Meg
type: channel
description: Experience Iowa Blogs
date: 2014-11-03T21:38:03Z
update period: hourly
update frequency: 1
update base: 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00
generator agent: https://wordpress.org/
items: Trick or Treat!
items: F.A.L.L
items: An A-Z of questions I have encountered in the States
items: Making Memories
items: Trek Through My Timetable
items: The Honeymoon is Over
items: On Iowa!
items: Getting Settled In
items: Moving In Day!
items: First Day as a Hawkeye!

Trick or Treat!
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-11-03T21:38:03Z
subject: General
description: Halloween! I’ve been saving up all my events so that I could roll them all together in one post. Halloween in England is a relatively subdued event. We usually put decorations up the day before, (or on the day itself if we’re particularly unorganised that year) that is if we put decorations up at all. […]
encoded: Halloween! I’ve been saving up all my events so that I could roll them all together in one post. Halloween in England is a relatively subdued event. We usually put decorations up the day before, (or on the day itself if we’re particularly unorganised that year) that is if we put decorations up at all. The Trick or Treaters start turning up around 5.30pm in their supermarket bought costumes – pumpkins and witches and ghosts – and then at about 8.30pm my Dad turns out all the lights that would be visible from the front of the house and pretends we’re not in. The decorations come down the next day. It was completely different here. People have been telling me throughout all of October that Halloween is their favourite Holiday – I don’t think my Dad would consider it as anything more than an annoyance and he’s probably counting down the years until Lewis and I are too old to want to carve pumpkins or put up decorations. He certainly wouldn’t consider it a Holiday! The first decorations started appearing on the doors of the girls’ on my floor back in September. Someone started a countdown to Halloween on their white board hanging on their door. It felt like it was a proper event rather than a small blip of activity on an otherwise quiet and normal autumn evening that I’m used to. My Halloween experiences started two weeks before the day itself with a trip to Bloomsbury Farm with my International Student group. Eleven of us, from Spain, Germany, China, Wales, Brazil, England and America, all squashed on to the back seats of the school bus (because we’re the cool kids). The farm was about a 45minute drive from the city, through field after field of corn. We were the eldest non-parental people at the farm by at least 15 years. That naturally did not stop us queueing up with the toddlers to have a go on the big slide. We took selfies with the goats and the donkeys in the petting zoo. We took two tractor rides around the maize maze to visit the pumpkin patch. We cheered on th…

F.A.L.L
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-10-16T00:42:59Z
subject: General
description: Finally, the sweltering heat has broken. Shorts and flip flops have been banished for another year and in their place are rain boots (apparently welly isn’t a word here) and umbrellas. Moans about rain and the cold are rife amongst conversation here but I am secretly harbouring a masochistic pleasure in damp feet, a cold […]
encoded: Finally, the sweltering heat has broken. Shorts and flip flops have been banished for another year and in their place are rain boots (apparently welly isn’t a word here) and umbrellas. Moans about rain and the cold are rife amongst conversation here but I am secretly harbouring a masochistic pleasure in damp feet, a cold nose, and wind whipped cheeks. I take immense enjoyment from my walks to class first thing in a morning when the leaves are slick on the path, the sun has not quite risen over the tops of the buildings and the cold air stings every exposed bit of flesh. Perhaps it is just adoration for this time of year – there is a lot going for autumn. Crispy, crackly leaves to march through in boots, scarves and hats to snuggle into, that bliss of a hot *insert the Starbucks Autumn flavoured coffee of your preference here* cradled in cold hands, heavy downpours that give way to cornflower blue skies, riots of colour as trees change from green to every shade of gold, red, burnished copper etc., and the promise that before long the time for staying in, getting cosy under blankets and hibernating in front of the fire will soon be upon us. I think a more accurate reason that I am taking delight in soggy socks is that it is completing my adjustment to Iowa. I have felt so much more at home here recently. Things seem to be clicking into place and making sense. And now there is finally weather I understand too. Autumn has brought with it a plethora of fun activities to get involved with. Starting with an authentically American experience – Homecoming! I have never been to a Homecoming before and I am still not convinced that I truly understand what happened and why but I know that I enjoyed it. The parade on Friday was brilliant and impressively large. I had not expected such a lengthy or diverse spectacle. I was amused to see that the members of the marching bands from one of the high schools participating exceeded the entire student population of my high school. Think…

