{"id":742,"date":"2025-04-03T12:26:14","date_gmt":"2025-04-03T11:26:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/?p=742"},"modified":"2025-05-20T10:30:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T09:30:33","slug":"life-as-an-international-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/2025\/04\/03\/life-as-an-international-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Life as an international student"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you can probably imagine, pursuing a PhD in a field like chemistry can be intense, and this blog series is one way I decompress\u2014while also breaking down the everyday nitty-gritties of postgrad life (for aspiring scholars) and sharing solidarity with others on the same journey<\/em>.
\nWhoever you are and however you’re joining me today, you’re absolutely welcome!<\/p>\n

As someone who had never left South Africa for more than a month-long vacation prior, relocating to the UK for my studies was a huge leap. Finding the daily courage to show up and enjoy the journey has been greatly influenced by the warm welcome I\u2019ve received from my research group and the community at the University of Kent (UoK). I\u2019m incredibly grateful for that! #EarnedFlowers<\/p>\n

However, life is no bed of roses, and I don’t want to give you the impression that it\u2019s been smooth sailing (because, spoiler alert: it hasn\u2019t). Here are six things I\u2019ve found both helpful and, at times, totally frustrating about life in this new context.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What Has Helped My Life:<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Thorough Communication Channels<\/strong>
    \n\"\"Anticipating change was an intentional effort on my part because the UoK admin team went above and beyond to communicate with me\u2014before I arrived, during my stay in the UK, and even in preparing me for life after university. I cannot emphasize enough how much I\u2019ve appreciated this level of support through constant communication.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    2. A Supportive Community <\/strong>
    \n\"\"<\/em><\/p>\n

    In South Africa, we have a saying that has completely changed how people engage with one another despite their differences: Ubuntu\u2014\u201cMotho ke motho ka\u00a0bath<\/em>o.\u201d This concept highlights the value of community and solidarity, and it has been a guiding principle for me as I settle into life in the UK. I\u2019ve been fortunate to connect with new people and build relationships with those who have walked this journey before me\u2014those who can help me contextualize British life. I am so grateful for all of them: my research group, my friends from church, and a few other wonderful individuals who truly make my life special.<\/p>\n

    Most importantly, my amazing husband, who relocated to the UK with me because he believes in the work I do. #AnAbsoluteKeeper<\/u><\/em> #Flex<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    3. YouTube <\/strong>
    \nOkay, this one might sound obvious (because, DUH!), but I can’t explain how many times I\u2019ve turned to YouTube for help\u2014whether it’s how-to videos, local guides, money-saving hacks, and so much more. I\u2019ve never relied on the internet as much as I have since moving here, and YouTube is one of my go-to platforms (no shame in admitting that).<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    What Has Contributed to My General Frustration:<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. The Endless Paperwork<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"\"Oh my goodness, how do people survive all this admin?! (And yes, I\u2019m aware of the irony\u2014because the thing that helps me in one instance is the source of my discomfort in\u00a0another.) It’s like paperwork is both a weapon and an organ\u2014constantly needed, but never-ending.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      2. Playing Conversions <\/strong><\/p>\n

      It doesn’t help that the British pound is worth about twenty-three South African rands per pound.<\/p>\n

      My first few months here were a nightmare because my money just didn\u2019t stretch as far as it did back home. I\u2019ll admit, I may (or may not) have had one or two meltdowns over the exchange rate.
      \nBut it’s fine. I\u2019m fine. I\u2019ve gotten better at adjusting!<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      3. Grocery Store Product Differences<\/strong><\/p>\n

      One thing no one tells you about relocating is how products\u2019 names and meanings can differ from country to country. For instance, cream soda in South Africa is a completely different drink (super yummy!). I made the\"\"<\/strong> mistake of assuming I was buying something familiar and nostalgic, only to be shocked by the British version of cream soda. And don’t even get me started on rooibos, bottle cap mechanics, or self-checkout stations\u2014small variations that can really take a toll on a newcomer trying to settle in.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      All part of the learning curve, right? My school fees for attempting to be adventurous and a settled traveller!<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      I know, these are tiny pains in the grand picture of my goals as a student, and I recognize that. But I also want to remind you to be cautious of the “little foxes” that can sneak in and cause small disruptions. They can end up taking up too much space and stealing your joy and peace of mind if you’re not careful.<\/p>\n

      So, while I may sound overly optimistic and possibly unrelatable to some, I do want to acknowledge that my general attitude of gratitude and my effort to stay content often shapes the way I view these challenges. You\u2019ve probably heard the saying, \u201cYour attitude determines your altitude\u201d?
      \nI\u2019m not sure who first coined it, but it’s one of those clich\u00e9s I try to live by, no matter how tough life gets.<\/p>\n

      Thanks for indulging me in these reflections.
      \nUntil next time!<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      As you can probably imagine, pursuing a PhD in a field like chemistry can be intense, and this blog series is one way I decompress\u2014while … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37654,"featured_media":748,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[98478,99613,307755,70,28766],"tags":[307759,307757,5349,98478,307756,307758,307761,397,500],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37654"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=742"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":838,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742\/revisions\/838"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/748"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chemfs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}