To Be An Indian Student Abroad!
Things You Learn When You Study In A Different City
Food Truths
This is when you’ll learn why a jar of Nutella only seems like an excellent breakfast in theory. Why three-day-old leftover Spicy Schezwan chicken is a biohazard. And cold pizza just hits differently at 4am.
You’ll live and learn.
You have to wash up and do your laundry
Because you can’t keep buying new underwear every week.
Oregano and Chilli Flakes
Saving these little packets can make you wolf down anything. Even the insults your professor flung at you last week for your mediocre work.
Wildlife and Foliage
You’ll suddenly discover just how many fleas bananas can attract. There’s no competition, bananas just like showing off. You’ll also find yourself hating a very particular shade of blue and a very distinct shade of green.
(Part 1) There are far too many cute boys in this world:
Issa riot!
(Part 2) And you don’t actually know how to flirt:
So the cute boy buffet is wasted on you. This is a horribly crushing discovery to make. Fuckity.
Too much freedom
This is a peril because you kinda get used to it and forget that you’re originally from an Indian family where privacy is not a concept.
NOT a concept. I repeat
Making new friends:
This is crucial because they will become family. You’ll be studying, eating, complaining with them. They’ll know every single disgusting thing about you (including that you pee in the shower) and you’ll be totally influenced by them whether you like it or not. They will turn you into the person you’ll most likely be for the rest of your life. So choose wisely.
Weather you’re physically prepared for, but never mentally. Kabhi nahi.
If you’ve grown up where it’s always sunny, but end up where it’s always raining things can get admittedly depressive.
But if you end up studying in the UK, keep yourself armed with sunscreen, a mini umbrella and exceptional faux-positivity at all times.
Because the weather will go from bright-hot sunshine to – jk now it’s raining like a bitch to- sorry I meant it’s foggy af– good luck getting home all trains are now delayed.
The pressure cooker:
Ah, the humble Indian invention of the century that also doubles up as a heart attack every time it whistles. Basically putting a bomb filled with curry and rice on the stove top and just hoping for the best. Good luck to those in the vicinity of your dorm who have never heard the shrill shriek of its whistle before. Shrieking mandrakes ain’t got nothing on this mofo.
Currency conversions:
You’ll think twice before buying even a bottle of water.
And the vending machine ate your £1 coin? Sucks for you! (That’s ₹100 rupees btw.)
Packing and travelling:
Carrying flammable objects on a flight is illegal, but forgetting to pack Parle G, Good Day and Maggi is a crime. Smiling uncle from MDH will never forgive you for not carrying his Jaljeera Mix. And Hajmola is desi cocaine ok?
Clothes, toiletries, chargers. The list becomes more complex if you wear glasses and contact lenses. Then come the tickets, and passport. Security checks and immigration and wondering if this education is really worth it.
Followed by trying to blank out to the fact that your shuddering plane is actually just a metal tube hurtling through the sky. (Also viciously hoping you’re nOtBLeEDing because Economy class airplane loos are a nightmare.)
And then you remember you forgot your headphones at home.
You actually really love your family:
Because, quite suddenly, you miss them, and everything they silently did for you.
So you want to hear their voice at super odd times, mostly when they’re asleep and you shouldn’t really be shocking them with a 3am phone call.
Oh, and lest you forget, do remember that you still have exams to sit for, and assignments to hand in. After all, you did shift out to STUDY.
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