So just to break the ice (pause) even though you both know one another, um if you could just give me a brief introduction about yourselves. Your name, your age, where you're from, what you're studying, and maybe a random fact about yourself.

Um my name is (NAME) and I'm twenty years old, I'm a student studying at Newcastle University (pause) um I'm from Darlington. Um (pause) is that enough? (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter) I'm (NAME), I'm nineteen, I'm (pause) studying at Newcastle university studying psychology as well, and I'm from (pause) in between Sunderland and Durham.

Okay, um so how do the two of you know one another, like how long have you been friends? Did you just meet at uni or?

Well we lived together last year didn't (interruption) we

(interruption) We met on the very first day.

Even though she thought I was my bleeding sister (interruption) who isn't eighteen she's thirteen

(interruption) (laughter)

How embarrassing but never mind.

(laughter)

Then we've been friends ever since (interruption) haven't we.

(interruption) Yeah.

Best of friends.

Yeah.

Ok so um right um you both mentioned that you're both -- you're from the North East. Um how long have you (pause) lived (pause) where you live and (pause) what do you (pause) make of it? Do you like it there? what's it like?

I've lived in Sund- like Sunderland pretty much all my life really, I mean further out sort of like nearer Durham. I like -- I like it it's not (pause) nothing special or anything. I prefer Newcastle like, where I live for student accommodation at the minute but (pause) it's ok I suppose. (laughter)

Yeah I've lived in Darlington all my life as well and it's quite a small town but (pause) it's quite nice. Newcastle's better it's got a lot more (interruption) shops and things and

(interruption) Yeah.

So where you live, are you any where near one another, like do you see one another at home?

Um.

No we haven't before but were only about -- it's not that well -- we don't drive or anything so were only about twenty-five minutes away I think so obviously it'd be easy enough to get to for us. We haven't visited each other yet though.

Not yet, we will (pause) we will definitely (laughter)

So um (pause) obviously you're both students at Newcastle, um so what made you decide that you wanted to move away from where home is to come to university?

Well I wasn't going to originally, I was just going to stay at home and. All my friends were sort of moving away so I just thought I may as well try. Like I didn't definitely kno -- even though I applied I didn't defiantly know if I was going to take it. And then (pause) I only found out -- like you know how everyone moved in on a weekend, I only found out on the Saturday and I moved in on the Sunday so it was sort of like, I just sort of did it. I didn't even know if I really wanted to do it, but I'm really glad that I did it. Li -- but it's nice living near home as well (pause) 'cause obviously you can go home more often than like say you can and stuff like that.

Yeah I really didn't want to move very far away from home so Newcastle meant that was like (pause) far enough to be away from home but then (pause) I could travel back whenever I wanted.

Yeah.

Okay. Um (pause) do you go home very often then do (interruption) you?

(interruption) (laughter)

Yeah, well I go home every weekend but (pause) it's 'cause I've got dr -- I normally get a driving lesson on a Sunday, even though I've been learning to drive for about five (interruption) million (laughter) years. (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

But I'd prob -- even though when I pass I'll probably still go home (pause) at least once a week 'cause I've got a car as well so I suppose it'll be a lot easier just to go home for a little bit and then come back 'cause I don't think I could not go home (pause) like at all 'cause I'd be too (unclear) (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter) Yeah I go home every Sun- well I -- I go home most weekends 'cause I work at Morrison's on a Sunday back in Darlington, um so yeah I go home like every weekend more or less.

So are you both quite homey like?

Yeah

Really (interruption) really

(interruption) Really really (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

Um (pause) if you (pause) didn't live near home do you think you'd struggle? Like obviously I'm from Leeds and I don't go home, I haven't been home yet this semester. But I've seen my parents like once since I came up here, so (pause) do you think like that would be something that you wouldn't want to do?

(interruption) Hm? no

(interruption) I couldn't cope (pause) really, I'd find that hard.

I suppose you don't really know till you do it but I couldn't have took -- I couldn't of sort of do- done that in the first place. Like I'm not -- I might've enjoyed it and it might've -- done me a bit good but I don't think I'd have ever just of done that myself if you know what I mean. I could never of took the plunge so to speak to do that.

So, um what -- what universities did you apply to? Like did you like just apply to the one? And um -- and what made you in the end decide to choose Newcastle above all of the other universities that there are?

Well I basically applied to like (pause) Northumbria, Sunderland, all local ones. (laughter) I applied to York but I didn't get in (laughter) that's why I didn't go there. (laughter) Um and I just think -- Newcastle university I thought was like a really good university as well, especially for like psychology and stuff so.

Yeah I applied to Leeds and Manchester. Um (pause) I can't really remember where else I applied to, um didn't really (pause) want to move that far away from home so I thought Newcastle was a good university

You said that Leeds wasn't very nice or something about the uni or you didn't like it.

Oh I really liked it when I (interruption) went

(interruption) Did you

Yeah I did really like it (pause) um.

Which one was the one you said was horrible, or was that somebody else?

I think that was someone else. (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) oh ok. (laughter)

Did you go and look around a lot of other universities? Did you go on like daytrips to go look (interruption) around?

(interruption) I only went to look at Leeds, um, and Newcastle, and I didn't go look at any of the others (interruption) 'cause I couldn't be bothered.

(interruption) (unclear) came to look here and (unclear) I did try -- I did apply to go and look at Northumbria and a couple of others but I think I missed the dates that's why I didn't look round there, but (pause) I did come here for an opening day. I'd say I was pretty set on coming here really to be quite honest.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) I just hoped like -- it was just a matter of getting in and.

Um were the grades -- like the entry requirements quite high 'cause you mentioned that you do psychology, was it like?

Yeah.

A A B (interruption) wasn't it?

(interruption) Two A's and a B.

So what made you choose to study psychology?

(sigh)

Um?

I don't know really.

I used to want to be a doctor but I wasn't very good at chemistry so I thought psychology might be a bit easier.

I no, I got a (pause) D in chemistry I was so bad at it.

(laughter)

It just -- it was hell.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) What? It's so -- it's like the only one like at A-Level -- it was the only one that I found relatively interesting. My cousin did it as well and I've always sort of like -- like -- I don't know like -- when she liked law I liked law and stuff like that. It's a bit sad really but because she sort of did it that made me do it at A-Level and then (pause) it's the only -- thought it was the only viable option to be honest 'cause everything else is quite hard and I don't like English and stuff.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Oh God (laughter)

Um, I've always wanted to work with people as well (interruption) so

(interruption) Yeah.

I thought like psychology would be like a really good option and stuff.

There's a -- a lot of different things you can do with it as well isn't there. There's not like one set job. Um (pause) you know like sort of the (pause) crime programmes with the forensic people on and (unclear) (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter) CSI (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Yeah.

Cool. So um, I know this is a random question but if you were asked to like big up your course, um and give reasons as to why people should definitely take it and choose psychology at Newcastle, what would be your motivational words to them?

It's really exciting (pause) you get to

(laughter)

take (interruption) part in

(interruption) You get to balance rods on your fingers. (laughter) No it is -- it is interesting and the -- the studies we're doing now are a lot more interesting aren't they than what we did last year.

Yeah, you get to take part in a study.

Yeah.

Carry out your own experiments every (interruption) four weeks is it?

(interruption) Yeah.

Yeah, um it's relatively -- it's not many lectures which is probablies quite (interruption) a good thing

(interruption) Yeah, eight hours a week.

ooo! God. It's um -- it's -- it's interesting

So what's like -- what's your favourite thing? Like if you were to describe the course like basically, what do you do like -- what's your modules? Like you just said you've got eight hours a week, what kind of stuff do you do?

We do (pause) biological stuff don't we like

Yeah.

(interruption) The eye and stuff.

(interruption) at the minute we've got a (pause) topic about perception and the eyes um (pause) it -- st -- uh statistics we do (interruption) as well

(interruption) Which is horrible.

(laughter) (pause) (interruption) um

(interruption) Individual differences which is -- I'm into like -- that's the bit I really enjoy (pause) but this year it's like the -- the lecturer puts like an evolutionary twist on it which makes it a bit boring.

mm.

