How to cope with missing your pet while studying abroad
Written by ATPAmbassador - 11/12/2019
by Jaclyn Nelson
Don’t
fret if you’ll miss your pet!
When I decided to move
to Scotland for my Master’s degree, I knew I would miss family and friends but
one thing I didn’t anticipate was how much I would miss my beloved, Dylan.
Dylan is a large, black and white cat whose breed may be a rag doll, or
possibly a Norwegian forest cat. We can’t be sure. What matters is, I miss
him.
So to help fellow
animal-loving international students, I thought it might be useful to share
some information on bringing pets to the UK as well as how to cope if you have
to leave your furry best friend at home.
Bringing
your pet to the UK
When I first started to
plan my move to Scotland, I went back and forth on the idea of bringing Dylan
with me, but there were a few issues that would have made that difficult. One
is that it’s difficult to find a rental property in the UK that allows pets -
something worth bearing in mind for students studying abroad. The other is
that, as I mentioned above, Dylan is pretty big. Small pets can be stowed in a
pet carrier under your plane seat, but larger animals (like Dill) need to be
placed in cargo for what can be upwards of a 6-hour flight.
I decided to leave him
with the best caretakers I could think of, my parents, and with some gentle
persuasive tactics, I was able to convince them to take care of my Dylan for
the year while I was away. No sooner had I left him, I began to yearn for him
almost immediately, I missed our furry interactions and his general good
company. ‘How would I survive a year without my cat?’
Cat
cafes
So, what do you do if
you can’t bring your cat with you? There are a few options for lovesick cat and
dog owners in need of urgent animal contact. One of these is the fabled ‘cat
cafe’, something I’d heard of in the past but had never been to. For me,
Glasgow’s Puuuurple Cat Cafe was just minutes from campus, so after a quick
visit to their website, I booked a table online and was ready to get my cat
fix.
I’d somehow convinced my
partner – a closeted cat lover – to join me in my adventure. When we arrived
for our appointment, we rang the doorbell to be greeted by a ‘cat attendant’
who laid out the rules for interacting with the cats. At this point I was so
excited, I kind of just wanted him to get on with it, but the rules are there
for the cats’ safety. When we finally entered, I felt like a kid in the candy
store, cats were EVERWHERE, approximately 20 of them. The cafe had cat tunnels
and cat bridges all around. We were given a table and a menu, my partner
remained seated while I scoped out all the cats. I was in my element. Just
being around cats made me feel better about leaving my pet behind. I still
missed Dylan like crazy, but I was able to get what I feel like is the next
best thing. I visit Puuuurple Cat Cafe regularly and I will continue as
the year goes on.
Therapets
Another way to deal with
missing your pet while studying abroad is to arrange a visit with one of the
therapy animals that visit universities during exam time. Animal contact has
been scientifically proven to calm nerves and anxiety, a known issue with
students and in 2013, Paws Against Stress, a campaign to bring in ‘therapets’ to
universities was launched with great success. In 2017 alone, PAWS held 99 sessions
in 47 universities or colleges across Scotland (CCST). Dogs are the primary choice of therapy
animals (sorry, cat lovers!) and although this campaign is specific to
Scotland, campaigns similar to PAWS are popping up all over campuses in the UK
so you don’t need to fret if you miss your pet.
Hopefully, this article
has shed some light on how to deal with missing your pet while studying abroad
in the UK. The opportunity to study abroad is such an experience and if you are
having trouble with the thought of leaving your pet behind, the tips mentioned
can help with that. If you have any further questions, your friendly Across the Pond representative would be more than happy to help
with that.
Making the most of the UK on a budget
Written by ATPAmbassador - 09/12/2019
by Nicole Clendinning
It shouldn’t be a
surprise that living in the United Kingdom can be expensive. The exchange rate
from Canadian dollar to the British pound is not in favor of Canadians, and the
closer to major cities like London, Manchester, Dublin and Glasgow you are, the
more expensive the cost of living is.
While you may not
immediately be able to get a job and balance school and work, the good news is
that as a student you are able to find many ways to cut costs as many retailers
offer discounts and sales for students.
Transportation
If you find yourself
living in a major city, look into finding your way around using the public
transportation system as they are often very well developed and easy to follow.
Many cities in the UK have tram, bus and/or tube systems that are extensive and
easy to use.
For those students
arriving in London, it is important to note that travelling via bus when you
can allows you to save, as it is significantly cheaper than taking the tube.
Both methods allow you to use pay as you go on your debit/ credit card which
not only makes your trip more efficient but also helps you save money as you
are only charged for the distance you travel. Don’t worry about being
overcharged, by using Pay as you go, your card is capped at a certain max per
day regardless of the distance you travel. Another great feature of the bus
system is that you are able to transfer multiple times within an hour and only
be charged the £1.50 journey cost once.
Transportation for
London (TFL- the London equivalent to the TTC) offers student Oyster cards that
can be ordered online. As these are available exclusively to students, you need
to provide the details of your university program and have your application reviewed
and accepted by your school. Don’t fear though, this usually only takes a day
or so and then your card is mailed to your house. This card allows students to
save 30% on rail card purchases.
