Hi, I'm Ivy. In the course of my internship, I've interacted with many international students. Today I'd like to share one student`s experience that stood out to me. This is her story…
5 Things I Wish Brits Knew About International Students
Janet Rueben, from India, is our guest blogger this week. She shares with us what she wishes British people knew about international students.
As an international student in the UK, I’ve met some wonderful British people who have welcomed me into their hearts. But I’ve also experienced the opposite. These difficulties have mostly arisen from British people making wrong assumptions about me, and other international students. This is why I’d love to tell you 5 things that I wish British people knew about International students.
1) Don’t assume that every international student only speaks English at a low level.
I’m one of thousands of Indian students studying in the UK and I remember the first person I spoke to here was checking my immigration at the border. They said to me “Your English is very clear!” I took it as a compliment then. Later, however, when every third person I spoke with asked me questions like “How is your English so clear? Isn’t Hindi your mother tongue?”
I wish British people were aware that most of these international students are highly educated, many come from countries where English is the primary language used at school from the age of 5 or 6. When Brita act surprised at our language ability it unintentionally makes us feel unwanted, insecure, undervalued, and disrespected.
2) Don’t assume that international students know every single person in their country or can speak every regional language/dialect from their country.
I remember one of my British student friends asked “Hey, you're from India, do you know so-and-so who I was friends with last year at university here? He was from India too.” Or questions like “Hey you're from India, can you speak Punjabi/Haryanvi/Bengali?”
Questions like these confuse us. It may be surprising to you but I don’t know so-and-so. Sorry to disappoint you. India is a big a country with 1.3 billion people; we don't all know each other! If you don't know every random person from Aberdeen, even if you've never been there, why do you expect us to be able to do the equivalent in our own countries? Also, each international student has their own different cultural, regional, and language background.
I wish British people didn’t do this because they often get disappointed when we don’t know the person, or language, and this feeling acts as a barrier for international students to become friends with local students.
3) I wish British people didn’t assume that everyone from a country/culture will all be identical.
British people sometimes will have had some sort of bad experiences with people from particular countries. But generalising the entire population of the country on the basis of one personal experience ruins future prospects of friendships.
British people should educate themselves more about different cultures; communicate, open up, and listen to others. This would give them a new platform to make friends and remove all sorts of barriers.
4) I wish British people knew that their body language and formation of groups can exclude international students.
At one of my early meetings I didn’t know anyone and it was all new. Now, I’m outgoing so making friends isn’t difficult. But many other international students felt lost and confused as to where they should go and which group they should join.
Sometimes local people are enjoying their small groups so much they forget that international students are in danger of being ignored or isolated because they don’t know anyone. This makes international students feel unwanted, neglected, and lonely.
5) I wish British people didn’t assume that international students are extraordinarily rich.
This simply isn't true for many of us. Yes, there are some international students who have plenty of money, but not all. So when British people just assume and say, “Why do you have to worry? You have so much money!”, or “Your parents must be so rich, that's why you are studying here.”, this is offensive, and makes us feel uncomfortable and insecure.
In conclusion, life isn't easy for international students living in the UK. We're far from home, our families, and our comforts. We're just looking for things that remind us of home. I truly believe that if British people would try seeing the world through the eyes of international students they'd realise a lot.
Small changes in actions, words, gestures, behaviours, and education/awareness about internationals can make a major difference during the limited time international students have in the UK. And who knows, they just might create Life-long bonds of friendships.
To get involved in welcoming international students to Leeds just email phil.thomas@transformationsleeds.org.uk
What Does The Bible Say About Immigration Anyway?
It's a pivotal moment for Britain in its treatment of immigrants. Nationalism is becoming the norm. Brexit has been and gone. Many Europeans feel unwelcome in the UK and the first of maybe 300,000 Hong Kongers will arrive in Britain this year. As International students arrive in the UK to study, I wonder what sort of welcome they will receive from the church? What attitudes do Christians have towards immigrants?
Immigrants, in the UK, refers to the 3.6 million here for work, (2.3 million from the EU and 1.3 million from outside the EU), the 485,000 international students (who mostly return home) and the 31,000 who seek asylum from persecution each year (the total number of asylum seekers in the UK is no 133,000). The majority of immigrants come here to work and benefit the UK economy, yet there's a lot of anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric in the UK. When I asked one Rwandan student, in Leeds, whether he had experienced racism here he said that for him it was, "a daily experience". His experience coroborates an academic's analysis that “there is something about strangers that evokes a profound sense of fear”.
So what does the Bible have to say about this? Not just about political policy, but how Christians should act towards immigrants and the foreigners around them on a day to day basis. It says that Christians should not fear immigrants but rather, show them love!
