What I Wish I’d Known Before I Moved to the UK
While responsible adults do their research before moving abroad, I simply took my luggage and boarded a plane. Being spontaneous is definitely my cup of tea, but as I’m sure a lot of people like to plan ahead, I’ve decided to provide short list of things I wish I’d known before I moved to the UK. Hopefully, it’ll help you plan your stay.
It’s harder to rent a flat if you’re not British
Firstly, a guarantor makes things easier. A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don’t; it could be a parent or close relative. They must be living in the UK and have a good credit history. If you have one, you can pay monthly or quarterly, but if you don’t, you’ll have to pay in advance, usually, for the whole year, or if the agency is kind enough, they’ll let you pay six months rent in advance. It’s useful to dig in deeper and look for family friends or relatives in the UK if you’re from abroad. If you don’t know anyone in the country, you can also look for a private landlord, which is not easy, but it's definitely possible.
Costs for train and coach journeys are almost the same
Coach journeys are often seen as cheap, however, they are long and uncomfortable. A railcard however lets you travel easier and quicker. It obviously depends on the number of trips you make a year, but if you do like to get out of your city once in a while, a railcard is definitely worth considering. A 16–25 railcard costs £30 per year and takes a third off of every price you pay for a train journey.
The cheapest supermarkets will usually be located far away
While shops like Tesco and Sainsbury’s are located in the city centre and loads of students choose them for a quick grocery shopping, it makes so much more sense to take some time and effort to go to Asda/Aldi/Lidl. The amount of money you’ll save is huge. You will also buy stuff that lasts longer, making it easier for you to take lunch to uni.
It takes a few months to get the accent
If you grew up watching American films and not taking much time to delve into the British culture, it might take some time. On the other hand, it’s so fun to learn the intricacies of the slang. ‘Loo’, ‘peng’, and ‘mate’ will be one of the many words that’ll get you into the peculiar vibe of living in the UK.
It’s important to stay present
It’s quite hard to move to a different country when you’re young and don’t know anyone there. It may feel like the best thing to do once faced with a challenge is to call people at home. While your family and friends will always be supportive, it’s important to make connections and friendships at the location you’re in. People around you are already familiarised with the situation and can sometimes offer better insights.
You’ll learn loads of things from the international community at the University
Last but not least, the universities in the UK are known for their grand international communities. The things you’ll be able to learn from a plethora of cultures will set you off for life. During these past three years, I learned how to dance like the Spanish, how to formulate essays like the Americans, how to drink espresso shots like the Italians, and most importantly, how to cook properly. And there will never be enough of that.
Unless you like to spice things up, do your research. It can save an incredible amount of nerves, time, money and energy. As young people with so much to look forward to, we should always avoid unnecessary stress and anxieties.
