From Airport Anxiety to Feeling at Home: My first weeks as an International Student!

Hi everyone, I am Ru, a final year Law with Business international student at Birmingham City University. I can completely understand how the first few weeks as an international student are… a lot. I remember being excited, overwhelmed, homesick, confused and pretty much questioning every life decision. So, if you are reading this while sitting in your new room thinking, “What have I done?”:

Here are the things I wish someone had told me when I first arrived and I was feeling the exact same way.

1. No need to have everything "figured out" straight away:

In my first year, it seemed like everyone had already found their people, their routine and their favourite places to go! Turns out, it was all in my head, they had not!

You might spend your first week feeling like everyone else has this secret group chat you are not in. The truth? Most friendships in the first few weeks are temporary and that is okay. Your first few weeks will be more about getting to know people, new experiences and building your confidence.

Give yourself permission to feel lost. It passes.

2. Say yes (even when it's awkward):

Some of my best university memories started with things I nearly said no to! I normally would have said no to a stranger asking me to study together in a café, however, that stranger is still one of my closest friends. So that flat dinner that feels terrifying or society tasters where you know no one, it is always worth it to give it a go. And with this, that international orientation week is worth attending because you get to meet and interact with people in the same boat as you.

You do not need to be extroverted, just curious! Even showing up for 20 minutes counts.

3. Make the first move - everyone is waiting for it:

This surprised me the most. Everyone is hoping someone else will start the conversation. I used to think making new friends in university, especially as an international student will be the hardest thing I would have to do. But I am pleased to say, I made my best friend by saying, “hey” first when she sat next to me in a class and we have been inseparable since.

So, making the first move goes a long way. It does not have to turn into a lifelong friendship BUT it might! You never know until you try.

4. Dealing with homesickness:

Missing home in my first few weeks really hit hard. Some days were better than others, but for the most part, I felt like I was always on the verge of breaking down. It used to make me wonder if I had made the wrong decision.

However, I later learned that I was just still adjusting. So, if you are feeling this way, it does not mean you should go home. It means you care, which is more than understandable. Building little comforts has helped me a lot:

- Regular calls home
- Familiar food
- A routine that feels grounding
- Bringing little reminders from home

You can love and miss home whilst also building a life where you are!

5. Uni studying is different - and that is normal:

Being an international student also means experiencing some academic shock in the first few weeks. The biggest one for me was realising things like independence being assumed and semesters moving fast (even though it may not feel that way when you are in class!).

This has the potential to make you think you are, “bad at uni” but that is not the case at all. You are still simply learning how it works:

- Ask questions.
- Go to office hours.
- Speak with your personal tutor.
- Talk to your classmates.

Everyone else is figuring it out too.

6. Do not let social media fool you:

One of my favourite things to remind myself is, “Ru, do not compare your behind the scenes to someone else’s highlight reel.” This is so important because some people will look like they are thriving immediately and you are crumbling. But think about, it is social media, of course it will appear that way!

Remember, your journey will be different. It will be a different pace, different friends, different struggles and none of it makes it a problem. It is more about focusing on you and not trying to win the imaginary races we create in our minds.

7. Give it time:

I would say this is the biggest one.

The first few weeks are about adjustment, not perfection. The comfort, confidence and friendships grow slowly, and then suddenly you realise you are in your final year typing out advice you wish someone had told you. And realise, “Oh, this feels like home now.”

And this is a guarantee!

If you are in your first few weeks (or maybe it has been longer) and feeling overwhelmed, lonely or unsure, you are not behind. You are exactly where you are meant to be.

Be kind to yourself. Take it day by day, and trust that you are doing better than you think. I wish you all nothing but the best :smile:

Ru
BCU Student rep.

Reply 1

Teesside University

Official Rep

Hi Ru,
This is a great post - thank you for sharing!
I think anyone moving away from home to uni has felt like this, so it's good to talk about it and you've offered some great advice.
I'm glad to hear that you settled in and found your way 😊
Good luck with the rest of your journey!
Claire

Reply 2

BCU Student Rep

Official Rep

Original post

by Teesside University