WEEK 1 - STEPPING INTO THE UNKNOWN AT VCU

“Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

Mark Twain

I’m just coming to end of my first week which is known as add/drop week; this is really different to the university system in the UK. Basically, here you get to choose 4 or more classes out of a HUGE number of options each semester. You get the first week to decide if you want to add or drop any of these classes, but they have to amount to at least 12 credits (48 for the UK). My classes for this semester are:

The Meaning of (Graphic) Styles

Studio Management

Drawing from Observation

Dialogues

The professors here find it really interesting when I explain that we don’t have the option of choosing, except for maybe one of two modules over 2nd and 3rd year. Also, that the course syllabus is set from when you first apply for university. They thought this was quite restricting I think! But I get the impression the university system here acts more like the UK one throughout A Levels - they have to carry on doing a small maths course even throughout their degree (nooo thank you).

I really enjoy cooking my meals and this first week has been a struggle finding new brands of food to buy! Everything is quite different and fruit and veg has definitely been more expensive. I’ve taken trips to several supermarkets now (Kroger and Target) to see where the best place to buy is. Also, student accommodation here doesn’t supply kettles, toasters, microwaves etc. which I found strange! Luckily my flat had a kettle from previous tenants, but I had to buy a toaster.

Another big difference here is that hardly anyone else cooks for themselves, whereas in England you don’t have another choice really. At VCU there are loads of restaurants nearby (mostly fast food), so people either buy all their meals out/as takeaways or have the meal plan at Shafer. Although I’m not sure how often they go there...it’s probably a mix between buying food and going to the dining hall.

Today (Saturday 18th) my friend and I visited the VMFA (Virginia Museum of Modern Arts) to see the Edward Hopper exhibition. This was really nice as I got see another part of Richmond. We also went for a really nice lunch at a place called Brunch that I was recommended. Overall the first week has been really fun. Although it's also been tiring learning my new schedule and adapting to the different way of teaching, as well as finding my way round the campus. It’s Martin Luther King Day on Monday, so we get a long weekend!