Being an international student is difficult. Moving countries for university is usually depicted as being mostly fun: becoming independent, learning loads, and late nights out. 

But why does no one talk about the not-so-fun stuff? You are constantly plagued with homesickness, culture shock and anxiety about living in a new country. 

Oh, I wish I could ask my mum how to work this oven, and I wish I could tell my best friend about all the new shops I saw today. Oh wait, they’re both asleep. 

Why is my flatmate drinking tea before bed? What is a roast dinner and why are these puddings not sweet? What do you mean you’re ordering an ‘Indian’? Why are you calling dinner ‘tea’? What do you mean I got a 75/100 and what do you mean that’s good? Don’t even get me started on British sarcasm. And don’t belittle my feelings by calling it banter. What’s a bap? What’s a butty? What’s a barm? 

These are probably sentiments all international students go through – and rightfully so! 

Now, being friends with people from your own country is amazing. You won’t have to deal with the stress of relating to someone from the opposite side of the world nor will you have to undergo the dilemma of what you’re supposed to call a sandwich. But putting yourself out there will take you further. I am going to sound like a humongous foodie in this next bit. During my time at university, I had the privilege of becoming friends with people from so many incredible countries and they took all the measures they could to nurture the gourmand in me. I have now tried Malaysian Nasi Lemak, Turkish Manti, Ethiopian Injera and Italian Aperitivo. I tried my best to avoid British food. 

And one day, you stop feeling homesick. You look forward to Fridays and seeing your friends again – your new friends. You start being unnecessarily sarcastic and say, “you okay?” as a greeting.  

You’ll still crave your mum’s cooking and your room at home but you’ll start looking forward to the “Chinese” your whole flat orders together on Fridays. You then find yourself pitching for England during the world cup and falling in love with gravy and it all starts feeling really familiar. 

There are times when it gets bad and you feel like everything is against you, but it’s important to remember that there are far more supportive and kind people in the world than not. 

So to every international student walking onto campus this September, overwhelmed, homesick and scared of a country that has savoury puddings, it gets better! You will find your people. You will find your place. And one day you might even find yourself arguing about baps, butties, and barms.

Shruti Baleri –EDI Assistant Data Analyst in the Equality, DIversity and Inclusion Directorate 

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