Um what else do we do? Methods like you said before which is um when you carry out experiments (pause) um

And social

Social psychology yeah that's quite interesting as well isn't it.

So um what would you tell people that the downsides of psychology were?

The massive amount of reading we've to do.

Yeah there's loads and loads of reading.

There's not much guidance into it.

As well like I think people go into psychology thinking (pause) that there going to learn so much about

Yeah

How people act (interruption) and like

(interruption) I think you have a totally diff -- what you think it is when you come in -- well personally for me, when I came it's totally different to what I thought it was going to be.

Yeah me too.

It's very -- I think it's just sort of the lecturers they sort of -- t- they teach you what they like don't they (pause) sort.

Yeah what they

What they find interesting and stuff not (interruption) what

(interruption) They always put their twist on it

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Rather than what (interruption) other people think

(interruption) What others yeah

Which is what they think. Like pe -- I think people when they think about psychology they think like -- they can just (interruption) look at people's brains

(interruption) Read people's brains, yeah

Read their minds and stuff and you can't at all.

You don't -- you don't (interruption) really

(interruption) It's not as interesting as it sounds is it?

No not -- hopefully maybe it might get more intere -- well there's only one year left really but (pause) it's just not what you thought it was going to -- for me anyway it wasn't what I thought it was going to be.

So um (pause) do you like -- do you enjoy your course? Is it something that you would -- you would recommend to someone?

Um yeah I wou -- I -- I don't enjoy the course that much as I thought I would (pause) but (pause) it's going to like get me to where I want to be type of thing and.

Yeah sort of just (interruption) a means to an end.

(interruption) I need to do that course to do clinical psychology so.

Yeah

Which hopefully I will enjoy and that wont be a let (interruption) down

(interruption) I would recommend it but I would (pause) say that like (pause) for me I -- I'm not that (pause) sciency like I would say well -- it is quite science based (pause) so if that's not what you like then I wouldn't sort of recommend it if you prefer the more sort (interruption) of

(interruption) See I don't think it's very sciency based I think that I don't (interruption) know it's more

(interruption) Well actually this year it's not as much but last year I fou -- I quite struggled 'cause I thought it was very scientifically based and I would warn people of that 'cause I didn't really realise that's what it would be like.

A lot of people don't realise it's going to have a maths module in either (interruption) that's quite hard

(interruption) Yeah.

But that's -- it's not that bad.

(interruption) No

(interruption) But I think that's 'cause we've got each other to help each other like (pause) 'cause she obviously did maths A-Level which has helped me as well. (laughter)

So what A-Levels did you do? like wh- was -- did you both do psychology A-Level?

Yeah and I did history and (pause) R- and religious education which is kind of like philosophy. So I didn't really do much science but you did (interruption) didn't you

(interruption) Yeah I did uh biology and maths um (pause) and I did French like at AS-Level as well but then I dropped that in my second year.

Yeah I did chemistry at AS-Level (pause) and dropped that (laughter) straight away (laughter) God.

So (pause) do you have any regrets (pause) about your choice of university or your choice of course? Is there anything you'd do differently? Would you -- would you choose something else or do you ever think oh I wish I'd done this?

umm I kind of yeah. Kind of wanted to do like -- kind of wish I'd done biology or maybes like forensic (pause) like (pause) science -- forensic science but the only reason I didn't do that is 'cause there's not meant to be many jobs in it.

Yeah.

And I didn't want to like narrow down my.

I Definitely wouldn't change the university that I've come to.

Yeah me neither.

And I don't think I would change my course as much if I don't like think -- find it like really interesting and stuff. I don't think there's a (pause) like -- there's anything else that I would like -- I mean there was a course I looked at cant remember where it was but it was criminology and psychology which might have been (interruption) a bit more interesting

(interruption) I looked at that as well.

For me personally 'cause that's the sort of thing I'd like to do but I don't -- I don't think I would change my course. I cant see anything at the minute that I would prefer to do (pause) than what I'm doing right now.

I maybes would but I don't know whether biology would be like (interruption) hard

(interruption) do you think it's sort of the -- it's a bit scared to change aren't you 'cause (interruption) you

(interruption) Yeah.

Don't know if you've just wasted all your time so you just sort of think I wouldn't want to change.

And all that money you pay for the (interruption) tuition fees

(interruption) Yeah.

To drop out and then start again.

M- my dad'd kill me. (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

So do you think that like (pause) the course is something that you're happy with (pause) to the point where you'll just put up with it to stay at uni 'cause it's too much money to drop out and start again?

It's not that -- it's -- I don't like hate it or anything. It's not that I'm just doing because I have to, I just -- I just don't (pause) like every -- every time I'm in a lecture I'm not like 'wow this is so interesting'.

I don't think it'd be like that for many (interruption) subjects

(interruption) yeah that's what I don't think -- when you talk to people I don't think peop- generally people are -- especially like people like us.

More people say that their course is not what they expected it to (interruption) be

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) Obviously like

(interruption) I think It's more of a

When you first come to the university the lecturers try and like big up the lec -- like.

Yeah.

Make their subject and make it sound really good and.

Just think everyone it's sort of just (pause) something to get (pause) somewhere else it's not (pause) peo- a lot of people I don't think do th- the degree just because they like the subject that much I think it's sort of (pause) to get somewhere else.

So do you think that (pause) like -- that you kind of get a lot of pressure put on you when you're quite young -- you're like seventeen and all of a sudden you've got to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life. Do you think now on reflection you'd have maybe (pause) done different A-Levels and you'd have thought about things differently and you'd have maybe ended up doing something else?

Yeah I think they is like quite a lot of pressure like especially for a lot of people who don't have a clue what they want to do but (interruption) most

(interruption) Yeah especially to go from like eleven subjects or something whatever it is at GCSE and all of a sudden you're doing like three or four and it's like -- I think I might've done biology instead of chemistry 'cause I think I would've done a bit better at that.

Yeah biology's really good. Hard as well.

Yeah but I did like what I did. I do think it's a lot of pressure just at that age to just.

I've kind of always known like sort of the area I've wanted to go into. It's always been like some sort of caring role or like.

Yeah.

Working with people type of thing.

I've never like said (pause) I'm not sure if I want to be a teacher still but I did -- like spoke to my aunties friend was a teacher and she also did a psychology degree and she said that helped her a lot (pause) so I just thought well whatever I do I think it'll (interruption) help with what I do

(interruption) Psychology can go into loads of different (interruption) things cant it so.

(interruption) Yeah like.

And you can do like advertising stuff which I think'd be quite interesting.

Yeah.

(interruption) And

(interruption) So you're not like narrowing down your option like (interruption) if you did like another subject that

(interruption) Yeah

Like biology you probablies wouldn't be able to do as (interruption) much as what you can do with psychology would you.

(interruption) Yeah.

So like do you agree with people that say like 'a degrees a degree and it can get you any job nowadays, it doesn't really like'. Psychology's quite vocational (interruption) like

(interruption) Yeah.

I would've thought that it's like psychology like -- go into some kind of branch of that kind of thing.

Yeah (pause) but it's obviously like.

I don't know.

I don't know really I think a lot of the time you hear a lot of people saying they cant get jobs and stuff -- like I was at -- when I was at my induction day at work the other day (pause) they was quite a few people who were just graduating said they couldn't get jobs.

I don't think you can just expect to get a (interruption) degree and then just get a job you've got to be.

(interruption) No

'Cause a lot now it's do with experience but how can you have -- you cant really have both can you it's

You can do some volunteer work and stuff.

Yeah I suppose but.

So how do feel about people that say like (pause) being a student it's like -- there's no point in getting a degree anymore it's like you may as well just go get work experience and life experience it's more important. Do you agree with that?

To a certain extent I agree with it but then.

Some things you cant do without a degree I don't -- well obviously you cant 'cause they wouldn't let you in like doctors and stuff like that. It's just -- I think it just depends on the person and what sort of thing you would like to do.

What you enjoy (interruption) 'cause obviously you're going to work harder at whatever you enjoy.

(interruption) Yeah

Like I personally wouldn't of been ready to just go into a job (pause) straight after six form or -- or year eleven or whatever. I couldn't of just started (pause) working (pause) I hate working eight hours a week (laughter)

(laughter)

I could never of done like nine -- I did (interruption) nine five over the summer

(interruption) Nine to five every day.

