All Posts By

Presholives

lifestyle

Same Dreams, Fresh starts

Every new year comes with new beginnings either at work or at school. Something or someone is starting a fresh. A new year is a chance to start a new thing, a chance to achieve a written goal.

Your mind is telling you that it’s time for a new chapter, I hope this post helps you begin and become the change you want to see.
Motivate yourself to push past whatever is holding you back.

How do I start a new beginning?

Get out of your comfort zone and start your life over. Each one of us reaches a point where we get fed up with our current situation. During such times, letting go and starting over can be the best thing to do.

Create more room for inspiring thoughts and mingle with individuals who fit and match with your goals and path. Let go of whatever has held you down previously. Be real, take off that mask, set higher goals, break boundaries. Rise up and shine!

Travel

Getting around in the UK

The UK, being a small country, has many transportation options. Some cheaper than others. I use the bus for short trips but the train for longer trips. It depends on the cost sometimes getting on a bus can be cheaper than buying a train ticket.
So most times I compare both prices before getting a ticket.

As long as you have time, using a mix of train, bus, taxi, walking and occasionally hiring a bike, you can get almost anywhere in England without having to drive. I’ve been to lots of cities in the UK and can’t wait to visit more.

Getting around in the UK can be confusing as well. I remember my first days in the uk, I missed my train and bus sometimes. There was a particular day I travelled first class on the train. I was sitting in first class while having a standard ticket. I didn’t even realise till I got to my destination and told my friend I was offered biscuit and tea. She shouted and said “Precious, you entered first class” I was like “ehn ehn”. I had no idea about the sitting arrangement on the train.

If you’re in London, the London underground rail network, or “the Tube” is a great way to travel to and fro from central London.

Also so much to learn but very easy to get carried away. The best way to get the most of UK is to travel and explore many cities. My experience so far has been enlightening to say the least.

lifestyle

Studying in the UK | International students (Nigeria)

As an international student, you’ll find an array of exciting experiences ahead of you and will have the opportunity to discover places in the the United kingdom and meet new people.

As the UK is a cosmopolitan city, you’ll find that many UK customs are already familiar.
If you’re a Nigerian, don’t stress it! you will settle down quickly. You will find Nigerians everywhere so don’t worry about being lonely. Don’t be surprised if you find more than 5 Nigerians in your class.

As a Nigerian studying in the UK, it was really easy for me to get along because I see my fellow Nigerians everywhere, this enabled me get along easily.

Most Universities in the UK have a large community of international students and these Universities understand that relocating to a new country can be a challenge. Students coming from Nigeria can find a range of advice right on the schools website, student union, or school’s social media page. Most universities in the UK have the “Nigerian Society” so you can always connect with people there.

One major thing that help students here is your ability to socialise, I learnt during my first few months of arrival that talking and socialising with people can help you know more and learn better. Don’t be a one man battalion, you need to get along with people to help scale through here in the UK, at least for the first few months after your arrival.

Here, everything is online, you can easily reach people through emails and through social media. Internet is free! So use it like you own it!

Also, be friendly, smile, go out! Go to seminars, society group, learning groups. Hang out with people. Because that’s how you hear about more information and learn more.

The learning method here is also very different from Nigeria and most countries. So you need to ask questions to know and learn. Everything becomes easy when you ask. Overall the UK is a beautiful place to study and live. I’m sure you will enjoy your stay here and if you’re planning to apply to a university in the UK, I think you are on the right path to your next big achievement.

Please comment below and if you’re currently studying in the UK, please share some ideas or your thoughts. I’ll love to see your comment.

lifestyle

London: The UK’s Lagos

There is no doubt many Nigerians are finding their new haven in England.

A country, at this point blessed with better economic and social conditions despite news of a possible Brexit. England just like Germany has accommodated a countless number of Nigerians. Just taking a walk on the streets of london, there you will find many Nigerians.

For me, London is the second home of Nigerians living in England.
According to sources, Peckham has become a center of Nigerian-British life and culture in London. Peckham is also called, “mini Lagos” and this is because there is nothing in Lagos that you will not find in this area.

In London, Nigerians have formed communities and not only in London, also in cities like Manchester, Birmingham and also other popular cities.

On the streets of london, there you’ll find many Nigerians. I made new friends just by walking on the streets. Walking on the streets you will even hear lots of Nigerian names being called. Like “Bimbo, ba wo ni”? Honestly, It feels like home. Hearing your local language makes you feel at home.

Nigerians also come in to school, well, UK is closer to Africa. 6 hours flight and you’re in the UK. Many Nigerians also have relatives abroad which make it easier for them to relocate.
Honestly, seeing lots of Nigerians on the streets of London makes one happy and you feel like you’re home.

Also, many Nigerians have being living in the United Kingdom, the Nigerian community grows bigger daily and lots of Nigerians keep coming into the UK either to school, work, or to visit.

lifestyle

7 Months Off Instagram: Here’s what I’ve learned

Instagram is a space I use to document my personal brand: My blog posts, pictures, write-ups, travel stories, faith journey and of course some of my winter-inspired fashion pictures. Admittedly, I post three to four times a week, but I have never felt addicted. There was this positive flow I felt on Instagram and I like it.

I found social media to be a positive place to find my online community. On Instagram I post what I like and I guess most of my followers like what I post too. It gets really interactive when I post pictures so I guess they love it.

I post mostly about the environment, pictures of myself and beautiful UK structures which I have falling in love with.

Well, after a while, I got busy with work and I realised I wasn’t going on Instagram like I used to do in the past few weeks. I then decided to give myself a total break from Instagram.
I stopped posting pictures and also stopped engagements on Instagram since February this year until September!

Now this is what I Learned from my Instagram break.

1) Instagram makes you lazy:

After going off Instagram, I realised I accomplished more. Daily work was done quickly. I had time to do so much. Wasn’t online as I used to so I had the time to finish up things around the house and look after myself more.

2) I became more productive:

Bored? Tired? Procrastinating a task I didn’t want to do? Lonely and craving connection?
There’s more to do in life than just sitting and going through other people’s Instagram profile and you’d figure out that you’ve got so much in you, you’ve got to offer offline.

3) I realised my post were quite relevant but I could do more:

Going off Instagram, I learned more on how to be more engaging with my followers and how I could add more content to my profile because offline I had more time to be creative and I learned more from the outside environment.

4) You’ve got a life outside Instagram:

I also found out that my life experience was much more valuable and nourishing than the interruption that comes from pausing to style, frame and take a picture.

5: You can achieve anything:

I did it! I was off Instagram for a while and I’m alive! This proves to me that you can achieve anything you set your mind to. It’s easy…..Go for it and you’d achieve it.