Food
Grocery shopping is
relatively cheap when compared to Canada, as you should be able to do a pretty
significant shop for one person for about £20 a week. Shops such as Lidl, Aldi
and Tesco tend to be the cheaper stores to buy essential products such as
pasta, rice and canned goods. You may be able to save even more on weekly shops
if you take advantage of outdoor markets which tend to offer great deals on
seasonal produce.
Further, meal prepping
is a great way in general to save money on groceries as well as a way to eat
healthier. By preparing good meals or dinners for the week ahead you are able
to cut down on fast food or snacks on a day to day basis and also cut down on food
waste. Although they are small purchases, they can quickly add up.
This also goes for
buying hot drinks. Investing in a coffee maker and an insulated mug will go a
long way to cut down on costs, as many coffee shops offer a 10-30 pence discount
on hot drinks served in reusable mugs. In London it is easy to spend £2-3
pounds on a coffee, so investing in a coffee maker definitely works out to be
cheaper in the long run. If you are a tea drinker, it may be useful to buy tea
bags at the shop and bring them out with you as most coffee shops will be happy
to fill your re-usable mug with hot water free of charge!
For on the go lunches,
Tesco and other retailers often offer ‘Meal Deals’ where you are able to
purchase a pre-made sandwich, a drink and a side (such as chips or fruit) for a
set amount, often under £5.
Discount Cards
For retail shopping,
there are many discount cards available to students and accepted at many major
retailers. Similar to SPC membership cards, UniDays is a widely accepted
discount card and app that is very popular in the UK. This allows you to save
on clothes as well as subscriptions and experiences such as movie tickets.
If you opt out of one of getting one of these savings cards, it is a good idea to try and keep your student card on you when going out, as many places will offer student discounts and all you need to show is your card issued by the university you attend.
Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!
Why I Chose to Study in NI
Written by ATPAmbassador - 07/12/2019
by Bleen Sharma
Almost 3 months into living and studying
abroad, I still get asked the question, “why here?” For the locals of Belfast,
it comes as quite a shock as to why someone from Canada would move to the
United Kingdom, specifically Northern Ireland; however once I say I am a
student at Queen’s University, they understand my decision.
Not only is Queen’s University recognized
as a top institution in Belfast, but it is also one of the twenty-four members
of the Russell Group. This exclusive group includes the leading universities in
the UK, which produce world-class research at an international level.
The fact that Queen’s is a member of the
Russell Group was definitely a factor in why I chose to study in the UK, but my
primary reason was the length of my program in the UK, as compared to in
Canada. The LLB law program in Canada is the duration of 3 years in total but
in the UK, there is the option for a 2-year LLB law program if you have an
undergraduate degree. Since I had completed my undergraduate degree, I was able
to apply to the 2-year LLB program as a senior status student, and am now a
happy yet stressed law student.
A second reason that I chose to study in
the UK is because of my interest in international law and my dream of working
for the United Nations in some capacity. I believe the UK serves as a central
location for international law, and specialises in areas such as human rights
in a way that differs from Canada. I expect this to be the case, due to the
physical location of the UK and the complex nature of UK’s history, which is
reflected in the day-to-day culture. A culture that is welcoming and friendly
to all, which I have been fortunate to experience first hand.
From the atmosphere in the Irish bars, to
the breeze of the coastlines, the culture of Belfast has been one that I will
never forget. Almost every significant cultural aspect has a story that is
deeply rooted in the UK’s history. The bars, and even some roads all date back
to a time of horse drawn carriages and royal families. I found myself learning
not only while in school, but also in my daily life, which has been quite enjoyable
for myself.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above,
a benefit of living in the UK is the ease of travel to other places in Europe.
Flights are relatively cheap while travelling amongst the UK and short in
length, making it the perfect time to tour Europe at my own pace. So far I have
been to Dublin and Edinburgh, each just for the weekend, but definitely
worthwhile.
I am grateful for my Across the Pond
advisor in providing me with the support I needed to achieve these goals. I was
able to freely discuss the length of programs, my future career goals, the
cultural experience, and the ease of travel with my advisor, allowing me to
make a well-informed decision. If I had any concern, I asked my advisor and she
addressed it right away to the best of her ability. I highly recommend choosing
Across the Pond, because they are able to provide information and insight that
may be lacking elsewhere. Don’t just take my word for it, contact an advisor
today and start planning the next step of your life in the UK.
Interested in studying in the UK? You can find out more by contacting one of our advisors!
References
Why I Chose to Study Law in the UK
Written by Kiranpreet - 01/08/2023
Studying law has always been my dream, however studying in the UK was never in my mind until I learned about Across the Pond. Across the Pond provided me with the information that helped make me come to the UK possible.
At first, I was nervous to come to the UK and start school in a new country with new people however, my Across the Pond advisor helped to make me feel comfortable and prepared with always answering my questions and concerns. She made me feel confident in the decision to study law in the UK with her fast and assuring replies.
