The decision that changed my life forever
A few years ago I attended a postgraduate fair for studying abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico. I had already attended many other similar events, but with no luck and so I went there unconvinced by the many colourful flyers for studying abroad. This time, however, I received a contact card from Across the Pond.
I emailed Across the Pond and they walked me through the whole process, from the baby steps of applying to CONACYT and British universities, to the larger steps of overseeing and advising me on my applications, letters of recommendation and helping me through the student visa application process once I got selected by CONACYT. The whole process was lengthy, but I was not alone at any point; Across the Pond was there every step of the way to help me and even put me in touch with other Mexicans who planned to study at the same university before I even set foot in the UK. When it came to selecting a university, it was between two: The University of Aberdeen in Scotland and the University of Southampton, in the south of England. Both are excellent choices academically, but I chose Southampton for three personal reasons: its proximity to London, its milder climate compared to Scotland and finally, the fact that it had a Premier League football team.
When I finally moved to Southampton, I was very excited but a little nervous, since it was a new country and continent I did not know. However, I was not alone within the first few days of arriving, thanks to the other Mexican students that Across the Pond put me in touch with. Finding a place to live and people to live with was one less thing for me to do, since I rented a room through one of the university halls of residence, Wessex Lane, which was done months before arriving.
My accommodation was ten minutes away from the university’s main campus. Situated in the northern and greenest part of the city, between two beautiful parks, it was a modern and convenient bubble of students who always wanted to socialise. There was even a pub and bar/restaurant for students on campus, which made it much easier to meet up between activities and classes. There were facilities like a gym, swimming pool and sports rooms on campus. But without a doubt, one of the best aspects of university life was the student societies. There are societies to celebrate every possible hobby, culture, religion or interest. I joined the Mexican Society (Mexsoc), which of course allowed me to meet even more Mexicans. I was always surprised to see how many Mexicans and other Latin Americans were studying at the university - there were hundreds at every party. Out of all the societies, the Mexsoc parties were definitely the biggest and most popular events, attracting students from every country. Through Mexsoc events, you could meet international and local students, which can be difficult to do on your own. Through the Mexsoc, I met Latin American, European and Asian students, who I am still in touch with today.
Life in Southampton was really memorable for me. The city is pretty big, with a population of around 250,000 people. Since it is on the coast, there are lots of beaches and pretty villages nearby, such as the Isle of Wight and Bournemouth, which are beautiful and popular beach destinations in the UK. Next door, there was also the New Forest, which is a huge national park where you can camp, go to the beach, go for hikes and other adventures.
Probably the best thing about living in Southampton as a student is that it was easy to get around the city by bike and walking. I personally bought a bike and used it to get around - there were many cycle lanes and shortcuts to take by bike through the beautiful green parks dotted around the city.
To summarise, Across the Pond walked alongside me, from beginning to end, in the decision that changed my life forever. Without their support, I don’t think I would have studied in the UK, which opened my eyes to a new culture, country and continent I was unaware of before. While at Southampton University, I met a British student who introduced me to life in the UK more so than anyone else I knew. She showed me what authentic food tasted like, taught me slang and introduced me to local people and places I would never have otherwise known. But the best part is that she and I fell in love and we are now married, living in Mexico. My life changed when I took that step with Across the Pond, and I will always be thankful for that.
- Alan