UEA (2019) dealing with the unexpected and on to 2nd Year

[juicy0]

New thread for the parents of 2019 freshers. Thank you all for sticking around!
At the start of the year we never would have guessed the topics that are currently being discussed in this page but I'm grateful we still have each other to help navigate our way through this with our DC.
With the emptying of 1st year rooms seemingly on hold for many until the end of lockdown our thoughts will soon turn to 2nd year accommodation and whether term is likely to start as normal in September.

DS2's house starts on 1 September and they seem to be planning on moving in on that day so they can have a few weeks of summer before the work starts. Somehow they have to work out the gas/electric and broadband connections by then or it will be chips by candlelight on 1st September.
I dont know yet if he is having the double bed or single bed though and we need to organise bed linen if he is getting a double. He is so laid back or maybe I am too organised?

DS said that some of them (he’s in a house of 8) had bought double beds from the current student tenants. The house comes with single beds.

We might take his double bed as he’s really tall and found his single bed in halls quite uncomfortable, also means we won’t have to put it in storage due to our move.

They have a garage with their house and that’s where all the unused single beds are stored.

I think my DD let starts middle of September, she too is in a house with 8 students.
She is already preparing and buying items for her new room, I just hope the upcoming academic year lives up to their expectations.

Ds starts his rent 1st sept. But he will be working full time. So he will be disappointed when they all get to go in and he can't. I expect he will join them at the weekends. He will work until around 18th sept. Depending whether we get an early harvest. We are near enough for him to drive to Norwich for the weekend. We are still undecided as to whether he will take his car when he moves in properly. Apparently all 5 of the others in his house will take cars. I can't see they will need 6 cars between them. Ds2 can learn to drive in November so having a small car here will be helpful.

Does anyone know what parking charges are like at UEA?

I'm fairly sure parking is extremely difficult on campus and quite expensive. We went for DS1s interview on a normal term day and couldn't find a single space anywhere. Eventually one of the security team jumped in the car and directed us to a space in one of the service areas with a promise not to get a ticket. Actually she was just one of the very friendly and helpful people we met at UEA that day and helped to persuade DS1 that UEA was the place to be.

DS's second year accommodation contract starts on 1st of August. I am hoping he might go back then (by which time he will have been home for well over four months). He's quite helpful but I think it would do him good to be with his mates rather than annoying his sister at home!

He is dismayed that no-one in his share drives/has a car. However, I think it will be good exercise for them to walk to/from campus.

Yes, all vibes about UEA very positive and continue to be. DS may be joined by his same-age cousin this academic year (although won't be doing the same subject or in the same department).

DS2 is sorting his house out - I’ve said to carry on as though everything will be “normal” for the 2nd year, not sure what else we can do

Yes I agree about exercise. But ds's place is a mile and half away. Goodness knows why they went for somewhere so far away. So walking in the rain/dark might not be so good. I have suggested a bicycle he hates riding bicycles! But I think he will take one. They'd like to lift share but I'm assuming any permits for UEA will have the reg no on. So they won't be able to use it on another vehicle and may have different lecture times. They are all on the biology course, but they are not all taking the same modules.

@NotSorry yes best thing to do.

Ds has gone to Norwich now. His gf is there with her dad clearing out her place. She's in the town centre accommodation. Apparently to start with a man at the doors wouldn't let her dad in the building. They said one person only. But they persuaded him to let him in. Ds is meeting her at a local park before she heads back.

Did she have to carry on paying for her accommodation for the summer term @icanbewhatiwant?.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 Yes I think she did. Today is the official last day they would have finished.

It just goes to prove that going 'private' has its disadvantages. One of DS's school friends was in that accommodation too. Expensive at that!

Hope they had a nice reunion of sorts!

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 I asked ds and she didn't have to pay all the way to the end of term but it took longer before they were allowed to stop paying. His gf couldn't get into the campus as it was full, she applied through clearing. She didn't have to pay full price for Pablo Fanque. Ds said it is really nice accommodation but she didn't like being there as no one else was a year 1 student in her flat.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 they have met up several times since we've been allowed to meet one other. They have met halfway between here and where she lives. So about an hours drive away. Her dad drives her and ds drives himself. I wonder whether they stayed 2 metres apart? 🤣

Ha! To the two metres apart rule for young lovers!!! Sounds like Victorian England???? Good that they've been able to see each other at least!

Just spotted this on FB - it seems pitched at new students and admittedly not read/watched all the blurb but seems encouraging?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

Just spotted this on FB - it seems pitched at new students and admittedly not read/watched all the blurb but seems encouraging?

That does look very encouraging - just hope our year 2s can have some kind of normality

@NotSorry it certainly looks as if they're going to do their darndest to ensure that students do have social contact, albeit reduced.

I'm
Sure that someone on here has a DC working this summer wheat testing or something similar. If it was you I'd love to talk to you. Thanks

It's @icanbewhatiwant methinks @juicy0.

Yes me. Ds worked for a local company last summer testing the crops as they come in from the fields. He is hopefully starting again in July until mid sept. You're local too aren't you @juicy0?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 well remembered. I never remember who does what on here or anywhere else 😂

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 wow, well remembered and thank you.
@icanbewhatiwant I'll email you if that's ok but yes I'm local to Norwich.

I am very good at remembering what many would consider to be inconsequential info...

Finally had a call with student support yesterday and I must say they were so helpful, they are going to support DS through his retakes and put support in place for next year.
Interestingly they said they had met DS in the first few weeks of term and as he was so on top of things, they said he didn’t need a follow up meeting. I suppose student services are so busy they don’t have time to check on everyone, but I can’t help but think that if they had kept up contact with him his lack of attendance might have been pick up on sooner.
Anyway, we are at least moving forward, he still has some doubts about biology, but thinks it’s currently the best route to follow.
He has been having online meet ups with friends from his course and his housemates, so he is looking forward to going back to Norwich.
We still haven’t exchanged on our house, it was meant to be this week but now looking like next week, then move out end of July.

How is everyone else doing?