I did it over the summer for like four months (interruption) and it was like the worst thing I have ever done in my life.

(interruption) I felt so sorry for myself. (laughter)

I just think it depends on what (interruption) you

(interruption) Used to start work at like five o'clock in the morning it was horrible.

I used -- I totally didn't. I cried -- I used to start at seven and I used to cry (laughter) like when I got up I just used to think -- me mam n dad'd be in bed on a Saturday and I'd think 'oh my God I'm up and me mam and dad are still in bed' and I'd go off stacking shelves with the milk and spill it all over my self and. Oh God that was a nightmare job.

(laughter)

So do you both still have jobs now then?

Yeah I'm still working at um (pause) Morrison's like back in Darlington just on a Sunday like I do eight hours from (pause) eight till half four in the afternoon. It's quite long (laughter)

I just -- I had a job while I was at home and then when I came to uni I had a Christmas temp job at (pause) muse jewellery and I was just starting at Fenwick's now um I'm doing casual (pause) so I -- I've worked on Christmas decorations.

She's only done about two shifts (interruption) she's just like I work at Fenwick's

(interruption) (laughter)

Uh oh I had to work in the cafeteria you know the patio downstairs?

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) You work in Fenwick's don't you

mm-mm.

I had to work in there.

(laughter)

I'm not very -- I've never done like waitressing -- like I know it's not waitressing 'cause it's just like clearing plates and stuff but (pause) I'd prefer to be on the till, I like swiping my card and stuff on the till (interruption) it's really fun

(interruption) (laughter)

It is quite fun. Um (pause) so do you enjoy your jobs? Like is it something like you just do to keep busy and like a bit of extra money and stuff?

Just for the (interruption) money and not to keep busy at all.

(interruption) Yeah

No

(laughter)

I've only done (pause) altogether like eight hours so far so -- well no twelve hours. But I di -- I did enjoy when I was on Christmas decorations. But it's just for the like -- for the extra money just for myself sort of thing. But I -- it's not -- definitely not to keep busy 'cause I sometimes -- I feel like (interruption) I

(interruption) Don't have enough time for work

Yeah

Even though I've only worked there a little bit I feel like I'm really far behind again.

Yeah

If I couldn't -- if I didn't have to have a job I wouldn't (pause) (interruption) definitely

(interruption) You have to at university it's so expensive.

I know.

So like you um -- you've obviously -- you've both got jobs. Um you've only got eight hours a week of lectures did you say?

Yeah.

Do you think that if (interruption) you had -- do you think that if

(interruption) That sounds really bad.

You had more hours you would find (pause) balancing a job and uni and lectures and work a lot harder than you do or do you find it difficult as it is?

I don't know to be honest because I think on a whole we get a lot more reading than

(interruption) We get loads.

(interruption) Some Were expected to do (pause) like -- everyone thinks 'oh that's a right doss subject'.

That's if you do it all like.

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) A lot of people don't actually do the reading but like (pause) we could spend all of our days off like working from like ten in the morning till like.

Like people think it's

Six at night so.

People think we don't do anything but if we were constantly working we'd probablies just be on top of our work. Like because they -- because the lecturers and stuff know we're not in a lot then they just think 'oh well we'll give them all this reading' and we've got all these assignments which take up a lot of time. Well we probably spend too much time on them don't (interruption) we?

(interruption) Probablies be better if we didn't have more hours in the lectures and (interruption) then

(interruption) 'Cause then we might not be expected to do as much work.

Reading is hell yeah

So now that you're in your second year how are you actually finding the workload like in comparison to last year? Do you think it's a big step up (pause) or?

I think they is a bit more work but I don't think there's as much -- I think it's just because of like -- people in their first year don't really take it seriously whereas like I still -- I think we did really didn't we even though.

Like I -- I -- I remember last -- I remember last year I always felt like I was -- well I was really behind in the reading. So when it came to the Christmas holidays while were doing -- while we were revising for exams, I just had loads to catch up. I think there is a little bit more now and I'm (interruption) a bit

(interruption) More assignments this year.

Yeah and it's a bit more worrying because you think well this actually counts so you probablies have to do the reading like -- whereas last year it was sort of like -- it doesn't really matter if you don't do it and we've got more -- yeah we've got more assignments haven't we -- we've got to start writing essays were getting which we haven't done for a while.

(interruption) 'Cause they've been too

(interruption) It's been like two years.

Stressful (pause) to do haven't they?

Um so (pause) do you have like a lot of assignment deadlines? Is it like quite a lot of work you've got?

Yeah we have them like quite regularly um (pause) we've got like a stats one that's every -- we've got -- we do it every week and it has to be -- like it's ongoing every week so that you've got to hand it in (interruption) after a couple of months or something

(interruption) You get like a couple of options a week and then it's sort of -- like four weeks or something.

Yeah

But a lot -- then we've got -- an exper- we do our experiments which are -- which are every four weeks.

Every four weeks and then got essays as well which probablies been about every six weeks probablies.

But sometimes they like (pause) clash so you'll have like two in for the same day which is a nightmare.

It's happened quite a lot.

(interruption) It's happened both times

(interruption) We had like an easy and a practical assignment in like (pause) on the same day dint we (interruption) last year.

(interruption) Yeah and we had stats.

And today.

Yeah and -- and today so it's quite -- quite stressful it's quite ongoing that's why it's hard to keep up with the reading because (pause) well have like a week off from the sort of experiment side.

(interruption) You'll just get on top of it

(interruption) Then you'll start it all again.

You just get back on top of your work and you've got like another assignment so you kind of gannin round -- you just back on top of it and it's like an ongoing circle.

So have you got -- is yours all assignment based or do you have exams in January as well?

(interruption) As well.

(interruption) Yeah we've got exams as well.

We've got less exams than last year haven't we I think (pause) um (pause) 'cause one of the subjects were doing this year is just totally sort of coursework, It's the essay one. But we still get exams. We've got (interruption) like

(interruption) Four of them is it in January I think (interruption) or

(interruption) Is that it? That's not too bad is it?

Four or five I think.

Would you -- would you rather have exams or?

No.

I prefer exams.

I prefer -- well I don't know to be honest 'cause I always think I'll do better -- but I don't necessarily do better in coursework but I just -- I stress myself out in exams like to much, I worry too much about it sort of thing. So in a way I'd kind of prefer to have -- I think I'd prefer to have some exams maybe. Maybe this is quite a good balance this year. We'll wait and see really wont we.

Yeah (laughter)

(laughter) See how we do.

Did you get to pick any of your modules this year? or is it all (interruption) just like

(interruption) No it's next year isn't it we get to choose.

Yeah and we get to choose um our own experiment next year which might be quite fun (pause) so.

(laughter)

I think that hopefully it -- it'll be a b- a bit more interesting next year.

Yeah

'Cause you pick what you have to do yourself like so you don't have to (interruption) do

(interruption) Pick more modules that are more interesting rather than like evolution.

Yeah

And stuff.

So what -- like you say you do experiments, like what kind of things do you have to do? What are your experiments?

The one we've just done was on, um the relationship between extra version neuroticism and how much coffee you drink.

mine was on how many parties (pause) you went to in a month. Um and we did another where we had to like -- we had a set of (pause) fifty-four statements about like yourself um (pause) and we had like a chart made of like -- ranging from medium characteristic to characteristic and you sort of had to fill it in (pause) for what you thought you were and for what you would like to be and we sort of compared that and see -- saw like.

Compared like -- if there's like discrepancies (interruption) between your actual and ideal self.

That was quite interesting wasn't it.

Yeah um so we've only done two so far. Not sure what the next ones are. There a lot more interesting than last year, like I said before we had to balance a rod and stuff on our finger last year and

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter) count how long we could do that for and stuff like that it was a bit (pause) simple (interruption) last year wasn't it but it's a bit better this year.

(interruption) Yeah

So what would you say has been your favourite bit of the course so far, like any funny lecturers or anything?

Our stats teacher's quite funny (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Yeah he's really funny like he embarrassed me today. I was so embarrassed.

