Arcadia England

In the first instalment of her London Diaries, guest blogger Ashley Blaes, who is studying at King's for the 21-22 academic year, gives us a vivid and honest account of settling into life in London, along with some great tips for future students.

Hello from London town! I write to you from my cozy little student accommodation in central London. Admittedly, this post is about 2 months too late, but with the hustle and bustle of moving to a new country mid-pandemic, I figured I could give myself some grace and rather say this post is two months in the making.

I always knew I wanted to make the United Kingdom my home someday, but I had no clue how I would fare on my own. For years I dreamed and planned my little heart out, and just when I thought the dream was in my grasp, Covid decided to go on the world tour I had hopes of going on myself. Despite the challenges and the heartbreak the first time around, I didn’t let it deter my plans.

I won’t lie, the first few weeks here were the hardest I’ve had to endure in a really long time. The day I had to say goodbye to my family and leave my mum at the airport was so bittersweet; how could I ever learn to live without them by my side like I had always had for 21 years? On top of it all, I had never flown on my own before and I was flying 3,700 miles away from home during the middle of a global pandemic. Talk about a nerve-wracking travel day!

I had no idea who I would meet when I arrived. Would my flat mates absolutely hate me and immediately request a room change? What if I couldn’t find all my regular foods at the markets here? Would I make any friends on campus? How would I ever be able to manage all the readings my classes were piling on me? All these doubts and more flooded my mind when I first got my keys and opened the door into my plain little room- my new life suddenly felt so real and jarring that it was hard to believe I was the one living it.

I’m here to tell you that adjusting to culture shock is not a liner path. My first day (I’m not ashamed to admit it) I cried. A lot. I felt so uncertain that I had made the right choice and all I wanted was to go home. The great news is that having friends and flat mates here who admit they go through the same rollercoaster of emotions and nostalgia for home as I did (and still do) made me feel less alone. When you arrive, just know that you’re in the same boat as a lot of other students who are embarking on a journey just like yours! It’s important to get yourself out there and take the chance to join societies, go to events and parties sponsored by your program or your university, ask your flat mates to hang out, or send out an invite in your study abroad group chat. I promise you’ll make a friend or two that way.

If you miss your family back home, they’re only a phone call or facetime session away. Two months into my time here and I still facetime with my mum every day. Keeping in touch with people back home is one of the brightest parts of my day! When I’m feeling introspective or nostalgic, I like to journal at my local Caffe Nero to get the thoughts out on paper. Or I talk to some of my friends here just to know that I’m heard and have a shoulder to lean on.

Now, I’m no longer afraid to go on walks by myself (I pinky promise no one will think you’re a “loser” if you walk down the street by yourself) to enjoy the sights of my beautiful city. Moving away from home can be daunting and the adjustment period certainly won’t always be easy. But it will get better over time. Trust that you have the confidence to be yourself and you won’t regret the independence and friends you gain along the way. Over two months in to my year abroad here and I’m more confident than ever that I made the best choice of my life. And while I may have days that are harder than others, the thought of seeing London—a place that will forever be home to me—every morning is more than enough to put a smile on my face. While it may be scary to try new things, all you need is a little courage to leap, and you may be pleasantly surprised at where you end up.