.: July 2011

I recently fulfilled an adolescent whim by living in Kyiv for three months straight. Before I boarded my casual 24 hour train across the border a friend asked me to review his country. and so here it is.

Why I always wanted to go to Ukraine:

Undoubtedly in response to USSR History lessons in my Western Catholic School, heartily sandwiched between a notorious timetable of theology and textiles. Those were the days.

Why I like Ukraine:

The culture is complicated. I don’t know the rules and neither do they. It’s a big far eastern country with an intimidating Russian presence, not quite in the European cake tin. But not quite in anybody else’s either.

Both alphabets are beautiful. I liked the trains. The food was surprisingly delicious. Of course they know how to drink. There are interesting things to see and interesting things to do. But Ukraine is special in itself. The people seem inwardly stubborn and keep to their own time. Twenty years on and it still feels on the brink. Things can begin in Ukraine. They do in fact have some raw resources. The government is absurd and takes the piss so bad that the state’s golden brains leave the country for renewed lives. But I respect Ukraine for its potential strength.

My own experience was a warm one. The people were very good to me and I will never forget it.

What I will miss about Ukraine:

Kyiv’s Underground ●

Soviet Architecture. It’s different for me ●

Spying on community dynamics in Over Night trains from my Bunker ●

Home made Varenki ●
Sitting in Puzata Hata minding my own business ●
Sitting in pubs and cafes with Marina ●

Various hot potato dishes with sour cream ●

Ukrainian food generally ●

Being given presents ●

The cities’ skylines ●

Being surprised ●

The sound of the languages ●

Diversity between its East and West ●

An abundance of trees. Kyiv’s a Jungle City ●
Kind Hearts ●

What I will not miss about Ukraine:

Society’s underlying homophobia and other conservative attitudes (forgive this generalisation, my friends) ●

Being yelled at by old women for no apparent reason ●

Dreading being asked an unguessable question at the supermarket check out ●

A distinct lack of organisation ●

Bullet Points for the c.v.:

U.R.N.

The University of Nottingham's Student Radio Station is the undisputed Winner of the Student Radio circle. Every other year they reap Gold in the National Awards. http://www.studentradioawards.co.uk/winners/10

The studio is richly equipped and fun to use. Rudy and I pissed around on it several times with Harish whilst guesting or covering the Ruth and Nat show:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64920118081 (Ruth and Nat are our friends.)

Opportunities include presenting everyday or specialist music shows; covering student news affairs like the S.U. election (huge); general journalism and behind the scenes technical shit I don't understand.

Get involved as a plucky fresher. Considering its prestige it's worth its weight. London Bigs have their eye on this station, and the people fronting it are extremely ambitious. http://urn1350.net/getinvolved

The Other Arts:

All equally award winning. Rife in middle class smugness but heady starts nonetheless. Contributing small bits to any of these will link you up with the people in POWER. not just within the Arts Department but throughout the University. They also provide good cross-year communities so you can befriend second and third years who will undoubtedly help you with your degree [recommended.]

The New Theatre - http://www.newtheatre.org.uk/

It is the only entirely student run theatre in the country and admittedly impressive. Lorded over by English undergrad thespians, you can write, perform or do the backstage

NUTS Television - http://www.nutsonline.org/

This was pretty much new in my final year but has probably exploded since. May be interesting.

Jabberwocky Creative Writing Magazine - http://www.su-web.nottingham.ac.uk/~jabber/

This is cute.

Impact Magazine - http://www.impactnottingham.com/

I never got involved with Impact for several reasons. Regardless I wish I'd done some articles for the sake of my C.V. Start young and you can step the ranks to an officer role sharpish, which leads me onto my next point.

TRY AND BECOME PRESIDENT OF A SOCIETY OR AT LEAST A RELATED ROLE.

Nottingham has a genuinely brilliant student community. The University itself may be a right wing business and your degree may be just one more in the bread basket, but in terms of student action you're on the top of the hill.

1. Join at least one society in your first year. Participate. Definitely join the English society.

2. Apply for a lower role on their committee in your second year. This is usually a popularity contest so make sure your friends are there to vote. It's not as competitive as you think.

3. Push your weigh as much as possible without being a bastard to become President / Vice etc. by your third year.

This will look excellent on your c.v. and genuinely give you experience. I wish I had done this. It's easy to become totally absorbed in your first year life in Halls. Only the savvy kids cut the time and spread themselves around. Obviously having different networks of friends may also save your life socially when the crackrock get's going and the dramas begin (inevitable.)

Find something suitable here: http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/activities2/societies/

Nottingham also has a couple of summer festivals which I recommend you get involved with. The biggest is Summer Party ruled by the Karni Lolfest (this needs no introduction. some of my greatest friends were Karni, I'm not bitching but you'll get the point when you arrive.)

Naturally I loved Sounds on the Downs:http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/campaigns/esj/sounds/

VOLUNTEER

Of course I'm going to say this, I work in the charity sector. BUT it's essential to Uni life for three reasons:

Employers really like this.
You actually engage with the city. and Nottingham's a great city.
By third year you'll appreciate a small life outside of the Uni Bubble. It's novel.

Not many people do this which is a shame because Nottingham city's a cracker in it's own right. Especially having grown up a private school kid from Cambridge this will teach you something (I should know.) I taught creative literacy classes in a local primary school for two years. This was a new project at the time, specifically related to the English Department and I believe is ongoing. However teaching's just the notorious cherry on top of the cake.

Visit the Volunteering Office (student run, in the Portland Building) half way through your first year, or in your second year. Find a project and contribute to your community. http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/volunteering

And when you inevitably end up living in Lenton spend some time in the volunteer run Crocus cafe: http://www.veggieheaven.com/uk/england/Crocus_Cafe_126/ You can meet all the hippies here.

FORGE RELATIONSHIPS WITH YOUR PROFESSORS:

Remember: all your tutors were originally bitchy arts students once upon a time. The English Department at Nottingham University is unfortunately stuck in a ludicrous war between the Linguistic and Literary disciplines. Prepare yourself for completely unfair grading and seemingly illogical assessments. A Levels were marked from a national standard. Here the power is in your Old Norse lecturer's hands (worrying.)

First Year: Listen carefully and write what they want you to write. This will differ from module to module. Enjoy the reads and party on. This year doesn't count towards your final grade but you should get a modest 2:i.

Start casually flirting with your favourite professors. Ask questions in your seminars and do your preparation.

Second Year: Really listen. This year counts for 40% of your degree starting from autumn. Book appointments with your professors and personal tutor in their contact hours. Discuss your ideas with them and see what they think. Adapt your ideas to fit their grading scheme. Do this modestly but let them know you exist. There are a LOT of students doing this course. It's easy to get lost in the crowd - they don't really care.

Third Year: Get your money's worth. You are paying for this degree and their teaching. Don't let them get away with anything but solid support and explanation. Pick your modules according to the professors who got to know you in second year. This will really help you. Pester them for help as much as you bloody like. See them regularly to discuss the development of your essays. If they already understood your ideas before they get the red pen out, you are likely to get a better grade.

OTHER POINTS:

READ your English Department Newsletter
Use your Athens password and jstore when you receive it
Make friends with the international students. They usually hang out on Jubilee campus
Use the Trent Computer Room when Hallward's more like Ocean.