Holidays as an international student

Patty was a Multimedia Broadcast Journalism student who studied in Hastings and lived in Eastbourne. Since graduating in July, she’s moved home to Indonesia and got a job as a teacher. 

“Whilst I was at uni, I spent two Christmases in the UK and one at home.

Every year I would at least eat three Christmas dinners!

I was part of the university’s basketball team so we would always go out for a meal together just before the Christmas socials in Eastbourne. We would have it in a pub and get dressed up and after, we would go to the Christmas social in Atlantis where we met up with the other teams. The last Christmas night out is one of the best all year!

My second meal will be with the housemates. We would get festive and wear Santa hats and shop for the food and cook it together. Not forgetting Christmas crackers and secret Santa presents.  

My third meal would usually be with my family. My sister lives in London and I would spend Christmas with her and her husband’s family.    

I didn’t usually go back home during the winter break so I had the chance to do some part time work and catch up on uni work as deadlines were getting closer.

I didn’t get too homesick because the people in the UK made me feel at home and welcomed me with open arms. I considered them as my family too!”

Nic is a first year student living in Eastbourne. He studies Sports Business Management and will be staying in the town over the holidays.

“I’m from Mozambique so it’s cheaper to stay here, I won’t be going home over the winter break but that’s OK!

I work on campus and I’m training to become a student ambassador as well as assisting in promoting events for The Starting Gate – Eastbourne’s SU bar, so I’m really busy, especially with my studies.

Travelling to Europe is much cheaper than going home so I think I might go and explore Germany and France with friends or head to Portugal to visit some relatives, but I haven’t decided yet. I’m really tempted to go to France; it would be amazing to spend the holidays skiing!

I’m a Muslim so I don’t celebrate Christmas but that’s not to say I haven’t embraced it here. I went to a festive church service with a friend which was good because there was a nice atmosphere; it was cold outside but everyone inside was welcoming and warm. The only thing I didn’t like was the mulled wine.

In Mozambique, we have a family day on December 26, which is also a national holiday. I spend that with my family, this year I’ll miss them all, especially my little nephews but we Skype and send messages to each other.

It can sometimes be lonely but it doesn’t have to be because there are other students here and I see it as a good chance to get work done for the deadlines in the new term.“