New Places, New Friends, New Me
Time has gone by incredibly quickly. It still feels vivid to me when I first spent time carefully deciding where to study abroad and eventually chose the University of Reading in the UK. Yet now, I find myself approaching the end of my time here, preparing to complete the Study Abroad Programme. I may not fully understand how these months will shape me in the long run, but one thing I can say with certainty is that choosing Reading was one of the best decisions I have made.
If I were to give one strong recommendation to future students coming to Reading, it would be to join a society. Reading has an impressive variety of societies – from sports and fitness to arts, film, food, and even ones centred around specific countries or cultures. Not every university allows study abroad students to join societies as regular members, so being able to participate here felt like a privilege. Through societies, I was able to meet new friends from different countries and experience British culture in a more authentic and personal way. On Halloween, I dressed up in a fun costume and enjoyed a party with friends. During running club sessions, I learned about running apps and brands that are popular among British students, and we shared casual chats that made me feel more at home.
Travelling around the UK was also a big part of my experience. One of the advantages of studying in Reading is its location—London is very accessible, making spontaneous trips easy. Every few weeks, I would visit London to watch a musical I loved or spend a quiet afternoon in a gallery. I also visited nearby cities like Bristol and Bath, and each place offered different charm and history. The Study Abroad Office often organised trips as well, so I would definitely encourage new students to take those opportunities. Both on and off campus, my time here has been meaningful, joyful, and full of memories I will treasure. I arrived hoping to learn and experience something new, and now I am leaving with new perspectives, friendships, confidence, and a deep affection for this place. It feels bittersweet that time passed so quickly, but that only shows how special my semester at Reading has been.
Incoming Student