I go to the University of Leicester and the reason why I chose to study here is the large presence of Canadian students. Leicester has the largest Canadian population compared to other schools in the UK and due to this our Canadian Law Society is also the largest. This was definitely one of the factors that made me come to the UK and choose Leicester. The Canadian Law Society helps us to go back to Canada prepared. There are various academic sessions for LLM programs, as well as NCA sessions. Through these sessions, coming to the UK makes you feel less worried for when you go back home. Moving to the UK is a big deal, however, because I am still surrounded by Canadians it helped to make the transition easier. I am doing the 2-year JD Pathway program, and this appealed to me as Canadian programs are 3 years. In 2 years here, I will be able to learn law, travel and grow into an independent individual.
Our Canadian law originated from the UK and professors here do touch on Canadian, as well as American law. At Leicester, we are also required to take 2 courses in Canadian law which helped to reassure me when I come back to Canada that I won’t be at a disadvantage. There are many support systems here as well, such as personal tutors and weekly tutorials. The personal tutors are here to offer us guidance while we are here, so we don’t feel too alone. The tutorials have around 8 people in them and we go through specific questions to help deepen our understanding on specific classes and topics.
Overall, there are many reasons I chose to study in the UK such as the length of the program, the large Canadian presence, and the travelling aspect. I am really glad I chose University of Leicester as I truly feel like I fit in here, and the program so far has been amazing. I am also planning many trips with other Canadians which is something that has definitely been on my bucket list and is now being fulfilled. I am so thankful for Across the Pond as they made my transition to the UK so smooth, as well as making me feel prepared and assured that this decision was the best for me.
If you would like to get more information, please contact an Across the Pond advisor, you will not regret it! As said above, my advisor answered ALL my questions (no matter how stupid they were) and all my concerns were addressed. Across the Pond also provided webinars for the visa process and what to expect in the UK which truly helped me and my family in feeling like I knew what I was getting myself into. Once again, click here for more information.
Day Trips in the North East
Written by ATPAmbassador - 20/11/2019
by Alessia Scappaticci
Newcastle is a fantastic city to live in. From the art galleries and lush parks to the buzzing nightlife on Grey Street, you’ll never have a, “there’s nothing to do” moment. But it doesn’t hurt to see something new every now and then! And if a one-day getaway is what you need, then these destinations are definitely worth exploring:
Tynemouth
Tynemouth is a beautiful coastal town along the North East of England. Just stepping off of the metro (a 15-minute ride from Newcastle, by the way) delivers you to a lively weekend market filled with food specialty items. Once exiting the station, you can find gorgeous Victorian homes while walking to Tynemouth Priory & Castle or Long Sands Beach. But before you hit the beach, you can grab some takeaway from one of the dozens of restaurants on Front Street. My suggestion? Stop by Marshall’s for fish and chips and eat on the beach!
Photo taken by Alessia Scappaticci
Photo taken by Alessia Scappaticci
York Just an hour away from Newcastle City Centre, York is an old, historic town that is full of sights to explore. If guided tours are your thing, you can check out the JORVIK Viking Centre, or learn about York’s Chocolate Story. But if you’d rather stroll around, then check out York Minster Cathedral or the Shambles- a narrow cobblestone strip of shops and bakeries. Fun fact: The Shambles was the inspiration for Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter movies! ]
| Edinburgh London is great, but the beauty of living in the North East is that travelling to another country counts as a day trip- especially if you take an early train. Edinburgh is one of the most famous cities in Scotland, full of multiple days’ worth of things to do. But if you only have one day, then Edinburgh Castle has a stunning view of the city from a great vantage point, and the Scottish National Gallery has tons of art to marvel at. And don’t forget to walk the Royal Mile! |
Photo taken by Alessia Scappaticci
Pro tip: Make sure to book a window seat on the train ride up, because I’ve never seen so much breathtaking scenery in such a short time.
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can get here too, then you can contact an advisor, and keep up with Across the Pond on social media. You can also follow along on my UK journey on Instagram at @alessiaacrossthepond!
While in Canada October is often filled with visits to pumpkin patches, apple orchards, or haunted houses it is quite different in London. The Halloween season is celebrated here in a much more commercial sense. Many restaurants and businesses will tune into the spooky season by offering Halloween themed events or products in tune with the season, but what’s missing is the scary movie marathons and the sense of the Halloween season you get from seeing decorated houses scattered around. You will without a doubt see people dressed in costume headed for a night out, but trick or treaters were much fewer and more far between than I expected. While in Canada you are guaranteed to see costumed children out in droves on October 31st, I saw only a few groups throughout the night. A vast difference from my Halloween experiences in Canada, I also noticed a significant lack of decorations in houses and around the neighborhood. Similar to Canada, they operate on the Jack-O-Lantern rule, where if a house is participating by handing out candy, they will have a carved pumpkin outside the house to communicate this to families, however I noticed a significant lack of festive houses around South London.