I came from Heathrow with thousands opposite thoughts in my mind: ‘Visiting glorious scenes’, ‘Hopes for the future’, ‘Studying abroad: an enviable position’, ‘Carry an umbrella all the time!’, ‘The British people are so cold’, ‘A tiny room in a small flat.’

I’ve been to England when I was a child, with hazy memories of red double-decker buses, Hyde Park and pigeons in Trafalgar square. However, getting used to a new lifestyle was more than fantastic views of the childhood.

At the beginning, spending a year away from home seemed impossible and everything was so strange: seeing people with a pack of cold sandwich for their lunch, the unstable weather, the greasy English breakfast or plain dishes with no colour and no spice, cooking in a shared kitchen with four boys and only another English girl, being alone in the room and looking at naughty squirrels through the window.

It was a totally different experience, rough and unpolished. Long time ago, I had heard homesickness would be a feeling like missing home or missing your most dears or friends, but it was more than this, it was serious fear to answer how could I adapt myself to the British way of life? How could I survive? It was like travelling alone in a stormy night. The answer, however, did not appear overnight. It was hidden behind one year of persistent effort.

The first attempt was learning the art of making friends. It was like lighting a candle burning in the dark for a friend to see and come near, to press your trembling hands and say “I’m your friend”. This was not very hard to do as fortunately, England is a multi-cultural country, where you can find different people from all over the world. Everyday somebody was in my way to be my friend: in the bus station, restaurant, library, or even laundry. Each of them enlightened my time with their own style: a warm smile in a cloudy day, giving a hand in carrying my bags, a short text message on a Sunday evening, or making you surprised with a present on Christmas Eve or Easter day. Spending time with people different from my origin enhanced my world view, offering a unique window to various cultures.

My preconception of the British was shattered almost immediately. Honestly, they have been kind and approachable; even complete strangers smile at you while passing the street. I can’t count how many people helped me in this country. From my tutors to classmates, from shop assistants to friends and flatmates, from staff to bus drivers have always been ready to help; this would be a life long experience: kindness and love knows no boundaries, no limitations. You can love other people even when you do not have the same culture, or speak in the same language.

I am quite amazed at how friendly the behaviour of tutors to students is. In my course, which is called Computer Based Learning and Training (CBLT), the quality and attention I can get has been an excellent experience for me. I enjoy discussing, chatting and taking my lunch with them. Also, I like going out with a group of tutors and students after finishing every unit. I learned a lot from the style of sessions, which is in the form of discussions rather than lectures. Exchanging of ideas and experiences was a major benefit of this kind of classes. Individual tutorials are a part of the teaching program and tutors allow students to be channelled exclusively towards their respective areas of interest. Moreover, they pay great attention to the background, origin and culture of overseas students. As an instance, with their encouragement and support, I had a chance to publish an article about the role of computers in my country.

The academic life was just a part of my experiences, there was much more to learn and see in a year. I’ve been lucky enough to explore many places which I had only read about in stories. Cambridge, an imaginary city with cobblestone streets and old colleges, Winchester a town with a stunning medieval look and a rich library for children, Stonehenge with its mysterious story. Passing through the area where George Orwell used to live, I felt the atmosphere of ‘Animal Farm’ and ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’. I enjoyed walking on the quiet beach of Brighton, lighting a candle in Salisbury cathedral and being surprised at the beauty of Suspension Bridge in Bristol. I was fortunate enough to join the festival in Edinburgh, discover the impressive beauty in Loch Lomond, and surprised at the amazingly old buildings in the city of Bath, imagining how the city was in the time of Jane Austin when she wrote her novel ‘Pride and Prejudice’.

I had the chance to stay for a while in Glasgow, a green beautiful city with its special architecture, travelling to the highlands of Scotland, and being reminded of Harry Potter stories. I liked all the hustle and bustle of shopping in Portsmouth, and spending a memorable day in Chichester with my classmate and her family. I experienced living in a small cottage with a nice host family in Rushden, a tiny village located in North Hertfordshire and enjoying the Messiah concert performance.

Also, with support from the School of Education and my supervisor I took part in a conference at the University of Surrey- Roehampton, meeting up with people to whom I had written through emails but hadn't ever seen.

London with all its attractions and distractions was another highlight for me.

While I visited the London Bridge, I reminded the childhood memories, the rhyme we used to sing when we all played together in the school playground: “London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down, my fair lady.” But still, it was there, strong and gorgeous.

I spent many hours in the British Library and Museum among books and objects, and was so inspired by an ancient Balawat Gate that urged me to write a story for children.

At my visit to the Madame Tussaud's Museum, I found the statue of Charles Dickens so isolated, sitting at a corner. He smiled at me, when I hugged and took a photo with him. Although, there were crowded halls of famous actors and actresses, I was wondering: where is the statue of John Milton? Where is Lewis Carroll? And where is George Macdonald? Do the modern British people still enjoy reading their books or they are just forgotten titles?

I have had an unforgettable visit of guest Doulos ship in Southampton, and was convinced that happiness could live even in a rather small cabin, floating on the sea.

Finally, I found the English people have their own challenges, delights, and concerns. I lived among them, attempted to know their culture, celebrate their ceremonies, enjoy their food and respect their viewpoints. I did attempt to learn.

As I look back, I can’t say every minute of my stay has been wonderful, but I am pleased to get all of these experiences. It has given something to my soul and I can live with more confidence. Now, I’m still in my way, studying, challenging, struggling and enjoying. I still keep on making friends and visiting places. Now, I believe if one day you feel gloomy, it is a passing phase. If your new umbrella breaks in a windy day, it is a passing phase. If you can’t catch the bus with loads of shopping bags, it is a passing phase. Somebody does love you and save you; somebody does support you just on time, wherever you are.