The ABC of university life (2019/20 cohort) - settling in we hope

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread - sorry about the lame thread title but done in a hurry!

In my home country, every uni has a matriculation service, so all my siblings have their photos of when they first started (gown & hat) side by side with when they graduated. Its usually quite a big affair with whole families attending, picnics, group photos etc on the lawn.

I'm sure its a much quieter affair in the U.K but nice all the same.

That sounds lovely @Shimy.

I don't think you can matriculate as a post-grad BTW.

I didn't matriculate - a university that is now well established ( sought after) but then I guess was relatively new, and certainly wasn't one of the more traditional ones.
I need to google it too!

Some backpack related news. DS phoned me today to tell me his bag was stolen while he was at the barbers . I am always suspicious of DS's stories but he swears he has not juts left it somewhere at uni. Thankfully, no wallet in it.

And even more thankfully, I remained blissfully uninfluenced by Shimy's backpack thread and sent him off to uni with a three year old school rucksack.

Guess he needs a new one now? Does anyone have any recommendations?!

DD just called.

She auditioned for 11 different a capella groups yesterday and said it was v competitive.

Tries out for volleyball tonight.

Is signing up for boxing training.

This is all in top of 5 band rehearsals per week and performances.

Not sure how she'll fit in any lectures but she sounds v v happy.

I am sure pickpockets thieves love to see new green wet behind the ears students ripe for the picking. DS has his Barclays debit card and his Santander card, I did advise him to only take one if he goes out so that he is not stuck without money. We had a discussion about keeping his monies down in his current account for this reason.

@Piggywaspushed. NOOOOO!

DS continues to enjoy his backpack by the way.

I went to Edinburgh in the 80’s and matriculation was standing in an endless queue for your matric card. No ceremony.

Sorry to hear that your DS has had his bag pinched @Piggywaspushed. Very frustrating. I would have thought Lincoln to be safer than many cities/towns?

@Ingles2 @bigTillyMint How lovely. I'm still waiting for a pic but am still hopeful! I'm feeling a bit weird today too, how funny . Reality sinking in I suppose. That and wanting to know every single detail but actually getting very little 

@Tinseltrauma, exactly!

I've been to visit dd! She looked well, her flatmates seem lovely and she's joined some societies and been good about going to lectures. She's loving it . Fingers crossed!

I wish dd would send a photo of matriculation, but she has ordered the official one. She's gowned and I think will quite like the formality of that. She has her freshers' dinner tonight, which is in the sports' hall, I think as they're self catering.
Good idea to make sure all the freshers have a good meal at least once in the first week.

Students are known as easy/rich pickings so do make sure they know to be careful.

wanting to know every single detail but actually getting very little. Sounds about right.

That's great to hear @Trewser!

I know nothing about a fee/form for an official photo Tilly, DD didn’t mention it. I got a WhatsApp today with a Durham matriculation filter on it, but was DD with her thumbs up, on the bridge in the sun, on her way to the cathedral.

Grr DS has just realised his passport was in his bag. FFS.

Lincoln has a dodgy bit at the bottom of the High Street so I assume that's where he was. It's a lovely city but has a visible homeless/drug problem.

Oh no that's a total PITA for your DS @Piggwaspushed. They probably assume that students will be carrying laptops in their bags.

Let's hope he won't suddenly realise that!!

@Piggy I do hope your your ds's bag is found. Uncomfortable knowing someone has his bag AND passport out there. Identity theft is not uncommon. Can he contact the passport office to report it lost?

Sorry to hear that Piggy.
Just had a few more photos en route to the cathedral. I think photos are DD’s preferred method of communication. Still haven’t had an conversation or reply about showergate but she looks lovely and clean in the photos!

He has reported it. Now he has an email saying they have tried to phone him. But of course he can't answer because he gets no bloody phone signal in his room!!!

@Piggywaspushed .. hope the backpack issue gets sorted soon ... I lI've and work in Birmingham and have been noticing the freshers bimbling around ... there is a homeless/ drug problem in the city centre over the last couple of years ...so I hope all the DC at Aston or Birmingham are enjoying themselves in our city and not feeling intimidated 😊

@Piggywaspushed, has he retraced his steps to see if it was flung away by the thief? A friend had his p.p. stolen and found it the next day...

Had a message from DD saying that the cheap Wilco calculator she bought for her science course is no good. I can't find her scientific calculator that she used for A levels, so she will have to buy another one. What was she thinking?

I suggested that tilly. I reckon they will have slung it in a bin. But he has got all organised and cancelled the passport so no good finding it now!