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Hello, my name's.... erm.... er....
BillieTheBot
Posts: 8,721 Bot
Most of you probably remember a few months ago, I did a load of threads when I was worrying myself sick over the matter of university, even wondering whether it was bothering with at all. Well, things have moved on since, and there's just over a month until the off. Which has brought something slightly different to mind.
A few years ago, when I met some relatives of mine who currently live in Canada, I said one or two things which rather embarrassed them and myself. My mum later said of the event "that's the trouble with first impressions - you only get to make one". With that phrase in mind, what on earth do you say to new flatmates when you first meet, so as not to give an impression that you're some kind of freak/outcast/idiot/prat/complete bastard?
It's just that questions like "what's your name", "where do you come from", and "what are you coming to study" can only sound interesting so often, can't they? To those of you starting now - what would you say? And to those of you at uni now, or those whose uni days are behind them - what did you end up saying in the end?
A few years ago, when I met some relatives of mine who currently live in Canada, I said one or two things which rather embarrassed them and myself. My mum later said of the event "that's the trouble with first impressions - you only get to make one". With that phrase in mind, what on earth do you say to new flatmates when you first meet, so as not to give an impression that you're some kind of freak/outcast/idiot/prat/complete bastard?
It's just that questions like "what's your name", "where do you come from", and "what are you coming to study" can only sound interesting so often, can't they? To those of you starting now - what would you say? And to those of you at uni now, or those whose uni days are behind them - what did you end up saying in the end?
Beep boop. I'm a bot.
Post edited by JustV on
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Comments
Usually.
wouldn;t recommend that...whilst walking through campus the next day to do all that scary registration stuff, people kept looking at me with a mixture of amusement and pity. Some even came up to me and said "aren't you that girl who sang avril lavigne?!" (complete with dance moves and air guitar....
seriously, the first week or so gets a bit irritating with the "where are you from? what are you studying?" etc etc. Just be polite, seem interested and try and think of some other things to talk about! Everyone's in the same boat and you will make friends! good luck.
And how do you sound interested when asking for the 342nd time that day which halls someone is staying at?
Bring a bottle of vodka with you and some shot glasses, you'll be fine!!
Works like a charm...
Yeah thats what i might do. Was thinking either beer or spirits. Guess more people will be able to have spirits. Good ice breaker me thinks
That would work for me...!
Oh im just going to turn up drunk .. says in the prospectus " turn up drunk and you will make friends in no time"
Well have some drink whilst chatting, or if you don't drink then just take some along maybe.
You'll find you'll probably click with some people more then others. Im sure they'll be turtle heading, i know i will on that first day. Just be nice, smile, ask questions. What i'll try and do.
Its when a bit of poo is just poking out ... like a turtles head
Hi I am "SG", hows it going, and then when you all introduce yourselves to each other, get the bottle sip everyone a drink and salute to a wicked year of arsing about....
You'll find once you all have a few drinks, you will all relax and start talking and shit...
The whole introduction thing is just part of the rites of passage. No-one really likes doing it that much but it's something we all have to do at Uni. It's no big deal. Just chill out and you'll have an awesome time.
It's usually "what course are you doing?" "Where are you from?" "What A-Levels did you do?" etc etc.
I find a decent multiplayer computer game is always good for breaking the ice, if you've got a few controllers (or you own a PS2, because everyone will have their own controller for that).
where are you going! i want to go there!
But yeah, bringing a bottle of some spirit or another is a good way to bond with your flat/hall-mates, and with everyone else, you'll probably just start talking through friends, in queues, class, etc.
Everyone is scared and on the look-out for new friends, so people are super friendly. It just happens really. You can't plan these things.
dont worry, they are stories of crazyness that bind groups of friends together for the rest of the time there
Aslong as you talk to people you will be fine. I was just a freak.
there is no point asking what to say - you work it out as you go along... so don't stress over the little things - as long as you are up for meeting new people, you don't shy away, and you seem like a nice kinda' guy - you'll be fine!
turlough was a cool name
The first day is very nervewracking, on a par with starting school as turlough... sorry yerascrote (it'll take a while to get used to that :razz: ) said. I know from what you've posted on the boards that you've worked in a couple of different places and so let me just point out that you have experience at this kind of thing already - even though you won't know it. When you start a new job you are thrust into an environment where there is usually one new person (you) and ten, twenty, a hundred people who know each other and are just meeting you. You've always got through that; having to introduce yourself, tell them your hours, what your future plans are etc. The situation is very similar, just with slightly different questions and slightly different potential relationships. You can do this. EVERYONE who is a fresher is in the same boat as you here, it counts so hugely in your (and everyone else's) favour I can't begin to tell you. There will be a few who know each other, but it will be a few. No one has any leg up other than a particularly vivacious personality - unless it's a crate of Stella, of course.
You're not going to be best mates with everyone in halls/on your course/in the boozer for the entire year... hell, knowing you (and take this in the spirit it's intended
I'll be rooting for you... and very angry if you're on here within a week of starting complaining about no friends or similar :thumb:
Cos turlough is my real name and I don't want many new people to know it.
Oh and Briggi-you can call me whatever you want.