Moving to a new country...

Moving abroad to study will probably be one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of your life. Whichever country you decide to move to, you’re in for an exciting time, where life will be what YOU make of it. For every international student, the first few weeks or even months are about settling in - sorting out accommodation, navigating the university campus and classes, making new friends, learning to cook and doing the laundry. There’s so much to do and get sorted before you can even attend your first class! Our February GSP Student Services Newsletter is full of essential advice on how to juggle it all and come out ahead, so that you can balance your studies, along with a rewarding social life and vital self-care. You can have it all, but it’s a process and takes time and effort.

We asked some of our second and third year students about what advice they’d give newbies, and they all agreed that it was important to take the time to settle in. No matter which way you look at it, moving to another country is a huge step, so take a deep breath and pace yourself so you can come to grips with your new environment. It’s also important to have realistic expectations about university life. No matter how quickly you might want to enjoy everything that uni has to offer, it takes time to put all the pieces together so that you’re meeting expectations and doing your best work. Here are a few tips:

Slowly get to know your university campus. Some universities can be more like small towns and it really does take time to learn where everything is. Your priority is to know how to get to each of your classes quickly but when you have some free time, walk around and find out where the sports centre is, Student Services, good cafes and so on. The better you know your campus, the more at home you’ll feel.

Try and finish all your administrative tasks within your first few weeks, including registration, orientation, setting up your university e-mail, library card and so on. This will give you peace of mind and let you concentrate on other areas of your life which need your attention.

Don’t spread yourself too thin by joining every society and club right away. By all means, join the ones you’re interested in, but go slow. You want to focus on settling-in to your room, getting into a good routine with your studies and making sure you can look after your basic needs like cooking, doing laundry, shopping and paying bills. Good things will happen, just don’t get burnt out by trying to do it all at once.

More than anything, be yourself. You are who you are, you don’t need to be embarrassed about where you’re from, how you speak, how you dress or anything else.

You are good enough!

First things first – you need somewhere to live. Easier said than done sometimes and it’s not at all unusual for students to spend their first few months moving house several times because of issues such as noisy room-mates, unaffordable rents, mould or damp, distance

from university and so on. Finding accommodation which you like and makes you feel good to live in is a priority and can take time to find, so don’t give up.

Once you’ve settled into your room or flat, make it as nice as you possibly can. A few warm touches can make all the difference and make it feel like home...a nice plant, some photos of family, a nice bedspread. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to create a space which is warm and welcoming and gives you good vibes.

So many students get into financial difficulties because they don’t know how to budget and spend a lot of unnecessary time and energy trying to cover their shortfall. It’s very tempting once your money appears in your account to spend it all on things you think you need. But your money has to last for a week or a month or until whenever the next instalment comes through. When you’re studying, every dollar counts, so learning to live within your budget is paramount. Work on prioritising your needs and don’t overspend. University is not only about studying. It’s also about learning the value of money, how to make it and use it wisely

Sit down and write out a formal budget detailing your weekly or monthly expenses. Include rent, utilities, food, clothes, entertainment and any extras so you know exactly how much you can spend. In this case, information is power, so make sure you know what your income is and what your expenses are and work out how you can live within your means. If you find that you need to get a part-time job in order to supplement your income, then go for it.

Culture shock is a normal but temporary experience for international students. No matter how much you research, nothing can prepare you for the feeling of homesickness you’ll probably feel when you first arrive. But it does get better and once you’ve been through the process of settling-in, student life will become more enjoyable.

By now you’ve probably done a bit of research about your new country and might have picked up on a few stereotypes. While there may be some truth to the stereotypes, the truth is that the UK, Europe and the US are intrinsically multi-cultural nations, which are very welcoming to international students. As you come into contact with more and more people, you’ll notice that most are friendly and down-to-earth with a welcoming attitude.

One of the challenges you might face in your new country is the local accent. There will probably be lots of slang words and abbreviations you’ll soon be hearing…it takes time to understand these words and get the hang of using them. The thing is not to panic, you will soon understand and be using these words like a local.

Most people also tend to be polite and to the point, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and initiate conversations! Every country has their own unique sense of humour. This will take some time to get used to. Sarcasm and swearing are other issues. The British love sarcasm so don’t take any of this personally, it’s not meant to be hurtful. Like we said, it is a learning curve and part of the process of assimilating into a new culture.

Another big difference is that British culture is very self-reliant and independence from an early age is valued highly. Unlike many Asian and Southern European cultures, most parents don’t look after their children after the age of 18 and expect them to fend for themselves.

Coffee culture is also big and is a nice way to relax and meet people when you’re on campus. If you think the pub scene might be your thing, it’s worth going to your ‘local’ to try out some craft brews and watch a band playing...a fun night out!

If you’re feeling homesick or just want to taste a little slice of home, the odds are there are many people of your nationality living in a community close by. You won’t be ever really far from home so start researching what is available from your home country and how you can access it. This will include supermarkets which sell international foods, so you can find authentic food from your own culture. If you don’t feel like cooking, you’re sure to find great restaurants which will have food similar to what you had back home. Just look, you’re sure to find what you want.

As an international student, sometimes you just want to touch base with someone that is familiar and where you feel you fit in. Joining an international university society is a good idea but in larger cities, you’ll also find organised ethnic communities which can provide support and social connection. Feeling isolated and homesick is real and reaching out to people who share the same community and values as you, can help.

Keep in touch with family back home

Staying consistently positive is not an easy task to do alone. It really is vital to stay in touch with your family and friends back home and not feel that you’re neglecting them or worrying them unduly. Nobody is saying to call your family everyday, but they will want to know that you’re OK. Also, don’t feel that you have to be super-strong and on top of things all the time. Your family knows you best and will provide comfort and support when you’re feeling down...just reach out.

5 Best apps for students starting Uni

Just a few years ago, students attending lectures would have to spend the entire time scribbling furiously on a notepad so as not to miss any vital bit of information. Then along came technology, and now, lecture capture apps are a reality. These allow you to record and listen to classes without having to spend extra money on expensive recording equipment. SoundNote is a popular lecture capture app for iPad user,

StudyBlue is a student app which takes your course notes and creates a selection of flashcards for revision.

We love safety apps like Circle of Six which have been developed to promote personal safety, both off and on campus. The app has a GPS tracker which will mark your location on your friends’ devices, ensuring you’ll always be able to find one another when you go out.

RockinRamen If you’re keen to eat healthily while keeping to a student budget, consider this app which focuses on nutritional recipes based on ramen as a key ingredient. MealBoard is another good app which plans healthy meals, grocery shops and suggests recipes based on what you’ve got in the fridge.

Mint is a money-management app that helps you to stay on top of your finances and savings goal.