I thought that studying abroad would be more enriching for me, as it would expose me to a range of ideas, people and experiences that would make me grow as a person and would hopefully help me when applying for future jobs.
I chose the UK as I thought a degree from a British university would carry more value at an international level than an Italian one, but I've also always had a fascination with the English language and the English accent. I applied to study at the University of Sussex because it has a good reputation for international relations teaching and research, and the course seemed perfect for me.
I had a culture shock when I first arrived. Despite being from Europe, the UK is quite different from the continent. It took me a while to get used to the different cultural habits and understand what was socially acceptable here. Most international students I've met find it hard to understand the Brits' dry wit and sarcasm and I was, and perhaps still am at times, no exception.
Personally I was impressed that Brighton enjoys exceptionally good weather! After spending a year in Manchester at sixth-form college, I expected it to be more grey and rainy, so the sunshine was a nice surprise.
I didn't expect a campus university like Sussex to be as multicultural as it is – this is great on an academic and personal level as it makes conversations in and out of class far more interesting and means I've made friends from all over the world. I love the fact the campus has a real village feel because I always run into people I know, and I think that international students make it an even more lively and varied place. For a linguist like me, it is great to hear different languages being spoken around campus and to be able to communicate in the languages I know with others, especially people whose mother tongue is a language I speak.
The fact that the university's country or culture-based societies can showcase their traditions through a series of events offers everyone the chance to experience and discover new cultures, languages habits and cuisines. It adds more flavour to our lives.
Throughout the year, students from all kinds of backgrounds take part in the festivities of other cultures, such as Día de los muertos, Eid, Chinese New Year and Diwali, among others. In March the University organised One World Week, with events and activities devoted to celebrating the cultural diversity and international outlook of our campus. It was great to see how integration has become assimilation at Sussex University, with students from all over the world throwing coloured powder at each other, along with South Asian students, during the Holi celebrations, or learning the famous hand gestures us Italians can't speak without, along with students from my home country.
I'd definitely encourage any students thinking about studying abroad to take up the opportunity. Think about your interests and research the institutions to make sure you are making the right decision for you, and come for a visit if you can so that you can talk to current students as well as your future lecturers about the course and the university in general.
Almost all of my friends at home are interested in studying abroad, whether just for a short period of time or as a chance of moving somewhere else for good. It's an experience that young people truly value.
