The beginning, back then.

It has been two and a half months since my husband, Syahrin and I have been home in Malaysia. Two and a half months since we last realized that our extended honeymoon was finally coming to an end. Two months since I've started working again after a year-long hiatus from wearing pant suits and rushing to meetings.

Attempted to board the train for Hogwarts at Platform 9 and 3/4;

But arrived in KLIA instead!

I can barely remember the hazy days of hectic/frantic writing-up; can't believe it was actually not so long ago. It's funny how when I was studying for my Master's degree, I couldn't wait to start working again. Now after only two months of working, I'm already planning to do another Master's. Its like I'm a glutton for self-punishment: Must Drive Self Crazy By Taking Totally Stressful Degrees, Preferably in a Foreign Country, At Least Once Every Two Years. Hmmm.

Truth be told, I miss the UK. I miss my quirky British neighbours, the Malaysian community in Coventry, and I even miss waiting for the bus at ungodly hours. I miss my darling girlfriends Julia and Fiona, and how we got along so well despite the differences in religion, race and culture. I am entirely glad to be home, though.. it is truly where the heart is. People always think that being abroad for just one year won't make much of a difference. Let me tell you something, ladies and gentlemen. Don't assume anything until you've actually experienced it. There is something about knowing that you have very, very limited time that makes you grab and absorb everything as quickly as possible.

Alumni; The University of Warwick.

I could safely say that my experience as a postgrad student in the UK was a rare one, if not unusual than most. But lets face it, there are about a gazillion Malaysians studying, working or living in the UK. My experience couldn't be that different, could it? Well it was definitely a challenging time that my husband and I had to overcome without much experience or guidance from anyone else.

For one, The University of Warwick isn't a well known institution in Malaysia despite it's good reputation amongst universities in the UK. Having said this, note that the average Malaysian would opt for cities like London and Manchester and Liverpool and Newcastle - because that's where all the football action is. And come on, it's nice to name a place that evvveerryyyonnee knows, right? As in, "Kau blaja kat mana?" "Kat Manchester bro". Instead of, "Kau blaja kat mana?" "Kat Warwick Uni." "Hah? Kat mana tu? Tak pernah dengar pun team bola Warwick. "


I get this with almost everyone that asks. 

Another confusing fact is that although the university is called the University of Warwick, it's actually in the (pretty boring) city of Coventry, situated in the West Midlands. Most universities in the UK are named after the city/town its situated in, like University of Oxford is in Oxford, and University of Cambridge is in Cambridge. Etc etc. To be fair the university is quite near to the town of Warwick, and Coventry used to be part of Warwickshire... but lets not get into boring details. Bottom line is, it's not in Warwick, but in Coventry. Coventry is now supposed to be the 9th largest city in the UK or something like that, as a matter of random fact.

So what's the campus like, you say?

A fleeting glimpse. Pictures were taken on the last day we were there.

Despite not necessarily being the top destination for Malaysian students, Warwick Uni is in no way short of Malaysians. There is a rapidly growing number of undergraduate students and a well-established Malaysian society (mostly lead by mature PhD students) in the city. A lot of Bank Negara and PNB Scholars study at the prestigious Warwick Business School. In fact, that's what University of Warwick is most known for, I think. Which brings me to another reason why I had a hard time sorting myself out in the beginning:

Warwick Holticulture Research International (HRI) is the department that conducts the MSc (Environmental BioScience in a Changing Climate. Mouthful, I know!) I was to undertake. A good school for Agriculture and Environment related studies in the UK, but located approximately 18km off of the main campus in Coventry (this one is actually in Warwickshire). With no direct or easy public transportation. And with no record of any Malaysian in living history to ever set foot on that particular campus.Glad that someone (ehem) finally did, but really, it was no walk in the park trying to figure out what I needed to do in the first few days!

Now, you might think who on earth would study Agriculture and the Environment when you can study Rocket Science and Finance and Italian Arts History and Filmology and all sorts of other cool stuff while in the UK?

A question I will answer in the next post. Gotta get me some shut eyes, darls. I have a feeling its going to be a long weekend, this one.