My experience living in student accommodation

 Hi, my name is Bisma, and I am originally from Thailand.  Currently, I am studying for an MA in English Literature at Leeds Beckett University. In this blog, I will be sharing my experiences and social life about staying in a university flat and how to have the best moments here.

Adapting myself to the new place

I chose to live in Arena Village which is a 6-minute walk (0.3 miles) from City Campus. First and foremost, I started to familiarize myself with everything here by wandering around the City Centre. I went to the malls, shops, markets, grocery stores, and the university. Everywhere is within walking distance. I can go anywhere around the City Centre on foot without thinking to use public transport.

Getting to know my new university roommates

It was a little bit unnerving to cohabitate with my roommates because I am the only international student among them. It made me feel nervous that I might not get along well with them. However, it turned out that they are friendly and kind to me. They did approach me within the first few days of moving together. They started off by asking me easy questions like, “Where are you from?” or What course are you studying?”. We tried to avoid awkwardness by getting to know each other with these icebreaker questions. This is an essential part of moving in with new people and getting to know who I would be living with.

Combating my homesickness

Honestly, feeling homesick is a bit like wallowing after a breakup. Making new friends and connecting with others can alleviate my loneliness and isolation. I tried to attend the university events and student-led events (International Game Night, Walking Tours, Leeds Holi Festival, Poetry Evenings, etc.) as much as possible because I could meet like-minded people from different countries and hang out with them sometimes. I usually keep in touch with my close family to feel comforted. Moreover, I create new hobbies for myself such as walking tour or spending time with my roommates. 

The facilities in my accommodation

There are about 500 bedrooms in my self-allocating accommodation. Arena Village is just an 8-minute walk from the School of Cultural and Humanities, which is the place I attend seminars. Facilities on-site include secluded study spaces and a communal area along with a free fitness suite on the 23rd floor. I love living in the hall because there is a range of different choices to suit my living style and budget. Importantly, I am surrounded by lots of students in the same situation as me and all of them are excited and a bit nervous to begin their university lives. 

Being an accommodation ambassador

I am working as an Accommodation Ambassador which is a university casual work. It is vital that accommodation ambassadors have at least a fundamental understanding of the accommodation choices provided by the university, and the differences between each flat. I am frequently asked for my personal recommendations and I try to not give specific advice. The common questions I have been asked are the differences between accommodation room types such as “What is the difference between £176pw Gold and £174pw Gold B?”. Living in a university flat not only gives me a new opportunity to meet new people but also gives me a part-time job. On top of that, I make new friends and enhance my speaking skills during my job as well.