Looking After Yourself
How to Cope with the Scottish Weather
When you are in a new country it is easy to concentrate on new studies and forget about taking care of your health. A different climate, unfamiliar food, expensive clothing and heating costs make it more difficult to stay warm and healthy.
The best way to describe the weather in Scotland is 'uncertain'. It can be very wet and cold for much of the year, although the summers can be quite warm. It will be necessary to ensure that you have adequate clothing. You will need a warm jacket or coat (preferably waterproof), several woollen jumpers, warm socks and strong shoes, a scarf and gloves and perhaps a woollen hat to protect your head from the cold and strong winds.
Temperatures in Aberdeen range from around 4 degrees Celsius in January to approximately 18 degrees in July and August. You can look at the weather conditions for the current week by going to the Aberdeen City Council website.
There are many shops in Aberdeen which provide good quality clothes at reasonable prices. Most of them will be found on Union Street or in one of the shopping Centres which branch off from there e.g. St Nicholas Centre, Bon Accord Centre, Trinity Centre and Union Square. Aberdeen also has a good variety of shops selling second hand clothes and this can be a good way to buy nearly new items at a fraction of the original cost.
Shops in Aberdeen are usually open 0900 – 1730 Monday – Saturday, with late night shopping on a Thursday night until 2000. Some shops are closed on Sundays, while others operate a half day service 1200 – 1730.
Food and Drink
Cooking for yourself, eating the right food and enough of it, is vital to keep warm and healthy. Scottish food may appear dull and stodgy and very different to what you may have been used to at home.
You may find foods which were cheap and plentiful at home, especially certain types of fruit and vegetables are a lot more expensive here. The availability of exotic food is growing and many supermarkets are beginning to stock such produce.
Aberdeen has a range of large supermarkets (ASDA, Tesco, Sainsburys, Morrisons) which operate long opening hours (often 0800 – 2000 and some are open 24 hours per day) and are usually the cheapest source of food. They are usually positioned on good bus routes and some even offer a delivery service or internet shopping facilities. Look out for a supermarket's own 'value' brand – it will usually have very simple, undecorative packaging. These products are usually significantly cheaper than their 'branded' alternatives and can taste just as good.
There are also many smaller 'convenience' stores all over Aberdeen. These again are often open long hours and are usually within walking distance wherever you are staying in Aberdeen. They tend to offer a smaller range of stock and are often more expensive, but can be useful if you only need a small amount of food or do not have the time to travel to the larger stores.
In the UK customers expect to pay the price advertised for goods in shops – bargaining is not usually an option. Towards the end of the day you can sometimes pick up reduced priced fresh foods (bread, fruit, vegetables, meat) that need to be eaten within a day or two. This can be a good way of getting a cheap meal! Currently you can expect to pay £0.80 – £1.50 for a loaf of bread (this will be cheaper if you buy the shop's own brand) and around £0.50 for 1 pint/0.5 litres of milk.
If you are living in catered for accommodation, do inform the landlord or catering staff of any special diet or any religious event you wish to observe (e.g. Ramadan) and most will be happy to comply to the extent to which they are able.
Aberdeen has a large number of restaurants which specialise in food from different parts of the world. The most common are Indian and Chinese, but you will also find Turkish, European, Thai and Indonesian.
Scotland is famous for its whisky and a lot of social life revolves around pubs and bars. Both men and women over the age of 18 may visit pubs. Never feel that you have to accept an alcoholic drink if you don't want to. It is perfectly acceptable to ask for a soft drink such as orange juice, coca-cola or mineral water.
Medical Treatment
The NHS (National Health Service) is the UK's state health service and provides treatment for UK residents. If you are a full time student in Scotland, you will qualify for NHS treatment on the same basis as anyone who is ordinarily resident in the UK. If your spouse and/or children have accompanied you, they will also be eligible for treatment. It is important that you register with a doctor when you first arrive – do not wait until you are ill. The College can help you choose a doctor who has a practice near to where you are staying. When you register you should ask for details of all the services provided by the practice e.g. if there is an 'out of hours' service if you need to be seen by the doctor at night or in the evening. Consultations with a doctor and hospital treatment are free of charge under the NHS, however you will have to pay a small charge for any medicines your doctor prescribes.
If you need emergency medical treatment you should telephone 999. You will be connected to an operator who will ask you which of the emergency services you require – fire, police or ambulance. You will need to give details of where you are and what has happened. If required, you would then be taken to the Accident and Emergency department of your local hospital for treatment. If you are well enough to travel you can make your own way to the Accident and Emergency department and request to be seen by a doctor.
You should also consider registering with a dentist while you are living in Aberdeen. You must be registered with a doctor before being entitled to NHS dental treatment. There is a charge for any dental treatment you have and you should ask your dentist to give you an estimate of the total cost. However, currently in Aberdeen there are very few dental practices who are still accepting patients under the NHS and most new residents have to register as a private patient. Private dental treatment is very expensive and it is therefore advisable to take out a medical/dental insurance policy. In some circumstances it is possible to receive free dental treatment and you should ask your dentist for more information on this.
For more detailed information on medical and dental treatment, as well as eye care and other general health matters, you can download the UKCISA leaflet 'Keeping Healthy'.
What about Sex?
Attitudes to sex in this country may be different to what you are used to in your own country. It is acceptable that people who are involved in a relationship may have sex together, although of course the choice is a personal one. You are entirely free to live according to your own personal, cultural or religious standards, and you should not feel pressurised to adopt those of your fellow students.
If you do become involved in a relationship and decide to have sex together, you should also consider what measures you are going to take to avoid pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted disease. With the risk of HIV and AIDS many people want to use methods to stop the risk of infection or unwanted pregnancy.
Advice on contraception and sex related matters can be obtained from your doctor or the Family Planning Clinic (tel 01224 642711).
Personal Safety
Aberdeen is generally a very safe place and most students will not encounter any violence or personal loss by theft or vandalism. It is advisable, however, to insure your possessions against theft or damage. Never go out of your accommodation and leave windows open or doors unlocked.
Avoid walking alone at night on unlit or deserted streets. Keep away from parks at night. The city centre late at night when the pubs are closed is best avoided, especially if you are on your own. If have been out in the evening and are travelling home alone, especially after dark, it may be advisable to take a taxi. You may also want to buy a personal attack alarm for your own security.
What about Racism?
Unfortunately racism and racial harassment is a fact of life for many people in Scotland. You may not experience any during your stay in Aberdeen, but if you do you should report it to the relevant authorities.
Racist abuse and behaviour can affect students both within and outside the College. Within the College you should report any incidents to your class tutor, or a member of the Learner Services team. Any racial incident out with the College should be reported to the Race Relations Officer at Grampian Police and they can provide guidance and advice about any related matter. They can be contacted through the Bucksburn Police Office (tel 01224 386823). Alternatively, Grampian Regional Equality Council Ltd. can investigate any complaints you have and give advice and support (tel 01224 595505).