I’m from Budapest and find your English habits really weird

It’s never easy to move away from home, especially when you move to another country. You miss your family, friends, hometown and want to go home.

You have to get used to a new environment, language and lifestyle. After living in Loughborough for three months, I’m starting to get used to it, but there are still some things that bother me.

The weather isn’t even that bad

Why do British people always complain about the weather? They love to moan. To be honest it’s not even that bad. In the first few weeks of the semester it rained more in Budapest than here.

I asked my flatmates about the weather and they all said: “Wait until December”. And to be fair the wind is extremely strong here. I mean, it was even crowned the worst thing about Lufbra, so it must be bad.

I don’t even need to walk to lectures, the wind carries me. I advise you all to not short cut through Towers.

But apart from that, it’s bearable. So stop complaining.

Not bad weather at all on campus

Everything is so expensive

Seriously, I don’t even dare touch a CD in a shop, because if I break it, I might have to sell my organs to cover the cost.

And what the hell is up with train tickets? The other day I paid so much for a return journey that even my flights to Budapest cost less. If you see me in Tesco, standing in front of a shelf for more than five seconds, it means I have already converted the price of Nutella into Hungarian currency.

I wonder why such obvious necessities are so expensive, before counting my pennies, having a little cry and handing over what little money I have to buy it anyway. I mean, come on, we all need Nutella.

‘You’re from Budapest? No way!’

Me and parliament just chillin’

I’d get the same reaction from my parents if I told them I had gotten a first. They’d seriously be that surprised. 

Yes, I am indeed from the beautiful city of Budapest. I love how people react. Especially when I ask back if they know where it is and I get the response: “Is it an island in Asia?” How did you get into university? Come on.

It might be a bit tricky, because both my parents are Vietnamese, but no, Budapest is not an island in Asia.

I can’t understand what any of you are saying

Say it again?

No matter how many times I watch Eastenders or Harry Potter, I still can’t understand what most of you are saying – especially my room mate Molly. 

It’s been three months and I still can’t get past her Birmingham accent, meaning that I don’t understand her 90 per cent of the time. 

Don’t even get me started on people who from Newcastle or, God forbid, Glasgow.

But even though I am currently living off Nutella, and having to ask everyone to repeat themselves before I can understand them, I love being here.

I love the community spirit at this uni and I’m sure I made the right decision. After my first semester here, I’m quite sure Loughborough is really my home away from home.