I woke up and as usual scroll through my email only to notice one from Kingston Univeristy, the contents shocked me. I had been invited to attend the inauguration of our new Chancellor Bonnie Greer an inspiring woman and the first to head the university after a long line of males. She is an author and playwright with interests in the arts as well as the sciences. I didn’t have to think twice about accepting the invitation. the evening was amazing and I had the honor of meeting so many important members of Kingston University as well as the Chacellor herself. She is an inspiration and her story is incredible. You may think that she would not be interested in a first year like me, you would be wrong. I can honestly say that Bonnie Greer is one of the nicest people I have ever met, she was grateful that myself and a third year had taken the time to wait for her to exit the room she was in to meet her. The ceremony was fantastic and I wish more of my fellow students could have had the opportunity because it honestly did make you proud to be a Kingston University student, to be English and to be a woman all in one evening. The Chancellor was even interested in my project ‘The Presentation of African American Women’ and would like to discuss it when she is available, I was gobsmacked. I can honestly say I was so lucky to be in the right place at the right time and I cannot wait to see what Chancellor Greer does next.
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Birthday Girl!
Today was my 19th birthday and I woke up feeling like death. I hate alcohol, with a passion and that my friends makes me a ‘bad fresher’. I have spent all day feeling like I need to puke and I have certainly learnt my lesson! It was so lovely that my parents and sister came to see me today I wish I had been more awake although they thought it was incredibly funny. I got some lovely presents and cards (especially the ‘punk princess’ one from my flatmates!). The thing was where I was away from home it didn’t completely feel like my birthday if you get what I mean? It just felt like another day of things to get used to and get my head around well that’s freshers week for you! In a bit of a cheeky way I also get part of my birthday tomorrow too as Ali takes me shopping for my birthday present!! I honestly can’t wait to see my family again though, as much as I love uni I did really miss them all today ❤
Happy Birthday to me!
The first proper day…and possibly the best.
Ok so today got off to a ‘proper’ student start. I hit snooze on the alarm and luckily woke up half an hour before I had to be on the bus. Brilliant. I managed to run to the bus stop where thankfully the bus was running slightly late! I headed off to Creative Writing with Beckiie which turned out to be a very amusing lecture, full of lots of laughs and starting to get excited about the course. Surprisingly we were told the rest of our 9am Lectures weren’t needed so we could enjoy ourselves, result! On to English Literature where the atmosphere was seemingly more academic and there were a lot more people! It is very organised and a bit daunting but luckily we have a very welcoming year tutor. It was also a day of a lot of busses again, we are slowly working out which ones go where. It all seems a bit boring to be honest but the day at uni wasn’t the fun part really, it was ok but there were a lot of introductions and all that jazz today. Later on Beckiie and I headed back to mine to be joined by my lovely flat mate Jamie a lovely American girl. It is so interesting learning about other cultures and we had a very long chat about the UK and USA before going to my room to try and get our timetables (still not there, sigh).
The best part was our little trip up to Kingston Hill tonight. we ended up eating the boys home made soup, having a great chat and finally having a jamming session. It was nice because Beckiie and I have had trouble finding people into our kind of music and people who would rather stay in and chill rather than going crazy in a club. It was honestly so much fun, I can’t wait to do it all again. As for tomorrow we will be off to a play in London as part of my work for Be the Red Carpet (check them out!).
DEAF HAVANA!!
Today I queued for around 2 hours (on and off) in the pouring rain. Do I mind? Surprisingly no I don’t today I got to see one of my absolute favourite bands Deaf Havana! I was lucky enough to get tickets to a small record shop in town called Banquet Records and it is amazing, so many good live bands play there! It’s honestly an incredible place. After trying to navigate busses me and Ali finally made it to the record shop! Now the place can’t fit too many people in there so for only £10 each we got to see an intimate acoustic set and actually meet Deaf Havana afterwards! It was an amazing atmosphere and it just made you realise how normal they were. You could see some shaking hands, they talked openly with the crowd joking along and they had no diva side at all. It was just an incredible set and I honestly couldn’t believe just how good the harmonies were live, absolutely breath taking. As they sang one of my favorites ‘Hunstanston Pier’ I had shivers and just wanted to sing my heart out, the atmosphere was magical. At that moment in time life just felt complete, I know how that sounds but I was where I wanted to be finally in uni, listening to an amazing band with Ali’s arms wrapped around my waist. I think I’m gonna like this place 🙂
It got even better after that, I’m having a ball with my flat mates they’re all so lovely and we’re learning a lot from each other. I met one of the most prominent members of the Rock and Metal society today and I’m finally finding people who don’t want to go out drinking and clubbing all the time thank god! So for my birthday (which I am SUPER excited about) we will be heading to a local Rock, Punk and ‘Emo’ night which is so amazing as I’ve never even heard of that before. In short I feel like more of a musician than ever and people totally accept I want to study something different which is a first!
