The best parks in Sheffield

By Wenxi Jiang, MSc International Management and Marketing

Whilst living in the city centre of Sheffield, especially in the past year during the pandemic, visiting different parks has been one of my biggest events and joy in life. The fresh air, the greenness, and the chill atmosphere among people is lovely – even with masks on. I would like to show you my experience through four seasons and spread the joy!

Weston Park and Crookes Valley Park

Weston Park is one of the most iconic parks in Sheffield. My first visit was when I was taking part in a city tour by international school staff as a new student. In this park, you can see Weston Park Museum, very beautiful architecture and a small lake with ducks and swans swimming and resting. If you are lucky, you can even see and feed the squirrels! Usually on sunny days, people will just sit or lie on the grass, either chatting or reading a book. This park was one of the first things I saw of Sheffield, and gave a great first impression.

Crookes Valley Park is next to Weston Park, and only around two minutes away from the Management School. The most famous thing about Crookes Valley Park is the cherry blossom trees. With the huge lake and animals, it is always the best place to bring kids, walk dogs and appreciate the beauty of the scenery.

Spring

From late March, England will wake up from the cold and rainy days. At this time, you can change to wear some colourful and lightweight clothes, which immediately makes you feel better! With the warm breeze gently blowing, the cherry blossom flickers and falls down like snow.

Summer

Summer is an ebullient season. The sky is vast, the sun is strong and the nature is flourishing. People also become more active and open. They come to the park to experience the joy of sports and do some sunbathing.

Autumn

Autumn is short. And I think this is another way to say autumn is precious. Every corner in Sheffield is covered with golden leaves and that’s the time you know you should go to the park. Even watching the sunset going down gives you a little bit sense of sadness and homesick, you know the view is worth it.

Winter

The white winter is so special. I stayed up late the night before the first snow in Sheffield in 2021. In the morning when I open the curtain, I was shocked by the snow that totally changed the view. Everything looked clean and clear under the whiteness. When I got to the park, there are kids and teenagers already started to play. They built snowmen and sledged down the slope by skate, or even just a plastic bag. It’s easy to be happy when it’s snowy!

Parkwood Springs

Another place I would like to recommend is called Parkwood Springs. It is up on the hills and little bit away from the city center. You can search “Spirit of Parkwood” in Google Maps and Uber there. It takes about 7 minutes to drive from the city center and about 35 minutes to walk. It is a park or maybe simply a playground for the nearby neighbourhood. It has a wildly-growing lawn that can be used to play football and have picnics. And the best part is that you can overlook the whole city from the hill. But the experience is only good in summer after several sunny days in a row, because it can become very muddy and slippery after rain.

Working 9 to 5 – My placement experience at PwC

By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

My first interaction with PwC was at a networking evening during semester one in second year at the Diamond. To this day, I still remember smiles on Associates and Managers’ faces when speaking about the firm. ‘They love their job’, I thought. Little did I know, the recruitment team running the event were people I would be working with on placement.

Looking around the room, I was taken aback by students talking to recruiters with a glass of wine in hand! Surely they can’t work for a prestigious company like PwC if their focus is on the free alcohol? So what did I do? My shy self built up the courage to join them, as I was unsure whether to apply for the HR or Marketing role. Turns out it was the best decision to throw myself into networking, as I gained advice on the application process and psychometric tests.

Fast forward a couple of months, my assessment centre was successful! In January 2019, I was made an offer of a 11-month placement in the Student Recruitment team in Birmingham. I was thrilled! All the hours spent writing cover letters and practicing maths questions was worth it. Great, I’m all ready to go and complete my year in industry in September … or maybe not.

It’s a funny time between accepting and starting your placement. My self-consciousness returned and I started doubting my ability. Would I be good enough for a company like PwC? Was I the right person for the role? Fortunately, all these worries were soon gone after my predecessor Sophie took me out for lunch to meet the team. It is a day I will never forget, mainly because I turned up in smart trousers and a blazer whilst everyone wore jeans and trainers! Yes, my manager included.

