So far, I have had not one minute of "down-time". I've either been diligently working on coursework, attending lectures, or partying with friends. Make no mistake, if you are as dedicated as you should be while you are here, you will need to be able to juggle all three with a finesse I can't convey. Once you have it down though, every weekend will be the "Best I've ever had!"
I've been having an amazing experience so far, and I haven't even left Lancaster to explore the greater lake district yet (been trying to get a feel for a study plan to deal with the immense amount of reading)! Studying here is a whole different practice than in the states, in which you are constantly "checked on" by a mass of small quizzes, writing assignments, and other weekly or frequent measures of your competence. Here it is very much your responsibility to keep up with everything yourself and go beyond what the lectures say. For instance, you may be used to only keeping up with the information that relates directly (in some cases word-for-word) to what has been taught or will be taught in your lectures. Not so in the English system. Be expected to read three or four chapters from several books each week for ONE CLASS. The expectation seems to be that you not only learn what is being taught, but also to formulate your own thoughts based on multiple sources through your own research, from DAY ONE. All of this culminates (for most classes) in a rigorous final exam or paper, which takes several hours or weeks to complete, respectively.
In my opinion, I love it. it truly gives me a sense of understanding of subjects that makes me feel less like a student and more like an academic. The reading lists, while not for the faint-at-heart, reflect a deeper understanding of the course material in ways that allow to to draw your own conclusions. Speaking of which, I better get back to it...
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