Sussex, can I give you 500 stars? Please?…read more
After two years at one of the best unis in the states, I decided to spend my entire third year abroad at the University of Sussex. It had all the courses I needed for my major, was located in the lushest of lush green hills -- any nature geek's dream -- and had every society (USA: club) known to man. Throw in the flood of colorful buildings and quirky shops, the pier, 'diversity' - as evident in its restaurants as its people - and I was beyond sold.
Since I was going to spend the entire year there, rather than the traditional American Spring abroad, I was housed in a building full of Brits (and Brits with expat parents) and two Aussies. A dream come true! This was exactly why I had chosen to do a year abroad rather than a semester - I wanted to actually integrate with another culture and, trust me, British [uni] culture is VERY different.
I could go on and on and on about how much I loved Sussex. I never got "involved" back home. Not in high school, not really in college, and then I studied abroad. I joined every society I said I would in my study abroad application and then some. I went to the French Alps with Sussex Snow, the Peak District and Wales with the Walking (USA: Hiking) Society, took photos of cows and leaves (just behind campus) with the Photo Society, and made friends in the International Society from Sri Lanka, Germany, and Indonesia I still talk to today. Icing on the cake -- I got a job at my uni's Study Abroad office the second I got back.
I'm still in touch with my old flatmates (four-floors worth) -- I guess Facebook serves a purpose! My little ducklings graduated this summer. I love them all to bits. Living with freshers could have been horrific, but it was hysterical and I had a new family within my first week.
A word of advice for anyone going here: If you're from America, INTEGRATE! Love of god.. don't go traveling every weekend and then complain you don't know any British people (true story. I, on the other hand, didn't meet other Americans until 5 months in!). If you're a full-time Sussex student, grab the Americans and get them 'involved.' I love the British meaning of that word. :)
Quick Summary:
+ people (watching your flatmates from London see snow for the first time is priceless)
+ pubs on campus
+ LOCATION .. outrageously beautiful. Makes a return to the concrete world painful
+ societies (so many, and everyone is so damn enthusiastic. America could take a lesson.)
- classes were hit/miss (but I had the 'cultural' education of a lifetime)
- multiple protests, everywhere, all the time (about everything from human rights to budget cuts)
- leaving (why does it have to end?)