Student e-news - May 2007

British Council

May 2007

There's so much more to UK university life than lectures and exams. Step outside the
hallowed halls and consider life outside the library - because from football matches to
street festivals to adventures abroad, there's sure to be something that's just your cup
of tea.

Consider this: there are 3,400 street fairs, performances, sporting events, exhibitions,
and festivals going on throughout the UK throughout the year. The Swansea Film
Festival. The World Porridge Making Championship. The Whitby Regatta. The Findon
Sheep Fair and Village Festival. Science Week at the National Coal Mining Museum for
England. From the venerable to the quirky, events aboutd that ensure that your UK
student experience isn't just about what you learn, but what you experience.

And speaking of science, have a look at our newly-redesigned science pages too - they
showcase the broad scope of our workshops and events and include information on
climate change and stem cells so you can stay well-informed and up-to-date.

In the meantime, enjoy our last issue this spring by satisfying your Culturefix, learning
more about our Student Ambassador Program, and figuring out the ins and outs of what
to eat and where to go with the help of your student union. And be on the lookout for
the BBC America BritBus as it rolls across the country with the best of new British music
in tow.

Have a wonderful summer and we'll see you in August!

Surfer and camper van on the beach. Polzeath, Cornwall, England. Photo credit: britainonview.com.

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Portraits of Ken Wathey with Sophie Margaret Hockney, Laura Hockney, and Jonathan Silver (1996) on display at Salts Mill Gallery in Saltaire. Saltaire, West Yorkshire, England. Photo credit: britainonview.com.           
It's a familiar conundrum: with so much to choose from, how
do you choose? The UK is a hotbed of creativity, and with
the rush of new arts spilling forth from England, Scotland,
Wales, and Northern Ireland, it's easy to be spoiled for
choice. It's not just the traditional sites that teem with
ingenuity either - virtual spaces are abuzz too, with
everything from user-generated documentaries to podwalks
that'll transport you to the British countryside from the
comfort of your couch. CultureFix offers a slice of what's
new and noteworthy, from the magazines that'll keep you in
the know to the best of hip and happening online resources.
There's plenty here to keep even the most discerning
critic happy. Culture vultures, watch this space. 

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They went, they saw, they conquered - well, not quite. But
the American students who comprise our Student
Ambassadors have been there and done that - they all have
UK study programs to their name, and they've returned to
rally the up-and-coming Anglophiles on their US university
campuses to consider the same. So if you're wondering what
it's really like to celebrate Burns Night with the Scots, need
some lessons in Cricket 101, or just want an insider's view of
the UK, find a Student Ambassador and ask!              Couple splashing in the Cascade fountain at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, England. Photo credit: britainonview.com/Martin Brent.  

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Oxford v. Cambridge boat race. Putney, London, England. Photo credit: britainonview.com.           
You're not meant to navigate the experience alone. Student unions             offer all manner of support to new and returning
students, and are a nucleus of on-campus activity that'll
help you sift through all the events and opportunities that
are part and parcel of the UK university experience.
Wherever students converge, wherever they are, certain
things stay the same, so expect to see some familiar
subjects come up in conversation, but with a British twist:
what to eat (maybe a raging debate on the best local fish
and chips); where to live (differing opinions on whether to
stay in halls or go for your own flat): and where to go
(adventure seekers weighing where to spend the next Bank
Holiday). Student unions are hubs of information, and a great
place to meet people and ask questions. 

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If you're waiting to head across the pond, why not give our
pre-departure guide a quick read? It's jam-packed with useful
tidbits on things to do before you leave home, what you
need to remember when you get there, and how to deal with
reverse culture shock when you're stateside again.             
Oxford Street. Photo credit: britainonview.com

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BritBus Tour 2007. Photo credit: Julia Jones.           
There's just something about a British double-decker bus
parked next to a cactus in the middle of an American desert.
Perhaps it's that it's so plainly out of its element, an ocean
and a continent away from its lovely native fog. But maybe
that's the point: to defy some conventions and dare to be a
Brit different. Now in its third year, the BBC America BritBus
is making its way across the United States, with stops in 15
major cities to showcase the latest and greatest in British
music, products, and television entertainment. Find out when
the'll be in your neighborhood and join in the fun - because
the next best thing to being in the UK is having it come to you. 

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