Goodbyes

Going away party

Huge card!

This week marks the end of a significant chapter. It is the last week of my second year as a Nottingham undergraduate. Granted, that’s not the most ground-breaking event ever. However the real importance for me is that because the majority of people on my course do not go abroad for a year, it is truly the last time I will see some of my coursemates for the foreseeable future - they’ll have graduated by the time I return from France. What’s more, I probably won’t even see those who are going abroad to far-flung corners of the world like Hong Kong, Austin and Canberra for a whole year. Therefore, as soon as exams ended right up to results day I’ve been making the most of my precious time with these people – activities have included a Eurovision Evening, visiting Nottingham Castle and Caves, eating out (tip: when in Nottingham one must visit ‘Sarangchae’ restaurant, declared authentic by my Korean friend!), a classical concert,  the results day River Cruise, nights in nattering with friends, nights out (including my first Ocean – I know, shocking that it’s taken a Nottingham student so long to visit the ‘Big O’), and generally having a fun-filled time.

The most unexpected and touching event however, was a going away party organised for me and four others, which had been craftily disguised as one of my friends’ early birthday party. It was so well hidden that when everyone shouted ‘surprise’ I was convinced it was a joke! What’s more terrible is that I was considering not even going; on texting my friend this I received a very pushy reply saying it would be “massively appreciated if I could come!” A slideshow of uni life so far containing some hilarious photographic gems, snacks, drinks and friends made the evening a great success. The people going abroad were all presented with ginormous cards, signed by everyone staying at Nottingham next year. The evening was definitely a highlight of my time at uni so far!

In all honesty, it’s still not sunk in that I’ll be spending an entire year away from Nottingham very, very soon. At the party, one of my friends who is also heading off to Europe said he thinks it will only really hit him when he leaves the UK. I think the same is true for me – I’m so glad my friends have seen the truth of the situation and have organised celebrations like the going away party, making sure us ‘year-abroaders’ get a proper send-off!

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