Looking to meet other international students at university? Looking for something fun to do with your friends? Our international student Victoria Manach Kilsowski shares how the International Student Group (ISG) has become the highlight of her week, and a welcoming space to make new friends from around the world.
Going to the International Student Group (ISG) on Thursdays became the highlight of my week. We definitely weren't short on things to do- from pumpkin carving and decorating gingerbread houses to crafting colourful lanterns and making feel-good boxes that lit up my mood during the harder first-year days.
Whether it was the familiar faces from weekly sessions or people I was meeting for the first time, our conversations created an inclusive space that almost felt like home. There was something immersive about the hands-on activities that made the conversations feel so natural.
How did the ISG help me to settle into university?
Moving to a new country comes with a whole list of unknowns, where you're constantly navigating new systems, overcoming language barriers and adjusting to different social norms. It's okay to feel out of place. But having a place to go to each week, where I could talk to others going through similar experiences, who also didn't have it all figured out, made me feel comforted and less alone as a fresher.
I was also able to meet some exchange students who were here for a semester. It was really interesting to hear about the differences in their university experience compared to mine at Bath. One thing they kept mentioning was how diverse and welcoming the community felt here, especially with groups like ISG. This is something they wished they had to connect with people beyond their course and nationality.
Overall, it was the efforts of the staff who made us all feel so welcomed and supported. They offered us hot chocolate and cookies while we shared stories about our countries and the different festivals we celebrated.
I'll miss these small gatherings over the holidays, but for anyone staying in Bath over the holidays, the ISG's Winter at Bath and Easter at Bath programmes have got you covered to make the most of your university experience. I'm looking forward to coming back and seeing new faces in a couple of months!
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