Keep an eye out for the album guys 😉 and while your at it why not go and check out Deaf Havana’s those lads are diamonds!
The day I became a real Journalist!
I realise that a lot of my posts are being very boring and samey at the moment. It’s just constantly saying goodbye, packing and being nervous. Today I thought this post would be the same and I’m very aware of boring you all! So to my surprise whileI was eating with my Mum I recieve and email from Be the Red Carpet magazine (something I have recently joined) asking if I could cover a phone interview with Lee from 90’s pop band 911 as they are making a big come back. My nerves were in pieces and me and mum had to run around town trying to get everything done as I researched, wrote questions and prayed my phone wouldn’t die before I called him. So my first interview took place in my mums car in the town center car park, luckily Lee was an absolute star and was so kind to me. It was so surreal to just phone him up and have a chat although it always helps when the person is laid back. I definately want to be a journalist now, well if I can’t be a musician I will specialise in music and events. It gave me so much self confidence!
Today was non-stop from the minute I woke up. After shopping and the interview I raced to my grandparents to say goodbye and have my family birthday party with all my little cousins, it really was a lovely time. Then tonight packing again! There have been tears already between me and Mum but that’s to be expected, we cry at anything and eveything. I’m not nervous about moving yet, I don’t think it’s hit me properly. I’m really hoping everything fits in the car tomorrow!!!
A new chapter, a fresh start.
Today I started Kingston University and I am in love with it already. Today started with tears, not mine my mothers. It was really emotional at first saying goodbye to all my family and oh god the dog set me off my poor little puppy! Either way mum played tetris with the boxes and we managed to get everything in my uncles car before we set off on the train. It’s weird I expected to be so scared and upset but I wasn’t I just felt like meh I’m moving today. I think that going to Headstart last month just made my worries vanish, so we just got on the train and arrived at Surbiton station. Moving into my room was a bit stressful, I’m a clean freak and the state of the kitchen really did make my anxiety rocket, luckily it was Mum to the rescue and her fab cleaning skills. After that I calmed down, I loved things around and now I’m pretty happy with my little room. Mum, Dad, Dan and Sums left as soon as a few friends arrived, if you can do that then I really advise it. It takes your mind off of things and lets you focus on the future and not dwell too much.
This afternoon was a frenzy of meeting people, sorting through things and of course food shopping (I was pretty healthy for me actually!) the only hitch? We got soaked in the rain, my friend Charlee walked all the way from her halls to visit as well as meeting my friends Joe, Jen, Beckii and Emily (who is with me as I write this) and trying to get to know people in my flat. It is an odd experience but I’m enjoying it, I’m not upset I’m just excited and I can’t wait to get started and get on!
That’s my blog for tonight! I’ll keep you updated!!
Starting to say goodbye!
Although I said goodbye to people Saturday night I never saw it as saying goodbye. Today I actually had to do that and it was HORRIBLE. After a morning of stressful packing (thank you mummy for all the help) I’m almost ready for uni! It feels so weird! This afternoon I had three close friends to meet up with and say goodbye too! My friend Lucy who is 6 months pregnant (although I will be back in time to meet little Skylar! Yippie!), my friend of nearly 10 years Grace and my best English buddy Erin who shares my love of The Fault in our stars! Although there were not tears it was really emotional that I’ll be moving especially as they’re all going through such exciting times at the moment with Erin and Grace entering their final year of college and starting uni applications themselves as well as Lucy’s bump getting steadily bigger. It’s weird because we are all reaching change in our lives and me, Erin, Grace and Ali all went through school and college together it will be odd to be apart. It was nice though to have that time and we’re already arranging time to meet up in London!! Tonight was a meal with Ali’s family to say goodbye too which was nice. Tomorrow holds more uni bits, a family visit and another meal! For now I’m shattered!!
Night All!!
When things get tough…
So it’s finally happened. I promised you all I would document everything, the highs, the lows. Right at this moment, I’ve hit a low and I bloody hate it. I’m stressed, I’m tired, I’m crying and I’m really not sure of anything right now. Some people will say I’m being dramatic, stupid and I don’t really care. I haven’t panicked about moving for around 6 months, the last time was a visit to Kingston back in March when I was also tired and stressed. I was in a city that I didn’t know and having to come to terms with the thought of moving away. Guess what, now that realisation is hitting me like a bloody train and it scares me. While I was out last night I just noticed how small Basingstoke really is and how close I am to my family. I do want to go, I really do but at the same time I’m petrified. I’ve just told my family I don’t want to go anyone and I’m not planning on going anywhere on Friday, regardless. I will go, I know I’ll be on that train Friday morning and I’ll be in Kingston Friday night and staying there for the foreseeable future. In short, sometimes I don’t listen to my brain it malfunctions at times.
