Work 40 hours, play 40 hours, sleep 40 hours

I learned early in my year abroad that the British student takes work very seriously, but then has guilt free play time! Attend tutorials and seminars, do the research and written work, then join your friends for the evening.

I would wake up, have breakfast in the cafeteria, go to the library, tutorial, whatever - then there was always some dance somewhere!

I also joined friends to take a local bus to explore the country on weekends, or take a day trip to London - train tickets are inexpensive for a day-return - students can go into art museums for free! See first hand all the things you are learning about in books, it makes it all come to life, makes you really care about what you are learning. I was poor, so I'd pack marmalade sandwiches from breakfast, and buy a cup of tea somewhere!

Don't know about now, but there were always cheap - nosebleed - seats for great theatre or opera performances, and for dance, the panorama is best from up above anyway!

I traveled to Germany for my winter break, Greece and Italy for spring - again, poor, but rail passes, grocery store or market for food - one learns the language very quickly when negotiating for staples. I met so many people who were willing to help.

The experience at Reading is one I will never forget. I had tutors who would answer every question, or send me to find even more questions, which is even better.

The group tours we took to stately homes, palaces, gardens, after having the information about history, architecture, political climate - opened my eyes which, I hope, have remained open.