Lecture theatre at Chandler House, UCL.
Whereas I quite enjoyed the life at UCL with my friends, there
were also times when I had difficulties. Classes at UCL required a
large amount of reading
as well as assignments. I sometimes didn’t have a day off during a
whole week because weekends were occupied with reading books,
articles, and other
class materials. Writing essays was also quite challenging,
especially for us non-native speakers of English, although we
shouldn’t have that as an excuse
for doing less well. What’s more, the fact that I did many things
outside the classes for credits made me busier, particularly in
Term 2. I audited several
classes which I was interested in. I also joined some volunteer
societies, through which I taught Japanese at UCL and I visited a
local primary school to
lead an after school activity of the Japanese language. They were
all fantastic experiences and I feel very proud that I managed
them quite well, but
it may be one of the busiest periods I’ve ever encountered in my
life.
Putting aside my academic life, I believe that living in London
has been the best part in my life so far. As you may all know,
London is connected not only
to other European countries but to all over the world, which makes
London a multicultural city. Moreover, they try to preserve their
traditional buildings,
and there are many parks where people can sit down and enjoy their
own time. I usually took a walk when I felt exhausted, but soon I
realised that I
became better because the walk through the city was pleasant
enough for me to forget the tiredness. Camden Town, near where I
lived, is also the heart
of youth culture, and you wouldn’t get bored; you’ll get pubs,
clubs, many fancy shops, supermarkets… there are literally
everything you need in your life!
You can also find the canal along which you can take a relaxing
walk (this is where I enjoyed walking the most).
Returning back to Japan, I strongly feel that the time I spent in
London and at UCL was invaluable. Pursuing the degree was very
hard, but I’ve learnt countless
things about not only academic matters but about everything!
Read what Taka has to say about drinking in London
Read more about other
students' travel experiences