On June 6, 2024, I started counting: 100 days until my flight to London. 99, 98, 97,…Time was flying away so quickly. 96, 95, 94,… I was spending as much time as possible with my family before I left them to live abroad for the first time in my life. 93, 92, 91,… I was so excited for the UK, London, and the University of Westminster. 90, 89, 88,…At the same time, anxiety and fear of the unknown grew on me as days went by. 87, 86, 85,… And suddenly, it was three days, then two days, one day, and…Then I woke up on September 14, 2024. Day D. I squeezed the last couple of items into my already overweight two suitcases, said goodbye to my family in tears, knowing I was not going to see them until Christmas, and headed to the airport. I do not have a single memory of how I got from the departures gate at the Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague to Stansted Airport in London. The first thing I remember is me looking from the window of the Stansted Express approaching London Liverpool Street. How did I feel? Grateful, in disbelief, and excited as never before. Among the many uncertainties I was heading towards, one thing was clear even back then, so early on: This was the best decision I could have ever made.

Building a New Life

That said, not even the greatest decisions in the history of humankind have come without challenges. As with many things in life, it is all about perspective and the approach one takes to deal with those obstacles early on.

With this in mind, the first morning in my new home — a little en-suite room at a student accommodation in Wembley — I went for a long walk to discover my area. I popped into some grocery stores to see where I’d be shopping for groceries and passed by coffee shops where they would soon know my order and name. Getting to know my new environment this way, just shortly after my arrival to the UK, helped me a lot to feel like I belonged there. Focusing on adapting to London and establishing a new routine early on made me busy and did not let me miss my family and home too much. And no later than around October, I caught myself calling London “home”.

Becoming Westminster

Even before that, though, I became “Westminster”. I will never forget when the Vice Chancellor Peter Bonfield introduced us to the Welcome to Westminster induction as part of the International Student Welcome programme (I did not miss a single one and you should not either!) with the words: “Now, every single one of you are Westminster”. I could not help myself but smile; and feel a sense of certainty that there was no other place I was meant to be but at the University of Westminster in one of the greatest cities in the world.

In the first couple of weeks of classes, I quickly discovered how the university resembles London’s diversity and energy: In my lectures and seminars, I met fellow students and professors from all around the world. Coming from a small village in rural Czechia, I was shocked at first but quickly found delight in the wide range of opinions and experiences we all get to share with one another. Opening myself to new people and new things has helped me find my own place and identity around the University’s five campuses and London’s nearly 9.2 million people.

Everything, Everywhere, All … In the First Weeks

One may ask: “Alright Renata, but how did you ‘open yourself to new people and new things’?”. Well, my advice is to go everywhere and talk to everyone — particularly during the first couple weeks when everything and everyone is new. This way, I found myself at a BSL lesson for advanced learners while having zero previous experience in any sign language; I went to every event organised by my FANS early in the semester; I would run from one society event to the other, attend voluntary drop-in sessions with my professors, and not miss a single lecture or a seminar. For what? To meet new people and discover everything I can do at Westminster.

Some of the people I met at the BSL lesson are my friends until this day; two years later, I still keep in touch with my FANS even as all four of them already graduated; I have become the President of the European Affairs Institute, the first society I learnt about back at the Student Union (UWSU) Welcome Fair, and come to work with my professors in the Student Representative and Research Assistant positions.

In short, The first weeks in London and at the University might be the most crucial period for discovering what one can become in a new environment and at Westminster. Keeping myself busy not only helped me forget what I had left on that Saturday, September 14, 2024, but also opened doors to new experiences, opportunities, and people. And although some say that the realities of everyday life make one forget how excited they were at the beginning, that is not the experience that I have had. I feel grateful to wake up every day in London, as the student at the University of Westminster.

Renata

For more insights from international students studying at the University of Westminster and living in the heart of London, please visit our International Student Blog