Originally Posted by
Irbis
Um... I have asked my hone University for a student exchange program. I managed to grab a spot in UWS, University West of Scotland. Sigh.
Now, I have no idea what to do. Go there and try to finish my studies there?
First problem - it's 1000 km away. What if I don't make it (that is, don't acclimatize there)? I have received offer today, and the studies supposedly start September 20, so I'd have to make an arrangements real quick. Especially a place to live.
I have an experience of living away from home, I guess (5 years 300 km away at my current Uni), but that will be totally different. Especially in a foreign country. I'd have to re-learn my life from the start.
Second problem - I will make every effort to fill any gaps, but I have no idea if what I have learned in my home, backwards country even prepared me to pass any exams here. Sigh. Supposedly, this was second best university in country, but I wonder how it will compare, from course descriptions it seems we are so behind it isn't even funny (like F-22 vs F-14). I hope I won't end up with straight 2.0 at the end of the semester. By the way, it isn't Erasmus, with it's loose requirements, I'm supposed to take actual 4th year any student there takes :smallfrown:
Aaaand, third problem, I have no idea how British culture actually looks and feels. The internet is full of US culture and language, so that's what I had the opportunity to learn. I wonder if Brits will treat me like just another dumb immigrant, especially with the crisis going on. British is more difficult than US English, and Scottish accent is supposed to be even worse. On top of that, I have slight hearing disability, I wonder if I actually can communicate with anyone at all. Hell, I tend to prefer e-mails over phone even in my main language. Plus, here, I can train only written English, my spoken one is much worse :smallfrown:
All these inches, foots, different energy plugs, left hand driving, constant rain and water from two different taps scares me. And, if I fail, I end up with unfinished studies, debt, and a shame for the rest of my life. Hmmm, I wonder if students in Scotland can somehow both work and study at the same time.
I waited for this opportunity, but now I wonder if I should give up, finish here and go look for some job :smallfrown: