Author: Nicole Barker

Zero-waste in Sheffield

By Serena Wong, BA International Business with Study Abroad

For my first blog post, I’ve decided to share with our fellow friends how I do zero-waste in Sheffield!

Back home in Malaysia, the closest zero waste store was an hour drive away with majority of the stores congregated in the Central Business District. This lack of access proved to be an inconvenience when I first started going zero-waste. It was also difficult to implement small, incremental changes in my household, as my parents deemed it easier and cheaper to buy plastic-packaged products. The biggest change I made back home was designating a recycling area at home.  

Six months later- today, my flat mates and I compost, recycle, and we do not use kitchen rolls at all! 

In just about every university building- the Sheffield Students’ Union, Information Commons, the Diamond, we can purchase food and drinks in recyclable packaging and then toss them out at the many and easily-available recycling bins. In addition, our Students’ Union has an outlet- Our Zero Waste Shop- dedicated to plastic-free wholefoods and environmentally friendly household goods.

One of the best aspects of the shop is the refilling station for both food and household liquids. You can refill your shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent as well as rice and herbs. My personal favourite however, is refilling my empty jars with delicious sweets! 

Its wide array of zero-waste products coupled with the affordable prices, makes Our Zero Waste Shop (https://www.facebook.com/OurZeroWasteShop/) one of its kind in Sheffield. 

I am so proud to share that the store makes ZERO profit from their reusable pads and menstrual cups range. It’s incredibly heartwarming to know that our university prioritise making sanitary products both accessible and affordable for our students. As perfect alternatives to regular sanitary essentials, they make perfect gifts for ladies! Just last month, I bought a set of 6 with 1 wash bag, for just £15.76! If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is. 

If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce your plastic consumption, why not ditch the cling film and grab bags, and head down to your local market for some fresh and cheap fruits and vegetables. I particularly enjoy doing my grocery shopping at the Moor Market for plastic-free fresh produce. From a plethora of cheeses, to freshly-baked scones, Moor is my go-to destination for fruits, vegetables, fresh poultry, free-range eggs and buttery scones! You can even find stores that stock oriental spices and sauces. 

My zero-waste lifestyle will always be a work-in-progress, but to know and believe that our university isn’t just a supportive platform but rather the support, I have no doubts I will continuously lead the lifestyle that fills my heart and brings me happiness.

What I learnt on my summer internship

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

My internship was a learning experience. I hated it, but reflecting back, I learnt some really important lessons and developed as a person because of it. I’ve got a clearer idea now on how best I worked, what I wanted from a job and what I was and wasn’t interested in. Therefore, I recommend doing an internship, even if it’s not what you expect – because the lessons learnt are worth it and, honestly, the extra money is really helpful for third year when your maintenance loan lowers. 

The first thing I learnt was that I did not want to work in Human Resources – until this internship, I was sure this was what I wanted to go into. However, after learning it was more about policies and following guidelines, rather than directly helping people, I decided it wasn’t interesting to me. The positive from this was that through my project on creating a tool to predict unplanned absence, I learnt I really enjoyed working with data. I’m now applying for master’s in data analysis and graduate jobs that directly involve looking at trends in data. This was probably the best thing that came out of my internship; it allowed me to see what areas I enjoyed working in a practical sense, rather than theoretical.

The second thing I learnt was that who you work with really makes the job – the people I worked with didn’t try to include me, help me or support me. I went to work and didn’t speak to anyone all day and then went to the flat I lived in alone to not speak to anyone some more. Looking back on it, I could have tried more to talk and be part of the HR team, however, as they didn’t try to include me, I didn’t have the confidence to put myself out there. I asked my manager for help 12 times, and each time got rejected and told she didn’t have time for me.

This links to the third thing I learnt – ask for help. If your manager won’t help you, ask someone else. If they can’t, ask another person. It felt so uncomfortable interrupting people who constantly complained how busy they were, but you’re not burdening them by asking – nearly everyone will be willing to help, or direct you to who can help. 

My last piece of advice would be to think hard about whether it is worth doing an internship for the whole summer – when you’ve just been away from home for a year. I struggled with home sickness more during my internship, than my year abroad as I really wanted the time with my family after so long and didn’t have the chance. 

My year abroad with a dairy allergy

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

As someone who cannot eat dairy, going to France for my year abroad was probably not my best idea. For one, I spoke minimal French and was left using google translate to explain to the waiters that I needed pizza, sans fromage. Secondly, France has not yet progressed to including allergy information on their menus, let alone providing vegan options. And lastly, everything in France includes dairy products, from the classic croissants and French breads to meat, pizza – and even ‘les escargots! However, as I narrowly managed to avoid death by dairy last year, I’ve proved that it is possible. Here I will give you some top tips to effectively manage your allergy whilst abroad.

The first thing that helped me was stocking up and bringing lots of dairy free foods from home – luckily, you can get the ferry or the Eurotunnel to France and so I had quite a bit of room to bring everything necessary. I made sure to bring the basics – sauces, hot chocolate powder, butter etc and then packed the rest of the car to the brim with as many snacks as possible; chocolate, biscuits, crumpets and sweets. This was vital, because I couldn’t buy them from French supermarkets – and with 40 hours of lectures a week, stress eating was a common occurrence!

Secondly, look everywhere for small, family owned businesses – these are your best bet for finding speciality foods that cater to specific dietary requirements. One that I found in France, called Bio, sells vegan ‘pains au chocolat’ and croissants; finding these was amazing, especially when my friends had croissant mornings as it let me join in on the fun! Also ensure to look out for international chain businesses such as Starbucks Coffee. They will have dairy and gluten free alternatives, with less risk of contamination. 

Lastly, try to meet people from the country where you’re staying, as they can then explain to restaurant waiters and shop clerks about your dietary requirements. If you don’t know anyone, then make sure you’ve perfected how to explain it yourself in the language using simple phrases such as ‘sans fromage’ (French for ‘without cheese’).

Most European countries aren’t as accommodating towards veganism or allergies as England, unless you’re in a major city like Rome or Paris. But it’s definitely possible to cope with just an extra bit of effort in most places. I went to many different restaurants whilst on my year abroad and whilst I struggled in some places, in the end they want your money – so they’ll be as accommodating as possible. You got this!

Tips to make University easier with a disability

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

I am currently in my third year at the University of Sheffield, studying International Business Management. But there’s something about me that people wouldn’t know at first glance; I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). It is an invisible illness that creates significant body pain, intense fatigue and extreme sensitivity to noise and light. This illness has severely impacted on various aspects of my life, making it harder to study due to brain fog and fatigue, and preventing me from doing as many social activities as other students.

I decided to write this to help current or potential Sheffield students who may also be struggling with an illness or disability. I’ll discuss techniques that helped me manage my studies, some of the tools I wish I’d known were available to me, and some things I’ve learnt along the way.

The first and most important thing I want to tell you about is the Disability Students Allowance. The DSA is a government-funded grant that you can apply for alongside your maintenance loan, that provides financial support for those whose disability might cause extra costs while at uni. This could range from a taxi to and from campus, to laptops, or even tools that can read out documents for you! Applying for the DSA can take some time, so I recommend starting the process when applying for your maintenance loan to make sure your funds are ready once you start your degree. 

The DSA can also send your disability report to Sheffield’s Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS), to make the university aware of your needs ready for when you arrive.

And that brings me onto my second point – make sure to communicate with the DDSS; they can help liaise with your course representative, making sure you have all considerations needed – whether that’s extended deadlines, extra exam time or special considerations with regards to results. 

For me, one of the hardest things was accepting that it wasn’t cheating to have the extra considerations – I hated using my illness as an excuse. The toughest lesson for me was learning that it is not an excuse, it is a reason and it is legitimate. However, if you feel uncomfortable using these services, there is a society for people who have disabilities called ‘dyslexic and disability students committee’ which contains students who can understand what you’re going through, provide support and a unique form of friendship.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you have a disability! A major thing for me was finding people who accepted and were considerate of the fact that I needed to sleep more than most students and wouldn’t be able to just go out randomly. I need a few days to prepare for a night out, and a few days after to recover. The biggest way to socialise at University seems to be drinking and clubbing, so when I couldn’t do this, it was hard and made me feel like I was missing out. However, when I found the right friendship group, they made sure that the social activities were ones I could be involved in, and make sure I felt included on the nights out, even when I didn’t go. Do not push yourself, do not be afraid to tell your friends your limits, and find people who respect them.

Where to eat in Sheffield when you’re dairy-free

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

During first year, I developed a dairy allergy. As someone who constantly ate chocolate and drank a pint of milk a day, this was a very difficult things to come to terms with. However, now in 2020, it’s easy enough to get a dairy free pizza, a soya milkshake or a bar of chocolate – especially in Sheffield. Sheffield is an amazing place to be vegan or have an intolerance – so if you’re worried of the faff of going out in Sheffield, here’s my 5 favourite places to eat in Sheffield – that have yet to make me ill! 

Pieminster
My dad and I first visited Pieminster a few months ago – and it was a revelation. It was the first place I’ve been to that sells vegan mash potato and it was so good! They have numerous vegan options for their pies; I had ‘Chooks away’, which contained vegan ‘chicken’.  It’s also cheap – which isn’t always the case for vegan food and is a definite plus! 

Steamyard
So, unlike Pieminster, Steamyard is quite expensive – but as a local business, it is worth supporting if you can. It’s also not a restaurant, it’s a café and so it’s more a place to go and chill with your friends and have a donut and a coffee. The vibe in Steamyard is amazing, and you could easily go there to revise or do some studying, whilst you enjoy one of their vegan treats. 

Blue Moon Café
This is the longest standing vegan café in Sheffield and is worth visiting if you want to be sure you can eat everything on the menu! It’s unique in that the menu changes every day, so you’ll never know what exciting new thing you’ll get to try. You can go for an afternoon tea, lunch or breakfast. The only negative is that it’s not close at all to the University, meaning it’ll be a slight trek for you to get there.

Make No Bones
This is a favourite place of mine; it has such a wide variety of foods including Gyros, Satay and Korean style food. It’s great to have some different food – sometimes dairy free food at restaurants can get quite repetitive and therefore, it’s always nice to have the chance to try new foods.

The Cabin
This place is perfect for a brunch or breakfast. It’s on the Moor, so it is slightly further out your way – however, it is so worth it! They have a Canadian theme, with fluffy American pancakes or waffles. The vibe is very homely, warm and picturesque. The best brunch place I’ve found in Sheffield.

There are so many more places than these to try, so just keep looking whilst you’re here. The chains all have many different options now, as I’m sure you’re aware. But, make sure to try the local businesses! They may be slightly more expensive, but their food is usually fresher, tastier and more unique. 

Spiderwalk 2019

By Natalia Tsenova, BA Business Management

It is not a surprise that our Students’ Union has been ranked 1st in the country for 10 years in a row, from 2009 to 2018, by Times Higher Education. You name it, our SU will most likely have it. From Sheffield Volunteering to over 350 clubs and societies, there are close to an infinite number of opportunities to engage in university life, beyond the content of your degree, and make your experience in Sheffield more interesting and memorable.

Such an opportunity that has contributed towards a great start of my second year has been volunteering at Spiderwalk 2019. The spiderwalk is an annual 13 mile hike at night, organised by Sheffield RAG and it is one of the many fundraising events that Sheffield RAG (Raising and Giving) holds throughout the year to raise money for different charities. The aftermath of Spiderwalk 2019 is unbelievable – over £10 000 raised for four charities, which you can get more information about on the event’s Facebook page.

In the next lines, I will give you a glimpse of what it was like to participate in Spiderwalk 2019.

On the day of Spiderwalk, all of the volunteers were instructed to be at the SU a couple of hours before the event. We were given a 10-page detailed description of the track and a set of instructions on what to do in different situations. As stewards, our main responsibilities were to make sure our group followed the map and to help in case any of the participants were injured.  

Once we were allocated to our groups, it was time for hiking. In the beginning, the route was quite flat, as can be expected with our starting point being the Students’ Union, followed by Eccy Road and Endcliffe Park. As we continued walking, the terrain changed quickly and soon, we were in the peaks, breathing heavily and covered in mud. However, unlike my initial expectations, I was enjoying this more than I thought I would. The whole group was having fun, we were laughing and talking all the time and it was great to have such nice people to share this experience with.

The half-point was Whirlow Hall Farm – a beautiful farm in Sheffield and one of the charities that participants in Spiderwalk raised money for. The atmosphere was amazing: live music, good food and a lot of friendly people enjoying the night. We stayed there long enough to warm ourselves and to gather energy for our return journey. This time the route was designed to take us to the SU through Sheffield’s streets. And to be honest, a 6.5-mile walk on Sheffield’s roads is as equally tiring as a 6.5-mile hike in Sheffield’s peaks. Both are hilly, very hilly at some points :).

By the time our group reached the SU, it was already thirty minutes past midnight. I remember going home with my legs hurting, but my soul cheering. It was one of the best nights I have had since the beginning of this academic year and I could not have been happier to have decided to volunteer in the first place. 

Thankfully, events like this happen very often in our Students’ Union. Explore the different opportunities the SU offers and enrich your student experience. You will not regret it and who knows, I might see you at Spiderwalk 2020.