Newcomer 'Travel Moment'

I thought going back to study after five years of working would frighten me, but believe me, there is nothing scary about it. I am even more determined to give this uni thing a chance.

I'm a Zambian babe, who has lived in South Africa for a few years and is now currently studying Journalism at University College for the Creative Arts in Farnham. I have to travel to university from Grove Park (in London) to Farnham three times a week.

When I landed at Heathrow Airport everything unravelled and realising that I left the comfort zone of my country, I started to feel uneasy: How will I know which tube or train to get on to my university? And where to get off?

On my first day of uni I got on the right train after asking 12 people on the way whether that was the right one. I got off at the right stop but I had to ask for directions to my destination. Surprisingly when I asked for help, people did not know about UCCA or where it was. A million thoughts were running through my mind, I started panicking; maybe I got the directions wrong or it was a phony uni but I tried to stay calm.

I called my father back in Zambia to ask him if could verify the uni details and if it really existed. He called me back and said that he called the uni and verified with the British Council. I then called my fiancé who was working in London to check the journey planner for me just in case I printed the wrong one off the Internet. My fiancé assured me that I printed the correct journey planner. He told me to relax and go over the directions and map again. I saw a person walking my way; I plucked up the courage to ask for help again. At last this person knew where the uni was and helped me read the map correctly and I found my way there, and the uni does exist.

For all foreign students, listen to your instincts, never be afraid to ask for directions if there are people around you even if it means asking more than five people. If you have a map read it carefully.