Survival Guide for Malaysian Students in UK
I have been in UK for 3 weeks or so by now and I realised I should have read up some 'How to survive in UK when you are a Malaysian student' guides. >.< Well, I did asked some of my seniors but I realised a short and simple post on what I've learned here so far will be helpful for others who will be studying here.
1) Remember when you were in Primary school and you have to learn how to read time by saying "half past two and etc" but you totally abandoned all of those 'knowledge' because you know you will be beaten up if you use them in Malaysia? Start learning them again!
2) DO NOT buy cheap fancy shoes from Taobao or pasar malam because you will do a crapload of walking and I broke two of shoes here within two weeks. Get some really good sneakers or loafers and buy your boots here.
3) EVERYTHING is really expensive here. Regular breakfast with a drink will cost RM20 after you convert and cooking does'nt help much. So..... choose where you will be studying wisely if your family is tight financially.
4) BRING your make-up over because you will have a tough time choosing foundation suitable for your skin and somehow I can't find any black or grey eyebrow pencil. Thank God I am blessed with full brows so I don't actually need them but there is dark brown here. Oh, make-up is not cheap >.> I had a better time shopping in the States than here though :(
5) You will take some time to get use to the coins here. If you are very kiasu, you can get some coins and start memorising them before coming here in order to avoid looking like a pure foreigner. Though, people here are extremely nice and friendly. Generally if you ask them, they will help you to look at what type of coins you can use. There are 2 pound, 1 pound, 50 pence, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence and a penny. Did I get it right? >.<
6) BRING YOUR FOOD OVER! Seriously guys. FOOD FOOD FOOD. Your maggi cup noodle will be some precious sacred food here. Milo does not exist here either and bring your OLD TOWN white coffee too if you drink them often.
7) Charity shops! If you are tight financially, buy your clothes from charity shops. You can find pretty decent stuff and sometimes even branded clothes. I would say buy all the coats from here because you will only be using them for few months.
8) If your University is in partnership with some online website that sells you 'quality' bed sheets and pillow, DO NOT BUY THEM! They are very expensive and not of value. BRING your bolster if you sleep with one. It is non-existing here too.
9) BRING YOUR CASH over because opening a bank account will take some time.
10) Accent here will be hard to understand at times especially we are generally more accustomed to the American accent. I had some difficulty trying to understand some of the words and when I tell them about the pronunciation that I am used to, they will say "It is AMERICAN ENGLISH, NOT PROPER ENGLISH!" so yeaaa....... Go watch more Sherlock k?
11) FRIENDS and Breaking Bad are huge deal here. You will be very happy and fit right in if you are a fan.
12) Water is extremely expensive here, so just suck it up and drink from the pipe but only from the COLD tap ok?
13) Laundry will cost you a meal every time, So for me, I wash with my hands and I will only spend my money on drying them.
14) Join your CHRISTIAN UNION society because the people are the best <3
15) LYCA and LEBARA will be the best option (IMO) because it cost so little to call home aka Malaysia.
16) Fashion has no restriction here. Bring your weirdest coordinate and flaunt it here.
17) No, you can't download any torrent file in your campus accommodation.
18) Aberystwyth is the best place for anyone to study. The people and the environment is the best. Not a survival guide but just saying :p
19) You will realise how blessed you are to be able to speak min 3 language and possibly few dialects when you are here *evil smirk* I personally speak English, BM, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka.
20) If you are feeling lonely here and somehow just can't fit in no matter how hard you try, just remember to breathe and it is okay. You will feel homesick and miss the food back in MALAYSIA~ There will be no wat tan hor or Hokkien mee for you. No chee cheong fun, rendang chicken, roti canai or your RM1.60 teh tarik but in the end just think of how privilege you are to be able to afford your education. You are blessed so abundantly no matter how hard it might get at times.
1) Remember when you were in Primary school and you have to learn how to read time by saying "half past two and etc" but you totally abandoned all of those 'knowledge' because you know you will be beaten up if you use them in Malaysia? Start learning them again!
2) DO NOT buy cheap fancy shoes from Taobao or pasar malam because you will do a crapload of walking and I broke two of shoes here within two weeks. Get some really good sneakers or loafers and buy your boots here.
