International students at Uni of Liverpool deem city ‘so welcoming’ in new documentary

Two students from India who chose to pursue their studies at the University of Liverpool have described their educational experiences as “life changing” in a snippet from a new culture documentary.

Anakha Dileep Rekha and Andrea Neeta Anto said their arrival in the city at the beginning of their degrees felt like “too much to take in” but the University of Liverpool was “so welcoming” to the students.

Since then, moving to Liverpool has become a “dream come true” for the two academics.

The international students are due to feature in a documentary which forms part of a new exhibition at Liverpool’s Victoria Gallery and Museum, the iconic red brick building at the heart of campus, according to the BBC.

Being offered the chance to share her culture and roots as an international student helped Anakha, a recent MSc International Business graduate, gain “a lot of confidence”.

The documentary will feature within the Indian Perspectives exhibition, which aims to both explore the legacies of British colonial rule and capture people of Indian heritage’s experiences of life in the United Kingdom.

In a short film produced as part of the exhibition, Anakha provided a heartfelt insight into how she had adjusted to her new lifestyle as a student at the University of Liverpool.

“I had a lot of doubts in myself whether I’d be able to adjust to this culture or the city, as such.

“What I found the most enjoyable part is that my shift from India to Liverpool has been so easy for me because the people are so welcoming”.

The International Business student recently graduated with a distinction from the University of Liverpool and finds the city to be her “second home as of now”.

She went on to describe how much she loved the “atmosphere”.

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In conversation with the BBC, Anakha explained the importance of choosing a city with rich cultural heritage to complete her master’s degree in.

“I was someone who grew up with a lot of passion for music, so coming to a musical city like Liverpool has been a dream come true for me.

“Being able to share a piece of my culture in India was something that I really enjoyed and it has given me a lot of confidence.”

Andrea Neeta Anto is also international student from India, currently studying Communication and Media with Film Studies as part of her undergraduate degree at the University of Liverpool.

Andrea described her first few days in the city as a lot to take in.

In the short film commissioned for the VG&M, she said: “Coming over here in Liverpool, I am not only learning about the British culture, but it’s also about the many different cultures”.

“It actually feels like home,” she added.

“Not only the Indians at the university but also the British people. They do acknowledge our culture, they celebrate our festivals with us”.

Andrea told the BBC that she was “overwhelmed” at the beginning of her studies here.

“It was too much to take in but as I stepped into the city and started exploring I genuinely feel like I am at home now,” she said.

When asked about her initial experience, and how the university’s arrangements made settling in a much easier process, she put it all down to one thing.

“It is definitely the people – the people over here are so welcoming.”

The VG&M has worked with Liverpool-born artist Tony Phillips and Manchester-born Jasmir Creed to feature their artwork in the exhibition, which explores Indian culture from the time of British colonial rule in the 19th Century, right up to the present day.

Speaking to the BBC, exhibition curator Amanda Draper said: “It became apparent when we came out of lockdown that the biggest number of students from one country were students from India, so we thought let’s do something that celebrates that fact”.

Featured images via Instagram @victoriagallery