Written by Ozcan Inanli, 2nd year MA Education NTU Student

Moving away for the first time can be scary. You might be thinking: “what have I gotten myself into?” “I want to go home”. “I miss home”. This is completely normal. Having studied in four different countries, I fully understand the different challenges of studying in a cultural environment different to your own. We are lucky that in the UK there is a lot of mental health awareness which is a big step compared to other countries, so in this respect, you can take action for a happier and healthier you.

Whilst the first few weeks and months may feel exciting, refreshing and lively for some, for others it may be the complete opposite. Rest assured, you are not the only person feeling this way. Sometimes, you feel people don’t understand what is going on around you, the way they communicate or interact maybe different compared to back home, the food, the language, the community you’re used to and even moving environments or countries make it more challenging. Some of the social norms in England maybe completely alien to you, such as the way people interact, the more reserved style of communication at times and attitudes to punctuality to name a few. Coming from a Turkish Cypriot cultural background and having originally grown up in the south of England, many regional social customs and norms were completely alien to me as well when I started my university journey back in 2017. Now, it feels strange when I go to visit, because I have lived and spent time elsewhere for such a long time, that the customs where I grew up feel a lot more alien to me now. You change as a person; you are not the same person that you were before and you evolve and develop and that is very positive in itself.

Now, I will share with you a secret – others are struggling inside and may not show it on the outside, that is why we need to be extra kind and helpful to one another to make the environment around us a warm, welcoming and friendly place to be in. If you come from a less reserved culture like me (very outgoing!!), it can be challenging, nonetheless, overtime the right people will accept you for who you are and you will influence them positively as well. Your identity is unique and lots of people will be curious to know about your cultural background which is the first big step towards having a strong sense of belonging.

Some of my top tips for taking care of your mental health:

1. Embrace cultural similarities and differences – for example: individualism vs collectivism. Try not to take certain behaviours personally, these are cultural and not a reflection of you. Some social norms will take a while to adjust, so open-mindedness is key to a smoother transition.

• Rest well – Ensure you get enough sleep, eat fruits and vegetables and have a good routine. Some days, you may need to rest more than others but take it slowly and be kind to yourself. Rest is important for us to function and do our very best, this isn’t possible without some down time.  

• Ask if you don’t understand something – most people will appreciate it! Many will feel similar to you and will be looking for guidance and support (emotional and practical). Sharing with somebody you feel comfortable with will help immensely as keeping your emotions bottled up isn’t healthy at all.

• Get involved in a wide range of activities – There’s lots for everyone! HealthyNTU, Global Lounges and NTSU societies organise lots of fun activities regularly. One of my favourite societies is NTU Languages Society, which is very friendly, accommodating, welcoming and very diverse, meeting people from different cultural backgrounds and partaking in regular society events. Furthermore, the Global Lounges are incredibly friendly and have a special place in my heart – you should go visit (they also do free tea, coffee and hot chocolate!).

• Communicate regularly with family and friends back home – your support network is essential to feeling positive and will help immensely with combatting homesickness.  Regular phone calls, texts and even opportunities to spend quality time together in-person will definitely help combat loneliness.

• Reach out to student services – the earlier you do, the easier support can be put in place to help you. They want to see you succeed and reach your full potential. I’ve utilised student services a lot throughout my NTU journey, and it has significantly impacted my NTU journey positively. I’m so pleased that I proactively reached out and to this day, I thank my lovely Student Support Advisor for my school for their support and guidance and believing in me especially during difficult periods.

• Journalling – it is a great way to put what is bothering you down on paper as well as write down some key highlights of your day that made you smile. If you do not want to share certain things with family, friends and your support network, journalling is great for clarity.

Life is a journey and you have taken a very big step to come and study in a cultural environment different to your own – well done! I hope that my story and the tips above help you with taking care of your mental health and reassure you that you are not alone. I believe that if you follow my tips and make time for lots of self-care focussing on what you can do to make yourself better right now, you will become a healthier and happier you!

For help, advice and resources whilst studying at NTU, take a look at the following for sources of support.
Support from NTU
Silvercloud: SilverCloud is our online system designed to help with a range of mental health issues.
HealthyNTU: Advice, tools and activities for your wellbeing
NTSU Information and Advice service
Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies: Support for your Mental Health in Nottingham
Student Minds 10 Keys to happiness
Mind
Papyrus