Oh yeah we (interruption) came in

(interruption) (laughter)

We came in to lecture late and ah (NAME) went to the front and he was like '(NAME)'s going to take over the lecture' (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) After we'd walked past. But as well I was bright red 'cause we'd been -- we'd just handed our assignment in. We were like late for the lecture so we'd been like running in the (pause) blinking rain and all this rain was splashing in my face so I was bright red. So he was like 'eeh! you've gone bright red'. I was like 'oh God'.

(laughter)

He's -- he is really nice, like he's so much better than the teacher last year.

And then I think I prefer the perception module -- like the biology one is quite.

We've watched like some videos in there which have been quiet funny.

Yeah they've been really good.

Have (interruption) you

(interruption) The

(interruption) You

(interruption) No you go (laughter)

We watched a video yest- Tuesday (pause) and it was like (pause) I can't -- what was it about (pause) just like visual -- like (pause) what you see sort of thing. There was -- all the way -- they did this thing at the end which was showing this experiment where.

The man had to put like a pair of like glasses on and it shows him like the world upside down.

Oh I wasn't talking about that one.

Oh (laughter)

You tell that one then I'll tell mine.

And it would show like how he adapted -- like after a month of wearing them he could adapt to it and he could see like -- 'cause to start (interruption) with

(interruption) Completely normal

To start with he couldn't even like feed himself 'cause they (interruption) used to put the pies out.

(interruption) When they put the pies out obviously he was like up here. So he was.

Yeah and he couldn't like shake anyone's hand or get his hand in a fridge or anything and by the end of it he learnt to actually ride a bike for when he had like the glasses on that were showing him the world upside down and stuff. It showed that like the visual system could adapt to like

Yeah

See.

It was showing as well how we sort -- we don't notice things and like (pause) it was showing this experiment where people were told to watch a video and they were asked to -- and there was like some basketball players and they were asked to um (pause) count how many times (pause) they saw (interruption) them pass the ball to each other or something.

(interruption) Each time the team passed the ball so they're like concentrating on one team.

And like a man dressed in a gorilla suit walks on and does this in the thing and nobody notices because you're watching that hard -- like this actually works. And then it says at the end or something 'don't -- if you don't believe me'

(interruption) Yeah

(interruption) 'Look at this' and it went back to the video and this gorilla had been on loads on the video but we hadn't noticed like.

He'd been there about six (interruption) times.

(interruption) Yeah more or less was really interesting that was. (interruption) I enjoyed that lecture.

(interruption) Yeah

It was really good.

He's a bit weird though, he locks us out if you're late.

Oh yeah

So you can't get in then someone (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

Hold the door open like he (interruption) came in,

(interruption) Let her in yeah

Really embarrassing and he asked her to leave.

And when she got like half way through the lecture thing he was like 'sorry you're too late can you turn around and leave please'.

It was only about five past (interruption) it's ridiculous.

(interruption) Yeah I know.

He's a bit -- (interruption) I heard he's.

(interruption) Like he sees someone come up though and he just locks the (interruption) door.

(interruption) And he like stands there and waves at them at the (interruption) window.

(interruption) He's like 'sorry too late'.

We always run don't we? Us two like 'choo-choo' (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) We know we can't be late on a Tuesday morning 'cause he'll lock (interruption) you out after. (laughter)

(interruption) ugh it would be so (interruption) embarrassing.

(interruption) He's got us to (unclear) Eeh! I don't know.

I'd be mortified if he asked me to leave.

(laughter)

I thought he'd be joking or something but it's like ah. (interruption) See it's like -- he's just.

(interruption) Yeah I like -- I thought he was actually joking but then that girl turned round. But he was being serious I couldn't believe it.

He's a bit weird isn't he.

Yeah

He's quite a good lecturer though.

Yeah

I suppose it gets you there on time 'cause you're too scared to be late.

Yeah it's quite good 'cause otherwise everyone's just come in the lecture really late and like

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Interrupt it and then you can't here what anyone's saying -- it's really annoying when you've got there on time -- not like we do get there on time. (laughter)

We're always late on a Thursday (laughter) aren't we.

Oh

'Cause we know that she wont say anything bless her.

Yeah she's really sweet (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

So do you walk into uni or do you get the Metro?

Yeah we (interruption) walk.

(interruption) yeah we walk.

We wa- apparently I walk too slow so I basically run (pause) to the lectures just to keep up with these, and I've only got little legs.

(laughter) Little legs (laughter)

Trying to run -- trying to catch up with them then I just get left behind.

(laughter) And she goes in little moods and pretends like (laughter)

Because the other day you bloody walked off and left us and I was just stood on my own walking along and I was like 'Jesus'.

I think (interruption) you purposely walk slower though (interruption) just to annoy people.

(interruption) And the fact that.

(interruption) No -- no I don't but I think in my head right, we -- we literally pass everyone when were walking home and I'm thinking nobody else is walking this fast. And how come I get laughed at because I walk slow when were beating everybody flippin -- flippin -- likin -- what do you call it (interruption) (unclear) running off ahead.

(interruption) (laughter)

Especially when my feet rub as well they don't realise that my shoes hurt (pause) and I've got (interruption) blisters.

(interruption) Buy some shoes that fit you properly then.

I still can't afford to (laughter) buy shoes that fit me properly. (laughter) I go to Primark for shoes. (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

Right so um (pause) you mentioned that you were living together last year. Was that in student accommodation? Like can you tell me a little bit about it? Like where were you and?

(interruption) The back and beyond (laughter)

(interruption) We were in St Mary's (laughter)

Yeah we were in St Mary's it was the like -- I think it was the nicest accommodation like that's what I think but it was (pause) far (interruption) out

(interruption) It was really far out and nobody like socialised and it was really quiet, really boring (pause) worst experience of my life (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Oh it wasn't that bad. Everyone thinks it's really bad.

It was really bad. It's just really dull.

I thought it -- I thought it was quite nice in a way sometimes to -- 'cause like obviously were you at Richardson road? Sometimes I thought that might be a bit too loud and that'd be annoying sometimes, but obviously you do miss out on quite a lot because you're not -- like there was a few people who were like that but we didn't sort of get to know them did we till later on.

Yeah definitely.

And we had a bad experience (interruption) with someone peed

(interruption) And they always came

On our door at St Mary's. (NAME) was bringing weirdo's that (laughter) weed on our door. (laughter)

I never let him in he just weed on the door. (laughter)

Nice.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter)

But my friend really liked it and she um -- she wanted to live there like. She started this year and she like really wanted to live there but that's probably just 'cause she thought -- obviously 'cause we were quite lucky 'cause we still live -- like obviously with me and (NAME) and we live with two other people that we lived with so were quite lucky that way and yeah.

Well we were lucky with all the girls aren't we. I mean like (NAME) and (NAME) 'cause they're off our course.

What do you mean?

'Cause obviously were still living with like (NAME) and (NAME) and everyone as well.

I mean from the flat.

All right.

Yeah

So do you think that's why like you guys are quite close 'cause last year there wasn't that many people in St Mary's that you would've been friends with otherwise?

(interruption) Uh yeah.

(interruption) Probably I don't know.

I think we probablies would've been anyway 'cause we were on the same course, we (interruption) went out together on a night,

(interruption) yeah

We (interruption) lived together.

(interruption) Were both from up here as well which probablies helps a little bit.

Yeah. So (pause) yeah.

So would you -- if you could go back would you -- did you apply to St Mary's or did you just get put there?

(interruption) No

(interruption) No, we just got put there.

I applied for (pause) Windsor terrace and -- what's the other one, the nice one -- well not the nice -- it's not supposed to be very nice. What's it called I can't remember, the one right next to Ricky Road?

Marris House.

Yeah

Yeah me too -- I applied to them two.

I thought that looked really nice but apparently um (pause) our friends (pause) boyfriend used to live there and he said it wasn't very nice, so. I wouldn't change if I could. (interruption) I might

(interruption) I cried when I got my letter saying that I was at St Mary's.

I was just (interruption) happy I got accommodation.

(interruption) And when I got there it was even worse.