Needless to say, the team were all friendly, welcoming and supportive throughout. Here are some of my placement highlights:

  1. One Chamberlain Square – or ‘the new, fancy office’ as everyone called it! The pictures below really don’t do it justice but it was such a fresh, quirky place to work.
  2. Support. As the ‘newbie’ it’s comforting having a group of people you can talk to when you want to ask those silly questions!
  3. The PwC culture. This still resonates with me even now. Matt Hammond (Senior Partner) gave everyone a Friday off work to participate in Sports Day! This was great fun as Senior Managers through to Interns were competing over tug of war.
  4. The perks. Staying at the Park Plaza hotel on Westminster Bridge with a king size bed and room service wasn’t a bad way to end the Christmas party!

As fantastic as these were, the most important part is I thoroughly enjoyed my placement year and can’t recommend one enough. The biggest takeaway was learning a 9-5 desk job isn’t for me. This is because I loved moving around, hosting assessment centres in Bristol or attending a careers fair at Nottingham university. Before I left in July, I had the opportunity to speak to graduates across various departments to discover which graduate programme I would be interested in. As my manager was pleased with the impact I had on the team, I’m delighted to be going back in September (COVID permitting) to join the Risk Assurance practice.

Four tips to help you ace exam season

By Temi Karim, BA Business Management

The dreaded time is upon us. Lockdown has eased and the sun is finally out, but we still have work to do. With time running out, we need to find ways to take advantage of the time we do have to put us one step closer to getting our degrees. Luckily for you, I’ve spent my time at uni testing out different study methods so you don’t have to. I’m here to share with you the top four things that have made studying WAY easier for me. You may have already heard a couple of these tips, but I’m hoping some of them can really help change studying for you.

#1 – ‘They Say, I Say’ by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein

Studying a course with a lot of analytical writing? Have no idea WHAT analytical writing even is? Well, this book has got your back. ‘They Say, I Say’ tackles the mysterious topic of analytical writing and teaches you how to approach different subjects without feeling like you’re saying the same sentence over and over again.

And the best part about it? It’s got writing templates to practice with! It’s one thing to understand what to do, but it’s another to know how to do it, and this book teaches you both.

It’s definitely an investment, but it’s one that I have not regretted.

#2 – Plan Backwards

I can’t tell you the number of times I think I’ve done about 80% of an essay, then had to do an all-nighter to finish what I thought was 20% left. That’s why it’s extremely important to not just create a plan, but to plan backwards from the deadline. After breaking down the task into smaller sections and prioritising which ones are the most important, planning backwards from the deadline helps you identify when you need to finish each task, and you can set mini-deadlines for yourself. You can also build in some extra cushion and proof-reading time, so that all-nighters can finally become a thing of the past!

#3 – No Library? Use Focusmate

Chances are, going to the library isn’t the best option right now. Spaces are hard to find, and not a lot of people want to wear a stuffy mask while studying all day long. But it can also be extremely hard to work alone without a study environment. That’s where Focusmate comes in. Focusmate pairs you up with a random person around the world and the two of you study together for 50 minutes. I’ve found this to be perfect for getting work done, because otherwise it’s kind of embarrassing to say to your partner that you got nothing done the entire hour!

You get 3 free sessions a week, but for about $5 (roughly £3) a month, you can book as many sessions as you’d like. I’ll admit, at the start, I was a bit concerned about running into some creeps, but I haven’t really met any. Probably the weirdest person I came across did yoga the entire session, which was definitely a bit uncomfortable, but I’ve met way more people with cats than I’ve met creeps.

I’ve completed nearly 200 sessions since January, and I can definitely say that this helped me get through exam season at home.

