What the Falk?

THE VAST majority of British students settle for a degree somewhere in the British Isles, with the more adventurous of us opting for a university on the other side of the country, or choosing a course involving a year or a semester abroad. Students living in the Falkland Islands of South America have no such option, and those who wish to continue their academic studies post-GCSE receive funding from the Islands Government for A-level and Higher Education courses in the UK.

Located in the South Atlantic, about 300 miles from the South American mainland, the Falkland Islands have a raw, unspoilt quality that entices locals and tourists back time and again. Visitors to the Islands are spoilt for choice with more than 227 species of birds (including several of the world’s largest endangered breeding colonies), as well as whales, dolphins, elephant seals, sea lions, delicate flora and rugged geographical formations. Third year Environmental Science student Sam Cockwell tells Student Direct what it’s like to be a Falklander studying to so far from home…

Are you enjoying your time here in Manchester?

Yes, Manchester was the only city that really appealed to me for university. I came here and immediately felt comfortable and at home, this was somewhere that I wanted to be.

What was the most nerve-racking thing about moving to England?

The culture is very different. At home there’s only 3,000 local people (and another 1,500-2,000 military as well, but they’re kind of separate). When you’re there you’d never walk past someone in the street without saying ‘hello’ to them.

Have you found many differences between student life here and in the Falklands?
 
Yes, they drink a lot more at home than they do here, because it’s an isolated community, which is a bit strange. They do drink a horrendous amount at home; it’s quite shocking when you first go back! You don’t get so much bingeing as you do here, because at home it’s sort of every day.

Are there some things that have taken some getting used to?
 
The anonymity in England takes quite a lot of getting used to. Especially when you first come back - you’re so used to everyone knowing you and you’re not used to not looking people in the eye when you walk past them. Crowds as well - if you walk through Market Street on a Saturday, it’s quite scary; there’s nothing like that at home, there’s never that many people in one place.

Is the style of teaching similar to Falklands?

The teaching style and curriculum are almost identical; I did GCSEs the same as everyone else. In Year Nine we did some local history, but because of the way the curriculum works they expect you to have a certain amount of background in European history, which no one really likes.

Have you managed to explore much of Britain since you’ve been here?

I’ve stayed in Wales, York and Birmingham as I’ve got a few friends there, and I’ve explored a fair amount of the South coast, mainly Southampton and the Isle of Wight. I’ve been to Devon and Cornwall to go surfing, which is my main reason for getting about the country. I like visiting the West Country because I feel at home there because it’s so friendly and there’s more of a community atmosphere there, which I really enjoy.

What do you like best about Manchester and miss about the Falklands?

Manchester has a lot going for it- there’s always new things going on and it caters for everyone, no matter what your taste in anything. The pace of life here is so different that I end up getting so excited about the most mundane things such as getting on a bus. However, living in the city, I miss the community atmosphere of the Falklands, along with my immediate family and the safety of home. At home you never lock your doors, you leave your keys in the car all the time - it’s not dangerous at all.

What advice would you give someone who was going to study abroad?

Don’t worry about being the odd one out, because you won’t be. Realistically, everyone’s away from home for the first time and will be homesick too. Just relax about it and meet as many people and do as many things as you can. Take hold of every opportunity that you get.