international student

Angelique is originally from the Seychelles and has recently finished studying Law at the University of London. Here she goes through the problem all students face in London- MONEY:  

Struggling not to go broke in London? This is definitely for you!

London is known for being one of the most expensive cities in the world. Many students travel miles away from their homes to study in London only to be faced with this crisis:

"I AM BROKE!"

Amr K. Moufid is an Egyptian student currently studying music in London. Here he looks at the main differences he has noticed between Britain and Egypt:

When I first came to England, it seemed to me that the only thing it had in common with my home country, Egypt, was that they both start with the letter "E". Let me put it this way, moving from Egypt to England might probably be the best way to explain and demonstrate the meaning of ‘culture shock'.

How so? This is what I mean:

Rules & Organization

To start with, Egypt is not big on rules and organization. For example, we don't do traffic lights in Egypt; we keep that to a minimum! Anyone who has ever been to Cairo will tell you that it's an adventure just driving through the streets, never mind trying to cross the street on foot! By the way, we also drive on the opposite side of the road and we have a little thing called lane separators in two way streets.

Giacomo Tirelli is an Italian student in his first year at Goldsmiths University in London. Here he explains  why he chose to study in London and why he's learning from the city all the time:

Differences are what make the world a unique place, and it is within these disparities that citizens are likely to learn more about themselves and the people around them. Some cities offer the opportunity to live in this stimulating environment more than others. London is well known for its multiculturalism and its uniqueness.

Here, people willing to broaden their minds are able to share their experiences and backgrounds. In this setting, the ‘others', as the media often relate to them, become ‘us', and the idea of a unity and community develops among people, even if dissimilar from one another. Therefore, religion, skin-colour, ideology, cultural background, sexuality become secondary priorities in choosing your friends.

The UK welcomes thousands of international students every year. These students attend colleges and universities here to get a good education, breaking their ties with their homes and leaving loved ones behind.

For some this separation is harder than they ever anticipated. Many have English as a second language and a few can struggle to communicate and make new friends, leaving them home sick and struggling.

Budget

Every student understands the importance of a budget. Many students work part time to supplement their income, but arriving in a foreign country and moving into an empty apartment close to campus can be a nightmare.

With international shipping and removals from John Mason, students are able to bring a piece of home with them on their journey and enjoy comforts of home in their new apartment without breaking the bank and buying new furniture.

When you weigh up the cost of buying new furniture on arrival and the time it takes, bringing pieces from home makes all the sense in the world. This way the student gets a furnished apartment with all the comforts from home, reducing the home sickness and stress and enabling them to concentrate on their degree rather than worrying about furniture.

I left the Seychelles feeling like a big fish in a small pond, and now I feel like a small fish in the sea. Studying abroad has made me independent, open minded but most of all, looking at the competition out there, more hard working than ever.

As exams approach, I think of the end when I can hopefully call myself a law graduate. The usual reaction to the title can be depicted with a picture of a lawyer turning a man upside down and shaking him to empty his pockets of every penny. Nonetheless, the majority seem impressed.

I'm often asked legal advice from friends. For example, a short anecdote of a friend who gives me an urgent call for legal advice: "If I were to take my Xbox to university and sat down playing, could I be criminally liable for anything?". And so I answered, "yes, extracting electricity unlawfully". I certainly should have taken insurance before giving out legal advice as a first year, but giving free legal advice becomes the norm as a law student.