First teaching weeks' fears

Iceuil

So yeah, I am going into first year without knowing many people in college and (obviously) I am a bit scared. I looked at my timetable and surprise, surprise I have 2-3 hour gaps between lectures. What do people do when they have such long breaks? I mean, where can you go and what can you do on campus if youre left on your own?

In relation to cafes.... are there many of them on campus? Which are good/bad? Which are cheaper?

Thanks in advance

JuliusCaesar

In my day, we went to the library...and then met people there who'd drag us off for a coffee. Or you can nap.

Lawliet

Computer rooms are always good for killing a few hours

mikemac

Gym?

devinejay

If you have something to be doing, the library is a good habit to try and get into during the day. As dull and boring as that sounds it's actually the best way to make use of your time.

That said, it can't be all work and no play! We never really had such extended breaks, but there's no shortage of decent cafés about the place if you're in the mood for a coffee and a chat. I also have spent far too much time in the pool room at the top of the gmb, and yes, there's always the great time waster that is internet!

Fringe

A lot of people are in the same situation. Talk to people in your class and ask if they want to get lunch or whatever with you during the break.

d93c2inhxfok4y

Yeah, there'll be people in your class who will have the same timetable/gaps, so as awkward as it can be at times, especially early on, try have a chat to people in your class and meet some people!

If you do have a good 2-3 hours off in the middle of the day, that's a great time to hit the library - you can generally get a lot of work done on whatever assignments you have in. Definitely, 2-3 hours working on an essay/problem sets/whatever, is more than enough for the earlier months in first year. It's somewhat nice to duck into the library for a few hours, semi-browse the internet, get any homework/assignments done, and then knowing that when your last lecture finished at 5/6 or whenever, you can just relax and do what you like. Much better than getting home at 7, making dinner etc, then realizing at 9pm that you've some annoying assignment to have in for the next morning.

Iceuil

Thanks guy, helped a lot! I have one more question...if you bring your own food are there any places where you can eat it? Like a canteen or something?

eVeNtInE

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TrollHammaren

OP, I agree with what everyone else has said so far, but I doubly recommend just chatting to people in your class. Just turn around and intorduce yourself, chances are the conversation will flow. It should be no problem to, at the end of a lecture, ask the person you were chatting to if they fancy hitting the Hamilton Café or Buttery for a coffee.

languagenerd

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

They don't really police that. As long as you don't sit right beside the tills :P. I often buy a coffee in Java (beside the Buttery) and eat my own lunch with it. I've never been pulled up on it, but I suppose I did buy the coffee...

Lawliet

languagenerd wrote: »

They don't really police that. As long as you don't sit right beside the tills :P. I often buy a coffee in Java (beside the Buttery) and eat my own lunch with it. I've never been pulled up on it, but I suppose I did buy the coffee...

They're pretty strict about it in the Ham Cafe, they'll ask you to leave even if you buy tea/ coffee. And there's not many comfortable chairs or tables down that end of campus either...

Craguls

Lawliet wrote: »

They're pretty strict about it in the Ham Cafe, they'll ask you to leave even if you buy tea/ coffee. And there's not many comfortable chairs or tables down that end of campus either...

It's true, a mean man shouts at you if you eat in the Ham Caf. He used to work in the Buttery though.

Real question is why would you ever eat in the Ham Caf? :P

andrew

languagenerd wrote: »

eVeNtInE wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

They don't really police that. As long as you don't sit right beside the tills :P. I often buy a coffee in Java (beside the Buttery) and eat my own lunch with it. I've never been pulled up on it, but I suppose I did buy the coffee...

or you could really take the piss and just bring in your tea bag and buy hot water. that's what I do and I haven't been told off. yet.
or you could really take the piss and just bring in your tea bag and buy hot water. that's what I do and I haven't been told off. yet.

languagenerd

Lawliet wrote: »

They're pretty strict about it in the Ham Cafe, they'll ask you to leave even if you buy tea/ coffee. And there's not many comfortable chairs or tables down that end of campus either...

Weird, they never say anything in the Buttery. Me & my friend brought in boxes of noodles from Yum Thai one day, complete with chopsticks... bought coffees and then took the noodles out. No-one took any notice. The Ham Cafe is smaller though, maybe that's why?

Going back to the OP - see if anyone in your class has the same breaks. I know it's easier said than done, but just think that everyone's in the same boat and some of them are just waiting for someone else to ask! There are five(?) cafes/restaurants on campus and loads on the surrounding streets.

languagenerd

andrew wrote: »

or you could really take the piss and just bring in your tea bag and buy hot water. that's what I do and I haven't been told off. yet.

Haha, they can't complain though when they're charging for the hot water!

EuropeanSon

The gym is a great way to make semi-productive use of your time off.

Mark200

The JCR lets you bring in food from home and eat it in there. But you can't really bring in food that you bought somewhere else. It has to be from home

Lawliet

languagenerd wrote: »

Weird, they never say anything in the Buttery. Me & my friend brought in boxes of noodles from Yum Thai one day, complete with chopsticks... bought coffees and then took the noodles out. No-one took any notice. The Ham Cafe is smaller though, maybe that's why?

It's the manager; he's a prat.

gavmcg92

andrew wrote: »

or you could really take the piss and just bring in your tea bag and buy hot water. that's what I do and I haven't been told off. yet.
or you could really take the piss and just bring in your tea bag and buy hot water. that's what I do and I haven't been told off. yet.

Saw someone doing that in front of me today... Manager in the Ham cafe charged her 40c

languagenerd

gavmcg92 wrote: »

Saw someone doing that in front of me today... Manager in the Ham cafe charged her 40c

They charge 60c in the Buttery :eek:

Fishy123

The Pav is the answer to all your problems, head for a pint to drown those midday sorrows

TrollHammaren

Fishy123 wrote: »

The Pav is the answer to all your problems, head for a pint to drown those midday sorrows

Ignore this guy.