Moving to a new country – what I did and what you can do better!

By Nia Starr, MSc International Management and Marketing

Last September I packed up my bags, said goodbye to my family and friends, and made a move across the pond (from America to England). I’ve never really been a homebody and had lived abroad before, so I wasn’t particularly afraid to be starting a new life in a new country. I was quite excited actually, for the new classes I would take, the new adventures I would have, and the new friends I would make. In my head, I thought I would arrive to a house full of people and instantly make connections with my housemates that would jump-start my adventurous journey in Sheffield. Life throws you curve-balls sometimes, and that was not the case.

As it turns out, my first week was spent solo, as only one of my housemates had moved in and school did not start for another few weeks. I spent most of that time aimlessly wandering around the Sheffield, getting to know the city and buying things for my new room. After about a week and a half, I signed up for a few Give-It-A-Go activities. This was really the turning point of my time here. I signed up for a Zumba class, which ultimately got cancelled, but while I was waiting for the class to start, I made a friend. She was also waiting for the class, and she wound up becoming one of my closest friends here.

Tip 1: Delve right in! Because I waited nearly two weeks to start getting active and involved, I missed out on the opportunity to have made more friends. Friends who would have made shopping for new room decorating things, that much more fun and who would have been great to explore a new city with.

Not long after school started, that friend that I mentioned earlier convinced me to try out for the university futsal team (indoor soccer). I had played soccer for a large part of my life, but had never played indoor soccer before. I was really reluctant but agreed to try out with her. We both made the team. Joining the futsal team has really been one of the most enjoyable experiences that I have had since moving here. It is something I look forward to every week, not only because I love the sport, but also because I was able to forge great friendships with my teammates. Joining the team also allowed me to travel and see different parts of England that I might otherwise never would have ventured to.

Tip 2: Try something new! Don’t be afraid to join a new club because you are afraid you will fail. The sooner you do it, the sooner you will find out if you enjoy the activity or if you don’t. This is also a great way to gain a new hobby that could be instrumental in making your life the best it can be here.

My first semester here, I had so much excess time on my hands! With that time, I really didn’t do anything productive or anything that would greatly enhance my life. Second semester, I started applying myself a lot more. I got a job, an internship, and applied for a company based project. I applied for these things and managed to successfully attain a position for all of them, which gave me more confidence to apply for other things that I wanted.

Tip 3: Don’t waste your time here! Take advantage of all the excess time and fill it. Join a gym (which I didn’t do until the end of the first semester, and regretted it), go out with friends, and apply for those things that will enhance your future. If I had applied myself and been more productive during first semester, there is definitely a guarantee that I could be further along in every aspect of my life here in Sheffield, right now. Opportunity awaits, don’t let it pass you by!

Choosing accommodation as a postgraduate student

I’m Nia, an MSc International Management & Marketing student, and my blog today is going to be about how I chose my accommodation as a postgraduate student. When I was back home, in America, the most popular choices for accommodation was to live in the student dorm rooms or to get an apartment off-campus. When I attended my undergrad in New Orleans, the only real option for me for the first few years was to live on campus. It saved me the trouble, or pressure to go out and actively make friends because I had girls on my hall and I would be sharing a room with someone. As it turns out, my assigned roommate never showed up, but that still worked in my favour because I still had several people on my hall to make friends with. Another upside to living on campus was the easy accessibility to food and I was literally a five-minute walk away from any class that I had on campus. During my last semester at the university I moved into an apartment with one of my good friends. It was a nice experience, but it came with challenges. I was now further away from school, which meant that I had to get up earlier to commute, I didn’t see my friends as frequently, I didn’t have easy access to food anymore, and if I wanted to use the resources at the library on campus then I had to stay extra late on campus to get work done.

Because I was accustomed to living in an apartment, when I made my choice to attend the University at Sheffield, my instant thought when it came to what kind of place I was going to live in, was to get an apartment. While the student housing is nice and would have been a good entrance for me to make friends, getting an apartment was more in line with my budget. I started my initial search for apartments in Sheffield, from America, before handing over the reins of finding my accommodation to a friend of mine who already lived in Sheffield. When he presented the places to me, the options he showed me were all houses, which I had never considered before. Needless to say, I fell in love with one house near one of the big student areas in Sheffield, called Ecclesall Road. The house was perfect for me. It was nearly equidistant from the city centre and the Management School, where most of my courses where located. As a plus, there was a gym located on my street – no more excuses to skip it!

I share this experience to say that sometimes you have to be willing to accept an option that had never previously occurred to you. When my friend came forward with only houses as options, I was not ecstatic at first. The thought of living with 6 other people did not appeal to me at all. I was afraid that we would not get along and that their living habits would be so different from my own. As it turns out, I couldn’t be happier with my housemates. We all get along great for the most part and I can call them all friends. Living in a house turned out to be the better option for me in the end because I was lonely when I first arrived and having a house with so many people in it allowed me to meet people and make friends. The house also allowed me to stay within my budget and be situated in a prime location to make memories!

The ultimate guide to Instagram in Sheffield

By Mila Donders (MSc Leadership and Management)

Before I came to the UK, I was told that Sheffield was not the prettiest of cities. Happily, once I got here, I found that I absolutely disagreed. Not only do I think that Sheffield is actually a beautiful city, I also think that it is one of the most Instagrammable places I have ever visited. With this guide, I hope to give you some ideas for interesting and good looking posts while also telling you what my favourite parts of Sheffield are (and showing off my own pictures).

Tip #1: Kelham Island

ki-edited One of my favourite areas in Sheffield is Kelham Island. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, it is also very different from the rest of the city. It looks industrial, but hip, and has some of Sheffield’s best bars and restaurants. A great place to take some cool shots is the Kelham Island Museum (pictured with the flags), but any spot around Kelham Island will essentially do the trick.

Tip #2: Paradise Square

Located just behind the cathedral paradise-square-edited in the centre of town, Paradise Square is a charming little place that will make your Instagram-followers very happy/jealous. The best pictures are taken in the late afternoon or around sunset. Try to take your pictures during working hours; that way, the parking lot in the middle of the square will be relatively empty, which will make taking nice pictures a little bit easier.

Tip #3: Clay Wood

sheffield-edited-again If you’re a fan of city views, this is the place for you. Clay Wood is just behind the train station and you do have to walk up a hill for the view, but it is 100% worth it. From the hill, you will be able to see and capture Sheffield in its full glory. After you take your pictures, you could go for a walk in the nearby park or visit the Cholera Monument to learn more about Sheffield in darker times.

Tip #4: Use the weather!

It is no secret that weather in the UK can be rainbow-edited a little unpredictable, but I find that since the weather in Sheffield changes so much, there are many opportunities to catch beautiful images using the weather. For instance, there can be a lot of rain, but the weather has the tendency to change quickly, increasing the chances of seeing rainbows! Additionally, the clouds can give your pictures some beautiful effects, especially around sunrise or sunset.

There are also plenty of other gorgeous places to explore around Sheffield, such as the Botanical Gardens, the Winter Gardens, and of course, the Peak District. I hope this guide has been helpful to you, or at least shown you that Sheffield is a beautiful city, worth exploring. Happy Instagramming!