Cultural connections

Navin
MBiol Genetics

“Coming to York from India to study genetics has brought me nearly 5,000 miles from home. This is how I’ve kept in touch with my culture.

Faith and international societies

There are loads of societies at York celebrating world cultures and religions. I’ve interacted with the Hindu, British Asian, and Tamil and Mallu Societies. They offer communities full of amazing people who come together for fun, support and celebration. I’ve particularly enjoyed showing off my moves at the Bollywood nights!

Comfort food

Food is a really important part of Indian culture. When I’m missing home comforts, York can provide. It has loads of great restaurants, but also a variety of international supermarkets. My favourite is Makkah International which is only a 10-minute walk from Campus West. They have a wide selection of authentic ingredients and spices, so I can always create a taste of home.

Connected communities

York has a diverse international community so it’s really easy to meet people in the same situation, or from the same country, as you. Everyone is really welcoming and it’s so easy to make friends. Once I got to campus, I soon started bumping into people from different parts of India. The Indian community here is like a family, and we mix with others from all over the world.”

Tianyu
MA Stained Glass Conservation and Heritage Management

“Though this is my seventh year in the UK, being away from my home in China can still make me feel sentimental.

Staying in touch

Thankfully, York is a historic and charming place, so I have successfully convinced my family to come and visit me a few times. Chatting and having video calls with my parents and younger brother is part of my weekly routine. We still share our daily stories, even though we are thousands of miles apart.

Delightful experiences

One of the questions that I asked my interviewer (now my supervisor) was, ‘Are we going to be studying in King’s Manor?’ Studying in one of York’s most attractive buildings - home to the Department of Archaeology and the Centre for Medieval Studies - has made my university life like a fairy tale. The ancient buildings are full of hidden surprises: I never get bored of pointing out the alleged ‘smallest window in York’ when people visit.

Celebrating the Lunar New Year

It was a happy surprise to see the city decorated for the Spring Festival. Lanterns were hanging on the trees; Coney Street was decorated with a Chinese mythical creature that plays an important role in the tale of the New Year – the dragon. I used my film camera to capture this festive season and share the memories with my family and friends.”