#uk studies

[about27th]

why choose the University of Dundee??

i finished my masters degree at the uni last year and recently moved to another city for a new job. Having spent nearly two years in Dundee, i really grew to appreciate the uni and the small-town vibe. that's why, I'm here to convince you --- why you should consider the University of Dundee for higher education!

Uni-wise

a compact campus uni

i know the uni inside out, having been both a student and a staff member. i've used almost every service and facility; it is a great campus uni in a decent size where everything essential is included but never feels overwhelming

need help? the enquiry centre is there for you.. want to meet new people? the global room is the place to be (ps. both offer free tea and coffee during the week) plus, there are free fitness classes during exam periods to help with stress, and international events with free food during festivals!! there's always something fun happening and i really couldn't ask for more from this uni --- it's an absolutely fantastic place to live and study🙌

breakfast club & campus pantry

the uni is very generous in helping with living costs. They run a breakfast club and campus pantry during the semester; students can get a free roll or cereal with a hot drink every morning from mon to fri and get free groceries up to 10 items every 2 weeks. the latter has limited space though running by booking and I had never got a spot (they fill up really fast😭) but the free breakfast was a big big help --- I got fed well and didn't lose a fortune, I'm genuinely grateful for it🙇🏻‍♀️

createspace

this is one of the best perks about joining the uni --- CreateSpace is inside the main library and has awesome tools and devices like 3D printers, sewing and embroidery machines, Cricut devices, and lots of toolkits; they even offer free courses to teach you how to use everything!!

i've used the space to repair my clothes, create gift for my friends, make stickers to sell and even fix my laptop with their tiny screwdrivers; it makes the uni super homie as everything is so handyyyyyyyy, leaving this space behind for my new job is truly my biggest regret💔

rooms for groups & individuals

as i began my job hunting, i found myself needing a private space for job prep, interviews, and also hobbies👀(I started dancing again during that time to reduce stress🤫). after a long search, I discovered that students and staff can actually book any room within the teaching buildings --- there are even piano rooms, fancyyyyyyyyy; all i had to do was find a room, reserve a slot and wait for confirmation, how good is that!

guarantor scheme

the uni introduced this service not too long ago, to help students secure private accommodations more easily; this wasn't available back before I came so I had to either pay extra rent or use a guarantor service, which cost me more money. This new policy is super duper thoughtful, saving students a lot of hassle when relocating to the uk👍

Life-wise

24/7 in-person emotional support

to me, the around the clock emotional support has made the UK a great country to live in. Besides nationwide virtual support available from Samaritans and Breathing Space, etc.. Dundee has a unique Community Wellbeing Centre in the city centre offers 24/7 face to face emotional support for anyone feeling stressed or just needing a chat. Knowing that there's always a place to go to, day or night, has made a huge difference to my anxiety; this exclusive service makes Dundee a wonderful place to live🧘🏻‍♀️

flexible bus tickets

xplore dundee is the primary bus service serving the city centre. i really like their 10-trip bundle tickets that never expire – it’s a great way to save money; plus their group tickets for up to five people, which are perfect for days out with friends or family

you can buy tickets on the bus or on their app; I find the app convenient as i don't need to worry about paper tickets. The only downside is that you can't change your mind once you buy a ticket online --- strict no transfer no refund policies

learning opportunities

sometimes free courses arise exclusively for the Tayside region, including Dundee. i had taken an 8-week online workshop on data management in excel, which was fully sponsored as i meet the minority background requirements (check the pic above) i got a certificate at the end, which is great for my cv; it was a good experience having to upskill and meeting people with the same interests. i highly recommend taking advantage of these opportunities during your time in Dundee!!!