An A-Z of questions I have encountered in the States
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-10-03T19:14:06Z
subject: General
description: Are you from England? Seriously? Is that why you have a Union Jack on your door? Yes, I am. It was not just for decoration. I was hoping it was making a statement. Do you say Bum or Butt in England? To be quite honest with you, it is not often that I tend […]
encoded: Are you from England? Seriously? Is that why you have a Union Jack on your door? Yes, I am. It was not just for decoration. I was hoping it was making a statement. Do you say Bum or Butt in England? To be quite honest with you, it is not often that I tend to enter into a conversation that requires the use of either of those words. I suppose if I must choose I think I have to pick Bum. Can you say Harry Potter for me please? Can you say it again? Harry Potter, Harry Potter, Harry Potter… Do you think my British accent is convincing? ….yeah What is the biggest difference between here and England? The weather, the bugs, the people, the number of times I hear the words ‘dude,’ ‘bro,’ and ‘y’all’ in a single day. The little things, you know? Fish and Chips? Really? Just crispy fish and fries? No! You’re not getting this. It is so much more than simply fish and fries. I can’t explain. You just have to try it. And under no circumstances miss out the mushy peas. Have you Got loads of fit Guys in England? I don’t know where you got the impression that we are over flowing with attractive males. You realise that the entirety of the UK can fit into Texas EIGHT times, right? Statistically, there is a greater abundance of attractive guys here in America. Not that we don’t have any. Just not enough for all of you. Are you missing Home? Yes but then I listen to the ‘Footloose’ soundtrack and remember why I came –and yes I realise basing my decision on which degree to do partly on my love for the soundtrack for a Kevin Bacon film isn’t necessarily the most solid foundation for a decision, but it hasn’t led me wrong yet. What made you choose Iowa? Seriously though, of all of the places in the whole of the US, you chose Iowa? I heard it had a good writing programme…and it looked quite nice on the website… and you picked it too remember! Just say ‘dollop’. And ‘cinema’. And ‘Sheffield.’ And again. Dollop. Dollop. Cinema. Cinema. Sheffield. Sheffield. Are you seriously allowed Kinder Eg…

Making Memories
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-09-12T20:57:28Z
subject: General
description: Okay, I said two posts so you’re getting two posts. Last week’s post focused on less cheery subjects but it is over and done with now. Time to get on with making those memories I was talking about. Let’s start with the first weekend of the semester. My very first American Football Game! Those of […]
encoded: Okay, I said two posts so you’re getting two posts. Last week’s post focused on less cheery subjects but it is over and done with now. Time to get on with making those memories I was talking about. Let’s start with the first weekend of the semester. My very first American Football Game! Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook might want to skip this bit – I think you got enough videos and posts from me to be getting on with for now. Saturday 30th August was a gorgeously sunny and baking hot day. I donned what little Iowa apparel I had acquired in my short time here and went to the stadium to meet friends. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-65" class="size-medium wp-image-65" src="http://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/09/IMG_1766-225x300.jpg" alt="Once A Hawkeye..." width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/09/IMG_1766-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/09/IMG_1766.jpg 480w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /> Once A Hawkeye… Unfortunately plans (and mobile phones) don’t always work the way we think they will so I never actually found the people I had intended to meet. I soon bumped into some guys I had met a few nights before – and it was probably better this way as they at least could explain what was going on. I was told off repeatedly for calling it a ‘pitch’ rather than a ‘field’ and apparently it is normal to take off your shoe and wave it in the air every time there is a kick off. It is an unbelievable atmosphere. We were playing the University of Northern Iowa and both teams brought impressive marching bands and cheerleaders. They kept the crowd cheering for the entire game. Kinnick Stadium can hold 80’000 people and they take it very seriously. The wigs, the striped dungarees, the passive aggressive t-shirt slogans… I even found myself feeling invested in the game! Both teams brought all 60 of their players and swappe…

