Ha! Today it finally started.
We gathered in the Furnival (?) building monday morning and Caroline helped us all to get the Oyster cards. The undergound is a real maze. For us, at least, who have the ultimately complicated tube in our capital city - a straight line. The London tube is fun - and fast - IF you know what you're doing. I've all but followed Johanna blindly, she's the professional Londoner of us. But today, instead of the tube, we went by bus. Which I actually prefer for now 'cause you can watch the little houses and their little back- and frontyards go by and it helps me put my perspective with the distances right.
When we reached the Hendon campus, we all had a little time for coffee and made the applications (and photoshoots, ugh!) for our student cards. Then was the playtime for us. Or was the digital tour first? Jaw-stretching...
The Romantic & The Beautiful taught us a few games that helped us to get to know each other, and helped us to understand that despite we're all coming from different cultures and countries, we can co-operate and understand each other. I though the first game, the one with our names and adjectives, would be impossible and disasterous, but it turned out to be very funny and effective! If I now can't remember someone's name, it's because I didn't have my eyeglasses on (read: temporarily lost) and thus couldn't possibly connect the name and the face... My bad and apologies! :)
After the name-adjective-thingy we separated into three groups and tied a human knot, where we were supposed to be quiet and co-operate, but heh, at least we stayed warm! And it helped us from the arctic circle to get over our fear of close proximity. Wouldn't it be easier to stay warm in our homeland if we would stick closer to each other? -20 c wouldn't be so bad if we had friends around us all the time.
Thirdly, they (B&R) brought a cup of colourful candy in front of each group. I was immediately suspicious. Then Bernard showed us the questions and told how we should reveal something about ourselves to others, based on the colour of the candy we've chosen. Lucky enough, I had the ones which meant I had to tell my favorite food and movie. But to correct myself now afterwards, I wouldn't say my favorite movie is the LOTR series. It's the Boat that ROCKED! But we got to know a few interesting things, however... (code blue candy)
All in all, Cathy, Caroline, Bernard and Rodianne had made us a very nice and funny day, thank you all very much for that!
I have spoken...
Not-Very-Reflective-But-Still-Sunny -Sanni
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Hi Sanni
VastaaPoistagood first post and I'm sure more reflective ones will follow, remember even if you have a thought or comment during the day just write it down the old fashioned way and then when you get to a computer you can share with everyone on your blog :) and it is indeed very sunny today so some more of that would be nice as well if you could arrange it !
Hi Sanni,
VastaaPoistaI can imagine that many Maltese and Italian students found the underground system to be a bit of maze - and i am quite sure, that after this weekend, you will all have figured it out perfectly well :)
Essentially you raised an interesting point by writing about that - transportation varies from country to country - and this can pose several difficulties for Incoming students. I am wondering, to what extent should students be given precise directions and to what extent should they be left to their own devices to find their own way around? oh well .. just just a thought that your posting triggered in my brain!! :)
Looking forward to more postings.
I enjoyed this post Sanni, it reads like a story and is engaging. All good reflections tell a story so you're certainly on your way !
VastaaPoistaIf you enjoyed the bus journey here, you must do a Maltese bus journey ! They have wonderful old buses.