‘Get out of your comfort zone and meet as many people as possible’

Beyond her studies, life in the UK has felt like a big change for Marin but one she is happy she made for herself. She said: “I thought I had done my research into British culture through all the books I had read and the movies I had watched but that didn’t mean I wasn’t in for a surprise.” Certain words and phrases as well as some elements of culture and social norms were unfamiliar to her at first. 

“It was an interesting part of the experience, learning the quirks of the culture that I wasn’t prepared for, but it became one of my favourite things about living here.” 

Marin is happy she chose the University of Bristol and the city of Bristol for her studies. While she hasn’t explored much more of the UK yet, she has found a home in the city.  

She enthusiastically paints a picture of a beautiful – if sometimes damp and chilly – British city: “Bristol has a great character that distinctly stands out. The art and music scenes are impressive and Gloucester Road, a long road of independent cafes and shops, is my favourite place to visit in the city. 

"The weather really is as strange as they say.” She adds, “Small umbrellas never survive, jackets without a hood are pointless and winter boots will most likely become your best friends.” 

When asked what advice she would give to prospective students hoping to study abroad in the UK, Marin made sure to emphasise the importance of asking for help. “Don’t isolate yourself,” she said. “If you’re shy, make the effort to talk to your lecturers and tutors when you have questions. They’re there to help you and they want to help you.”  

She also goes on to say, “Your university should have a wellbeing service and you’ll be assigned a personal tutor who you can speak to if you have any problems. Some universities also offer peer mentoring schemes. Make the most out of all the services available to you.” 

Finally, she talks about the importance of making friends: “It’s really important to remember that everyone’s most likely in the same boat as you. Get out of your comfort zone, meet as many people as possible and do those weird icebreaker activities. Your new best friends might be waiting for you in your first lecture.”

This article is written in support of #WeAreInternational, a UUKi campaign which aims to celebrate the social, cultural and economic value that international students bring to the UK.