What have I learned through my international student journey

Although at times I have felt overwhelmed as an international student living away from home, I have never truly felt homesick. However, when I returned back to visit my native country, Bulgaria, for the summer, I realised how much I missed my mother’s hugs, my father’s strong voice, my sweet and playful dog and Bulgaria’s nature as a whole.

While re-discovering the magic pearls of home, I asked myself: how was I able to cope with the knowledge of what I had left behind in my home country, in order to study abroad? Thinking back on the memories of my first year at City, here is what I realised:

1. I settled into my accommodation with the goal of making it a home, not just a place where I could sleep and eat. The best decision I made was to purchase fairy lights, which I could hang up to hold some of my most memorable photographs of friends and family.
2. At City, I met so many people I can now call family. Without a doubt, you will be able to find friends that fit just like the right piece of a puzzle in your life. Once I found the people that made me feel like a goofball bursting from happiness, we started preparing meals for each other, playing pool in the accommodation common room or simply going on night walks near St Paul’s Cathedral or to Tesco for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream!
3. London is so big and there are so many places for you to visit! I have been living in London for almost a year now, and I still feel like I have not seen everything. Exploring is one of my favourite activities and going from one tube station to another, changing bus stops and riding a bike is an adventure in itself. A piece of advice is to download the mobile app Citymapper. It is helpful, easy to use and something I cannot live without!
4. However, my first year was not a summer camp and I had obligations weighing on my mind. I was studying in a completely different language and had to get used to all the lectures and seminars and note-taking. I was given many books and articles to read and assignments to submit on Moodle. Fortunately, I have enrolled on a course that really fits with my character and all my university responsibilities were enjoyable to complete.

Simply said, while living away from home I learned how to express myself, to enjoy life and be productive in a positive way. I learned plenty from all the people I met and I proved to myself that the best things in life come from the unknown and from being outside of my comfort zone. London welcomed me with acceptance, helpfulness and spectacular scenery. City, University of London showed me how people of different backgrounds and characters can become family and accomplish everything through teamwork.

Being a student away from home gave me a new appreciation of the things I have taken for granted, made my childhood friendships stronger and gave me the self-esteem to accomplish whatever I put my mind to!