Feeling at home in a foreign country

Feeling at home in a foreign country

One of the most common fears faced by our foreign students in our student residences in London is that they may struggle to fit in, make friends and learn the language.

But here in the UK and especially at London Nest we want to make you feel totally at home and have provided some tips to help you.

Students coming to London from abroad play a vital role in the British economy, as research from Universities UK showed that foreign students contribute up to £25 Billion each year to the UK’s coffers. The addition of transport, accommodation, family and friends visiting, services and activities all amount to a serious boost for the UK economy, so it is up to us to ensure that when foreign students come to study in the UK, we make them feel as welcome as possible.

London, in particular, is a hive of activity and one of the most multicultural cities in the world, boasting a plethora of history, art and social activities to keep even the most restless person discovering new secrets every time they step out the door.  This leads us to our tips for feeling at home when coming to study in England’s capital city.

 

Get to Know Your Surroundings

Finding your feet and familiarising yourself with your local area will quickly enable you to grasp your immediate surroundings and feel comfortable.

Understanding local transport links will also sure you do not feel completely lost in an urban jungle that can seem like a labyrinth of roads.

 

Go and Explore

Great, now you have familiarised yourself with your local area, you can go explore! You know you can find your way home again.

When you are from a different country with a different culture, habits and lifestyle it can all seem very scary and you may feel too shy to go out on your own.

London may appear vast but, like anywhere, it can be broken down into bitesize chunks, with the opportunity to explore and make new friends and this is exactly the culture that we embrace here at London Nest.

London is one of the most historic, beautiful, exciting and cultural cities in the world, with a vast range of landmarks and attractions around, and also one of the most popular, meaning every time you turn a corner there is a story to discover.

 

Check out the International Hangouts

London is packed to the rafters with multicultural hangouts including bars, coffee houses, clubs and art centres, so no matter where you are from, you will find a friendly face.

In a Telegraph report from 2015, it was reported that there were 270 nationalities speaking 300 different languages in British schools alone, with that figure likely to have risen in the years since.

A lot of our foreign students have met many friends by visiting locations catering for the international population. There are many social networks and websites where events are organised and promoted for newcomers in London to meet people.

No matter where you come from, London has a place for you.

 

Find the right student residences in London

Sounds pretty obvious, right? But ‘home is where the heart is’.

If you feel at home in your accommodation, then your experience in the city will be one filled with enjoyment, which is exactly what we aim for at London Nest. Moving for the first time in a big city like London isn’t easy, so the place you live is crucial for you to feel good and secure.

But don’t take our word for it. Watch our video below where Curve resident Lisa talks about how she settled into our student residences in London, and life in the city after coming to the UK from Holland.

To find out more about how London Nest can help you find the perfect student accommodation, get in touch with a member of our friendly multilingual team.

Call us on +44 (0)207 293 0210, email us on info@londonnestltd.com or visit www.londonnest.com for more information.

Kind Regards

Faustine Pages