#4 – The Pomodoro technique

If you struggle with focusing for long periods of time, or just don’t want to work with a stranger online, the Pomodoro technique can be great for helping you work without feeling burnt out. It breaks down work time and break time into short intervals, usually 25 minutes of work to a 5-minute break, but how you break it up is entirely up to you. The best apps I’ve found for this are Tide and Flora.

Tide has an entire catalogue of calming music to help you really zone into your work. On the other hand, a session on Flora grows a cute little plant which you can add to your garden for the week. Here’s one of my gardens!

I’ve tried and tested all of these tips, and can say for sure that each one has helped me study better in more ways than I can imagine. I know that this exam season is going to be a tough one for all of us, but I hope that some of these tips make it a little bit easier to get through it. Good luck!

Online learning – a new reality?

By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Reflecting back on 2020, I can confidently say it was a year of surprise, personal development and of course, the unexpected. By Christmas 2019 I had completed half of my placement year – one of the best opportunities I’ve had at university. Little did I know the world was about to undergo a complete change. Fortunately, I was equipped to tackle this environment because I was already working from home twice a week. Coming back to university would be a breeze, I thought. 

It’s fair to say, I underestimated how challenging it would be to sit at a laptop for five days a week. However, there was plenty going on to keep me motivated and determined throughout this period, like going for a walk around Crookes Valley or Western Park with my friends. We usually do this twice or even three times a week to make sure we’re getting out of the house and hitting those 10,000 daily steps! It’s also nice to support small businesses here in Sheffield by buying a coffee and cake while we’re out.  

I am adapting to online learning and have found many things easier. Online lectures give me the opportunity to pause, stop and reflect on what has been discussed. I feel I absorb a lot more information because my notes are detailed and meaningful. Normally, I’m frantically scribbling down the lecture slides and trying to listen to the lecturer at the same time. Now I can sit in the comfort of my bedroom and go through the material at my own pace. 

Organising my day has become more manageable too. On the Business Management course, I have around 8-12 hours of classes per week so I’m able to participate in other activities. For example, I have various part time jobs through the university to provide some extra income. Therefore, I can commit to working half a day for a virtual applicant open day or have video calls with my mentees who need support with their placement search. 

My work placement has taught me a very valuable lesson – use your Google calendar. With my university schedule I tend to create the next day’s ‘to do’ list, then set times for when I will work on tasks. I’ve found this keeps my motivation up as studying from home is a new concept for everyone. So, I would usually have a lecture scheduled on my timetable with the building and lecture theatre number. This is a lot different now as lectures are pre-recorded and uploaded to our university account for us to watch in our own time. 

In terms of meeting people, I was worried about returning to university after a year on placement, especially as some of my friends had graduated. But It’s been refreshing to see societies hosting events online. Every Tuesday evening, I attend Sheffield’s Zumba classes to let off some steam! The only difference is learning the moves over Zoom, rather than in a studio. The Management Society had a great initiative to get people together virtually: ‘Tea for 2’ is a monthly pairing for two people on my course to chat over a cup of tea to get to know one another. It’s been brilliant to make new friends and feel less isolated during these times. 

Here are some ways I’ve adjusted to online learning and kept motivated over the last year:

  • I love a routine! This is so important, especially as I come to the end of my degree. Small things like having my lunch and dinner at the same time really helps to take regular breaks and keep my studying on track after watching a two hour lecture. I like to go for a walk during my lunch break in Weston Park with a course mate. This is a great way for us to catch up, as we’re no longer seeing each other in lectures. 
  • Studying in different places breaks the repetitiveness of sitting at my bedroom desk. Fortunately, the university has opened the libraries so I book a space three times a week. Social distancing is in place with desks being two metres apart. There’s hand gel stations on each floor and it’s mandatory to wear a mask. Overall, I’m content the university is following Government guidelines by making the library a safe place to study.
  • Utilise the support available to you. The Management School assigns every student a personal tutor. This is someone in the department who holds 1:1 meetings with us to check in and see how we’re getting on. By not having these catch ups in person, a friendly reminder to take a break from your screen is very welcomed. 

