On my first day in Manchester, I had just arrived from the airport with three whole suitcases of belongings. I was lucky enough that the staff at my accommodation had generously offered to help carry my heavy luggage up two flights of stairs. When I walked in, the staff member laughed at the amount of Amazon packages piled up in little towers around my room, saying “Looks like Santa has been here!”. To be fair, I had ordered a ton of university essentials from Amazon – thinking it would be much easier than trying to fit everything (two trashcans, sets of hangers, bedding, duvet, and many more) all into the three suitcases that were already half-filled with food from back home.

As I looked around the room, it hit me – this was where I would be living for the next year. It all felt so surreal, and I was hit with a sudden pang of homesickness and longing for my old room. I spent the first few days unpacking and getting settled into the accommodation. One thing I do regret not doing during my first year in Manchester was making my room feel more homely. It’s amazing what a difference it makes when you personalise your room, whether it’s having a magnet board like I did to put up photos of friends and family from back home, adding little potted plants, or any little touches that help make it feel more like your own.

As a big city-lover, I love living in Manchester. The bustling city life means that there is never a dull moment, and you have countless of activities to choose from – with laser tag, mini-golf, clubbing, thrifting, or even having a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes dotted around Manchester. There’s something for everyone.

Though even with all the city buzz and range of activities I can explore, I do still feel homesick from time to time. The experience is different for everyone, and some recover a lot faster than others. But it is a process. What’s important is to look on the bright side. The fact that I can study abroad at the University of Manchester, especially as not many people in my family have had the opportunity to do this, makes me feel extremely lucky.

One thing that makes all this homesickness much easier to bear are the people around me. Especially as someone in a new country, I find it important to branch out and try new things. Join societies. Try a new sport. You’ll probably meet a few new people along the way, and somewhere along the line perhaps even a new best friend! Making connections with new people is important, especially when you’re far away from home.

As an international student, my main piece of advice would be: don’t stay cooped up in your room. Of course, it’s nice and perfectly fine to have a night-in every now and then to relax and recharge from the stresses of everyday life. But going out of your comfort zone to try new things is the best way to get rid of that feeling of homesickness. And who knows, you might even like it and pick up a new hobby or make a new friend!

Written by Sofie, current BSc Management student at AMBS

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