Strip the Willow

It is always good when things get busy before homesickness comes along yet.

Tralalalalala…. It’s FRESHERS’ WEEK. (paid 41.50 quids for Fresher’s Pass)

Always when a new year comes, I have this resolution of having more 'been there, done that' moments. Good ones are of course very interesting and bring happiness but bad ones are there to toughen us up.

Generally, the people in Glasgow are very friendly and helpful. Customer service is always great; they greet you, listen attentively to your problems and try their best to solve them.  Very civilised lot and honest. There were situations where people left their belongings and passport or handphone behind in taxis or public places, these things were returned to their owners. One same experience was my dad left a shopping bag in the Argos store and the security people there has kept it safely for him.

Monday: Had some free pieces of pizzas in the midst of getting some uni stuff done. Went to live bands in the evening!!! First time and real good experience too. Good music; not crap, loud noise. Performers not over-indulgent. Brilliant. They are the Admiral Fallow, supported by The Emerald Armada and The Dirty Beggars. You know a good band when you come across one. :D

Tuesday:  Grabbed freebees at Freshers’ Fair. Had free lunch at Turnbull Hall. “Free food is always good food!” Another first here with live comedy by Jimmy Mcghie and Roisin Conaty. :D Laughed till my tummy aches; it’s so good, it keeps you wanting more.

Wednesday: First day of induction for medical students. In the evening, I went for an ‘International Ceilidh’ event organised by the Student Representative Council. This was much fuller of fun than the previous one because many freshers are locals so people can catch the steps a little bit faster. There were free haggis too, but I didn’t try it because of the troublesomeness of removing my teeth retainers before I eat and the long queues. Will definitely get my tastebuds tingling with this Scottish national dish one day!

Thursday: Lectures too and Dodgeball! Wanted to meet Sir Chris Hoy at the parade for Scottish Olympians and Paralympians but it clashed with my lecture. Oh well, will try my luck again at the Commonwealth Games 2014 perhaps.

Friday: Some lectures and the highlight was…….. Alan Bates the hypnotist. First time I’ve been to a hypnotist show. Oh my.. Unbelievable! This was the bomb! Really, it was so convincing. I was superbly mindblown. But now, after reading about stage hypnosis on Wikipedia, I am a bit sceptical. Nonetheless, I truly appreciate his performance. :D

Freshers are always the best lot. Centres of attraction. Freshers are treated like kings and queens, have all these events so that you plunge into university life with great enthusiasm. Bombarded with freebees and some freshers’ discount.

Kudos to SRC for providing special double-decker bus service late at night so that we could return to halls safely.

FYI, there are four student bodies: Glasgow University Student Representative Council (GUSRC), Glasgow University Union (GUU), Queen Margaret Union (QMU) and Glasgow University Sports Association (GUSA).

So glad that I had put my Fresher’s Pass to good use.

Stay tuned readers. J