Kenneth Sunday
THE JOYS AND CHALLENGES OF BEING AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT IN GLASGOW
I thought it was a coincidence to have written this blog in the month just when everything was starting to bloom, but somehow that also explains all the beautiful things you are just about to read. Let me start by making a clear statement before anything else, Scotland is beautiful!
Here is the thing, I come from a very beautiful country, Nigeria, with the most breath-taking sights in nature, art and ancient architecture and I never thought I would see anything as beautiful in that regard, but Scotland has taken me by the heart. Glasgow, particularly while being a more modern and not so outwardly cultural city has a sort of vibrance that I would describe as soothing. I have lived in vibrant cities with bubbling livelihoods and all sorts of industrial activities you can think of, but these cities have been rather noisy and in extreme seasons, very hectic. Glasgow however, in a way that I am yet to unravel, presents itself as being blissful even while having everything a big city would have, especially a constant heavy influx of human beings. There is a certain balance between peace and busyness that makes it a great place for everything - living, working, shopping, a weekend getaway, or a long holiday, you name it. On some days, I finish off from a tiring day at school and simply strolling into any of the parks scattered all over the city returns a sense of calmness and control to me. Going into the city centre especially in the summertime with the sun beaming on so many faces and hearing the quiet chatter of people is one of the beautiful things that makes my day. As someone who loves a lot of vibrance and at the same time enjoys a calm city, Glasgow has brought me to love it.
Contrary to popular dispositions, I love the weather in Glasgow. Yes, the weather. When it rains in Nigeria, it really rains and I mean, you would not dare to step out on a rainy day, and it takes only six to eight steps in the rain to get drenched to your socks. Do I love my super tropical country? Absolutely! But I did not realize how much my tropical skin also loved and wanted cool breeze. The rains in Glasgow make the clouds in Nigeria look like they are doing too much. I mean, what are they pouring down all that water for? I can comfortably step out on a rainy day in Glasgow and not feel like I went out in the rain. The wind here is also energetic, makes you feel like you are in the movies with your hair and clothes flying behind you, except of course when you are on an airplane arriving in Glasgow, the excessive turbulence gives you a grand welcome that makes your heart skip some beats. I highly recommend the road.
In Glasgow, there are days when the weather makes you look like a cartoon figure. Because it is hot, cold, rainy, and windy all at once, you step out in the most unusual layers of clothing simply because you have no idea what to wear. I love that the city makes everyone in it equally confused, it is satisfying to go out and see everyone looking just like me and complaining about the weather app. One supposedly challenging thing about Glasgow for me though is the terrain, it is a very hilly city with some steep slopes. I honestly did not prepare to have my physical endurance tested daily but lately I have become a mountain deer, galloping my way to and from classes. I have had to do a lot of running and exercising to give the hills a piece of me also. The beautiful side of this is that I get to have a beautiful view of a part of the city from almost any hilltop area. The weather conditions can be strange on some days, but it is a nice break from what I have been used to back home.
One thing that brings joy to any international student anywhere is to be accepted in the country that they have come to. In this regard, Glaswegians have been one of the most amazing people I have encountered. They are warm and welcoming and are always ready to help you find your way and get around the city. I used to find the accent a bit challenging, coming from a country where all the consonants in words are heavily stressed, the Glaswegian accent in its full force can sometimes make me miss home where our ‘pidgin’ English comes so easy no matter a person’s tribe. I can safely I have got used to it now, you give me a fine Scottish accent and my ears hardly itch anymore.
Being an international student, I have gotten a lot of freebies, food, rail tickets and amazing discount. This is one of the best parts of being an international student, you get to save so much on a lot of things just by proving your student status. A free cup of tea or coffee on a really cold day could be very useful, think about it. I love that while I am far from home, Glasgow does not make me feel like it. The people, the places, the accent, the intercontinental food and the vibrance, everything makes me love the city all the more and I would choose it over and over as my perfect student city.
