Wednesday 25-08-2021 - 12:15

 

Written by Maria, International Student Coordinator

 

5 things you can do to immerse yourself in the community from an international student grad

 

Hi, my name is Maria I moved to the UK from Argentina 5 years ago to study at Manchester Met. To me, feeling at home used to be about my friends from my childhood and my mum's homecooked meals.

That feeling changed when I moved to England and home stopped being a location or people around me, but rather this feeling of belonging that you find in the smallest of situations. It took time, practice, and a lot of self-belief. Remember, you just moved to live and study in a different country, that is brave. You clearly can do anything you set your mind to.

I don’t want to lie to you, it’s not easy at first. You’re having to begin again in a world where things are unpredictable. While the words “culture shock” imply something immediately, the onset is usually gradual and cumulative. With time you will learn how things work in the UK; until then I want to reassure you that this feeling is perfectly normal to feel a bit out of place at first when you’re new to the UK.

It can be surprising and sometimes distressing to find that people do not share some of your most deeply held ideas, as most of us take our core values and beliefs for granted and assume they’re universally held.

As far as possible, try to suspend judgment until you understand how parts of a culture fit together into a coherent whole. Try to see what people say or do in the context of their own culture’s norms.

I genuinely believe that it’s through experiencing and listening that we can truly appreciate other cultures. Luckily for you, Manchester is home to many international students, that like you, are trying to find their place.

Universities in the UK allow you to have a life outside of your studies. Take this time to travel, work, volunteer or follow your hobbies.

I used this opportunity to re-invent myself, to find what made me “me”, and what was a reaction to my social environment. To do this, I tried many new things:

• 1. I joined the Debating Society – I’d done debating in High School and wanted to see how it worked here
• 2. I went to international socials and spoke to anyone that would look my way – I met one of my best friends during my first term and we ended up living together. Now I am planning to go visit her in the US.
• 3. I talked to my housemates, even though I felt out of place. I moved to a 12 person house in Birley accommodation. The students I lived with where so kind and loving. We celebrated Christmas, had Halloween parties and went out dancing together. I don’t think this would have happened if I would have stayed in my room all the time. It was hanging out in the living room and trying to find things in common with them that made us have a good dynamic.
• 4. I was honest with myself. It’s okay to not be at your 100% all the time. Life is that way. You will hear everyone from back home saying things like “you are living the dream, you can’t complain”. This was probably the hardest thing I had to do, because being here was always my dream and still is, and yet, some days, I just wanted to go back. The most important thing I learned is that your true friendships and family bonds won’t break when you move. And if they do, then it’s for the best. People around you should be there to support your dreams and ambitions, and whoever can’t do that, it’s on them.
• 5. I got involved in the conversation. One of the things I admire the most about the British is how they always stand for what they deserve. Here, your voice matters, and I found a way to make my voice heard. The Union is a megaphone for student voice. As an international student you can join the International Student Group and make your voice heard too. Being part of the conversation and part of future change gives you a sense of community belonging that nothing else can.

 

Hope these steps sound useful to you and that you feel a bit more understood. I can’t promise you everything will change in an instant, but I can promise you there a lot of resources within reach to help you make the best out of your international student experience. For one, I recommend joining the International Student Group’s Facebook Group, where you can meet other international students and find out about upcoming events and activities. If you feel homesickness or any other issues are impacting your mental health then please don’t hesitate in reaching out to our Advice Service for support in accessing services.