On the 1st of December 2017, I hopped on a plane, energetic for the following 27 hour flight that would take me across to the other side of the world for the adventure of a lifetime. It was completely insane and absolutely amazing. I was about to do this, really leave everything and everyone I had ever known, to chase this life that was now laid out for me, on the other side of the world. I had no idea, knew nothing and no one, and yet in a way I had the world at my fingertips.
The actual flight was slightly painful, and boring, and long, very long. The airports were not as confusing as you would imagine. Arriving at Heathrow Airport was strange, I was met by the Select Studies programme manager, his wife and son, which was a really nice way to be introduced into the country. Fast forward and I arrived in Exeter late that same night, feeling good. I met my host mum, Hayley and her five year old daughter, Mia. One of the most nerve wracking things from my point of view, and many other exchange and international students, is the host family. I have to say that my host family have been absolutely amazing, they have been so kind and helpful in making this experience the best that it could be. The following day, I was feeling good, excited and full of energy at the fact that everything was unknown. I got a small tour of the Exeter high street before I wandered off and explored the stunning cathedral, taking enough pictures that I stood out as a tourist like a sore thumb.
The next day I was walking into Exeter college, looking up at the towering nine story building above, and extremely nervous. I was about to begin college as the new girl in a different country, who knew absolutely nobody and nothing about the way this school ran. I met up with Kyle, who is part of the International Team at Exeter college, who was incredibly kind and helpful in starting me at college. We went for a tour around the college, beginning with the buildings on the main site, before venturing into town to see all of the other buildings. If I thought Exeter College was massive before, imagine what it was like to see another seven large buildings. Comparing it to my school, with our 25 classrooms, did not make it terrifying, it was simply incredible, Exeter College was amazing. I had three subjects, ranging from having two or three classes a day. It was a bit different to my five subjects a day in New Zealand, but it gave me a lot of time to catch up on work that I was seriously behind on. Thankfully, my teachers were welcoming and understanding, easing me into the subjects. I have to say that the whole schooling system has been very different, and it has been an awakening experience going from getting the highest grade in English internals in New Zealand, to struggling to write a film essay in the UK. But it is an amazing learning experience and I have to say that I am making good progress.
The first week of meeting people was a bit slow, I was nervous and had no idea what I was doing. By the second week I was making friends, going out for hot chocolates and dinners. Sweets from my own country was definitely a good ice breaker!
In those initial days I saw as much as I could of Exeter; museums, gardens, Roman ruins, Roman walls, Exeter cathedral… so many places. I also visited Stonehenge, where I saw a Winter Solstice Festival and went on a tour of the town Salisbury. I visited stunning Exmouth, my first trip on a train. I would like to say that it went well and I was a natural, but pretty much I had a lot of trouble. However, that was to be expected and it gave me knowledge that has proved vital in other travels.
I was still attending college, enjoying the differences, although there was the factor that I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. But with knowing nothing, also comes an opportunity to discover so much. I found the things that I was most confused about where those little mundane skills that those around me in England never would have thought of as difficult. In those first weeks everything was a bit confusing but Exeter College definitely grounded me. It gave me skills that I had never been able to acquire in New Zealand. These skills enabled me to tackle this huge, daunting task of navigating a foreign country.
Although I had been enjoying my time at Exeter College, as soon as Christmas break was here I went everywhere. Newquay, St Austell, Penzance, Mousehole, St. Ives, Falmouth, Newlyn, Bath, Dawlish, Dawlish Warren, Paignton, Dartmoor, Plymouth, to name those I can remember. Most were just day trips or quick visits between buses, but I loved it. I met amazing, kind people, saw incredible things, and experienced more than I thought I would ever get the chance to. One highlight was going on a tour bus to see the Mousehole christmas lights. I was the youngest person there by a few decades, but they were amazing people and made my night.
Although highs are not without lows, every low has taught me something. Be ready to get off the train when its stops (or you wont be getting off), double check opening times, always carry a visa card, google maps is life, don’t trust bus times, double check your train station, and so many more things that I am grateful for having learnt. Holidays came to a close, and it was time to start back at Exeter College, the last leg of my International student experience. My classmates where getting ready for their mock exams, so most of the revision work went right over my head. But I still kept my ears open, knowing that attempting the work was better than giving up all together. As mock exams came around, I was left with only one class a day.
So here I am, waiting for my only class of the day, before heading off to London this weekend. I have to say, so far, this has been an incredible experience. It’s been terrifying at moments, and unfamiliar, and unbelievable. But I have had the privilege of living a life on the other side of the world. I’ve attended one of the best colleges in the UK, which has taught me so many important skills about the world, different people and cultures. I have travelled far and wide, and accomplished more than you would believe. The people that I have met are often the centre of my favourite memories.
So, for those of you sitting on the edge of this incredible opportunity, it’s not as impossible as you would imagine because the world has so much more to offer.
By Megan Tikitiki
