Day 8!

A lot of things to mention since the last post!

We still haven’t had our loans through yet! They said they would be through a week after our enrollment forms went in (over a week ago now!) but now they’re saying it could be up to 4 weeks. To make matters worse friends at two other universities all received their loans pretty much straight away. I bottomed out my overdraft over the summer to pay for rent, food, bills and car insurance, and now I have to pay for car tax and petrol to get to uni with zero money. I’m very lucky that I can rely on The Other Half to lend me living expenses and I know he’d lend me anything else I needed but it’s still very stressful. Other people aren’t so lucky. One guy has been dipping into his savings and another 30-something guy has had to ask the bank of mum and dad for a loan. Some people are even worse off and are having to apply for a hardship loan from the university. It’s making an already stressful course even more stressful. Lack of funds brings me to…

The Iron Bridge

Ironbridge!

Tomorrow we’re all going on a residential field trip to Ironbridge Gorge and will be looking at many different things in different places. It should be fun and exciting and blah blah blah. We’ve all had to organise lifts with people who we’ve known for a week, and sometimes only met once, and then we sleep in bunks in a hostel with 15 in a room. This worries me somewhat but I’m determined to enjoy it and make the most of the whole experience. I’m getting a lift down from uni with 2 girls in my group (who were on the SKE) so at least that part is sorted and worry-free.

We’ve also been told where our first two placements are. We spend next week in a primary school then in a few weeks we have our first proper secondary placement! Very exciting. My primary placement is very near where I live (I can walk there! Saves money!) but I suspect I might be there on my own (This is worrying but gives me the chance to man up and become a teacher). My secondary placement is also nearby and best of all I’m with another SKE science student who is absolutely lovely and will be picking me up on the way! There are five of us in all going to that particular school including an IT guy, a languages girl and a history (I think) girl. The school looks quite good and has a sixth form, which does mean that we’re going to have to man up and elbow ourselves some post-16 teaching time.

I think that’s enough for one post! Wish me luck in Ironbridge…

100 students in a hostel?