A Petrean's Diary
Arunima's diary - Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4
Here's a diary of Arunima's first few weeks studying Law at Peterhouse. She wrote the diary for a disability article on the BBC website - it should be noted that students aren't normally allowed to keep cars in Cambridge, and some of Aru's experiences with accomodation and getting around Cambridge will be different to those of non-disabled students. Many thanks to Aru for letting us use the diary here!
Peterhouse has recently made a large number of improvements to make the college buildings and facilities accessible to disabled students - for example the library now has powered doors and is completely wheelchair accessible. As always, being such a small college everyone is always willing to help out and everyone matters, so changes are regularly made to accomodate the specialist requirements of individual students, whether it's full wheelchair access or simply a dietary requirement in hall
Sunday 3 October, 2004
Today was the day of the big move! Mum and Dad decided it would be best if I drove up to Cambridge myself in my car (which is specially adapted with hand controls) so that I could get used to the long journey.
I thought this was a good idea, because if I want to go home to Hampshire and back, I need to be confident and independent enough to do it by myself.
We reached Cambridge by about 2.00pm, and my stomach was churning. My hands were a little achy from the drive, but nothing I couldn't handle! When we reached my college, Peterhouse (Cambridge University is divided up into lots of different colleges, it makes everything that little bit more eccentric!) the Porter (also something typical of Cambridge University) was waiting outside my accommodation to lower a bollard and show me the way to the parking area. The bollard is going to be a bit of a problem, but they said that they are going to give me my own zapper to make it go down which will be really convenient.
The room is really, really nice. I've been allowed to live here for the full 3 years of my course, so I was pretty relieved that it was spacious and welcoming. The en-suite is massive (you could sleep a whole army in there, not that you'd want to) and there is enough room for my wheelchairs to charge up.
They have also provided me with a 'mini-gyp' kitchen (more Cambridge terminology), with a microwave and fridge. That's so handy for me, as I wouldn't have been able to carry my food from the house-kitchen to my room. My Local Education Authority (LEA) has provided me with a trolley to carry my food around on.
After unpacking and setting up my stuff (which took 4 hours!), I went to a welcome show that introduced us to the college. Unfortunately it was a bit of a job trying to get into the bar, because there's a huge step. This wasn't something I wanted to deal with on my first day; it was quite embarrassing making a scene in front of complete strangers. The college have said that they are going to try and sort something out.
I stayed in the bar for a bit; it's small, so I remained in one place the whole evening, mingling with other freshers.
The evening entertainment was clubbing at Life, but I was too tired so I went back to my room and phoned some friends and family. Needless to say, I did feel nervous and slightly vulnerable, but I am sure Peterhouse will look after me.
Monday 4 October, 2004
It was so strange being in an alien room. I didn't sleep too well, and I am living next to a restaurant so it was a little noisy.
I got up early in order to go to a meeting by the Senior Tutor, just letting us know the rules, do's and don'ts. It was pretty boring. Afterwards I was supposed to meet with my Tutor, but his room is up 3 flights of windy, narrow stairs.
I should probably tell you now that Cambridge has a system where you get allocated a college 'Mum and Dad' (usually third years), and even a brother at times! Your 'parents' are there to help you with absolutely any queries that you might have and to show you around, etc.
My 'Mum', Finn, is a Law student like me, and has really been so friendly and helpful. It's great to know that she is around if I need anything.
My (real) parents stayed over last night in a hotel, so we went to go and meet with the Disability Resource Centre (DRC) to sort out any queries I had. They are nice and friendly, and have assured me that their door is always open. I don't know my way to the Law Faculty yet, so I am meeting with a lady on Wednesday who will show me a disabled-friendly route.
We had Matriculation at 2.00pm. This is where you become a member of Cambridge University by going through a terribly traditional ceremony, complete with gowns (I drown in mine!) and oath reading. We also had our photo taken.
I was a bit apprehensive about how the whole thing would work for me, but the Head Porter sorted everything out so that I wouldn't have to worry about stairs. He organised a ramp to get into the Matriculation room, but I didn't feel alienated or singled-out, and he was very conscious of this.
The ceremony cracked me up, as I'm not used to such pomp and show, It was all very new and very Cambridge.
At 6.00pm I went off to eat my first dinner at Peterhouse. The college is fully catered so I don't have to cook (which is good because I can't!), and the staff were incredibly helpful. They suggested that I get there a bit before everyone else so that they can get me seated without getting trampled in the rush. The food was a bit suss tonight, but I have been assured it gets better!
Tonight we went on a pub-crawl. Very few of the pubs had good disabled access so it was a struggle getting into them. They were crowded enough as it is, without a huge wheelchair trying to get in! I gave up after about the fourth pub, and decided to go home. That route was fine, and perfectly accessible. Luckily I was sober enough not to get lost, but it's only day 2!
Tuesday 5 October, 2004
I slept better last night because I was so unbelievably knackered. This morning I had a meeting with my Director of Studies at 9.30am, and for a girl who normally gets up at 12 in the holidays, these early mornings are not suiting me!!
He gave me a list of all the Supervisions (lessons) I had to go to TODAY, and that really put me in a panic. This is because the lessons take place throughout all the different colleges in Cambridge and they are fairly spread out. My adrenalin was really pumping and I didn't know what I would do.
One of the lessons was so far away that my battery would certainly run out, and for an electric wheelchair user, that's one of the biggest fears of them all. Thankfully the DRC came to my rescue and made the relevant phone calls to alter things for me.
I managed to drive to one of the lessons with some mates in my car. We got lost on the way, but found the right place in the end. The access inside Fitzwilliam College was perfect, but I got soaked walking back to the car. It is times like that you wish your wheelchair had wings! We have so much work to do already and so much reading. I don't know if I'm going to be able to cope, but I've dropped myself in it by doing Law, so I have no one to blame but myself!
Tonight we have our Matriculation dinner where we dress up smartly and in our gowns again, have a nice dinner and drink the night away. I'm pretty excited but again really exhausted, so whether I'm going to be home in the early hours is a question that will be answered later.
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