The Bible considers all humans as being made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) so the ‘stranger’ shares the divine likeness of God. Therefore, when people meet someone who is different to them they can “encounter God in the face of a stranger” (Genesis 1:13). The Bible doesn't give humans dignity based on how much money they can generate, something which appears to be at the heart of much of the immigration debate in the UK. Instead, it sees that everyone has divine worth because we are made in God’s image.
The second reason the church should not fear foreigners is because being an immigrant nation was a key part of the identity of Israel in the Old Testament. Central to all the Jewish patriarchs was their history of being immigrants: Abraham (Genesis 12:10; 19:9; 20:1, 21:34), Isaac (Genesis 26:3), Jacob (Genesis 32:4), and Jacob’s sons (Genesis 47:4) are all described as "ger", usually translated as sojourner, foreigner or stranger. This history was remembered every year in a thanksgiving liturgy which began: "A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there" (Deuteronomy 26:5-6 ESV).
This experience of being foreigners was part of the reason why Israel was commanded to "love the foreigners amongst them", something which appears no less than 36 times in the Old Testament. This care for, and inclusion of, immigrants should have been so counter-cultural that it was meant to be noticed by other nations. It was one of the ways that Israel was to be a "light to the nations" (Isaiah 42:6). Christians who long for the church to make an impact in our society and in the nations should follow this powerful command to love the immigrant, it would certainly be noticed.
Christians should not fear foreigners who come to their country because Jesus himself was a foreigner. He was both a heavenly foreigner on earth (John 1:14; Phillippians 2:5-11) and a literal foreigner in Egypt (Matthew 2:13-15). In Matthew 25 he identifies himself as the ‘xenos’, the stranger in need of a room, and stated that to welcome strangers such as these, was to welcome him (Matt 25:31-46). Therefore Christians cannot distance themselves from ‘strangers’, otherwise they are distancing themselves from Christ.
Jesus' behaviour towards foreigners is an example to Christians today. He showed great dignity, respect, and even preferential treatment towards them. For example he commended the great faith of an immigrant soldier (Luke 7:9), told stories in which the "stranger" was the hero (Luke 10:29-37) and healed a foreigner's daughter (Mark 7:24-30). His last words recorded by Matthew were for his followers to make disciples of "panta ta ethné" (which can be translated ‘all the gentiles’) (Matthew 28:19). It seems to me that if Christians today were to truly follow Jesus, they would be pleased for foreigners to receive healthcare, tell stories where the Muslim asylum seeker is the hero, and be delighted to have the opportunity to share the gospel with the nations studying here without having to leave this country.
The fourth reason that Christians should love foreigners is because the New Testament church went out of its way to welcome foreigners (Gentiles) into God’s people. Paul says, “there is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This key teaching is reiterated in texts like Acts 10:15-24 and Ephesians 2:11-22. Additionally, in Romans 12:13 the exhortation goes far beyond just "welcome", as the Greek word is "xenophilia" which literally means "love of strangers", the antonym of xenophobia. Therefore, the Christian community should be one where foreigners are strongly loved. It is inconceivable that Christians would fear the "stranger", as the New Testament states they are to do the exact opposite.
Therefore, as Britain is at a crossroads regarding its treatment of immigrants, I hope that Christians will look closely at what the Bible actually says on this issue. If Christians speak up with confidence, because they know what the Bible says, then they can make a significant difference to the lives of millions of foreigners in the UK and the church can be a positive influence in the immigration debate our country is having.
To get involved in welcoming international students to Leeds just email phil.thomas@transformationsleeds.org.uk
Opening A Bank Account
Whether you’ve come to study or to work in the UK, it’s best to apply for a British bank account. This will not only make your life much easier in the UK, but also allows you to use bank letters as proof of address. And a bank statement is essential when you apply for a Schengen visa. So, let's get into how to open a bank account.
We should quickly mention the different types of British bank accounts. Bank accounts are generally divided into two types: current accounts and saving accounts. As students, the account we usually want to open is a basic student current account that comes with a debit card.
When you decide which bank to open an account with, you often need to go to a physical branch to make an appointment to open your account. The process looks like:
Receive bank letter from university;
Make an appointment online or offline: remember to ask what materials you need to bring when making an appointment.
Open an account with necessary documents online or offline, and set a password;
The card will be mailed to your address.
What you normally need are (Please check with the details with the bank you made appointment):
Your passport with student visa (if that is appropriate)
The letter from your university confirming your UK study details
Proof of your address in the UK.