# Climbing up the infamous 45 degree slope.
One of my friend said he was worried he will roll down the hill. ><
# It was so exhausting and we ended up taking a rest at the cemetery which comes
with excellent view! whoop!
*pikchek face cause it was sssoooo sunny!*
3) EVERYTHING is really expensive here. Regular breakfast with a drink will cost RM20 after you convert and cooking does'nt help much. So..... choose where you will be studying wisely if your family is tight financially.
3) Your daily breakfast. Oh how much i miss my morning roti canai
or my char siew pao. T.T
4) BRING your make-up over because you will have a tough time choosing foundation suitable for your skin and somehow I can't find any black or grey eyebrow pencil. Thank God I am blessed with full brows so I don't actually need them but there is dark brown here. Oh, make-up is not cheap >.> I had a better time shopping in the States than here though :(
# Buy yourself organic agran oil for dry skin and it is good for
hair too!
5) You will take some time to get use to the coins here. If you are very kiasu, you can get some coins and start memorising them before coming here in order to avoid looking like a pure foreigner. Though, people here are extremely nice and friendly. Generally if you ask them, they will help you to look at what type of coins you can use. There are 2 pound, 1 pound, 50 pence, 20 pence, 10 pence, 5 pence, 2 pence and a penny. Did I get it right? >.<
6) BRING YOUR FOOD OVER! Seriously guys. FOOD FOOD FOOD. Your maggi cup noodle will be some precious sacred food here. Milo does not exist here either and bring your OLD TOWN white coffee too if you drink them often.
7) Charity shops! If you are tight financially, buy your clothes from charity shops. You can find pretty decent stuff and sometimes even branded clothes. I would say buy all the coats from here because you will only be using them for few months.
8) If your University is in partnership with some online website that sells you 'quality' bed sheets and pillow, DO NOT BUY THEM! They are very expensive and not of value. BRING your bolster if you sleep with one. It is non-existing here too.
# I ended up buying new pillow, duvet and covers.
Meet Hedwig and Pegasus
9) BRING YOUR CASH over because opening a bank account will take some time.
10) Accent here will be hard to understand at times especially we are generally more accustomed to the American accent. I had some difficulty trying to understand some of the words and when I tell them about the pronunciation that I am used to, they will say "It is AMERICAN ENGLISH, NOT PROPER ENGLISH!" so yeaaa....... Go watch more Sherlock k?
# Squealed like a little girl when I saw this on the magazine shelf.
hello perfection~
11) FRIENDS and Breaking Bad are huge deal here. You will be very happy and fit right in if you are a fan.
12) Water is extremely expensive here, so just suck it up and drink from the pipe but only from the COLD tap ok?
13) Laundry will cost you a meal every time, So for me, I wash with my hands and I will only spend my money on drying them.
14) Join your CHRISTIAN UNION society because the people are the best <3
# Globe Cafe is a subset of the Christian Union. Generally it
is for the international students and the locals join us as well.
I had such a good time meeting everyone from different countries here
and you feel just like home when with them.
p.s awesome food too. ><
# Learned how to dance the traditional Scottish dance during one of the
Christian Union event. Happiest day <3 It was like all those dance scene
you watch in pride and prejudice or basically just any period film. hehe
# Invited by Cathy and Reuben for dinner at Cathy and Chloe's crib. so much love!
15) LYCA and LEBARA will be the best option (IMO) because it cost so little to call home aka Malaysia.
16) Fashion has no restriction here. Bring your weirdest coordinate and flaunt it here.
17) No, you can't download any torrent file in your campus accommodation.
18) Aberystwyth is the best place for anyone to study. The people and the environment is the best. Not a survival guide but just saying :p
#Seafront view
# Hill view
19) You will realise how blessed you are to be able to speak min 3 language and possibly few dialects when you are here *evil smirk* I personally speak English, BM, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hakka.
20) If you are feeling lonely here and somehow just can't fit in no matter how hard you try, just remember to breathe and it is okay. You will feel homesick and miss the food back in MALAYSIA~ There will be no wat tan hor or Hokkien mee for you. No chee cheong fun, rendang chicken, roti canai or your RM1.60 teh tarik but in the end just think of how privilege you are to be able to afford your education. You are blessed so abundantly no matter how hard it might get at times.
xoxo
“One's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing
things.”
― Henry Miller
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