Starting a new school on a different continent where you know absolutely no one is, as I expected, pretty nerve-wracking. So finding out that I would be living in a flat with seven full-time University of Kent students, rather than with a few international students who would be in the same, new situation as I was, only seemed to add to my nervousness.
My first week at the University of Kent was an international student orientation week, so I was alone in the flat until my new roommates moved in the next weekend. While that week of orientation allowed me to come to see the University as my new home for the next few months, I was reminded of the stress of meeting my roommates each time I returned to the empty flat. I was afraid that all seven of my flat-mates would be the best of friends and that I was taking the room of one of their friends, or that they would be in their last year at Kent and see me as a freshman, just starting to learn the ropes.
But as my flat-mates made their way back to the Canterbury campus one-by-one for the spring term, I became more and more relieved with each face I met. All seven are first years at the university, and seemed as excited to meet me as I was nervous to meet them. They did seem a little shocked by the age difference between us, as I am at least two years older than most of my flat-mates, but it seemed to be less important as I reminded them that, at Kent, I am a first year student as well, and am even newer to the university than they are.
Over the past few weeks I have truly started to feel at home at the University of Kent and in my flat. My neighbors, and now friends, have helped me so much, answering my numerous questions about life here at Kent, from where the best study spaces and dining halls are on campus, to showing me which shelves in our shared fridge are mine, and even loaning me books and giving me advice on how best to prepare for our assessments. I am excited to come home each day to see my neighbors’ doors opens so I can hear about their days and classes, and even make agreements with them to make sure we are all awake for our 9 AM classes each morning.
Looking at how much I love my living situation now, I wish I had not been so worried about it in the beginning. Everything I will do at the University of Kent will be a first or a surprise, there is not much familiarity here when it comes to just about anything. It would not have been the end of the world if I did not get along so well with my roommates, but I am grateful that I do. But I should not be so stressed about things that I have no control over while I am here, because that just wastes some of the short amount of time I have. So from here on out I am excited for everything that lies ahead, especially the unknown, and trust that even the surprises will be good ones.
