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.

@Boys3
Snow in Suffolk, Cambs and Essex so drive carefully

Delaying pick up now to tomorrow. Snowing heavily here. As the forecast for tomorrow looks so much better frankly why risk it. According to DS2 not snowing in Norwich just foggy- although that could just be his bedroom window being misted up as opposed to the actual weather conditions.

@boys3 good idea. The snow has gone here now.

Exciting to hear you guys have snow, we've not got any here at the moment but boy it's cold outside, the wind is biting.
Quebec cancelled Christmas yesterday ☹️ they had planned a 4 day lifting of restrictions (a bit like the UK) but the numbers are still going up, so they've now said no household mixing and everything to remain closed like it already is.
We had hoped to be able to have some Christmas drinks with people, but now that's off, I think people are pretty gutted that they won't be able to get together with their families, but I'm sure most will comply.
Not sure what DS is doing yet, I've not been able to get hold of him, but his brother has been making plans, he says his house are mainly staying in Norwich till 14th December.

@Itscoldouthere Quebec are sensible really. I'm not sure 3 households mixing is a good idea. I fear cases will soar and we will be in lockdown again come January. I think single people should see family. But a family with parents and a few children should just spend it together. It's only for one Christmas. Just my opinion. We will be keeping ourselves to ourselves. I'm not seeing my mum...it's not worth it. We might meet DH's daughter and her family, but outside, we will go for a long walk together.

Yes it's tricky isn't it, they do say here if you live alone you can have one visitor, but obviously difficult for big families.
I agree with you really, especially as there is a vaccine around the corner, but I'm also aware that my DC will benefit from the 3 households mixing rule, so they will be visiting/staying with others and if this wasn't allowed they would have to spend it alone which would be really sad.
We are trying to decide if we buy a turkey or not with it being just the 2 of us, I have tried a few different options in the past (apparently they have lobster in Nova Scotia) but I really like a traditional Christmas lunch ☺️
They haven't approved any of the vaccines yet here and are talking about it taking a long time to roll out, so I'm not expecting much change here for quite some time, it's interesting reading some of the MN threads where people seen to think everything in the UK is going to be back to normal by Easter?
We are getting a very different message here.

@Itscoldouthere I have nothing against single youngsters like yours going somewhere for Christmas. It's just large families meeting other large families etc. Not necessary in my opinion.

As for vaccine. DH is on the at risk list. But not a shielder. They have said they'd like to get shielders vaccinated by Easter. DH will be on the list after that. So we think next summer for him. They aren't vaccinating healthy under 50's so I don't get one. I suppose they may get round to that age group one day. Not 100% sure I want one. But as it's not on offer I don't need to decide anyway.

So no it won't be better by Easter. But I think vaccinating the most vulnerable is at least one step forward and should reduce deaths.

The situation in Quebec sounds a bit bleak but possibly the sensible option. There was a graphic showing movement in the US around Thanksgiving - I would imagine the COVID-19 positive aftermath is going to 'hit' just as Christmas arrives :-(.

I am conflicted about Christmas meet-ups so haven't really fully addressed what we're going to do.

I am convinced that there will be a third lockdown. If the Govt were to be sensible they'd actually just call it in as soon as the Christmas bubble meeting 'window' has been and gone rather than waiting till cases are rising significantly again.

I guess we need to wait and watch how the vaccination programme starts to roll out over the next two to three weeks.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 yes I'm sure there will be another lockdown in January. We are fairly low for cases in mid Suffolk 42 per 100,000 that's not too bad compared to other places. But I'm sure there will be a spike after Christmas especially as people from higher tiers can move anywhere in the country over the 5 days.

@Itscoldouthere I don’t think our snow is on par with Canada largely all gone where we are just a few snowmen clinging on. So off to Norwich today. Next question will be when he / they return in the new year. Another government announcement which perhaps has not been fully thought through.

@boys3 the snow didn't really settle here in Suffolk. Just on the parked cars and a dusting on the grass. It was all gone by late morning. So you had more.

Unless the Govt is planning on refunding the students for staying away from their halls, are they really in a position to dictate who goes back when?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 those in private houses will probably go back whenever they want. Though with a lot of lectures still online perhaps some will stay home.

Ds told me this week that his gf has been living in his house the past 5 weeks. Apparently she's fallen out with her housemates. Not sure what's going on there as it's not fair that ds and his housemates pay for her electricity etc. I'm sure she's not contributing as she must be paying for the house she's meant to be in. I'm sure I'll find out more. Ds coming home tomorrow. Gf was picked up today. I'm quite surprised ds is coming home, as he intended to stay right up to Christmas. 2 of them went home weeks ago. Another person going home this weekend. The last 2 staying until 15th. It's not like he can meet his friends at the pub when he gets home. But perhaps he's fed up with lockdown etc. and wants a change of scenery.