Trek Through My Timetable
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-09-12T19:39:48Z
subject: General
description: I’ve been a bit quiet for a while so I am making up for it with two posts today! First post is all about the main reason I am actually out here munching brisket and wandering down sidewalks and not sitting at home supping proper tea – Classes! I’ve had a month worth of classes […]
encoded: I’ve been a bit quiet for a while so I am making up for it with two posts today! First post is all about the main reason I am actually out here munching brisket and wandering down sidewalks and not sitting at home supping proper tea – Classes! I’ve had a month worth of classes now (I really want to call them lectures but that word does not seem appropriate as we aren’t lectured – they are really a blend of lectures and seminars. Participation is a large part of a class) and I am not sure if it is because I handpicked my classes but I am enjoying them so much! I’m not even overly flustered at being in class by 8am two mornings a week (yet… I can see that changing as time goes on). I must admit that since I had my bed ‘delofted’ it is so much easier getting out of bed for class. I couldn’t face the descent that early in the morning.I know you’re eager to know my timetable so I’ll walk you through it. Monday morning at 8 o’clock I can be found bleary eyed in a class room in the bowels of the English and Philosophy Building. This is where I have my Topics in Postcolonial Studies class. For some reason I have not yet discovered, the classes have titles that don’t really make much sense to the content of the course. The subtitles make so much more sense. Topics in Postcolonial Studies is much more understandable as Writers on Food. We have read the entire History of Food in Felipe Fenandez-Armesto’s ‘Near a Thousand Tables.’ Surprisingly reading the entire history of food isn’t as arduous a read as you might think. I haven’t left that class without my stomach growling. At 9.15am, Writers on Food concludes and I then have the next 8 hours off. I use this time for one of two things – catching up on reading and writing or napping. I have rediscovered the pleasures and the necessities of afternoon naps. At 5.30pm, I have my longest class – the Art and Craft of Writing about Culture. It’s still light when I go in to this class and by 8.15pm when we leave it’s dark. We’ve only …

The Honeymoon is Over
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-09-08T12:56:10Z
subject: General
description: I’ve recently become aware that there are four stages of Culture Shock. The first is the Honeymoon phase, when everything that is encountered in the new place is viewed through rose tinted spectacles and with a feeling of fascination. Eventually, the Honeymoon phase passes into the Negotiation stage. It has been reported that for Study […]
encoded: I’ve recently become aware that there are four stages of Culture Shock. The first is the Honeymoon phase, when everything that is encountered in the new place is viewed through rose tinted spectacles and with a feeling of fascination. Eventually, the Honeymoon phase passes into the Negotiation stage. It has been reported that for Study Abroad Students, the Negotiation phase manifests itself in the form of loneliness, frustration and confusion. The lack of immediate parental support and sudden distancing of close and intimate friendships can leave them feeling isolated and on occasion regretful of their decision to leave home. Things that ought to feel familiar and old hat are suddenly brand new and not functioning in a way that is expected. However, the second stage doesn’t last and it gradually morphs into the third phase, Adjustment. The Adjustment phase brings with it the realisation that everything is not as scary and confusing as perhaps it was first thought. Solving problems becomes easier and dealing with the small everyday tasks, that had previously felt daunting and seemingly unfeasible, becomes manageable. The final phase is Mastery. By the time the final phase is achieved, the person can almost call themselves bicultural. They still retain their home’s culture and traits but they have become so accustomed to the host country’s lifestyle that they could almost proclaim it as their own way of life. I spent the first two weeks of my American adventure happily burrowed inside the Honeymoon bubble. I loved the people, I loved the weather, I loved the architecture, I loved the food, I loved the city itself. I loved everything. I think I expressed my adoration quite sufficiently in my previous post ‘It’s Not Culture Shock, It’s Love’-clearly I was wrong about this. I have now been away from home for three weeks exactly. And the Honeymoon phase has passed. When I arrived I thought I would never feel anything but amazement and enthrallment but I would be lying if …