After successfully opening an account, the bank will send a letter to the address you provided, including your card and pin number (generally, the card and password are sent separately). After receiving them, you can activate the account to use the Online Banking service. Members suggested that you must open online banking or mobile banking, so that you can manage your money anytime and anywhere even if you are not in the UK and cannot go to the bank.
In addition to the common British banks, there are many "virtual network banks" in the UK, among which "online celebrity Bank Card" Monzo is highly praised by everyone! Card processing can be done online for everything, avoiding the trouble of running back and forth to the bank. After getting the card, you can enjoy the real-time exchange rate of overseas credit card, free cash withdrawal amount, and efficient and humanised customer service.
For more information, check out these links:
To get in touch please email chris.cambell@transformationsleeds.org.uk
Phil's Best Day Out!
One of the best things about living in the UK is that you’ve got easy access to the beautiful countryside just a few minutes outside of any city or town. And Leeds is no different. In fact, it’s surrounded by some absolutely gorgeous sights in the Yorkshire Dales! So we’ve asked our staff members to recommend their best days out, with a version that involves staying in Leeds and a version that means getting out of the city with a bit of travel.
Today, we bring you our founder, Phil Thomas’, best day out:
STAYING IN LEEDS
“If I’m looking for a day out in Leeds then it’s got to be Roundhay Park! It’s such a relaxing place to go with friends. It’s easy to travel there by bus. If it’s raining, or you want to see animals, you can go to Tropical World. There’s a massive lake you can walk around if you want to stretch your legs. Plenty of perfect spots for a picnic if you brought one with you. Or, there’s also a very nice cafe right on the Lake with really good food and they do a special lunch! I always enjoy it.”
Getting Outside LEEDS
“If I’m travelling outside of Leeds for a day out, I’m very likely to head straight to Ilkley. You can get there easily by bus or by train. I really enjoy going for a walk on Ilkley Moor — there’s even a famous Yorkshire song about this — followed by stopping in at a tea shop. The famous tea shop is Betty’s though this is a bit expensive. If the prices seem too high for you there are plenty of other great tea shops in the area that don’t cost as much and will taste just as good. It's just so great to get out of the city, see some green countryside, go for a walk and have a teacake in a cosy tea shop. It really is the best Yorkshire can offer!“
To get in touch please email phil.thomas@transformationsleeds.org.uk
How, When, & Why To Ask For Help
Asking for help can be hard at the best of times. But when you find yourself in a new country and don’t know the rules? It can feel impossible to know how, when, and why to ask for help. Just remember that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but of self-awareness. If you’re confident enough to ask for help it says a lot about how emotionally strong you are! What’s more, there are many people whose entire job is to provide help for those that need it.
Medical and Dental Help
If in doubt go to 111.nhs.uk
Medical (Emergency) - If someone is in a life threatening medical emergency then call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
If you are not sure if it is a life threatening situation then go to 111.nhs.uk to check
Medical (Urgent, Non-Emergency) - call 111
Or get help online 24/7 through 111.nhs.uk
Medical (Non-Emergency) - It’s worth registering as soon as you arrive with a GP (Doctor’s practise) so that if you need medical help they are ready. You can register with them and use their in person, online or phone services to receive treatment within the next working day.
Medical (Non-Emergency) - Pharmacists are a great place to go to ask for help without an appointment, they are medically trained and can give advice on minor illnesses and some over the counter prescriptions. They will advise you to see a doctor if needed.
NHS Mental Health Helpline - NHS urgent mental health helplines are for people of all ages. You may need urgent help for many reasons. The important thing to know is you will not be wasting anyone's time.
University Specific Support and Help
Leeds University - Key contact details for Academic Support, Finances, Opportunities, Study Abroad, Support and Well being, international Students, and Living in Leeds.
Leeds Beckett - Key information and contact for International Student Advice, Academic skills and advice, Accommodation, Careers, Jobs and Opportunities, Equality and Inclusion, Health and Wellbeing, Library and IT Support, Money, Fees and Bursaries, Rights and Responsibilities, Safely and Security, Starting and Finishing at University and more.
Leeds Arts University - Key information on Student Welfare and Academic Support
Leeds Conservatoire - Key information and contact details for Wellbeing for International Students, Study Skills, Fees and Funding, Performers Wellbeing and more.
Leeds University of Law - Key information and contact details for Welfare, Accommodation, Study Skills, Counselling, Inclusion and more.
Further Support Services/ Talk it out
Universities Chaplaincy in Leeds - Work hours 0113 343 5071. Out of hours 07780 613 862
Questions about Faith - Feel free to contact someone at one of our Partner Churches.
Professional Counsellors - your University should be able to advise you if you would like access these confidential, free services.
To get in touch please email laura.palmer@transformationsleeds.org.uk
