If you’re an international student in London, and studying for an undergraduate degree, it is likely that you are in your late teens or (very) early twenties, and living independently of all the friends and family you grew up with. Before anything, I will admit that it can get lonely. Thousands of unknown faces walk past you every day, seemingly in a rush and with no intention to lose focus on their current objective. It’s now your fault if you’re out of eggs, running late, or getting low on toilet paper. You will grow. A lot. They have probably told you that many times already, but it doesn’t make it less true.

Finding your Rhythm in London’s Energy

All this new responsibility, living independently in a big city, can easily get scary, but it’s all about using the tools that this city gives you. For instance, it’s cosmopolitanism. As important as it is to keep your mind open to new experiences and unknown cultures, you will always miss your own. London can give that to you like few foreign cities can. Look it up online, ask around, put in the effort, and you will find your community. The university has many student societies that could be a great place to start, such as the Latino society, Afghan society and Jewish society. Apart from uni, you can also find many communities online for cultural events of different parts of the world. For instance, Mexibrit hosts events that promote Mexican culture and are a great place to meet other Latin American people living in London. I do believe it is important not to isolate yourself from the real, multicultural world, but touching base is always helpful.

Turn the Monster City into your Personal Playground

Another great tool is the monstrosity itself. I use this word because everything that goes on here becomes absurdly overwhelming until you decide to face it. I used to think so much about all the things I could do with my time on any given free afternoon that I usually ended up doing nothing. Between the amount of museums and parks, the huge crowds, every music event, all the possible activities… most of the time I would end up doing nothing at all. It took me a lot of determination to stop being beaten by London’s overwhelming nature. Once you get there, though, you’ll never have a dead day again unless you want one. Central London offers beautiful places such as Green Park to go for a picnic, walk around and just enjoy the grass and trees. There are amazing museums and galleries as well, with my favorites being the National Portrait Gallery and Raven Row. Cool places are not exclusive to Central, though. A bit further into East London is the recently opened Victoria and Albert storehouse, and South London has places like the Horniman Museum. Many other fun activities are all around London, such as vinyl bars, cafés, music jam venues and pubs. A spot I grew very fond of while living in Vauxhall was the Tea House Theatre, which hosts many events every week for all types of things. For me, it became my go-to comfort place to meet friends and study. Finding a place like that can really change your daily routine, and it’s just a matter of trying spots out.

The People Behind the Rush

There are many other things to say about London, but the last one I’ll talk about is the people. A lot of people here can seem cold, alienating and constantly in a rush, which doesn’t quite incentivise you to approach them. While the “rushing” part may often be true, the other two are much more rare than you might think. During my first few months here, I struggled to interact with people outside my school. Coming from Mexico, I was used to a very different personality with your average person walking on the street. However, as time passed, I got to know the kindness of people here. From interactions I’ve had while working (I work at a pub) to seeking help from strangers, or sometimes helping strangers, I’ve grown very comfortable here. As in all big cities, taking precautions is always a good idea, but I’ve found most people to be a ray of sunshine when I least expect it. Random conversations have ended up saving me with a phone charger when my phone is about to die, 2 hours away from home. Random conversations have given me friends in the music space. Random conversations have brightened up my day with unexpected realizations, compliments and honesty. Human connection can take you a long way, and it’s certainly been something that often fixes otherwise obscure days for me. 

I’m no life coach or trained therapist to be giving out this advice as if it were factual, but this is what has consistently worked for me. I know what it’s like to feel that I-just-moved-here loneliness, and sometimes it lingers far longer than you thought it would. It’s been a year since I moved here, and it still gets to me sometimes, but weaving a safety net can become your system to get you out of the hole when you need it to. And that net is nothing more than the things I mentioned; people that make you feel closer to your culture, a reliable coffee shop where you can relax after a long week and your favorite gallery to check out what art they have this month. Weaving this net will slowly happen, step by step. Eventually, you’ll be happy that you made the decision to live by yourself in this monster city.

Bernardo

Insta: @queridaflormia

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