My time at Glasgow has been amazing and filled with such interesting activities and people. University (don't call it school, as "school" is used purely in reference to primary or secondary school. Don't call it college either, which is also a separate entity!) started off with a bang in “Fresher's Week." This week was filled with activities supplied by the two students' unions at the University of Glasgow and by the University Sports Association. Every night there was an opportunity to go out, meet people, and start off my university experience with so much activity that it drowned out (most) opportunities to feel homesick.

As Fresher's Week drew to a close there was still another week to go before classes started. At this point I believe university really started. As there was very little to do in "Week 0," as it was deemed, I could spend time really getting to know people. I live in a relatively small hall (180 people), on the top of a huge hill overlooking the park and converted 19th century town houses. The benefits of living here, the beauty of the surroundings and the close proximity to the university outweigh the drawbacks. There are no internet hook-ups in the hall, finding rooms is like going through a labyrinth, and there are only three washing machines for everyone! Although there was only one common room for everyone that didn’t even have a television, no one seemed to mind. Week 0 was spent in the common room sitting around on couches with strangers who you knew were very quickly becoming your closest friends.

At the end of week 0, however, I decided that I had had enough sitting around. After receiving my matriculation card (the university card that serves as your sole ID while at uni, and your access to many uni buildings) and going to my first lecture (Medieval History: shown by real-time telecast in a big lecture theatre, the class totaling over 300 in size) I decided to audition for a musical provided by the uni's musical theater society. The whole thing was auditioned and rehearsed in one weekend and was performed on the Sunday night. The show was Grease, which almost everyone knows and I was quite lucky in obtaining the role of Rizzo. I had the most fabulous time!

After the initial weeks, life started to (thankfully) calm down. My schedule was pretty undemanding: no more than four and a half classes on my busiest day. Because I am an Arts Student (and don't have labs like those in the Sciences) my academic life consisted of three or four lectures a week, and a tutorial every week or every fortnight (fortnight = two weeks. Oh, the vocabulary change that will assault you if you decide to come to uni in Britain!).

Independent study, I learned, is the most fundamental aspect of the Scottish education system. Although lectures and tutorials are always important to attend, your essay topic, which could be up to 40 percent of your semester grade, is often only covered in only a few lectures. Therefore, the library and your tutors become your best friends.

The first term, which lasted until till the Christmas holidays, was filled with study, essays, friends, and going out. Glasgow is a beautiful city, filled with many activities like karaoke nights galore. The talent on “open mike” and acoustic nights here could "wow" anyone. There are friendly cheap pubs, like the student unions and homey authentic Scottish pubs, as well as loud stylish new-age bars and clubs for a wild time. I have to keep in mind though that, as my mother says, studying does come first. It's tempting to try everything and do everything, as there is so much to occupy your time, but I have to remember the importance of a good night in for studying and relaxing. So far, I would rate coming to the UK, Glasgow in particular, as one of the best experiences of my life.