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the Oxford International Students’ Handbook1
A
DJUSTING
TO A
D
IFFERENT
C
OUNTRY
&
C
ULTURE
Chapter 1 - Adjusting to a Different Country and Culture2
C
ongratulaons, and welcometo Britain! Studying abroadcan be an enormously rewardingexperience and a wonderfulopportunity to discover a dierentculture and way of life. It willalso challenge you in unexpectedways, as you immerse yourself in unfamiliar surroundings andadapt to new ways of thinking anddoing things. This may not alwaysbe easy. Aer all, for many of youthis may be the rst me you aretravelling abroad or living awayfrom home. You must be excited,but perhaps, also a bit nervous andanxious about what it will be like.As we once were! So, we thoughtwe would share our experiencesand impressions of life in Britainand in Oxford with you, helpingmake your transion easier - andperhaps, even a bit more fun.
the Oxford International Students’ Handbook3
L
et us begin by saying thatthere is absolutely nothing tofear. Britain is a vibrant, mul-cultural society and the studentbody at Oxford is very diverse.One third of the University’s19,000 students, including 14 percent of full-me undergraduatestudents and 64 per cent of full-me post-graduates, come fromoutside the UK, represenng 139dierent countries from aroundthe world. So, youwill never have toworry about beingalone in a foreigncountry! Once youarrive, you will also nd Oxfordbrimming with rst year studentsas confused about what is goingon around them as you. Universitylife is as new for Brish students asit is for you, as this will be the rstme many of them - not unlike you- will be living away from home.Before lectures and tutorials start,you should have plenty of meto familiarize yourself with yournew surroundings and meet newpeople during freshers’ week,about which you can read more inthe
Arriving in Oxford
secon of this Handbook.As with most countries – probablyincluding your own – it is dicultto generalize about Brish cul-ture or to nd a single denionof what it means to be Brish.It is worth bearing in mind thatBritain is made up of three dier-ent countries: England, Wales andScotland; the United Kingdom (orUK) refers collecvely to Britain,Northern Ireland and a number of smaller islands such as the Chan-nel Islands. Ethnic minories fur-ther add to thismix: Britain is oneof the most diversecountries in theworld, and you willnd many proud Britons (or evenScots or Englishmen) whose an-cestors come from other coun-tries. Brish culture is not, thus,the same as English culture and itis important not to call a Scotsmanor Welshman ‘English’! That said,this shouldn’t make you nervous.Most people will understand thatyou are from outside the UK andpolitely correct you, and a quickapology will help you feel at ease.The best way to get used to Brishculture may also seem the mostobvious. Recognize that it may bedierent from yours and keep anopen mind, while accepng the
Let us begin by sayingthat there is absolutelynothing to fear.
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