Moving from the U.S. to Manchester, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect but I was pleased to find out that this city is filled with lovely people, a lively nightlife, and many artistic spaces.

At first, coming to a new city and not knowing anyone was a bit nerve-racking but I tried to make connections with people who had similar interests as me. I joined the photography society on campus and made friends there with people who enjoyed the same hobby as me. I also made close friendships with the people on my course because we have very similar views about the world and are able to have intellectual, deep conversations about life. Once I was able to make those connections, they would introduce me to their friends and so on and so forth, and eventually, I got to meet a lot of people!

One way I wind down from the stresses and pressures of university is by having a night out with my friends. I immediately found out that the Northern Quarter is one of my favorite places in the city, especially for nights out. There are so many bars in such close proximity and it is nice to have a range of different aesthetics and music genres to choose from. Another aspect of Manchester that I have enjoyed is the many artistic spaces it has – from concerts to comedy clubs to book shops to a plethora of vintage stores. These spaces are crucial for me because I think it is essential to take time away from school and just enjoy the city.

The good proximity to other places in the UK makes Manchester almost a perfect location.
Liverpool is a 5-pound train ride. The Peak District is extremely close by. London is not far south, and Scotland is not too far north. Manchester is perfectly situated in the middle of the UK.

Another great aspect I love about living in Manchester is being so close to the rest of Europe. As a student, it is hard to find time to travel but I utilized my breaks to venture out into Europe. Over winter break, instead of going home, I traveled to Spain, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands. Although I missed my family, it was so much fun experiencing the holidays in new and exciting places! More recently, over Easter break, I visited Berlin and Prague. It is nice to have a home base here in the UK so that I can easily travel to other countries more frequently rather than if I was back home in the U.S. It is also very convenient that Manchester has its own international airport.

Overall, I have been in Manchester for almost 8 months, and it has flown by; I think partially because I enjoy living here so much!

Written by Julia, current MSc International Development student at The University of Manchester.

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