University life for freshers (2019/20) - Christmas backpacking (or not) and festive homecomings with all the tinseltastic trimmings!

[NewModelArmyMayhem18]

Previous thread.

@Benjispruce yanbu. I haven't heard of anywhere with such poor facilities. It sounds positively Victoria. Both my DC have much better than this and are probably paying a lot less.

Ginfordinner Dd was affected a lot last time at Newcastle - her humanities departments have a lot in unions that strike. This time it will correspond with the heaviest weeks of teaching and handing in several essays (that won’t be marked). She’s sympathetic but annoyed.

I think DD only had one lecturer who took part in the strike Zanda. How is your other DD doing.

Gin Dd2 Ok (touch wood). After more hospital stays she’s back at home again! Very tired but may try a few lessons next week.

Well done to your DS @DitheringDan. I think finding a subject that one is passionate about is key to doing really well at degree level!

Glad to hear your DD2 is home again @ZandathePanda. Do the doctors know what virus she had that has had such an adverse impact on her?

Well done to your boy DitheringDan .

Strikes didn't really affect my DD last time but this time it looks as though it will be going on for longer . Doubtless she'll find some way of occupying herself - too far away and expensive to pop home .

NewModel they have no idea about the virus and said they never will. She was fine the night before I found her so ill. It has left her with minor seizures that we are dealing with/trying not to stress over. Higher dose meds seem to be working at the mo. Not sure how she’ll cope with GCSEs but we are taking it day by day.
Dd2 back at university again. Her timetable has started getting busier just in time for strikes .

Thank you!
Zanda, I'm so sorry to hear about your DD.

DS wasn't really affected last time, but he did say with the new modules they have different lecturers so he may be affected this time. Math is a high contact hours subject so hopefully it won't be too bad for him.

He sounded annoyed about the strike too - which I take as a good sign that he's either setting in and doesn't want his study to be affected, or his initial exams were a mixed bag (he admits this himself) so he's focusing more now and doesn't want this as a distraction

That's great DitheringDan!

I guess it says something about the types of lecturers and their values.

Exactly. Sadly for DD and DS Humanities lecturers seem more likely to support the strikes,

Bloomin’ lefties!

Jokin’ I am. I have to remind myself that you don’t know me so can’t really say things like that on public forums.

Sorry to hear your DD has been in hospital again Zanda xxxxx Hope she feels better and that the meds stabilise her soon.
My DD is slowly recovering from a very bad time - she was so ill and ended up with having two emergency double extractions - all wisdom teeth out now.

I’m afraid to say but the corona virus is apparently in Durham now just to add to our troubles -apparently there was something on the student social media but nothing official.

I hope your DD feels better soon Baytreemum

www.palatinate.org.uk/john-snow-student-tested-for-coronavirus/
Tested and discharged

Baytree your poor Dd too - 4 wisdom teeth out sounds grim. Hope her recovery is quick and painless. X

@ZandathePanda s ASD nd @Baytreemum, hope your DDs recover quickly

Thank you Gin Tilly and Zanda and thank you for the link Benji - I hope that means the student tested negative?

Mine I spoke to my DS about working abroad on a placement, he was aware of the opportunity but said it involved 'too much hard work', . Pleased to hear that your DS is clearly more motivated.

DS annoyed that NTU not involved in the strikes .

I’m not sure @Baytreemum as they’ve been put in studio accommodation to self isolate. Is that what they do when waiting for results?
Hope your DD is ok now.

@Baytreemum your poor DD. Hope she recovers quickly.

Thank you Newmodel - she is nearly better now and I hope will stay so! We have complained to student support about the poor food and lack of sleep which totally wrecked her immune system and nearly finished her off when her wisdom teeth suddenly all came up simultaneously and impacted. The surgeon said he had never seen anything so bad in the 40 years he had been practising!

Mine I spoke to my DS about working abroad on a placement, he was aware of the opportunity but said it involved 'too much hard work', hmm. Pleased to hear that your DS is clearly more motivated.

Peer pressure can have a big effect. My ex-boyfriend did a 6 month internship in the US the year before I did. He came back absolutely determined that I should take the chance to do it because he'd got so much out of living abroad (and we were from the same crappy northern town that offers very few opportunities like that).

It was him being so enthusiastic that really convinced me to do it, and I've never regretted it.

Rags and Hold My DS is now wavering about going abroad. He had a meeting about the different options and now wants to find out about the entrepreneurship option instead. I don't mind what he does but just want him to make a decision. What is your DS doing in year 2 Rags