Romani Online in UK

Cred ca ar fi bine sa spun si povestea acestui articol, inainte de articolul propriu-zis. Sa fii student intr-o tara straina nu e un lucru usor. Poate fi placut, poti avea parte de oportunitati mult mai mari decat in Romania (din pacate), dar asta nu inseamna ca nu ai parte de multe obstacole in drumul catre reusita, sa spunem. De cate ori am ocazia, vorbesc despre tara mea si fac cunoscute lucrurile frumoase pe care le intalnesti la romani (pentru ca lucrurile rele se afla oricum). Fac acest lucru pentru ca, vreau sau nu vreau, cand adorm seara in camera mica din camin, gandul imi zboara tot la Romania si la ce reprezinta ea pentru mine: familie, amintiri, dragoste, scoala si 19 ani de viata. Nu te poti integra peste noapte intr-o noua societate care, sa recunoastem, nu e deloc asemanatoare cu a noastra. Asadar, mi-a fost greu sa ma obisnuiesc cu viata din Bath pentru ca universitatea de aici are o proportie mai mica de studenti internationali spre deosebire de alte universitati din Marea Britanie si, prin urmare, mai putini oameni cu care sa vorbesti despre "impactul cultural" despre care ni s-a tot vorbit in prima luna de facultate. Am aflat ulterior ca sunt multi studenti internationali aici dar, printr-o ironie a sortii, unde locuiesc eu sunt decat 4 studenti din alte tari (Bulgaria, Germania, Franta si Romania) si 15 englezi. In prima luna se formasera deja grupurile, iar Romania si Bulgaria erau excluse din joc. A trecut ceva timp pana am vorbit cu toti, am povestit despre Romania, am explicat ca ESTE o diferenta intre etnia rroma si romani, ca si la noi sunt cluburi, ca avem si noi sali de fitness, ca Romania este o tara frumoasa, ca Transilvania este in Romania si nu viceversa si ca tara aceasta exista in sud-estul Europei si nu in Asia si ca, in final, suntem in Uniunea Europeana. Zi de zi incerci sa-ti ascunzi nemultumirea care apare in urma conversatiilor cu studenti englezi, pana ajungi sa petreci prea mult timp la biblioteca de unul singur. Totul a culminat cu iesirea mea la petrecerea pentru Anul Nou Chinezesc. Aici am intalnit o persoana de la biroul de studenti internationali care a fost interesata de povestea mea, de faptul ca vreau sa ma implic in cat mai multe activitati, dar este greu sa fii student international printre atatia englezi. Mi-a explicat ca mai intalnise studenti retrasi, care nu aveau curajul sa se exprime si m-a intrebat daca as vrea sa-mi exprim punctul de vedere in ziarul sau pe site-ul facultatii. Mai mult, am decis sa si organizam o petrecere saptamana aceasta ("Why am I here?") pentru toti acesti studenti si sa discutam exact despre ce putem face pentru a ne implica in adevarata "viata de student". Prin urmare, dupa o lunga introducere, articolul care a aparut pe site-ul universitatii din Bath:

When I first arrived in Bath in September last year, I did not know anybody. There were some difficult moments when I felt like a total outsider between so many British students. Even if I had studied English for more than 10 years, there were many times when it was just impossible for me to understand some specific British accents or slang. Even the culture is relatively different and somehow striking (why would somebody ever wear flip-flops at -5 degrees?). However, I have eventually realized that 1 in 4 students in Bath is European or International and some of them might feel just like me. Spending time by yourself in your room or in the library will not make you feel better, it will just bring despair and you will start missing home, wondering “why on Earth did I decide to come here??” Well, because, apart from the academic life, you wanted to discover new things, to meet interesting people and even improve some skills or find yourself a hobby. 

Ok, so I felt a little lonely during the first months. What do to? I just decided to join some societies. I went to salsa classes; I joined the Amnesty International and the Conservative Future societies. It proved out to be an amazing experience. I had the chance to see Brussels and the EU Parliament with the Conservative society. Moreover, it seems that I will even visit the Houses of Parliament in the second semester (yay!). Eventually, I participated in the elections to become a Societies’ Representative and, thanks to the people that voted for me, I became one. It is a wonderful experience to have the opportunity to meet so many students, each with their own talents, from which you can always learn something. If I had not had the courage/confidence to apply for this position, I would not have met all these people and I would still be in my room asking myself the same depressing questions from my first month: “Why am I here?”. Now, I do not even have the time to think about this. In two weeks’ time I will be in London, with 7 other students from Bath, representing the University at a conference - London International Model of United Nations (LIMUN). Due to this, I have joined the BUMUN (Bath University Model of United Nations), which is fun and informative at the same time. 

Briefly, my point is that if you want a nice student life, but you do not know how to do this, you just have to be willing to meet some new people, join a society, practice a sport or just get out of your room and have a cup of coffee with people around you. You never know whom you can meet.