Dundee has so much more to offer than i've mentioned.. it's a small city with everything you need nearby, a low cost of living and have easy access to various Scottish cities (30 mins to Perth, Arbroath, St Andrew; an hour or two journeys to Aberdeen, Stirling, Glasgow, Edinburgh and so on) it's a perfect starting point for anyone new to exploring and living in the country

writing this post brings back so many wonderful memories❤️ while i’m on a new adventure now, Dundee will always hold a special place in my heart --- a place that nurtured me and shaped who I am today; i’m incredibly proud of that

hope you will have a lovely journey here too, just like I did😌

[peacefulandcozy]

Instagram credit: fieldnotesbyfi

[amanufacturedheaven]

Rare Language Learning: Polari

If you have ever used the words:

- Naff

- Butch

- Camp

You have unknowingly been speaking the sociolect known as Polari, the language of queer people primarily used in the 30s to the 70s. Polari is now an endangered language, as labelled by the University of Cambridge

Something of note: Many resources out there imply (or state) that Polari was a language invented and used solely by white cis gay men, which is decidedly untrue. Many words of Polari come from drag culture, lesbians, and the Romani people and their language. The use of ‘the language of British gay men’ may be a more palatable title to the general public, but it is not to me. I did my best to curate a variety of resources, but unfortunately much of queer history has been lost many more decades than I’ve been alive, if you have any other resources for studying Polari I would love to read them, message me or leave a link in the replies.

Articles

Learn Polari, the Secret Language of the Gays ⚢ Out Magazine

Polari: The code language gay men used to survive ⚢ BBC

Polari and the Hidden History of Gay Seafarers ⚢ National Museums Liverpool

The Story of Polari, Britain’s Secret Gay Language ⚢ Fabulosa!

Polari People ⚢ Fabulosa!

Polari: a language born from prejudice ⚢ Englishpanish

The secretive gay language that gave LGBTQ people a voice ⚢ GAYTIMES

A brief history of Polari: the curious after-life of the dead language for gay men ⚢ The Conversation

Study Material

The Polari Bible ⚢ Internet Archive

Fantabulosa: A Dictionary of Polari and Gay Slang ⚢ Internet Archive

Sociolinguistics / Polari ⚢ StudySmarter

FlashCards ⚢ Quizlet

New Polari Translator ⚢ LingoJam

Polari: A sociohistorical study of the life and decline of a secret language. ⚢ Dissertation, University of Manchester

Polari: a language born from prejudice ⚢ Englishpanish

Simon Bowkett: a short blog in Polari for LGBT+ History Month ⚢ Civil Service LGBT+ Network

[teneebris]

photo credits to pinterest.

[janasojka]

moon landscapes, hand study, rhododendron.

[oifaaa]

I have a fun new game I'm playing where anytime I find out something good a vaccine has done I share that news with my deeply anti vax mother I know it won't change her mind but it makes me happy anyway today I learned that the HPV vaccination programme the UK started in 2008 has managed to cut down the amount of cervical cancer cases by 90% in England

[alilystudies]

She feels like a study buddy at this point…

[faaun]

last night i got home kind of tipsy and very much in tears and my mother told me the force you exert to keep someone in your life is proportional to the force with which they will leave your life. if you have to fight tooth and claw to keep them, their leaving will be just as hard, just as harsh, and just as definite.

[huh-j]

“I can’t, I have to study~”

~Rory Gilmore

- Probably my most used excuse this year..

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to study English literature A-level in an all girls sixth form with a young teacher then just know that once (and this is a few years ago now) my teacher played the “If the men find out we can shapeshift they’re going to tell the Church!!” video and then asked us what about the video we could apply to studying The Handmaid’s Tale

[starrysharks]

remember that i'm ALIVE but minty isn't unfortunately

[iced-flower-pot]

Ghosts BBC / 04.04 - Gone Gone

Clearly i'm doing ok :'')

[janasojka]

Moon landscapes.

[franni-ghost]

Horney 🙂

[alilystudies]

New year, new study setup!

[huh-j]

Me studying nonstop because I won’t settle for anything less than the highest possible grade…