I'm at University!

It had been a long time coming but this morning hit me with the fact I was leaving the comfort of my home for that of the Blaenavon Halls of Residence at the University of Wales, Newport. For some time I’d had mixed feelings of being very excited, yet also anxious at the prospect of this change. I’ve known this would happen since last year when I chose to study a degree at this University. I doubt there’s anything to prepare you for the day you finally leave home – especially when I’ve continued living at home since leaving school at 18 and working full time for the past five years since.

So I was feeling quite emotional when saying goodbye to Mum and our dog Meg. Dad brought me up to Caerleon along with the caravan, so not only did we not need to put everything of mine in the car, he could stay at a nearby caravan site overnight. The journey didn’t take much more than a couple of hours and it wasn’t long before we were filing through the main campus building to sign contracts, pay fees and collect my keys.

We were one of the first to begin unloading belongings in the Blaenavon Halls which made the process a lot quicker as we brought my things up to the middle floor and navigated the narrow corridors to my room. The room itself isn’t bad at all. They’re big enough and there’s more storage space than I can fill. The condition of a couple of items was questionable but I have an inventory survey to complete and hand back to the Accommodation Office to for addressing such issues. I’ve set everything up the way I want it and with familiar objects around me it’ll feel like home before I know it.

There are two fully fitted bathrooms opposite my room and a further three shower rooms around the corner which are all brand new refurbished suites. The kitchen is large and we each have our own locked storage for food and such. Some of the storage is shared, which means for now I’m putting my faith in people’s good nature that they’ll not make use of my things without at least asking. Dad warns me it’s more than likely people won’t be quite as considerate as myself and will simply use what they find. If so, I’ll simply store what I can’t fit in my lockable cupboard in my room.

I’ve only seen a few of the people I’m sharing with so far. Within the next few days I hope to meet and greet as many as possible, though it seems most people right now are sticking to their rooms. Obviously I more than understand this; it feels safer in your own little space. Must try cutting the ice sooner rather than later though.

I’m knackered so am off to bed! My cable for Internet access wasn’t in my room and it appears that computer technicians aren’t around over weekends. So obviously when you see this post, it wasn’t actually posted on the 17th but I’m sure my hoards of readers will excuse me for that…