trains to cities up north and down south, and direct links with many of the London airports. It made exploring the entire UK extremely easy and incredibly fun. As most UK student cities have many youth hostels, travelling through the UK was not even that expensive. Even when travelling alone, you would always meet people in a new city with whom you could explore.

Aside from all the great trips I made, the level of education at the University of Reading was high and the professors I had were excellent and extremely kind. Everything was easy to arrange and whenever a problem did arise, everyone you talked to was approachable, kind and helpful. I had an incredible year at the University of Reading and I could not recommend my study abroad experience at Reading enough (and will probably not stop talking about it for a while either). I am already missing my time here on campus.

Thank you Reading Abroad!

After a long flight and a couple days recovering from the jet lag, it didn’t take long to settle in. Curtin University has been by far one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been. Everyone has been so accommodating and are very understanding that studying abroad can be quite a big deal, especially for those who have never travelled alone before. There are so many services available to all students for when you’re struggling academically, financially or personally and these are discussed openly by staff and student representatives.

As I arrived early, our accommodation team (UniLodge) arranged several activities to help everyone get to know one another as new people began to arrive. These included a silent disco, speed friending, pancake breakfasts, make your own wraps and a tour of the city.

These events helped me to settle in much faster and I’ve been able to meet students from all over the world, including those from Germany, The Netherlands, Norway, USA, Vietnam, China, etc.

The following week was our Orientation where the campus was bustling with fun events which you could book online with a personalised planner. I attended several tours, another speed friending, a volunteering information session and an official Aboriginal welcome which included a fascinating smoking ceremony by the Elder of the Whadjuk Nyungar tribe. What I found most admirable was how each staff member and student ambassador would pause before their talk to pay their respects to the Whadjuk Nyungar elders past, present and emerging and acknowledged their ownership of the land which the university was built upon.

At the end of the week, we took a trip to Caversham Wildlife Park to meet some adorable Australian animals!

The campus is absolutely beautiful and covered in art, which makes me very happy! Furthermore, it is a very green and environmentally friendly place with a strong emphasis on outside living which is understandable as the weather has been so lovely!

My advice to those considering study abroad is to not overload yourself and to take it easy. It’s very tempting to sign up to several guilds (societies/ clubs), take the maximum amount of units as well as to book in several trips. I did this and am now trying my best to simplify it all down. Remember you are here to study but also to embrace the culture you’ve decided to immerse yourself in so keep in mind the work-life balance we should all be aiming for.

Studying abroad is a great way to take a fresh look at your studies, to try units/ modules not available back home and to perfect your work- life balance. I never would have thought I’d be taking a virtual reality course but I already love it. In short, studying abroad has been like a fresh start for me and has really boosted my passion for my course. Everyone’s experience will be different but it is a very valuable thing to do and a great opportunity no matter where you go or what you study. Thank you Reading Abroad!         

I have had an incredible time so far studying abroad

 

The last of Alicia’s Blogs. See her testimonial at https://studyabroad.reading.ac.uk/testimonials/i-will-cherish-for-the-rest-of-my-life/

I am now halfway through my year studying abroad at the University of Melbourne and the time has flown by! I have loved my time so far and have had some incredible experiences that I wouldn’t have been able to have without this opportunity. I have also met some amazing people but have sadly had to say goodbye to a few as they were only studying abroad for a term. We are keeping in contact though and I now have excuses to travel to even more countries. I have also had the opportunity to travel around Australia and have had an amazing time exploring this incredible country with the friends I have made here.

The first term ended with exams which were quite stressful, especially as mine were on consecutive days, and we were all very relieved when they were over. The exams are held in the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne which is a picturesque World Heritage Site-listed building that is lovely to visit outside of exam season but is very daunting when you do have exams. It can hold hundreds of students so it was more of a struggle to find your seat number than it was to take the exam itself. Exams were all over by 16th November though so we didn’t have to suffer for too long before we were finished for the term and able to go travelling. My friends and I decided to travel up the east coast of the country and the day after exams had finished we flew to Sydney. We spent several days in Sydney and visited the landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and walked over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We also did the famous Coogee to Bondi coastal walk and, as avid fans of the Australian TV programme Bondi Rescue, spent some time exploring Bondi beach and trying to spot the lifeguards from the show, with little success. We then hired a car in Sydney and drove up to Newcastle where we relaxed on the beach and visited some friends who were currently living up there. From Newcastle we drove to Port Macquarie where we explored the area before heading off to Coffs Harbour. From there we headed to Byron Bay which had some of the most stunning beaches and we spent several days lounging on them before heading up to the Gold Coast.

At the University I had joined the Cheer and Dance society and became a member of the MU Capri Pom team. We had our national championship in the Gold Coast so I stayed in the area whilst my friends continued to travel up the coast. The competition was huge and teams from all over the country as well as internationally came to compete. In our category we came 2nd which I was very proud of and I thoroughly enjoyed the competition as well as being a member of the team. I spent several days celebrating with the team in the Gold Coast then met my friends again to travel back down to Sydney. We drove down to Sydney just in time to be caught in the worst storm it had seen in decades and were forced to spend an additional day in Sydney. We then flew back to Melbourne and made it just in time before my friends had to fly back home. I have had an incredible time so far studying abroad and I can’t wait to start the next term!

I am loving every second of it

The first of Alicia’s Blogs. See her testimonial at https://studyabroad.reading.ac.uk/testimonials/i-will-cherish-for-the-rest-of-my-life/

 

It has been a month since I arrived in Australia to commence my year studying at the University of Melbourne and so far I am loving every second of it. Melbourne is a very diverse city that is made up of lots of unique suburbs. I am staying in the suburb of Carlton which is just outside of the Central Business District so there is always lots to do and lots of shops and restaurants located conveniently nearby. There is also a very good tram system in Melbourne so I have been able to explore some of the other suburbs, such as St Kilda and Fitzroy, in my free time and I intend to do more exploring in the future. The weather in Melbourne is also a characteristic of the city, it is often said that you can experience four seasons in a day and I am still not used to how quickly the weather can change. It was quite cold when I first arrived here, as it was the middle of winter, but now it is beginning to warm up and I’m excited for all the BBQs that I’ve heard so much about.

  

The University campus is astounding. Parts of it are very old, with buildings that are similar to those at Oxford or Cambridge, but there are also many new buildings with amazing resources. I have a lot of my tutorials in the business building, known as The Spot, which was recently built and has an incredible lecture theatre, as well as a state of the art library specifically for business and economics books. Studying at the University of Melbourne has given me the opportunity to take courses that are not provided at Reading, such as Neuromarketing, which I am really enjoying. I have also been able to join new societies and clubs and I am part of the student exchange club and film club where I have been able to meet many new people.

    

I have also had a fab time exploring Melbourne with the friends I have made here. We have been to visit the famous Laneways and have been to watch a game of Australian Rules Footy which is great to watch even though we weren’t very good at following the game. We have also been down to the beach and explored Chinatown and Little Italy. I live nearby the well-known Queen Victoria Market in Melbourne and they run a winter night market throughout winter that has live music and lots of food stalls that we love to visit. It is also Melbourne Film Festival here at the moment and we have been to one of the events which was amazing and took place in the biggest cinema I have ever seen. We have also been to several bars and clubs and have plans to go on a party cruise along the Yarra River at the end of the month. We also have plans to visit Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef in our half term break in the middle of September and lots of plans to travel at the end of the term. Overall, I am having a fantastic time here and I don’t think a year will be long enough!

ERASMUS+ Staff Mobility, University of Bologna, Rimini Campus

From 01-05 April 2019, Dr Tamagnini and Dr Widera from the Reading School of Pharmacy spent a week at the beautiful Rimini campus of the University of Bologna (Italy) to deliver seminars and lectures on Neuroscience and Cell biology to Pharmacy undergraduate and PhD students at the Rimini campus.

