The first hurdle was registration. Basically you join the end of a queue (sitting at least) and keep moving down the line until you get to the two people registration team. This took about 30 minutes, which wasn't too bad but I can't help feeling that another pair of registrars would have sped things along nicely.
After registering and parting with £5 for a week's parking. I wandered off in possession of a name badge (name to be added yourself, who shall I be???) a guide on what is going to happen for the rest of the day, a badly photocopied map of the campus (although the registration lady was nice enough to indicate where I was, where my room was and where I'd need to go at 4) and a pink card with my room details on. Next task, find the room.
A quick glance on the map showed a car park closer to my accommodation block so I relocated my vehicle and proceeded to get the key and lug my stuff to my room for the next week.
The room was quite a surprise. An on-suite bathroom including a shower (im very relieved about that). A small desk, a nice bed and an opening window (it was a bit stuffy). Student accommodation has certainly changed since my days at Bath Uni.
A quick glance at the itinerary showed that we had a "Course Director's Welcome" at 4 so after exploring the room and unpacking I decided to fire up the laptop and see if I could get the Internet connection working. 10 minutes later, after numerous prompts from Windows 7 to allow scripts to run, I was online and surfing.
Then it was time to go to the "Welcome" lecture.
This consisted of various bits of information about safety and the services the OU offers onsite (careers guidance being one), as well as a quick look at the timetable for the rest of the week for the various colours.
Here is an outline of what ive got to look forward to for the rest of the week:
- Sunday Activity C - Investigating the Environment: Birling Gap and Newhaven west cliffs.
- Monday Activity D - The biological effects of gamma radiation.
- Tuesday Activity A - Rocks and radioactivity: energy in the earth.
- Wednesday Activity B - Analysing our environment.
- Thursday Activity E - Research Project: working as part of a team.
The rest of Saturday is spent as an introduction to Activity E.
This means that I've got to be up for 8 am on Sunday!!!
We also got to meet our Group Tutor, Brian, who will be with us for the week.
After a quick getting to know you group session with Brian it was time for tea (finally as I missed lunch). We all traipsed over to Bramber House to join a massive queue for food.
I was quite impressed with the selection on offer. It's not quite what I'd consider typical student food, a bit up-market for my tastes but I take a gamble on a chicken and rice dish which turned out to be quite nice. I followed that up with a small apple tart covered in custard which was also very nice.
Suitably fortified we traipsed back to the Friston Building to work on a mock poster as part of activity E. We also got a visit from the activity tutors for tomorrows jaunt to the seaside.
So that's day one. Tomorrow it's off to the beach for sunburn, dehydration, rocks and ecology. Not my favourite subjects but at least it's over and done with. Just go to have a quick read over the activity book for tomorrow and then it's off to bed.
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