September 5, 2:00 p.m., I landed at Luton Airport, my first time on British soil.
You know that moment when you worry they might send you back home, or that there could be a problem with your visa? Those were exactly the kinds of thoughts I had.
Passport control:
- You have a student visa. Where are you going?
- Oxford.
- What are you studying?
- A university foundation programme.
- What subjects?
- Politics, Philosophy and Psychology.
- Thank you, you may pass.
It took me an entire day to get to Oxford, mainly because when I asked for help at the information point, I couldn’t understand the employees’ British accents. I missed two trains and lifted my 30 kg suitcase dozens of times (a suitcase big enough to fit a house in).
‘But I finally made it!’
Oxford feels quieter and calmer, and it’s quite intuitive to know where to go and to find what you need. I already knew the streets, because I had studied them carefully beforehand, so it was easy for me to find my way around the city.
The next day, I was standing in front of my new home, where I would live for a year. It was a sunny day, despite my friends’ warnings that it would always be cloudy here. I would even say the sun was shining brighter, and the trees looked more beautiful. When the birds are singing and the sky is clear, it feels like a real celebration.
I was welcomed warmly, and I felt like I belonged here. I quickly settled in and got used to both the British accent and the English breakfast that I enjoy every weekend morning. I discovered a love for cold mornings and the sound of rain late at night.
After two weeks, I started missing my friends and my community back home. Luckily, social media helps me feel close to them, as if I had never left. In fact, I would never truly leave them, I’m just following my dreams and goals.
Now, after a month, I am speaking English every day, and that still feels like a miracle to me. Sometimes I get tired of sitting in front of grammar and vocabulary books, but then I remember what one of my teachers says: “Learning a language is not always interesting, that’s the reality, but it’s necessary.”
But St Clare’s it’s not just about studying books. Teachers here are warm and kind, and they are happiest when you ask for help. Their dedication reminds me of the purpose that brought me here.
I now have a routine, a balanced schedule of classes, independent study, social life, excursions, and conversations with friends all of which help me maintain good mental health.
The journey continues, it’s only the beginning after all. Beyond the dozens of Oxford colleges, the libraries filled with the smell of old books and the beautiful parks, there are still many places left to discover.
Come with me, and I will show you what my year in Oxford at St Clare’s looks like.
Written by Loredana – UFP 2026 student