Hello after a long hiatus! The last couple of months have been a busy busy time for most of us haven´t they? Except for those of you making last minute university applications, accommodation bookings and visa applications must be well underway? Just another month to go! I hope I´ve been able to answer some of the questions you´ve had about studying and living in the UK and I hope my posts and my e-book have made things a little easier and comfortable for you. I wish all those of you flying to the UK next month, a very happy countdown to departure!
This post, by the way, is not for you! It´s for those of you who haven´t been able to make it to the universities of your choice, and are looking for a second chance.
Read on…
We’re well into May, and those of you with offers are probably looking into accommodation options now? Read the Uni vs Private Accommodation post to figure out which one is for you! If you’ve decided on uni accomm, life becomes much simpler because you simply have to study the brochure and the website, shortlist a couple of places you’re keen on and make an application! But if you’ve decided to go down the private accommodation road, things become a little confusing. How do you look for a place sitting seven seas away? What does bedsit mean? And what do bills include? And what’s a detached house? And also, where do you search for rooms and flatmates?
I’m going to try and tackle these worries one step at a time. How about we begin by figuring out where to look first? Read on…
Just back from a lovely afternoon get-together, happy on tiramisu and carrot cake and rasberry meringue and all kinds of salads! I’m one of those folks who can’t enjoy a party unless there’s good food (no matter how fabulous the music is or how brilliant the company is or how much alcohol is flowing!), and so am feeling very content because there was a bit of it all! I made my two penny bit of contribution to the snack bar as well (and hope it made some stomachs happy!), and that brings me to party food recipe no 2! Read recipe 1 here.
Roasted vegetable and pesto salad
Read on…
What is a summer internship?
A summer internship is an opportunity to work in an organisation as a member of the team for a certain period of time in the holidays so as to gain valuable work experience in an industry of your choice!
Am I eligible to apply for an internship?
Summer internships are usually for penultimate year students (students in their second last year of university) and graduates. However each organisation has it’s own criteria, so it’s best to get in touch with them to enquire if you are eligible (incase the information on the website is not clear)
How long does it last?
Summer internships usually last for about 4-10 weeks. Some could be slightly shorter or longer.
Do you get paid?
Read on…
And we complete 3 months of MTG!
I’ve added a few new features to the website:
- There’s a twitter widget in the right-hand sidebar with my latest tweets – so if you aren’t already following MTG on twitter, that widget will keep you informed of most student-news updates. The widget doesn’t display retweets, however, so you could follow MTG for the whole deal!
- There’s an Amazon widget in the right-hand sidebar that you can use to shop for books, cds, dvds, gadgets, and anything else you fancy on Amazon
- What all you prospective students would find most useful is the Student Talk feature recently introduced. It’s a collection of interviews with alumni and current students from various universities across UK. The project is still in its infancy, and you can help it grow by contributing! Click here
- There’s a new testimonials page. I’m so glad MTG is being appreciated! Click here
- There’s a Flickr widget in the right-hand sidebar that streams photos of interesting places I’ve been to and have blogged about in the UK!
Some other updates:
- MTG now has over a 100 Facebook fans! Hurrah! Become one too – click here!
- The Orkut community has over a 180 members! Join in!
Thanks everyone for all the support and appreciation! A special thank you to everyone who helped with the Student Talk section – thanks for taking the time out 
Just back from a lovely afternoon get-together, happy on tiramisu and carrot cake and rasberry meringue and all kinds of salads! I’m one of those folks who can’t enjoy a party unless there’s good food (no matter how fabulous the music is or how brilliant the company is or how much alcohol is flowing!), and so am feeling very content because there was a bit of it all! I made my two penny bit of contribution to the snack bar as well (and hope it made some stomachs happy!), and that brings me to party food recipe no 2! Read recipe 1 here.
Roasted vegetable and pesto salad
Read on…
If you’re fond of pan-Asian cuisine, you’re going to love this place! Wagamama has been modelled on the ramen bars of Japan, and is a delight for anyone keen on good, sumptuous and healthy food served quick in a simple setting and friendly ambience. At first glance, the menu can look fairly daunting, but if you take a minute to read what each of the main ingredients translate into in English, life becomes much easier! You can choose from ramen (big bowls of noodles in soup), teppan (noodles cooked on a hot flat griddle), chilli men (noodles cooked in a spicy sauce), kare noodle (noodles in a coconut-based soup), and rice dishes. Read on…
A couple of days ago we decided to take advantage of the sunny weather and head to Bath, one of England’s favourite tourist spots. Everyone associates Bath with the stonehenge, and we were looking forward to paying a visit too, but we were so taken by the city of Bath itself, that we ran out of time!
So what’s so great about Bath? First off, it’s a far cry from the red/brown brick constructions you see all over England. In Bath, the raw material used is limestone! And this gives an illusion of extended space and lends a certain freshness to the landscape. The rows and rows of daffodils against the limestone walls are a very pleasing sight! Second, Bath is situated in the heart of what is perhaps one of the most stunning countrysides in England. Acres of fields and hilly turf, and gorgeous valleys. And as we were driving through them, I realised that the city blends beautifully into this natural surrounding.
Read on…
Most of you already in the UK probably know of Greggs? The attractive blue and orange nameboard is an unfailing crowd-puller! No wonder then that there’s a mile long queue from the counter to halfway down the pavement, every lunch hour!
So why is everyone gaga about Greggs? I’ll tell you why I am. Their food is fresh, tasty, filling, and cheap. Service is quick. And you can tuck in while you’re on the move. So if you’re running late for a lecture and haven’t had time for breakfast, or you’re out in the city centre on the last day of the sales and you don’t want to waste time going to a restaurant, or you’re in between classes and in need of a quick lunch.
Read on…
The first day I landed in Leeds, hungry and tired after flying 10 hrs, I made my way to a local burger joint. Now you see, I don’t eat meat and was therefore hoping I’d find a vegetable or a bean burger, if nothing else.
None of that, unfortunately. But what’s this? A cheeseburger?! Ah today is my lucky day I think. So I ask for one and settle myself down at a table, dreaming of a sumptuous no-meat burger with so much cheese that it deserves a mention in the very name of the burger!
Read on…
20 % off for students at Las Iguanas! Sunday to Thursday for a maximum of 4 people. Eat Latin, Drink Latin!
One of those times I wish I was still studying 
Right, so another one of those miss-home-food-cooked-by-someone-else nights, we decided to experiment with this really popular lace in Newbury. With a grand name like Mr India, and a waiting time of 40 minutes you can imagine how high expectations were.
Read on…
This one’s dedicated to all those who’ve said NO to meat! So if you’re a vegetarian out of choice or out of compulsion or even simply because you just haven’t got around to trying anything else, it’s possible you’re worried about what you’re going to eat once you hit UK. And that’s ok. It’s not too comforting thinking all you’re going to get is the chips of the famous fish and chips, or the salad in a subway sub! How much potato, tomato, cheese, and lettuce can a person eat, eh? And did I hear you say you can’t cook? Uh ohh…..:s
Read on…
A few days ago I visited Chennai Dosa on a friend’s recommendation (and this friend, let me add, takes the train to Reading every weekend for this). South Indian spicy fare. Everything from the staple dosa and idli to an elaborate buffet. They even have Chole Bhature (with bhature the size of footballs!) Was starved, and the buffet looked yum and very reasonably priced for what it promised to be, so decided to pile on.
Vegetarian for £4.99 and Non-vegetarian for £5.99 Not bad, eh?
Read on…
A pack of sandwiches, a bag of crisps, and a bottle of water – all for just £2 ! Not bad, I say!
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