Aww! My room was tiny. Me mam was just like 'yeah this is nice (interruption) (NAME) (NAME)'.

(interruption) My dad was like 'are you sure you're going to be all right?' I was like 'yeah I'll be fine'. (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) (laughter) They wouldn't let me see it either 'cause I asked when I like -- 'cause I got it on the Saturday, I asked to have a look and they were like 'no you'll just have to take it'. And I was like 'oh God'.

You asked if you could see the room?

Well yeah.

(laughter)

I didn't know -- (interruption) I didn't

(interruption) How cheeky were you? God.

Well I just (interruption) wanted

(interruption) Poor (NAME) sat on (interruption) a bunk

(interruption) Well no I didn't

Sharing (interruption) a room with somebody and you're asking.

(interruption) I didn't know if I wanted to even -- I didn't even know if I wanted to move out so I just wanted to have a look at what it was like and you know get the feeling for it. No I just got shoved in there and had a room about this big, you could only turn four ways and the boiler was right next to it so it used to make really loud noises.

(laughter)

I always get bad rooms. This year my roof leaks.

She has to put pots and pans in the bedroom to catch all the water so it doesn't wet her mattress. (laughter)

Aw! Bless.

(laughter)

(unclear) well he says he's fixed it I don't know like probably be all right.

You'll have a flood next time it rains. (laughter)

Every time -- when I'm out like in the town and it's been raining I'm thinking my room is going to be soaking.

(laughter)

So did you ever consider commuting from home or is that just out of the question? Is it too far to commute?

Um it's not too far for me.

It's like when you're driving it's not very far at all but for me to get the bus and stuff it's like an hour -- and like they'll only come like every half hour sort of thing so you'd have to be there -- like if you're in at nine then you'd sort of have to get the bus at half seven and stuff and I personally. Like my friend lived at home and she did -- well I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I was here but, she just didn't -- she felt like she missed out. I think you do miss out on quite a lot if you live at home.

Yeah 'cause I was -- I could travel easily. I was -- like it only takes like half an hour on the train, but just saying like you'd missed out on the whole like university experience (interruption) and.

(interruption) Yeah

And being away from -- and being a bit independent and.

Yeah.

Cool. So this year obviously you're living in Jesmond, um are you enjoying it?

Yeah.

love it. So much better than last year. Really enjoying (interruption) it.

(interruption) Yeah I like how it's like quite st -- like a student area and stuff, and I feel quite safe and stuff (interruption) here.

(interruption) Yeah and there's just like so many people around.

Yeah like last -- in St Mary's it was like (pause) you'd have tumbleweeds going through the corridors. Like there was nobody there, like nobody like smiled at each other and stuff did they when they walked past?

No.

The only peop -- the only time you'd see people is when you went to the dryer room or (interruption) whatever you called it.

(interruption) Yeah.

It's kind of nice that you've just got like little things around you like a corner shop, and a bank and stuff.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) 'Cause like if you had no money out there you were just like stuck weren't you.

(interruption) I know.

(interruption) There was like no where to go and just like -- (interruption) just little things like

(interruption) And then there's loads of stuff.

Bars and stuff round here. And restaurants and.

It's nice having a house as well 'cause it feels more like you actually live here than -- whereas (interruption) last year

(interruption) The rooms are a lot nicer this year, so like you want to come back more often (interruption) than you did when you were there.

(interruption) Yeah

I suppose it's a bit more homely and like clean and stuff.

Well it's not much cleaner it's a mess.

Yeah. But like your bedroom I mean.

Oh right yeah.

St Mary's was like (interruption) really grubby and stuff.

(interruption) Like you're the one with mops and stuff yeah.

So have you had any problems with this house since you've moved in then?

Just the leaking bedroom um.

Just me. No we've had a rat in the back garden.

Oh yeah. (laughter)

A dead rat.

A few door handles have fell off uh.

Nothing (interruption) major though.

(interruption) The -- the very first day we came it was really funny. The heating didn't work, the oven didn't work, the grill didn't work, none of the lights turned on. It was absolutely (interruption) hilarious.

(interruption) The showers didn't work then.

Me and (NAME) were absolutely starving. Then we went out um and asked -- 'cause obviously we didn't know where we were goin.

(interruption) Oh yeah.

(interruption) So we asked the woman -- we were covered in paint 'cause we'd been kind of like painting our rooms (interruption) and

(interruption) Walking down Osbourne Road -- all these hot guys -- I'm proper hoping -- God we've got all this paint all over our faces. We asked for a take away.

Yeah we asked for a take away and the woman told us there was no take-aways open on that night. We were just like 'oh my God'. So, but (pause) eventually we found one.

Wasn't that nice was it.

No but still it's better than nothing considering we had like no electricity or nothing the very first night. (laughter)

(interruption) Seriously though

(interruption) Considering we had to share a bed with no sheet. (laughter)

Shut-up 'cause my mattress was infected with something, it was disgusting. My mam wouldn't even let me sit on it when I first came in so I got a new mattress and started cleaning all this. But it's -- considering it's a student house and from all like the horror stories you here, it's not been that bad has it.

No (pause) not really.

No. Nothing major.

Apart from our electricity keeps turning off now and again 'cause like we haven't topped it up. It's like.

It went off the other day and like (pause) I was -- 'cause I was like 'oh it'll just be the trip switch'. So me and (NAME) were trying to look for the trip switch and they were like 'it's not it's definitely not'.

I was too concerned with making (interruption) my porridge.

(interruption) Yeah she was too worried that she wasn't going to get her breakfast in time. So we called (NAME) out -- the landlord and he came all the way out, and all that was wrong was this flip switch was down. (laughter) He was really annoyed. (laughter)

Yeah he was being a raj.

It's on a meter so the gas just goes off all of a sudden and stuff. It's really annoying but.

What's -- how's that work then? Do you have to like top it up?

Yeah it's like one of them -- you go to the shop down the road and you put money on and you shove it in and then it tops up and it goes down. (interruption) It's not.

(interruption) Not only that, but at least you can (interruption) like.

(interruption) At least you know where you are sort of thing.

Yeah and you're not going to get like a big massive bill at the end of it.

People'd just take the mick wouldn't they if you did have a bill.

Like you with the heating on all day yesterday.

It's absolutely freezing upstairs. I'm not allowed to have the heating on. I had to leave a sign on the heatin 'cause people just come in and switch it off.

(laughter)

So what's been the best thing about being in a house rather than in student accommodation?

Um just (pause) well there's seven of us now so it's just nice to have like a lot of us there and just feels a bit more like home rather than just like -- like you're camping. It felt a bit like that with St Mary's (interruption) didn't it.

(interruption) Yeah 'cause when you went (interruption) home.

(interruption) Taking your washing down -- all the way down the stairs, and getting down there and putting your money in and realised you'd forgot your washing powder and stuff. And then you'd have to go all the way back up the stairs (interruption) and be like.

(interruption) And then you'd leave it in there wouldn't you and then things would go missing.

Yeah it's not very nice thinking someone could open the washing machine and find your pants and stuff. (laughter)

(laughter)

So is there anything that you miss about St Mary's?

(interruption) No

(interruption) No (laughter)

Not re -- well -- well (pause) not really 'cause like we're sort of all here anyway like (interruption) but.

(interruption) Yeah the only thing I'd miss (pause) is like (pause) a few people that you do meet there but.

Yeah.

Most of them are here anyway so.

It was nice having (pause) like -- although there wasn't very many. But, like all the first years there together, do you know what I mean like. Sort of that.

Yeah and there was quite a lot of girls who did psychology in there as well which was quite nice (interruption) 'cause like

(interruption) Goin into uni and stuff

'Cause our course is quite big there's like three hundred people -- three hundred and fifty or something (interruption) like that. It's quite hard to like meet people.

(interruption) There's jillions of people.

And 'cause we don't have seminars or anything we don't really like get to talk to people or anything like that.

Yeah.

It's good.

So um (pause) you don't miss anything about St Mary's but if you were to (pause) like -- if someone said that they were going there would you be like 'oh no, no you've got to change accommodation, make sure you try and move'. Like would you definitely not want to go like?