On Iowa!
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-09-02T20:35:03Z
subject: General
description: It’s been a few days since my last blog, for no other reason than that I have been so busy, so bear with me if this is a little longer than usual. I have now completed all my Orientation classes – I’ve had talks on subjects such as how to avoid/deal with the police (obvious […]
encoded: It’s been a few days since my last blog, for no other reason than that I have been so busy, so bear with me if this is a little longer than usual. I have now completed all my Orientation classes – I’ve had talks on subjects such as how to avoid/deal with the police (obvious – duck and cover or state your right to remain silent. I’ve seen the TV shows. I know how these things go down), how to access and make use of the counseling facilities, how to use the health care services, and what immunizations are required (all of them). It’s been a lot to take in especially in such a short space of time. there have been a lot of details that I have needed to take care of that I didn’t even consider when I arrived – such as Health Insurance waiver forms, dealing with being charged too much on my Uni Bill, and organising a Turbculosis screening (there better not be any more needles, I can’t be doing with anymore needles). I have explored the library a little in preparation for classes (not lectures as I am inclined to call them). The library itself is very modern and comfortable, and I have already picked out a squishy armchair by the window on the ground floor that will be my place to retreat to when I have breaks between lectures to do all my readings – if you’re in Iowa I am trusting you not to nick my seat, I have trusted you by divulging its location. I haven’t yet found my study spot for writing essays but there is still a lot more library to explore so I have no doubt I’ll stumble across the perfect place soon. My time has not been completely dominated by serious matters. I have also been able to experience the lighter and more fun side of American University. On Thursday evening I went to see the Hypnotist, Erik Kand, at the Iowa Memorial Union with some girls from my floor. I was very skeptical about the whole thing, because rationally how could someone control another person like a puppet by simply telling them to go to sleep. I was completely shocked and amazed by wh…

Getting Settled In
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-08-26T20:13:11Z
subject: General
description: I have been stateside for nearly a week now and there are finally American students here! I’ve met some really great people so far and talked about everything from the Beatles to Gossip Girl to the train system at Atlanta Airport. I’m starting to get a routine in place and to know the best ways […]
encoded: I have been stateside for nearly a week now and there are finally American students here! I’ve met some really great people so far and talked about everything from the Beatles to Gossip Girl to the train system at Atlanta Airport. I’m starting to get a routine in place and to know the best ways to get from A to B. There are multiple ways to cross the river and thanks to a very handy map I was given earlier this week I’ve worked out the quickest route across via the small back paths that run behind the residence buildings. There is also a free University bus called the Cambus whose route and timetable sound devilishly complicated to master when you speak to current students, but like everything nowadays, there is an app for that. It’s called Bongo and informs the user where the stops are, when the next bus is due, where it goes to and even provides a little map to show you where you are. I made use of it today and am entirely thankful I did because moments after I stepped on the bus the most almighty downpour began and now, back at Quad, sopping wet and huddled in my towel, I can feel the walls and floors vibrating with the strength of the thunder. I’ve never heard anything like it before! The noise seems to roll across the sky endlessly till it has crashed and rumbled itself to some other part of Iowa. For future days like this, I will most certainly be availing myself of the Cambus services. I love walking around the campus, there is so much to look at and to see. I’ve been within a metre of a chipmunk and they are so utterly adorable! I’ve seen loads of grey squirrels – they’re very tame and are happy bouncing around the trees and watching you wander by. I also saw a gorgeous black squirrel. I’ve never seen one before and it was so much sleeker and more graceful than its grey counterpart. There is a lot of wildlife along the back path I use to cross the river and there is also this strange blue pillar. It is an emergency point, for people walking alone who feel un…