My experience of moving to Sheffield

By Yijie Chen, BA Business Management

One year ago, I was dragging my luggage around Manchester Airport with a couple of new friends, ready for the intro week of my uni life. We were anxious, nervous and excited, and all of us were wondering if we chose the right university or not. At that moment, a gentleman wearing an orange t-shirt and holding a ‘Welcome to the University of Sheffield’ sign walked up to us. He introduced himself to us and helped us carry our luggage. That gentleman was a Student Ambassador of our university, responsible for the meet and greet service. To my surprise, he knew our names and flight numbers before we arrived there. At that moment and ever since we felt we belonged at The University of Sheffield.

I was born and bred in Xiamen, a fantastic coastal city in China. Before beginning a new era of going abroad, I successfully finished A-Level exams and IELTS tests. I used to think they are the most complicated challenges in my life, but now I gradually realised they are just the cornerstones of further education. I also spent the last high school summer holiday watching many videos about Sheffield and our university.

When I looked out of the bus window, the familiar and strange city view made me feel delighted and thrilled. We passed through Manchester and Peak District National Park. Honestly, the trip was always over hills. Sheffield was quite different from my hometown. I had been familiar with the ocean view, but I gradually fitted into the new environment. Currently, the city is my second hometown, which is a warm and ethnically diverse city.

After passing by Firth Court, Information Commons and the Diamond, I arrived at my accommodation, Allen Court. I met my flatmates from different countries such as Great Britain, India, Egypt and Malaysia. Welived in international surroundings, and we shared distinctive cultures that reflected the diverse surroundings of the entire campus.

Indeed, I did enjoy the intro week at the University of Sheffield. I took various lectures about modules chosen, SUMS and the university societies and clubs and planned hikes and trips with new friends.

Walking around Western Bank Park and Crookes Valley Park was my favourite activity after taking lectures. We went for trail walks around Hope Valley and Bamford. Also, we visited the famous Chatsworth House and Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park at the weekend. I do promise no one would ignore the attractiveness of the University of Sheffield and the city.

Why you should be considering a placement year

By Luke Garrity, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

During your time at University, you will likely have the option of undertaking a placement year, a voluntary year in industry between your second and final year. For the duration of your placement, you are still a student but will be working away from the University, possibly even in another country if you so choose! Don’t worry though, you will still have regular contact and support from the Management School. As you are a student, you do still pay tuition fees however these are massively reduced, however most UK students will still be eligible for a student loan and you will be earning a wage typically between £13,000 and £20,000.

Why should I complete a placement?

Naturally, the chance to earn a wage is very attractive, and will undoubtedly make things easier when you return to Sheffield for your final year. However, there are so many more reasons why completing a placement will benefit you!

  1. Gain experience in the world of work

The job market is more competitive than ever before, and companies are looking for unique candidates who set themselves apart from everybody else. Relatively few students complete a year in industry, so having that experience will contribute to an outstanding CV that really grabs the attention of recruiters. In addition, throughout this year you will gain new transferable skills that you can take into both your final year and future workplaces, such as organising and prioritising tasks. You will also have an advantage when it comes to answering difficult interview questions- you will have lots of stories from your time on placement, providing anecdotal evidence to back up your claims.

  1. Make connections and open new doors

Throughout your work experience you will undoubtedly meet many people in industry. Forming these connections will help you identify new opportunities and learn lots from those more experience than yourself. Furthermore, although there are no guarantees, many students are offered roles with their placement companies before they have graduated. Having the security of a grad job can really ease the pressure of final year and allow you to focus on making the most of your remaining time in Sheffield, both academically and socially.

