Studying in the UK as an International Student
Shaping Cultural Experiences
Travel has been an integral part of my life since I was a young child. I grew up in a multicultural, bilingual home in the Netherlands with a Polish mother and a Dutch father. My
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From Nigeria to Boston
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VNkCazT_T4&feature=youtu.be
When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained. Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs. Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.
Mark Twain on Travel
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).
Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?
Pleasing The Taste Palate
Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland. How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?
Stereotypes: Truth or Fiction?
DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid
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Remembering Tiananmen
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Coffee's Uniting Power
A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,
Today’s guest post is by The Student Housing Company
Studying abroad is a very exciting prospect, which is why millions of students do it every year. According to the UK Council for International Students, 436,585 people came over to the UK to study from 2014 to 2015. London is the favourite British city for international students, most of whom come from China and India, although the UK welcomes many foreign students each year from all over the world.
The UK is popular because it has so much to offer international students: some of the highest-ranking universities in the world, amazing cultural cities, and great employment opportunities after graduation. Before you go, it is also important to make sure you are organised and that you have everything you need to have a great time in the UK.
Your Journey: The Practicalities
Before you fly make sure:
- You have printed flight tickets, including tickets for any inter-connecting flights
- You have bought travel insurance for your journey
- You have all relevant documents ready – e.g. boarding passes, passport, etc.
- You have ordered British currency
- You have checked whether your Government has restrictions on the amount of money you can take out of your country
- You have checked that your luggage weighs less than the maximum amount allowed
Onward travel:
- Check you have instructions on how to get to your new accommodation before you fly
- Arrange any overnight accommodation you may need when you arrive
- Check the length of time it will take you to get to your new accommodation when you get to the UK
- Research the public transport you might have to take – e.g. the tube, buses, trains, trams
Useful contacts for your stay:
British Accreditation Council for Independent Further and Higher Education (BAC)
T +44 (0)300 330 1400
info@the-bac.org
www.the-bac.org
British Council Customer Service
T +44 (0)161 957 7755
www.britishcouncil.org
Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
T +44 (0)207 215 5000
enquiries@bis.gsi.gov.uk
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-innovation-skills
National Union of Students
T +44 (0)845 5210 262
www.nus.org.uk
Experience the Culture and Travel Around
When you are in the UK it is important to experience the culture of the city you are staying in. Most UK cities have museums, galleries, theatres, cinemas and many more attractions that showcase the best in UK art and culture. Many of these attractions are also free.
Many international students also take the opportunity to travel further afield at the weekend or during academic holidays. There are trains and short flights you can take to UK cities and popular tourist hotspots in the British Isles. Short flights to Europe can also be taken from British airports. Many international students from Asia and America take the opportunity to discover wider Europe whilst they are in the UK.
Socialising at Uni
It is natural to feel a little homesick when you are studying abroad, but one of the best ways to remedy this is to make new friends. In the UK, there are plenty of groups and societies that you can join at university during your first week – where you can make friends, develop new skills and settle into life abroad.
Most universities in the UK have great sports facilities and sports teams, so if you have a talent for a particular sport, make sure you sign up and take part in the university sports team. If sport is not your passion, don’t worry, because there is a huge range of different societies at UK universities – including international societies, where international students can socialise, make friends and discover the UK together.
Choose the Right Accommodation
It is important to find accommodation that is safe, comfortable and close to your new university when you study abroad. Find out more about The Student Housing Company’s accommodation options in the UK and secure your new accommodation today.
Author Bio: The Student Housing Company provides comfortable and secure accommodation for both domestic and international students in the UK.
Hi! I'm the founder of Culture With Travel and #CultureTrav. Please chat with us on social media and contribute in the comments! Follow @Nicolette_O
Comment (1)
LeapQuest
19 Jan 2023Followed by US, Canda – UK is the most preferable option for Indian students to study abroad but, finding the accommodation is the major difficulty they will face and I strongly believe as an education consultant that this article will be most helpful for the students who are planning to study in UK .