You see this is the problem with me I’ll be in hysterics then I’ll be excited. I think about all the interesting things I am going to do, things I can study, going to to do a masters degree later on then out of the blue it floors me. Even though I know I need to get away, I need to start somewhere fresh and get away from Basingstoke there is a little voice inside my head telling me that I can’t do it. Is it part of me being ill? No idea, other people are feeling like this too apparently so I’m not sure and I don’t like pinning things on it. The anxiety is definitely there EVERYTHING is running around my head. Have I got everything? Will people like me? What will my flat mates be like? Will the band get any gigs? Will I be able to keep up with my work? Will I be okay with money? What am I supposed to wear in freshers week? What will people think of this blog?
Now I’ve had a chance to calm myself down I realise how much I want to go and study. I have no doubt in the next 4 days and 3 years I’ll have many more of these freak outs, although maybe I’ll get better at handling them. My advice to any future freshers? Either
A) Go do something that relaxes you to take your mind off of how you feel in a panic
B) Go for a walk in a public place (you can’t cry or rage then…you’ll look as mad as me)
C) Go get some sleep. I’m very aware (as is everyone in my house) that half of this today is because of a lack of sleep.
Peace out
A very happy unbirthday to me!
Now I’m not the Mad Hatter and I’m only very occasionally Alice in Wonderland but over the next week I will be celebrating 3 ‘unbirthday’s’ with cake and presents included. The 7th of September was the first, I invited a lot of friends and there was 11 of us in the end. Usually I would be very upset but it actually proved who my real friends were ( not just the people who were there, the people who bothered telling me they couldn’t be) and we had a fab time complete with Nandos, Jager Bombs (oh dear the Jager Bombs) and a very drunk me dancing around the pub to Ah-ha’s ‘Take on me’. I think it’s safe to say the hangover the next morning was very worth it. I wanted to use this post to thank everybody who came and to show how much I appreciated them being there so here it goes
Tom (not in the picture, he took it) – You came back from uni after being there just a week, thank you ‘justin’ ❤
Lydia – We’re not that close but you came anyway and got me very drunk ❤
Katie – After 7?!? Years of ups and downs I’m so glad you came, thank you so much! Have a lovely birthday and good luck at uni 
Lucy – Damn girl what can I say about you, so many years, so many memories and you’ve always stuck around. I love you.
Grace – Thank you for the lovely gift my adopted daughter. We’ve known each other so long and I’ll miss you, call me if you need me and I’ll SO be at your final fashion show next year .
Doug – We’ve been actual friends for nearly 15 years (yep we’re getting old) and despite the puking incident (TWICE) your still a close friend as is your lovely family. I’ll miss your funny little ways, good luck at Essex! I can’t wait to visit!
Luke – I finally got you to come out with me!! haha I’m glad we pulled through our maths GCSE I don’t know if I could have got through a re sit without your humor!
Joseph – Such a thoughtful gift Joseph, maybe we could meet at Llloyds some time haha!
Ali – I hate you, I don’t know why you came. I’m kidding, I love you thank you for getting me safely home and being a wonderful boyfriend as ever.
Erin – Eriny, thank you also for a very thoughtful present! I’ll miss hanging out with you on my frees and I’m so looking forward to seeing you do well in English ( I know you will) call me, text me, tweet me ❤
So that people is a list of true friends. You find them in the most odd places
The beginning of Tetris, otherwise known as packing up my room
What they don’t tell you when you sign up at university is that you have to become a master at the loveable 80s game Tetris. Now as any cool 90’s kid will remember playing Tetris was the highlight of black and white gameboys (as well as pokemon), so now we get to try it out in real life… welcome to university life! Packing is proving to be a bit stressful, making sure you’ve got everything, working out where it’s all going to go and how the hell your going to get it all to uni in the first place. Thankfully my Uncle has a big car so the plan (so far) is that him and my Dad will be going up in the car with my stuff while me, Mum and my sister Sums will be following up on the train and meeting them at my halls. Just thinking about the move next week makes butterflies explode inside of me.
I’m all mixed up inside, excited ,terrified, wondering how on earth I will manage on my own, then back to excited. It honestly is a rollercoaster of emotion and if Kingston weren’t such a helpful university I would be in major panic mode right now! I now have almost everything in place to go including my DSA assesment forms thank goodness! Now it’s just time to wait for entitlement and I can order my lovely new laptop and software to help me with my course. The DSA are being very generous with their time and what I am allowed due to my ‘condition’, as I said to you all before I see this as a small part of me and as something I have to deal with. That said I am grateful that people are trying to make it easier for me if I am having a bad day I can do something about it and move on. I believe that this support should be in place for everyone in education as it’s really lacking!
It’s my last weekend in Basingstoke this weekend (thank god!) So there should be some pictures and news (and maybe a late blog entry after my night out tomorrow!).
Thanks for sticking around!
Chloe
Chloe Metzger 