  1. Explore industries before committing after graduation

It often feels like there is so much pressure for you to know which industry you want to work in and have a comprehensive career plan to match. It is completely normal, however, to be unsure of the type of job you want, and a placement year will help guide you to the correct path. Having genuine experience within a particular industry or job role will help you decide if the job is for you or not. Sometimes, students fall in love with a particular industry, and other times, students can have a positive experience on placement, but know that it is not something they want to be doing after they graduate. For example, my placement was a general management role with a heavy emphasis on sales, I loved my year in industry however I know that a sales role is not for me. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to dip my toe in the water, without having to commit to a full grad scheme!

  1. It supports your Dean’s List Application

Since 2018, the University of Sheffield Management School (SUMS) has awarded select students a place on the Dean’s List. This prestigious award allows students to gain recognition for the impact they have made at University and rounds off the University experience nicely. Recipients are awarded a personal reference from the Dean of the Management School, as well as a plaque and networking opportunities with SUMS alumni. Completing a placement year looks fantastic on your Dean’s List applications, and many previous winners have completed an industrial placement.

Find out more about the Dean’s List here.

Completing a placement is a great opportunity for any student, regardless of their level of work experience, and I would personally recommend it to absolutely everyone. Applying for these roles is competitive, but the Management School’s Employability Hub can help you every step of the way, from CV guidance to interview and assessment centre tips. Make sure you give it serious thought and for everyone applying good luck, you won’t regret it!

How to succeed in your group assignments at uni

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

In Business, the group work begins in first year with the Business Challenges and Business in Context modules. These modules can be a great opportunity to develop your teamwork – an important life skill that most employers will want after you’ve graduated. 

Speaking from experience, Business Challenges is an example I’ve used in many job interviews; it shows how I successfully negotiated, listened to and worked with my team to work effectively, with our group winning the overall challenge!

However, you won’t always get a team that works together perfectly and might encounter issues along the way. You don’t choose your group and therefore you can get put with people who may clash with you personally, or who may not have the same drive as you do.

But, there are several things you can do to give your group the best possible chance of succeeding, starting before anyone even lifts a pen:

Have a preliminary meeting with everyone before you start any work.
This allows everyone to discuss their personal goals for the assignment, gauge each group member’s skill sets, and helps you get to know them a bit personally so your group can flow easier. Working with people you can get along with makes it a lot easier. I’ve made some of my best friends at Uni through group work – it’s a great opportunity to get to meet new people on your module.

Also, as you’re on a business course, networking is vital from day one – if you get to know these people and they end up at a great business, you could use this connection to help get you a job with them. They could also remember that you had strong analysis skills and recommend you to their manager! 

Set deadlines for each part of the group work and give specific tasks to each person. 

Designating specific tasks to each member of your group is the best way to ensure that everyone’s work is matched up with their skill set. This also holds the less motivated members of your group accountable to complete their work, and if they do not or complete it to a low standard, you can reflect this during the peer assessment stage of the group work. For those who are unfamiliar with peer assessment, this essentially lets you rate how much you feel each member has contributed to the group work, to ensure that everyone gets the credit that they deserve at the end of the module. 

Make sure you stay in touch. 

It’s important you know how your team is getting on with their tasks. People may be struggling with the work they’ve been assigned, so you need to make sure you know whether they need any help with it. Checking in with your group via social media is a good way of knowing where you’re all at with your tasks, and is key to remaining on schedule.

If you don’t communicate with your team and complete the work, then everybody’s grade is going to suffer.

Arrange regular meetups to go through the work together. 

All the libraries have group rooms which you can book out for up to 4 hours, and the management school normally has space you can use as well! If you can’t physically meet in the same room, then group video calls are a good way around having to make the long trek from your dorms to the library!

The challenges I’ve faced during group assignments have helped me to grow and learn how to deal with difficult situations. In work, you’ll find you disagree with people, however, you still have to work with them so use these experiences as practice!

 

My Favourite Third Year Module

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

One of the best things in third year is that you have such an amazing choice of modules that you can take. The wide range of topics and specialisations you can do is really cool – there were so many modules I’d never even considered taking such as ‘Work and Employment in the 21st century’ and ‘Creativity and Innovation’ which honestly were so interesting and developed your business thinking immensely. You can choose modules that are exam based if that’s your strong point, or modules that are more coursework based – whether that coursework is through groupwork or through individual essays.

