It is nerve-wrecking moving away from home, no matter how exciting you foresee your life in Exeter. For those of us that come from abroad, leaving family and friends behind, might make it just that more intimidating when trying to fit in. Here are some phrases that you will likely encounter…Â
1)“Oh, where is that?”
Do not fret if you come from an exotic place that people have never heard of, whilst your flatmates come from Surrey. You will have the honour of being your country’s ambassador for the next few minutes as you share all the fun facts you can think of.
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2)“How do you speak English so well?”
People sometimes forget how widespread the English language is. It can be insulting to those of us whose first language it is so just be aware that no offence is intended. However, it does make for a good excuse when you have a grammar hiccup.
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3)“What are you cooking?”
For some of your housemates who stick to the traditional university diet of mainly pasta, your food will look exotic and exciting to them. You will be in the spotlight as you cook food from back home with everyone salivating over your shoulder. Win the best flatmate award and cook a flat meal some time! Guaranteed they will never find Uncle Ben’s rice the same again.
4)“So what is the time difference?”
Being away from home is tough as it is. Throw in the thousands of miles, days of travelling and the 8 different time zones, it really does start to feel like you are in Narnia. Keeping in touch with loved ones back home is challenging, but just remember why you are at probably the best university in the world. At the end of the day (preferably for them at about 3pm GMT), they are just a skype call away.
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5)“Are you not hot in that?”
If you are from a tropical country like myself, adjusting to the weather is nearly as hard as waking up for an 8:30 lecture. Living near the coast has many perks, but the wind is not one of them. Getting your layering right is tough, especially when you are trekking up Cardiac Hill, but at least you are given a small reminder of what it feels like back home.
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Try not to stress out and just remember to have fun and embrace university life. We promise that you will barely miss home with all the new friends you will have made. If you ever are feeling down, find someone to confide in and just remember that it will get better – you are not the only one in this position.
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