I personally think it’s important to be prepared to deal with the changes that are involved with living in a different country, such as:
Meeting different people – British people are helpful and friendly and usually want to speak to people from different countries too.
Adapting to a new culture – You may need time to get used to the different cultures in the UK. Learn the language and Yorkshire dialect – Make time to make sure you can speak good English, there are many different accents around the UK too.
Prepare for the weather – When you first arrive from Malaysia it may take you some time to get used to the British weather. It’s much colder than Malaysia.
Try different food – There are many international shops and restaurants in Huddersfield but I recommend getting used to British food too.
If you want to study abroad, you have to be independent in many ways, everyone has been through the same thing but I believe slowly you will also notice you are enjoying the changes.
I am assuming you are studying abroad not just for a good education, but also for the experiences of living in a new environment, right? Prioritise your university work, but at the same time, make the most of your time by learning the culture Don’t be afraid to approach different people, try to adapt and accept new things!
There might be times when you feel negative energy or encounter difficult obstacles during your studies. Sometimes we can’t avoid things that are out of our hands (such as a global pandemic), but what you can do is ask for help. Reach out to your society or our student union, speak to any student support services like the international office or the university wellbeing services. It is important to have fun here but also at the same time do not ignore your wellbeing.
I’ve made great friends and I have some fantastic memories from the societies I’ve been involved in. There are lots of opportunities at Huddersfield, I play Basketball but there are lots of different sports societies including football, badminton, tennis etc. There are also lots of academic societies and over 60 global societies.
