Illusions prodding reality

As I sit here packing my bags for the long sought journey back home, I realize the umpteenth time how wrong people are about living abroad. When I share my views about how tough independent life is abroad, they burst out and argue that life can never be tough in such a country.  Speaking up and arguing is easy but realizing and accepting the truth is what most of us lack. Living life in a new country is an exhilarating and rewarding experience; but it's an experience that isn't without its difficulties.  

                                                          

I’ve spent almost my entire life abroad. 15-years in Saudi Arabia and now in the United Kingdom. Anyhow, I am just going to emphasize on my student life here. As mentioned in my earlier post, am currently studying BSc Electrical and Electronic Engineering. It’s been 9 months since am here and almost done with my 2^nd semester. The main reason for writing this post is to share my experience and give my fellow friends an idea of how a student-independent life is here.

To start with, you’re never comfortable when you move out and leave your family behind. Everything’s on your head and you start a new journey. Our parents raise us teaching us what’s wrong and what’s right. This is all to prepare us for this day.  No person likes leaving family behind but this is how life goes, this is how the cycle revolves. 

When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable...but to make its own people comfortable - Clifton Fadiman

You move in to your university hall-room and the first thought you get is “How busy was life back, I had my siblings always with me, those joys and jokes” and then you just end up getting deep in them. Homesickness, yes very common and happens. It’s one of the barriers that stand in the way of many that decide to live abroad. Homesickness is a form of anxiety that occurs when the world feels less stable around you. But as time passes, you get indulged into activities and life gets so busy that you finally adjust in.  I had two housemates, an Italian, Ugo who was studying Msc Gaming and secondly, a French guy who is studying Bsc Mechanical Engineering. They both were great people to be with, we would mostly meet in kitchen while cooking. (Italians are perfect at cooking pasta and pizza). Not to forget, he's the biggest fan of my brownies! This all goes into the memories, good old days

Once you get in, the real life begins. Waking up on time, preparing breakfast, making sure clothes are ironed and getting to lecture on time. Too much to start with?  Not really.  You attend the lectures all day, get back to room and lay down. You think someone’s getting lunch for you? Hah! Get your ass up and cook something. Cooking is the toughest thing to me, takes a lot of time and has no alternative. Advice #1: Learn cooking before you go abroad or-else you’re going to have quite a tough time. I just learnt few easy dishes, simple rice, chicken curry and pasta.  And with days passing, I learnt baking brownies and pizzas. 

 

Cooking is not the only thing. Washing clothes and keeping room clean are two other hectics. With time we all learn new ways to live and enjoy life. So did I. University life is not just about studying, being a book-worm or working hard for a good GPA. There’s a life apart from that, indulge into academic activities, volunteering work, parties and other student union events. Advice #2: It’s a must-do for international students to indulge into these events as it helps a lot in adjusting and getting used to the environment and people.

Octagon Building, Staffordshire

Nelson Library, Staffordshire

If someone asked me ‘what’s the best thing about universities’. I would answer libraries. They've academic books to novels, movies, and magazines.  When I first arrived at university, I used to spend most of my time at the library. That’s where I met people and made new friends. And as nowadays, ‘A free wifi attracts everyone’. So to kill boredom, I used to spend most of my time there. Furthermore, I've been asked about racism and discrimination. To be honest, I didn't face any racism or anything such but discrimination, yes I did. I won’t go in depth but they did discriminate in grading my assignment and that’s nothing shocking. Level and difficulty of course, consider it like O-levels and A-levels. A-levels is the advanced side of O-levels and introduces you to a bit of new stuff. University follows the same criteria; it goes into dept of those topics you studied in A-levels, topics of your course


United Kingdom is mostly recognized for its education (amount and level of universities) and tourism. With universities that cost £20,000 to those costing £10,000, with those asking for A*s or A grades to those accepting you at B’s and C’s. You can easily find one that's best for you. 

The university arranges trips to different cities and places just for us international students to enjoy and explore. With my first year about to end, I've visited Manchester, Harrogate, Ullswater and West-Midlands Safari Park all with my university team.Apart from travelling with university team, I've traveled on my own to Leeds, Bradford, Birmingham and London

Eithad Football Stadium, Manchester

Lake district, Ullswater

Central Harrogate

African Tiger, WestMidlands Park

Buckingham (Queen) Palace, London

Leeds University

If you would ask me for a good university suggestion in the United Kingdom, I would say ‘any university in London, Birmingham, Manchester or Leeds’. These are the big cities with good halal-food and asian people around.  My university is in a locals-majority area so it was really tough for me.  But as again, you experience and learn. 

To end with, living alone has been a great experience.  Never be afraid or deject yourself about it. It is thorny in the start but you will for sure enjoy it once you get in. Today, am excited going back home after a long 4 months.  And why won’t I be, getting to eat all those delicious stuff and relaxing. Time passes like wind, enjoy and cherish the moments. You never know when you might leave.  

Lost time is never found again – Benjamin Franklin

Thank you for reading, and if any of you would like to ask anything, please feel free to ask. 

Cheers!