#new degree

[studentofwinterpoetry]

Mood: already dreaming about the degree in english estudies I just got in.

[celesthetics]

Starting my degree in business management in 10 days, getting my school schedule in 2 days. Can't wait to finally study again ✨

[cybermax]

New college degree.

Applied Violences.

Were getting a shit world so we need a degree that will help with that.

[sayonarahalcyondays]

.

[chronikcles]

"Village”

So i’m finally here. And it’s really not anything like I thought it would be. Maybe that’s because I’ve spent the first week mostly in my flat, or because actually people are ‘normal’, or because the small town vibe isn’t annoying me as much as I thought it would, or maybe just because it’s not really begun yet. But I like it here. 

(But I don’t think I’m going to change the URL despite this no longer being the KCL Chronicles. I have grown attached.) 

The past two weeks back in the UK have been a huge reflection on belonging and separation (from London and King’s) and lots of feelings, etc. as usual. Arriving in Cambridge was a big change. The porter (Mervyn) was lovely and brought me all the way to my new room in Grange Gardens (which is massive and new and clean and wonderful), and the day 1 social in the MCR was super pleasant (lots of cake). Day 2 was a bit strange, I went to buy my bike from Maria and then cycled to the Grafton Centre and it all felt so white. I’d really begun to take London’s diversity for granted. Felt strange and out of place there. Days 3 and 4 were mostly sitting in the flat waiting for my stuff to arrive from storage. The thing about being around here has been making friends with Tanisha (flatmate) who’s a PhD student studying race/chronic illness in the U.S. and is so cool and nice and interesting and lovely. So I think I’ve made a friend. We’re sitting and working together at our communal table now and had tea and chat last night, which was so reminiscent of early days at Connaught. Tea and chat is definitely my m.o. for friend-making. 

Day 3 also involved a visit to the department, which was SO GOOD. Barbara is so chatty and friendly and introduced me to everyone and gave me a tour and it was so nice. I think it’s going to be a tight knit community and a really productive work space. Also was so amazed at the library, after spending years in Maughan looking for half-shelves of books vaguely related to India, to suddenly find a whole library full was such a pleasant surprise. That evening I also met my first coursemate, Gaurav, at the Darwin Bar. I had forgotten it was a mature college, but being there was so familiar, like the Connaught bar. It was alive, in a relaxed-chatty way. We ended meeting some of the South Asia Centre faculty/alumni and talking about research and our MPhils and fears and exchanging stories for hours. I’m so glad to finally be here and be in a space where I’m not just from “South India, Bangalore, yeah, that IT city, you wouldn’t have heard of it.” but where I can be, “Yeah, I’m kinda Tamilian, kinda Malayali, kinda neither, generic South Indian I guess, but my Hindi is okay, and now my mom lives in Pondicherry, yes, this is my British Indian accent and the code switching really confuses me.” and to be understood along with all of that. At King’s it took friends much longer to understand the nuances of those things and honestly, even if you asked the SuperFriends now, I’m not sure any of them would know more than the Bangalore/Pondicherry living situation because Tamil Nadu and Kerala and languages aren’t familiar to them. I think being part of this department will finally fill all those gaps for me. I’m looking forward to it. 

Though, of course, I’m still incredibly nervous and unprepared for this whole degree, talking to people from the department helped. It was also a massive relief to find out that my supervisor doesn’t hate me, she is aware of my existence, and just happens to be busy and not great at replying to emails. 

Aaron also put me in touch with two of his friends here for me to have “non-grad” company should I ever need it. Always grateful for people who care. Here and away. At the moment, mostly away, but yeah.

Also start up costs. Always. So expensive. First kitchen though!! So am quickly realising that though I’m spending money in bigger chunks, I’m no longer buying food. Not even at the Buttery. So that’s a good sign! It feels like a lot more adulthood that Connaught was able to offer. I’m glad to have made this slow transition. 

Excited to meet the other two flatmates, make more friends at Newnham, do the whole freshers fair/meet and greet events, the formals and dinners and the gown and matriculation, department induction, find my course friends, and actually get down to work. 

These 9 months are going to fly by. 

[freckles-and-lux]

Super excited to be getting a phone that is not so slow I want to cry when I use it. 

[youmaysayimadreamer07]

it feels good

I enrolled to my new college today. and it feels good to finally move on with my life. I'll be going to a new college with a brand new fresh start and I won't have to worry about stupid people bringing me down (: I'm so excited to start my new major too!! AHHHHHH, can the 17th get here quicker?!