I wouldn't want to like (pause) put them off it because (pause) they probablies wouldn't have much choice in going. Like you just get put where you get put so I wouldn't want to make them feel like.

If they had a choice -- like it depends what sort of person, if it was a really lively person I'd say like 'it's not for you'.

Yeah.

But then you don't know 'cause you don't know who's going to get put there like. This year it might be absolutely raving and stuff do you know what I mean. It just depends who's there doesn't it.

I think just 'cause it's so far out it doesn't matter what type of person you are, I don't think (pause) like it would have that atmosphere. Just 'cause it's so far out and it's not. Hum.

Yeah. Uh -- I don't know really.

So is there just seven girls in this house?

Yeah.

So (pause) what made you decide to like -- was there never going to be any guys that you were going to live with, or did you want to stay in a single sex house? Or did you ever apply for mixed accommodation or anything?

I applied for like mixed accommodation last year, and then I got all girls. And then I just thought I've really enjoyed like living with all girls and I just (interruption) thought.

(interruption) We don't really know that many boys who were that close to where you like (interruption) could live with.

(interruption) Yeah.

I don't like -- these girls are messy enough. Like I don't think I could live with boys.

(laughter) Messy. (laughter)

So um (pause) would you recommend living to Jesmon- living in Jesmond to other students? Like first year students now that are going to be looking for houses would you say 'yeah Jesmond's definitely the best place to live'.

Yeah.

I would definitely say like Jesmond's the best place to live, but I haven't really been in -- in any of the other areas so I couldn't really say like what they were like. But I really enjoy like living here and.

Yeah.

It's really nice.

I mean my boyfriend lives in -- well kind of classed as Heaton but it's more like Sandyford, and that -- that's still nice and stuff and it's got quite a few students. But it's not as student based as here. So I think it's better -- it's a lot better here sort of thing.

And you just have the opportunity to meet more (interruption) people and stuff.

(interruption) Yeah.

Yeah.

I think everyone sort of -- no matter where they live. Most people would prefer to live here sort of thing (pause) like. If they could like a lot of people -- maybe because it's so expensive.

Yeah it's a lot more expensive living here than it is like in other areas. Definitely like worth it if you're

Yeah, if you can afford (interruption) it.

(interruption) You can find cheaper ones here but you've just got to like

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Be prepared to have the time to look for it. (interruption) It's quite stressful.

(interruption) Some of the ones we saw were horri- can you remember that one we were -- we walked in, opened the living room -- just this puff of smoke came out. They were all smoking dope in the living room. We were just like 'oh my God'. It was ugh -- the toilet was overflowing with like (pause) dirty stuff, there was rubbish all over the kitchen. (interruption) It was like,

(interruption) It was really horrible

Were going to have to pay a bit more. (laughter) That -- I think it's just luck. If you look hard enough then you'll find something that's not expensive.

So are you staying in this house next year or are you moving out?

We're moving out 'cause one of the girls, (NAME) is going to um France for the year like as part of her course. Um (pause) so she wont be living with us. Um we haven't been able to find like just one person to move in. Um but (NAME)'s also moving out now as well isn't she, like living with (NAME) and stuff. So there's five of us all like looking for a new house next year.

Yeah now.

But it would've been a lot easier just to be (interruption) able to stay in here.

(interruption) We all sort of wanted to stay here like. I think it's -- if (NAME) hadn't moved and stuff I think we probablies would've end up staying (interruption) here.

(interruption) Yeah (interruption) we definitely would.

(interruption) 'Cause (NAME) probablies -- I think (pause) would've -- I don't know like -- just because it's easier and you wouldn't have to pull out another bond. And we quite -- we all like the house and stuff, it's not like we hate the house and the landlords kind of nice enough and stuff so it's just sort of because (NAME) is leaving really (pause) that we have to leave.

Is it a bit stressful? Are you on the hunt for a house at the moment?

We've only looked at one at the minute haven't we like? Our landlord had another one that was quite nice but it was quite expensive. But I think were going to start looking more now because obviously we've had the assignments to hand in haven't we and a lot of the girls have had work to do as well.

We want to get it all out of the way before like exams start (interruption) in January.

(interruption) Yeah.

We -- last year we just rushed into it didn't we, so hopefully we'll have a look at a few more. But I think were just going to have to -- we all sort of just want to get it out of the way.

I don't think well be as stressed this year as we were last year 'cause we know like.

We were just like 'oh my God'. Like we spent that day running round thinking we're going to have to buy a (interruption) house today.

(interruption) Panicking. Yeah just thinking sign (interruption) this sheet that they put in front of you.

(interruption) 'Cause one

I know we just signed it.

We didn't even like read it or anything. It's just like.

'Cause we got banned from another one. We weren't allowed to live there. (laughter) We were going to buy this house -- well rent this house.

(laughter)

And it didn't have locks on the doors (pause) and um we all quite wanted them. Like it's not that big a deal really but, just for when we left the house, like if we went home for the week and stuff like. And one of the girls is diabetic and she didn't -- I think it's just a bit of an excuse -- but didn't really want to leave like her insulin and stuff like -- and obviously not us but if somebody came in the house they might -- you know. Just for sort of precaution. And she's over reacted saying she was going to put a lock on the door, and he was like 'well you'll get fined'. And she was like 'well I'll just pay the fine'. And he was like 'well you can't do that'. And she was like 'well I'll just do it' and they -- I can't remember what they said to us. They said 'Oh (pause) why (interruption) don't you

(interruption) No.

Go away and talk about it (interruption) and come back.

(interruption) Yeah but when we came back they were like 'were sorry girls we -- we've decided we don't want you (interruption) to take the house.

(interruption) We don't think you're the right occupants for the house.

Yeah.

We were all just like (interruption) 'what'.

(interruption) It was really embarrassing wasn't it?

Yeah really embarrassing.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) God I couldn't believe it.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) We got banned from livin in a house but.

(interruption) Not accepted.

(interruption) (NAME) knows some of the people -- the people that live there now and she says it's horrible. I didn't really like -- you -- me and you didn't really like it did we (interruption) anyway.

(interruption) No I didn't want to live there.

I think we were just sort (interruption) of doing it.

(interruption) Just felt like we had to.

Yeah. So it was kind of a blessing in disguise wasn't it?

Yeah.

So are you with like an estate agents? Like I'm with (NAME) (NAME) (pause) and we've had nothing but trouble. But like are you with an estate agent or are you just with a private landlord?

We found it through the estate agent didn't we but we sort of just sor- went through the private landlord.

It's cheaper just got a private landlord (interruption) so.

(interruption) Didn't have to pay fee or -- some fee or something.

Yeah. (interruption) It's good.

(interruption) So we're just with the private landlord at the minute and he's been like really good I think. I mean the house that we went to look at -- like the one that was his. We were looking around and we were like 'oh so why are you leaving'. And they were like 'oh the landlords rubbish'. And it's just like 'oh he's our landlord too'. And they were (interruption) like 'oh'.

(interruption) Apparently they've had like a leak through the (pause) roof, like coming into the kitchen and stuff and it'd been there for like three months and he hadn't sorted it out. So they'd been like writing him letters refusing to pay the rent and things.

I (interruption) think.

Hello. Hi.

It's being recorded.

(laughter)

It's all fine don't worry.

Didn't realise you were.

(laughter)

Right. So um (pause) part of being a student is obviously about going out and stuff, and having fun. Um people always say that Newcastle's got the best like night life in the country. Would you agree with that?

Um it's definitely got a better night life than Darlington. I would definitely say that um there's -- yeah there's not (pause) like very many places in Darlington to go um.

I've probably been to a lot of the big ci -- like say -- like I've been to Leeds once with (NAME) 'wooo'. (laughter) But I didn't go -- I've only been once so we haven't really like tested anywhere else. But it's not -- I think it is a generally -- a good -- a really (interruption) good.

(interruption) We haven't even been to half the places in Newcastle yet (interruption) there's so much places to go.

(interruption) I know.

You never know where to go though do you?

No.

You always end up going to the same place every single week.

I was going to say, do you have like a routine? Is it the same places that you always go to?

Yep.

Well if some people had their way then we'd be at Tiger Tiger every week. (laughter)

We would not.

