When you think of the UK, what comes to your mind? Do you picture Victorian buildings and unpretentious-looking Brits with orthodox English accents? In fact, Britain today is a multicultural country – very different from what the old books and movies portray. Studying at the University of St Andrews gave me the opportunity to explore British multicultural life through this small but valuable window.
UK universities are home to up to twenty per cent of overseas students, allowing students to meet students from all over the world. It’s like a gift – as precious as what you learn in class.
The mix of different cultures can be overwhelming for unaccustomed students. They don’t necessarily know how to get along with people from different cultures. The first secret to success is to say hello! Know that others may be as overwhelmed as you are. Universities in the UK hold many cultural nights to allow students to step out of their comfort zone, get to know different cultures and make friends. My favorite is the Polish Culture Night, not only because of the delicious food, but also because I made a lot of friends and roommates there. If you feel that these activities are too restrictive, you can also take part in learning activities, or make friends slowly while enjoying university life.
More importantly, don’t stop trying for fear of making a mistake. You may not have noticed, but we are generally more tolerant of people from other cultures. Think of exchange students at school, and seeing them try and fail, you would love to help them understand Hong Kong culture. I couldn’t tell the difference between Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi customs (or even the people of their country), but my friend introduced me to each culture and now I know the difference!
At the end of the day, the most important tip I’ve learned is to be open to myself and people who are different from me. At first, I was afraid that others would criticize my appearance and the way I spoke, so I just stayed in the dormitory. But then I realized that there are always some people who like to criticize, but there are many—even more—people from different cultures who are willing to teach you, learn from you, and even become your lifelong friends. What better way to start than with a diverse UK university?