3 - MUN Life

Some details of the MUN life…

Campus is about 5 times larger than Talbot Campus so even living on campus you’re a 10-15 minute walk from classes/ gym/ uni centre. The commute can be fun or incredibly dangerous depending on the ratio of snow to ice, though plenty of amusement is given for both. Buses run every half hour and go pretty much everywhere, with a fixed price of $2 each way.

Weights room in The Works (MUNs gym)

Classes are seminar-size (my largest class is 30 people) whilst the format is similar to that of lectures which makes raising concerns easier. Lecturers have genuine interest in feedback from students (as students choose their own classes lecturers make the extra effort to make their class worth choosing), which is refected in the quality of classes.

The social life is great, in a novel Canadian way – there’s been a couple of house party’s and I’ve kindly hosted predrinks every Thursday. Beer-pong and flip-cup are – without a doubt – the most fun drinking games I’ve come across which can have hazardous consequences (speaking from a responsible observer’s point of view, ofcourse!). There are no clubs as such but the main bars have all the features of a club – mix of mainstream music, reasonably-sized dancefloor, populated with mainly students, and bouncers with banter. It’s a 10 minute taxi (approx. $2-3 each) from campus to George Street, and if there are queues to get in, they are really short.

Gathering at Perle's House

Inside Sundance (bar on George Street)

Outside 

Accommodation is good, though Burtons Pond buildings look old from the outside; inside they are just as modern as Cranbourne/Purbeck, if not better. My flatmates are a good laugh; two Canadians (Colin and Garrett) and a Swede (Fredric). One main difference is the seriousness of ‘quiet hours’ (11pm-7am), which are enforced by RA’s – after 3 warnings you are fined $30. Below are a few pics of my humble abode...

Most of day-to-day purchases are more expensive than in the UK – in Bournemouth I was spending about £60 a week (with 1-2 nights out) whereas here I’m spending about £80 ($130); in student terms an 8-pack of beer (cans) is $17.50 (£11)! However, I strongly believe the experience is worth spending a little more on groceries!!!

Also, I have started an Instagram account, so for more pictures follow me; @patrickbevan. Here's a taster...