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UK students- Now that you have arrived In the UK.  What next?

Location: Canary Wharf, London

The pandemic affected schools in the UK, but I’m glad to see that people have remained positive, and have decided to come into the UK to study still. Welcome everyone!

Ok! Now you’ve arrived.

What next?

Want to make friends?
Looking for love?
Want to explore?

Anyways, I’m going to share few tips on what you should do when you arrive.

1) Get a UK phone number:
Well, the first thing you need to do is to get a UK phone number. You can go into any of the convenient shops and get a UK sim.

2) Use your map: Now, you’re in the UK, your map is your best friend. Get use to using the map! Your Google map will help you find your way wherever you go. If you ever get lost, your map will help you find your way back home. Every single person living in the UK uses a Google map.

3) Set up a bank account: You might have to book an appointment to get your account all set up.

4) Get a rail card: If you’re in London, you might want to get an oyster card. Or if you’re outside London, you might want to get a rail card for a year. It gives you discount prices for a year, and then you can renew after one year. A 16-25 Railcard costs just £30 and it’ll save you 1/3 on rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole year. Don’t miss out!

5) Get a taxi number: This is just in case of any emergency, so you can call a local taxi, and they can get to you soon enough. Or you can download the Uber application.

6) Started online classes? You might want to make a friend or two in your class, just to keep in check with what’s going on around your course. You can meet up with them after class or on weekends, who knows? You guys might be best of friends.

7) If you find a church to go to every Sunday, you can make friends in church too. When you’re new, you need as much information to help you settle well. You have to meet people to know more. We all learn everyday.

8) Don’t shop in one store: Learn to go to different shops to know what different shops offer and their price difference. Don’t just shop at shop A. Shop B, C, D and E might have quality items too and in lower prices.

9) Apply for an NI: If you want to work in the UK, you’ll need a national insurance number. Details on how to apply is on the government website.

10) Get your student discount and save more: You won’t be a student forever, so why not start using your benefits?
So, being a student in the UK, you get reduced prices on a number of items and services. UNIDAYS & STUDENT BEANS application gives you discounts on food deliveries and when you shop online. Download these apps to get your discounts now.

Finally, enjoy every moment, smile and remain positive. The UK is a beautiful place.

Please leave your comments below.

lifestyle Travel

London Lifestyle | Canary Wharf

Canary Wharf

London- A perfect city to socialise and learn about different culture. A city with iconic views. However, London is the most expensive city to live in the UK. Although, with restrictively high rent prices, the city continues to have increase in population.

Canary wharf views

📸 Presh Olives – I take all pictures myself with my phone.

 Canary wharf buildings features in the UK’s tallest list

These days, Canary Wharf is one of the United Kingdom’s two international financial centres, alongside the City of London.

Canary Wharf also offers urban living at its best- with stunning modern architecture, impressive public spaces, great transport links, with iconic views.

Living in Canary Wharf

An iconic fixture of the London skyline and headquarters of some the largest global financial businesses. It also boasts a vibrant array of excellent restaurants, shopping centres of which overlooks prime waterside positions with fantastic views.

lifestyle

How I Started Writing – Presh Olives

I’ve decided to share my writing journey. I hope this inspires someone.

Many years ago, I sat in the classroom writing a love story. I had a little notebook. In my little notebook, I wrote my beautiful story. I had just started my junior secondary school. I sat on the chair by the window side. There, I imagined how beautiful it was to finally fall in love, get married and have beautiful kids. During lunch break in school, I’ll sit and try to write at least a page. As a kid, I was incredibly observant. I also was very quiet, but aware of my surroundings. This helped me to focus and write well.

I remember then, a classmate found this little note book of mine, read it and she became intrested in it. During lunch break she’d walk up to me and say “Precious, have you written another page”? She wanted to read the story till the end.

I was quite amazed that she found whatever I was writing interesting.
Little did she know that her act, was an encouragement for me.

I continued writing, but mostly about nature and love. I was a young girl, I had no experience about love but I knew it was a beautiful thing. How did I know this? Of course, I watched love movies!

In final class in secondary school, I won the top prize for the Nigeria’s independence day essay competition in the school. I remember being called out on the assembly ground and announced the winner. This was a huge motivation for me.
After then, I realised I’ve developed a passion for writing. I started writing articles on politics and lifestyle and pushing towards getting them published on the national newspapers. At this time I was in my third year of studies towards a Bachelor’s in Microbiology.

I also channelled my writing to poems. I’d say poem writing is quite easy, but making the my poems rhyme can be quite tricky.
Later on, I decided to start a blog, I wanted to put my writing out there, inspire someone, share my experiences and continue doing what I love. Yes, I love writing!
This was what actually drove me to start my blog in 2014. Luckily, I got my articles published on national newspapers before graduation from the University (Bachelor’s). During NYSC, I worked for a national newspaper for a while and I continued writing and blogging.

Summing Up

The blogging journey has been amazing. I’ve grown as a writer.
Writing can be challenging, but here’s the fun part- writing helps you share your experiences without stressing you out, helping you eliminate stress. In addition, you educate others by writing freely from the comfort of your home or work. Writing also increases your creativity, thereby helping you learn more from others and gaining exposure.

For those who have started writing, but not sure if they want to continue. DON’T GIVE UP. YOUR WRITING MIGHT INSPIRE SOMEONE AND CHANGE LIVES. KEEP WRITING!

lifestyle

UK lockdown: Life in the UK

I’m an outdoor person. I enjoy going out alone or with friends to have fun and take some pictures. When the isolation started officially, I tried to adjust to things to carry on with life normally, and try to get myself involved with some indoor activities to make myself busy at home.

Watching the news was like watching a horror movie. I had to stop watching the news for a while. So much going on, I just want everything to get back to normal.

Working from home initially was fun. After a while, I began to miss the outside world. I miss going out, meeting with colleagues, having fun and talking about the projects for the month.

One positive thing I can’t complain about is constant electricity and internet. I can watch movies, and do so much with my free internet.
The weather also is beautiful. The sun is shining, sending a sign to Britain, for people to see the sunny side of things.

However, even in this period, I have comminucated with everyone that matters to me. My family and close friends. Staying connected with the ones you love, totally help ease the stress and keeps you smiling.

Remember, there’s going to be plenty of things to do after lockdown, so look on the brighter side of things and cheer up.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”– Joshua 1 vs 9

lifestyle

8 ways to stay busy at home

In many countries, people have been told to stay at home. Being home alone can be so boring, and even if you’re with your family, it can be boring when you’re stuck at home.

Reducing boredom requires that individuals look for an alternative, different from their meaningful usual activities.

Here are 8 ways you can keep yourself busy at home;

1) Read a book: Reading books, strengthens your writing abilities and enhances your imagination and creativity.

2) Do online professional courses:
These online programs are designed to help you develop professionally and progress in your career, very flexible and from the comfort of your home.

3) Start a blog: Starting a blog is simple. No technical experience required! It is one of the best ways to put your thoughts and writings out there by expressing yourself.

4) Bake: you can bake that cake you’ve been dreaming about.

5) Start a YouTube channel: who knows, you might be the next youtuber, people will learn exciting things from.

6) Clear out your closet: Clear out the old clothes to create a space for your new clothes.

7) Fix stuffs: Fix that leakage, fix the broken shelf, fix that bulb, Fix everything broken in the house.

8) Check in with loved ones:
Everyone is still trying to get used to this way of living. Check in regularly with your family, friends, neighbours and colleagues. You can do this through video chat, calls and texts.