Back in early 2025, before I’d even touched down in the UK, I spent an embarrassing amount of time scrolling through the accommodation website, just straight-up obsessing over the pictures of Square Gardens. It sounds so dramatic looking back, but I was literally manifesting it every single day, just like everyone else I knew who had accepted their UoM offer. Since allocation is largely a matter of luck and a random algorithm, I spent weeks just picturing myself there, knowing I needed a space that actually felt like a sanctuary.

I have always been someone who values living in comfort, and let’s be real, a pretty building is a massive added benefit when you’re facing a long English winter. The day the email finally dropped, telling me I had been allocated a room here, was genuinely the happiest day of my life. I was literally jumping around in front of my family because, as an international student, your room is not just a place to sleep, it is the only piece of the world that is truly yours when you are thousands of miles from everything already familiar.

Moving in day was honestly the most chill experience ever. I was bracing myself for that typical chaotic process with boxes flying everywhere and everyone panicking, but the whole process was just so laid back. It really set the tone for everything that followed.

It didn’t take long for this place to stop feeling like student housing and start feeling like my actual home away from home. Being completely honest with you, my room is just the perfect-sized functional space for me. Everything from the layout to the storage actually works for my life, which is a massive win when you’re balancing a million things at school. I have added many personal touches to it to make the space look like mine.

Furthermore, the community here is just so alive, filled with people all navigating the same transition, which creates an instant bond I did not expect to find so quickly. I’m at the point now where I am literally friends with everyone, even the maintenance staff and the receptionists (they are honestly the sweetest people). They go to the ends of the earth to help me out with literally anything. Whether it is a random question about a parcel or just a quick chat when I’m heading out for a lecture or coming back from a party, they make the building feel safe and personal. It’s those small interactions that stop you from feeling lonely on the days when the homesickness hits a little harder than usual.

The heart of the building is definitely the Private Dining Area and the common rooms. It’s where everything happens, and it’s where the concept of a found family really comes to life. I’ve spent countless hours there, sometimes tucked away by myself studying for an eternity, but mostly hosting. At this point, my friend Hassan (A+ for Execution) and I (A+ for Enthusiasm) have made hosting a weekly habit, whether it is a full-on potluck dinner or just hanging out.

One of my favourite core memories was a Thanksgiving dinner I hosted, where everyone gathered around a big table, sharing food and stories.

The regular game nights we have are equally chaotic and perfect; they’re the nights where we forget about deadlines and just enjoy being together.

We’ve celebrated (almost) all festivals from all around the world here, birthdays, and even random wins together. I’m adding some photos here of our celebrations, just small glimpses into the life I have built.

Living with Khadija and Pulkit has been such a blessing, too. I absolutely adore them, and honestly, we’ve reached that stage where they feel more like family than just flatmates. We have this unspoken understanding of each other’s moods, and there’s always someone to grab a coffee with.

Then you have people like Palm, Shatakshi, and Rihan who don’t even live in the building, but they are here with us so often that they have basically claimed it as their second home. They walk around my apartment without even asking at this point, and I’m so here for it. We have created this little bubble of safety and friendship that makes the transition to life in the UK so much easier.

From a (slightly) official standpoint, I would say Square Gardens has checked every box for what a student actually needs to survive and thrive here. Between the common rooms and the dining spots, the setup has basically forced me to stay social while keeping my academics on track. It has been my primary support system, providing the safety and the routine I needed to handle being so far from home. This is not just a basic housing arrangement for me, it is a home base that has officially become the place where I found my Manchester family. I cannot wait to spend the next few months here and make a million more memories.

Written by Param Bhatia, a current MSc Marketing student. 

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