Ah it's Fresher's Week at long last and the students have arrived in force. Out come the first-time drinkers and flip-flop wearers (even in the rain), just-got-out-of-bed-ers and hungover partiers. You can spot them a mile off with their Tesco bags full of unnecessary groceries that they now have the freedom to buy, and with their forced groups of friends all awkwardly trying to make conversation in among their food shopping.
They've got it good these students, here in Bristol. With most of the halls of residence very centrally based now that they've mainly moved down from Clifton, although that was also pretty local, they're near everything they need to be near. The students in the new Nelson Street halls are probably oozing in trendiness by now, what with living on a street now famous for its street art and See No Evil festival. 30 seconds down the road is Tesco and H&M, and they literally live opposite popular super club Syndicate. Recipe for drunken 'disaster'? Probably.
Another block of student halls is as close to the bus station as you physically can be; on top, directly on top. What I would give to roll out of bed and be at the bus and coach station moments later in the morning before work. I hope they realise how lucky they are. The bus station also happens to be opposite both a Tesco and a Subway, oh and the Bristol Royal Infirmary if you ever happen to need that.
They've got it good these students, here in Bristol. With most of the halls of residence very centrally based now that they've mainly moved down from Clifton, although that was also pretty local, they're near everything they need to be near. The students in the new Nelson Street halls are probably oozing in trendiness by now, what with living on a street now famous for its street art and See No Evil festival. 30 seconds down the road is Tesco and H&M, and they literally live opposite popular super club Syndicate. Recipe for drunken 'disaster'? Probably.
Another block of student halls is as close to the bus station as you physically can be; on top, directly on top. What I would give to roll out of bed and be at the bus and coach station moments later in the morning before work. I hope they realise how lucky they are. The bus station also happens to be opposite both a Tesco and a Subway, oh and the Bristol Royal Infirmary if you ever happen to need that.
(Image by The Hampster Factor.)
Pampered, I call it. I'm just jealous.
It's funny for me as a local seeing what I was to the locals of Birmingham two years ago. Although, I have to defend myself and say that I don't think I ever asked my friend (I actually heard this from two girls in Tesco today) whether or not you can mix beer and wine. (?!) I know I was the same as them when I was in my first year in a different city, wondering around with my extremely new friends trying to work out how to get to the nearest Tesco. Holding locals up in the street with my over-sized abnormally big group of fellow Freshers, all trying to navigate our way around our week.
You can't blame them. They've just found freedom from their parents and are now able to roll out of bed and do whatever the hell they like, until the lectures hit. But even then.
In my humble (and totally unbiased...) opinion, they're pretty lucky to be experiencing student life in Bristol. Admittedly, rent costs are high in Bristol, but the atmosphere and trendy environment of the city is perfect for the student era, with something for every type of person. If they want a bit of history, well there's an abundance of it. If shopping's their thing, we're no London but Cabot is pretty great. If they want edgy, urban or underground bars and clubs, head in any direction on the map from halls and they're there. The list goes on, but I'm sure they'll soak up everything Bristol has to offer for its students, and in turn leave their student-y mark.
I feel my envy very slightly shows in this post. I re-join student life in as many as 12 months, but all these students are definitely bringing back some good memories of first year. I smile as I see them become accustomed to our great city.
Pampered, I call it. I'm just jealous.
It's funny for me as a local seeing what I was to the locals of Birmingham two years ago. Although, I have to defend myself and say that I don't think I ever asked my friend (I actually heard this from two girls in Tesco today) whether or not you can mix beer and wine. (?!) I know I was the same as them when I was in my first year in a different city, wondering around with my extremely new friends trying to work out how to get to the nearest Tesco. Holding locals up in the street with my over-sized abnormally big group of fellow Freshers, all trying to navigate our way around our week.
You can't blame them. They've just found freedom from their parents and are now able to roll out of bed and do whatever the hell they like, until the lectures hit. But even then.
In my humble (and totally unbiased...) opinion, they're pretty lucky to be experiencing student life in Bristol. Admittedly, rent costs are high in Bristol, but the atmosphere and trendy environment of the city is perfect for the student era, with something for every type of person. If they want a bit of history, well there's an abundance of it. If shopping's their thing, we're no London but Cabot is pretty great. If they want edgy, urban or underground bars and clubs, head in any direction on the map from halls and they're there. The list goes on, but I'm sure they'll soak up everything Bristol has to offer for its students, and in turn leave their student-y mark.
I feel my envy very slightly shows in this post. I re-join student life in as many as 12 months, but all these students are definitely bringing back some good memories of first year. I smile as I see them become accustomed to our great city.