h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Dolt - how you doing?

My application for a PGCE has been sent to my first-choice institution, University of Wales, Swansea Campus (mostly because I wanted to study somewhere near Odo).

OK, so it's a while in the future, and I don't know if I've even got the place yet, but I need to start thinking about somewhere to live, so:

What are renting prices like down there?
Is there usually the odd space in student housing, or are they oversubscribed (in short, will I end up somewhere miles out of town)?
What's the transport/parking situation like on campus?

Oh, and...

How much does the beer cost in the Union?

I find that if the answer to that last question's suitable, then all worries will take care of themselves.

B

Hi B! I'm OK, ta for asking

The Education department isn't on the main campus, it's about 2.5 miles away in the Hendrefoelan Student Village. HSV is where most first-years and a lot of PGCE students live. The rent is cheaper than most other Uni-owned accommodation at £44 - £47 a week (though more expensive than private housing) and it's not a bad place to live for a year. Parking is adequate and there's a bar, shop and laundrette on-site.

If you go for private housing you should be able to find yourself a place relatively easily - rent is typically around £40 a week and there's a surfeit of private accommodation available.

It's been a while since I was in a Union bar, but last time I looked, a pint of John Smiths or Tetleys cost £1.30 (the bar in HSV is union owned, so that price applies there too). Most normal pubs won't charge more than £2 for a pint of regular beer (i.e. not Stella or Guinness).

Hope this helps a little.

Sounds fantastic - who'd ever want to leave?

"Hendrefoelan" - Hmmm...had I better learn how to pronounce that?

B

Most people call it the Student Village, or even just the Village, and don't bother with tricky Welsh bits. They can't even spell it consistently here, let alone pronounce it...

Why would anyone want to leave? I think you'll be able to answer that yourself after you've taught in a few of the local schools...

I can't honestly believe it's any worse than Scunthorpe. Or Birmingham, come to that.

B

I've heard horror stories from both Swansea and Birmingham (from reliable friends who've been there and done that, not just hearsay) and I wouldn't like to condemn either as worse. As long as you're prepared and are willing to make the effort, teaching even in places like Port Talbot can be tremendously rewarding.

On a lighter note, there are some cracking real ale pubs to restore you after a hard day's assignment-writing

Wotcha Rob

Thought I'd keep you up to date. I had my interview on Thursday and am enjoying a few days of R&R with Odo.

I'm pretty optimistic about getting a PGCE place. The only two other interviewees weren't exactly teacher-looking material (very shy, nervous, introvert), and I definitely bonded with the Chemistry tutor, so with luck I should be residing in the Student Village come September. You didn't tell me there was a pizza takeaway on site too! (OK. So I'm easily impressed).

BTW, kudos on the new nickname adjunct (your word, not mine ). The ellipsis is very mysterious and highly sophisticated.

B

Hi B! Sounds like the interview went well, when will you know for sure?

I can't believe you were impressed by Diva's Diner*! Scunthorpe and Birmingham must be bad beyond my imagining... maybe you'll survive teaching in Swansea after all

To preserve the air of mystery and sophistication, I shall not tell the very short and utterly dull story of how the ellipsis came to be adjuncted to my name. Glad someones likes it, though

*I know, I know. It's really called Scooby Snacks or something, but I'm an old codger and back in my day it was Diva's Diner!

Well, now I'm really intrigued by the ellipsis...

I think the big appeal of Diva's Diner (or whatever) was the access within walking distance to takeaway pizza. In Brum, I generally had to wait at least 35 minutes for delivery.

I should get the results of the interview through within the fortnight - or so they tell me. I don't know about intake numbers on PGCE course, but I'm guessing they'll certainly want at least two out of the three of us on the course, so hopes are high.

B