What They Don’t Tell You

Before you leave your home country to study and live in another country, here’s what they don’t tell you.

Also, I’m only speaking for the UK.

And,really, mostly for Nottingham.

Maybe if I lived and studied in London or Ruiru or Jamaica, the story would be very different.

But here’s what they don’t tell you ( first and foremost they don't tell you that you don't have time/are too lazy to draw new pretty pictures so you recycle ALL your old ones!!!)

1.     What you thought was going to be your Eat, Pray, Love journey is mostly eating. Eat, Sleep, Cry basically. THEY DIDN'T TELL YOU THAT SHIT!! That there's no zen and it's hard and you cry and you miss everything and you start to think that you had it pretty good before you changed countries. NO!

2.    Public transport still sucks no matter which part of the world you live.

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Yeah. No. I'm stupid because I thought driving isn't fun in a developed country because the bus is life.

Yes. I lie!!!! So the systems are efficient, and the fare price doesn’t shockingly hike when it starts raining. But still, you’re squished next to someone smelly, and they probably find you smelly, and there’s the drunk on the bus. Always the drunk. Sometimes it’s me. Mostly it’s not. But there’s always the drunk. It sucks!

3.    Ignorance and racism are a thing. And severally you have to explain that you don’t know their former classmate who was from Rwanda because you told them you're from Kenya. Also, many times you’re the ignorant racist person. And you tell your Malaysian classmate your friend went to China once and loved it. And they stare at you like you’re stupid.

Because you are. Then they roll their eyes and suggest that you go eat Korean food. And then ask them to translate the menu to you. And they stare at you and look like they’ll walk away. But they don’t. Because they’re hungry.

So you just eat.

4.    Why some Africans say some foreigners from other countries don’t shower daily is because it’s cold. A lot. And you think you don’t sweat. But really you do. Just in real slow motion. And one day you’ll wake up, extremely offended at the unwashed air around you. “These guys don’t shower”. No. It’s you.

5.    “Come back with a husband,” they asked. What you don’t realize is everybody is frigging dating, engaged or married already. Or just living with their partner, which is a combination of all the above.  Also, you’re way way older than everyone else, so it’s all just weird and pointless. So you meet 21 year olds dating 19 year olds and they say things like, “hopefully we’ll have 2 children when we’re your age” and you slowly die inside, but smile and say your life is exactly as it should be. But you don’t say that.

6.    Libraries here are pretty cool. And you’ll be tempted to use your rent money on travelling (partying) and just living in the library because it’s open 24/7 and there’s wifi and computers and laptops and toilets. Isn’t that better than most of our houses? Sure is!

7.    You’re not exotic. Get over that!

8.    You can be poor and broke on another currency.

9.    Sadness and depression do not miraculously remain behind once you board the flight to cross the oceans. Or deserts. Or oceans and deserts. Nope. Stupid, clingy guys had their VISA’s way before you got yours and pitched tent in your soon to be room. And so they speak another language (it’s as if I didn’t always speak English), but they still persistent as hell. And it sucks. But you’re living with it.

10. Being a student is confusing. Because you’re not a tourist/traveler BUT also, you’re not an independent working girl living in a high rise apartment in the city with a cool job and car. You need papers for all that! And right now, you’re just in limbo. And although you thought this decision was a big stepping stone into discovering your purpose and seeing the world, you’re kinda still not sure what you’re doing. Ever. At all.

11.  And that’s okay!

12. It’s not Harry Potter.

Or these guys!

Or any of this shit!

It’s never gonna beThis shocked and saddened you the most. It is not Harry Potter. It’s just normal life with a British Accent.