Rimini, Bridge of Tiberius.

Founded in 268 BC and located at the Adriatic coast of the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, Rimini is mostly known for its stunning golden beaches, impressive historic architecture and excellent food: above all, its luscious selection of seafood, prepared with love and mastery, and the flat bread known as piadina (almost a holy institution for the locals – aka: romagnoli –, including Dr Tamagnini).

Statue of Pope Paul V on Cavour square

Local seafood in Rimini

Amongst historical buildings, breath-taking landscapes and divine food, the Rimini campus of the University of Bologna unravels its teaching and research offer. The University of Bologna, the oldest university in the Western world and founded in 1088, is the number one in European rankings for ERASMUS+ mobility. UoB currently hosts over 85,000 students, ~6000 of which are enrolled at the Rimini campus where 19 degree courses are offered, including the single cycle degree (combined BSc and MSc degree) in Pharmacy.

The Reading School of Pharmacy – University of Bologna ERASMUS+ student exchange programme has been first established by the Study Abroad coordinators Prof Vincenza Andrisano (Bologna) and Dr Darius Widera (Reading) in the Academic Year 2017/18 and extended to cover staff exchange in 2018/19. Since then, both Schools have initiated an even closer collaboration and are currently co-developing a dual degree PhD programme.

Dr Widera delivering a lecture to Part 4 Pharmacy students

During the visit, Drs Tamagnini and Widera delivered a series of lectures for Rimini-based students of Pharmacy at different stages of progression, had small group discussions wih PhD students and academics and discussed future opportunities resulting from the exchage programme and the formal collaboration between the two Schools. In addition to teaching and administration-related activities, the ERASMUS+ staff mobility included visiting the facilities at the Rimini campus and last but not least enjoying the history of Rimini, the seaside and fantastic local food.

Dr Widera`s teaching sessions tailored for Part 2, 3 and 4 students were focused on the impact of inflammation on neurodegenative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease whereas Dr Tamagini delivered sessions on the electrophysiological aspects of memory, Alzheimer`s disease and dementia.

Dr Tamagnini teaching Part 2 students the impact of neurophysiology in memory and dementia.

In conclusion, the week at the Rimini campus was a great opportunity to teach `out of the personal comfort zone` in an international environment and to interact with international students and colleagues abroad. Thus, the ERASMUS+ staff mobility programme represents a unique chance for both professional and personal development in an international context.

From left to right: Dr Tamagnini (UoR), Dr Widera (UoR), Prof Vincenza Andrisano (Study Abroad Coordinator, Pharmacy, University of Bologna, Rimini Campus), Prof Giorgio Aicardi (lead of the Physiology module, UoB, Rimini Campus).

Adventures with Erasmus+

      I honestly don’t think I would have had even half of the experience that I had if it wasn’t for the funding that I got from Erasmus +. To be completely honest I don’t know that I would have been able to afford to go at all. The Erasmus+ funding was such a huge part of my experience of studying in Venice, because of the money it meant I felt comfortable enough to go to social outings and meet new people and not worry about spending a bit of money while I was there, I was able to afford Italian lessons that helped me improve and feel comfortable in my surroundings.

The money meant I could travel throughout Italy, during my time there I was able to travel to Sicily, Naples and the Amalfi coast, Lake Garda, Verona, San Marino, Milan, Florence, Trento and the money even meant I could afford to go skiing in La Folgaria with a big group of people from around the world. I’ll never forget any of the adventures that I had or the people that I met while I was studying abroad it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity and the Erasmus+ funding made all of it possible. As a bonus the Erasmus+ funding even contributed to the fact that I now have a graduate job for when I finish my final year of university as I was able to afford several flights to go back and forth to interviews (one of which led to an internship that led to a graduate job!)