Uh. We like liquid don't we on a (interruption) Wednesday.

(interruption) Yeah. We really like liquid. Um yeah that's about it really.

So what would you say's been your best night out since you came to uni and why was it so good?

Glow.

Oh yeah. We had a really good time at glow. Did you go to glow?

The fresher's finale (interruption) thing?

(interruption) Yeah.

Yeah.

(interruption) Yeah. I had a really good time at glow.

(interruption) That was a really good night.

We dressed up as the Rugrats for Halloween that was quite fun.

Yeah.

We looked like idiots though.

We were Phil and Lil.

Phil and Lil. Um, it's just. Ah, I think probablies glow for me.

Yeah, we got dressed up then as well as like -- um like ravers type of thing.

Yeah.

It was (unclear) yeah.

So you -- do you like that dressing up when you go out like, getting fancy dressed?

Yeah, it was really funny (pause) yeah.

Yeah.

We're going to do ah ninja-turtles next time.

Cover ourselves with green body paint.

(laughter)

That sounds good. So where's your favourite place to go? Is that liquid?

I really like (interruption) liquid.

(interruption) Yeah. I would probably say liquid.

Yeah.

Why -- why do you like liquid so much?

I don't know.

I think it's just really good I (interruption) like -- it looks really nice inside.

(interruption) I slightly big it up too much and like.

And ah, it's really nice inside and the mu -- it's a good mixture of music isn't it?

Yeah.

It's what (interruption) I.

(interruption) It's quite big as well like.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) I hate it when you go to like really small, like dingy places (interruption) and then.

(interruption) Yeah.

To be hon -- it reminds me a little bit of like -- it sounds cheesy but -- Ibiza. Like a mini sort of version of what the clubs -- what -- are like there. Like it's nice. We haven't really been to many of the places.

No not really.

We don't really like Tiger Tiger do we?

No (pause) not really.

Prefer when there big -- like open planned -- massive. I think it's just the music to be honest it's got like.

Yeah.

A good (interruption) mix of.

(interruption) We're goin to that Perdu tonight aren't we and we're goin to (pause) liquid later on. Yay!

Skint, one pound.

Yeah.

Had to be us.

Uh. Where's your least favourite place? Like what's the worst night out you've had like and why was it so bad?

Uh (pause) it's probablies when (NAME) was like running round after (NAME) all night.

Is it -- is it safe to talk?

No.

No. (laughter)

Are you lying to me?

No.

Um we haven't -- there's not been a place that we've gone that we've -- haven't had a good time because it's a horrible place. It's more because of the drama that goes on with certain (interruption) people.

(interruption) Yeah, a lot of drama seems to go on in our lives. (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) Tell me about it.

(laughter)

Uh, um. Is there anywhere that like, you think you'd like to go to? Like is there anywhere that you've not been yet that you might go try, like a new night or something?

I quite want to try the eighties night at digital on a Monday.

I like eighties (interruption) music.

(interruption) yeah that'd be fun.

We should get dressed up as eighties.

Yeah that'd be really fun. There'd be like music (pause) well.

Um (interruption) I don't know where else that I'd like to try.

(interruption) From all era's

I'd like to try a few more bars like.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I've been to Tokyo a few times and I really like that and I think I'd quite like to go there like more and stuff. Like the nice places like apartment and stuff, I really want to go there. People don't have -- we haven't been many places have we?

No. We tend just to go to the same places all the time just 'cause it's easier.

I (interruption) tend never (pause) yeah we don't, I just go drink at the bars.

(interruption) We -- we never really to go to clubs. It -- 'cause it costs too much money to go (interruption) out.

(interruption) We're never -- never (interruption) ready.

(interruption) Never ready on time. Yeah definitely.

So do you think like -- do you think Newcastle's quite reasonable? Like a cheap night out?

Not really like.

It can be (interruption) but.

(interruption) Mm I've (interruption) spent lots.

(interruption) We -- we tend to drink more when were (laughter) (interruption) in the house.

(interruption) Yeah.

I think that's the only reason we have a cheap night really. Like most people (pause) like.

(interruption) I don't know the.

(interruption) I think that people like say like 'oh student places are really, really cheap for drinks and stuff'. But I don't think it is that cheap.

I think anywhere I went to be honest would be good it's (interruption) quite uh.

(interruption) Yeah you have three drinks and you're away with the fairies.

(laughter)

(laughter)

It's -- some of it is -- I think some of it's ridiculous prices. Like to get in as well I think it's quite expensive (pause) considering how many people go, I think they just strung in so much money.

Yeah and all the cheap drinks are really horrible like.

Yeah.

(interruption) Cheap vodka.

(interruption) Cheap vodka. The paint stripper.

Yeah you can feel it burn in your stomach (interruption) as you're drinking it.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) It's really horrible.

(interruption) (laughter)

I suppose I only think it's so cheap 'cause Leeds is so expensive.

Is (interruption) it?

(interruption) Eeh! I've heard that Leeds is really cheap. Like all my friends make it sound as if it's really cheap but no?

Can't re- I don't think it was -- I think it was about similar prices when -- when I was -- from what I can (interruption) remember.

(interruption) When I went to Leeds we only made it to about two different pubs and we didn't even make it to the nightclub.

(laughter)

I can't really remember. I just had like the best night of my life. So it was good. The best night (pause) ever.

(laughter)

So um, what do you reckon to the shopping in Newcastle?

(interruption) Good.

(interruption) Great. (laughter) We love shopping.

Yeah. It's better -- well I would like us to have like a nice big sort of like (NAME) -- even though I couldn't spend any money there but. I think it'd be nice if they had like a nice place just to like look at sort of thing (interruption) that'd make.

(interruption) That doesn't really bother me 'cause I find it hard enough shopping in Newcastle as it is 'cause Darlington's so small. There's only about five shops, so if I wanted to pick an outfit I could literally go around (pause) the whole of the town in like half an hour. But here it would take you like absolutely ages so.

It's got everything I think (interruption) really.

(interruption) Yeah. It's got every shop that you need really.

There all (interruption) really pretty much outside.

(interruption) Too much choices it's.

It's pretty isn't it. The Fenwick's window it's pretty when (interruption) that's up.

(interruption) Yeah, especially when they've got all the Christmas decorations up and (interruption) (unclear)

(interruption) The funny people singing them songs.

Yeah. (laughter)

So um on the subject of shopping, it's obviously something that requires money. Um how do you feel about people saying (pause) that um being a students just a total waste of money and (pause) that there's -- it's just -- it's just a waste of money. Like, do you feel like it is a waste of money? Do you feel like you're being charged too much for what you're doing?

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Definitely. Were in eight hours a week and they charge us three thousand pounds a year. It's (interruption) obscene.

(interruption) It's three thousand and seventy this year.

Oh yeah.

I know that's not (interruption) much more but it still counts.

(interruption) It's gone up like two grand in since -- like.

Yeah.

The year we started which (interruption) is absolutely ridiculous.

(interruption) I think it's ridiculous here I think.

Yeah. yeah.

Like the tuition (interruption) fees.

(interruption) Especially when I think like -- especially people in -- and I don't want to like sound like I'm stereotyping people. But people who just got like (pause) a lot of money sometimes -- just come 'cause their parents are paying (interruption) for it.

(interruption) Yeah.

And they're not really actually intending on,

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Doing anything with it. (interruption) It's just.

(interruption) Then there's the people who really struggle, um but they really want to come just for the education.

Yeah.

I think it's ridiculous as well.

So do you both get like student loans? And like do pay your own accommodation and things like that?

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) I get help for my accommodation but (pause) yeah.

Yeah um. Got both of the student loans out. Um and then like I worked over summer and stuff to like, help pay for the house. And work on a weekend as well for some spending money, so yeah.

Do you find it difficult to budget?

Um.

We don't really budget do (interruption) we.

(interruption) No not really. Though I am -- (interruption) I am actually

(interruption) We don't. Yeah, we're not ridiculous but if (interruption) we want something

(interruption) I've got like a separate budget in my head. Like what I'm allowed to spend every week but (pause) sometimes I don't really like (pause) stick to it that much, but then I (interruption) just think.

(interruption) You're not ridiculous.