Picked up DS2 today after his two negatives - already got the washing machine on 🙄

@NotSorry Same here for DD2!🤣

@NotSorry

Picked up DS2 today after his two negatives - already got the washing machine on 🙄

How many washes so far @NotSorry ? Third load here after picking up DS2 today, and more to go. Although to give him credit the kitchen in his house was pristinely clean when he got collected so a build up of washing - with bedding and towels contributing to the loads so far - can probably be forgiven.

@NewModelArmyMayhem18

Unless the Govt is planning on refunding the students for staying away from their halls, are they really in a position to dictate who goes back when?

@NewModelArmyMayhem18 exactly! The accommodation issue is a stand out - both halls and private housing. Beyond that even if all teaching is on-line access the Uni library could be needed by many. DS2's housemates are all third years with dissertations - so library access, even if much is available on line, is probably still needed. I also think that students in general are constantly, and completely unfairly, portrayed as latter day Typhoid Mary's . Not on this thread of course :)

@boys3

Surprisingly only one - although I did have to collect up the load of damp stuff he did yesterday and then hang it all out again when we got home

I am surprised at so many reports of bags full of washing to do? Don't the young people have washing machines in their house shares?

Lovely to hear all the stories of the DC gradually arriving back home.

It is easy to blame young people. Perhaps the Govt should have thought sooner about the whole issue of the 20/21 academic year before a million or so young people started moving around to get to their university destinations.

This Govt is not proactive at all, is it?

@zand

Mine is coming home today. I might be wrong...but I think there will be a lot of laundry.

I am expecting bedclothes and towels, etc. DS has a washer but no dryer so they will be easier to do at home. I'm looking forward to seeing them both now

I thought ds would be pleased to have a dryer in his house. But apparently he's not been using it. 20 years ago I inherited a compact dryer from my father, it was about 10 years old back then, I only used it occasionally to finish off towels, so I treated myself to a new one last winter, I do try to not use it though. So Ds is used to me hanging clothes on airers so I guess that's what he's doing. But I have a nice warm utility room, I hope he's not hanging wet clothes in his bedroom, it's not very healthy inhaling damp air. Something else to ask him.

DS2's house had a washer-drier at start of term; broke down and landlord replaced, slightly oddly, with just a washer.

Ds is home. He had all day to pack and leave but he sent me a text at 4.30pm to say he'd packed the car and was going back indoors to vacuum his room. He did send a photo of his tidy room. He arrived home just before 6pm. His fiesta was heaving. Mostly his gaming stuff...pc. monitor and extra screen, huge steering wheel and pedals for racing games 😂 a suitcase full of clothes plus a few supermarket bags. Also a bag of food. It's all in pile indoors now. We will finish sorting tomorrow.

Dd2 received this today:

Important Message from Emma Sutton, PVC for Student Experience and Education

Dear Students,

I wanted to write to you today to share the approach to the start of the second semester and ensure you are aware this week of plans to provide rapid Covid testing in January. UEA will not need to change its planned arrangements for assessment and the start of semester two teaching.

The government is suggesting students stagger their return over a four-week period starting from Monday 4 January with all students being strongly encouraged to take a rapid Covid test on their return. This will enable students to have a test ahead of resuming in-person teaching or assessment activity.

Students on placement or practical courses are being invited to return first from Monday 4 January along with students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; the following week SCI students are invited to return with SSF students and HUM students returning from the 18 January and the 25 January respectively. Clearly, if you need to return to the University earlier you are welcome, if you need to access study spaces, support services or to facilitate your studies.

We recognise that many international students returning home for the winter holidays will already have booked return flights to the UK, and the University does not expect you to change these arrangements unless you wish to. If you have already booked return flights, you are welcome to return to campus according to your travel schedule.

In order to help stagger your return the University would suggest the following dates, weeks beginning:

04 January2021 –Students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and placements or practical study

11 January2021 –Students in the Faculty of Science (SCI)

18 January2021 –Students in the Faculty of Social Sciences (SSF)

25 January2021 –Students in the Faculty of Humanities (HUM)

Please note there are some exceptions to the general pattern above for specific modules where teaching will start earlier in weeks beginning:

04 Jan: Specific modules in the Schools of Education and Lifelong Learning (EDU), Natural Science (NAT), Pharmacy (PHA) and Social Work (SWK) will resume face to face teaching this week, so please check your timetable and if you are in any doubt speak to your School directly.

11 Jan: Specific modules for HUM(7012-Y) start face to face teaching in this week – so again, please check with your School

18 Jan: Specific modules in the Schools of Law (LAW), and Literature, Drama and Creative Writing (LDC) start face to face teaching this week, so please check with your School.

For most undergraduates, face-to-face teaching is due to resume from the first week of February and further information will be emailed to students on rapid Covid testing arrangements for January, including how to book tests. Our early plans are that rapid Covid testing will start at Congregation Hall from the 4 January, further information will be put on the My UEA portal next week.

Best wishes,

Emma Sutton
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Student Experience and Education