May 5th, 2005 | The lowdown by Erica Sin

Life in the Not-So-Big City.

On the train from London to Norwich, I was giddy, excited, and nervous all at the same time thinking about finally getting to my school after being in London for so long. As soon as I got on that train, I could immediately tell that I was heading to a completely different sort of city. As I looked out the window for an hour and a half, I saw nothing but green fields and sheep, horses, and old women adjusting scarecrows. Nearing the city, my skepticism began to get the better of me as I realized that I was definitely not in London or Los Angeles anymore.

However, as soon as I got to the school, I began to see things in a different life. Norwich is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. I am living for the year at UEA in one of the famous pyramid shaped residence halls, Norfolk Terrace, and from my window, I have a breathtaking view of a huge green park and a lake. Opening up my window in the morning has become one of my favorite times of the day now.

The other thing about Norwich and UEA that is great is how centralized everything is. On the campus, a brand new, very expensive pub has been reopened that is located in The Square, the heart of the campus. Complete with live entertainment including karoake and bands for the first week, there is something for everyone to do. Pool, video games, and a great social atmosphere provide an activity for all students to do on any night of the week throughout the whole year. (Cheap drinks don't hurt either.)

In the city, there are shops of all types to go to and the best part is that they are all in close proximity with each other. Be warned though, shopping in Norwich can be an all day endeavor, and be wise in figuring out what you can and can't carry back on the bus or whatever form of tranportation you take. I learned that the hard way.

The nicest thing about Norwich is that it definitely has a city life and a great social atmosphere, but it is not nearly as overwhelming as a large city like London or Los Angeles. The centralized campus makes for a great environment to friends in and I still look forward to exploring even more of the city and finding more of Norwich's pleasant not-so-big city charm.