Arrival in Ottawa

Prior to applying to study abroad, I already had full intention on studying abroad when possible. In addition to that, I also had family members that had travelled to Canada, either for work, placement or even to study abroad there! So not only did I already have the decision to take this unique opportunity, I even had decided where I wanted to go! It was of great relief when I saw a letter of acceptance to travel to the country of my choice! The hardest part before leaving was realising that I would not see my friends until the next year. I packed my bags, excited to see what was to come entering a country on my own.

As I first entered Canada, I was shocked almost instantly at what I saw when I left the airport, the air was warm and the sun was blazing. I took my jacket off just to compensate for the heat. It seemed I packed too heavy for such a warm weather. So with my first assumption already out the window, I enter my campus and placed my stuff down quickly to then set off and explore the grounds.

The second thing I noticed was how the place showed similarities to the UK, city wise that is. The structure of buildings reminded me of a busy city area in London. Which may sound minuscule. However, it made me feel comfortable to know what to expect when it came to exploring the place. Everybody I met there was incredibly welcoming, and since I was essentially a freshmen, I took pamphlets upon pamphlets so that I could navigate myself around the campus. Unlike most universities in the UK, uOttawa, at the very least, was incredibly open, some of the buildings would stretch into the city, and every now and then you would find a building somewhere in the main city with a uOttawa sign on it. So at least I knew that on my way to my lectures, I could grab a Tim Hortons and pretend I was a Canadian like everyone else. As I walked around the campus, I was greeted by many friendly guides from Ottawa who were more than happy to lend a helping hand.

I went to my first class of season, technical theatre, I was anxious to see how the classes would be structured and how the students would interact with me. Fortunately, the second I walked into the room I was greeted almost instantly by these two people who then became one of my closest friends. Overall, the first few weeks showed promise, and I was excited to proceed with the further months to come.

Meet the Hoosiers

One thing that really surprised me about the whole experience of studying abroad was how welcoming and eager to talk to me people seemed to be in my first few weeks (and for my entire time there for that matter). Even after being there a few days, it became clear to me that most Hoosiers (the name for people from Indiana) have never even met someone from the U.K before. The way I spoke was something out of a movie for most of the people I met, I suppose in the same way most American culture is to me. Upon meeting people, I would receive a quick second-glance at the sound of my voice which would almost certainly be followed by the words “Oh my god, do you have an accent?”, so I mean it literally when I say that I must have heard that sentence at least once a day.

I have been using the time in between my studies to see as much of the U.S as I can. I went with friends down to Anderson County in Kentucky where we went bungee jumping, and then the next day went hiking and cliff jumping in Red River Gorge national park. The bungee jump was one the best experiences of my entire life. The 240 foot drop from the platform of a disused train bridge to the Kentucky River beneath induced a feeling of fear, adrenaline and excitement of which it would be hard to come by again. And Red River gorge was an adventure in itself. We spent the day walking along trails in the dense forest underneath the red hot sun, clambering along beautiful rock formations such as what’s known as the Sky Bridge. A natural rock formation of a bridge which the trail leads you over and then takes you back around underneath. Later that day we also came to a part of the river that runs through the national park known as Jump Rock. Here people were swimming in river, which was surprisingly pleasant, and deep enough so that you could jump off a rock around 12 foot above the surface of the water that protruded from the banking.

In terms of my studies, the relaxed nature of my lessons has certainly become a little bit more stressful as the pressure starts to build up. Luckily for me my classes are more coursework based as opposed to having exams to take. I really thrive off of the individual and creative nature of my assignments. I have learnt so much practical knowledge about the things that interest me in terms of my professional goals. For example I now know how to fully devise and professionally format a screenplay. And I can utilise the settings of a camera in a creatively enhancing way, whilst also being able to develop my own rolls of film and print the photographs myself in a dark room. Furthermore I know how to think in terms of lighting and plan accordingly when filming for my Video Production class, and my Telecommunications Management class has taught me how to think in terms of running my own freelance business, which may very well be my entry point into the film and television industry.