The Students' Union, Leeds, United Kingdom

Hello!

A promise is a promise and as I've been saying that since two entries ago I was going to speak about it, today I want to tell you about the Students' Union, one of the University of Leeds most surprising buildings.

It's located right in the middle of campus, so it's extremely easy to find. But what is it? Well, it is a student organisation similar to the one we have in Spain, the ESN (Erasmus Students' Network). Fair enough, describing it like that doesn't make it sound amazing. But what if I told you the building is entirely controlled by the students? And if I told you that it had four floors, full of shops, places to eat, clubs and bars... You'd be a bit more impressed?

Although it is located on campus, this building is a separate organisation from the University. They are involved in organising events, parties and to helping students so that their stay in Leeds is as enjoyable as possible. Every year they hold elections to choose the representatives who will make up the Union. It is a charity organisation, so the funds that they make completely pay for the activities they carried out, paying the workers salaries and to maintain the building.

It is not only the meeting place for all the students, but they also rent spaces to University Leeds societies. These societies are very multifarious, ranging from common sports such as football, basketball swimming or volleyball, as well as all the religions that you could imagine and those who don't believe that they exist at all, like the Science Fiction Society, Scottish Dancing society or the Quidditch and Harry Potter society. This last one is going to leave you with a sore bum, but it's real.

The truth is that these societies are really useful to get to know people with the same tastes and interests as you so that making new friends is easy. I played in a Waterpolo team and it was incredible as well, as the Erasmus advice page for Leeds recommended that you should join a society, get to know lots of people, practice an activity that you enjoy and speak even more English.

So continuing with our description of the building, it's massive. As I said before it has 4 floors: a basement, ground floor, first floor and second floor.

Down to the basement

You genuinely could get lost here. There are small clothes shops and other treats like a Santander and a small Unipol office (yes, the letting agent). Also, there is the supermarket, Essentials, which I spoke about in “La compra de la semana”, my blog on doing the weekly shop, and even better, there are 3 clubs and one bar! Yep, widen your eyes because what you're reading is true. In the tiny basement, there are the clubs' Stylus, Pulse and Mine which can hold a capacity of around 3, 000 people. And I'll stress again that you don't even have to leave campus. The best club night is Friday because they always have the same event, Fruity.

Now onto the bar, it's called Old Bar. It's a typical English pub with low light and pool tables. It's great because after a hard day there nothing better than to whet your taste buds (especially after an impossible class).

What you'll find on the first floor...

This floor is the one which welcomes you into the Union. It has an information desk and a small space which helps students to find part-time jobs (really useful). And in case you're having second thoughts, yes, there's also a bar, called Terrace.

The bar is very chilled throughout the day, and it is more spacious than Old Bar. The "bad thing" about both bars is that they close quite early (even more so compared to Spanish timings). As the name implies, there is a really big terrace where you can go out on the few days that it doesn't rain in the North of England. Sometimes they even have small barbecues for free for those who live there, look out for them!

Going up to the floors above, the first and second floor

The higher floors are for the students who work for the Student Union, as well as for free space for societies like I mentioned earlier.

The Union is an incredible place, I spent so much time there during the first two weeks of my Erasmus experience. If you go to Leeds, it is a place that you have to visit.

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog and as always feel free to comment whatever you like.

Enjoy yourselves and remember to behave!

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