University of East London: Docklands

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One Student Review of University of East London: Docklands

• Puspavathi Ramayah

  December 2, 2012

  My name is Pupavathi Ramayah. I’m a Malaysian working presently at Malaysia as a Human Resource Manager for an Japanese Air Cond Manufacturing Group of companies; Daikin.
  My experience studying abroad at London United Kingdom, was the best time of my life, or I would say I was gifted to have the opportunity to pursue my Law degree abroad.
  I first completed in Malaysia Stamford College, the qualifying papers Pre Law UOL papers and got my A ‘Levels qualifications to continue to do my first year Diploma as a twinning programme with University of East London (UEL) The twinning is 1 year Malaysia + 2 years at UEL London.
  Once completing my first year, I had 2 -3 months’ time to do preparation to fly to London. With lots of excitement and hopes and I was busy shopping, first winter clothing and shoe. It’s normal for Malaysians a tropical whether citizen to shop a full luggage of winter cloths, as we are from tropical country and it’s always been a cool trendy thing to wear jacket and sweaters. Without knowing how annoying it’s going to be once you use it every day!
  The day I landed at Heathrow airport, everything seems to be so normal. Nothing like I have watched at movies or TV programs. There was no any sort of surprise of shock. A bunch of us travelling together were guided by a Malaysian student who is already studying there for a year. This was arranged by the University or our college back at Malaysia. With just a smile, hello and shake hand, we were guided to the underground train station at Heathrow. And that’s when I knew how irritating was it to drag your luggage and walk as fast as possible, because everyone was just rushing to catch the train. Back at home we were from upper middle class family where everything carried by someone from your family member. And I have never taken the train in my life. A bus yes, when I was a kid. Not after 20’s. I always travelled by car, in fact I had my own car.
  First lesson learned for that day was, I have to be independent. And the train and busses are going to be the mode of transportation if I want to travel out of University to the city. No pickups with a car or what so ever.
  My first impression of London was everything was built with red brick and there were no colourful buildings or houses. No painted walls, but all red bricks. I was quite disappointed, because I expected to see more. Only later I realise, the train in travelling underground and what so ever building pass by on surface is not the London city at all, but was more of suburbs’ to reach our destination to Barking town.
  I was thankful that I lived in the University hostel because I can wake up an hour before my classes and walk to classes. In fact everything was at walking distance, the library, main campus, Law office, cafeteria, AND off course the bar. that right, it was a culture shock for many of us to see 2 bars located right inside the University compound.
  The following day, we were picked up by a student bus to tour the London city. I was amazed to the point I was speechless. Coming from Asia, the Big Ben, Parliament House, the Thames river gate and everything else was so perfect. The people on the street were so friendly and happy. No any stress and anger at traffic and hot humidity whether to be piss when the bus was late. Trust me, I felt like I was in another planet totally.
  The following week, I went to campus registration hall, and I realise the senior students were helping out, and they were all very helpful and friendly. We paid our 1 year tuition fees (it was a huge amount 8,000 pounds per year) and also settled the hostel fees (2,500 per year). Once all settled down, classes started the next day, and I would say I was shocked to see the amount of foreign students in the University. I felt like they were they snobbish type. They walk around with their high heels and make a lot of noise, like they want to be noticed, and seeking attention from every one they pass by. The local British students did not care about us. They have their own friends that they sit together at lecture, cafeteria, and library. I did not have a single friend fro the classes I attended. So mostly we Malaysian stick together and help out each other with studies, food, good and bad influence like to the bar.
  The lecturers were mostly local British. I had problem to understand the accent the lecturer were teaching. Even though we Malaysians come from very strong British colonized influenced English, I still had the problem to understand everything a British spoke. I use to pick words and try to make up my own sentences. It took me around few months to fully understand British English.
  But, at the hostel, we had multinational corridor mates. It was a 12 room’s corridor. Lucky for me, I was staying with a mix corridor where boys and girls life together. Life at our corridor was the best moment of being a student at UK. It’s such a perfect size room for an individual. We share the toilets, shower room and the kitchen. And that GOD we had cleaners 5 days a week to clean up the common area. Rooms were under our own care. I would say it was perfect. The heating system was superb that I can just wear my shorts around the corridor and kitchen, even during the winter times. For me it was worth the money we paid.
  I made friends from 12 different nationalities. Mostly were from other European nationals. We cook and share our food, music, milk, and also drinks were always in the kitchen. I’m so glad have stayed in that corridor, because it was the best moment of my life. I still can remember how we use to sit and chat in the kitchen for hours or late in the night. Because we do not have any other family member around there, mates become the soul mates, and pretty soon we started looking out for each other. We go clubbing, city tour, grocery shopping together. Walkin to Barking town to buy Hagen Daze ice cream at 7 eleven after midnight, due to either exam stress or assignment not completed. Walking with friends in the winter is kind of cool. I have never done such a thing at Malaysia, and I would say I was more of spoilt bread back home. I was very much dependant with car that I’ve never walked even 1 km. But UK university life has not only thought me to be independent in my studies (no spoon feed by lecture notes and exam tips) but also to appreciate to live to the simplest.
  During the break time I spend my time travelling around UK. I visited Wales, Scotland, New Castle, Manchester, Liverpool, Bath and etc. I enjoyed every moment of time travelling be it by train, bus or rented car. It’s so easy to drive around at UK because it was the same direction we drive at Malaysia, right hand side drive. Being a football fan, I enjoyed more because football is like bread and butter there. Each day, it’s all about football news, only then the weather and politics.

  I completed my Bachelor degree in LLB, with 2nd class lower only. But, I learned about life with flying colours. I learned basic polite manners, like thanking a waiter who serve food on your table only from UK. If I would have stayed back and completed my degree at Malaysia, I’m sure I would not have learned the value of life, but rather calculate bank balance, and judge a person by the car he or she drives and size of the house one lives in.
  Hope one day I can go back to UK or to other part of Europe to complete my Masters education.

  Thank you for spending time to read my review.

  Overall Score: (4.09/5.00)

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