Moving from Guyana to Exeter to pursue my postgraduate studies was a decision filled with excitement, ambition, and a little uncertainty. Guyana is a small country nestled on the north eastern coast of South America, but do not let the geography fool you. Culturally and historically, we are deeply Caribbean. We are a people rooted in community, in warmth, in showing up for one another, in knowing your neighbours and feeling held by the people around you. That sense of collective belonging is not just a cultural trait; it is a way of life. So when I arrived in Exeter, the shift was real. I was not just adjusting to a new country; I was adjusting to a different way of existing in the world.

What I did not fully anticipate was how much I would miss the small things that made home feel like home: familiar accents, shared jokes, the foods I grew up with, and being surrounded by people who understood where I came from without needing an explanation. At times it felt isolating. I missed conversations where I did not have to explain the meaning behind certain words or cultural traditions.

I also had moments of doubting myself linguistically, wondering whether my accent was understood or whether I was expressing myself clearly enough. If you feel this way too, know that it passes. The more conversations you have, the more your confidence grows. Joining societies and simply putting yourself out there is the fastest way to find your footing.

But here is what I learned. I stopped looking for familiarity and started looking for connection. Not the comfort of finding people just like me, but the richness of finding people completely unlike me, who were curious, open, and willing to share their world just as I was willing to share mine. What started as conversations about where we each came from turned into friendships built on curiosity, respect, and a genuine appreciation for difference. Coming from a community-oriented culture, I already knew how to show up for people, I just had to learn that community can look different from what you grew up with, and that is not a loss. It is an expansion.

Looking back, my time at Exeter has been filled with moments I know I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Late-night conversations that stretched into the early hours. Shared meals where everyone brought something from home. Celebrating each other's milestones as though they were our own. Learning from people whose lives looked nothing like mine and feeling genuinely richer for it. The memories I have made here are not just tied to lectures or deadlines, they are tied to the people who walked alongside me, welcomed me without hesitation, and made a foreign place feel like somewhere I truly belonged.

I have grown to love Exeter. The campus is stunning, the city is warm and walkable, and the Guild has been a great starting point for building community. Staying connected with home through regular video calls and voice notes has kept me grounded through the harder days, because homesickness is real, and there is no shame in feeling it.

Give yourself time. You do not need to have everything figured out in the first week. Be patient with yourself and stay open.

You are not only coming to the UK to gain a degree. You are bringing your culture, your history, and your community spirit into a new space. Your accent, your stories, and the values you were raised with are not barriers, they are exactly what makes you worth knowing.

Take pride in whereyou come from, stay curious about where you are, and embrace the journey.

Somewhere along the way, a place that once felt unfamiliar can begin to feel a little bit like home.

‍