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No place like home?

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Olivia, are you from Kansas?

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hey olivia, i moved to the UK to start my PhD, leaving a real home (long term "cohabitating" partner, lots of friends) and a reasonably good job behind. here is the advice people gave me, and which i found to work in my case:
- take something, can be small, with you that will let you make your room your home. something that will make it YOURS rather than a random room with hotel-feeling, and which gives you a feeling of home. i had a small music box, a metal cat figure, and some pictures and postcards. i stuck them up on the walls the very first day after i arrived.
- skype, with webcam. ok another VOIP service will do too - but free endless videocalls with my partner kept the relationship alive. and it's easy to keep in touch with others, too.

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Thanks, Shani, this very helpful and good advise! I think just having a few familiar objects from "home" will help make the new place more like home. I am going to take your advise!

Cheers
Olivia

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Hi Olivia

Just wanted to say GOOD LUCK with the move. I admire anyone moving far away from the familiar as it takes guts! Most unis have a postgrad department here running events for postgrads, many of whom are far way from home which could help and as there are so many people in the same boat it's a good way of meeting them. Hope it all goes well and all the best.

O

Cheers, Sassy, much appreciated.

I think things will be fine once I get across the pond...saying goodbye is hard, and everything is in a giant jumble trying to sort it, bin it, store it or move it...but I have travelled back and forth to the UK a lot with distance learning, and always WANTED to do this...the reality is a bit daunting but I am sure it will be right, and of course it is such a relief to hear that the UK has McDonalds and Starbucks! But what about Pizza Hut and KFC--the very best of what America has to offer????

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LOL Olivia, we have those too!

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Unless you made your trips here pre-1974 (when the first McDonalds opened in the UK!!), I'm surprised you failed to notice all the US chains on the UK high street nowadays.

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Olivia, I'm utterly shocked to find that Taco Bell didn't make it on your list of things you're going to miss!

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Taco Bell

shreds airplane ticket to the UK

good thing its an e ticket!

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Olivia, am sure you will do well. I found it hard myself when i moved over here for my studies but i have since adjusted. there are many things that make UK interesting, including loads of freebies on the culture scene- museums/ galleries etc. you just have to make the most of it to be honest. the only thing I hate is the weather especially the rain, though i must confess that it doesn't rain all the time! As for starbucks it's now on every corner, which I think doesn't do justice to the brand! if you are going to be in London there are loaaaadddds of stuff esp on the culture scene. The British museum if fab. A part time job would be handy for extra dosh as London is one of the most expensive places to live. Wishing you well

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