When I was choosing Universities, I had a taster lecture of Consumer Psychology and I absolutely loved it. It was one of the main reasons I chose Sheffield University – in the hopes of getting to study this module. I cannot remember the woman’s name who took the class, however, she was so enthusiastic about the topic. I had done business at A-level, but had not got to look at it from a psychological aspect before. One of my main memories is that she asked me about my most recent purchase – why I purchased it, how much it cost, what the value it was to me. I was a awkward, unconfident, red faced sixth former and went home and overthought all my answers and how awkward I was when answering the questions. However, the overthinking led me to realising how interested I was in this topic and how much I’d love to study it more.

Fast forward three years and I’m halfway through this module, in my final term at the University of Sheffield. The module has been interesting so far – we’ve learnt about what motivates a person to make a purchase, how companies use psychology to make their adverts appealing and how we make decisions.

With regards to how it’s graded, there is an individual essay and a group work. The individual essay is similar to the taster lecture I had 3 years ago in which we get to analyse how and why we made a purchase for ourselves and for somebody else. There’s also group work which requires you to make an advert and a poster, based on the theories you’ve learnt in class.  Our group is advertising Mac make-up, and we’ve aimed to use repetition and humanistic psychology (which focusses on emphasising an individual’s potential). It’s been really cool to create and edit your own video as it’s allowed me to develop my editing skills, alongside my analytic skills for writing the essay section of the essay!

I do recommend this module if you are interested in understanding why people make purchases and how. I think it’s vital to have this understanding before you work in a business, especially if you want to work in Marketing – as you’ll be trying to sell products to consumers. Knowing how to do that is important.

 

How I fell and how I got back up on my feet, my journey with mental health

By Olivia Chavigny de Lachevrotiere, BA International Business Management

Going to study at the university is an absolute experience. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had moments here that I could never forget.

but…

It might not always be as jolly as I had imagined. I thought these years would be the absolute happiest, I thought that I would meet friends for life and become successful irrespective of what I do with my time. I even though I might find a future husband while at the university! That was my vision, and my plan.

But I felt it already within the first couple of weeks. Moving away from my home country where my friends and family live – to the UK – turned out to have a greater impact on me than I thought. I refused to give up and did all I could to be out there and get the experience. I joined the A Cappella and Beatbox Society, became a committee member for my national society, enrolled on a language course. I also participated in many study workshops at 301, and the Entrepreneurship Skills Autumn programme.  I applied for the Study Abroad programme at an overseas partner university. I refused to lose the experience, with an intent to use the time I had to the maximum.

But even then, I felt lonelier than ever. Never being fully able to express myself, but most of all not being able to find friends that I would feel fully comfortable with. I couldn’t get close with anyone. Every exam session, I started either locking myself down in my room and crying through the evenings, or putting myself out in the library to be able to focus at all. I put on weight, ended up in a bad relationship where I felt suppressed. I felt like I always needed to impress people to be able to fit in, but it only caused me to persistently fail to open up.

I went on my Year Abroad to Amsterdam, met more people, I thought it went away…
And then I got aggressively crushed.
In winter, during my Year Abroad, I got depressed.

 

All of that happened during my “happiest” time, when I should be going out and party, and be all out there with people. But all I could do is stay in bed and sleep through the days, unable to fully focus, constantly catching colds and unable to accept myself, feeling hurt and alone. I felt like I was falling behind socially even more, seeing the new exchange students in my student accommodation in February, after the new semester started, spending time together, or at least knowing each other’s names! I didn’t know their names for months. I coped by binge eating sweets and watching TV shows, to escape my thoughts and get the sugar rush, and keep going. There and then, I knew it’s too much, and I reached out. Here’s what I did, and what ultimately helped me:

