Azlan Abn

it is 2 a.m. Currently I am not blogging at my desk. I am in Faizal’s room. Well I could not sleep. I guess may be because I had slept during the evening. So rather than doing nothing while waiting for my eye become sleepy, it is better for me to write something here. I would like to continue writing review about UCL.

FOOD
There are few cafeterias and a refectory. However I don’t really like eating there. The food are expensive (for me) and lack of variety. Normally I just go there to buy snacks or chocolates. If you are willing to walk about 15 min, you can buy some good food in Drummond Street near Euston. A lot of halal food sold there. Well if you have a bike, it will only take about 5 mins to get there. Alternatively, you can buy sandwiches. There are many English restaurants, fast food shops, Japanese and Chinese food restaurant, sandwich shops in Tottenham Court Road. Subway, Benjy’s, Cafe Nero, Starbucks, and small shops you’ve never heard. Some of them offer cheaper food compared to the refectory. For sushi lovers, you can try Yo! Sushi or other shops nearby. There also a Sainsbury and Tesco near Tottenham Court Road.

SHOPPING
I you’re bored just go to Tottenham Court Road or Oxford Street to have a window shopping. It is very Nice. Despite known for having a lot of food restaurants Tottenham court Road also known for having a large number of electronics shops. I can say it is like a mini Low Yatt Plaza in KL. Oxford Street is only 10 mins walk from UCL main building. It is famous a one of the most prestigious shopping area in London. Most of the shops are designers shop, clothes and mobile shop.

That’s all. Alhamdulillah I am sleepy now.

See you in the next series. Food and halls, maybe.

During form 4 and early form 5, I never thought about studying abroad. All I worry about is my Archery. Only when monthly test or semester exam around the corner I became worried about my study.

The last time I was thinking about it maybe when I was in form 1. That was when I went to London to visit my Mak Long. She was studying medic in UCL. Actually she was specializing in sth about blood.

Just a few days after the world was shocked by the death of Princess Diana and Dodi al-Fayeed in a car crash in France, my father took me to Subang airport and we board on MAS then transit at Bangkok to take EVA air. After hours journey, we arrived at Heathrow.

My Pak Long took us to his home somewhere near Wembley. We stayed in his flat for the whole period we we there. l was very happy to be there for two reasons. First, that was my first time to be in the UK. Second, I was reunited with my mother and siblings. They arrived there few days earlier and I haven’t met them about one month before because I was in boarding school.

While we were there, we managed to visit some of the tourist spot in London. My family, my grandparents and I took the tour bus tour around London. One of the places I could remember is Trafalgar Square. Besides that we went to Windsor Castle and Hampton Court Castle. Those castle does not look attractive form outside but very impressive inside.

One day, my Pak Long took us to my Mak Long’s uni, UCL. We I just remember we took some picture and there is a red building over there. On the other day, we decided to try our hand on fruit picking. Even though summer almost over or over already, we don’t want to miss the experience. I found it quite fun, we can taste the fruit as well. Its free. Only the one we brought home, we have to pay.

After that, My Pak Long brought us to Oxford. Unfortunately we arrived quite late. The colleges was closed for public visit. Then we decided to take a walk looking around Oxford. I remember walking along the road, it looks like old road, like the one used when people use horses to transport. We took some picture in front of the Oxford merchandise shop and business school. My grandfather once said, “Wan nak tengok bila besar nanti hang belajar kat sini ( UK)” and I replied “InsyaAllah.”

It is interesting to know that I went to the same university as my Mak Long, even though I have never dreamt to study in London esp UCL. Maybe because of my parents and my grandparents prayer, I managed to study here, the university where I stepped my foot on before. That is how strong is the influence of our parents and family’s redha. Without it, I might not be able to pursue my study here. Don’t forget our parents wherever we are, whatever we become one day. Redha Allah terletak pada redha ibu/ibubapa (sila betulkan ayat ni…) Pray for them

“Ya Allah ampunkanlah dosa-dosaku dan dosa-dosa kedua ibubapaku dan kasihanilah mereka sepertimana mereka mengasihani aku sejak kecil lagi” Amin…

London was not my first choice. Initially I intended to study in Edinburgh because I thought it is a nice city. Since Mr. Azman, YTN officer said YTN wouldn’t send their students there because it was not in the list. So I was left with only 2 options. SOTON or UCL. Three YTN scholars choose to go to SOTON. During that time, most of engineering students in KMYS choose SOTON. Thinking about there will be too many malay in that uni and I might living in malay circles only, not mixing with other people made me asked Mr Azman about London. He said London is a good place. He encouraged me to choose UCL and convinced me that I will enjoy studying there. After considering his advice and the situation I might face in SOTON, I decided to choose UCL. Why UCL not IC? The reason…I think it is better for me to keep it to myself.

Alhamdulillah, after two years studying and living in London, I found Mr Azman’s words was right. I also managed to achieve some of my aims while studying in the UK.

HOW DO I DESCRIBE LONDON?

I am sure most of Londoners will agree with me if I say London cannot be described by only one word. It is a vibrant, busy, fun, confusing, dodgy, multi cultural, multi religious, stressful, fast, old, modern, etc. metropolitan city. This is where not only east meets west, but may also the point where everybody from all parts of the world gathered. Not too much if I say it is not a pure English city anymore. When I was on the bus or tube only sometimes I can hear people speaking English, normally I would hear people speaking Arabic, Spanish, Italian, French, Urdu, Swahili or other incomprehensible languages.

However interracial tolerance demonstrated here is far better than in Malaysia. Even though you can see people tend to live in an area where most of the population is their race, for example Edgware Road is popular with Arabs, Chinatown with Chinese, East London with Asians and Africans and South Kensington with whites. Racism is not a big problem. People respect your culture and live harmoniously.

Racism is an offence, universities and government really concern about it. In fact in Student Union, they have a department deals with this issue and the university run anti-racism campaign throughout the year. Serious action will be taken on the offender. Unlike in Malaysia, the UPM incident was kept silence and swept under the carpet. No publicity in the mainstream media. Maybe because Britain don’t have bumiputera policy and everybody speaks in same language, English.

I think Malaysians should learn this positive culture from this country.

p/s: my writings may not reflect the real situation. However that is how I feel and see London.