What I Wish I Knew Before Moving from Mexico to the UK
Come with an open mind
If I could give one piece of advice to anyone moving to the UK, it would be this: don't just come for the degree.
Come for the experience.
Some of the most valuable things I've gained have happened outside the classroom—meeting people from different cultures, trying new foods, hearing different perspectives and learning that there isn't only one way of seeing the world.
Student accommodation is worth it
When I first arrived, I lived in university accommodation, and I genuinely think it was one of the best decisions I made. Yes, you'll probably have noisy neighbours at some point. Yes, you'll share a kitchen with people who have very different cleaning standards. But you'll also learn how to communicate, solve problems respectfully and live with people from completely different backgrounds.
More importantly, you'll meet people outside your course, which makes settling into university life much easier. If you don't know anyone in the UK yet, I'd recommend choosing student accommodation without hesitation.
Your English is probably better than you think
I wasn't worried about studying in English, it was understanding Yorkshire and Scottish accents that caught me by surprise! For the first few months, I occasionally found myself smiling politely while trying to work out what someone had just said. Thankfully, your ears adapt surprisingly quickly.
These days, my English accent is a funny mix of Mexican, American and Yorkshire, which always makes people smile.
The friends you'll make may surprise you
Some of my closest friends today are from Colombia, Venezuela, Jordan, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, England and the United States. I met people through my course, but I also made many friends through my part-time job and my flatmates.
Those friendships became one of the most rewarding parts of studying abroad.
Don't underestimate the British winter!
Everyone talks about the weather, and now I understand why!
At first, winter feels exciting and cosy. After a while, you realise it's also very long! If you're coming from somewhere sunny like Mexico, I'd definitely recommend bringing vitamin D supplements and investing in a daylight lamp. They really do make a difference.
Moving abroad isn't always easy, but if you arrive with curiosity, flexibility and an open mind, you'll leave with experiences that go far beyond your degree.
-Denisse
