The start of the semester is finally within reach. One week until classes. The city is starting to come to life again. The streets are noticeably fuller, but the grocery stores are noticeably emptier.There are plenty of parents dropping off their children for the first time and seasoned veterans lugging up their belongings into their term-time housing. Packs of new students band together, on their way to and from campus.
Here at the University of Edinburgh, the week before classes start isn’t just for moving in and settling into one’s accommodation. There are tons of events for new and returning students, all day, everyday. It’s known as Fresher’s Week. For a digestible Northeastern comparison, it’s orientation and a Welcome Week all in one.
The obvious first item on the agenda for every student is moving in! My roommates finally moved into our flat the weekend before. I am living with two freshmen (who will be here for four years) and two exchange students from America (like me!). While us Americans are all seasoned upperclassmen studying abroad, we’re essentially in the same boat as the freshmen. None of us quite know the ins and outs of the university yet. Our conversations have been continuously surrounding student life, with questions like: Have you checked out the gym yet? What’s your schedule looking like? Did your personal tutor meeting go smoothly?
Everyone in the flat will venture out to do their own thing in most instances, but we have spent some quality time together. We’ve already made a family dinner (vegetable pasta with red pesto- it was delicious!). We’ve also started house-watching different television series. Peaky Blinders and Sex Education are on our current watchlist. I highly recommend both!
Events at the University of Edinburgh are thrown all week long by the Students Association. An Activity Fair, similar to the Fall Fest that Northeastern hosts before the start of classes each year, has been running virtually and in the campus square everyday. Societies (or clubs) have tables to promote themselves to all students. The schedule is packed. Events occur all day, all week.
I’ve been to a few myself. As a history major, I attended a History Society meeting in addition to the History department welcome. I also went to a Hillwalking Club social! They will run events throughout the semester. These include hikes outside of the city. I can’t wait to explore more of Scotland! One of the first trips outside the city isn’t far; it’s actually accessible from public transportation (like most things here!). I look forward to the excursion to the Pentland Hills. There are multiple hills to do in just one day! I’ve been keeping a lookout for the local radio station, FreshAir, and any events they might be hosting. I didn’t catch them at the Activity Fair, but I hope to sometime. I would love to continue being a DJ, as I was for WRBB 104.9 in Boston!
There have also been pub quizzes, ceilidhs (a Scottish social event with traditional dance and music), bookshop and coffee crawls, and live music. There have been endless barbecues in the Meadows, a huge park and green space that runs alongside campus. Sports clubs and even professional societies have gatherings there. With the weather (surprisingly) fair this week, the Meadows is the place to be. I feel very welcomed at the University, even as a visiting student. They truly care about students getting involved, in both classes and extracurricular activities. If you come to the University of Edinburgh, don’t worry about finding a club suitable for you- they have nearly 300 official societies and clubs!
Fresher’s isn’t just about university-led events. It’s time to get to know the city as well. With two of my flatmates and my Northeastern friend, I hiked (or rather hillwalked) up Arthur’s Seat. It’s a must for any visit to Edinburgh. The views are spectacular. The entire city is sprawled before you when you reach the peak. I was able to see the campus, my accommodation, the Meadows, and the Castle. For people unfamiliar with Edinburgh (myself, most definitely!), having an entire week before classes begin has been a wonderful opportunity to orient myself to my home for the next four months.
At every event, meeting fellow students is new, but always the same: Hi, what’s your name, where are you from, what are you studying? Sometimes I think my social battery cannot last as long as it does, but I am eager to make friends. University life has changed so drastically, as we all know, and stepping out of my comfort zone has definitely been challenging. I wouldn’t call myself shy (not anymore, at least), but that hasn’t meant it’s always been comfortable for me. I’m starting all over again, in a different environment. It was a big step to get ‘across the pond’, but even bigger to exist and thrive here! I recommend staying in touch with people you meet that you like. I’ve met plenty of people and had great conversations, but I tend to forget to share contact information, like social media for example.
Studying abroad for a semester in a completely new country is daunting, but my advice to anyone who is planning on doing so is take advantage of what your new university has to offer. Weeks like Fresher’s Week are some of the easiest ways to meet new people and experience new things. Don’t be afraid to attend any events- you’ll be able to find people who enjoy the same hobbies or disciplines as you! You only get what you are willing to make of a situation. I think this holds true for attending any university, whether it be your first or last year. Take advantage of what’s at your fingertips!