Moving In Day!
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-08-21T17:44:36Z
subject: General
description: I moved into my dorm room today. Quadrangle Hall is one of the older residence halls on campus and, as one tutor I bumped into lovingly described it, ‘It has character.’ It’s not brand new but it’s clean and friendly and there is a certain charm about it. I’m in a ground floor room looking […]
encoded: I moved into my dorm room today. Quadrangle Hall is one of the older residence halls on campus and, as one tutor I bumped into lovingly described it, ‘It has character.’ It’s not brand new but it’s clean and friendly and there is a certain charm about it. I’m in a ground floor room looking out over a grassy area with trees. I couldn’t be happier with the view. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignright wp-image-34 size-medium" src="http://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/08/IMG_16591-225x300.jpg" alt="The view from my window" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/08/IMG_16591-225x300.jpg 225w, https://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/08/IMG_16591.jpg 450w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /> The room itself is small but filled with light pouring in from the window, it’s warm and comfortable and, of course, unfurnished. Hence the necessity for a trip to Wal-Mart. The University (I got called cute for calling it that- ‘It’s so cute that you call it that! It’s so Ed Sheeran!!’) put on a free bus for all the international students. If you read my last post you’ll know how excited I was about my shuttle bus. I want you to take that excitement and double it, then triple that and you’ll understand how happy I was about being ushered onto a genuine American School Bus – one of the iconic symbols unique to America. Anyway, Wal-Mart. From the perspective of a Wal-Mart newbie it is huge and weird and it doesn’t all make sense. There is juice in the dairy section, the knives and forks seemed to be hiding away from the other kitchen utensils and there are strange spinning carousels of plastic bags at the end of each till. It’s a bit overwhelming. Thankfully we had representatives from the university with us to guide and assist. Before we got off the bus we were told that if we needed assistance seek out the representatives that would have either black or gold T-shirts on. We went inside and I wa…

First Day as a Hawkeye!
type: item
creator: Meg
date: 2014-08-21T17:42:05Z
subject: General
description: Yesterday was my very first full day as a Hawkeye, and I am absolutely loving it. My bunk bed is surprisingly comfortable and if I kick off the comforter and just sleep with the sheet it is not too hot either. I’m still on English time so it feels like 1pm when I wake up […]
encoded: Yesterday was my very first full day as a Hawkeye, and I am absolutely loving it. My bunk bed is surprisingly comfortable and if I kick off the comforter and just sleep with the sheet it is not too hot either. I’m still on English time so it feels like 1pm when I wake up rather than 7am, but it is really nice getting a lie in and being able to watch the sunrise as well. It also means I get the bathroom to myself which was nice. I’m still not convinced about communal bathrooms, the showers are literally cubicles with a curtain across the entrance and then another halfway through to separate the shower area from your clothing. On the plus side they are lovely and hot as well as powerful, not a luxury you always get in British Student Accommodation. I did make the mistake of leaving my slippers on the floor rather than putting them in my clothes bag which resulted in sopping wet slippers. But as it is fabulously warm here, after an hour on my window sill they were good as new. I made my first cup of tea in my microwave; it’s really not great but needs must and it’s far better than making coffee (note to self – buy instant coffee not filter coffee, they are not interchangeable and you do not get the same results at all.) While having my breakfast, I watched the American students that were moving in early. They have an unbelievable amount of things! They were using these ginormous carts and those bag trolleys that you find in posh hotels in order to shift their things from the car park into the halls. My suitcase, which I had originally viewed as obscenely large, looked pathetically small in comparison. <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-32" class="wp-image-32 size-medium" src="http://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/08/IMG_16681-225x300.jpg" alt="My little suitcase that I fit a year's worth of things into." width="225" height="300" srcset="https://blog.admissions.uiowa.edu/meg/files/2014/08/IMG_16681-225x300.jpg 225w, https…