I always check my bank balance.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Now and again and just think. Look I spent a bit more then so I'm going to have to watch my money then or whenever and stuff.

We don't just spend whatever, but we do like to have little sprees in Primark.

Yeah, Primark (interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) It's not exactly top -- top stuff is it?

No. You can get the same stuff though cant you?

Yeah. I know.

So um, this is a bit like, change of topic but. When you've finished uni have you got any idea what you definitely want to do? Like is there something you know that -- that's definitely what you're going to go into? Or is it still a bit kind of up in the air?

Um, I think I'm more or less set on going into clinical psychology. Um but I sort of do like the idea of forensic psychology as well (pause) um (pause) Yeah I've more or less know exactly what I want to do, just depends whether I get on the course to do it.

I don't really know what I want to do yet. I'm just sort of toying with a few ideas. I don't think I've ever really known what I want to do.

You were thinking about teaching and forensic psychology weren't you?

Yeah.

Even clinical (interruption) you said.

(interruption) I would quite like to do clinical but I think it's just so hard that (pause) like, realistically I don't think I would get (pause) what I need to do, if you know what I (interruption) mean.

(interruption) 'Cause you need like a first. (interruption) And like

(interruption) Yeah.

You need to (interruption) have like loads of experience.

(interruption) It's really competitive.

It's really competitive even when you've got a first so I just. (interruption) I would want to.

(interruption) It's like really hard to get onto the course.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) But apparently like when you're on the course it's like quite easy to find a job (interruption) so.

(interruption) Yeah, 'cause you get a lot of like. There's a specific course at Newcastle isn't there, that they take so many people on (pause) and they obviously have got like -- loads of like connections sort of like

Yeah.

To sort of get in but.

So is yours -- do you have to do another course when you've finished? Is yours just three years then you choose to do something else?

Yeah.

You don't have like.

Well you could just go into (interruption) like.

(interruption) If you want to specialise in something you have to do (pause) another like three more.

Three years to be a clinical isn't it? I think -- is it three or four to?

Five or six or something.

(interruption) I thought it was four.

(interruption) Yeah altogether.

Yeah.

I think it depends what way you go about it. Like if you do it at Newcastle then I think it would be -- i- it'd be about three 'cause you might get (interruption) uh.

(interruption) Because you do -- like I think it's like a three year course and then you go on to do -- like be an assistant psychologist for two years and then you (interruption) become a psychologist so I think they say overall it takes

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) What?

(interruption) You about ten years before you become fully qualified.

We couldn't really do anything with this psychology like (interruption) we.

(interruption) Yeah, well saying that. My friend's that -- who's just left uni she's only done like a psychology degree, um and she's like (pause) bein -- she's like a clinical psychologist um already, and she hasn't even done like a clinical degree (pause) um.

I think it's sort of just lu -- like stuff like that you just have to be really lucky don't you to (interruption) get.

(interruption) Yeah. She didn't do any like volunteer work or any experience either. So I don't really know how she managed to get a job but. Hm?

So this is another random question but, when you were little what did you want to be when you got older? When you grew up?

Um.

I think I wanted to be an Air Hostess (interruption) and to fly.

(interruption) I think I always wanted to be a Doctor actually. My Dad's always wanted me to be a Lawyer (interruption) which.

(interruption) I so wanted to be a Lawyer.

(interruption) Yeah.

(interruption) Hi.

Uh, which totally put me off the idea um, just because he wanted me to do it. Which I probablies would've actually quite liked to of gone down that route but (interruption) he put me off.

(interruption) The only reason I wanted to do it is 'cause I liked Ally McBeal. (laughter)

(laughter)

But (laughter) um. Little -- when you're really little I think that stuff like that (unclear)

Yeah, I can't really remember what I wanted to be.

So um do you have a certain childhood memory that's like your favourite thing from being little? Like something you'll always like? Your favourite childhood memory?

I don't know I do like -- I don't mean to sound corny but I had like a really nice childhood when I was like. 'Cause there was a lot of people my age in the street, there was like six of us and it was a really little street so that was like really nice 'cause there was kind of people there all the -- and their the friends I've kept till -- till now. They're still like my really good friends and stuff so I always had like fun and stuff. And (pause) I've been to America with my parents which was a really good time. And I've had a really nice childhood.

I really used to like it when my Dad used to play treasure hunts with us. He used to set little traps up around the estate and it used to be really good. And the -- everyone used to come and play and stuff but (interruption) you.

(interruption) We did that once literally when we like had a prize at the end of like a bag of Malteasers or something stupid like that. And we hid it behind this like -- the sign for the street and this woman came out and shouted at us. It's like.

Not very nice.

So do you have like a most embarrassing memory? Like what's the most embarrassing thing that's ever happened?

Oh I remember (interruption) mine.

(interruption) Oh I remember mine as well.

When I was in like year seven or something we used -- when we were queuing for the dinner hall (pause) like you'd queue to get in. And there's like first, second, and last sitting, and when you're on last it's -- there's nothing nice to eat. So you have to queue outside and then you would move in to the dining hall and like queue in there. So obviously when they let you inside everyone used to like run to get to the front of the queue. One day someone quickly sat up and I fell over in front of all the year elevens and I got loads of holes in my tights and everything.

(interruption) (laughter)

(interruption) I was so embarrassed and everyone was laughing. That was horrible.

mine was when I was on holiday. Um and like we'd -- we'd normally -- I'd just put my bikini on and put my clothes on over the top, and then go like into the town and go shopping and stuff. And then like my bikini was wet so I'd just put my clothes on and I'd put my bikini top on and like my knickers on. I'd gone shopping and I came (laughter) came back and I was just like 'oh I'm just going to get in the -- straight into the pool'. Like me mam n dad had gone upstairs. Took all my clothes off like went and standed on the side of the pool, and I remember my sisters there. And this little girl just stood there staring at me, and I kept thinking, why are they just -- keep staring. Yeah, bu -- slowly but surely everybody around the pool was just like staring at me, and I kept thinking what is everyone looking at. Then I got in the pool right, and my sister was just hysterically laughin. I was like '(NAME) what are you laughin at'. I was like 'it's seriously not funny everyone's staring at me'. She was like '(NAME) I can't tell you'. She was just like actually hysterically laughin, and I still had my knickers on. I didn't have my bikini bottoms on.

(laughter)

They were like these little white flowery things, and I got up and I literally fro- froze and I couldn't move 'cause you know when you're just really embarrassed. It was really, really embarrassing.

Aw!

Right so this is like totally off topic again. But um when you're older and you've got your job, and you settle down and things, do you think that you'd like to stay living in the North East? Um and if not where do you think you'd move to?

I definitely want to stay in the North East. I don't (interruption) want to move too away -- to far away from my family.

(interruption) Yeah.

I wouldn't -- I think I'd like to stay -- I'd like to live -- I don't think I'd like to live like central Newcastle sort of thing when I'm older. I'd quite like when I'm settled down -- I'd quite -- either quite a bit more countryside. Still like sort of Durham sort of thing. Um I don't think I'd live in like a big city like London (interruption) but.

(interruption) No it's (interruption) too fast pace.

(interruption) But.

I'd like to like.

I think I'll just see where you -- where it takes (interruption) you like. I would never rule anything out.

(interruption) Yeah.

Yeah me neither, definitely not.

So um obviously to me because I'm not from round here, I think it's fairly obvious like straight away as soon as you guys talk that you're from the North East. Um what do you think about your accents? Like do you like them? What do you think other people think about them? Like what do you think when someone hears a like -- a Geordie accent or a North East accent, what do you think people associate like with that kind of accent?

I think we sound really common.

Yeah, yeah.

Really, really common.

Like you can maybes forget about it but then sometimes when you're around (interruption) people you.

(interruption) 'Cause then you're really aware of (interruption) it.

(interruption) Yeah. When -- when you're talking to someone who's quite like well spoken and stuff.

(interruption) Like.

(interruption) I don't think we're bad spoken I think (interruption) we're

(interruption) (laughter) were not 'bad spoken' (laughter)

What do you say?

We're not well (interruption) spoken.

(interruption) We're not well spoken then. (interruption) (laughter)