Guest blogger Produced by

Nikki Mennen (Netherlands)

Hi, I’m Nikki! I’m from the Netherlands and came all the way to Bournemouth to study MA Creative Writing and Publishing. Let me show you what a day in my life as a BU student looks like.

8:30 – Rise and shine

Unless I have class at 9:00, I get up around 8.30 am and spend a few hours getting ready and hanging out in my room. I am the worst morning person, so I’m usually not very talkative and I need to slowly begin my day. Breakfast in bed is sometimes included.

10:00 – Being creative

Aside from my studies, I love to spend my time creating things and enjoying other people’s creations. I go outside with my camera to take photos, I draw and paint, I read a lot of books, I listen to music or online tutorials, and I write stories. After my relaxed morning routine, I work on my latest creative project. Sometimes, I also take a walk to the beach or go into town for some shopping (usually food).

12:00 – Lunch break

In my opinion, lunch should be accompanied with entertainment, which is why I usually eat lunch watching a series or spend it with my housemates or friends. Although my breakfast is usually simple (yogurt, toast or fruit), I spend more time making a great lunch, such as scrambled eggs, pasta or a salad. After lunch it is time to really get things done, so I need a full stomach!

12:30 – Getting things done

Because my mornings are usually slow, the afternoon is when I focus on uni work, working as a Student Ambassador, or other important items on my to-do list. This is also the time of the day when I need some caffeine. You will hardly ever see me without a cup of coffee.

15:00 – Lectures or workshops

Since most of my lectures are scheduled in the late afternoon, I leave the house around 3pm to catch a bus (or ride my bike) to Talbot Campus. As a Creative Writing and Publishing student, my lectures include writing workshops, computer sessions, interactive lectures, and practical sessions. I absolutely love my classes, so I don’t mind sitting in a classroom all afternoon. On the days that I don’t have classes, I’m usually busy with uni work, the Global Talent Programme, or workshops with the Yoga or Photography Club.

19:30 – Dinner time

My classes usually take up most of the afternoon and I get home around 7.30pm. I put together a quick meal or eat one of the oven-meals that I put in the freezer over the weekend. My housemates and I usually eat our meals together but cook them separately. This is because I am allergic to gluten and one of my housemates is vegan, which doesn’t leave us with many recipe inspirations.

20:00 – Leisure time!

After dinner it’s time to have fun! Some nights this entails watching (scary) movies and drinking wine with my housemates. Other nights I go out for drinks or other fun activities with friends. Every Thursday and Sunday night you can find me in the swimming pool – to compensate for all those glasses of wine.

My weekends look different every week but are filled with activities such as more creative time, relaxing, taking trips, going for a hike, seeing movies or shows, going out for drinks and dancing, or working on essays and projects. Occasionally, my friends and family from the Netherlands come to visit me in Bournemouth – and of course, for them, I clear my schedule.

By Nikki Mennen, Netherlands, MA Creative Writing and Publishing, 2017/18