How to Spend your First Days as a Student in the UK
It is certainly terrifying to move to an entirely new country as a student, especially when you come from a completely different culture. Additionally, with the current pandemic, you may experience feelings of loneliness and sorrow, yet you must know that you are not alone and that many feel just as you do.
Therefore, your experience and feelings while studying in the UK can improve, just as it did for the many Arab students that have moved to the UK. While everyone may have their own way of adapting to a new environment, the following tips are a simple guide as to how you too can have a great experience as an Arab student in the UK.
Explore the Culture
To begin with, you should familiarize yourself with the country. It is never a better time to know your surroundings than at the start of the year, before the work begins to pile up.
You may be interested in immersing yourself in British culture by visiting some of the numerous fascinating museums around the country, such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Science Museum. The Student Art Pass organization provides just a £5 membership to enjoy a year full of art along with job opportunities in the arts.
Other than that, you can attend fantastic performances at theatres such as the Harold Pinter Theatre and the National Theatre to witness either big stars on stage or independent rising actors in action. For one, you do not want to miss the once in a lifetime experience of seeing Emilia Clarke, star of Game of Thrones, make her West End debut this summer in the play The Seagull.
Food also plays a key role of any culture, so when you find yourself in need of a fabulous dinner in a lively atmosphere, head to one of the UK’s many venues for a memorable night out. A meal at Sketch London, for example, is a full transformative experience as you are surrounded by art and music, as well as an amazing menu of food and drinks.
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During the days when you would like to work and grab a bite at the same time, you can reserve a place at the refreshing tearoom and garden in be-oom, where you will be served tea of the highest quality. Overall, the possibilities and adventures in the UK are endless and are bound to make you more fond of the country sooner or later.
Socialize
Once you have made yourself familiar with your new home, it is always best to put yourself out there and socialize. After all, there is nothing more comforting than having a friend you can turn to; a friend you can share your feelings and adventures with. (buy xanax in vietnam)
Luckily, being a student makes it very easy to make yourself known to new spaces that will allow you to expand friend groups. Through your university’s Student Union’s website, you can join a variety of societies and decide which group you belong to. If you’d like to meet fellow Arabs, there are many societies that cater to either a specific Arab nationality or to the Middle East and North Africa group in general.
Along with that, you can meet like-minded people through social events and activities. Therefore, through understanding what your hobbies are or what skills you’d like to improve, you can join clubs that focus on exactly that, along with people that feel the same way.
In the instances in which you wish to establish friendships close to your accommodation, you can always leave your room a little more to explore. Hanging around the common room or the study room in your dorms can provide you with the opportunity to introduce yourself to people who could potentially become your friends for life. Take the initiative and introduce yourself to your neighbors and try to get to know them better.
Set a Routine
Another tip to keep in mind is to make sure that you have a routine that you can constantly follow. It is normal to feel homesick and lonely in a new place but setting a good routine for each day of the week can keep you busy and entertained.
Eventually, you will learn how to be comfortable with your own company and can become increasingly independent.
To start, each day can be dedicated to a certain activity that will consume your time and energy. For instance, Friday can be your “Movie Day” in which you treat yourself to a movie and a dinner. This is a perfect method to wind down and practice self-care after working hard all week.
On Saturday, you can do chores like tidying up your room and doing the laundry. Besides the fact that you will be able to maintain an organized environment, your tidy space would also promote a clearer mind for the upcoming week. That being said, with all of that housework out of the way, think of spending your Sunday preparing a nice meal for yourself and making sure all of your schoolwork is done. Consequently, you will find yourself relaxed and stress-free. Altogether, this routine ensures that your weekend was both productive and busy.
In the end, after adjusting to life in a new country as an Arab student, you will realize that your fears and worries were insignificant in comparison with the enriching experiences you will go through. Additionally, you will achieve personal growth throughout your journey that will stay with you forever. You will soon enough notice and appreciate how worthwhile and beneficial your move to the UK was.
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