  • First, I reached out to the Student Psychologist at my university abroad, then to a private counselling centre (covered by my insurance). Slowly but steadily, I started getting up on my feet;
  • I studied, but allowed myself to let some pressure go, I allowed myself to be me in this foreign environment. I stopped chasing acceptance, but instead, I focused on the people that were there and the goals that I actually wanted to pursue;
  • I allowed myself for a slow summer without working, to recover and actually enjoy my time for a change!
  • As soon as I came back to Sheffield, I went to a doctor and asked for medical evidence for a disability (mental health), in order to receive help from the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS). At DDSS, I got a Learning Support Plan written up by a staff member, based on my symptoms and needs;
  • I registered for a triage appointment with the Student Access to Mental Health Support (SAMHS), which eventually allowed me to access online counselling services with the Big White Wall Live Therapy,
  • I focused on physical exercise and eating healthy food – not necessarily limiting myself, but finding strength in overcoming physical limitations at the gym.

Now, it was a long and a very personal battle. It prevented me from having the desired by all “time of my life” while studying abroad, and experiencing the student life in full.

But it also taught me how to cope when I start feeling worse, and how to take care of myself in this fast-paced world. I’m better now, and I am on track to graduating soon with good grades.

Many people will have experienced symptoms of a common mental health disorder in their life. It’s good to know that if you feel this way, you’re not alone. And you should reach out, because there are means to help you. You deserve to be happy, and to enjoy your time at the university. I fought and won the battle, and I’m positive that you can too.

Cultural lessons from my year abroad

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

I went to Rennes, France for my year abroad. In weather, it is the same as the south of England. However, everything else about it is very much French. As my University had people from over 100 countries and 50 languages, I didn’t just learn about the French culture, I got to learn about many other cultures. This will be some of the most interesting things I experienced and learnt whilst abroad. Hopefully, if you go abroad or work abroad in the future, some of these facts will be helpful for you or just make you laugh.

Firstly, the French have baguette machines. The French value their bread over all else, so for when boulangeries are shut on a Sunday or at 1am after a night out, you can still get your bread. You go to the supermarkets, and they will have a bakery in, constantly with fresh bread. Honestly, the bread is amazing – it tastes so much better than baguettes in England and you can get so many different types of bread, that you never even knew existed. So, if you don’t like bread, maybe don’t go to France!

Not just to mention their love for bread, they also definitely love their cheese. On my first night out in Rennes, we pre’d at one of the French guys homes and he provided us with a baguette and cheese board. I can’t eat cheese but I definitely enjoyed having the bread! To make it better, on a different night out, whilst walking home (French buses stop running at midnight so we had to walk home over an hour most days), we found a slab of camembert cheese on the floor!

I didn’t just learn about the French culture, I learnt about other cultures too. I learnt the super interesting fact that prawn crackers are not Chinese and if you ask a Chinese person about them, they won’t have a clue what they are. Also, Chinese food made my Chinese people is so much better than Chinese from a takeaway in England. My best friend would bring me food to my lecture and it was great.

Thai people are honestly so polite and friendly – they will literally do anything for you. They’re happy people and honestly some of the best friends you can have, as they are so caring and so willing to help you if you have a problem. My Thai friends are constantly messaging me, a year on, asking me how I am and offering me their home to stay at when I come visit. I love them and miss their kind personalities a lot.

German’s value being on time, so if you walk late into class, they will glare at you profusely – which is made worse by the fact there was only around 20 people in my class! The German’s are also a British person’s best friend – honestly, if you’re sarcastic, they’ll match that sarcasm with a stoic face and sarcastic banter back. It’s brilliant and made for some hilarious conversations. However, do be warned that some countries aren’t sarcastic, so you need to be aware of this and gage who it’s okay to be sarcastic with before you bring out the British humour.

If you can, do a year abroad – the cultural lessons and the memories you get are so worth it. I would give anything back to do another year abroad and I’m very jealous of all of you who are about to embark on yours.