I am finishing up my fourth week of classes at the University College London as a Biomedical Sciences affiliate student. When I first received my schedule it was pretty surreal. I only had classes Monday -Wednesday. That meant a 4-day weekend. I almost immediately began scheduling all the places I was going to travel to with my new found freedom. The first one my list was of course Barcelona! However, many of my lecturers advised against planning trips to especially Barcelona so soon but I was bothered and not concerned with that advice. The first week of classes went very smooth. I only had class Monday and Tuesday because my Wednesday practical did not start until week 4. How neat! My original schedule consisted of  the following four classes:

1. Race,Gender and Feminism: Lecture Monday 9-11am:Tutorial Tuesday 3-4pm
2. Identity Politics:Prejudice,Inclusion and Equal Rights Tuesday 11am-1pm
3. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Monday 4-6pm; Practical Wednesday 2-5pm
4. Drugs and the Mind Monday 2-4pm 

An Unexpected but Expected Change:

Note I said my original schedule so yes my 4-day weekend was quickly taken from me. At the University College of London students study one or at most two degree programmes. I was admitted into Biomedical Sciences therefore I was required to take at least 50% or in my case 2 classes in the Life Sciences department. This was no problem and I happily obliged. My next two classes were completely up to me or so I thought. In the second week of classes, I was removed from my Identity Politics class because I was not apart of a Political Science or International Affairs degree plan. Closed classes specifically for a degree programme are very common not only at the UCL but in the UK as well. It was not very surprising that I was removed because I was the only student from another degree programme in the module. Students were fascinated that I was taking such a wide range of courses. I was not limited to a degree programme as they were. Coming from the United States, I am accustomed to a liberal arts approach to education. I am very comfortable dubbing and trying out things that appeal to me. However at the University College London, this is not allowed. Students are admitted to a degree programme and take courses soley that relate directly to it with little room if any for exploration.

Bye Bye 4 Days. Hello Three!

My four day weekend was taken down to a three day weekend but again I am still very happy with that. The only module in my schedule that changed is my removal of the Identity Politics Course and the addition of a module title:

1. Crime and Security Tuesday 12-2pm;Tutorial Thursday 1-2pm

Dealing with Change and Continuing my Journey:

Change is inevitable and I am happy to welcome it as I continue to navigate in and around London as a tourist, a student and an American, and so many other identities. I have a lot of free time which I am not very accustomed to. This is all and continues to be a learning process. I am learning my way around the campus, learning my way to the university without directions, learning how and when to speak up in class if permitted and so many other areas of learning that I am also encountering. I hope to continue to evolve and change as the weeks and months continue to pass. London is beautiful and I wake up everyday with a humble heart and grateful spirit that I have been granted such an amazing opportunity.