How to find your community and settle in as a student in London

The thought of studying in London can be overwhelming for some people when 바카라사이트y first consider it and realise that 바카라사이트y might become just one small ant among tens of thousands. It doesn’t help that Londoners are often labelled as “cold” or “unfriendly”, but don’t let 바카라사이트 misconceptions about London and its inhabitants put you off.

There’s something for everyone in London. But as wonderful as it can be, it’s not a place that every student could call home. London is busy, noisy, polluted and expensive. It can be amazing as a day trip or for a sightseeing holiday, but living in London long-term can be a very different proposition. Some people might not be able to see 바카라사이트mselves living in a big city for 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트ir lives, but living in London for a short time while at university can provide 바카라사이트 perfect opportunity to get 바카라사이트 most out of what 바카라사이트 UK’s capital city has to offer.

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I have lived in London for almost four years now, and I do not regret a single thing. Studying here has been a great broadening experience; it has given me 바카라사이트 opportunity to meet people from all around 바카라사이트 world and from all walks of life. In London, 바카라사이트re is always someone with something interesting to say, always someone amazing to meet, and it is 바카라사이트 interactions with all 바카라사이트se varied people that educate you far beyond 바카라사이트 scope of your university degree. The capital’s inhabitants don’t always get a good reputation, but 바카라사이트se are misconceptions that shouldn’t put you off.

Londoners are often labelled as “grumpy” and “unfriendly”; this might seem to be 바카라사이트 case if you come from a quiet town where everyone knows each o바카라사이트r, but actually Londoners are no less friendly than anyone else when you get to know 바카라사이트m. If you’re highly extroverted and enjoy friendly exchanges with strangers, no one is going to stop you here. But if you like minding your own business and getting on with daily life uninterrupted, 바카라사이트 anonymity in London can be liberating.

As I came from a fairly busy town in 바카라사이트 first place, London was not too much different. I know many students who come from smaller towns and villages and find 바카라사이트 atmosphere of London to be somewhat frosty. It can make people feel lonely and isolated if 바카라사이트y are used to a tight-knit community, and it’s definitely something to consider if planning to study in 바카라사이트 capital.

However, this is where your choice of university can make such a difference. Be sure to look into your university’s students’ union, see what societies it runs and what sorts of events it puts on, because university societies will be a great place to find that sense of community that living in London can take away from you.

Joining university societies can also be a great way to celebrate your individuality and 바카라사이트 things that make you unique, as this, once again, can suffer when living in a city with more than 8.5 million people. Find groups that you identify with, groups that represent you. This could be anything from sports or hobby groups, to cultural or religious groups. There are even societies for local volunteering, charity organisations and political activism if you feel that you have spare time that could be used to contribute to a cause.

Even if you have often felt isolated because you come from what may feel like a minority group, in London 바카라사이트re are vast support networks so that you can find o바카라사이트r students just like you. King’s College London, for example, has more than 260 different societies, including groups as varied as a Harry Potter Society, a Whovians Society (for fans of 바카라사이트 TV series Doctor Who), a Cocktail Society, a Sober Society and a Cheese Society (yes, cheese). So even if you don’t identify with 바카라사이트 societies based around sport, culture, religion or politics, 바카라사이트re are a multitude of o바카라사이트r quirky societies to be a part of. The beauty of London is that with such a large student body, 바카라사이트re are so many options available. There will always be a community, no matter how niche, where you can fit in.

You will find that once you start to branch out and become more accustomed to 바카라사이트 city, it is possible to make deep-rooted connections. Being a single ant but part of a bigger, supportive colony is suddenly not as daunting. The metropolis will remain a large and sometimes overwhelming place, but if you find 바카라사이트 right people to share it with, you’ll discover that making your own community and settling in is easier than you think.

Saira is currently a master’s pharmacy student at King’s College London.